It’s Christmas Eve.
The NFL Draft is my favorite day of the year, and the picks made tomorrow night will have an enormous impact on the future of the NFL. The top three picks appear to be locked in, but the rest of the top ten is up in the air.
This mock draft aims to predict each pick in an attempt to be as accurate as possible. Last year,
my final mock draft was the 6th-most accurate in TheHuddleReport’s annual contest
. Hopefully, we can finish in the top five in 2025.
ROUND 1
1) Tennessee Titans -;
Cam Ward
, QB, Miami
The Titans appear locked in on Cam Ward to be their next franchise quarterback.
After a deep dive into his film
, Ward has all the traits you want in a modern pro QB. The Titans need to get him more weapons on day two.
2) Cleveland Browns -;
Travis Hunter
, WR/CB, Colorado
Travis Hunter is the best player in the draft, and his receiver traits are off the charts. I wonder if playing two positions will actually be detrimental long term.
3) New York Giants -; Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State
The Giants won two Super Bowls in large part due to deep, menacing EDGE groups. Abdul Carter would help uphold that tradition.
4) New England Patriots -; Will Campbell, OT, LSU
The Patriots have a huge need at left tackle, and Will Campbell has the nasty demeanor Pats fans will love.
TRADE! Bears trade No. 10 and a 2nd-round pick to Jaguars for No. 5.
5) Chicago Bears f/ Jacksonville Jaguars -;
Ashton Jeanty
, RB, Boise St.
The Bears spent big on offensive line in free agency. RB is the final piece of the puzzle and Ashton Jeanty has monstrous upside.
6) Las Vegas Raiders -; Kelvin Banks Jr., OL, Texas
With Jeanty gone, the Raiders take a versatile offensive lineman in Kelvin Banks Jr.
7) New York Jets -; Armond Membou, OT, Missouri
The Jets need a starter at tight end and
Tyler Warren
just had one of the best college tight end seasons of all time. However, filling out their offensive line with a potential star right tackle also makes sense.
8) Carolina Panthers -; Mason Graham, DT, Michigan
The Panthers lack talent on defense. Mason Graham is an interior wrecking ball who can set the tone up front.
9) New Orleans Saints -; Jalon Walker, LB, Georgia
The Saints will look to add a quarterback later. In this projection, they can’t pass on a falling Jalon Walker, who can play both EDGE and LB.
10) Jacksonville Jaguars f/Chicago Bears -;
Tetairoa McMillan
, WR, Arizona
The Jaguars trade down and grab an extra second, while still filling a huge need with the best perimeter offensive weapon in this class.
11) San Francisco 49ers -; Walter Nolen, DT, Mississippi
The 49ers need to replenish the defense. Walter Nolen is the quintessential interior disruptor.
12) Dallas Cowboys -;
Matthew Golden
, WR, Texas
The Cowboys need a receiver, and Matthew Golden has the route-running skills and speed of a top pro weapon.
13) Miami Dolphins -; Jahdae Barron, DB, Texas
The Dolphins need help in the secondary, and Jahdae Barron has experience playing inside and outside.
14) Indianapolis Colts -; Grey Zabel, OL, North Dakota St.
The Colts lost some veteran offensive linemen in free agency, so the versatile Grey Zabel makes sense.
Colston Loveland
will also be under heavy consideration here if he’s available.
15) Atlanta Falcons -; Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia
The Falcons need help on defense, and Mykel Williams has a high ceiling as a pass rusher. He played through injury this season and has the potential to develop into a star as a pro.
TRADE! Chargers trade No. 22, a 3rd-round pick, and a 2026 3rd-round pick to the Cardinals for No. 16.
16) Los Angeles Chargers f/Arizona Cardinals -; Tyler Warren, TE, Penn St.
In this projection, the Chargers trade up in front of Seattle and Denver to grab the top tight end on their board. Tyler Warren would be an awesome weapon for
Justin Herbert
.
17) Cincinnati Bengals -; Mike Green, EDGE, Marshall
Even if Trey Hendrickson comes back, the Bengals need help on defense. Mike Green is extremely talented with an arsenal of pass rush moves. If his character issues check out, he could go even higher.
18) Seattle Seahawks -;
Colston Loveland
, TE, Michigan
Colston Loveland is a top player in this class. He does have medical concerns but if he falls this far he would absolutely qualify as a Best Player Available selection for Mike MacDonald’s squad.
19) Tampa Bay Buccaneers -; Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama
Jihaad Campbell can play EDGE or off the ball. In Tampa Bay, he’d learn from one of the greats of this generation – Lavonte David.
20) Denver Broncos -;
TreVeyon Henderson
, RB, Ohio St.
Sean Payton is looking for a joker. How about the guy who housed a screen at the end of the first half in the National Semifinal against Texas? TreVeyon Henderson is a home run hitter who can also pass protect.
TRADE! Bills trade No. 30, a 3rd-round pick, and a 4th-round pick to the Steelers for No. 21.
21) Buffalo Bills f/Pittsburgh Steelers -; Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
The Bills have ten picks in this draft, so moving up for a quality starter makes sense. Malaki Starks has excellent football character and plays with football IQ on film.
22) Arizona Cardinals f/Los Angeles Chargers -; Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan
The Cardinals could use some help along the defensive line. Kenneth Grant fills a need and brings uncommon athletic ability for a defensive lineman his size. His traits remind me a little of Dexter Lawrence.
23) Green Bay Packers -; Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
The Packers need a cornerback, and Will Johnson was one of the best defensive backs in college football the past few years. He has some injury and long speed concerns but he’s an excellent football player.
24) Minnesota Vikings -; Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky
The Vikings are ready to hand the keys over to
J.J. McCarthy
but still need help on defense. Maxwell Hairston lit up the combine and has the speed and cover skills to start at corner.
25) Houston Texans -; Tyler Booker, OG, Alabama
The Texans could look at a left tackle here, but Tyler Booker is a plug-and-play starter at guard from day one. Booker is a bulldozer who will help pave the way for
Joe Mixon
and whatever RB the Texans draft.
TRADE! Saints trade No. 40, a 3rd-round pick, and a 2026 2nd-round pick to the Rams for No. 26.
26) New Orleans Saints f/Los Angeles Rams -;
Jaxson Dart
, QB, Mississippi
The Saints move up past the Giants and Browns to secure their signal-caller of the future in Jaxson Dart.
27) Baltimore Ravens -; Shemar Stewart, EDGE, Texas A&M
Shemar Stewart wasn’t super productive, but he has all the traits you want in a quality NFL EDGE. The Ravens would coach him up to develop into a terror on the edge.
28) Detroit Lions -; James Pearce Jr., EDGE, Tennessee
James Pearce Jr. is a talented pass rusher with more power than you think. He would be a great addition on a defensive line that is welcoming back Aidan Hutchinson next season.
29) Washington Commanders -;
Omarion Hampton
, RB, North Carolina
The Commanders decide they can’t pass up on the ultra-productive Omarion Hampton here. He’d eventually usurp
Brian Robinson Jr.
as
Jayden Daniels
‘ RB1.
30) Pittsburgh Steelers f/ Buffalo Bills -;
Shedeur Sanders
, QB, Colorado
The Steelers simply can’t leave the first round without a quarterback. In this projection they slide down to add draft capital and still get Shedeur Sanders.
31) Kansas City Chiefs -; Josh Conerly Jr., OT, Oregon
The Chiefs need to fix their tackle situation. Josh Conerly Jr. is one of the last starting quality tackles left on the board in this scenario.
32) Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles -;
Emeka Egbuka
, WR, Ohio State
Howie Roseman is the sharpest GM in the NFL. The rich get richer here as the Eagles land a falling slot receiver who complements
A.J. Brown
and
DeVonta Smith
perfectly. Emeka Egbuka is a smart, tough football player who will produce early and often in the NFL.
