Tag: mock draft

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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Projected spot for Deone Walker in an early 2025 NFL mock draft

An early ESPN NFL mock draft has Deone Walker going just outside the top 20.

Defensive lineman Deone Walker leads a very talented group of players on the 2024 Kentucky football roster. He could be one of college football’s best defensive players this season, and could parlay that into an early draft selection next year.

Last season, as a Sopomore, Walker established himself as a force in the middle of the Wildcats defensive line. He was immovable as a run stuffer, but also showed an ability to rush the passer, recording 7.5 sacks. His 12.5 tackles for a loss were also impressive.

Related: Four-star edge Javeon Campbell commits to Kentucky

Walker is mostly expected to be a first round draft pick next year, provided he continues to develop. How high could he go? Some think he’s a future top ten pick. On Tuesday, ESPN’s Matt Miller released a mock draft of his own, and had Walker going 21st to the Miami Dolphins. He said this about the pick:

If you like Derrick Brown and Dexter Lawrence, you’re going to love Walker. The 6-foot-6, 348-pounder is an anchor in the middle of the Kentucky defensive line but also has the quickness and agility to get after the quarterback, notching 7.5 sacks in 2023. He would immediately plug the nose tackle hole in Miami, allowing speedy edge rushers Jaelan Phillips, Chop Robinson and Bradley Chubb more true one-on-one looks coming off the corner.

Defensive tackles generally don’t get picked high without some pass rush ability, but Walker might do it well enough to get inside the top 20. Miller think he is close.

Panthers land Patrick Mahomes in ultimate 7-round NFL mock draft

Talk about a fantasy . . .

Quarterback problem solved . . . but not really.

For the third consecutive offseason, NFL.com draft analyst Chad Reuter built an ultimate seven-round mock draft—throwing all of the league’s players into one big pool to choose from with the objective being to “win now!” The exercise used 2023’s records for its snaked draft order, giving the 2-15 Panthers the No. 1 overall selection.

And with that pick, Reuter gets Carolina the best quarterback on the planet—Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes:

No surprise here. The strong-armed, mobile playmaker is the top pick in this exercise for the second straight year, fresh off his third Super Bowl title in six years as a starter.

The thrice-named Super Bowl Most Valuable Player is fresh off capturing the Chiefs their second Lombardi Trophy in the past three years. His list of accolades also include a pair of league MVPs, an Offensive Player of the Year award, two First-team All-Pro selections and six Pro Bowl nods.

Oh, and he’s turning 29 years old on Sept. 17—so get used to the success if you aren’t already.

Reuter rounds out Carolina’s haul with the following selections:

  • Round 2 (64th overall): WR Jaylen Waddle
  • Round 3 (65th overall): DE Danielle Hunter
  • Round 4 (128th overall): OT Tyron Smith
  • Round 5 (129th overall): DT Javon Hargrave
  • Round 6 (192nd overall): CB Kenny Moore
  • Round 7 (193rd overall): WR Rome Odunze

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2025 NFL mock draft: Commanders land star left tackle in Round 1

Washington finds its left tackle in this way-too-early 2025 mock draft.

The Washington Commanders had a massive hole at left tackle heading into the 2024 NFL draft. However, with the No. 2 overall pick and needing a quarterback, Washington selected Jayden Daniels.

Understanding the need to protect the new quarterback, the Commanders attempted to move back into the first round and select an offensive tackle in what was a deep class for the position. Feeling the cost was too high, Washington traded down in the second round, meaning it would have three second-round picks and two third-round picks.

With its three second-round picks, the Commanders selected Illinois defensive tackle Johnny Newton, cornerback Mike Sainristil and Kansas State tight end Ben Sinnott.

With their first third-round pick, Washington selected offensive lineman Brandon Coleman. The goal is for Coleman to compete with veteran Cornelius Lucas at left tackle.

But what if Coleman can’t beat out Lucas? That means the Commanders will once again be looking for a left tackle in the 2025 NFL draft.

Speaking of the 2025 NFL draft, Matt Miller of ESPN recently unveiled a new mock draft. He has Washington picking fifth (Miller used ESPN’s Football Power Index for the potential draft order) and finally finding its left tackle.

The player: Texas offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr.

If the draft were tomorrow, we’d be talking about left tackle and edge rusher as massive needs for the Commanders. That could change between now and April, but general manager Adam Peters could definitely address the blind side of the line; Washington has to protect quarterback Jayden Daniels after allowing 65 sacks last season (tied for second most). Banks is a prototypical left tackle with a powerful 324-pound frame, and the junior has allowed just two sacks over his two full seasons starting for the Longhorns.

If Washington struggles again this season, you can bet drafting a tackle would be a high priority. Even if Coleman proves to be an answer at offensive tackle, the Commanders will need two tackles next offseason. Banks could prove difficult to pass up. The 6-foot-4, 324-pound Banks is a smooth athlete with excellent footwork who Washington could pair with Daniels for the next decade.

The Commanders hope Coleman proves he’s the answer so they can focus on other positions, such as adding a dynamic edge rusher.

Way-too-early 2025 NFL mock draft features only one Alabama player

ESPN’s early 2025 NFL mock draft features one Alabama player… and it’s not who you think.

The 2025 NFL draft is still a long time from now. Before then, we must first get through the 2024 seasons for both the NFL and college football. However, mock drafts can give fans an idea of which players are on the first-round radar. For the Alabama Crimson Tide, there’s only one.

According to NFL draft expert Matt Miller of ESPN, star Crimson Tide quarterback Jalen Milroe is not projected to be selected in the first round of the 2025 draft. Instead, Miller believes offensive lineman Tyler Booker is a player to look out for.

In Miller’s way-too-early 2025 NFL mock draft (subscription required), Booker is projected to land with the Baltimore Ravens with the No. 29 overall pick.

“The Ravens lost guards John Simpson and Kevin Zeitler to free agency and did very little to replace them, relying now on backup Ben Cleveland and former seventh-rounder Andrew Vorhees,” writes Miller. “Booker, meanwhile, is the best guard in the nation and would have likely been the top true guard in the 2024 draft class had he been eligible. He’s powerful and pancakes defensive linemen with ease. In 2023, he surrendered just four pressures and one sack over 13 starts at left guard. This is the type of no-nonsense interior blocker whom the Ravens covet.”

There’s no doubt that Booker has the talent to be a first-round selection. His name has consistently appeared in early mock drafts. However, it does come as somewhat of a surprise to see Milroe’s name excluded from the first 32 picks.

Numerous quarterbacks from programs all across the nation are referenced in the mock draft, including some from SEC rivals.

It is important to mention a few things to fans who wonder why Milroe was left off. First of all, this is a projection. It’s very early and even mock drafts that are done just hours before the actual draft are off by a fair number of picks. Also, Milroe is a talented quarterback who steadily improved throughout the 2023 season. Under Kalen DeBoer in 2024, he will surely have all the tools needed to excel. Expect projections to change, it’s natural.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Alabama football news and projections as the 2024 college football season approaches.

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. 

2025 NFL mock draft: Bucs make polarizing 1st-round pick

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

If you’re a fan of way-too-early projections for the NFL draft, you’re in luck, because ESPN’s Matt Miller has a fresh first-round mock draft for 2025 that just hit the digital newsstands.

Miller has the Tampa Bay Buccaneers picking at No. 12 overall, and using that selection on LSU’s Harold Perkins, one of the more intriguing defensive prospects in next year’s draft class.

Perkins has been shuffled between edge defender and off-ball linebacker throughout his time in Baton Rouge so far, and we’re still no closer to finding out where his best position fit might be for the next level.

Here’s what Miller had to say about the pick:

Perkins was misused at linebacker last season, but he will move back to edge rusher in new defensive coordinator Blake Baker’s scheme this year. And we could see him use his great speed to eclipse his 13 career sacks this season alone. That might entice the Buccaneers, who are looking for a defensive end to break out and emerge as a true threat to opposing offenses. Veteran Shaquil Barrett is gone in free agency, and Tampa Bay’s 27.3% pressure rate ranked 24th in the league last season, so adding to this group could be a frontline need come next offseason.

Perkins’ overall skill set might be more effective as an edge rusher in the college ranks, but he’s currently listed at 6-1 and 220 pounds, which is already light for an off-ball linebacker, let alone an NFL edge player.

Unless Perkins is able to bulk up and still retain his explosiveness, he could have a hard time finding the right spot at the next level that would warrant first-round consideration.

To check out Miller’s full first-round mock for the 2025 NFL draft, click here.

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Panthers trade for top WR prospect in ESPN’s early 2025 NFL mock draft

ESPN’s Matt Miller lays out a dream scenario for the Panthers in his early 2025 mock draft.

A bumpy 2025 campaign may be worth the time for the Carolina Panthers.

ESPN NFL draft analyst and insider Matt Miller published his early first-round projections for the 2025 draft on Tuesday morning. Unfortunately for the Panthers, they’re forecasted to secure the second-worst record on the year—giving them the No. 2 overall pick of the event.

But Miller makes the most out of the compensation, trading Carolina down to the eighth selection on the board for University of Missouri receiver Luther Burden III:

In this scenario, the Panthers are able to move back and still land a playmaker, continuing to focus on building an offensive support system around Bryce Young after investing in guards Damien Lewis and Robert Hunt this offseason. Burden is the most explosive player in college football — he averaged 14.1 yards per catch and had 1,212 yards on 86 receptions last season — and brings a Deebo Samuel-like ability to make defenders miss post-catch. And he does it with legitimate 4.3 speed. Pairing Burden with Diontae Johnson and 2024 second-rounder Xavier Legette would give Young the type of wideouts he needs to excel.

Burden is currently regarded as the top wideout prospect in the upcoming class. The dynamic 5-foot-11, 208-pounder amassed 86 receptions for 1,212 yards and nine touchdowns en route to a First-team All-SEC selection in 2023.

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Ravens add an All-American offensive guard in ESPN’s early 2025 mock draft

Matt Miller released an early 2025 NFL mock draft for ESPN and the Baltimore Ravens landed Alabama offensive guard Tyler Booker in Round 1

The Ravens have a loaded squad with Super Bowl aspirations, but it’s never too early for a look ahead to the 2025 NFL draft.

Baltimore reloaded the offensive line this past April, selecting Washington All-American offensive tackle Roger Rosengarten with their second-round pick. ESPN’s Matt Miller just revealed his first mock draft for 2025, and he has the Ravens landing an All-American offensive guard from Alabama and the SEC.

29. Baltimore Ravens
Tyler Booker, G, Alabama*

The Ravens lost guards John Simpson and Kevin Zeitler to free agency and did very little to replace them, relying now on backup Ben Cleveland and former seventh-rounder Andrew Vorhees. Booker, meanwhile, is the best guard in the nation and would have likely been the top true guard in the 2024 draft class had he been eligible. He’s powerful and pancakes defensive linemen with ease. In 2023, he surrendered just four pressures and one sack over 13 starts at left guard. This is the type of no-nonsense interior blocker whom the Ravens covet.

Booker and Andrew Vorhees would give Baltimore two young, athletic offensive guards for the future while solidifying the offensive line for years to come outside of the left tackle spot currently manned by Ronnie Stanley.

Pattern starting to emerge for Steelers in 2025 NFL mock drafts

Steelers land playmaking defensive back in new mock draft.

It feels like a pattern is starting to emerge when it comes to early 2025 NFL mock drafts when it comes to the Pittsburgh Steelers. In more and more drafts, the Steelers are selecting Georgia safety Malaki Starks.

This is the case in the newest mock draft on the Pro Football Network. They have the Steelers choosing the Georgia star with he No. 14 overall pick.

There are no guarantees when it comes to the NFL Draft, but Malaki Starks is as close to a first-round lock as you can find from a safety prospect. He isn’t just another playmaker on Georgia’s star-studded defense; he’s the leader of the unit.

Just looking over the picks taken after Starks, there are several other very interesting prospects on the board. First off you have Colorado’s Travis Hunter. He has All-Pro potential as a cornerback and wide receiver.

Another name to keep an eye on is Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka. If not for an injury last season, he could have declared and been among the four big receivers in the draft.

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2025 NFL mock draft: Bucs land another explosive pass rusher

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

If you’re interested in early projections for the 2025 NFL draft, there’s a new mock draft for next year up at Tankathon, and it has the Tampa Bay Buccaneers adding another dynamic edge rusher to their defensive ranks.

This first-round forecast has the Bucs owning the No. 13 overall pick, which they use on Penn State’s Abdul Carter.

Carter played off the ball last season, but will be making the transition to edge defender in 2024. Much like fellow Nittany Lion Micah Parsons, Carter is an impressive athlete whose explosiveness might make him more valuable chasing quarterbacks off the edge than playing at the second level.

The Bucs just spent a second-round pick in this year’s draft on Alabama’s Chris Braswell, and they have a young stud in Yaya Diaby who led the team with 7.5 sacks as a rookie in 2023. But former first-rounder Joe Tryon-Shoyinka is facing a make-or-break season this year after his fifth-round option was declined, so it wouldn’t be shocking to see Tampa Bay spend more premium resources to upgrade their pass rush.

To check out the full first-round mock draft at Tankathon, click here.

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