The 2024 season is in the rearview, and if you're a fan of a team like the Tennessee Titans or the Cleveland Browns, you've probably already spent way too much time looking at 2025 mock draft picks. It’s that time of year. The hope is intoxicating, even if your team just finished a double-digit loss season. This year feels different, though. We aren't just talking about your standard "best player available" scenarios. We are talking about a Heisman winner who plays two ways, a quarterback class that has scouts arguing in circles, and a defensive group that might actually be the real strength of the draft.
Honestly, the 2025 cycle is weird. In 2024, we were spoiled with a historic offensive tackle and wide receiver class. This year? It’s a bit of a scramble. People are trying to figure out if you can actually play a guy at both wideout and corner in the NFL without him physically falling apart by Week 4. That’s the Travis Hunter dilemma, and it's basically the sun that the rest of the draft revolves around right now.
The Quarterback Chaos at the Top
Let’s get into the signal-callers. If you’re looking at 2025 mock draft picks, you’ll see two names repeatedly: Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders. It is a classic "pick your poison" situation.
Cam Ward is the guy most experts, like Daniel Jeremiah and the folks at CBS, have pegged for the No. 1 overall spot to the Titans. He’s got that "it" factor—the ability to make throws that look like they shouldn't be physically possible. We're talking 39 touchdowns and over 4,300 yards in his final season at Miami. But it’s the out-of-structure stuff that gets scouts excited. He plays "Superman" football. Sometimes that means a 50-yard dime; sometimes it means a head-scratching turnover.
Then there’s Shedeur Sanders. The debate around him is loud. Some mocks have him going No. 2 to the Browns, while others show him sliding a bit because of concerns about his arm strength or how he handles the blitz. At his Colorado Pro Day, he threw about 69 passes and only missed on four. He’s accurate. He’s smart. But there are still evaluators wondering if he has the "zip" that Ward shows.
If your team needs a QB, you're likely choosing between Ward’s high-ceiling chaos or Sanders’ high-floor precision. Quinn Ewers from Texas is also hanging around the end of the first round in many projections, often linked to teams like the Seahawks or Steelers who might want a developmental piece rather than a Day 1 starter.
Why Travis Hunter is the Draft's Biggest Wildcard
You can't talk about mock draft picks 2025 without mentioning Travis Hunter. The guy won the Heisman for a reason. He’s a legitimate top-10 prospect as a wide receiver and a top-10 prospect as a cornerback.
The Jaguars and Giants are the teams most frequently linked to him in the top five. Imagine being a GM and trying to decide: do we play him 60 snaps a game on defense and just let him be a shutdown corner, or do we use him like the Raiders used Davante Adams? Most NFL scouts think he’ll eventually have to pick a side to stay healthy, but for now, the "unicorn" label is stuck to him with superglue.
There are concerns about his frame. He’s lean. At 185 pounds, taking hits from NFL safeties is a different beast than what he saw in the Big 12. But his ball skills? Rare. Instincts? Infinite. He’s the kind of player that makes a defensive coordinator stay up until 3:00 AM.
The Big Uglies: Winning in the Trenches
While the skill players get the headlines, the 2025 class is actually loaded with defensive line talent.
- Abdul Carter (Penn State): He moved from off-ball linebacker to edge rusher and looked like a natural. He’s been compared to Micah Parsons—explosive, twitchy, and capable of double-digit sacks. The Titans or Giants would be lucky to land him if they pass on a QB.
- Mason Graham (Michigan): Probably the most "pro-ready" interior defender. He’s not just a run stuffer; he’s got a burst that makes him a nightmare for guards.
- Will Campbell (LSU): The gold standard for tackles this year. He didn’t allow a sack in nearly 500 pass-block snaps in 2023. He’s a technician.
One name to watch is Armand Membou from Missouri. Some scouts are starting to rank him above Campbell. He’s thick, powerful, and didn't allow a single sack in over 400 snaps last season. He might start at tackle, but some think he’s an All-Pro guard in the making.
The Running Back Renaissance
After years of running backs being treated like disposable assets, 2025 might see them crawl back into the first round. Ashton Jeanty from Boise State is the reason.
Jeanty is a tank. He’s got this low center of gravity that makes him nearly impossible to bring down on the first contact. He’s been mocked to the Cowboys at No. 12 more times than I can count. Dallas desperately needs a run game, and Jeanty is the kind of bell-cow back that could transform an offense.
Omarion Hampton from North Carolina is another name popping up in the late first round, potentially going to a team like the Broncos or Chargers. The depth at RB this year is significantly better than what we saw in 2024.
Real Talk: What Most People Get Wrong
The biggest misconception right now is that this is a "weak" class. It’s not weak; it’s just top-heavy with defenders. If you’re looking for a superstar wideout, you’ve got Tetairoa McMillan from Arizona or Luther Burden III from Missouri. Both are elite, but they aren't Marvin Harrison Jr. level prospects.
The 2025 draft is for teams that want to fix their defense or find a franchise cornerstone on the offensive line. It’s a "meat and potatoes" draft with a couple of flashy side dishes like Hunter and Ward.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're following 2025 mock draft picks, keep these three things in mind:
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- Watch the medicals: Players like Abdul Carter (foot) and Will Johnson (toe/hamstring) have had injury bugs. Their combine re-checks will determine if they stay in the top 10.
- Quarterback desperation: Even if a QB isn't "top-five quality," teams like the Raiders, Jets, and Saints are desperate enough to reach. Don't be surprised if four QBs go in the top 15.
- The "Freaks" factor: Keep an eye on the "Freaks List" guys like Jalon Walker (Georgia) or Nick Emmanwori (South Carolina). These are the athletes who will blow up the combine and rise ten spots in April.
The draft order is mostly set for the non-playoff teams, but trades will change everything. Tennessee and Cleveland hold the keys. If they trade down, the entire board flips. Until then, we’re just guessing based on the best tape available.
Keep an eye on the Senior Bowl and the Combine. That’s where the real separation happens. For now, just hope your team doesn't overthink it and pass on a generational talent for a "safe" pick that never pans out.