Tag: nfl mock draft

NFL mock draft from ESPN doesn’t have Travis Hunter No. 1 overall

There’s a good reason why.

By now, you know the drill.

The top player in college football doesn’t ALWAYS go No. 1 overall in the NFL Draft, mostly because QB-starved teams trade up or draft a quarterback.

So while Colorado’s Travis Hunter is a Heisman Trophy favorite and a player who might go No. 1 — he was in our latest NFL mock draft from Christian D’Andrea — the newest ESPN mock from Matt Miller had a different Colorado star going first.

That would be Shedeur Sanders, and that’s because he projected the New York Giants trading up with the Jaguars to No. 1. It makes sense to connect Sanders with the Giants as other mocks have, and here’s his take:

I have the Giants going big to fix their quarterback situation, giving Jacksonville their second- and third-round picks in 2025, plus a 2026 second-rounder, to move up from No. 3. It gets New York out in front of Cleveland, which could also be looking at the QB class, and crucially doesn’t involve any future first-round picks. And the Jaguars, meanwhile, collect valuable draft capital to restock a roster in desperate need of repair.

Intriguing! Make sure to check out our latest NFL mock draft from D’Andrea!

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NFL mock draft from CBS has the Giants trading up for Shedeur Sanders in 2025

This makes some sense for the Giants.

Things aren’t looking up for the New York Giants this year with Daniel Jones getting benched and the team struggling mightily.

But that means they could end up with a top 2025 NFL Draft pick and a chance to start over at the quarterback position.

Our 2025 mock from Christian D’Andrea had the Giants taking Georgia’s Carson Beck at No. 5, but in the latest NFL mock draft from CBS Sports’ Ryan Wilson, he’s got the Giants trading up a couple of spots with the Tennessee Titans to get Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders.

That’s intriguing. What’s the thinking there? Here’s his take on the trade:

The Daniel Jones experiment is almost certainly over after his benching, so the Giants decide to trade up, leapfrog the Raiders and get their next franchise QB. And while Sanders’ father has made it known he will (understandably) have a say on where his son lands, New York feels like a natural fit. In part because it’s the biggest media market in the country, and in part because of Brian Daboll’s track record with helping to develop Josh Allen.

Make sure to check out the latest 2025 NFL mock draft from our Christian D’Andrea!

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49ers make apparent strength stronger in Draft Wire mock

The 49ers get a fascinating CB prospect in this Draft Wire mock:

It looks like the San Francisco 49ers might be committing to a philosophical change in the way they build their defense.

That became apparent when the club used a second-round pick on cornerback Renardo Green in the 2024 draft, and then in the middle of the 2024 season extended fourth-year CB Deommodore Lenoir on a five-year contract. It was a different type of investment in cornerback than we’ve seen from a club that has typically prioritized its defensive line and pass rush.

A new first-round mock draft from our friends at Draft Wire illustrate how that potential change in team-building style could manifest in the 2025 draft.

Draft Wire has the 49ers committing further to their secondary and adding East Carolina cornerback Shavon Revel.

Revel is listed at a massive 6-foot-3, 193 pounds. In 24 games with East Carolina he racked up 71 tackles, four tackles for loss, 1.0 sacks, three interceptions, and 16 pass breakups. He also blocked a pair of kicks during the 2023 campaign.

While he checks a lot of boxes as a prospect, including a physical playing style that should fit in well with San Francisco, he comes with a major injury red flag. Revel tore his ACL during a September practice, which puts his status for the start of the 2025 season in question, and raises questions about how well he’d play after recovering from that injury.

On the other hand, the 49ers may be in a spot where they can afford to take a talent sliding down the draft board because of an injury. With Green and Lenoir figuring to hold down two starting spots, the 49ers could ease Revel into action.

For 49ers fans the idea of taking a player coming off an ACL tear may be off-putting given some of the organization’s failures in that area during the early-to-mid 2010s, but Revel is a top-flight talent who could round out an excellent young group of cornerbacks.

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Bengals tackle need they failed to add at deadline in new mock draft

The Bengals right some wrongs in a new mock draft.

The Cincinnati Bengals made an in-season trade for just the second time in the last 50 years. Getting to 4-5 gave them some hope for the playoffs and with Zack Moss getting injured, the Bengals had a need for another running back behind Chase Brown. They filled that need by acquiring Khalil Herbert from the Chicago Bears.

Where the Bengals didn’t make a move that some thought they would was along the defensive line, particularly pass rush. Trey Hendrickson leads the league with 11 sacks. The flip side is no other Bengal has more than two. As a result, the Bengals are tied for the fifth-fewest sacks in the league with 17. For context, the Giants lead the league with 35.

Fortunately for the Bengals, future help can come via the draft. Bleacher Report recently did a new mock draft for 2025 following the trade deadline and gave the Bengals some defensive front help. At pick No. 13, the Bengals took Walter Nolen, defensive lineman from Ole Miss.

Here’s what the B/R Scouting Department wrote about the pick:

B.J. Hill has played well. Otherwise, the rest of Cincinnati’s defensive tackles are marginal. Additionally, fellow starter Sheldon Rankins is set to be a free agent after this season.

Another talented body for the middle of the defense could go a long way toward making this group far more effective. Ole Miss’ Walter Nolen may be the nation’s most explosive defensive tackle. Going into this past weekend, the Texas A&M transfer ranked among college football’s best defensive tackles in pass-rush win rate against true pass sets.

With Nolen, Hill, Trey Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard, Cincinnati would be able to win one-on-one matchups across the entire defensive front and make like far more difficult on opposing quarterbacks when the Bengals establish a lead.

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Kentucky’s Deone Walker still a first round pick in two NFL mock drafts

Kentucky’s Deone Walker is a projected first round draft pick in two new NFL mock drafts.

Kentucky football is not having the season they wanted or expected. After their loss to their loss to the Tennessee Volunteers in week ten, they’re 3 – 6 on the year, and have lost four straight.

They do, however, have some players who have performed well, and guys who are legitimate NFL Draft prospects. One of those is massive defensive lineman Deone Walker, who is projected to be an early pick by most analysts.

Related: Kentucky must win three straight to make a bowl game

Walker had a coming out party in 2023, displaying quickness and pass rush ability that don’t normally come with a guy that’s 345 lbs. He’s not having the same statistical season this year, but he’s still a potential first round pick, and two recent mock drafts, still have him there.

CBS Sports

CBS draft anaylist Chris Trapasso projects Walker to be selected 28th overall by the Minnesota Vikings. Here’s what he said about the pick:

The Vikings add an enormous and athletic defensive tackle to make life easier for their outside rushers in Brian Flores’ blitz-obsessed scheme.

Bleacher Report

The Bleacher Report scouting team also put together a new mock draft and are a little higher on Walker. They have him being selected 23rd overall by the Green Bay Packers.

The Green Bay Packers might be the ideal landing spot for Walker. Kenny Clark, who turns 30 next season, could serve as a mentor for him. Meanwhile, T.J. Slaton is a free agent after this season. Walker could be worked into the rotation as he learns to be a professional.

2 NFL mock drafts have Travis Hunter going No. 1 overall in 2025

Seems like he’s a consensus No. 1.

It’s pretty obvious Travis Hunter and his two-way prowess for Colorado proves that he’s an incredible athlete. Maybe that means a Heisman Trophy is in his future.

But where could he end up in the 2025 NFL Draft? And will he play both cornerback and wide receiver in the league? Our latest mock from our Christian D’Andrea had him going No. 1 overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars, an intriguing pairing with Brian Thomas Jr. And in a Bleacher Report mock, he’s the No. 1 pick where the site writes he “could primarily be a cornerback, although he should also contribute as part of certain offensive packages.”

Over at CBS, he’s also No. 1 to the Patriots, where Chris Trapasso they “could use a receiver jolt to pair with Drake Maye.”

That’s it! Make sure to check out our latest 2025 NFL mock draft!

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NFL mock draft: 49ers upgrade most important defensive position with Georgia star

A 2025 mock draft has the 49ers adding pass rush help:

Next year’s NFL draft will be fascinating and extremely important for the San Francisco 49ers.

The 49ers are in a transition period with their roster where they’ll need to start finding replacements for some of the veteran stars that have helped carry them for the the last half decade. They need to start hitting on first-round picks and finding some superstars to replenish a roster that has been one of the NFL’s best for the last five years.

Barring a change in defensive philosophy, it wouldn’t be a surprise if they tried to find pass rush help with their first-round choice in the 2025 draft. That’s the exact route they go in a mock draft from Cory Kinnan at Daft on Draft. He has the 49ers snagging Georgia edge rusher Mykel Williams with the No. 17 overall pick.

Via Daft on Draft:

Teams are going to love Mykel Williams. Even if he hasn’t hit his max potential at Georgia, and even if he has had some issues staying healthy and on the field. Williams is explosive as hell, built in a lab, and possesses massive 36-inch arms with the bend to win along the outside track as well.

There aren’t many things the 49ers love more than an edge rusher with measurables and high-caliber tools, although the injury issues may scare them off.

Williams in three seasons has played in 33 games, posting 11.0 sacks and 19 tackles for loss. Pro Football Focus credits him with 68 pressures. Perhaps the more notable thing that would make Williams so enticing for San Francisco is that he’s graded out very well as a run defender which would allow him to stay on the field for all three downs – something the 49ers will surely want from a first-round selection. There’s also a chance at Williams’ size that he could also contribute as an interior pass rusher.

There are other needs the 49ers could theoretically address in the first round of next year’s draft, but don’t be surprised if their pick goes toward a high-upside edge rusher like Williams.

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49ers find new starter to fill weakest position in NFL mock draft

The 49ers once again have a need at OT entering the draft.

The San Francisco 49ers were widely expected to use their first-round pick in the 2024 draft on an offensive tackle, but they forewent that choice and kicked the can down the road on addressing the biggest hole in their roster.

Instead of making an upgrade over right tackle Colton McKivitz, the 49ers picked wide receiver Ricky Pearsall at No. 31 overall. Then they took cornerback Renardo Green in Round 2 before finally selecting offensive lineman Dominick Puni in the third round.

Puni played OT in college, but moved to right guard with the 49ers where he has thrived. San Francisco didn’t do more to address the right tackle position in the draft, leaving McKivitz to duke it out with veterans Chris Hubbard and Brandon Parker in camp. McKivitz won out without any real competition from the two vets.

A new mock draft from Pro Football Focus has the 49ers making the offensive line selection they forewent a year ago. With the No. 17 pick, they select OT Cameron Williams out of the University of Texas:

Things have looked better along the 49ers’ offensive line as of late, but they should still monitor potential upgrades. Williams is just a one-year starter at right tackle for Texas this season, but the 6-foot-5, 335-pounder possesses rare movement skills, balance and length. San Francisco could view him as an upgrade over Colton McKivitz at right tackle.

While Williams may check the boxes for measurables and athleticism, his lack of experience may be a problem for a 49ers team that cares less about ceiling in its offensive lineman and more about their ability to step in and be effective right away.

Williams entered the 2024 season with just one start in his career, and he’s started all eight of Texas’s games this season. He’ll be sitting on something around 14 or 15 career starts by the end of the year.

Perhaps he shows enough in his time as a starter this season to give a team like the 49ers confidence he’s a surefire upgrade at RT. Whether they take an offensive lineman in the first-round remains to be seen, but it’s a relative certainty that OT will be their biggest position of need when the draft begins.

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NFL mock draft from Sports Illustrated has a QB not named Shedeur Sanders to the Panthers

Shedeur wasn’t the top QB off the board here.

Obviously, the buzziest name in the 2025 NFL Draft is Shedeur Sanders, the Colorado QB who is Deion’s son and who could go as the top quarterback off the board.

Our 2025 mock from Christian D’Andrea had Sanders to the Carolina Panthers. But in the latest mock draft from Sports Illustrated, it’s Miami’s Cam Ward who is the top QB, with him going No. 2 to the Panthers. Sanders goes No. 3 in this scenario to the Cleveland Browns, which we’ve seen before.

So what’s the deal with Ward here? It’s a sign that the Panthers have given up on Bryce Young. Here’s more from SI’s Daniel Flick:

The Panthers benched 2023 No. 1 pick Bryce Young after just two games, and veteran backup Andy Dalton is 1–4 in his five starts. Carolina’s offense is No. 28 in the NFL in passing and, if it continues down the path of giving up on Young, will need a new long-term answer under center. Enter Ward, who leads college football in passing yards (2,538) and touchdowns (24) while completing 68.7% of his passes.

Be sure to check out the latest 2025 NFL mock draft from our Christian D’Andrea!

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NFL mock draft from CBS has 4 QBs in top-12 including Shedeur Sanders

So many QBs!

Will Shedeur Sanders be the first QB taken off the board in the 2025 NFL Draft? Seems like that’s where the needle is pointing right now as we saw in the newest ESPN NFL mock draft, which had Sanders going to the Cleveland Browns.

Our 2025 mock from Christian D’Andrea had Sanders to the Carolina Panthers. But the latest NFL mock draft from CBS also had Sanders to the Browns at No. 2, and there were three other QBs taken in the top-12: Miami’s Cam Ward to the Panthers, Georgia’s Carson Beck to the Raiders and Texas’s Quinn Ewers to the Giants.

Here’s the take on Sanders to the Browns from Josh Edwards:

Cleveland has overcommitted resources to a team going nowhere with Deshaun Watson as its quarterback. Shedeur Sanders is a potential way out for the franchise, but it loses the benefits of a quarterback on a rookie contract as they push Watson’s dead money forward.

Make sure to check out the latest 2025 NFL mock draft from our Christian D’Andrea!

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