Tag: 2025 NFL Draft

Giants land their QB of the future in latest USA TODAY mock draft

In the latest mock draft from USA TODAY, the New York Giants usher in a new era at quarterback — although it may come with complications.

The New York Giants (2-8) are headed for another top -0 draft pick and there’s no question they could be in a position to push the rest button at quarterback.

The team has an “out” in Daniel Jones’ $160 million contract after this season and appear to be ready to exercise that clause. That means they could use their top pick next April on a quarterback.

Who will that player be? USA TODAY draft analyst Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz is forecasting that they will opt to select the highest-profile player in the draft.

2. New York Giants – Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado

Deion Sanders’ claim regarding his son’s draft outlook in March that “it’s gonna be an Eli (Manning)” would take on new meaning in this scenario. Should Big Blue pursue another football blue blood, the pairing could be fruitful for each side.

With coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen expected to return in 2025, the Giants would be able to turn the page on Daniel Jones’ tenure by installing a poised passer who can dice defenses apart with precision strikes from the pocket.

Sanders, meanwhile, would inherit a unit that looks to be on the upswing, with wide receiver Malik Nabers and running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. exhibiting immense promise as rookies and the offensive line looking to be in a better spot upon left tackle Andrew Thomas’ return from a season-ending Lisfranc injury.

Sanders would certainly bring a lot of fanfare along with him and maybe even give the Giants the culture change they have been searching for.  That is if his famous father deems the Giants an acceptable destination.

Shadeur has all the tools to step right in and perhaps do what Jayden Daniels has done for rival Washington this year. But are the Giants ready to take a trip down such a road where things can turn into a possible carnival?

Their history says they won’t. Add that to the front office’s skepticism over the success rate of highly-drafted quarterbacks and they may not make what seems like a “no-brainer” pick.

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Where would the Raiders be drafting if the 2024 NFL season ended today?

If the season ended today, where would the Las Vegas Raiders be selecting? What options might be available?

With the Raiders mired in a five-game losing streak, fans may be battling with themselves a little bit.

Do you root for the Raiders to find the spark that head coach Antonio Pierce feels his offensive coaching staff changes could provide? Or, do you root for the Raiders to keep on losing and enter that No. 1 overall draft pick sweepstakes?

It’s an uncomfortable place to be as a fan, but it’s where Raider Nation finds itself all the same.

As the NFL season moves into Week 11, plenty of Raiders fans are monitoring what 2025 NFL mock draft boards look like and where Las Vegas will be picking.

If the season ended today, here’s a look at the first 10 picks and where the Raiders would be selecting given the current 2025 NFL draft order.

Current 2025 NFL draft order:

NFL.com’s Chad Reuter included wide receiver, running back, defensive tackle and safety among the Raiders’ biggest 2025 NFL draft needs in addition to quarterback.

Here’s what Reuter had to say about the Raiders and the NFL draft entering Week 11.

The Raiders have the worst rushing attack in the NFL, averaging a league-low 76.9 yards per game and 3.5 yards per carry. Leading rusher Alexander Mattison and veteran Ameer Abdullah are both headed to free agency, while Zamir White has one year left on his deal. Selecting a dynamic ball-carrier in the top half of the draft should be a priority. – Reuter, NFL.com.

Even with the Raiders’ rushing offense ranking where it currently sits, it’s tough to envision Las Vegas spending the No. 5 overall pick or a selection in the top half of the first round on a running back. If the Raiders are sitting here at No. 5, there’s a great chance Las Vegas looks to find its future franchise signal-caller.

For fans hoping to see the Raiders draft either Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders or Miami quarterback Cam Ward, Las Vegas may need to leapfrog a pair of those quarterback-hungry franchises in front of them in the Giants, Browns and Titans.

The consensus at the moment seems to be that Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe could be an option if the Raiders wind up with the No. 5 overall selection.

It will be fascinating to monitor how the rest of this 2024 season plays out for the Raiders and how their 2025 NFL draft fortunes correlate.

The Raiders return to action on Sunday following their bye week with a trip to the Miami Dolphins with kickoff set for 10 a.m. PT on CBS.

Ohio State football has more first-round picks than Georgia, Alabama combined in 2025 NFL Mock Draft

The Ohio State Buckeyes have more projected first-round picks than both Georgia and Alabama per USA Today’s most recent 2025 NFL mock draft.

The Ohio State Buckeyes have a few of the most talented players in the country.

From Caleb Downs to Jeremiah Smith, Ohio State has skilled players on both sides of the ball. Despite those two not being able to be drafted in 2025, Ohio State has numerous top players that’ll head to the NFL after this season.

Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz, who is a columnist for USA Today, released an updated 2025 NFL mock draft. He has four Ohio State players being taken in the first round. Just to note how impressive that is, Alabama doesn’t have a single pick and Georgia has just three first-round picks.

As for which players are selected and where, the below is the list of Buckeyes taken, and Middlehurst-Schwartz in the link above gives a short snippet on each as well.

  • WR Emeka Egbuka – No. 13 to the Cincinnati Bengals
  • DE JT Tuimoloau – No. 25 to the Washington Commanders
  • OT Josh Simmons – No. 26 to the Baltimore Ravens
  • DL Tyleik Williams – No. 32 to the Kansas City Chiefs

With three of those four coming on the line, the Buckeyes have had a significant edge for most of the season in the trenches. Let’s just say all the Buckeyes have been having success as of late.

Expect that to continue as they battle Northwestern, Indiana and then Michigan prior to ideally taking part in the Big Ten Championship Game and then in the College Football Playoff.

The NFL Scouting Combine will remain in Indianapolis

The NFL Scouting Combine will remain in Indianapolis through at least 2026, thanks to a new agreement

The NFL announced on Thursday that the annual scouting combine will not be moving for at least two more years.

The combine will remain in Indianapolis through the 2026 event, which typically takes place in the week spanning the end of February and the beginning of March. The 2025 event kicks off on February 27th in downtown Indianapolis, where it has been held since 1987.

“Indianapolis is uniquely designed and built to host an event as complex as the NFL Combine,” Colts chief operating officer Pete Ward said in a statement. “Efficiently moving prospects, team owners, coaching staff, medical personnel, and national media is seamlessly done in Indy, and the Colts are proud to be part of the team keeping the event in our city.”

There has been considerable talk in recent years of moving the combine out of Indianapolis despite its incredible popularity and convenience for NFL teams and growing legions of fans who trek to Lucas Oil Stadium and the Indiana Convention Center every year.

Bengals urged to chase underrated name in 2025 free agency

Should the Bengals go after this free agent?

Cincinnati Bengals star Logan Wilson is one of the better linebackers in the NFL, currently among the top 20 graded by Pro Football Focus. He could use a little help. His current running mate, Germaine Pratt, ranks 50th out of 83. Pratt does have one more year left on his contract but the Bengals can save $5.6 million in salary cap space if they decide to move on from Pratt next offseason.

Either way, the Bengals will look to upgrade the position next offseason and Bleacher Report recently mentioned a name that could fit, one that was recently released.

B/R named new Dolphins and former Seahawks linebacker Tyrel Dodson as a potential free-agent target for the Bengals for 2025.

That leaves a few spots where an upgrade is needed and a linebacker to play alongside Logan Wilson is among them. Tyrel Dodson is worth a look. It’s easy to see the impact he has had with a rising Seattle Seahawks defense after putting together a strong 2023 campaign in Buffalo.

Dodson was surprisingly released this week by the Seahawks after starting the first nine games. He was picked up by Miami following his release. Dodson ranks 36th among linebackers.

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The Athletic tabs ‘easy fit’ if Jaguars pick No. 1 in 2025 NFL draft

The Athletic tabs ‘easy fit’ if Jaguars pick No. 1 in 2025 NFL draft

If the Jaguars hold onto the No. 1 pick in the 2025 NFL draft, which they possess 10 weeks into the 2024 season, The Athletic believes Jacksonville’s general manager will face an easy choice come April.

Identifying prospect fits for teams who might take the top spot in the draft, including Jacksonville, The Athletic’s Nick Baumgardner envisioned a “win-win” for both the club and the player, pairing the Jaguars with Colorado wide receiver and cornerback Travis Hunter Jr.

We’ll see how things go (and, obviously, this job is still filled for the moment), but the Jaguars get my pre-vote for best opening of the impending 2025 NFL coaching cycle. That’s not just because the new coach would get Trevor Lawrence. There’s also a fair amount of young talent to work with on this roster, and the Jaguars currently have the most 2025 draft capital in the league.

Even though the 2025 draft class doesn’t look elite by any measure, it’s more than enough for the Jaguars — an aimless group that is better than its record — to turn their fortunes.

Hunter, the best college player in America, could help finally give Lawrence a real weapon and/or establish the Jaguars’ defensive culture. It’s a win-win. Easy fit.

Hunter has entered the conversation as one of the best two-way players in college football history over his three-year career, under head coach Deion Sanders as a freshman at Jackson State and the last two seasons at Colorado.

Over 26 games between both schools, Hunter has logged 144 receptions for 1,767 yards and 18 touchdowns and 70 total tackles, seven interceptions, 20 defended passes and one forced fumble.

The Jaguars could pair Hunter with Brian Thomas Jr., their star rookie wide receiver, to offer Lawrence a dynamic, young pass-catching duo for years to come if this scenario were to play out.

Should the Jaguars prefer Hunter’s defensive upside, Jacksonville could also align Hunter opposite Tyson Campbell, who signed a four-year contract extension with the club this past offseason, at outside cornerback for the foreseeable future.

Or, the Jaguars could even do both.

The 2025 NFL draft will begin April 24.

Would Deion Sanders step in if Browns draft Shedeur?

Deion Sanders tells FS1 that he will privately step in if the wrong team drafts his son Shedeur. Would they say no the Cleveland Browns?

Would Deion Sanders really prohibit his son, Shedeur Sanders, from being drafted by the Cleveland Browns?

The Browns are looking for their future quarterback after the fans booed an injured Deshaun Watson. The search may be more difficult after Deion Sanders told the hosts of FS1’s Speak, that Deion would step in if the wrong team drafts his son, Shedeur Sanders. 

Shedeur Sanders will likely be the consensus best quarterback in the draft class. He is a cerebral quarterback with a good arm and above-average mobility. Sanders can create plays in the pocket or out of the pocket. 

Sanders has improved every facet of his game over the past season, and he seems like a player who loves to be challenged. All teams will covet him during the draft. The Browns will strongly consider Sanders, who will likely be my top target for the team. 

Deion Sanders expounded on what a right team could look like. He wants an organization to be patient with Shedeur and a coach to understand what type of quarterback his son is. Deion didn’t bash any teams and said he would step in privately. 

It’s hard to imagine that the Browns are a team that the Sanders family has in mind. Some quarterback-needy teams, including the New York Giants and the Las Vegas Raiders, are in big markets. Sanders is a true showman, the family has marketed their college football journey to great success. Sanders may want to keep the show going and join his son in the NFL. Sanders has revitalized a sleeping football giant at the University of Colorado. However, he’s yet to establish a presence on the recruiting trail. He may leave college football with his son.

Cleveland doesn’t offer the Sanders family the glitz and glamor of a large market. However, the Browns can offer them more answers on the football side. Head coach Kevin Stefanski and general manager Andrew Berry can offer them stability and a tailor-made offense — if they survive the season.  

Where are the Texans picking in the 2025 NFL draft after Week 10?

The Texans remain in the playoff hunt, but they’re inching closer to a higher draft pick following Week 10’s home loss against the Lions.

The Houston Texans are thinking of the postseason, but change is needed on the offensive line if the AFC South leaders plan on winning a Super Bowl.

After Kenyon Green suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in Week 9’s 21-13 loss against the New York Jets, conversations began on the future of the left guard spot. Juice Scruggs was serviceable in a Week 10 loss against the Detroit Lions, but the former second-round pick is better suited to play center.

The same goes for Jarrett Patterson, who likely will remain the starting center moving forward into Week 11’s matchup on Monday against the Dallas Cowboys.

Interior offensive linemen usually fall in the draft, given their value compared to tackles. Barring a trade of four-time Pro Bowler Laremy Tunsil, Houston should be content with its book ends.

Either second-round pick Blake Fisher or veteran Tytus Howard should take over at right tackle in 2025.

Howard, who inked a three-year extension before the 2023 season, could also shift inside to guard, leaving a hole at right guard in place of the struggling Shaq Mason. Houston could part ways with the veteran lineman since he’ll be paid up on all his guaranteed money from the extension signed in 2023.

If the Texans target a lineman in the draft, defensive tackle, safety, and receiver could all be options in the first round.

Here’s a look at where the Texans are listed after the Week 9 loss and the full draft order projection from Talkathon:

  • Round 1, No. 20 overall
  • Round 2, No. 54 overall
  • Round 3, No. 85 overall
  • Round 4, No. 121 overall
  • Round 5, No. 166 overall (via BUF)
  • Round 7, No. 235 overall

All those numbers could improve if the Texans can respond on primetime against the Cowboys at AT&T Stadium later this week. Houston remains the favorite to win the AFC South and could be in line for the No. 3 if they finish with the same record as the Buffalo Bills or Baltimore Ravens, given their head-to-head wins.

Houston should look better on offense with the return of receiver Nico Collins, who is expected to play this week after being activated off the injured reserve last weekend. The Texans could be without pass-rusher and Defensive Player of the Year candidate Will Anderson Jr., who left in the first half with an ankle injury against the Jets.

Kickoff from AT&T Stadium is scheduled for 7:15 p.m. CT. The game will be nationally televised on ESPN.

We have our first 2025 Senior Bowl accepted invite

We have our first 2025 Senior Bowl accepted invite, offensive lineman Charles Grant from William & Mary

The 2025 NFL Draft is inching closer by the week. One sure sign that the draft talk and action is heating up is the beginning of postseason all-star game invites.

We now have the first prospect confirmed to attend the Senior Bowl for 2025. William & Mary offensive lineman Charles Grant is the first accepted invite for the Senior Bowl, which takes place annually in Mobile, Alabama in late January.

Grant plays left tackle for the Tribe, though some projections have the 6-foot-4, 300-pounder kicking inside in the NFL. He’s thrived with his agility and upper-body strength in William & Mary’s zone-based blocking scheme.

Bengals gamble, get Joe Burrow help in 2025 NFL mock draft

The Bengals ignore the defense and get Joe Burrow another weapon.

The Cincinnati Bengals remain in the playoff hunt despite the miserable record and falling short of expectations.

But that doesn’t mean fans can’t glance at 2025 NFL mock drafts yet.

In that realm of NFL coverage, they will find plenty of mocks that get the defense some help, whether it’s along the struggling line or in the secondary.

But a select few go ahead and give Joe Burrow another weapon, too.

Take, for instance, a new mock from The Draft Network’s Keith Sanchez, who has the Bengals grabbing Michigan tight end Colston Loveland:

Since Joe Burrow became the quarterback of the Bengals, the tight end position has been a revolving door. This year, the Bengals take a swing at finding a player who could be their long-term solution at tight end in Michigan’s Colston Loveland. Loveland has high-level athletic traits that make him a mismatch for both linebackers and safeties. As the Bengals figure out which superstar receivers they’re going to pay, they draft a high-end tight end to help solidify the offense and clear up the picture.

Quietly, tight end is a bigger need than it gets credit for right now in Cincinnati now that rookie Erick All Jr. has suffered another injury. Veteran Mike Gesicki is on a one-year deal, too.

A 6’5″ weapon like Loveland would certainly help the offense and life after Tee Higgins could prove to be rough, should it happen. But this type of pick would prevent the defense from getting some much-needed help, too.

If nothing else, though, it’s one scenario to keep an eye on from here.

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