We’re still three weeks away from the 2025 NFL draft, but mock drafts across the internet expect former Miami (Fla.) quarterback Cam Ward will hear his name called first on April 24 at the Green Bay Packers’ Lambeau Field in Wisconsin.
Unlike the 2024 draft class, Ward is not the consensus No. 1 pick, but it’s still a rare mock draft that doesn’t put him ahead of edge rusher Abdul Carter or two-way phenom and Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter.
By combining the collective insights from 16 first-round, mock drafts created by USA TODAY, NFL.com, ESPN and Pro Football Focus, or PFF, we hope to provide similar clarity for fans of all 32 teams. The drafts range from the final day of the 2024 regular season to the most recent days of free agency.
NFL draft order 2025
A handful of players dominate the top of the draft board. With later first-round picks, you learn more about the positions these draft experts predict teams will try to upgrade.
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Top draft prospects in the 2025 NFL draft
A few trends stand out from the mock draft predictions so far:
Offense vs. defense: Not unlike previous drafts, teams with earlier picks appear more likely to select offensive player while teams later in the first round may tend toward defensive picks.
Travis Hunter: He might play cornerback and/or wide receiver in the NFL. Wherever he ends up playing on the field, no draft expects he’ll fall below the Jacksonville Jaguars at fifth. Most have Hunter going to the Cleveland Browns with the second pick.
Abdul Carter: A quarter of the mock drafts predict the Penn State edge rusher and Big Ten’s top defensive player will be the Tennessee Titans’s first pick. Drafts by USA TODAY and PFF show its possible he could fall as low as eighth to the Carolina Panthers.
The biggest needs for each of the teams below are based on an NFL.com analysis published just after the Super Bowl. Players heights and weights are those recorded at the NFL Combine.
1 | Tennessee Titans
The mock-draft hive mind has landed on Ward as the Titans’ most likely pick. All of the most recent mock drafts by USA TODAY, NFL.com, ESPN and Pro Football Focus have Ward going first.
Biggest needs: Quarterback, wide receiver, edge rusher, offensive tackle and safety.
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2 | Cleveland Browns
Will the Browns still consider selecting Shedeur Sanders with the second pick, considering they traded with the Eagles for quarterback Kenny Pickett? Both USA TODAY’s and NFL.com’s most recent mock drafts point toward Carter instead, but Hunter has been the No. 2 pick in the most mock drafts.
Biggest needs: Edge rusher, quarterback, offensive tackle, wide receiver and running back
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3 | New York Giants
All but PFF’s most recent mock draft have the Giants selecting Sanders, but each of those mock drafts were posted before the Giants signed Russell Wilson last week. It could be a crowded quarterback room with Wilson, Sanders, Jameis Winston and Tommy DeVito, but none of the three NFL veterans have been the answer for their respective teams in recent years.
Biggest needs: Quarterback, offensive tackle and guard, cornerback and safety
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4 | New England Patriots
Recent mock drafts are split as to whether Hunter will fall to the New England Patriots, or they will end up strengthening their offensive line with tackle Armand Membou.
Biggest needs: Offensive tackle, wide receiver, edge rusher, cornerback and interior offensive line
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5 | Jacksonville Jaguars
Most mock drafts expect the Jacksonville Jaguars will bolster their defense with their first pick. Most recently USA TODAY added another vote for defensive tackle Mason Graham from Michigan.
Biggest needs: Cornerback, safety, interior offensive line, wide receiver and quarterback
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6 | Las Vegas Raiders
Four in five of mock drafts expect the Las Vegas Raiders will look to add an offensive weapon. While USA TODAY has been stedfast expecting wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan will be the Raiders pick, others have pushed running back Ashton Jeanty up the board in recent drafts.
Biggest needs: Quarterback, wide receiver, running back, cornerback and defensive tackle
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7 | New York Jets
Are the New York Jets satisfied that they’ve addressed one of their biggest needs at quarterback by signing Justin Fields to a two-year deal? NFL.com’s latest draft suggests they might still consider former Mississippi quarterback Jaxson Dart. Otherwise, they might focus on their offensive or defensive lines.
Biggest needs: Quarterback, defensive tackle, offensive tackle, safety and cornerback
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8 | Carolina Panthers
While the Panthers have areas to upgrade on offense, all but one mock draft predict the Panthers will select a defensive player with the eighth pick. In their most recent drafts, USA TODAY, NFL.com, ESPN and PFF all circled Georgia linebacker Jalon Walker as the Panthers’ likely selection.
Biggest needs: Edge rusher, defensive tackle, wide receiver, center and quarterback
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9 | New Orleans Saints
About 70% of the mock drafts expect the New Orleans Saints will try to bolster their defense with the ninth pick. In their latest drafts, USA TODAY and NFL.com have them picking Michigan cornerback Will Johnson, while ESPN and PFF have Georgia edge rusher Mykel Williams.
Biggest needs: Edge rusher, defensive tackle, wide receiver, center and quarterback
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10 | Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears made two big moves to improve their offensive line at the start of free agency. That hasn’t fixed everything on offense in the eyes of the experts. In the most recent mock drafts, ESPN’s was the only to propose a defensive player while two suggest running back Jeanty.
Biggest needs: Offensive guard and tackle, center, edge rusher and wide receiver
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11 | San Francisco 49ers
Earlier in the year, San Francisco 49ers’ mock drafts leaned toward defensive players. But since free agency started, USA TODAY, NFL.com and PFF expect the 49ers will try to improve their offensive line with tackle Will Campbell from LSU.
Biggest needs: Cornerback, defensive tackle, edge rusher, linebacker and offensive guard
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12 | Dallas Cowboys
All but two of the mock drafts predicted that the Dallas Cowboys will select an offensive player. Running back Jeanty had been a favorite earlier in the year, but subsequent drafts have predicted he’ll go higher. The focus now has turned to wide receive prospects for the Cowboys.
Biggest needs: Running back, offensive guard, defensive tackle, cornerback and linebacker
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13 | Miami Dolphins
Previous mock drafts suggested the Miami Dolphins might pick the best player available on either side of the ball. Following free agency, all but one draft expert thinks the Dolphins will pick an offensive lineman. Both USA TODAY and PFF suggest tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. of Texas could be good fit.
Biggest needs: Safety, defensive tackle, offensive guard, linebacker and quarterback
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14 | Indianapolis Colts
About 70% of the mock drafts expect the Indianapolis Colts will pick an offensive player – most likely a tight end. After free agency, USA TODAY, ESPN and PFF all predicted Tyler Warren from Penn State might be the pick.
Biggest needs: Interior offensive line, tight end, cornerback, linebacker and safety
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15 | Atlanta Falcons
Just one of the 16 mock drafts suggest that the Atlanta Falcons will use their first pick on offense. Edge rusher Mike Green from Marshall has shown up most frequently as the Falcons’ selection.
Biggest needs: Edge rusher, safety, cornerback, center and wide receiver
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16 | Arizona Cardinals
A narrow majority of mock drafts speculate the Arizona Cardinals will choose a defensive player first, and since free agency has started, the draft experts below are split between a few offensive and defensive options.
Biggest needs: Edge rusher, defensive tackle, wide receiver, offensive guard and offensive tackle
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17 | Cincinnati Bengals
Since free agency started, mock drafts have seen the Cincinnati Bengals potentially using their first pick on an edge rusher. Might that change if they find a way keep Trey Hendrickson who they’ve allowed to seek a trade? Hendrickson has 35 sacks during the past two seasons.
Biggest needs: Wide receiver, tight end, offensive tackle, cornerback and offensive guard
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18 | Seattle Seahawks
The Seattle Seahawks may have addressed one of their biggest needs by agreeing to a three-year, $100.5 million deal with quarterback Sam Darnold. Now mock drafts expect the Seahawks will try to improve their offensive line or add another wide receiver for Darnold.
Biggest needs: Offensive guard, quarterback, linebacker, defensive tackle and offensive tackle
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19 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Three-quarters of the mock drafts expect the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will attempt to improve their defense with their first pick. Both USA TODAY and PFF speculate that cornerback Jahdae Baron from Texas would be a good fit.
Biggest needs: Wide receiver, offensive guard, linebacker, edge rusher and offensive tackle
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20 | Denver Broncos
Mock drafts have predicted the Denver Broncos will look for an offensive player in the first round. That trend didn’t change following the start of free agency. After turning in a strong performance at the NFL combine, running back Omarion Hampton from North Carolina has risen up the draft board, and USA TODAY and ESPN suggest he might be a good fit for the Broncos.
Biggest needs: Tight end, wide receiver, linebacker, safety and defensive tackle
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21 | Pittsburgh Steelers
The majority of the mock drafts predict the Pittsburgh Steelers will choose an offensive player with their first pick. If the Broncos don’t take Hampton at No. 20, perhaps the Steelers would be interested. Quarterback could also be area of need, considering Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson are currently their two options.
Biggest needs: Quarterback, cornerback, running back, wide receiver and offensive tackle
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22 | Los Angeles Chargers
The mock drafts seem spilt on which side of the ball the Los Angeles Chargers will address with their first pick, but if they choose offense, USA TODAY and ESPN see tight end Colston Loveland from Michigan as potentially a good fit.
Biggest needs: Edge rusher, defensive tackle, center, safety and tight end
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23 | Green Bay Packers
Since free agency began, mock drafts are spilt on which side of the ball the Green Bay Packers will address with their first pick. If they choose offense, NFL.com and PFF agree the Packers will take a receiver. If they decide defense, drafts have speculated on a wide range of positions and players.
Biggest needs: Cornerback, edge rusher, defensive tackle, center and wide receiver
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24 | Minnesota Vikings
Most of the mock drafts predict the Minnesota Vikings will use their first pick on a defensive player. After a strong performance at the combine, safety Nick Emmanwori from South Carolina could be that player, according to USA TODAY’s, NFL.com’s and PFF’s latest mock drafts.
Biggest needs: Cornerback, defensive tackle, running back, offensive guard and safety
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25 | Houston Texans
Most of the mock drafts predict the Houston Texans will look to upgrade their offensive line at either the guard or tackle position for quarterback C.J. Stroud.
Biggest needs: Wide receiver, offensive guard, defensive tackle, cornerback and offensive tackle
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26 | Los Angeles Rams
Previous mock drafts have predicted the Los Angeles Rams are most likely to focus on offense in the first round. Following the start of free agency, mock drafts have been split on which side of the ball the Rams will try to upgrade.
Biggest needs: Offensive tackle, wide receiver, cornerback, linebacker and tight end
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27 | Baltimore Ravens
Previous mock drafts have predicted the Baltimore Ravens will lean toward defense in the first round. That trend continues after the start of free agency. Both USA TODAY and PFF speculate in their most recent drafts that edge rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku from Boston College might be a good fit.
Biggest needs: Offensive tackle, wide receiver, edge rusher, offensive guard and safety
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28 | Detroit Lions
Previous mock drafts have predicted the Detroit Lions will lean toward defense in the first round, but following free agency, the experts are split. If the Lions decide to bolster their offense, NFL.com and PFF think the Lions will look for a guard. They also might consider any number of positions on defense.
Biggest needs: Edge rusher, cornerback, wide receiver, offensive guard and defensive tackle
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29 | Washington Commanders
The Washington Commanders have traded several of their 2025 draft picks for veteran players in the past few months, which could lead them to trade back into later rounds to gain at least one more pick. If they don’t, the mock drafts predict they will select the best available edge rusher.
Biggest needs: Edge rusher, offensive tackle, wide receiver, linebacker and cornerback
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30 | Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills may have improved their defense with a one-year, $12.6 million deal for linebacker Joey Bosa, although mock draft experts hadn’t seen linebacker as one of the team’s top needs. Following the start of free agency, mock drafters think the Bills might focus on cornerback – especially Azareye’h Thomas from Florida State, according to USA TODAY’s and NFL.com’s mock drafts.
Biggest needs: Defensive tackle, wide receiver, edge rusher, cornerback and safety
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31 | Kansas City Chiefs
Mock drafts have been largely split about which side of the ball the Kansas City Chiefs will address with their first pick. Following the start of free agency, most predict they’ll focus on defense.
Biggest needs: Defensive tackle, offensive guard, offensive tackle, wide receiver and edge rusher
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32 | Philadelphia Eagles
Previous mock drafts predicted the Philadelphia Eagles will lean toward defense in the first round. That expectation hasn’t changed since free agency started. But what position or who is far from settled, considering they have the final pick of the round.
Biggest needs: Edge rusher, wide receiver, linebacker, offensive guard and kicker
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Want to see more detail about any of the mock drafts used for this story:
Drafts at the end of the regular season:USA TODAY | ESPN | NFL.com | PFF
After the Super Bowl:USA TODAY | ESPN | NFL.com | PFF
Following the NFL combine: USA TODAY | ESPN | NFL.com | PFF
First weeks of free agency:USA TODAY | ESPN | NFL.com | PFF