Re-Drafting Today's Top NFL Veterans in 2025
The NFL doesn't operate like fantasy football, even if many fans and possibly a few teams pretend it is. Poor decisions can impact a franchise for years. Fixing mistakes isn't as simple as drafting a new roster every offseason.
If it was, though, things could get very entertaining. It's a fun idea and one that isn't entirely unprecedented. Fan Controlled Football utilized weekly drafts during its 2021 and 2022 seasons. Such a shake-up of NFL rosters, while perhaps detrimental to jersey sales, would keep every franchise interesting and really aid the league's quest for parity.
How might this kind of draft look in 2025? That's what we'll examine here. Using the current order, we'll examine how the first round of a veteran draft could unfold.
For this hypothetical exercise, we'll stipulate that players selected in the first round of the yearly re-draft will be deemed ineligible for the next four offseasons—adding some weight to factors such as age and durability. Think of it as an automatic "keeper" slot.
The only other rule was that quarterbacks were off-limits. Every other veteran was fair game, and decisions were based on current team needs, scheme fits, player ages and player upside.
1. Tennessee Titans: WR Ja'Marr Chase
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The Tennessee Titans "earned" the first pick in the draft with a 3-14 record. They need a quarterback, and while they're not allowed to pick one here, they're expected to take one in April's draft.
Tennessee is likely to choose between Miami's Cam Ward and Colorado's Shedeur Sanders.
The Titans will want to set up their rookie QB for quick success, and they could do so by grabbing a true No. 1 receiver to pair with Calvin Ridley. Following that thought process, Ja'Marr Chase is an obvious pick.
The four-time Pro Bowler is only 25 and just led the NFL in receptions (127), receiving yards (1,708) and receiving touchdowns (17). He also has experience playing under head coach Brian Callahan, who previously served as the Cincinnati Bengals offensive coordinator.
2. Cleveland Browns: OT Tristan Wirfs
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The Cleveland Browns have a choice to make at No. 2. They clearly valued edge-rusher Myles Garrett, arguably the best defensive player in the league.
They countered his offseason trade request by making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history and seemingly earned a new commitment to Cleveland in the process.
"The team I started with, I wanted to end with," Garrett said, per Kelsey Russo of the team's official website.
However, the Browns are still searching for their franchise quarterback and may take one in April's draft. They don't have a franchise-caliber left tackle to protect their signal-caller, so they'll take one they could have had in 2020.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers star Tristan Wirfs is only 26 and has been a first-team All-Pro at right and left tackle. He played on Baker Mayfield's blind side this past season and was ranked first among all tackles in pass blocking by Pro Football Focus.
In 2020, the Browns whiffed by taking Jedrick Wills Jr. over Wirfs. They get a chance to correct that mistake in this hypothetical redraft.
3. New York Giants: WR Malik Nabers
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The New York Giants are also in the quarterback market, though they may try rolling with a veteran in 2025. They're waiting for Aaron Rodgers to make a decision—he could simply retire, according to The Athletic—and have already met with Russell Wilson.
Ideally, the Giants will find a quarterback who will help them win now. If they don't, head coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen could be gone.
"I've just about run out of patience," franchise co-owner John Mara told reporters in January.
Here, New York opts to aid its next quarterback by keeping wideout Malik Nabers. The rookie Pro Bowler caught 109 passes for 1,204 yards and seven touchdowns last season, despite getting some putrid quarterback play from a revolving door at the position.
Nabers will only turn 22 in July, and his youth, upside and familiarity with the offense give him an edge over more established receivers like Justin Jefferson and Amon-Ra St. Brown.
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4. New England Patriots: OT Jordan Mailata
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The New England Patriots seem to have their quarterback in second-year man Drake Maye. The North Carolina product flashed his upside throughout the 2024 season, though he was consistently hindered by a poor supporting cast.
The Patriots desperately need a No. 1 receiver, and they made a strong push for Chris Godwin before he re-signed with Tampa.
"Given that his deal ended up being for three years and $66 million, there's a reasonable estimate the Patriots were offering the 29-year-old something close to $30 million per season to become their top wideout," ESPN's Bill Barnwell wrote.
Of course, New England also needs to improve an offensive line that surrendered 52 sacks last season. It can land a receiver like Arizona's Tetairoa McMillan, or Texas' Matthew Golden—both top-25 prospects, according to the Bleacher Report Scouting Department—in April's draft. Finding a franchise left tackle could be trickier.
Here, the Patriots snag Philadelphia Eagles tackle Jordan Mailata. He'll turn 28 later this month but was graded first overall and second in pass-blocking for the 2024 season by Pro Football Focus.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars: WR Justin Jefferson
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It would be hard, at this point, to pass on pass-rusher Micah Parsons. In four seasons with the Dallas Cowboys, he has accumulated 52.5 sacks, 112 quarterback hits, 63 tackles for loss, two first-team All-Pro nods and four Pro Bowls.
However, the Jacksonville Jaguars have two quality pass-rushers in Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen. Finding snaps for those two and Parsons, 25, could become tricky.
The Jaguars need to get more out of quarterback Trevor Lawrence, and they know it. That's why they hired Liam Coen as their head coach this offseason, after he did masterful work with Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers offense in 2024.
Targeting an offensive player would be sensible, and the Jags could look to lock up their own star receiver, Brian Thomas Jr. As a rookie last season, he tallied 1,282 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns.
As good as Thomas was last season, Jacksonville opts for the more proven Justin Jefferson here. He has four Pro Bowls and five 1,000-yard campaigns on his five-year resume and won't run 26 until June.
6. Las Vegas Raiders: Edge Micah Parsons
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The Las Vegas Raiders haven't been good over the past few seasons, but they have two players they could lose in a veteran re-draft: edge-rusher Maxx Crosby and tight end Brock Bowers.
However, the Raiders opt to take their chances here and use the sixth pick on Micah Parsons. Crosby is awesome, but he's two years older than Parsons. Both experienced injury-shortened seasons in 2024, but Parsons had 4.5 more sacks despite playing in only one more game.
Choosing Parsons over Crosby isn't as simple as some might think. The latter is the centerpiece of Patrick Graham's defense and represents everything Las Vegas should want in its team identity.
However, Parsons has a combination of youth, ability and positional value that makes him worthy of being the first defender off the board. The Raiders flip the switch and hope that either Crosby or Bowers comes back to them post-draft.
7. New York Jets: OT Penei Sewell
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After pulling the plug on the Aaron Rodgers experiment, the New York Jets are going to give it a go with dual-threat quarterback Justin Fields. They inked the 26-year-old to a two-year, $40 million contract last week.
Fields has failed to establish himself as a franchise quarterback thus far. If he's going to do it in New York, he needs to stay on the field and upright. If the Jets can't upgrade their offensive line, that's going to be difficult.
New York allowed 40 sacks last season, and its pass protection was even worse than that number might indicate.
New head coach Aaron Glenn comes from the Detroit Lions, who have found offensive success by building a powerful offensive line. Glenn looks to emulate that plan by snagging Lions offensive tackle Penei Sewell, who was ranked fifth overall among tackles by Pro Football Focus last season.
Yes, the 24-year-old plays right tackle for Detroit. Guess what? The league's best edge-rushers don't stick to one side in today's NFL.
8. Carolina Panthers: WR CeeDee Lamb
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Following a brief stint on the bench, Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young finally looked like a potential franchise quarterback in 2024. Ideally, he will take the next step in 2025 and establish himself as a top-15 signal-caller.
Doing it with Carolina's current receiving corps, though, could prove difficult. That's why the Panthers opt for wideout CeeDee Lamb over a top-tier defender or offensive linemen in this re-draft.
The Panthers also have a serviceable tackle tandem in Taylor Moton and Ikem Ekwonu.
Lamb has amassed 6,339 receiving yards and 38 touchdowns in his five seasons with the Cowboys, and he's made the Pro Bowl in each of his past four seasons. Still only 25 years old, he has the upside and the inside-outside versatility needed to thrive in Dave Canales' offense.
9. New Orleans Saints: CB Patrick Surtain II
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The New Orleans Saints have plenty of needs and could go in a number of directions here. After trading away star corner Marshon Lattimore, finishing the 2024 season ranked 27th in pass defense and losing Paulson Adebo in free agency, they opt for the best young cornerback in the NFL.
Patrick Surtain II has been a difference-maker for the Denver Broncos in his four seasons. He's started 65 games over that span and accumulated 47 passes defended, 11 interceptions and two defensive touchdowns.
Last season, the 2021 first-rounder allowed an opposing passer rating of just 58.9 in coverage despite being targeted 62 times. He recorded 11 passes defended, four interceptions and a touchdown and was named Defensive Player of the Year for his efforts.
Surtain won't turn 25 until next month and would give new defensive coordinator Brandon Staley a lockdown defender in his secondary.
10. Chicago Bears: Edge Aidan Hutchinson
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The Chicago Bears and their continued development of quarterback Caleb Williams figure to be under the spotlight in 2025.
While helping Williams become an elite NFL signal-caller will certainly be a focus of new head coach Ben Johnson, the Bears need to play defense too.
Last season, Chicago ranked 27th in total defense.
To bolster his defense, Johnson targets a familiar face in edge-rusher Aidan Hutchinson. While a broken leg limited him to five games in 2024, he's been one of the league's most disruptive defenders, when healthy, since entering the league in 2022.
In 39 career games, he has logged 28.5 sacks, 65 quarterback hits and 30 tackles for loss. He'll turn just 25 in August and should be healthy well ahead of training camp.
Partnering Hutchinson with Montez Sweat and free-agent addition Dayo Odeyingbo would give Chicago one of the top pass rushes in the NFC.
11. San Francisco 49ers: Edge Myles Garrett
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The San Francisco 49ers made a run at pass-rusher Joey Bosa following his release from the Los Angeles Chargers. According to Tim Kawakami of The San Francisco Standard, the 49ers had "good conversations" with the five-time Pro Bowler, though he ultimately chose the Buffalo Bills instead.
San Francisco's plan was to pair Bosa with younger brother Nick Bosa to form a dominant edge duo. The team released pass-rusher Leonard Floyd—possibly in anticipation of a Bosa signing—and he quickly signed with the Atlanta Falcons.
Here, the 49ers hope the younger Bosa slides through the draft so they can pair him with 2023 Defensive Player of the Year Myles Garrett.
While Garrett turned 29 in December, he should have several good years ahead of him. He recorded 14 sacks and a league-high 22 tackles for loss last season while becoming the first player in NFL history to notch 14 or more sacks in four consecutive seasons.
Garrett might still be the best all-around defender in the league, and while he's significantly older than defenders taken ahead of him in this re-draft, he's still terrific value for San Francisco at No. 11.
12. Dallas Cowboys: OT Rashawn Slater
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The Cowboys have already lost Micah Parsons and CeeDee Lamb through this re-draft. While they could target a receiver or a pass-rusher to replace one of them, addressing an underwhelming offensive line would be a better use of resources.
Dallas once boasted one of the NFL's best offensive lines. That's no longer the case, and the offensive line was more of a liability than a strength in 2024.
Here, Dallas abandons its recent flash over substance philosophy and scoops up offensive tackle Rashawn Slater. The Los Angeles Chargers star would give the Cowboys the stability at left tackle that they've lacked since Tyron Smith's prime years.
Slater missed some time in 2024 but started 15 games and was ranked second overall and third in pass blocking among tackles by Pro Football Focus.
Tyler Guyton disappointed as a rookie left tackle, but taking Slater here would allow Dallas to move the 2024 first-rounder back to the right side, where he played at Oklahoma.
13. Miami Dolphins: Edge Will Anderson Jr.
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The Miami Dolphins were also in on Joey Bosa this offseason in their search for a premier pass-rusher to pair with 2024 first-round pick Chop Robinson.
They could consider an older edge-defender like T.J. Watt or reigning sack leader Trey Hendrickson, but they opt for a combination of ability and youth here.
Will Anderson Jr. made an immediate impact for the Houston Texans as a rookie last season. He had seven sacks, 22 quarterback hits and 10 tackles for loss en route to Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.
The 23-year-old was just as impactful in 2024, finishing with 11 sacks, 19 QB hits and 16 tackles for loss in 14 games. He was limited by an ankle injury, but there's little to suggest he won't soon become a perennial Pro Bowler.
Pairing Anderson with Robinson—and, possibly, Jaelan Phillips, if he can stay on the field—would give Miami a good, young tandem around which to build its defensive front.
14. Indianapolis Colts: WR A.J. Brown
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The Indianapolis Colts did a fine job of addressing their pass defense in early free agency. They added safety Camryn Bynum, cornerback Charvarius Ward and cornerback Corey Ballentine, which should help to address one of Indy's biggest 2024 issues.
Here, the Colts turn their attention to the offense and snag Eagles receiver A.J. Brown.
While the 27-year-old was limited to 13 games in 2024 by a hamstring injury, he still caught 67 passes for 1,070 yards and seven touchdowns. He wasn't credited with a single drop.
His combination of size, contested-catch ability and sure hands make him a perfect addition ahead of Indy's quarterback competition between Daniel Jones and Anthony Richardson.
Richardson had his fair share of struggles in 2024, but he was hampered by drops that often seemed to come at the most inopportune time—Colts receivers were credited with 23 drops on the year.
Brown could serve as a security blanket in Indianapolis, and his experience with Colts head coach and former Eagles offensive coordinator Shane Steichen certainly wouldn't hurt.
15. Atlanta Falcons: DT Jalen Carter
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The Falcons could go in a couple of directions here, including making a move to retain star receiver Drake London or standout running back Bijan Robinson.
However, Atlanta opts for defense and, specifically, reloading its defensive front following the release of Grady Jarrett.
While Eagles star Jalen Carter might not be the league's best defensive tackle just yet, the 2024 Pro Bowler is incredibly disruptive and still only 23 years old.
He finished the 2024 season with 4.5 sacks 12 tackles for loss and 23 quarterback pressures. He added another two sacks, two tackles for loss and nine pressures during Philly's postseason run through Super Bowl LIX.
Head coach Raheem Morris knows the value of having a game-changing interior defender after coaching Aaron Donald for three seasons as the Los Angeles Rams' defensive coordinator. Carter instantly becomes the new centerpiece of Atlanta's front seven.
16. Arizona Cardinals: OT Paris Johnson Jr.
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This might be viewed as a controversial one, considering there are more notable names available. However, the Arizona Cardinals have found themselves a good young offensive tackle in Paris Johnson Jr. and they choose to keep him in a re-draft.
The 23-year-old, a first-round pick in 2023, started all 17 games at right tackle as a rookie. He moved to left tackle last season and started 14 games before landing on injured reserve (knee) late in the season.
Pro Football Focus ranked Johnson 12th overall among offensive tackles for the 2024 season.
While the Ohio State product hasn't established himself as an elite lineman yet, he appears to be trending in that direction. He has experience in Arizona's offense and blocking for dual-threat quarterback Kyler Murray. That gives him an edge over other linemen who are still available midway through Round 1.
Johnson will also turn just 24 in July.
17. Cincinnati Bengals: WR Amon-Ra St. Brown
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The Bengals should consider using this pick on a quality lineman like guard Chris Lindstrom or right tackle Zach Tom.
Joe Burrow has been sacked 196 times in 69 regular-season games, and Cincinnati seems to have serious issues with drafting and developing linemen.
It's the Bengals, though, and the Bengals love their receiver.
Cincinnati agreed to contracts with Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins on Sunday that, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter, will pay the duo a combined $69 million annually. It'll ensure the trio of Burrow, Chase and Higgins keeps making highlight reels in Cincinnati but does nothing to address the vulnerability in the trenches.
With Chase off the board in this re-draft, the Bengals pivot to Lions star Amon-Ra St. Brown, who has 4,851 receiving yards and 33 touchdowns in four seasons.
St. Brown might not have the rapport with Burrow that Chase possesses, but he's an equally dynamic receiver who would help ensure the Bengals still have one of the league's most prolific passing attacks.
18. Seattle Seahawks: CB Devon Witherspoon
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Vikings receiver Jordan Addison earned some strong consideration here, as the Seattle Seahawks could look to reunite him with new starting quarterback Sam Darnold.
However, the Seahawks just added Cooper Kupp and Marquez Valdes-Scantling to complement Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Head coach Mike Macdonald also has a defensive background and will likely look to emulate the success he had as the Baltimore Ravens' defensive coordinator.
Here, Seattle chooses to keep budding young star Devon Witherspoon. He has appeared in 31 games with 30 starts over his first two seasons and has already logged 39 passes defended.
Last season, Pro Football Focus ranked the 24-year-old 19th overall among 222 qualifying cornerbacks.
With DeMarcus Lawrence joining a defensive front that already featured Byron Murphy II, Jarran Reed and Leonard Williams, the Seahawks are beginning to forge an intimidating front seven. Keeping Witherspoon gives them a centerpiece on the back end.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: OT Bernhard Raimann
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This one may come as another surprise, but good left tackles aren't easy to find, and the Buccaneers have already lost Tristan Wirfs in the re-draft.
Colts tackle Bernhard Raimann isn't a household name, but he's developed into one of the league's more reliable blockers in his three seasons. While he missed time in 2024 with a knee injury, he started 14 games and was one of the brightest spots of Indy's offense when on the field.
Pro Football Focus ranked the 27-year-old eighth overall among offensive tackles in 2024.
Are there more notable players available at this point in Round 1? Sure, but the Bucs will be looking to replicate their 2024 offensive success after the departure of coordinator Liam Coen. Wirfs had a huge hand in that success, helping to keep Baker Mayfield clean in the pocket and sparking Tampa's fourth-ranked rushing attack.
Raimann is a tier below Wirfs in the league's left-tackle hierarchy, but he's a dependable starter who won't turn 28 until September.
20. Denver Broncos: CB Christian Gonzalez
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The Broncos were a surprise playoff team in 2024, and they'll be looking to build on their success in the coming season. While adding another offensive piece to support quarterback Bo Nix would make some sense, Denver finds itself needing to replace star cornerback Patrick Surtain II in this re-draft.
Surtain was a huge piece of what the Broncos did defensively last season. Losing him would hurt, but they can find a capable replacement in third-year cornerback Christian Gonzalez.
Gonzalez, a 2023 first-round pick of the Patriots, appeared in only four games as a rookie before suffering a torn Labrum. However, he returned last season to start 16 games and recorded 11 passes defended and two interceptions, earning second-team All-Pro honors along the way.
Pro Football Focus ranked Gonzalez 17th in coverage among 222 cornerbacks for the 2024 season. At only 22 years old, the Oregon product could slot in as a long-term building block for Denver's defense.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Edge T.J. Watt
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T.J. Watt's age—he'll turn 31 in October—causes him to slide a bit in this re-draft. However, the seven-time Pro Bowler continues to play at a high level and has started all 34 games over the past two seasons.
In 2024, he recorded 11.5 sacks, six forced fumbles, 19 tackles for loss and 27 quarterback hits. Pro Football Focus graded him third among edge-defenders, behind only Aidan Hutchinson and Myles Garrett.
There's essentially no way the Pittsburgh Steelers would leave Watt on the board if he were available in a re-draft. He's their best player and the modern face of the franchise.
"T.J. is one of those legacy guys," general manager Omar Khan said, per Joe Butter of TribLive. "I was around Hines Ward and Troy Polamalu, and those guys spent their entire careers with us, and that’s a special thing. I’m hopeful and confident that T.J. will be one of those guys."
In this re-draft, Khan ensures Watt doesn't go anywhere by rushing to the podium and ending his slide at No. 20.
22. Los Angeles Chargers: OT Joe Alt
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Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh has traditionally built his teams in the trenches first, and he appears to be doing it again in L.A.
Last year, he used the fifth overall pick in the draft on offensive tackle Joe Alt, pairing him with 2021 first-round pick Rashawn Slater and 2022 first-rounder Zion Johnson.
Last week, the Chargers added 2020 first-round pick Mekhi Becton to the mix as a free agent.
With Slater already off the board in our re-draft, Harbaugh makes sure to secure Alt here. The 22-year-old played right tackle as a rookie, starting 16 games and finishing ranked 19th overall among tackles by Pro Football Focus.
Alt was a left tackle at Notre Dame, though, and could move over to the left side to replace Slater.
23. Green Bay Packers: OT Zach Tom
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The Green Bay Packers could consider taking one of the top receivers still available, since they seem to have an aversion to drafting one in the first round of the rookie draft. If they truly want to aid quarterback Jordan Love, though, they should lock up valuable and versatile lineman Zach Tom.
After starting at center and left tackle at Wake Forest, Tom was selected in the fourth round of the 2022 draft by Green Bay. He did see some time at left tackle as a rookie but has settled in at right tackle over the past two years.
He started all 34 games in 2023 and 2024 and has emerged as one of the league's best, if underrated, linemen.
Pro Football Focus graded Tom fourth overall among tackles in 2024.
Keeping him would give the Packers long-term options. He could remain a steady presence at right tackle or move to guard, center or even left tackle, depending on future additions—and how 2024 first-round pick Jordan Morgan develops.
Tom will turn 26 later this month.
24. Minnesota Vikings: WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba
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At some point, the run on wide receivers has to end. Good wideouts have become easier to find in the draft, and the 2025 draft class appears to have some tremendous talent at the position.
The Bleacher Report Scouting Department had five wide receivers—not including Colorado CB/WR Travis Hunter—ranked among its top 32 prospects in its post-Scouting Combine big board.
The Vikings, though, are hoping to turn the offense over to second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy in 2025. Having lost Justin Jefferson in the re-draft, they'll pivot to Seahawks receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba.
The Ohio State product exploded in his 2025 sophomore season, catching 100 passes for 1,130 yards and six touchdowns while sharing targets with Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf.
Smith-Njigba has provided a passer rating of 96.6 when targeted during his two pro seasons.
At only 23, he could grow alongside McCarthy in Kevin O'Connell's offense.
25. Houston Texans: G Chris Lindstrom
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The Houston Texans need to revamp their offensive line, and they're well aware of that fact. After surrendering 54 sacks in 2024, they traded away both left tackle Laremy Tunsil and guard Kenyon Green.
While this may feel high for an interior lineman in a draft of all non-quarterbacks, Falcons guard Chris Lindstrom is a franchise-caliber talent. The three-time Pro Bowler has missed just one game over the past five seasons and has emerged as a dominant force on the interior.
Pro Football Focus ranked Lindstrom first overall and first in run blocking for the 2024 season. While he's merely above-average as a pass-protector, he only allowed one sack last season.
The Texans did add guard Laken Tomlinson in free agency, but he's 33 years old and hasn't played at a Pro Bowl level since 2021. Lindstrom just turned 28 last month and would remain in his playing prime with Houston under our hypothetical four-year re-draft exclusion.
26. Los Angeles Rams: WR Puka Nacua
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Rams receiver Puka Nacua could have easily gone higher, and few would call it a reach. The 2023 fifth-round pick was electric as a rookie, catching 105 passes for 1,486 yards and six touchdowns that season.
Nacua was also superb in 2024 when healthy. However, he was limited to 11 games by a knee injury last season, which could concern some teams—he also dealt with a knee ailment at BYU in 2022.
Still, Nacua is among the best receivers in the NFL, and he won't turn 24 until May. The Rams aren't about to let him get away in a re-draft, especially after parting with former No. 1 receiver Cooper Kupp.
Los Angeles reached a new agreement with quarterback Matthew Stafford this offseason that will keep him under contract through the 2026 season. By snapping up Nacua here, the Rams may ensure they have their new No. 1 target for the remainder of Stafford's career.
27. Baltimore Ravens: DT Nnamdi Madubuike
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The Ravens also choose to keep one of their own, using the 27th pick on defensive tackle Nnamdi Madubuike.
Top-tier defensive tackles have become a high-demand commodity in recent years, which explains Milton Williams getting a four-year, $104 deal after his breakout 2024 campaign. Baltimore has itself a terrific interior defender in Madubuike, who received his own lucrative extension last offseason.
Madubuike is an integral part of what former defensive coordinator Mike Macdonald and current defensive coordinator Zachary Orr have done with the Ravens defense up front.
Over the past two seasons, Madubuike has recorded 99 tackles, 19.5 sacks, 23 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and 50 quarterback hits.
Madubuike's ability to generate interior pressure allowed Baltimore's defense to function with a 33-year-old Kyle Van Noy and the often inconsistent Odafe Oweh as its two primary edge-rushers. Madubuike won't turn 28 until November, and securing him here makes perfect sense for the Ravens.
28. Detroit Lions: Edge Jared Verse
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After losing wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown and edge-rusher Aidan Hutchinson in the re-draft, the Lions could look to reload one of the two positions at No. 28.
Here, Detroit opts to replace Hutchinson with another young, productive and promising edge-rusher.
Jared Verse was simply fantastic for the Rams as a rookie. While he finished with only 4.5 sacks, he also tallied 11 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles, 66 total tackles and 33 quarterback pressures. As a result, the 24-year-old was named Defensive Rookie of the Year.
Swapping Hutchinson for the Florida State product might force new defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard to adjust his pass-rushing alignments. Verse (6'4", 250 lbs) doesn't possess Hutchinson's size (6'7", 268 lbs) or length, though he's not so slight that he'd be a liability at defensive end.
Regardless of what position he rushes from, Verse's aggressive play and relentless motor would fit perfectly with Detroit's defensive identity.
29. Washington Commanders: DT Dexter Lawrence
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The Washington Commanders were the surprise team of 2024. New head coach Dan Quinn immediately changed the culture in the team, while rookie Jayden Daniels quickly emerged as a top-10, if not top-five, quarterback.
After winning just four games in 2023, the Commanders marched all the way to last year's NFC title game.
Now, Washington is positioned to build on its 2024 success, and addressing the team's 30th-ranked run defense should be high on the priority list. While the Commanders did sign defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw in free agency, they also released Jonathan Allen.
With all due respect to Kinlaw, the Commanders can find a massive upgrade on their defensive interior by using this selection on Dexter Lawrence.
One of the few bright spots for the Giants in recent seasons, he is one of the best defensive tackles in the game. He's coming off his third straight Pro Bowl season and recorded nine sacks, 44 tackles, eight tackles for loss and 16 QB hits in 2024.
Pro Football Focus ranked the 27-year-old second among defensive interiors in run defense last season.
30. Buffalo Bills: S Kyle Hamilton
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The Buffalo Bills failed to get past the Kansas City Chiefs in the postseason once again. If Buffalo could just bolster its 24th-ranked pass defense, though, it could finally be poised for a Super Bowl run.
While the Bills have a serviceable safety tandem in Damar Hamlin and Taylor Rapp, Kyle Hamilton is just too enticing the pass here. The 24-year-old has only been in the NFL for three seasons and has already established himself as one of the league's best all-around defensive backs.
Fast, physical and capable of doing everything well, he is everything a team looks for in a centerpiece safety. The two-time Pro Bowler has amassed 250 tackles, seven sacks, 18 tackles for loss, 27 passes defended, four forced fumbles and five interceptions in 48 career games.
Last season, he allowed an opposing passer rating of only 84.4 in coverage and surrendered just a single touchdown despite being targeted 58 times.
In short, Hamilton could be the game-changer Buffalo currently lacks on the back end.
31. Kansas City Chiefs: TE Brock Bowers
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The Raiders can take solace in the fact that, because of his 2024 ankle injury, Maxx Crosby slides out of Round 1 and could return to Las Vegas in Round 2. They won't, however, like seeing the rival Chiefs scoop up their biggest offensive star.
By the end of Brock Bowers' rookie season, he could already lay claim to being the best receiving tight end in the NFL. The 22-year-old caught 112 passes for 1,194 yards and five touchdowns despite being saddled with some underwhelming quarterback play.
If not for a loaded 2025 tight end class—the B/R Scouting Department has three TEs ranked among its top 35 prospects—the Georgia product probably would have gone higher here.
However, Bowers simply makes too much sense for Kansas City. Andy Reid loves creating mismatches with his tight ends. Travis Kelce is 35 years old and seemed to lose a step in 2024.
It's already going to be fun seeing what Bowers can accomplish with Geno Smith elevating Las Vegas' quarterback position. It's fun to imagine what he could do catching passes from Patrick Mahomes in Kansas City.
32. Philadelphia Eagles: RB Saquon Barkley
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It may seem surprising to see Saquon Barkley fall to the bottom of the first round. After all, he just completed the most prolific rushing season in NFL history (regular and postseason combined) and played a huge role in delivering a championship to Philadelphia.
If we're being honest, though, he probably wouldn't have had the season he did with any other franchise. He's also 28 years old, and the 2025 draft is extremely deep at the running back position.
The Bleacher Report Scouting Department had 18 running backs ranked among its top 150 prospects on its post-Scouting Combine big board.
The Eagles, though, have seen enough of their players depart in the re-draft that they flip the switch on securing Barkley here. He's become the centerpiece of their offense, and they hope he'll remain so for the foreseeable future.
Philadelphia inked Barkley to a two-year, $41.2 million extension this offseason that will keep him under contract through 2028.
*Contract information via Spotrac. Advanced statistics from Pro Football Reference unless otherwise noted.
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