By Jay Holahan
With just a few hours before the 2025 NFL Draft, it’s time to predict what teams will do and the smartest path for each team.
No. 1: Tennessee Titans – QB, Cam Ward, Miami
With Ward revealing that he believes Tennessee Titans’ wide receivers Calvin Ridley and Treylon Burks are in his top four of NFL wide receivers, it seems like a foregone conclusion that the Titans will draft Ward.
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No. 2: Cleveland Browns – ATH, Travis Hunter, Colorado
As ESPN’s Ryan Clark said last week, the only way a team should take Hunter in the top five is if you let him play both ways. Hunter is not particularly great at wide receiver or cornerback, but he should be allowed to do both for a franchise that needs a superstar player like Hunter.
No. 3: New York Giants – EDGE, Abdul Carter, Penn State
In 1981, with the second overall pick, the New York Giants landed a great talent in linebacker Lawrence Taylor. It would be premature to tab Carter the next “LT,” but the Giants can land a “once in a generation” talent by selecting Carter.
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No. 4: New England Patriots – OT, Will Campbell, LSU
The New England Patriots need a left tackle to protect their franchise quarterback, Drake Maye. Campbell is a terrific prospect who could develop into a dominant run and pass blocker.
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No. 5: Jacksonville Jaguars – DL, Mason Graham, Michigan
The Jaguars are once again trying to rebuild their defense, and what better way than one of the cornerstone positions? That’s a question the Jaguars will ask themselves with the No. 5 pick. There are a lot of needs on this defense, but if you want to select the best defensive player available, you’d be foolish not to take Graham.
No. 6: Las Vegas Raiders – OT, Armand Membou, Missouri
Membou impressed teams at the NFL Combine last month, and his tape reflects that he has the tools to be a top offensive tackle in the NFL. The Raiders have a track record of picking players based on how well they grade at the combine. The Raiders need a tackle, and Membou would be a good fit for Pete Carroll’s offense.
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No. 7: New York Jets – TE, Tyler Warren, Penn State
It’s wash, rinse, and repeat once again for New York Jets fans, and while a tight end is not one of the major positions of need, the Jets would be passing on one of the greatest tight ends ever to play college football.
No. 8: Carolina Panthers – EDGE, Jalon Walker, Georgia
The Carolina Panthers need to continue building their defense around interior defensive lineman Derrick Brown, who missed last season with a meniscus injury. Walker fits well with the Panthers.
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No. 9: New Orleans Saints – QB, Shedeur Sanders, Colorado
Sanders goes off the board to the Saints, which should be no surprise to any NFL fan following the barrage of tweets that his father, Deion Sanders, has been making over the past couple of months. Now, back to football, Sanders sits for a year and in that time, he learns under a terrific playcaller in head coach Kellen Moore.
No. 10: Chicago Bears – EDGE, Mykel Williams, Georgia
It would make sense for the Bears to draft an edge rusher with the No. 10 pick. Last year, no Bears pass rusher had more than 5.5 sacks, and if the Bears are expecting to contend for a playoff spot, they need good pass rushers. There has been speculation that Chicago will take running back Ashton Jeanty, but building the defensive line should be of the utmost importance.
No. 11: San Francisco 49ers – OT, Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas
Trent Williams contemplated retirement this past offseason, so finding his replacement should be at the top of general manager John Lynch’s to-do list in this draft. In the previous mock draft, I had Banks landing at 14 with the Colts, however, in this draft, I think it makes more sense for the 49ers to nab him even earlier.
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No. 12: Dallas Cowboys – RB, Ashton Jeanty, Boise State
It’s no secret that the Cowboys have lacked in their run game over the last couple of years. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is probably embarrassed enough that he passed up the opportunity to sign Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry last free-agency period. In doing so, Jones became a laughing stock for any media personnel with a laptop and a microphone. Jones can right a wrong here with this pick in Jeanty, a load at running back that explodes going downhill.
No. 13: Miami Dolphins – WR, Matthew Golden, Texas
It’s no secret that the Miami Dolphins have a serious issue with wide receiver Tyreek Hill being in the news about his willingness to be traded out of Miami. A draft day trade is a possibility, and with that, the Dolphins, who are bullish on speedy wide receivers, take the fastest in this draft.
No. 14: Indianapolis Colts – DB, Nick Emmanwori, South Carolina
Previously, I had Emmanwori going to the Bengals at No. 17. Emmanwori is the sure-fire pick for teams looking for secondary help. For a guy that stands at 6-foot-3, and weighs 220 pounds, he covers a ton of ground. He reminds me of a Bob Sanders-esque player who can cover the deep middle, race up and make plays in the backfield. Now, the Colts can get another Bob Sanders-like player.
No. 15: Cincinnati Bengals (via Atlanta Falcons) – EDGE, Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M
In a trade that sends Trey Hendrickson to the Atlanta Falcons and allows the Bengals to land Stewart, and potentially keep their No. 17 pick in the draft. Stewart’s speed is “lightning fast” as he ran a 4.59 40-yard dash for a guy that stands at 6-foot-6 and weighs 267 pounds. There is no doubt that if he is in a “vertical set,” Stewart could become one of the game’s best edge rushers. In this trade, the Bengals keep their 17th pick by giving up Hendrickson and probably a day two pick.
No. 16: Arizona Cardinals – DB, Will Johnson, Michigan
Johnson can play and has the tools to excel in zone and man coverage. He is a ball hawk who can close on the ball and create turnovers with the breakaway speed to take it the distance. Iron will sharpen iron when Johnson and Marvin Harrison Jr. go one-on-one in practice.
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No. 17: Cincinnati Bengals – LB, Jihaad Campbell, Alabama
Campbell comes off the board as the first on-ball linebacker in this draft. The Bengals are in desperate need of defensive help and Campbell is the right pick here for a team once again trying to pursue their first Super Bowl crown.
No. 18: Los Angeles Chargers (via Seattle Seahawks) – WR, Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona
NFL fans were anticipating Chargers’ General Manager, Joe Horitz, to sign or trade for a big-name wide receiver in the offseason. Instead, they re-acquired wide receiver Mike Williams, and while they did draft Ladd McConkey last year, the Chargers still need a tall-wide receiver like McMillan.
No. 19: Tampa Bay Buccaneers – EDGE, James Pearce Jr., Tennessee
Head coach Todd Bowles should expect the Buccaneers to add edge rushers in this year’s draft. They already have in free agency with the signing of Haason Reddick, however, it’s only for one season. That’s where Pearce comes in, this signing will improve the Buccaneers’ production off the edge, where they were pretty average last year.
Omarion Hampton has all the physical traits to succeed at the next level 💪 pic.twitter.com/xSQJ1XJtzU
— The 33rd Team (@The33rdTeamFB) April 19, 2025
No. 20: Denver Broncos – RB, Omarion Hampton, North Carolina
Previously, I had the Broncos selecting interior defensive lineman Derrick Harmon from Oregon, however, the Broncos’ starting running back right now is Jaleel McLaughlin. Hampton will be a good fit in Sean Payton’s offense, an offense that typically revolves around the running back position.
No. 21: Atlanta Falcons (via Pittsburgh Steelers) – OT, Josh Conerly Jr., Oregon
Atlanta should look at the age of Jake Matthews and trade back into the first round here and select Conerly. Atlanta needs to invest in an offensive line for Michael Pennix Jr., and the two offensive tackles left who are worthy of being selected in the first round are Conerly and Josh Simmons. Conerly is the more NFL-ready player and could slide over to right tackle for next season, or for however long Matthews is still playing for Atlanta.
No. 22: Seattle Seahawks (via Los Angeles Chargers) – OT, Josh Simmons, Ohio State
I had been going back and forth with this pick for the Chargers, deciding whether or not Seattle should take an offensive tackle or a nose tackle. Then, the news came out that the Seahawks are unsure whether to give offensive tackle Charles Cross a fifth-year option, and Simmons has begun to look much more intriguing.
No. 23: Green Bay Packers: DB, Jahdae Barron, Texas
The Green Bay Packers need a cornerback opposite Jaire Alexander, and Barron is that type of corner for them, and he’s the best player available.
No. 24: Minnesota Vikings – IDL, Derrick Harmon, Oregon
Even though the Minnesota Vikings signed Javon Hargrave and have Harrison Phillips as depth pieces, you can never have enough depth on the defensive line. Harmon is also a player for the future that the Vikings can build with.
No. 25: – Philadelphia Eagles (via Houston Texans) – TE, Colston Loveland, Michigan
The worst-kept secret this offseason is that the Eagles are interested in moving tight end Dallas Goedert. A trade to the Texans would open up cap space for the Eagles, and Loveland, who stands at 6-foot-6 and weighs 248 pounds, would fit perfectly into this Eagles offense.
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No. 26: – Los Angeles Rams – QB, Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss
In a move that will surprise many, the Rams have their quarterback for the future. Matthew Stafford contemplated retirement this season, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if he does hang ‘em up after this season. Dart is a quarterback who needs a year to learn behind a quarterback like Stafford. Stafford, like Dart, had similar draft measureables at the combine.
No. 27: Baltimore Ravens – IDL, Walter Nolen, Ole Miss
The Baltimore Ravens need a nose tackle. Broderick Washington has been a solid nose tackle, but going into the final year of his contract, it makes sense for the Ravens to take a young nose tackle who could become a staple on their defensive line.
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No. 28: Detroit Lions – OG, Tyler Booker, Alabama
The Lions had one of the best offensive lines last year, but they need a guard. Booker would fill that need and excel in an offense at Alabama that resembles what the Lions run.
No. 29: Washington Commanders – EDGE, Mike Green, Marshall
Aside from Frankie Luvu and Dante Fowler Jr. (now with the Dallas Cowboys) the Commanders didn’t have two players with more than five sacks last season. Green won’t be a force in week one, but he should be strong off the edge in time.
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No. 30: New York Giants (via Buffalo Bills) – QB, Jalen Milroe, Alabama
The Bills need help at linebacker, and none are worthy of being selected in the first round, so the smart move will be to trade back. The Giants will have their defensive star of the future, and now they get a quarterback that head coach Brian Daboll will be happy with, and he can learn under Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston.
No. 31: Kansas City Chiefs – OL, Grey Zabel, South Dakota State
Much like Hunter in this draft, Zabel can play multiple positions, while not at wide receiver or cornerback. Zabel played at both left and right tackle, and both left and right guard. The Chiefs’ offensive line was exposed in the Super Bowl against the Eagles, and drafting an athletic lineman here will help keep Patrick Mahomes remain upright and not running for his life again.
No. 32: Houston Texans (via Philadelphia Eagles) – DL, Kenneth Grant, Michigan
The Houston Texans have plenty of depth at the defensive line, but lack a young defensive tackle to stop the run. They did sign Sheldon Rankins in the off-season, and he should serve as a mentor for Grant and the whole defensive line.
