Field Yates NFL Mock Draft 2025: Shedeur Sanders to Giants, Travis Hunter to Patriots

Quarterbacks came off the board with the first two picks in the 2025 NFL mock draft released by ESPN's Field Yates on Wednesday.

Yates projected Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders to go first overall to the New York Giants and Miami quarterback Cam Ward to go No. 2 to the Las Vegas Raiders, followed by Colorado two-way superstar and likely Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter falling to the New England Patriots at No. 3.

Here is a full rundown of the top 10 selections from Yates' mock:

1. New York Giants: Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado

2. Las Vegas Raiders: Cam Ward, QB, Miami

3. New England Patriots: Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado

4. Carolina Panthers: Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State

5. Cleveland Browns: Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas

6. New York Jets: Mason Graham, DT, Michigan

7. Tennessee Titans: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona

8. Jacksonville Jaguars: Will Johnson, CB, Michigan

9. Chicago Bears: Will Campbell, OT, LSU

10. New Orleans Saints: Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia

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The 2025 NFL draft class has not been as heralded as much for quarterbacks as 2024, which saw signal-callers come off the board with the first three picks and with six of the first 12 selections.

Even so, there are a few teams with glaring needs at quarterback, and it seems likely that they will jump at the chance to take one early should the opportunity arise.

The Giants gave Daniel Jones one more chance to establish himself as a franchise quarterback this season, but they ended up releasing him instead, leaving them with Drew Lock and Tommy DeVito.

If the G-Men end up with the No. 1 overall pick, it is hard to imagine them doing anything other than taking a quarterback, and Sanders seems to have the upper hand in the race to be the first quarterback off the board presently.

The son of Pro Football Hall of Fame cornerback and University of Colorado head football coach Deion Sanders, Shedeur has put up big numbers in his two seasons at the FBS level.

Through 12 games this season, Sanders is completing 74.2 percent of his passes for 3,926 yards, 35 touchdowns and eight interceptions, while also rushing for four scores for a Buffaloes team that had its first winning record over a full season since 2016.

The Raiders have just as big of a need at quarterback after the signings of veterans Jimmy Garoppolo and Gardner Minshew fell flat each of the past two offseasons.

Ward has something of a nomadic college football career, playing at Incarnate Word, Washington State and Miami, but he finally found a home with the Hurricanes.

Although Miami barely missed out on a spot in the ACC Championship Game and the College Football Playoff, Ward played his way into being a Heisman Trophy finalist by completing 67.4 percent of his passing attempts for 4,123 yards, 36 touchdowns and seven picks. He also rushed for 196 yards and four more touchdowns.

The biggest beneficiary in the 2025 draft may be the first team picking that doesn't need a quarterback.

In Yates' scenario, that is the Patriots, who are hopeful they got their franchise quarterback in the 2024 draft when they took North Carolina's Drake Maye third overall.

Maye has shown flashes of brilliance, but he lacks a clear No. 1 option in the passing game, which could be where Hunter comes in.

It isn't yet clear if Hunter will primarily be wide receiver or cornerback at the next level since he plays both positions excellently, but New England undoubtedly has a bigger need at wideout.

Hunter went off to the tune of 92 receptions for 1,152 yards and 14 touchdowns this season, not to mention his cornerback production with 32 tackles, four interceptions and 11 passes defended.

While it feels like Hunter is the best overall player in the draft, quarterback needs could push him down a bit, which would play right into the Patriots' hands, as it would give them the dynamic playmaker they so sorely lack.

Once bowl season ends, draft prospects will prepare for the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis from Feb. 27 through March 2, followed by the 2025 NFL draft in Green Bay from April 24 to April 26.