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Mock Drafts
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March 2nd
Sports Illustrated: LaJohntay Wester could go anywhere from the third to sixth round
… Like Jimmy Horn, Wester ran a 4.46 at the NFL Combine … One CBS commentator called Wester “The Biggest Surprise of the Combine”, noting: “What makes him so special is he is a legit route runner. He can win at all levels of the field. That dude can ball. And he’s got a lot of talent” …
From Sports Illustrated …
LaJohntay Wester is a fascinating receiver prospect who continues to rise on draft boards despite not fitting the traditional NFL wide receiver mold. Standing at 5’11” and weighing 177 pounds, Wester is on the leaner side, but his production at Florida Atlantic speaks for itself. Over his five-year career, he demonstrated remarkable consistency, with his breakout 2023 season cementing his status as FAU’s all-time leading receiver. That year, he earned All-AAC First Team honors, recording 108 receptions for 1,168 yards and eight touchdowns—numbers typically associated with bigger, prototypical WR1s.
Beyond his on-field skills, Wester has earned the respect of his coaches and teammates. His leadership and work ethic were rewarded when Coach Deion Sanders honored him with the coveted No. 1 jersey—an honor given only to those who prove themselves through dedication and performance. If he can add some weight without sacrificing speed, Wester has the potential to be drafted higher than expected. With his production, versatility, and intangibles, he could become an impactful player at the next level.
Strengths:
-Threatening speed
-Plays bigger than his frame
-Produced touchdowns consistently over four years
-Football IQ allows him to manipulate routes while staying on time
-Elite ability to adjust to the ball mid flight
-Great teammate and potential locker room glue guy
-An unrelenting positive attitude
Weaknesses:
-Route running technique could be tighter, more disciplined
-Rarely fights through routes, not much of a 50/50 ball guy
-Smaller than average catch radius for a receiver his size
-There can be some rigidity in middle torso that can limit his route running
-He’ll need to get into the 180s weight wise before injury potential is less of a concern
LaJohntay Wester’s Draft stock has moved gradually and seems to continue to do so. His big play for Colorado in 2024 ensures his name would come up, but it has been his work after the season that is turning heads. Wester had not been invited to the Combine until after his work during the East West Shrine Game practices. Wester is a “just get him in the room” prospect. His stock should rise a little after individual interviews. His range could be anywhere from the 3rd round to the 6th round. His ability to contribute on special teams (2023 All-AAC Special Teams Player of the Year) should also add to his draft stock before Draft Day.
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March 1st
Sports Illustrated: Jimmy Horn could rise from a Day Three to a Day Two draft pick
… Horn ran a 4.47 and a 4.46 at the NFL Combine, but ran a WR prospect best 19.81 in the “Gauntlet Drill” …
From Sports Illustrated …
Overview:
Jimmy Horn Jr. is a dynamic wide receiver whose size may raise concerns for NFL teams, but his speed and playmaking ability cannot be ignored. At 5’7”, he lacks the traditional height and catch radius of an outside receiver, yet he compensates with elite agility and acceleration. His ability to separate from defenders and exploit openings in zone coverage makes him an intriguing slot option at the next level.
Horn thrives in short and intermediate routes, utilizing his quickness to create space and make plays after the catch. He’s not afraid to work across the middle, and if defenders don’t bring him down immediately, he can turn short receptions into big gains. While he may not fit the mold of a deep threat, his route-running ability and quick bursts allow him to be a reliable target underneath.
Strengths:
-Deceptively fast for his size, if he is underestimated he can beat defenders
-Quality change of direction mid route without sacrificing speed
-Could be valuable in almost any trick play situation
-Yards after the catch should be a serious concern for defenses
-Plays scrappy as if he doesn’t believe he’s smaller
-His college tape has fair share of ‘wow’ plays
Weaknesses:
-His frame creates serious injury and longevity concerns
-Experienced a rough stretch in 2023, short of injury that was remedied in 2024
-Will likely need to develop route tightness as the windows will be smaller
-Is somewhat less effective against press coverage
Draft Projection:
The narrative on Horn and his draft stock is all over the board. Before the East West Shrine Game, the most common range was rounds 5-7. Since then, Horn has had legitimate mid-to-late round buzz. His work during the combine should help to focus that range. If he runs as fast as most think and looks good running drills, it’s not outside the realm of possibility that Horn could rise from mid-late on Day 3 to late Day 2. Provided a team can downplay the size issue.
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February 27th
Updated CBS Mock Draft: Shedeur and Travis go No. 3 and No. 4 overall
From CBS Sports … The NFL Scouting Combine is underway from Indianapolis, while trade and free agency rumors are running rampant. Raiders minority owner Tom Brady reportedly met with Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford at a ski resort and the Giants are said to have interest as well.
The reality is that the NFL Draft is just a portion of a team’s offseason plans. Positional needs will evolve in the coming weeks as free agent deals are signed, so the picture will not come into focus until later in March. Some of the other big dominoes to fall include the potential trade availability of Deebo Samuel, Cooper Kupp, Jonathan Allen and others.
One big piece of news that surfaced Wednesday night is that Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter — the potential No. 1 overall pick — has a foot injury that may require surgery. My initial reaction is that it will not hurt his stock significantly, if at all, because it is a potential eight-week recovery, according to Carter’s agent, which would have him back on the field during organized training activities or, at the very least, training camp.
If teams are worried about the injury creating long-term problems, then that will impact his stock. Carter and Colorado athlete Travis Hunter have separated themselves from the rest of the pack atop this draft class.
In today’s thought exercise, we take another look at pre-free agency positional needs while also anticipating some of the prospects who could rise into the first round with strong combine performances.
No. 1 … Tennessee … Abdul Carter, Edge, Penn State … Travis Hunter and Abdul Carter are the two best players in this draft. The Titans have said they view Hunter as a cornerback. Carter plays a more premium position. In the wake of the Carter injury news, the odds of Tennessee trading out of the pick rise, but there may not be a team willing to present the Titans with a considerable haul for this quarterback class. It is more difficult for the Titans to pivot elsewhere this year, specifically, because there are fewer of those game-altering prospects. Carter ends up being the pick.
No. 2 … Cleveland … Cam Ward, QB, Miami … Cleveland is going to come out of this draft with a quarterback. The only question is whether that happens in the first round or on Day 2. If both Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders are available, then odds are better that the Browns will like one of them. Ward has a higher ceiling.
No. 3 … New York Giants … Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado … New York wants a reason to be excited and a young quarterback delivers that belief. The Giants are desperate for an upgrade at the game’s most important position, and Shedeur Sanders is more than capable of handling the pressure in the Big Apple.
No. 4 … New England … Travis Hunter, CB/WR … New England still needs to address its offensive line issues, but those looked better with Drake Maye installed at quarterback. It should remain a priority, but the Patriots are not going to have a better opportunity to add a playmaker like Travis Hunter to the offense.
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February 25th
The Athletic Compilation: Travis and Shedeur go in the first six picks
From The Athletic … NFL Draft season is in high gear, with prospect interviews already underway in Indianapolis at the NFL Scouting Combine. As the league’s offseason spotlight turns to college stars and how they might fit at the next level, there’s no group better qualified to assess them than the writers who covered them in college.
Below, eight members of The Athletic’s college football staff — Cameron Teague Robinson, Scott Dochterman, Audrey Snyder, David Ubben, Chris Kamrani, Antonio Morales, Matt Baker and Grace Raynor — team up to offer their insight and projections for this NFL mock draft. No trades were allowed in this exercise.
1. Tennessee Titans: Cam Ward, QB, Miami
The Titans have their pick between Ward and Shedeur Sanders, but Ward’s measurables are more impressive, and the impact he made at Washington State and Miami looks a lot like what Jayden Daniels did for LSU. Ward may be slightly less accurate than Sanders, but he’s a better processor and a much better athlete with a much stronger arm. Travis Hunter is the best prospect in this draft, but an elite quarterback can singlehandedly change the trajectory of a franchise. Ward is the best bet in this draft to become one.
3. New York Giants: Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado
The Giants also need a quarterback, but Hunter is the best prospect in the draft and one of the most exciting playmakers of the 21st century. He may already be an All-Pro caliber player. If New York’s quarterback situation doesn’t improve in 2025, Texas’ Arch Manning and Penn State’s Drew Allar will be waiting in 2026.
6. Las Vegas Raiders: Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
It wouldn’t be a total shock if the Raiders went defense here — it’s Pete Carroll, after all — but Vegas has to address the long-term outlook at quarterback at some point, and it might not get a better chance to do so than right now. Sanders was one of the most prolific and accurate passers in the nation last season and would be another building block for a unit that doesn’t have much going on outside of Brock Bowers.
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February 16th
CBS Sports Mock Drafts: Raiders trade up to take Shedeur No. 1 in one; Travis to Raiders at No. 6 in another
From CBS Sports … Ryan Wilson’s mock Draft …
The With the First Pick RV is back in the garage after making stops at the Shrine and Senior Bowls the last two weeks. It’s always good to see these players in person — and yes, I’ve been accused (mostly by my podcast co-host Rick Spielman) of falling in love when I finally get eyes on these guys after watching them on tape for the last couple seasons — and the 2025 draft cycle is no different.
There are still just two quarterbacks going in Round 1, but the all-star game circuit confirmed what my eyes saw in the fall: This class is deep along the defensive line, both on the interior and at edge rusher. And while the offensive line looked thin(nish) at times, there are some dudes, especially on the inside.
Put another way: Don’t be distracted by the “This is a weak class” talk in the coming weeks. It’s not “six QBs in the top 12” deep, but there are are some special talents who will hear their names called early, and the depth at certain positions will run well into Day 3. That, in some ways, makes it more exciting as we work our way up to the actual draft on April 24.
No. 3 – New York Giants … Shedeur Sanders … (Cam Ward going No. 1 to Tennessee Titans) … Good luck finding someone tougher than Sanders. He’ll stand in the pocket and take hit (after hit after hit) to make a play downfield. He’s not the best athlete and doesn’t have the arm strength of Cam Ward, but he does a lot of things really well. Would like to see him play on time more consistently, but part of that has to do with Colorado’s inconsistent offensive line.
No. 6 – Las Vegas Raiders … Travis Hunter … Hunter is the best athlete — and the best player — in this draft class. We’ve had otherworldly cornerbacks and wide receivers in previous classes but he’s a two-fer, able to dominate on both sides of the ball and take over games. The big question where will the team that drafts him want him to play. And if it’s, say, at cornerback, how big will be the package of offensive plays for Hunter. Because lining up for 120 snaps a game, like he’s done for the Buffs, isn’t sustainable in the NFL.
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From CBS Sports … Chris Tapasso’s Mock Draft …
With Super Bowl LIX behind us, the 2025 NFL offseason has officially begun, so it’s time to start working in more trades into mock drafts.
It could be the offseason of the pass rusher, with Myles Garrett, Maxx Crosby and even Micah Parsons could be on the move in what would each be seismic swaps with huge ripple effects across the league. And, heck, after watching what the Eagles did up front to the Chiefs in the Super Bowl, more clubs could very well be enticed by the idea of adding a premier pass-rushing talent to their roster, even if it’d be costly do to so.
We don’t even know if any of those elite rushers will be moved, yet it feels like at least one of the dominoes will fall. I previously experimented with the idea of Garrett being traded to the Commanders. For this mock, let’s check a scenario in which the Browns keep Garrett on a Great Lake and send him to Detroit.
I feel the Browns will ultimately trade Garrett and the Titans will ultimately trade out of the No. 1 overall pick without a transcendent type at the quarterback position. Tennessee sliding back occurs in this mock too.
Here are the parameters for both trades:
- Raiders get: No. 1 overall, 2025 fifth-rounder (No. 168 overall)
- Titans get: No. 6 overall, 2025 second-rounder (No. 37 overall), 2025 third-rounder (No. 68), 2026 first-rounder, 2026 fourth-round pick
- Lions get: Myles Garrett
- Browns get: 2025 first-rounder (No. 28 overall), 2026 conditional second-rounder that can become a first, 2026 third-round pick
No. 1 … Las Vegas Raiders … Shedeur Sanders … Let’s run back the idea of Tom Brady and Co. making a move to land Sanders at No. 1, just so they assure themselves they land him in this draft.
No. 4 … New England Patriots … Travis Hunter … While Will Campbell would be sensible as a building block — pun intended — for Drake Maye, the Patriots feel better about landing suitable offensive linemen later in the draft and can’t pass on the supremely gifted Hunter here. They also need more dynamic playmakers on the roster.
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February 14th
NFL Executives poll: Is Shedeur QB1? Is Travis the No. 1 pick overall?
From ESPN … The 2025 NFL draft is just over two months away. It kicks off on April 24 in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and the Tennessee Titans will be on the clock first with the No. 1 pick. But what does the top of the draft board look like right now?
We used the recent Senior Bowl and Shrine Bowl events as opportunities to get a sense of the top of this class. Who is the top overall prospect? Who is the top quarterback? Will the top pick be a QB or non-QB, and will it be the Titans making the selection? Four of our NFL Nation reporters who were on the ground — Turron Davenport, Jeff Legwold, Daniel Oyefusi and Katherine Terrell — polled NFL executives, coaches and scouts to help answer those questions. (Each reporter asked one question, and the number of responses differs from question to question.)
Who is the top quarterback in the class?
Cam Ward, Miami: Four votes
Shedeur Sanders, Colorado: Three votes
Ward and Sanders have established themselves as the headliners of this year’s quarterback class, and Ward narrowly edged out Sanders in our poll of league execs, coaches and scouts. While both are expected to be the first two signal-callers selected in April’s draft, multiple people at the Shrine Bowl noted that this class is watered down compared to the 2024 group, which saw a record six quarterbacks taken in the first 12 picks.
One player personnel executive called the top of the draft “generally good, not great.” And a national scout said Ward and Sanders would have been ranked similar to Bo Nix, who went No. 12 overall to the Broncos this past April.
“The top guys in this class wouldn’t be in the top three from last year’s crop, in my opinion,” that scout said. “Good debate on if they would be in the top five actually.”
The general consensus from those polled was that Sanders is a more refined pocket passer, but Ward’s arm talent and mobility give him the upper hand as a long-term prospect. Ward led the nation with 39 passing touchdowns at Miami, while Sanders was just behind with 37 at Colorado.
“The experience, arm talent, decision-making … I think he has a nice package,” an AFC area scout who voted for Ward said. “Overall, I think he’s the top prospect and should be the first [quarterback] off the board.”
An AFC coach who voted for Sanders acknowledged Ward had a higher ceiling but had one cause for concern: “The thing that scares me with [Ward] is some of the risks he does take … you can’t do that at this level,” the coach said.
That coach went on to call Sanders “the safer pick,” saying, “He’s very accurate and has really good footwork.”
Who is the best prospect in the class, regardless of position?
Abdul Carter, Edge, Penn State: Seven votes
Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado: Five votes
An informal poll of a dozen evaluators at the Senior Bowl gave the narrow edge to Carter over Hunter here — with an asterisk of sorts that one NFC general manager might have described the best.
“Carter is everything you want in a prospect — highest grade on the board with a very specific, defined path into your lineup. You know exactly what he is, how you’ll project him,” he said. “But you can’t deny [Hunter] is the most uniquely talented guy. I mean, [he] did things we haven’t seen in a long time and might not see again. It’s just a matter of where the coaching staff sees him, where a team sees him and how quickly everybody finds a rhythm with how it looks. … You just know how gifted he is and just find a way to play him.”
Carter, an explosive snap-to-whistle force, was the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year with 12 sacks, 23.5 tackles for loss and 61 pressures this past season. Most of those polled added that elite pass rushers routinely adapt to the NFL quicker than rookies at other positions, so that enhances Carter’s value at the top of the board.
Hunter, meanwhile, finished with 96 receptions for 1,258 yards and 15 touchdowns as a receiver to go with four interceptions, 10 pass breakups and 36 tackles at cornerback. While the lure of offense in the public domain has many saying Hunter’s future is at receiver — one scout said he could see team owners preferring Hunter on offense — most of the evaluators polled actually think Hunter is more refined as a cornerback.
“You just really don’t want to stifle his development. He has some rough edges in technique as a receiver. He wins with talent now, and NFL corners will force him to be a better route runner,” another NFC executive said.
It’s typically more difficult to find a cornerback of his talent, and it would likely be easier in the day-to-day world of the NFL to have Hunter primarily on defense and then carve out a situational role on offense (rather than the other way around). But regardless, those polled acknowledged it will be a big decision for the coaching staff who ultimately drafts Hunter.
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February 10th
The Sporting News: Travis at No. 3; Shedeur drops out of Top Ten
From The Sporting News … Here are the latest projections for every team with the order set to be set.
1. Tennessee Titans 3-14
- Cam Ward, QB, Miami (6-2, 223 pounds)
The Titans, like other teams, should see that Ward is standing out a bit when evaluating him with Shedeur Sanders. Ward has the bonus of dynamic athleticism, including a polished, accurate arm, which gives some Jayden Daniels vibes in this year’s class. The Titans can’t mess around with Will Levis or a veteran bridge when they need their true franchise QB.
3. New York Giants 3-14
- Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado (6-1, 185 pounds)
The Giants need to consider quarterback early, but it will also be difficult to ignore that Hunter may fall right into their lap to be an instant ball-hawking defensive star in New York while also giving Malik Nabers some receiving help at times.
18. Seattle Seahawks 10-7
- Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado (6-2, 215 pounds)
The Seahawks might shock some by taking a quarterback in the first round despite still having Geno Smith playing rather well, but they are looking for a more reliable downfield passing game under new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak. A lesser shock might be Sanders falling, and they can’t pass up this great fit beyond the double alliteration because he profiles as their ideal, strong-armed pocket passer.
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February 8th
NFL.com drafts: Travis No. 1 in one; Shedeur No. 1 in another
From Cynthia Frelund at NFL.com … I always do my NFL mock drafts a little differently from the traditional method, in that my team-prospect pairings are based on optimizing for wins in the upcoming season only. Here’s a quick look at my process:
- I take the best available information about free agency — which, right now, is admittedly not much more than what we know about player contracts — to predict players’ market value.
- I then check free agents’ projected market value against the anticipated salary-cap space for each team.
- Finally, I add potential free agents or drafted players to different teams and identify which individuals increase teams’ projected win total the most. (My player model leverages historical pre-draft player data to forecast NFL performance.)
I’m starting this process early again this year, which is extremely fun because I am excited to track how things change with free agency and as the draft process evolves. For example, based on the Senior Bowl, which took place last week, I think Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart could appear in future versions of my Round 1 mock-up, depending on potential trades, what happens in free agency, etc.
No. 1 … Tennessee Titans … Travis Hunter … Hunter’s upside and overall value in the 2025 class are too hard to ignore. If the Titans lock in on Hunter at No. 1, they have the benefit of addressing other needs — like quarterback — in free agency (as well as later in the draft). As of now, Hunter comes off the board no later than third overall in 81 percent of one million simulations by my model.
No. 9 … New Orleans Saints … Shedeur Sanders … The Saints’ head coach vacancy throws a bit of a wrench into my model’s pick for New Orleans, but Sanders would be an exceptional value at No. 9, no matter who lands the job. My model is high on Sanders for his accuracy and very high on him for his playmaking skills on downs after he’s been pressured. In that latter area, he ranks near the top among all QB prospects in my 10-season sample. If you use that metric as a proxy for toughness, and then consider his relatively small size for his position, it’s even more impressive.
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But …
From Bucky Brooks at NFL.com … Less than a month away from the NFL Scouting Combine, it’s time to start thinking about where the top prospects could end up.
Here’s my initial projection of how the entire first round will play out in Green Bay, Wisconsin, where the 2025 NFL Draft will take place on April 24-26.
No. 1 … Tennessee Titans … Shedeur Sanders … Second-year head coach Brian Callahan and new general manager Mike Borgonzi jump-start the Titans’ rebuild with a franchise quarterback boasting big-game moxie and experience engineering program turnarounds.
No. 4 … New England Patriots … Travis Hunter … New head coach Mike Vrabel’s personal experience as a two-way player could help the Patriots maximize this Heisman Trophy winner’s potential as a combo playmaker in the NFL.
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February 3rd
ESPN’s Matt Miller’s Mock Draft: Travis to Cleveland; Shedeur to Las Vegas
From ESPN … I spent time over the past two weeks at the Senior Bowl and Shrine Bowl all-star events, watching top 2025 NFL draft prospects in action. There were some clear risers, including players who could get picked in the first two rounds. So I’m projecting where the best players in the class — including 22 Senior Bowl participants — could land with a full mock draft of Rounds 1-2.
Yes, there’s still a lot of time for changes. The combine later this month will shuffle draft boards, and NFL free agency in March will alter the needs of each team. Pro days and countless interviews come after that as we count down to Round 1 on April 24. But this is where things stand at the moment. The top 30 picks of the draft order are set, but I based the order for Nos. 31-32 here on my personal prediction for Super Bowl LIX.
Let’s get to it. Here are my first- and second-round projections for April’s draft, including landing spots for the Senior Bowl’s top risers, Shrine Bowl standouts and four quarterbacks.
1. Tennessee Titans … Abdul Carter, Edge, Penn State
2. Cleveland Browns
Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado
The Browns are facing questions about quarterback Deshaun Watson’s future, so it’s logical to think they would be all-in on a passer here. But Cleveland isn’t a lock to draft a QB given the money it has committed at the position. Instead, the Browns might go with the most dynamic player in the draft.
Hunter wowed en route to winning the Heisman Trophy, catching 96 passes for 1,258 yards and 15 touchdowns while still finding time to pick off four passes at cornerback. He played an FBS-high 1,458 snaps. The debate over which position he should play in the NFL is ongoing, but the Browns need help at receiver and corner.
6. Las Vegas Raiders
Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
Sometimes dots connect themselves in the NFL draft. Sanders has worked with Raiders minority owner Tom Brady in previous offseasons and would land with his mentor here. The Raiders have two foundational stars in tight end Brock Bowers and defensive end Maxx Crosby, but they need a strong leader to cultivate an offensive identity.
Sanders stays poised within the pocket and displays excellent toughness, with a knack for timing-based throws. He doesn’t have blazing speed or superior arm strength, but he is extremely accurate, as his 6.5% off-target percentage in 2024 was second among quarterbacks in this class.
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January 24th
CBS Sports Mock Draft: Raiders move up to take Shedeur with No. 1 pick
From CBS Sports … Tom Brady and Shedeur Sanders go way back, having established a football relationship since Sanders’ days as a high school quarterback.
And with Brady seemingly very much involved in the decision-making process for the Raiders now that he’s a minority owner, let’s assume the legendary quarterback makes sure his team can draft the Colorado quarterback in April.
Las Vegas has the No. 6 overall pick — so there are no guarantees Sanders is wearing Silver and Black in September. If the Raiders trade up to No. 1 overall, that can, of course, happen.
In this mock, in his first seismic move as part owner, Brady and Co. — whomever they hire as GM — make a deal with the Tennessee Titans and promptly select Sanders to be the club’s next quarterback. It’d fill a need. Sanders is reasonably pro-ready from a full-field read perspective.
And if you hit on the quarterback, no one ever remembers, or cares, what you sent in a draft-day trade to get him.
No. 1 – Shedeur Sanders – Las Vegas Raiders
We cannot rule out the possibility of the Raiders — and new minority owner Tom Brady — making an aggressive push to draft Shedeur Sanders. There’s a chance Sanders’ connection with Brady will make it too dicey for Las Vegas to simply hope and wait for him to fall to No. 6 overall.
No. 4 – Travis Hunter – New England Patriots
Travis Hunter to the Patriots would be tremendous for everyone involved. New England gets a ridiculous two-way player, and Hunter can be featured prominently right away.
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Mel Kiper (ESPN): Shedeur and Travis go No. 2 and No. 3
We’re roughly three months from the 2025 NFL draft. The college football season is officially over — congrats to the national champion Ohio State Buckeyes — and we’re down to four teams in the NFL playoffs. That means three things:
- We have a full final season of tape for top prospects, so evaluations are becoming clearer.
- The draft order for the first 28 picks is locked in, with the Tennessee Titans sitting at No. 1.
- It’s a perfect time for my debut mock draft for the 2025 class.
This class isn’t loaded with quarterback talent like we saw in 2024. But I still have a few passers going early in Round 1, and there is plenty of talent at other positions. Remember, there is a lot of time before the draft begins April 24, and the board will continue to change with predraft events. This is merely an exercise to show what I’m thinking three months out, factoring in my Big Board rankings and what I’m hearing from execs, scouts and coaches in the league. I’m not projecting any trades right now; it’s just too early to gauge which teams could move up. And I used ESPN’s Football Power Index to project the draft order for the final four picks.
1. Tennessee Titans …. Cam Ward, QB, Miami
2. Cleveland Browns … Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado
Know how I just said the Titans had the league’s second-worst QBR and INT total? Well, the Browns were the worst in both categories. Deshaun Watson also retore his right Achilles and Jameis Winston is a free agent, so taking Sanders isn’t out of the question. But I think Cleveland is more likely to address another hole here and find QB reinforcements in free agency and/or later in the draft. (Trading back for more picks with another QB-needy team could be part of the equation, too.)
Plus, Hunter is just that good. I see elite quickness and ball skills on both sides of the ball, traits that helped him to 15 touchdown catches and four interceptions this season. The Browns would likely use him primarily at receiver and then sprinkle him in at cornerback in specific situations.
3. New York Giants … Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
This is the best-case scenario for the Giants. Their Week 17 win over the Colts slid them to No. 3, and now finding a new QB1 in the first round isn’t guaranteed. But Daniel Jones is gone and Drew Lock is a free agent, so the Giants have to do something to clean up one of the worst passing games in the league. New York will be weighing all options, and it might ultimately be forced to trade up into the top two to get its guy. But here, Sanders falls into the Giants’ lap without any extra moves.
Sanders is super accurate, completing 74% of his throws this season. He could step in right away and lift the entire offense, including standout 2024 first-rounder Malik Nabers. Time is running out for GM Joe Schoen and coach Brian Daboll; they have to get this right.
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The Sporting News: Travis Hunter the No. 1 pick
From The Sporting News … The first-round NFL Draft order for April 24 is almost set. Four more teams were eliminated from the 2025 playoffs in the divisional round, officially locking in picks No. 1-28 ahead of the conference championship games.
Of course, offseason trades can (and will) happen, which will further shake up the order, but that’s another worry for another post-Super Bowl day.
Here’s looking at the updated projections for all the teams who know where they’ll be picking — for now — on Day 1.
1. Tennessee Titans 3-14
- Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado (6-1, 185 pounds)
The Titans will be urged to draft a quarterback with this pick, but they could also use cornerback help after both Chidobe Awuize and Roger McCreary struggled in coverage. They could use a little more big-play flash at wide receiver to help Calvin Ridley, as well. Hunter has the big defensive game they need along with high-impact WR energy as a unique, Heisman-winning talent.
3. New York Giants 3-14
- Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado (6-2, 215 pounds)
There are reports of Sanders falling off some teams’ first-round boards because of how he played at the end of the Buffaloes’ season, changing the narrative on his entire body of work as a clutch, accurate downfield passer. But there’s no indication that the Giants are one of those teams, with reports to the contrary reflecting their growing desire for Sanders to shine in returning coach Brian Daboll’s offense. New York has set itself up for getting a “prime-time” franchise QB, and that aligns with being a desired destination for Deion’s son.
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9 Replies to “Mock Drafts”
Football IQ allows him to manipulate routes while staying on time
-Elite ability to adjust to the ball mid flight
Weaknesses:
-Route running technique could be tighter, more disciplined.
So which is it?
Good at changing it up to be on time and adjust to the ball?
Or…
Needs to be tighter?
“LaJohntay Wester is a fascinating receiver prospect who continues to rise on draft boards despite not fitting the traditional NFL wide receiver mold. ”
Which draft bords are they talking about? Oh, thats right, their own, which dont mean a damn thing.
If I remember correckly. Wester put in some great stats at his previous school and shined here at CU where the Buffs were some of the most watched games in the country. But it took this week at the combine for the pundtards to notice him.
Stafford resigns and the Raiders, Giants are looking at Rodgers, Darnold and even Wilson according to those gurus at ESPN. Not a mention of Shedeur. Maybe they think he will be drafted to sit behind one of these guys like Penix.
Who would try and recycle Rodgers? another terminal ego case. He wont quit until he is a long term stone cold failure. Must be a Green Bay tradition. Favre hung around until he was almost ready for a nursing home.
Some one needs to write a book about being in one of these draft war rooms changing the names to protect the guilty of course. Maybe they have already? I dont care about Mel Kiper. He is nothing more than football’s version of a Hollywood gossip ,monger. Who pays him and how did he get to the point people would pay him?
Just read where Tom Brady spent considerable time before, during and after skiing in Montana with Mathew Stafford. Maybe that means they wont draft Shedeur. Stafford is rumored to be asking 50 million year which is in line with the 9 top paid QBs. Mahomes is only making 45 mill a year. He probably doesnt eat out a whole lot and drives a Honda civic….right?
All these draft predictions are amusing. They are all over the place. I guess that means one of them might accidentally be right. I am a lot more interested in who will arrive in the portal next round. Because of NIL I am tempering my expectations and hoping a couple of them will surprise people playing beyond their previous level.
whoever is doing the mock draft for the Sporting News needs to put down the crack pipe. In no real world scenario is Shedeur going later than the Raiders at 6th (a nightmare for a lifelong Broncos fan like myself). Sheesh, classic pundolt click bait. I do like the pick of a big TE for the Broncos unless Jeanty somehow falls into their lap. And the Chiefs, well who cares? (Sorry Stuart couldn’t resist).
This poll about the draft is, and using one of earache’s favorite words, hilarious. What? 12 people polled? And of course the folks polled wouldn’t be throwing shade to benefit their real desired picks.
Addressing Stuart’s poll, I would fire shurmur and split the acquisitions between the O line and the LBs.
With the Raiders getting their guy – whom I think is a good hire, for whatever that’s worth – I wonder if they’ll try to trade up to get Shedeur?
Go Buffs