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Round 1 Draft Winners/Losers š
Doug Murray/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Kristopher KnoxApr 20, 2025
It's almost that time football fans. The 2025 NFL draft will begin on Thursday, and over the three-day selection event, teams will look to significantly improve their futures.
As of now, it looks like Miami quarterback Cam Ward will be the first player off the board. The Tennessee Titans hold the No. 1 overall pick, need a quarterback, and have done little to improve the position this offseason.
Things are a little more uncertain after the top pick, however. The Cleveland Browns hold the No. 2 selection and haven't publicly committed to a choice.
"There are a number of guys that we like," Browns general manager Andrew Berry told reporters (h/t ProFootballTalk's Myles Simmons).
Theoretically, the Browns could trade down, take the best quarterback on their board or grab an elite prospect like Colorado WR/CB Travis Hunter or Penn State pass-rusher Abdul Carterāand their choice could impact the next several selections.
How might the first round unfold? Let's examine the odds and latest buzz before running through an updated mock draft.
Uncertainty, Especially Among Quarterbacks, Could Dominate the First Round
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Colorado QB prospect Shedeur Sanders
When it comes to NFL mock drafts, writers, analysts and draft experts make them (often many of them) and then largely forget about them after the draft has unfolded. Why? Because mocks are rarely even close to the real thing.
No matter how much logic, intel and experience goes into a mock, it only takes one surprise pick or unexpected trade can throw everything off. This year, many predictions could appear flat-out silly in retrospect.
The following mock draft is based on team needs, player potential, recent rumors, odds and the latest rankings from the Bleacher Report Scouting Department. It's likely to have several picks wrong because there just isn't much consensus about most prospects in the 2025 class.
"This first round is going to be wild," one scout told ESPN's Matt Miller while noting that we may see many "reaches" in comparison to media draft boards.
Making prognostication difficult is the fact that the 2025 class features a handful of "blue-chip" prospects and then a large second-tier. Team needs and scheme fit may be just as important as prospect potential for teams outside of the top 10.
"I don't think there's a difference between Player 10 and Player 40 in this draft," one executive told NFL Network'sTom Pelissero.
The fact that Ward appears to be the only "safe" quarterback in the draft further adds to the uncertainty. Colorado's Shedeur Sanders, Mississippi's Jaxson Dart and Alabama's Jalen Milroe are likely to come off the board relatively early, but where remains a mystery.
The New Orleans Saints (No. 9 overall) have become a popular destination for Sanders because Derek Carr's shoulder injury couldāNFL Network's Ian Rapoportāprevent him from playing in 2025.
Not everyone believes that the Saints and Sanders are an inevitable match.
"This is the same front office that drafted Spencer Rattler in the fifth round last year, and a source told me that they still like his ability and upside a lot," Miller wrote on Friday.
There's no guarantee that Sanders will be the second quarterback off the board. Dart, Milroe and Louisville's Tyler Shough could be in the mix as well, according to ESPN's Field Yates:
"I've spoken with people around the league who think it's possible Dart winds up following Miami's Cam Ward among the passers. Regardless of how highly rated a QB is on our own boards, the order they are taken is going to be decided by a small group of QB-needy teams that see each of them differently. And I'll throw Shough in this conversation, too."
The lack of quarterback consensus could heavily alter how the rest of Round 1 unfolds. We may not see a flurry of trades for skill players, but quarterback-needy teams could maneuver to get "their guy."
The Browns, Saints, New York Giants and Pittsburgh Steelers are among the list of teams that could consider quarterbacks in Round 1. Teams that don't take a signal-caller early on opening night could also trade back into the first round to secure a quarterback and the fifth-year option.
Assorted Draft-Related Odds
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Penn State edge prospect Abdul Carter
Third Overall Pick
Penn State edge Abdul Carter -550 (bet $550 to win $100)
Colorado WR/CB Travis Hunter +400 (bet $100 to win $400)
Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders +750
Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty +4000
Ashton Jeanty Draft Position
Over 6.5 +180
Under 6.5 -235
Jaxson Dart Draft Position
Over 24.5 +120
Under 24.5 -150
Total Quarterbacks in Round 1
Over 2.5 -450
Under 2.5 +300
Total Offensive Linemen in Round 1
Over 6.5 +100
Under 6.5 -130
Total Cornerbacks in Round 1
Over 4.5 +215
Under 4.5 -295
*Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook
2025 NFL Draft Order and Round 1 Mock
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Miami QB prospect Cam Ward
1. Tennessee Titans: Cam Ward, QB, Miami
2. Cleveland Browns: Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado
3. New York Giants: Abdul Carter, Edge, Penn State
4. New England Patriots: Will Campbell, OL, LSU
5. Jacksonville Jaguars: Mason Graham, DL, Michigan
6. Las Vegas Raiders: Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
7. New York Jets: Armand Membou, OT, Missouri
8. Carolina Panthers: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
9. New Orleans Saints: Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
10. Chicago Bears: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
11. San Francisco 49ers: Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
12. Dallas Cowboys: Matthew Golden, WR, Texans
13. Miami Dolphins: Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas
14. Indianapolis Colts: Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
15. Atlanta Falcons: Mike Green, Edge, Marshall
16. Arizona Cardinals: Tyler Booker, OL, Alabama
17. Cincinnati Bengals: Kelvin Banks Jr., OL, Texas
18. Seattle Seahawks: Walter Nolen, DL, Mississippi
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jalon Walker, LB, Georgia
20. Denver Broncos: Shemar Stewart, Edge, Texas A&M
21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Derrick Harmon, DL, Oregon
22. Los Angeles Chargers: Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
23. Green Bay Packers: Mykel Williams, Edge, Georgia
24. Cleveland Browns (via projected trade w/Minnesota Vikings): Jaxson Dart, QB, Mississippi
25. Houston Texans: Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State
26. Los Angeles Rams: Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama
27. Baltimore Ravens: Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina
28. Detroit Lions: James Pearce Jr., Edge, Tennessee
29. Washington Commanders: Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky
30. Buffalo Bills: Tre Harris, WR, Mississippi
31. Kansas City Chiefs: Tyleik Williams, DL, Ohio State
32. Philadelphia Eagles: Xavier Watts, S, Notre Dame
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