Re-Drafting the 2025 NFL Draft Ahead of Week 1

A lot can change between NFL draft weekend and the eve of the regular season. 

How much might the deck from that draft be reshuffled with even an offseason's worth of hindsight? 

Setting aside hypotheticals and injuries in general, let's look at how certain teams might have been better off going in different directions, based primarily on lingering positional needs or performances we've seen from this rookie class so far.

Picks 1-4

AP Photo/George Walker IV

Cam Ward

1. Tennessee Titans: QB Cam Ward

Original Pick: QB Cam Ward

Ward has a long way to go, but there haven't been any major red flags since he went first overall, and it was a good sign he was named a team captain out of the gate. Tennessee had to roll the dice on a potential franchise quarterback here, and this is still the pick. 

2. Jacksonville Jaguars (traded up from No. 5 with CLE): CB/WR Travis Hunter

Original Pick: CB/WR Travis Hunter

Hunter is the best player in this draft class, and he has done little to change that this spring and summer. The fact that he's already played significantly on both sides of the ball is pretty encouraging. He could be the piece Trevor Lawrence and Liam Coen need.

3. New York Giants: Edge Abdul Carter

Original Pick: Edge Abdul Carter

Carter remains the overwhelming favorite for the Defensive Rookie of the Year award after a healthy and productive inaugural offseason in the NFL. The future is bright.  

4. New England Patriots: OT Will Campbell

Original Pick: OT Will Campbell 

Fellow top-10 pick Kelvin Banks Jr. has also received strong reviews, but Campbell already looks like a steady veteran. It's unlikely the Patriots would dare change things up. 

Picks 5-8

AP Photo/Paul Sancya

Kenneth Grant

5. Cleveland Browns (traded back from No. 2 with JAX): DL Kenneth Grant

Original Pick: DL Mason Graham

We're not writing off Graham, but the fact is college teammate Kenneth Grant has outperformed him throughout this offseason. The Browns are realistically rebuilding anyway, and Grant has higher upside and is off to a more encouraging start. 

6. Las Vegas Raiders: QB Jaxson Dart

Original Pick: RB Ashton Jeanty 

The Raiders will need somebody to take the reins from Geno Smith in the next couple years. Meanwhile, Dart has already looked so good this offseason for the Giants that he might soon threaten Russell Wilson's starting job. Jeanty has a big future, but this has become a no-brainer. 

7. New York Jets: OT Kelvin Banks Jr.

Original Pick: OT Armand Membou

Banks looks light years ahead of Membou this offseason, and he really does have the complete package to become a long-term cornerstone at either tackle position. 

8. Carolina Panthers: WR Tetairoa McMillan

Original Pick: WR Tetairoa McMillan

The pick made perfect sense at the time as the Panthers build around their young quarterback, and it appears McMillan and Bryce Young have already established a strong connection this summer. His stock continues to soar. 

Picks 9-12

AP Photo/Brynn Anderson

James Pearce Jr.

9. New Orleans Saints: OT Josh Simmons

Original Pick: OT Kelvin Banks Jr.

With Banks gone, Membou makes a lot of sense here too. But again, there are concerns about his technique. It's beginning to look as though he'll need more time. Late-first-rounders Simmons and Josh Conerly Jr. are surer things for reloading Saints offense. The quick-footed Simmons didn't give up a single pressure this preseason. 

10. Chicago Bears: TE Tyler Warren

Original Pick: TE Colston Loveland

Both Warren and Loveland are off to solid starts, but it was Warren who posted the second-highest qualified PFF grade at the tight end position in August. He looks like the more explosive and reliable of the two. The Bears may have drafted the wrong tight end.

11. San Francisco 49ers: Edge Mykel Williams

Original Pick: Edge Mykel Williams

This is a little dicey because Williams missed so much of the offseason due to a knee injury, but he's in there now and has already impressed veteran tackle Trent Williams. I wouldn't fault them for going with James Pearce Jr. based on his strong performances at the same position in Atlanta, but let's side with the status quo. 

12. Dallas Cowboys: Edge James Pearce Jr.

Original Pick: G Tyler Booker

With Micah Parsons gone, the Cowboys need a potential elite star in the defensive front seven. The speedy Pearce checks that box and is coming off a superb preseason for the Falcons. The 26th overall pick has outperformed every rookie edge defender except Carter this summer. 

Picks 13-16

AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki

Mason Graham

13. Miami Dolphins: DT Mason Graham

Original Pick: DL Kenneth Grant

This is a flip with the Browns in the No. 5 spot based on Grant's promising performance thus far. Instead, the Dolphins "settle" for a prospect who many still regard as the top interior defensive lineman in this class. 

14. Indianapolis Colts: TE Colston Loveland

Original Pick: TE Tyler Warren

Another swap here, this time with the Nos. 1 and 2 tight ends going to the opposite teams. The Colts get a promising safety valve either way but wind up with Loveland this time around. He wasn't Warren this summer, but there were enough flashes with Chicago to indicate the future is bright. 

15. Atlanta Falcons: Edge Jalon Walker

Original Pick: Edge Jalon Walker

This becomes more of a priority with Pearce off the board. Walker hasn't made the same immediate impact, but a groin injury is a factor there. There's no reason for the Falcons to panic just yet. 

16. Arizona Cardinals: DL Walter Nolen

Original Pick: DL Walter Nolen

Similar deal with Nolen, who has been sidelined throughout the summer due to a calf injury and will miss at least the first four weeks of his rookie campaign while on the Physically Unable to Perform list. We'd consider steering away here if Nolen had a rough injury history, but this should be a one-off. 

Picks 17-20

AP Photo/Chris O'Meara

Emeka Egbuka

17. Cincinnati Bengals: Edge Shemar Stewart

Original Pick: Edge Shemar Stewart

The Falcons would have strongly considered stealing Stewart in the No. 15 spot, as he's shown more promise this summer than Walker. But it's so close and so early that we had them stick to Walker. That works out well for the Bengals, as Stewart still shined in his preseason debut despite less prep time as a result of a long holdout. He's not far off track at all. 

18. Seattle Seahawks: G Grey Zabel

Original Pick: G Grey Zabel

The North Dakota State product looked the part of a Week 1 starter while hammering out splendid PFF grades throughout the preseason. No reason for the Seahawks to stray in this spot. They really need Zabel to make an immediate impact inside. 

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: WR Emeka Egbuka

Original Pick: WR Emeka Egbuka

Egbuka was "the talk at camp" early on and flashed in preseason action as well. That's big considering some key receiver injuries for a Bucs team that will count on the Ohio State product to play a major role early on. Matthew Golden would be tempting here, but it's close enough for them to keep their guy. 

20. Denver Broncos: CB Jahdae Barron

Original Pick: CB Jahdae Barron

The Texas product had an OK preseason in coverage (while tackling well) but didn't struggle near enough to lose his top-20 status and his position with the Broncos. That said, both Jeanty and Matthew Golden would be tempting here. 

Picks 21-24

AP Photo/Jeffrey Phelps

Matthew Golden

21. Pittsburgh Steelers: DL Derrick Harmon

Original Pick: DL Derrick Harmon

They could reconsider this due to the surprise emergence of fifth-rounder Yahya Black, but the two are very different players. Harmon's knee injury also doesn't appear to be something you'd trade him in over, and he drew strong reviews in camp. 

22. Los Angeles Chargers: RB Ashton Jeanty

Original Pick: RB Omarion Hampton

That value is undeniable considering they took the consensus No. 2 back in this spot and that Jeanty actually went to sixth overall. This has more to do with the fact that I believe running backs should almost never be taken in the top half of Round 1. Jeanty's also had a roller-coaster experience this summer, so he hasn't convinced me to reconsider.

23. Green Bay Packers: WR Matthew Golden

Original Pick: WR Matthew Golden

There's a decent chance the Buccaneers, Broncos or Chargers steal Golden from the Packers in a redo situation, but strong-so-far picks as is and the Jeanty slide keep him in Green Bay. There's a pretty strong sentiment that the former Texas star has set himself up this summer to make a major early impact in this offense.

24. Minnesota Vikings: G Tyler Booker

Original Pick: G Donovan Jackson

Jackson isn't on a bust path but has failed to jump out so far, and it just so happens Booker has fallen from the 12 spot as Dallas focused on shinier things. This value is too significant for the Vikings to pass up. 

Picks 25-28

AP Photo/Tyler Kaufman

Tyler Shough

25. New York Giants (traded up from Round 2 with HOU): QB Tyler Shough

Original Pick: QB Jaxson Dart

Doubt the Giants still would trade back into Round 1 with Dart off the board, but Shough is the next-best quarterback prospect out there and he did have some nice moments this summer.  I'd still certainly give this a shot late in Round 1, and I still have more faith in him than Shedeur Sanders. 

26. Atlanta Falcons (traded up from Round 2 with LAR): Edge Donovan Ezeiruaku

Original Pick: Edge James Pearce Jr.

The Falcons still go double pass rush in Round 1, but this time with Walker and Ezeiruaku, who was intriguing from the get-go as a second-round standout this summer for Dallas. I get the feeling his emergence made it a lot easier for the team to trade away short-term mentor Micah Parsons. That moves him into Round 1 alongside Shough. 

27. Baltimore Ravens: S Malaki Starks

Original Pick: S Malaki Starks

Starks has made some stellar plays in camp and the coaching staff seems fired up about his ability to contribute as a Week 1 starter. There's no reason to stray from here. 

28. Detroit Lions: Edge Jordan Burch

Original Pick: DL Tyleik Williams

One more Day 2 pick who becomes a first-rounder in this exercise is Burch, who had a monster preseason finale against the Raiders after drawing rave reviews in camp. He could easily have a path to become the No. 2 option on the edge for the Lions. Nothing against Williams, but he didn't make any waves this offseason and another pass-rusher could be a game-changer. 

Picks 29-32

AP Photo/Daniel Kucin Jr.

Jihaad Campbell

29. Washington Commanders: OT Josh Conerly Jr.

Original Pick: OT Josh Conerly Jr.

Following a slow start, Conerly has improved significantly this summer while transitioning from the left side to the right. He's earned the starting job there, so the blossoming Commanders won't want to mess with that. 

30. Buffalo Bills: CB Maxwell Hairston

Original Pick: CB Maxwell Hairston

Not much you can do about an LCL sprain, although that's not enough to already reconsider a pick that did make a lot of sense at the bottom of Round 1. 

31. Philadelphia Eagles (traded up from No. 32 with KC): LB Jihaad Campbell

Original Pick: LB Jihaad Campbell

There have been some growing pains in pass coverage, but that's not enough to push Campbell out of Round 1. He's earned significant early-season reps, thanks primarily to an awesome performance in Philly's second preseason game. The buzz is there for good reason.

32. Kansas City Chiefs (traded back from No. 31 with PHI): OT Armand Membou

Original Pick: OT Josh Simmons

We stop the bleeding here for Membou, naturally with the Chiefs in need of a tackle and Simmons long gone. It's not as though he's been bad, but there have been some stumbles and I don't totally trust him yet. Worth the risk at the end of Round 1.