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After months of speculation since the Lombardi Trophy was awarded to the Eagles, the 2025 NFL Draft is finally upon us. More than any other year spent covering the draft, it has been more difficult projecting how the first round will play out April 24, because boards vary so significantly from one team to the next.
Wide receiver is one position that has been particularly hard to project. Ohio State's Emeka Egbuka and Missouri's Luther Burden are the levels of talent who should be considered in this year's first round, but few teams have the position among its highest priorities. As a result, they have been left out of a lot of mock drafts, but it would not be a surprise if either heard their name called by Roger Goodell.
In today's thought exercise, a final version, we attempt to project some of the surprise selections who could be made.
Without further ado, let's kick this off!
For more draft coverage, you can hear in-depth analysis on "With the First Pick" -- our NFL Draft podcast with analyst Ryan Wilson and former Titans general manager Ran Carthon. You can find "With the First Pick" wherever you get your podcasts: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, etc. Listen below!
NFL Mock Draft
Round 1
Round 1 - Pick 1
Tennessee could be engaged in an elaborate smokescreen to drive up the price for the No. 1 overall selection, but I am convinced the interest in Cam Ward is genuine. The Titans have shown zero interest in free agent quarterbacks and invested heavily in the offensive line, so that could be indicative of the team's desire to address the position at No. 1 overall.
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Round 1 - Pick 2
The Browns could conceivably use Travis Hunter as both a wide receiver and cornerback. Alternatively, they signed pass rushers Joe Tryon-Shoyinka and Julian Okwara in free agency and have seen promise out of Alex Wright, Isaiah McGuire. It is easier to see the vision at pass rusher than it is at wide receiver, which has Jerry Jeudy but essentially no one else established. The Browns are an analytically forward organization and there is no greater premium than a prospect capable of filling two roles at an elite level.
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Round 1 - Pick 3
Since the Giants signed veteran quarterback Russell Wilson, all of the buzz has favored Penn State pass rusher Abdul Carter being the pick. New York must not believe in Shedeur Sanders as a top prospect and do not want to pass on the perceived top remaining talent.
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Round 1 - Pick 4
New England signed veteran right tackle Morgan Moses, but lack a starting left tackle that inspires confidence. The Patriots may be inclined to take a blue-chip talent at another position if one were available, but this draft class is not necessarily conducive to that line of thinking. Instead, they stay put and make the sound decision to invest in Drake Maye's protection; arm length be darned.
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Round 1 - Pick 5
There has been a lot of discussion about the Jaguars' pick at No. 5 overall this week. The sense is that people know Jacksonville may be the team that provides a surprise on draft night and reasonable conclusions have drawn them to Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty. Travis Etienne is on the final year of his rookie contract and Jeanty is a better fit for what Liam Coen wants to do. However, what if the surprise is not Jeanty and it is actually Tyler Warren? Los Angeles made a play for Brock Bowers a year when general manager James Gladstone was there. A tight end could unlock the rest of that offense.
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Round 1 - Pick 6
Many were quick to associate Ashton Jeanty with Las Vegas after the Raiders acquired Geno Smith. The Raiders are clearly trying to position themselves to compete in the next few years and they need more explosiveness on offense. It may be too rich to take a wide receiver here, so a way to address need without steering wide of value is to take Jeanty.
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Round 1 - Pick 7
New York may not have expected Mason Graham to be available for them to pick, but he steps in to provide the Jets with a strength along its interior defensive line. The capability to push the pocket will take some of the pressure off Aaron Glenn's defense.
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Round 1 - Pick 8
Carolina needs to find a way to turn up the heat on the opposing quarterback this season and most of the edge rushers mentioned in this range are more of a vision. Jalon Walker certainly has his deficiencies, but the team knows what it is getting by selecting him.
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Round 1 - Pick 9
Tetairoa McMillan is a good complement to Chris Olave. The Saints have hardly a leg to stand on given the injuries suffered by their wide receivers. The addition of McMillan gives them an option in the short term as well as some hopeful stability and flexibility long term.
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Round 1 - Pick 10
The idea is to move Armand Membou from his home at right tackle to left tackle. He has the athleticism to do so, but whether or not that conversion is successful will depend upon the extra time that he puts in away from the field and the make up of the player. Ben Johnson has finished construction on a physical offensive line his first season in the Windy City.
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Round 1 - Pick 11
San Francisco does not often stray from the prototypical looking defensive linemen. They want length to not only leverage the opponent, but impact pass lanes. Mykel Williams is still a relatively young prospect who has all the traits to be the next success story in the Bay Area.
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Round 1 - Pick 12
Dallas has not had a consistent complement to CeeDee Lamb since Amari Cooper. The Cowboys stay in the state of Texas to address that need with Matthew Golden, who has done nothing but produce at a high level since stepping foot on a collegiate campus.
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Round 1 - Pick 13
Kelvin Banks has the positional flexibility to play either left tackle or guard dependent upon how Miami feels about last year's second-round pick, Patrick Paul. Miami will have options in the post-Terron Armstead retirement world.
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Round 1 - Pick 14
Tight end has been a common association for the Colts from the beginning. They lack depth and talent at that spot on their roster, but my fear is that the obvious pick will not be the actual pick. In the back of my mind, I can not help but consider one of those interior defenders or Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell.
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Round 1 - Pick 15
Mike Green is one of the more polished pass rushers among those mentioned in the first round, but he flies red flags of his own. The coaching staff -- a large part of whom came from Los Angeles and may have more grace with a pass rusher who lacks prototypical size -- must recognize its pass-rushing flaws.
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Round 1 - Pick 16
Arizona brought in veterans Dalvin Tomlinson and Calais Campbell to plug in on that defensive line, but where is the long-term vision? Darius Robinson gives them some flexibility, but drafting and developing Walter Nolen potentially gives them a pocket-altering interior rusher.
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Round 1 - Pick 17
Shemar Stewart is one of the best testers that the NFL Scouting Combine has ever showcased, particularly among edge rushers. The production did not match the potential at Texas A&M, however. It is a conversation similar to Travon Walker the year he was taken No. 1 overall. Although Walker had probably shown a higher floor as a run defender. Cincinnati is still engaged with contract talks with Trey Hendrickson, but should those not progress, the Bengals can not go into the season with Myles Murphy and Joseph Ossai. South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori and Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell are sneaky considerations here as well.
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Round 1 - Pick 18
I can not help but imagine head coach Mike Macdonald building that Seahawks defense in the image of Baltimore. Seattle traded for Ernest Jones, just as they had Roquan Smith. Could he be looking for his Kyle Hamilton next? Nick Emmanwori does not have the instincts that allowed Hamilton to find immediate success in the NFL, but his range and length allow Macdonald to move him around and muddy the picture for opposing quarterbacks.
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Round 1 - Pick 19
Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell is one of my favorite prospects in this draft class. It is easier to project him to the next level than it is some of the others discussed. Campbell gives Tampa Bay an heir apparent to Lavonte David while also providing spot pass-rush capabilities.
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Round 1 - Pick 20
Denver has addressed most of its pressing needs this offseason but running back is not among them. Javonte Williams signed with Dallas this offseason. Ashton Jeanty is probably more in line with what Sean Payton wants out of the position, but the Broncos would have to trade up to turn that dream into reality.
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Round 1 - Pick 21
Pittsburgh is still being held hostage by Aaron Rodgers. Although the organization should not allow that situation to impact its decision in the first round, how could it not? The Steelers are the definition of stable. It is difficult to envision there is a comfort level going into the season with Mason Rudolph as the lone option at the game's most important position. Pittsburgh has done a lot of homework on Shedeur Sanders.
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Round 1 - Pick 22
How fast is Will Johnson? How injured? For better or worse, Jim Harbaugh has an intimate knowledge of Johnson and his potential and limitations. Knowing Harbaugh, those questions were likely vetted coming out of high school. Another Michigan man arrives to fill a position of need.
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Round 1 - Pick 23
Odds are good that Green Bay will use its first-round pick on the defensive side of the ball, and the defensive line is a good place to start in the wake of T.J. Slaton's departure. Derrick Harmon could conceivably go higher as there has been a lot of positive buzz in recent weeks.
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Round 1 - Pick 24
Minnesota gets a welcomed youthful infusion in its secondary after losing Cam Bynum in free agency. The Vikings address a future at the position with Harrison Smith presumably nearing the end of his playing career.
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Round 1 - Pick 25
The signings of Cam Robinson and Laken Tomlinson, plus the acquisition of Ed Ingram, does not excite me about the future of Houston's offensive line. However, it gives the team some options with extensive experience starting in the NFL to the point where it could go best player available. Offensive line will be a priority and Tyler Booker gives the Texans positional flexibility to put their five best on the field.
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Round 1 - Pick 26
The Rams need help at cornerback after neglecting the position since Jalen Ramsey was shipped to Miami Beach. Jahdae Barron is undersized to play outside, but few organizations have a higher tolerance for that consideration than Los Angeles. Barron already carries himself like a professional and will be an immediate asset in that building.
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Round 1 - Pick 27
Nnamdi Madubuike and Kenneth Grant give Baltimore a rock solid future at the position. When anyone thinks about the Ravens or the AFC North, in general, they think about a rugged, physical style of play, so it all starts in the trenches.
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Round 1 - Pick 28
Detroit takes a smart, tough lineman who offers positional flexibility. Ben Johnson may be gone, but the philosophy of building through the trenches remains.
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Round 1 - Pick 29
Washington has spent a lot of time with TreVeyon Henderson this offseason. Omarion Hampton had been a player I considered here in the past, but do not currently believe he makes it past Denver. Donovan Ezeiruaku may not have the desired play strength for Dan Quinn and there are expected to be options in that role on Day 2. Cornerback had been the other consideration.
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Round 1 - Pick 30
The return of Tre White is a good story, but it does not realistically answer the concerns at the position. Trey Amos has some of the length that Buffalo covets at cornerback as the Bills find a starter opposite Christian Benford.
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Round 1 - Pick 31
Kansas City has tried to paper over some of its offensive line issues in recent years and it led to its demise in the Super Bowl. It is easy to say that signing Jaylon Moore to play left tackle and moving Kingsley Suamataia will work out fine but that hope is misplaced. The Chiefs may experience slight improvement at left tackle, but they are set to incur a steep decline at left guard going from Joe Thuney to Suamataia. The selection of Donovan Jackson gives them a chance in the short and long terms.
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Round 1 - Pick 32
There have been rumors about Dallas Goedert's availability this offseason. The situation is similar to when the franchise drafted Goedert as Zach Ertz's replacement. Mason Taylor is the son of NFL legend Jason Taylor and a really fluid pass catcher in the mold of those who have preceded him.
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The 2025 NFL Draft will take place from Thursday to Saturday at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin. More draft coverage can be found at CBSSports.com, including daily mock drafts, consensus prospect rankings, biggest team needs and more.
