2025 NFL Mock Draft: Post-Pro Bowl Projections for 1st-Round Prospects

While the Philadelphia Eagles and Kansas City Chiefs are preparing to do battle in Super Bowl LIX, other franchises around the league have turned their attention to the future and May's NFL Draft, where they will select players out of college with the hopes of turning them into stars who eventually help them to the grandest stage in pro football.

Ahead who are those players and where might they land in May?

Find out with this early mock draft, including a deeper look at some of the familiar faces who will be selected at the top of the order and whether they are the right fit at their spot.

2025 Mock Draft

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SAN ANTONIO, TX - DECEMBER 28: Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders (2) readies to pass the ball during the football game between BYU Cougars and Colorado Buffalos on December 28, 2024, at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by David Buono/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

1. Tennessee Titans - Cam Ward, QB, Miami

2. Cleveland Browns - Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado

3. New York Giants - Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado

4. New England Patriots - Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona

5. Jacksonville Jaguars - Abdul Carter, DE, Penn State

6. Las Vegas Raiders - Mykal Williams, OLB, Georgia

7. New York Jets - Mason Graham, DT, Michigan

8. Carolina Panthers - Jalon Walker, LB, Georgia

9. New Orleans Saints - Will Johnson, CB, Michigan

10. Chicago Bears - Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas

11. San Francisco 49ers - Will Campbell, OT/G, LSU

12. Dallas Cowboys - Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina

13. Miami Dolphins - Malaki Starks, S, Georgia

14. Indianapolis Colts - Luther Burden, WR, Missouri

15. Atlanta Falcons - Shemar Stewart, DE, Texas A&M

16. Arizona Cardinals - Armand Membou, OT/G, Missouri

17. Cincinnati Bengals - Mike Green, OLB, Marshall

18. Seattle Seahawks - Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina

20. Denver Broncos - Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State

21. Pittsburgh Steelers - Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame

22. Los Angeles Chargers - Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan

23. Green Bay Packers - Tyler Booker, G, Alabama

24. Minnesota Vikings - Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State

25. Houston Texans - Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State

26. Los Angeles Rams - Josh Conerly Jr., OT, Oregon

27. Baltimore Ravens - Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky

28. Detroit Lions - Shavon Revel Jr., CB, East Carolina

29. Washington Commanders - Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss

30. Buffalo Bills - Isiah Bond, WR, Texas

31. Kansas City Chiefs - Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan

32. Philadelphia Eagles - Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State

Are Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders NFL-Ready?

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ORLANDO, FL - DECEMBER 28: Miami Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward (1) reacts after throwing a touchdown pass during the game between the Miami Hurricanes and the Iowa State Cyclones on December 28, 2024 at Camping World Stadium in Orlando, Fl. (Photo by David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The NFL is a quarterback-driven league in which every team that does not have an established No. 1 will look to the draft to correct that problem, sometimes reaching for a player that may have raw tools but not a complete skill set to justify their positioning.

Ahead of May's event, there are questions about Ward and Sanders and whether they are actually quarterbacks worthy of being taken at the top of the first round.

Mel Kiper Jr. admitted in an appearance on SportsCenter that the quarterbacks have been pushed up, leading to both being picked higher. He praised Ward's ability to adapt to new systems and personnel, as well as his accuracy, but did highlight his 30 career interceptions as something he has to work on as he makes the transition from college to the pros.

In a draft profile, Kiper wrote that Sanders is tough, most accurate when rolling right or left, and that he can pick apart a defense "when his mechanics and footwork are sound." Matt Miller of ESPN added that Sanders' weaknesses include his tendency to hold onto the ball too long and throwing the ball over the middle a touch too late.

Both have noticeable areas for improvement in the NFL, begging the question: will either start out of the gate in year one?

Probably, because that is the nature of the league. The teams likely to select them, Tennessee and New York, both badly need an answer at the position and will take Sanders and Ward, even if there are better players available to them at Nos. 1 and 3. And there will be, most notably Adbul Carter and Travis Hunter.

Still, Sanders and Ward will get a chance to be acknowledged as the top two players at their position taken in this year's draft and will arrive with the weight of an entire franchise on their shoulders, especially considering what last year's Heisman winner, Jayden Daniels, did in Washington this year by getting that team to the NFC Championship.

Even if they are more of projects than the LSU export was.

Is Travis Hunter the Best Player in the Draft?

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SAN ANTONIO, TX - DECEMBER 28: Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver Travis Hunter (12) celebrates a long reception during the football game between BYU Cougars and Colorado Buffalos on December 28, 2024, at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. (Photo by David Buono/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Maybe.

Hunter is the best player coming out of college, where he won the Heisman Trophy while excelling as both a wide receiver and defensive back. He has flashed an ability to go get the ball for his quarterback and cover the opposing team's best pass-catcher, making him one of the most intriguing picks in May's Draft.

He has great coverage abilities, clearly having learned from head coach and Pro Football Hall of Fame cornerback Deion Sanders. He has solid hand placement and can tackle, too. There will be teams that find something for him to do offensively, looking to take advantage of his ability to play both ways, but he is a better defensive back and whichever organization select's him in the Draft should realize that and focus on growing and evolving him at that position.

With that said, Adul Carter out of Penn State is an electric pass rusher who is a game-changer. He explodes off the line and can make offensive lineman miss, while also dropping into coverage when need be.

The B/R Scouting Department did note that Carter is a bit raw as an edge rusher and he needs to better recognize blocking in run plays, but his elite athleticism and explosion off the line makes him one of the most intriguing players at the top of this year's draft.

It is not uncommon for the truly best players to be overshadowed by teams in desperate search for a quarterback to solve their offensive woes and this appears to be the case again in 2025.

Which of the two is the best and who ultimately helps their team to more wins and playoff appearances remains to be seen, but Cleveland will have a tough decision on its hands assuming it does not opt for a quarterback at No. 2.