It is that time of year again where everyone with a Twitter account becomes a professional scout, but there is still only one Mel Kiper Jr. Love him or hate him—and plenty of people do—his voice still carries the most weight when we talk about the path to the podium. Honestly, looking at Mel Kiper's mock draft 2025, it feels like we are in for one of the most unpredictable first rounds in a decade. There isn't a Caleb Williams or a Trevor Lawrence this year. It's a bit of a mess, frankly.
The Quarterback Conundrum at the Top
Kiper has been pretty consistent about one thing: the Tennessee Titans are likely moving on from the Will Levis experiment. In his most recent projections, he has Cam Ward from Miami going No. 1 overall. It makes sense if you’ve watched Ward play. He’s got that "it" factor—the ability to extend plays when the pocket collapses that coaches crave. Ward threw for a ridiculous 3,900+ yards and 35+ touchdowns, leading the Hurricanes to a massive season.
But wait.
Not everyone is sold. If you look at Kiper's big board versus his mock, there is a legitimate debate between Ward and Shedeur Sanders. Kiper has been high on Sanders' accuracy and toughness all year. While some scouts are nitpicking Sanders' personality or his father’s influence, Mel focuses on the 70% completion rate and the fact that he was the most pressured quarterback in college football but still produced.
The Giants at No. 3 are the team to watch here. If the Titans take Ward and the Browns pass on a QB, does New York sprint to the podium for Sanders? Kiper thinks so. He basically views Sanders as the most NFL-ready "pure" passer in the class, even if Ward has the higher ceiling for creativity.
The Travis Hunter Factor
You can't talk about Mel Kiper's mock draft 2025 without mentioning the unicorn. Travis Hunter.
He is the most fascinating prospect we have seen in years. Is he a wide receiver? Is he a cornerback? According to Mel, he’s probably both, but most likely an elite WR at the next level. Kiper has the Cleveland Browns taking him at No. 2. It’s a bold move for a team that desperately needs a stable quarterback situation, but Hunter is a "generational" talent. That word gets thrown around too much, but for a guy who plays 100 snaps a game, it actually fits.
Mel points out that Hunter’s ball skills are better than most pure receivers in this class. If the Browns take him, they aren't just getting a playmaker; they're getting a guy who resets their entire culture.
💡 You might also like: The Curse of the Billy Goat: What Most Baseball Fans Get Wrong
Defense Wins... Mid-Round Value?
While the QBs and Hunter grab the headlines, the meat of the draft is on the defensive line. Mel has been pounding the table for Abdul Carter from Penn State. He’s got him going as high as No. 3 to the New York Giants in some versions, or No. 4 to the Patriots.
Kiper loves the Micah Parsons comparison here. It’s almost a cliché at this point—any Penn State pass rusher with speed gets the Parsons tag—but Carter actually has the twitch to back it up.
Then you have the interior guys.
- Mason Graham (Michigan): Kiper has him locked into the Top 5. He’s a "boring" pick because he just does his job, but NFL GMs love guys who can't be moved by a double team.
- Mykel Williams (Georgia): This is a classic Kiper pick. High upside, freakish length, and from a school that produces pros like a factory. He’s usually mocked to the Jets at No. 7.
- Jalon Walker (Georgia): Another Bulldog. Mel sees him as a versatile linebacker who can blitz or cover. The Panthers at No. 8 are a prime landing spot because, well, they need everything.
Surprises and Risers
The draft process is a living thing. It breathes. It changes. One guy who has surged up Mel Kiper's mock draft 2025 is Ashton Jeanty, the Boise State running back. We usually don't see RBs in the top 10 anymore. It’s "bad value" or whatever the analytics guys say. But Kiper doesn't care about your spreadsheets.
He has Jeanty going to the Raiders at No. 6. Think about that.
The Raiders need a spark. Jeanty ran for over 2,000 yards and looked like he was playing against middle schoolers half the time. Mel argues that if a guy is a true three-down threat who can catch 50 passes, the "don't draft RBs early" rule goes out the window.
The 2025 Draft Order and Notable Picks
Here is the general flow of how Kiper sees the top 10 shaking out right now:
- Tennessee Titans: Cam Ward, QB, Miami
- Cleveland Browns: Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado
- New York Giants: Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
- New England Patriots: Will Campbell, OT, LSU
- Jacksonville Jaguars: Mason Graham, DT, Michigan
- Las Vegas Raiders: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
- New York Jets: Armand Membou, OT, Missouri
- Carolina Panthers: Jalon Walker, LB, Georgia
- New Orleans Saints: Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
- Chicago Bears: Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
Wait, a tight end to the Bears? Yeah, Mel likes the idea of giving Caleb Williams a massive safety valve. Tyler Warren is 6-foot-6 and catches everything. It’s a luxury pick, sure, but if you want your rookie QB to succeed, you give him targets.
Why Kiper’s Rankings Actually Matter
Some people think mock drafts are just "guessing." They're not. At least, not when you've been doing it for 40 years. Kiper isn't just watching tape in a dark room; he's talking to GMs. When he moves a guy like Jaxson Dart (Ole Miss) into the late first round, it’s usually because he’s heard that a team like the Rams or the Steelers is starting to sniff around.
The draft is about "clusters." Teams group players by grade. Mel’s mock reflects these clusters. Right now, there is a huge cluster of offensive tackles—Will Campbell and Kelvin Banks Jr.—that could go anywhere from 4 to 15. If your team needs a tackle and they miss out on the top two, Kiper warns there is a significant drop-off.
💡 You might also like: Why Good Good Photos Still Hit Different for Golf Fans
Practical Steps for Draft Fans
If you're trying to stay ahead of your friends in the group chat, you need to look at more than just the names.
First, watch the "scheme fit." Mel often mentions why a player fits a specific coach. For example, he loves Will Johnson to the Saints because they play a lot of man coverage, and Johnson is a lockdown corner.
Second, pay attention to the "Medical Red Flags." This is the part of the draft no one sees. Mel will often drop a player five or six spots right before the draft. Usually, that means some news leaked from the NFL Combine about an old knee injury or a shoulder issue.
Lastly, don't get married to the No. 1 pick. In 2025, the draft starts at No. 1, but it's won in the second round. Kiper's big board has guys like Jalen Milroe and Quinn Ewers as potential "steals" on Day 2. If your team passes on a QB early, they might be eyeing one of these guys at pick 35 or 40.
💡 You might also like: The Miami Football Score: Everything You Need To Know Right Now
The best thing you can do right now is follow the movement. If a guy keeps appearing in Mel Kiper's mock draft 2025 at a higher spot every week, believe the hype. The "draft industry" is a small circle, and Mel is the center of it.
Next Steps for Draft Prep:
- Check the NFL Scouting Combine results specifically for "Agility Drills" for the offensive tackles.
- Review the final "Big Board" update from Kiper usually released 48 hours before the draft.
- Cross-reference Kiper's list with Field Yates' projections to see where the consensus is building and where the outliers are.