We’re just a week away from the 2025 NFL draft, and 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 20 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 this week to the last day of the 2024 regular season.
2025 NFL draft order
A handful of players dominate the top of the draft board. As you go deeper into the first round, you learn less about the individual players that teams might pick and more about the positions teams may likely target.
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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. The exceptions: Jacksonville Jaguars and Carolina Panthers. Also, the New Orleans Saints appear to be divided in the chart above, but every recent mock draft illustrated here expects they’ll pick a quarterback.
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.
Shedeur Sanders had been almost a consensus second or third pick in early drafts, but since the NFL combine, mock drafters have moved him up and down in the first round. USA TODAY’s most recent mock draft shows how Sanders could even fall to the Pittsburgh Steelers with the 21st pick.
2025 NFL draft predictions
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 published after the NFL Combine.
1 | Tennessee Titans
Nearly all mock drafts open with Ward as the Titans’ most likely pick. Seven of the last eight mock drafts by USA TODAY, NFL.com, ESPN and Pro Football Focus have Ward going first overall.
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? All of the most recent mock drafts by USA TODAY, NFL.com, ESPN and Pro Football Focus have Hunter as the Browns’ selection.
Biggest needs: Edge rusher, quarterback, offensive tackle, wide receiver and running back
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3 | New York Giants
Two weeks ago, all but PFF’s mock draft had the Giants selecting Sanders, but those mock drafts were posted before the Giants signed Russell Wilson. Now all but PFF’s mock draft predict the Giants will pick Abdul Carter, Penn State edge rusher and Big Ten’s top defensive player.
Biggest needs: Quarterback, offensive tackle and guard, cornerback and safety
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4 | New England Patriots
Past mock drafts had been split as to whether Hunter would fall to the New England Patriots, or they will end up strengthening their offensive line. Now that conventional wisdom puts Hunter as the No. 2 pick, three of the most recent mock drafts predict the Patriots will select Will Campbell, LSU offensive tackle.
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. All but USA TODAY’s most recent mock draft predict the Jaguars will select 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
Seventy-five percent of mock drafts expect the Las Vegas Raiders will look to add an offensive weapon. While USA TODAY proposed wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan as the Raiders pick, others have pushed running back Ashton Jeanty up the board, including half of the most recent mock 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? All but PFF’s most recent draft have the Jets adding more protection for Fields by selecting offensive tackle Armand Membou from Missouri.
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 the most recent mock drafts predict the Panthers will select a defensive player with the eighth pick. In their past eight 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
The mock drafts and initially expected the New Orleans Saints would try to bolster their defense with the ninth pick. In their latest drafts, though, it’s been all quarterback: USA TODAY and PFF predicted Jaxson Dart from Mississippi while NFL.com and ESPN predicted Sanders.
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, though, it’s been more about giving more options than protection for quarterback Caleb Williams, including tight end Tyler Warren from Penn State.
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, most expect the 49ers will try to improve their offensive line with tackles Will Campbell from LSU, Kelvin Banks Jr. from Texas or Membou.
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 have 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 receiver prospects such as Tetairoa McMillan (Arizona) or Matthew Golden (Texas).
Biggest needs: Running back, offensive guard, defensive tackle, cornerback and linebacker
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13 | Miami Dolphins
Since the 2024-25 season ended mock drafts suggested the Miami Dolphins might pick the best player available on either side of the ball. Most recent mock drafts are also split between an offensive lineman or cornerback Will Johnson from Michigan.
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. Most mock drafts have 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 majority of mock drafts speculate the Arizona Cardinals will choose a defensive player first, and since free agency has started, the draft experts have offered up any number of defensive positions.
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? The defensive player most often mentioned as the Bengals first pick: Walter Nolen, tackle from Mississippi.
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 most likely try to improve their offensive line with a tackle such as Grey Zabel from North Dakota State.
Biggest needs: Offensive guard, quarterback, linebacker, defensive tackle and offensive tackle
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19 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Most mock drafts expect the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will attempt to improve their defense with their first pick. Mock drafters have proposed several positions, but linebacker Jihaad Campbell of Alabama has been most frequently mentioned.
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. All but PFF’s draft had Hampton going to Denver in their most recent mock drafts.
Biggest needs: Tight end, wide receiver, linebacker, safety and defensive tackle
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21 | Pittsburgh Steelers
A slight majority of the mock drafts predict the Pittsburgh Steelers will choose an offensive player with their first pick. Mock drafts have suggested three possible quarterbacks (two in the most recent drafts), considering Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson are currently the Steelers current 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, NFL.com 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 had been spilt on which side of the ball the Green Bay Packers will address with their first pick. But in most recent mock drafts, all but USA TODAY’s draft predicted the Packers will add to their defense – either with a cornerback or edge rusher.
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, but mock drafts suggest the Vikings could go variety of directions.
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. Half of the most recent mock drafts predict the Texans might pick Kelvin Banks Jr. of Texas.
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. But in the most recent mock drafts, USA TODAY, ESPN and PFF proposed three different cornerbacks.
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 in the most recent mock drafts. USA TODAY, NFL.com and PFF have all had edge rusher Donovan Ezeiruaku from Boston College going to the Ravens in recent drafts.
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, USA TODAY and NFL.com think the Lions will look for a guard such as Tyler Booker from Alabama.
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 the Commanders will select the best available defensive player.
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 or safety.
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. But offensive tackle has been the focus in the most recent mock drafts – especially Josh Simmons from Ohio State.
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
Week before the draft: USA TODAY | ESPN | NFL.com | PFF