Tag: mock draft

Steelers mock draft update lands Pittsburgh franchise quarterback

Here is our latest mock draft update before the Steelers first preseason game.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are a week away from their first preseason game and short of a last-minute trade, will go into the season with the best 53 players of their current 90-man training camp roster. This gives us a solid look at the team’s roster needs for next season.

You pair that up with pending free agents and it’s not hard to put together some preliminary needs for free agency as well as the 2025 NFL draft. Here is out latest updated five-round mock draft for next year that includes a franchise quarterback and an elite interior defensive lineman.

First round – DT Deone Walker, Kentucky

If Walker is on the board, he is too much of a force to pass up.

Second round – QB Jalen Milroe, Alabama

We love Milroe’s athleticism and potential and it is highly unlikely Russell Wilson and Justin Fields return for 2025.

Third round – CB Jabbar Muhammad, Oregon

The Steelers are thin at cornerback and Jabbar Muhammad is an athletic marvel who is fearless in coverage.

Fourth round – WR Tory Horton, Colorado State

Huge target with lots of raw talent and upside.

Fifth round – RB Tahj Brooks, Texas A&M

Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren are both set to hit free agency and Tahj Brooks is a wrecking ball with elite speed.

Fifth round – EDGE Kaimon Rucker, North Carolina

Excellent developmental pass rusher with a short, powerful frame and nice burst.

If the Steelers can land their future starting quarterback and the eventual replacement for Cam Heyward in this draft it would certainly keep this team’s window for playoff success open.

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A safe pick for 49ers in way-too-early 2025 mock draft

The 49ers selected a pass rusher in this 2025 mock draft. While OL may top their list of needs, pass rush is always a good guess for San Francisco in Round 1.

Let’s dive into one final mock draft of the offseason before we dive into the 49ers’ 2024 campaign, shall we?

A first-round projection from our friends at the Draft Wire offers an interesting talking point that will surround any discussion about San Francisco’s future. The pick at No. 31 for the 49ers is Florida State edge rusher Patrick Payton.

Payton is listed at 6-5, 210 pounds which doesn’t necessarily scream ‘NFL edge rusher,’ but that’s something we’ll sort out closer to the draft once he goes through the height/weight portion of the pre-draft process. He has played 28 games across three years at Florida State, and has 12.0 sacks with 20.5 tackles for loss. If he improves again in 2024, there’s a chance he’ll go much earlier than 31st overall.

All of that is mostly beside the point though since so much changes about the draft throughout the college season. What’s intriguing from the 49ers’ standpoint here is that they’d pick an edge rusher in Round 1 instead of addressing some glaring needs on the offensive line (and potentially in the secondary).

However, it stands to reason that San Francisco would rather go that route while addressing the offensive front elsewhere in the draft. They’ve shown time and time again during the John Lynch-Kyle Shanahan tenure that they’ll prioritize their defensive line and play makers in the first round. The only time they strayed from that was the selection of right tackle Mike McGlinchey at No. 9 overall in the 2018 draft. Without a pick inside the top 10, we can almost guarantee the 49ers will go with defensive line or offensive playmaker.

This season could certainly change that. If Colton McKivitz struggles again at right tackle, or if Trent Williams decides to retire, or if rookie Dominick Puni struggles to make any mark as an offensive tackle, the 49ers might be forced to maneuver and get into the range where they can take an offensive lineman in Round 1.

For now though signs point to another offensive weapon or defensive lineman for the 49ers in the first round of the 2025 draft, making the Payton projection a good one given where we are on the calendar.

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Saints pair Chris Olave with a big WR in B/R 2025 mock draft

The Saints picked Tetairoa McMillan to upgrade the receiving corps in this 2025 mock draft, complimenting Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed:

The New Orleans Saints’ receiving corps is currently led by Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed. With Shaheed’s extension, that should remain the same through at least 2025. Bleacher Report’s Brent Sobleski would like to add one more receiver to the mix in his 2025 mock draft.

In this projection, the Saints used the 8th overall pick to select Tetairoa McMillan. The Arizona wide receiver provides a simple quality neither of the lead receivers possess: size. Here’s why Sobleski argues McMillan should be a top-10 pick:

The Saints can maximize Carr’s remaining time by surrounding him with the best possible talent. Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan can provide a Marques Colston-esque target. McMillan is a 6’5″ receiver who should fit in nicely alongside the smaller Chris Olave and speedy Rashid Shaheed.

McMillan does still provide a vertical threat with his speed and ability to track the ball in flight, but his height could easily allow him to be New Orleans’ go-to receiver for contested catches as a rookie. Olave and Shaheed are both just six feet tall, so he’d have a five-inch advantage over his running mates.

A.T. Perry could make this pick less likely with a strong Year 2. He’s the same height as McMillan and is only five pounds lighter. But he’ll need to do more than catch a dozen passes like we saw last season.

However, wide receiver doesn’t feel like the most likely pick if the Saints land inside the top 10. Quarterback feels like the appropriate selection in this situation. Sobleski suggested Colorado star Shedeur Sanders as another fit for the team, though Sanders was gone in this mock draft, so Sobleski went with a hypothetical in which the Saints kept Derek Carr for one more year. Would fans accept that after two seasons without a playoff berth?

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Saints spend top-10 pick on Penn State DE Abdul Carter in 2025 mock draft

It’s still too soon to accurately project the 2025 NFL draft, but Abdul Carter could be a good match for the Saints if they’re picking early again next year:

It’s still too soon to accurately project the 2025 NFL draft, but Penn State star Abdul Carter could be a good match for the New Orleans Saints if they’re picking early again next year. That was the case in this projection from Draft Wire’s Curt Popejoy, which had the Saints picking at No. 8 overall.

Carter has the size the Saints covet at a listed 6-foot-3 and 259 pounds, and he comes from a program that’s sent several great pass rushers to the NFL. Defensive ends Chop Robinson and Adisa Isaac were both top-100 picks this spring, which opened the door for Carter to move outside after initially playing off-ball linebacker. That was also the case for Micah Parsons, who was picked at No. 12 back in 2021.

And like Parsons, Carter is seen as a versatile defender who can make plays in coverage or rush the quarterback from a two-point stance. He needs experience playing on the line of scrimmage with his hand down but he has Pro Bowl potential if he can keep learning and developing.

He could make sense for the Saints. They haven’t gotten enough production out of high draft picks like Payton Turner and Isaiah Foskey or old pros like Cameron Jordan. The hope is Chase Young can transform the group this year but he’s working his way back from neck surgery and is only signed to a one-year deal.

But if the Saints are bad enough this fall to be picking at No. 8, it’s because Derek Carr bombed in Klint Kubiak’s offense. The ramifications for that could be big — how could Mickey Loomis sell fans on a fourth year with Dennis Allen at head coach if the Saints go 7-10 (like last year’s team picking at No. 8, the Atlanta Falcons), giving Allen a 23-28 record with New Orleans? If you include his Las Vegas Raiders run, as you should, Allen’s career record would be 31-56. That’s a win percentage of .356, which would be sixth-worst out of the 128 head coaches who have worked 87 or more games in NFL history.

Neither Allen nor Carr should be in the Saints’ plans if this is where they end up, and letting a new head coach draft a new quarterback should be their priority. It would be great if Jake Haener or Spencer Rattler is ready to compete for the job by this point but there’s no guarantee that either of them will be ready for it. Hopefully the Saints are so successful in 2024 that we aren’t worrying about things like this in the 2025 draft.

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Bucs land 2-way superstar in latest 2025 NFL mock draft

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers land one of the biggest names in college football in this updated projection for next year’s NFL draft

You can never have too many talented players at wide receiver and cornerback, but what if you could get both for the price of one?

That’s what happens for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the latest 2025 NFL mock draft from Draft Wire, which has the Bucs spending the No. 11 overall pick in next year’s draft on Colorado’s two-way superstar, Travis Hunter.

A highly touted recruit who followed head coach Deion Sanders from Jackson State to Boulder, Hunter has legit NFL talent on both sides of the ball, making big players for the Buffs at both receiver and corner.

The Bucs could use more talent at either spot, but while Hunter’s pro projections are probably higher on the defensive side of the ball, his big-play ability at either position gives him tons of potential at the next level.

To check out the full first-round projection for next year’s draft at Draft Wire, click here.

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2025 NFL mock draft: Bucs make strange pick in latest 1st-round projection

This early projection for the 2025 NFL draft has a head-scratcher for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first round

We have another 2025 NFL mock draft to break down, and this early first-round projection comes from Pro Football Network, and it’s got the Tampa Bay Buccaneers making a head-scratching selection with their top pick.

This mock has the Bucs picking at No. 11 overall, and spending that pick on offensive tackle Emery Jones Jr. out of LSU.

Here’s what PFN’s Owain Jones had to say about the selection:

(Jones) is a strong, balanced, intelligent offensive tackle who operates all aspects of offensive line play at a high level. With an evident power profile, elite size at 6’6” and 322 pounds, and exceptional hand technique, he is in contention to be one of the top tackles taken in the 2025 NFL Draft. However, a noticeable lack of burst, athleticism, and flexibility may lower Jones’ ceiling.

While the LSU right tackle may not have the athletic upside of his teammate, he can claim to be more polished and refined in their current evaluations.

There’s no arguing with the assessment of Jones, who is indeed one of the top tackle prospects in next year’s class, with all the physical tools to be a quality starter at the next level.

The odd thing about this pick is believing the Bucs would spend such a high selection at a position that’s a relative strength at the moment.

Obviously, the Bucs have one of the NFL’s best offensive tackles on the left side in All-Pro Tristan Wirfs, but Luke Goedeke also made huge strides last season as a full-time starter, and was quietly one of the best right tackles in the league.

It may not be common knowledge across every outlet, but unless Goedeke has some serious regression in 2024, it’s highly doubtful that Tampa Bay would be spending their top pick in next year’s draft on his replacement.

You can see Jones’ full first-round mock draft at Pro Football Network here.

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Steelers land game-changing WR in new 2025 mock draft

The Steelers haven’t selected a wide receiver in the first round since 2006.

If things continue as they are, the Pittsburgh Steelers will be in the market for a wide receiver in the 2025 offseason. The team will have plenty of money to spend, and there will be high-profile free agents to consider, possibly including Tee Higgins and CeeDee Lamb.

But maybe the Steelers won’t want to spend the exorbitant amount of money elite receivers are commanding. They could instead look to the 2025 NFL draft. That’s the direction Pro Football Network went in their new mock draft.

PFN has the Steelers selecting Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka with the No. 15 overall pick.

Emeka Egbuka is a technician who is a high-floor prospect. With smooth route running, the Ohio State Buckeyes WR has the skill set to be a top-tier slot option in the NFL, where he can utilize his quick footwork, advanced intelligence, and space manipulation.

Egbuka could have declared for the 2024 NFL draft and been a first-round pick if not for an injury. He has a chance to come back this season healthy and hopefully with better quarterback play.

Looking over the rest of the first round, it would be tough to pass Egbuka given the options. The Steelers are going to need a complete receiver who can start as a rookie.

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Early mock drafts have Bucs targeting top WR prospects in 2025

Early projections for the 2025 NFL draft have the Tampa Bay Buccaneers going after one of this year’s top pass-catchers

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers already have one of the best veteran wide receiver tandems in the NFL in Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, but will that keep them from targeting another elite pass-catcher at the top of next year’s draft?

The answer is no, according to many of the early first-round projections for the 2025 NFL draft, which routinely have the Bucs targeting one of next year’s top-end receiver prospects.

According to the Mock Draft Database, the players most often connected with the Bucs in early mock drafts are Missouri wide receiver Luther Burden III and Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan.

Most of these mock drafts have the Bucs picking somewhere in the teens, and considering both Burden and McMillan have legit top-10 potential, either of them could be viewed as a steal at this point, though it’s obviously extremely early in the process.

The Bucs have some promising young talent behind Evans and Godwin at the moment (Trey Palmer, Jalen McMillan, Rakim Jarrett), but with Evans turning 32 years old next year and Godwin playing on the final year of his current contract in 2024, it wouldn’t be shocking to see them spend their first-round pick next year on another blue-chip receiver.

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Steelers go way off script in new 2025 mock draft

This new mock draft misses the mark for the Steelers.

Every year, the first round of the NFL draft is like the Wild West. Unpredictability is the most predictable thing about it. One team that typically doesn’t subscribe to this philosophy is the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Typically by the time the draft gets here, the Steelers have it down to a couple of players and it’s no secret to anyone. Knowing this, it’s why we struggled with this new one-round mock draft from Pro Football Network.

They have the Steelers selecting Tennessee edge defender James Pearce Jr. with the No. 15 overall pick. Here’s what they had to say about the selection:

The Pittsburgh Steelers find a gift at pick No. 15 and further bolster an already strong edge group, bringing in a defensive heat-seeking missile in James Pearce Jr.

While slightly undersized at 242 pounds, his burst off the end and dominant length at 6’5″ should earn him early-round capital. Landing in Pittsburgh allows him to develop while surrounded by talented and experienced rushers to learn from.

While we appreciate that Pearce is a value at No. 15, the Steelers have obvious needs at cornerback and wide receiver, and there are some great ones still on the board.

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Bucs steal elite WR prospect in latest 2025 NFL mock draft

See who the Tampa Bay Buccaneers land in this early first-round projection for the 2025 NFL draft

We’ve still got a few weeks of quiet before NFL training camps kick off across the league, and some are filling that space with early projections for next year’s draft.

The latest 2025 NFL mock draft comes from NFL Spin Zone, and it has the Tampa Bay Buccaneers landing quite a steal with their first-round selection.

This projection has the Bucs picking at No. 15 overall, and they manage to snatch Missouri wide receiver Luther Burden III. Here’s how they broke down the pick:

In the 2024 NFL Draft, the wide receiver position was arguably the best in the draft, at least in terms of the top-end prospects. The 2025 draft class doesn’t have Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers, and Rome Odunze – top 10 overall prospects – but a guy like Luther Burden is going to come in and make an immediate impact at the NFL level.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers re-signed veteran Mike Evans to a long-term deal this offseason, but Chris Godwin will be a free agent after the 2024 season and Burden could end up being the ideal replacement.

Even if the Bucs were to bring back Godwin on a short-term extension, Mike Evans will turn 32 next season, so they’ll have to think about adding top-end talent at receiver either way.

Burden has routinely been a top-10 lock in most early mock drafts, with many slotting him as a top-five pick. If he were to fall to the Bucs in the middle of the first round, it would be an easy pick.

To check out the full first-round mock draft at NFL Spin Zone, click here.

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