Mel Kiper 2025 NFL Mock Draft: Shedeur Sanders to Jets, Cam Ward to Browns

Even though conventional wisdom suggests the Las Vegas Raiders will draft Shedeur Sanders if the opportunity presents itself, ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. has the Colorado star ending up slightly lower in the 2025 draft.

In his latest mock draft released on Tuesday, Kiper projected Sanders to the New York Jets with the No. 7 overall pick. He is the second quarterback off the board, with Cam Ward ending up with the Cleveland Browns at No. 2.

Mel Kiper Jr. Mock Draft Top 10 Picks

Tennessee Titans: Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State

Cleveland Browns: Cam Ward, QB, Miami

New York Giants: Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado

New England Patriots: Will Campbell, OT, LSU

Jacksonville Jaguars: Mason Graham, DT, Michigan

Las Vegas Raiders: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State

New York Jets: Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado

Carolina Panthers: Jalon Walker, LB, Georgia

New Orleans Saints: Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State

Chicago Bears: Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State

Sanders ending up on the Jets without them having to make a trade up would feel like a huge win for the organization. The common expectation is they would have to get ahead of the Raiders with the sixth pick to have a shot at taking either of the top two quarterbacks in this class.

Kiper noted he did consider Sanders to the Raiders, but suggested they could look at veteran options in free agency and instead gave them Boise State star Ashton Jeanty.

New Raiders head coach Pete Carroll frequently talked about wanting to run the ball during his tenure with the Seattle Seahawks, so it wouldn't be a surprise if he opted for the best running back in the class.

The Jets are another team that is going to be in the quarterback market, either via veteran free agent or in the draft. They've already announced that Aaron Rodgers won't be back in 2025.

Releasing Rodgers with a post-June 1 designation will allow the Jets to spread out his $49 million over the next two seasons.

Drafting Sanders would put the Jets on a rookie quarterback timeline, which is especially convenient with Sauce Gardner and Garrett Wilson both extension-eligible for the first time this offseason.

Ward being the first quarterback off the board for Kiper isn't a surprise. He's generally regarded as the top signal-caller in the 2025 class.

The Browns have to find a cheap option at the position because Deshaun Watson, who could miss all of 2025 after rupturing his Achilles for a second time in January, has a $72.9 million cap hit in each of the next two seasons.

Even though there could be cheap veteran options like Rodgers or Kirk Cousins available to the Browns, betting on players at their age and coming off disappointing seasons would seem foolish when there could be a talented 22-year-old with immense upside on the board in the draft.

Cleveland will be picking in the first round this year for the first time since 2021 as a result of the Watson trade. The Browns are 21-30 over the last three seasons since acquiring Watson.