Let’s be real for a second. Trying to predict the NFL draft a full year out is basically like trying to guess the weather in Pittsburgh next April—you might get lucky, but you’re probably going to end up shivering in a light jacket you thought was a good idea at the time. Yet, here we are. The 2024 season is in the rearview, the 2025 draft cycle is officially spinning its wheels, and everyone wants to know who the next franchise savior is.
Honestly, the way too early 2025 nfl mock draft landscape is messier than usual this time around.
👉 See also: FAMU 2025 Football Schedule: What Really Happened This Season
Last year, we had a pretty clear idea that Caleb Williams was the guy. This year? It's a total toss-up. We’ve got a quarterback class that feels like a "choose your own adventure" novel where every ending is a bit of a cliffhanger. If you're looking for a consensus #1 pick, you won't find it. What you will find is a massive group of high-upside defenders and a few quarterbacks who might be elite—or might just be the next guys to get a coach fired.
The Quarterback Conundrum: Cam Ward, Shedeur, and the Georgia Factor
Every single way too early 2025 nfl mock draft starts with the signal-callers because, well, that's just how the league works. If you don't have a guy, you're looking for a guy.
Cam Ward has seen his stock explode. Coming out of Miami, he’s shown that "it" factor—the ability to create when everything breaks down. He actually closed as the favorite for the top spot in many circles, leapfrogging guys like Shedeur Sanders. Speaking of Sanders, the Colorado product is probably the most polarizing player in the class. The talent is undeniable. He’s got the arm, the accuracy, and the toughness (he had to, considering how much he got hit). But the "Deion factor" and the surrounding media circus make him a unique case for NFL GMs.
- Cam Ward (Miami): The current frontrunner for QB1.
- Shedeur Sanders (Colorado): Elite accuracy but carries heavy "franchise baggage."
- Carson Beck (Georgia): The "safe" pick who struggled with picks late but has the prototypical NFL frame.
- Quinn Ewers (Texas): High ceiling, but injuries and consistency are the big "ifs."
It’s kinda wild to think that Carson Beck was the consensus top guy just a few months ago. Then the interceptions started piling up. Now, he’s looking more like a late first-round value play for a team that doesn't need him to start Day 1.
Defense Wins Drafts (Usually)
If a team at the top doesn't need a quarterback—or if they're terrified of this year's crop—they’re looking at the monsters on the defensive line.
👉 See also: What Was the Ohio State Football Score Today? A Tough New Year's Reality
James Pearce Jr. from Tennessee is a name you’ll hear until you’re sick of it. He’s 6-foot-5, fast as hell, and spent the last season living in opposing backfields. Most scouts have him as the first defensive player off the board. Then you have Abdul Carter at Penn State, who is basically being built in the same lab that produced Micah Parsons. He’s versatile, explosive, and the kind of "chess piece" that modern defensive coordinators drool over.
But wait. Don't forget the interior guys.
Mason Graham out of Michigan is a wrecking ball. You don't usually see defensive tackles go in the top five, but Graham is the exception. He’s the guy who makes everyone else on the defense look better by commanding double teams on every single snap. Honestly, if a team like the Giants or Browns ends up in the top five and doesn't go QB, Graham is the most "plug-and-play" superstar in the building.
The Travis Hunter Special
We have to talk about Travis Hunter. Is he a corner? Is he a receiver?
The answer is yes.
In a way too early 2025 nfl mock draft, Hunter is usually slotted in the top three because he’s a generational athlete. He won the Heisman for a reason. He played nearly every snap for Colorado and looked like the best player on the field on both sides of the ball. NFL teams are going to have to decide where his permanent home is. Most scouts I’ve talked to think he’s a lockdown corner who can moonlight as a deep threat on offense. Whatever he is, he’s a game-changer.
Why Most Mocks Get the Order Wrong
Here is the thing: nobody knows the real draft order yet.
We use the current Vegas odds or the previous season's standings, but one trade changes everything. If a team like the Raiders—who clinched the #1 spot in many 2026 projections but are currently hunting for a 2025 solution—decides to sell the farm for a veteran, the whole board shifts.
💡 You might also like: NBA Most Improved Player Odds 2024: Why Everyone Got the Race Wrong
You've also got to account for the "risers." There is always a guy like Jayden Daniels who comes out of nowhere to become a top-two pick. Keep an eye on someone like Jaxson Dart or even Jalen Milroe. If Milroe cleans up his processing speed, his physical tools are better than almost anyone else on this list.
Key Prospects to Watch Outside the Top 10
- Colston Loveland (TE, Michigan): The best tight end in the class. Period.
- Ashton Jeanty (RB, Boise State): Running backs are "devalued," but Jeanty is so good he might force a team's hand in the late first.
- Will Johnson (CB, Michigan): Lockdown guy. He’s the type of corner you draft and then don't worry about that side of the field for a decade.
- Tetairoa McMillan (WR, Arizona): Huge catch radius. He’s a touchdown machine who makes 50/50 balls look like 90/10 balls.
What Really Matters Right Now
Don't get too married to the names in the top five.
The NFL Combine and pro days haven't happened yet. Medical checks haven't happened. Someone is going to run a 4.28 and fly up the boards, and someone else is going to measure an inch shorter than expected and "plummet" to the second round.
Basically, this way too early 2025 nfl mock draft is a roadmap, not a GPS. It shows you the direction of the talent, but the actual destination is still a long way off.
If you want to stay ahead of the curve, stop looking at the mock drafts and start looking at the tape of these three specific groups: the SEC offensive linemen (Tyler Booker, Kelvin Banks Jr.), the Big Ten defensive interior (Mason Graham, Kenneth Grant), and the Tier 2 quarterbacks who might declare late. That’s where the real value is found.
Next Steps for Draft Fans:
- Watch the All-22 tape of James Pearce Jr. against SEC competition; his first step is the best in the class.
- Monitor the transfer portal and coaching changes, as quarterback development often hinges on the system they’re in during their final year.
- Check the injury reports for Quinn Ewers and Travis Hunter, as their draft slots will be heavily tied to their medical longevity.