Field Yates NFL Mock Draft 2025: Hunter to Titans, Ward to Giants, Sanders to Raiders

In his first 2025 NFL mock draft since Super Bowl LIX, ESPN's Field Yates projected the Tennessee Titans and Cleveland Browns to pass on quarterbacks with the top two selections despite their need under center.

Yates has the Titans going with Colorado wide receiver and cornerback Travis Hunter at No. 1 overall to the Titans and Penn State pass-rusher Abdul Carter going second overall to the Cleveland Browns.

The quarterbacks won't have to wait long in Yates' estimation, though, as he has the New York Giants taking Miami's Cam Ward third overall and the Las Vegas Raiders selecting Colorado's Shedeur Sanders sixth overall.

Here is a rundown of the top 10 picks in Yates' latest mock:

1. Tennessee Titans: Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado

2. Cleveland Browns: Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State

3. New York Giants: Cam Ward, QB, Miami

4. New England Patriots: Will Campbell, OT, LSU

5. Jacksonville Jaguars: Mason Graham, DT, Michigan

6. Las Vegas Raiders: Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado

7. New York Jets: Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia

8. Carolina Panthers: Jalon Walker, EDGE/LB, Georgia

9. New Orleans Saints: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona

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

The Titans struggled due largely to poor quarterback play in 2024, as Will Levis and Mason Rudolph combined to throw 22 touchdown passes and 21 interceptions.

Because of that, they are a prime candidate to go quarterback No. 1 overall, but the organization is seemingly putting out some signals that they won't reach for a quarterback if they believe better players are available in the draft.

Last month, Titans president of football operations Chad Brinker said the franchise won't "pass on a generational talent," which many interpreted to mean that they won't force a quarterback pick.

Hunter may be the generational talent Brinker was referencing, as he won the Heisman Trophy by virtue of racking up 96 receptions for 1,258 yards and 15 touchdowns as a receiver, and 36 tackles, four interceptions and 11 passes defended as a cornerback.

It seems unlikely that Hunter will be asked to play on both sides of the ball with regularity at the NFL level, but the fact that he has that type of versatility undoubtedly adds to his value.

With the Browns passing on the quarterbacks for the draft's top pass-rusher in Carter, Yates has Ward falling to the quarterback-needy Giants at No. 3 overall.

Ward was at or near the top of the Heisman Trophy race until the latter part of the 2024 season when the Hurricanes suffered a couple of losses that kept them out of the College Football Playoff.

Even so, Ward finished fourth in the Heisman voting by virtue of completing 67.2 percent of his passes for 4,313 yards, 39 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

The Giants cut ties with quarterback Daniel Jones in the middle of the 2024 season, which speaks to the fact that they will be all in on finding their next franchise quarterback if they believe one exists in this draft class.

If any team needs a quarterback as badly as the Giants, it may be the Raiders, who Yates has taking Sanders at No. 6 overall.

Playing under his father, Pro Football Hall of Fame cornerback Deion Sanders, Shedeur had two huge seasons at Colorado.

After completing 69.3 percent of his passing attempts for 3,230 yards, 27 touchdowns and three interceptions for a 4-8 Buffaloes team in 2023, Sanders helped Colorado improve to 9-4 last season by virtue of completing 74.0 percent of his passes for 4,134 yards, 37 touchdowns and 10 picks.

Neither Gardner Minshew nor Aidan O'Connell got the job done for the Raiders last season, and with a new regime at head coach and general manager in place, it stands to reason that Vegas would like to bring in a new franchise quarterback as well.

Other notable picks outside the top 10 in Yates' mock include Penn State tight end Tyler Warren to the Indianapolis Colts at No. 14, Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty to the Denver Broncos at No. 20 and Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart to the Pittsburgh Steelers at No. 21.

The 2025 NFL draft will be held April 24 through April 26 at the Green Bay Packers' Lambeau Field.