Tag: 2025 NFL Draft

Lions not expected to earn any compensatory picks in the 2025 NFL draft

The Detroit Lions are not projected to earn any compensatory picks in the 2025 NFL draft after free agency signings

Despite some Lions players from last season signing lucrative free agent deals elsewhere this offseason, Detroit is not projected to earn any compensatory selections in the 2025 NFL Draft.

The latest projections for 2025 comp picks from both NFL.com and Over The Cap do not include the Lions among those teams receiving any. The Lions are one of 17 teams whose spending on incoming free agents canceled out the losses from the roster in the qualifying portion of free agency.

The formula for awarding compensatory picks isn’t completely known, but it’s based on a formula that balances the average per year (APY) value of contracts signed by qualified free agents departing the team against the APY value of free agents the team signed.

For Detroit, three departing free agents qualified:

Detroit added in four qualifying free agents:

The Lions did lose $4.4 million in net free agent spending ($32.1 lost, $28.1 spent), but that’s not enough to earn one of the 32 compensatory picks. As Lance Zierlien of NFL.com notes,

“To qualify for compensatory picks, teams must end up with more qualifying free agents lost than gained in a particular year.”

Detroit signed four and only lost three in the qualifying period, which ended on April 29th when the 2204 NFL draft process concluded. Any further free agency moves don’t factor into the comp pick formula. Detroit last earned compensatory picks in the 2022 NFL draft. Those picks turned into Kerby Joseph, James Mitchell and James Houston.

 

 

Where are the Commanders picking in this way-too-early 2025 NFL mock draft

Where does Washington select in this way early 2025 mock draft?

A mock draft? Already? The 2024 NFL draft is over, and the Washington Commanders found their quarterback, Jayden Daniels, with the No. 2 overall pick.

So, before we look ahead to minicamps and training camp this summer, we take an early peek at 2025. ESPN draft analyst Jordan Reid published his first mock draft for next year.

Where does Reid have the Commanders picking in 2025?

In Reid’s mock draft, Washington is selecting second again. Don’t yell at Reid. He didn’t make the draft order. Reid used the inverse of Super Bowl odds from ESPN BET and tweaked them for the draft order.

With the second pick, Reid has the Commanders selecting Georgia edge Mykel Williams. Here’s his analysis:

The Commanders laid a firm foundation for the roster with their 2024 draft picks, but the defense still lacks youth on the edge. Williams is the most impressive 2025 prospect I’ve watched on tape so far. He played a lot of defensive tackle last season and still had 4.5 sacks, but he’s transitioning to a full-time outside linebacker role this year. He’s still only 19 years old and has so much upside. In fact, I think he’s a potential No. 1 pick candidate next April.

Williams would be an elite choice for head coach Dan Quinn and the Commanders. One thought here: No left tackle? This would presumably mean that rookie third-round pick Brandon Coleman had some success in 2024.

Remember, this is a way-too-early mock draft. It’s a fruitless exercise but fun nonetheless.

ESPN has 3 LSU Tigers going in 1st round of 2025 NFL draft

It’s never too early to start thinking about next year’s draft.

It’s never too soon to think about the next NFL draft, right? ESPN just released its first mock draft for 2025, and it projects three LSU Tigers being drafted in the first round.

LSU had three players taken in the first round of this year’s draft when [autotag]Jayden Daniels[/autotag], [autotag]Malik Nabers[/autotag] and [autotag]Brian Thomas Jr.[/autotag] were all taken on Night 1. ESPN has two offensive linemen and one linebacker being taken this time.

[autotag]Will Campbell[/autotag], [autotag]Emory Jones Jr.[/autotag], and [autotag]Harold Perkins[/autotag] are the three Tigers players who are projected to go in the first round. With the third pick of the [autotag]2025 NFL Draft[/autotag], ESPN has the Patriots selecting Will Campbell, who is one of the best offensive linemen in college football. He was given the historic No. 7 jersey patch for a reason. He will be a Day 1 starter wherever he goes.

With the 18th pick of the 2025 NFL draft, ESPN has the Cleveland Browns selecting Emory Jones Jr, who is the other cornerstone of the Tigers’ offensive line. Between Campbell and Jones, you can’t go wrong picking either one.

With the 24th pick of the 2025 NFL draft, ESPN has the Houston Texans selecting Harold Perkins. Perkins has been a star ever since he stepped on campus. Last season, Perkins had 75 tackles, 5.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and one interception.

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Three Longhorns land in first round of way-too-early 2025 NFL mock draft

Texas is likely to have another good showing for the 2025 NFL draft.

Texas is likely to have another good showing for the 2025 NFL draft. Continue reading “Three Longhorns land in first round of way-too-early 2025 NFL mock draft”

Patriots go offense in first round again in early ESPN 2025 NFL mock draft

ESPN’s Jordan Reid has the focus staying on offense for the Patriots in an early 2025 NFL mock draft

We are less than a full week out from the end of the 2024 NFL draft, and mock drafts are already being put out for 2025. ESPN’s Jordan Reid has the New England Patriots selecting highly once again in his recent mock draft.

The Patriots overhauled the offensive unit over the course of three days, and they are projected to do the same in 2025. Reid has New England selecting Will Campbell from LSU with the No. 3 overall pick.

The offensive tackle measures in at 6-foot-6 and 320 pounds. He played in 17 games last season and was named to the 2023 All-SEC First-Team by the coaches. He was also voted to the 2023 All-SEC Second-Team.

The Patriots did upgrade the line a bit in this year’s draft, with Penn State tackle Caedan Wallace and Texas A&M guard Layden Robinson both in the fold now. Nevertheless, adding even more protection for rookie quarterback Drake Maye is never a bad idea.

Reid wrote:

The Patriots’ starting left tackle this season will likely be Chukwuma Okorafor. He’s on a one-year deal, meaning New England should be searching for a long-term solution to protect the blind side of Drake Maye. Campbell is a technician who plays with poise, displaying the foot quickness and balance to mirror and match defenders in pass protection. He has played only left tackle during his career at LSU (1,625 total snaps) and didn’t allow any sacks last season.

Left tackle was one of the biggest needs for the Patriots heading into this year’s draft. The offensive line struggled last season, and protecting the quarterback should be of the utmost importance.

With that said, let’s hope the Patriots aren’t in the position to be picking third overall again.

Oregon WR Evan Stewart lands with ‘America’s Team’ in latest ESPN 2025 mock draft

Evan Stewart to “America’s Team” in 2025? The latest mock draft from ESPN has it happening.

It hasn’t even been a week since the 2024 NFL Draft concluded, where a program-record eight Oregon Ducks were selected, but we already have our eyes on 2025 and what that might bring for Eugene.

The Ducks have a five-year streak of having first-rounders selected in the draft, and according to the latest mock from ESPN, that streak will continue with wide receiver Evan Stewart going to the Dallas Cowboys with the No. 26 overall pick.

Outside of CeeDee Lamb, the Cowboys haven’t really found a dependable pass-game option on the perimeter. That’s why I like Stewart as a fit in Dallas. He is a sudden route runner with instant acceleration to threaten defenders in a hurry. The Texas A&M transfer lacks play strength, as only 27 of his 514 receiving yards came after contact last season, and he managed three forced missed tackles over eight games. Even so, the flashes suggest big upside and a potential breakout year.

Stewart has yet to play a real game in Eugene, but he did look impressive in the spring game last weekend after transferring in from Texas A&M. In his two seasons at the college level, Stewart has 91 catches for 1,163 yards and 6 touchdowns.

The receiver room in Eugene is stacked with talent, so Stewart is going to have to compete with the likes of Tez Johnson, Traeshon Holden, Gary Bryant, and others for targets, but based on the talent that he brings to the table, a career year isn’t hard to project for the Texas native.

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Texans land LSU LB Harold Perkins In ESPN’s 2025 NFL mock draft

It’s early, but the Houston Texans could target a standout SEC linebacker for their front seven in the 2025 NFL draft.

A week ago, Caleb Williams took the stage in Detroit, Michigan, and donned his first jersey as a member of the Chicago Bears. The move was expected for months, but it finally marked the start of the 2024 NFL draft. 

Now, analysts are already preparing for the 2025 draft less than 10 later. Of course, plenty could change from here until Week 18 come next January, but at least pundits have a baseline on what to expect leading up to the regular season. 

For the Houston Texans, they remain a playoff contender entering 2024 after their lucrative offseason spending. Is it enough to send the franchise to New Orleans for the Super Bowl? According to ESPN, not yet. 

Instead, the Texans secure the 24th overall pick in the 2025 draft and select LSU linebacker Harold Perkins, thus bolstering DeMeco Ryans’ front seven at the second level. 

“Perkins is an ideal fit in DeMeco Ryans’ scheme,” wrote ESPN’s Jordan Reid. “He has spent time at the first and second levels of the Tigers’ defense, but he is expected to be a full-time inside linebacker this season. Perkins is an explosive playmaker, with 13 sacks and 28.5 tackles for loss over the past two seasons, but he has to improve his read-and-react skills.” 

Perkins, a native of Cypress, has been a staple of the Tigers’ defense over the past two seasons. He started as a true freshman and impressed off the edge, leading the team in tackles for loss and sacks while earning first-team All-SEC honors. 

Last season, Perkins’ numbers plateaued. While his rep count grew, his production dipped, totaling just three more tackles and two fewer sacks.

He did finish with an identical 13 tackles for loss in comparison to his freshman year production, though this time it was from the inside linebacker role. 

Perkins’ best asset is his ability to blitz. He’s also been an effective run-stopper, though half of his production came on designed blitzes meant for quarterback hits. 

Far from a finished product, it’ll be interesting to see what new LSU defensive coordinator Blake Baker does to fix the miscues in Perkins’ game. It’ll also be intriguing to see how the Texans view starters Azeez Al-Shaair and Christian Harris following a prominent season in the AFC South. 

Al-Shaair, who played under Ryans in San Francisco, is coming off his best professional season with 163 tackles. He inked a three-year, $34 million deal with Houston this offseason and should be the starting MIKE backer through at least 2025. 

Harris, a former third-round pick out of Alabama, broke out as Houston’s weakside backer en route to a division title. He totaled 101 tackles and two sacks during the regular season.

Harris made headlines with his 36-yard interception returned for a touchdown in the wild-card playoff win over the Cleveland Browns. Should Perkins be the selection, Harris will be entering a contract year and could be viewed as the odd man out. 

A 2025 NFL mock draft from ESPN has the Raiders trading up for Shedeur Sanders (but not at No. 1!)

Is Shedeur Sanders really a first-rounder next year?

With the 2024 NFL Draft over (you can read our ranking of every team’s haul here!), the buzz about who is going to be taken next year has already begun.

Right now, there’s a lot of talk about Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders — the son of coach Deion Sanders — going No. 1 overall as one of the 10 top prospects to watch this season in college football. He went first overall to the Titans in our first 2025 mock draft from Cory Woodroof.

But in a new 2025 mock from ESPN, Jordan Reid has Sanders going No. 5 thanks to a trade up from the Las Vegas Raiders. Here’s his take:

With Davante Adams, Jakobi Meyers and Brock Bowers on offense, the Raiders can set up a young passer really well. And Sanders is a smooth operator whose game centers around his great ball placement (69.3% completion rate last season, eighth in the FBS) and calm demeanor when protected in the pocket. He took 52 sacks in 2023 behind a struggling offensive line, so Sanders’ internal clock must speed up before he gets to the next level; he tends to compound mistakes by holding onto the ball too long. But he has a ton of talent and can certainly be the answer for Las Vegas. I see a lot of similarities in his game to Geno Smith.

There you have it! Make sure to check out our very early 2025 NFL mock draft from Cory Woodroof!

Jalen Milroe selected first overall in 2025 NFL mock draft

Alabama QB Jalen Milroe is the first overall pick in one way-too-early 2025 NFL mock draft.

Alabama Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe returns for the 2025 college football season and is looking to not just lead the team back to the College Football Playoffs, he wants to work his way into the Heisman Trophy conversation and boost his 2025 NFL draft grade.

While the 2024 NFL draft just recently concluded, experts and analysts have already begun looking ahead to see how the 2025 first round might turn out.

One mock draft done by The Draft Network projects Milroe will be the first player selected, going first overall to the Carolina Panthers, which is interesting for a variety of reasons.

Milroe is not a player that has a unanimous first-round grade for the 2025 draft. Though he has appeared as a Day 1 pick in some mock drafts, he has some improving to do before cementing himself as a clear first-round player.

The Panthers had the first overall selection in the 2023 NFL draft and used it to pick up former Alabama quarterback Bryce Young.

Though no rationale is presented with the projection, we are left to assume that The Draft Network believes Carolina is already in a position to move on from the former Heisman winner and could look to replace him with his former backup.

There’s no telling what will happen in just under a year from now, but Milroe could very well play his way into contention to be the first overall pick.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Milroe and other Alabama players as they prepare for the upcoming 2024 college football season.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow AJ Spurr on X @SpurrFM. 

Deion Burks taken in the first in The Athletic’s first mock draft for 2025

In his first mock draft for the 2025 NFL draft, The Athletic’s Dane Brugler projects Deion Burks to go in the first round.

The Oklahoma Sooners have a ton of talent heading into the 2024 season. Especially at wide receiver. The Sooners are loaded with playmakers, which is part of the reason for optimism despite a first year starting quarterback and massive turnover along the offensive line. Nic Anderson is generating early 2025 NFL draft buzz, coming in at No. 5 in Pro Football Network’s wide receiver rankings. But he may not even be Oklahoma’s best wide receiver this fall.

One of the playmakers that will electrify this fall may only be in Norman one year; [autotag]Deion Burks[/autotag]. Burks, who came over from Purdue this offseason, put the college football world on notice with his huge performance in the Oklahoma Sooners spring game, racking up five catches for 174 yards and two touchdowns.

Now, he won’t do that every week, but it looks like he’s got a nice rapport with Jackson Arnold, which will lead to some big days this fall. And before he ever plays a down for the Sooners, NFL draft analysts are already taking notice.

In his early 2025 NFL mock draft for The Athletic (subscription required), Dane Brugler sends Deion Burks to Detroit Lions in the first round.

Another Purdue transfer (the poor Boilermakers), Burks is a playmaking athlete with the ball in his hands. The Belleville, Mich., native returns to his home state in this scenario. – Brugler, The Athletic

Burks will get a lot of attention this fall from SEC defenses and NFL scouts alike because of his speed, athleticism, and agility. As teams look to get more explosive, Burks is a player that can take the ball to the house every time he touches it and can threaten a defense deep.

If he has the season that many expect in 2024, teams will have a hard time passing on him in the 2025 NFL draft.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow John on X @john9williams