What’s more fun, the first two rounds of the NFL playoffs or the first two nights of the NFL Draft?
Let’s take that one step further: What’s more fun, the NFL regular season or the weeks leading up to the NFL Draft, weeks during which we get to read or create millions upon millions of mock drafts?
If you’re, say, a Carolina Panthers fan, you’d probably gravitate toward the draft stuff, because the NFL Draft equals hope. And there are about 20 franchises that could use all the hope they can get.
Are there any players in the Class of 2025 who could fulfill that hope? Any franchise-changers? Any needle-movers?
We’ll give that one a big, fat maybe. There aren’t any obvious top picks — Peyton Manning, Orlando Pace, that kind of thing — but there are plenty of quality options who could be of service. Maybe they won’t single-handedly lift a franchise from 3-14 to 9-7, but they’ll help nonetheless.
1) Tennessee Titans: Cam Ward, QB, Miami
Team Needs: QB, RT, WR, EDGE
NFL Comp: Russell Wilson
The Scoop: Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders, Sanders or Ward, flip a coin. While Sanders potentially has the higher ceiling, Ward has the higher floor, and the Tennessee Titans have to get this one right — or at least not get it wrong — because the Will Levis experiment isn’t working.
2024 Fun Fact: Ward threw for 4,313 yards and 39 touchdowns.
2) Cleveland Browns: Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
Team Needs: QB, LT, WR, EDGE
NFL Comp: Joe Burrow
The Scoop: Approximately 93 hours ago — before we learned that Deshaun Watson would miss most if not all of the 2025 season — this pick would’ve been traded … somewhere. But now the Cleveland Browns need to find a long-term solution to the quarterback situation that’s been an issue since the Bernie Kosar era (sorry, 2019 Baker Mayfield, but you know we’re right).
Sanders might turn into Watson 2.0 and help the franchise turn a corner.
2024 Fun Fact: Sanders completed 74.0% of his passes, with 4,134 yards and 37 touchdowns.
3) New York Giants: Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State
Team Needs: QB, CB, C, S
NFL Comp: Micah Parsons
The Scoop: EDGE isn’t a top need for the New York Giants, but the roster needs help across the board, and Abdul Carter — who plays with a palpable chip that will suit him well in New York — is just too good to pass up. In a year when the top-picking teams weren’t so quarterback-starved, Carter would be under consideration for the top pick.
2024 Fun Fact: Carter has recorded 12 sacks and 24 tackles for loss heading into the College Football Playoff National Championship.
4) New England Patriots: Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado
Team Needs: OT, EDGE, WR, CB
NFL Comp: Deion Sanders
The Scoop: If the New England Patriots had landed at the No. 1 spot, there’s a good chance they would’ve snatched up Travis Hunter, so on a certain level, this would be a dream come true for Drake Maye, Eliot Wolf, and Mike Vrabel. In Hunter, they’ll get a much-needed jolt of star power on a team crying out for some zhush.
2024 Fun Fact: Hunter played over 1,500 combined snaps on offense and defense, scoring 16 touchdowns while logging four interceptions.
5) Jacksonville Jaguars: Mason Graham, DT, Michigan
Team Needs: CB, DT, WR, S
NFL Comp: Christian Wilkins
The Scoop: The Jacksonville Jaguars need to pick some lanes and find an identity, and a good way to start would be by adding an ornery 320-pounder to the D-line. While far from a sexy pick, the Michigan Wolverines DT looks like a Day 1, 10-year starter who’d thrive next to Arik Armstead.
2024 Fun Fact: Mason Graham put up seven tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks.
6) Las Vegas Raiders: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
Team Needs: QB, LT, WR, RB
NFL Comp: LaDainian Tomlinson
The Scoop: Is it possible that the running back position has become undervalued? The Las Vegas Raiders lack firepower all over the offense — the team’s four top rushers combined for 1,097 yards, a total that was eclipsed by 10 individuals — and would do well to ignore the prevailing drafting approach and scoop a potential 1,500-yard rusher.
2024 Fun Fact: Ashton Jeanty rushed for 2,601 yards and added 29 rushing touchdowns.
7) New York Jets: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
Team Needs: QB, EDGE, S, RT
NFL Comp: Mike Evans
The Scoop: Davante Adams is aging, Garrett Wilson wants out, and Aaron Rodgers’ replacement (maybe) will need a security blanket of a pass catcher who actually wants to wear green and white. While not Malik Nabers-level scary, Tetairoa McMillan is a safe bet who will make an immediate impact.
2024 Fun Fact: McMillan hauled in 84 receptions for 1,319 yards and eight touchdowns.
8) Carolina Panthers: Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri
Team Needs: C, WR, EDGE, S
NFL Comp: Steve Smith Sr.
The Scoop: Hey, Bryce Young might be good! But you know what would make the soon-to-be third-year quarterback better? A young speedster to line up opposite the aging Adam Thielen and the still-raw Xavier Legette. Despite my Carolina diss in the intro to this article, the Panthers finished the season on an upward trajectory, and a WR1-in-training might help maintain the momentum.
2024 Fun Fact: Burden led the SEC in receiving yards as a sophomore in 2023 with 1,212 while adding nine touchdowns before dropping to just 676 yards in 2024.
9) New Orleans Saints: Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia
Team Needs: QB, EDGE, CB, OT
NFL Comp: Aldon Smith
The Scoop: The New Orleans Saints are desperate for a young signal caller, so don’t be surprised if they trade out of this slot, either up or down. But if they stay put, Mykel Williams is a plug-and-play rusher who will help a shaky Saints D that allowed 6,459 yards from scrimmage, the third-most in the NFL.
2024 Fun Fact: Williams recorded five sacks and nine tackles for loss.
10) Chicago Bears: Will Campbell, OT, LSU
Team Needs: C, OG, EDGE, RB
NFL Comp: David DeCastro
The Scoop: Chicago’s O-line was a sieve — just ask poor Caleb Williams, who was sacked 68 times, tied for the third-most in league history — and nabbing arguably the NFL Draft’s top tackle will make Williams happy. Very, very happy.
2024 Fun Fact: Will Campbell allowed only two sacks in over 550 pass-blocking snaps during his junior season.
11) San Francisco 49ers: Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas
Team Needs: G, C, CB, DT
NFL Comp: Austin Jackson
The Scoop: There isn’t much divide between Kelvin Banks Jr. and Campbell, so the San Francisco 49ers will be thrilled if either of these gents slides into their laps. Maybe Banks (or Campbell) will be able to keep San Fran’s running backs out of the ER.
2024 Fun Fact: Banks earned CFN SEC Tackle of the Year honors after allowing just one sack all season.
12) Dallas Cowboys: Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State
Team Needs: DT, OT, S, SB
NFL Comp: Christian Darrisaw
The Scoop: The Dallas Cowboys’ 2024 Super Bowl hopes came to a painful end in Week 9 when Dak Prescott was lost for the season with a jacked-up hamstring. Would Josh Simmons’ presence have prevented the play that led to the injury? Until we tweak the time/space continuum, we’ll never know, but we can say with certainty that his quick feet sure wouldn’t have hurt.
2024 Fun Fact: Simmons, whose season ended prematurely due to injury, allowed no sacks in his final season at Ohio State.
13) Miami Dolphins: Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
Team Needs: OG, LB, WR, S
NFL Comp: Kevin Byard
The Scoop: The first D-back off the board (let’s be honest, Travis Hunter isn’t really just a defensive back) might be the best one, the ideal candidate to bolster an already-solid Miami Dolphins’ unit. And wouldn’t he look nice playing across the field from Jalen Ramsey?
2024 Fun Fact: Malaki Starks tallied one interception and three pass breakups, earning honorable mention All-SEC honors from CFN.
14) Indianapolis Colts: Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
Team Needs: DB, S, TE, QB
NFL Comp: Pat Surtain II
The Scoop: The Indianapolis Colts, who allowed the seventh-most passing yards in the league in 2024, could darn sure use a lockdown corner. If Will Johnson is indeed available at No. 14, that’ll give the Colts the happy combo of need-filler and best player available.
2024 Fun Fact: Johnson allowed a passer rating of just 49.3 when targeted.
15) Atlanta Falcons: James Pearce Jr., EDGE, Tennessee
Team Needs: EDGE, C, CB, LB
NFL Comp: Aldon Smith
The Scoop: Even though this is an EDGE-heavy draft, it would be difficult for the Atlanta Falcons to let the big Tennessee Volunteers DL get past them. The Falcons allowed 30+ points in six of their 17 games in 2024, and their trenches could use some shoring up.
2024 Fun Fact: Pearce led Tennessee with 7.5 sacks and 13 tackles for loss.
16) Arizona Cardinals: Nic Scourton, EDGE, Texas A&M
Team Needs: EDGE, CB, LB, RT
NFL Comp: Cameron Jordan
The Scoop: The Arizona Cardinals’ defense was fair-to-middling, and fair-to-middling won’t get it done in the NFC West. Nic Scourton isn’t Carter (or even Pearce), but he can be an immediate contributor.
2024 Fun Fact: Scourton registered 36 pressures and five sacks.
17) Cincinnati Bengals: Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame
Team Needs: CB, EDGE, S, WR
NFL Comp: Jaire Alexander
The Scoop: Cincy’s D allowed 30 passing touchdowns, the fourth-most in the league. The unit’s failure to finish games wasted a career season from Joe Burrow. Being that Burrow is nearing or at his peak, it would be logical to give him a proper defense so that he doesn’t have to score 40 points a week.
2024 Fun Fact: Benjamin Morrison was named to the ESPN and Sporting News preseason first-team All-American list.
18) Seattle Seahawks: Shavon Revel Jr., CB, East Carolina
Team Needs: OL, C, OT, CB
NFL Comp: Antonio Cromartie
The Scoop: The Seattle Seahawks’ defense was good — tied for 11th in points allowed, 19th in total yards allowed — but nowhere near playoff good. Shavon Revel Jr. looks to have the tools to become an immediate and long-term starter.
2024 Fun Fact: Revel notched two interceptions despite tearing his ACL in mid-September.
19) Denver Broncos: Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
Team Needs: RB, TE, WR, OT
NFL Comp: Dallas Goedert
The Scoop: Did Bo Nix improve his receivers, or did Denver’s receivers improve Bo Nix? We can chicken/egg that one to death, but the facts are that over the last month of the season, the receiving tandem of Courtland Sutton and Marvin Mims Jr. was legit, while the tight end tandem of Adam Trautman and Lucas Krull, not so much. The Denver Broncos would be wise to give Nix this shiny new toy.
2024 Fun Fact: Tyler Warren has posted 104 receptions for 1,233 yards and eight touchdowns heading into the CFP National Championship.
20) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jalon Walker, EDGE, Georgia
Team Needs: EDGE, LB, CB, S
NFL Comp: Haason Reddick
The Scoop: There’s no true way to quantify this one, but the eye test tells us that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were just behind the Lions on the list of “Most Madden-esque Games Played.” Fortunately for Tampa, its high-octane offense was able to offset their low-octane defense to the point that they were able to sneak away with a division title. They need stoppers, and Jalon Walker could fill that bill.
2024 Fun Fact: Walker recorded 6.5 sacks and 61 tackles.
21) Pittsburgh Steelers: Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
Team Needs: WR, CB, DT, QB
NFL Comp: Jaxon Smith-Njigba
The Scoop: In another chicken/egg conundrum, did Russell Wilson have meh receivers, or were Pittsburgh’s receivers meh because of Wilson? I’ll point the finger at the receivers in the room, a room that should embrace the latest product of OSU’s wide receiver factory.
2024 Fun Fact: Emeka Egbuka has hauled in 75 receptions for 947 yards and 10 touchdowns heading into the CFP National Championship.
22) Los Angeles Chargers: Elic Ayomanor, WR, Stanford
Team Needs: WR, CB, TE, RG
NFL Comp: JuJu Smith-Schuster
The Scoop: The other L.A. nailed the receiving department of last season’s draft, stealing Ladd McConkey at the top of the second round. Unfortunately, as was evident in their Wild Card loss to Houston, the Bolts’ receiving cupboard, outside of McConkey, is bare. Elic Ayomanor doesn’t look to be a WR1-level player…but isn’t that the kind of thing folks said about McConkey?
2024 Fun Fact: Ayomanor caught 63 passes for 831 yards and six touchdowns.
23) Green Bay Packers: Shemar Stewart, EDGE, Texas A&M
Team Needs: CB, C, EDGE, OT
NFL Comp: Keion White
The Scoop: The Pack is almost there, but picking at 25 likely won’t get them a player who can help them sneak past scary division-mates Detroit and Minnesota. Shemar Stewart could have enough juice to get plenty of reps and harass Jared Goff and Sam Darnold (or J.J. McCarthy).
2024 Fun Fact: Stewart tallied 31 tackles and 1.5 sacks.
24) Minnesota Vikings: Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan
Team Needs: CB, DT, G, S
NFL Comp: DJ Reader
The Scoop: The Minnesota Viking’s defense had a wholly obvious identity: really good against the pass, really bad against the run. At 6’3” and 339, Kenneth Grant could be the run-stuffer Minnesota craves.
2024 Fun Fact: Grant recorded 32 tackles, including seven for loss.
25) Houston Texans: Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina
Team Needs: OT, CB, EDGE, S
NFL Comp: Jeremy Chinn
The Scoop: Sometimes, it’s not about team needs. Sometimes, it’s about bolstering an already solid position group. Nick Emmanwori is a top-10 talent, and if he falls to the Houston Texans, it’ll be tough to not write his name on the card.
2024 Fun Fact: Emmanwori logged 88 tackles, four interceptions, and two defensive TDs.
26) Los Angeles Rams: Mansoor Delane, CB, Virginia Tech
Team Needs: CB, OT, LB, TE
NFL Comp: Cam Smith
The Scoop: L.A. allowed 29 passing touchdowns, the sixth-most in the league, and could very much do with a high-level corner. Mansoor Delane might not immediately jump into the starting lineup, but he’ll get plenty of snaps from Day 1.
2024 Fun Fact: Delane had seven pass deflections, two forced fumbles, and four interceptions.
27) Washington Commanders: JT Tuimoloau, EDGE, Ohio State
Team Needs: OT, WR, CB, EDGE
NFL Comp: Micheal Clemons
The Scoop: Probably more than anything, the Washington Commanders could use another receiving weapon for Jayden Daniels, but that could be (almost) just as well addressed on Day 2. There aren’t Tuimoloaus in the second round and beyond, so he’d be tough for Washington to walk away from.
2024 Fun Fact: JT Tuimoloau has posted 11.5 sacks while forcing two fumbles heading into the CFP National Championship.
28) Baltimore Ravens: Cameron Williams, OT, Texas
Team Needs: OT, EDGE, CB, LB
NFL Comp: Ereck Flowers
The Scoop: The Baltimore Ravens’ No. 1 priority is — or at least it should be — to keep Lamar Jackson clean because it could be argued that Baltimore is more dependent on their star than any team in the league (you could put Josh Allen and Buffalo in that conversation, too). Jackson might just pick up the 6’5”, 335-pound Longhorn at the airport.
2024 Fun Fact: Williams made just one start before his junior season in 2024.
29) Buffalo Bills: Landon Jackson, EDGE, Arkansas
Team Needs: CB, EDGE, LB, S
NFL Comp: Arik Armstead
The Scoop: The Buffalo Bills’ video game offense distracts you from the fact that Buffalo’s defense is just better than average. Their 2.3 sacks per game was tied for sixth-fewest in the league, and considering Von Miller is taking in $17 million in 2025, the Bills bean-counters will welcome a solid EDGE on a rookie contract.
2024 Fun Fact: Landon Jackson tallied 10 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks.
30) Philadelphia Eagles: Jonah Savaiinaea, OL, Arizona
Team Needs: EDGE, OL, WR, TE
NFL Comp: Darnell Wright
The Scoop: As was the case with the Ravens, Priority No. 1 should be Jalen Hurts’ health and wellness. Jonah Savaiinaea is arguably the best protector left on the board, so there likely won’t be too much dissension in the Philadelphia Eagles’ war room.
2024 Fun Fact: Savaiinaea allowed just nine quarterback hurries over 450 pass-blocking snaps.
31) Kansas City Chiefs: Josh Conerly Jr., OT, Oregon
Team Needs: OT, CB, EDGE, S
NFL Comp: Dion Dawkins
2024 Fun Fact: Patrick Mahomes will turn 30 during the first month of the 2025 season, and it might not be a bad idea to make his life a tad safer. Josh Conerly Jr. has the tools to help give Mahomes a clean pocket, something his old man legs will come to appreciate.
Fun Fact: Conerly gave up one sack in each of his two years as a starter.
32) Detroit Lions: Deone Walker, DT, Kentucky
Team Needs: CB, G, EDGE, DT
NFL Comp: Dalvin Tomlinson
The Scoop: Actually, Detroit’s biggest team need, at least on the defensive end, is health. When the D was out of the hospital ward and on the field, the Detroit Lions were a well-balanced team with few pressing holes, so they would be in the luxurious position of drafting for depth. Deone Walker will fit quite nicely with the NFC’s top seed.
2024 Fun Fact: Walker registered five tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks.