8 2025 NFL Mock Draft Projections That Should Be a Lock Based on Rumors
The NFL draft typically has few guarantees. The same goes for this year.
Yet NFL insiders, beat reporters and analysts may have already put some pieces to the draft puzzle in place.
Heading into the selection process, we have an idea of who will be the first prospects off the board at a few positions, which players are near-locks to go in the top 10 and what positional needs certain teams will target in the early rounds.
Based on leaguewide buzz and the rumor mill, here are eight mock draft projections that should be locks. You can also call these foregone conclusions.
Titans Will Take Cam Ward with the No. 1 Overall Pick
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The Tennessee Titans will do what most of us expected with the first overall pick. Over the previous two weeks, a Titans beat reporter and multiple insiders have predicted that the team is prepared to draft Cam Ward.
On The Athletic's Scoop City podcast, Dianna Russini said, "All signs appear to be pointing to the Titans taking Cam Ward with the No. 1 pick."
Since then, TitanInsider.com's Terry McCormick reported that Tennessee has become "sold on" Ward.
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the Titans have "resisted" offers from the Cleveland Browns and New York Giants for the No. 1 pick.
On Thursday, the Will Levis era ends, and Ward will be in a position to become the Titans' franchise quarterback. He's set to enter the league with several years of collegiate starting experience, dating back to his 2020 term at Incarnate Word.
After two campaigns at Washington State, Ward put his arm talent on full display against top competition at Miami. He threw for 4,313 yards, 39 touchdowns and seven interceptions and made the NCAA's All-American first team.
In early mocks, analysts suggested that Penn State edge-rusher Abdul Carter could be the No. 1 overall pick. However, after Levis' turnover-ridden two seasons under center, the Titans cannot pass up an opportunity to take the best quarterback in the class.
Browns Will Pass on a Quarterback with the No. 2 Pick
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We're unlikely to see quarterbacks go with each of the top two picks, although the Cleveland Browns do have a glaring need at the NFL's most important position.
ESPN's Adam Schefter tapped into sources who believe the Browns will take a quarterback with their second selection.
"It feels as if Cleveland will not go quarterback in Round 1 on Thursday, but nobody would be surprised if its next pick—whenever it comes—turns out to be a passer," Schefter wrote.
CBS Sports' Jonathan Jones slotted two-way prospect Travis Hunter to Cleveland in the No. 2 spot.
"Yes, they need a quarterback, but after Ward goes to Tennessee, they weren't getting a signal-caller at No. 2," Jones wrote. "They'll have to settle for the top player on the board."
Fox Sports' Ralph Vacchiano also believes the Browns will take Hunter.
Browns general manager Andrew Berry has noted that Hunter's skill set best translates to wide receiver. If Cleveland takes him at No. 2, the Colorado standout will immediately impact the passing game, regardless of who starts under center.
Hunter has the ball-tracking ability to be a 1,000-plus-yard receiver with decent quarterback play. Right now, the Browns have Kenny Pickett and Joe Flacco battling for the starting job while Deshaun Watson recovers from back-to-back Achilles injuries.
Assuming the Browns pass on a quarterback with their first selection, they would leave the New York Giants with a tough decision between taking a quarterback (Shedeur Sanders) or the best non-quarterback prospect available who doesn't necessarily fill a need (Abdul Carter).
QB Shedeur Sanders Will Have Draft-Day Slide If Giants Pass on Him at No. 3
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The chatter around Shedeur Sanders has created the biggest storyline of the predraft process.
Is Sanders worth a top-five pick or a top-10 selection? Is he a first-round prospect?
Depending on whom you ask, Sanders could go to a quarterback-needy team at the top of the order or not get picked on Day 1 at all. If the New York Giants pass on Sanders at No. 3, there's a growing expectation that he will slide, perhaps into the 20s.
ESPN's Adam Schefter provided insight on three teams most linked to Sanders and the interest level in him.
Schefter dismissed Sanders' private workout with the Giants as a "big deal" because they worked out top quarterback prospects from last year's group.
However, Schefter noted that "no team" has done more work on a prospect than the Giants have done on Sanders, which indicates he's a viable option at No. 3.
Schefter spoke to a personnel executive who believes that the Saints won't take Sanders, and they're "hot and heavy" on Jaxson Dart.
Unless Aaron Rodgers decides he wants to play for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Mason Rudolph is their front-runner to start under center. The Steelers may want more competition than Skylar Thompson for the lead job.
If so, the Steelers, who have the 21st pick, may be the floor for Sanders in a draft-day slide.
Schefter considered the urgency the Steelers may have to take Sanders at No. 21 (if he's high on their board) because they don't have a second-round pick.
Barring a team trading up for Sanders, he could fall further than most analysts expect.
Ashton Jeanty Will Be the First Running Back Drafted
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This is the least surprising takeaway from the buzz and rumors entering draft week.
Many believe that Ashton Jeanty is in a class of his own among this year's running back prospects, although Bleacher Report's latest big board reflects a narrow gap between his grade (8.5) and Omarion Hampton's grade (8.1).
Still, Jeanty is B/R's RB1, and you won't find many analysts who disagree with that rank. At 5'8½" and 215 pounds, the Boise State product has been a workhorse ball-carrier over the last two years, racking up 3,948 yards and 43 touchdowns on the ground since 2023.
ESPN's Adam Schefter talked to multiple personnel people who believe the Chicago Bears are "praying" that Jeanty falls to them at No. 10.
CBS Sports' Jonathan Jones doesn't see that happening. He predicted the Las Vegas Raiders would take the Heisman Trophy runner-up at No. 6.
According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, the Jacksonville Jaguars, who have the No. 5 pick, are a sleeper team to watch for Jeanty.
Though Jeanty is a smaller running back in stature, he's the public's clear-cut RB1 in this group by a sizeable margin.
Despite Uncertainty Around Derek Carr, Saints Will Pass on Quarterbacks at No. 9
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After NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported that Derek Carr is dealing with a shoulder injury that could jeopardize his availability for the start of the 2025 season, prognosticators started to link quarterbacks to the New Orleans Saints with the No. 9 overall pick. Analysts have linked Shedeur Sanders and Jaxson Dart to New Orleans in recent mock drafts.
However, NewOrleans.Football's Nick Underhill pumped the brakes on those predictions.
According to Underhill, the Saints knew about Carr's injury before it became a hot topic amongst the public. He believes New Orleans will wait until the second round to take a quarterback. ESPN's Matt Miller heard the same from his sources.
ESPN's Adam Schefter believes Dart is on the Saints' radar, just not with a top-10 pick.
"The belief is they want to draft a quarterback—just maybe not at No. 9, and maybe not Sanders," Schefter wrote. "As another personnel executive said, 'I don't think New Orleans is taking Shedeur. I think they're hot and heavy on Jaxson Dart.'
"Speaking of Dart, there is skepticism about whether the Saints would take the Ole Miss passer at No. 9—it feels high to many around the league.
"... Dart would figure to be squarely in play for the Saints' next pick, whether that's in the second round (No. 40) or in a trade-up."
Following Ryan Ramczyk's retirement and another disappointing season for 2022 first-rounder Trevor Penning, New Orleans could target an offensive tackle at No. 9 instead of a quarterback.
OT Armand Membou Is a Top-10 Lock
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This year's offensive tackle class isn't as strong as last year's group, although Armand Membou moved up in mock draft projections after his screaming 40-yard dash run (4.91) at the NFL Scouting Combine.
At 6'4" and 332 pounds, Membou can overpower opposing offensive linemen, and he has the athleticism to get out in the open field to clear areas on zone runs as well. The Missouri product played exclusively at right tackle.
Despite Membou's lack of positional versatility, analysts and reporters expect him to be a top-10 pick.
ESPN's Adam Schefter highlighted the Las Vegas Raiders (No. 6) and New York Jets (No. 7) as potential landing spots for Membou.
The Raiders could upgrade over DJ Glaze at right tackle or move Membou to the left side if they cannot agree on a new deal with Kolton Miller. Last week, Miller skipped voluntary workouts while seeking a new deal, per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.
The Jets lost right tackle Morgan Moses to the New England Patriots in free agency. Membou could seamlessly transition from Missouri to New York if he goes to Gang Green.
CBS Sports' Jonathan Jones projected Membou to the Jets at No. 7, stating it would be about "maximizing" new starting quarterback Justin Fields.
OT Kelvin Banks Jr. Will Be Selected in the Top Half of Round 1
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Kelvin Banks Jr. made 42 starts at left tackle at Texas, but some teams may see him as a guard because of his 33½-inch arm length.
Nonetheless, NFL insiders think Banks will go higher than his consensus mock draft projections.
ESPN's Adam Schefter linked Banks to the Miami Dolphins (No. 13). Following Terron Armstead's retirement, Miami needs a left tackle.
Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer sees Banks falling slightly outside the top 10 as a high-level prospect with room for growth.
"I'd be surprised if Banks makes it out of the top 11-or-so picks," Breer wrote. "He's more of a prototype left tackle than Campbell or Membou and is solid character-wise. And while he had a couple rough outings against Georgia, there's enough on tape to believe he'll improve."
CBS Sports' Jonathan Jones slotted Banks to the New Orleans Saints at No. 9, where he would bring positional versatility.
Based on recent reports, Banks appears to be the third-best offensive lineman in the class.
Eagles Will Make a Trade Early in the Draft
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Known for his aggressive nature, Philadelphia Eagles executive vice president and general manager Howie Roseman has earned a reputation as a dealmaker.
The Eagles have traded up in four of the last five drafts for Andre Dillard (2019), DeVonta Smith (2021), Jordan Davis (2022) and Jalen Carter (2023).
ESPN's Adam Schefter noted that Philadelphia has 20 draft picks over the next two years and might look to trade for veterans rather than move up for prospects this year.
CBS Sports' Jonathan Jones predicted that the Eagles will make a trade with the Las Vegas Raiders and drop out of the No. 32 spot.
Whether Philadelphia moves up for a prospect, moves down to accumulate picks or swaps a premium selection for a veteran, you can count on Roseman making a trade Thursday or Friday.
College football stats are provided by cfbstats.com.
Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @MoeMoton.
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