2025-04-21
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By Jack Brentnall
Following my “what I would do” 2025 NFL Mock Draft, which offered a look into my team-building philosophy, we now shift gears with the draft just days away.
This time around, the goal is not personal preference but projection. As the draft draws near, I’ll be navigating the noise of countless reports and insider information to anticipate the actual decisions made by NFL teams.
For the detailed player analysis informing these predictions, be sure to check out The Touchdown’s 2025 NFL Draft Guide.
It feels like you’ve been able to write this pick in permanent marker for a while now. Ward is the consensus No. 1 overall pick and the Titans will be hoping he can prove to be the franchise star they’ve been chasing for a while now.
Andrew Berry has been effusive in his praise of Hunter and it is easy to see why. A rare two-way player that is a throwback in the best sense of the word, Hunter can be an immediate contributor on either side of the ball but is likely best at receiver for the Browns.
I think the Giants take a quarterback, but I don’t think they do it at No. 3 overall, especially with a talent like Carter still on the board. At this point in the draft it is more about adding talent than fixing holes anyway.
Getting a smart and physically imposing lineman just feels like the kind of pick Mike Vrabel will make to kick off his tenure as Patriots head coach. He will provide welcome protection for Drake Maye, whether that is at tackle or guard.
The Jaguars need help along their defensive line and Graham feels like the most likely pick. New GM James Gladstone was part of the Rams front office that selected Braden Fiske last season, a player who Graham shares a lot of similarities with.
The prospect of the Raiders boosting their run game and taking some of the load off Geno Smith’s plate feels like the kind of temptation that will be too hard to resist, especially when it is a player of Jeanty’s calibre.
Membou would be the perfect complement to last year’s first round pick Olu Fashanu. His experience at right tackle will help him to slot in immediately and give Justin Fields more clean pockets to work from.
The league appears to be higher on Walker than many in the draft community, myself included. I wouldn’t be surprised if he goes earlier than this – I think he’s in play at No. 4 – and he would give the Panthers’ front seven some much-needed juice.
I don’t think the Saints are going to force a quarterback at this spot. Instead I think Mickey Loomis sticks with his tried and tested approach of drafting big-bodied athletes to play off the edge. The Saints have been heavily linked to Williams in the pre-draft process.
Chicago’s focus is clearly on revitalising their offense, and this pick is an ideal match. Given Ben Johnson’s successful utilisation of Sam LaPorta in Detroit, selecting the most comparable player here is a logical move.
Reports suggest that the 49ers have a very strong interest in Banks, who they may well view as Trent Williams’ long-term successor. It sounds like they also think he could be their right tackle in the short term.
I think the Cowboys want to make a splash with an offensive weapon here and with Jeanty gone, Tet feels like the guy. His skill set should pair nicely with CeeDee Lamb too.
Grier isn’t a stranger to taking first round injury discounts. He did it back in 2021 with Jaelan Phillips, and that has paid dividends. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him dive back into that well again.
Colts GM Chris Ballard likes good athletes, and Warren fits that bill. He also gives Indy another good pass catching weapon in what looks set to be a make-or-break year for Anthony Richardson.
After recording the second-fewest sacks in the NFL last season, it feels like Atlanta has to address their pass rush in the first round. Their significant presence at Mike Green’s pro day suggests he could be their target.
The Cardinals took a big-bodied edge with inside/outside versatility last season in Darius Robinson and I think they do that again this year. Stewart is an athletic freak with a sky high ceiling.
Walter Nolen could be on the cards here, but I wonder whether the Bengals will want to play it safe after gambling and failing on a player with character concerns last season in Jermaine Burton. If that is the case they can do far worse than a player like Harmon.
The Seahawks need help along the interior of their offensive line, especially now that they have Sam Darnold at quarterback. It therefore makes sense to get a player like Zabel, who can conceivably slot in at all three spots and play tackle at a pinch.
Campbell’s stock may fall a little as a result of his shoulder surgery, but if the Bucs get a chance to stay put and pick up Lavonte David’s long-term heir then it would be a great bit of business.
The signs seem to be pointing to running back for the Broncos and whilst I’d love to see TreVeyon Henderson at this spot, it feels like Hampton is viewed as the RB2 in this class by the NFL.
Amidst the lingering Aaron Rodgers drama, the Steelers, lacking a second-round selection, might see this as an opportune moment to invest in a quarterback. Their strong offensive line offers an attractive environment for Sanders’ development.
It’s hard to resist pairing John Harbaugh up with one of his former Michigan men, especially when that also helps them to address a position of need. Grant can be the space-eating nose tackle at the heart of a defensive scheme he is already very familiar with.
TRADE! The Chiefs send #31 and #66 to the Packers for #23
The Chiefs need to find an answer at left tackle and I don’t think they can stay put and wait for a player like Simmons to land in their lap. There have been some vague rumblings of character concerns, but that never seems to worry the Chiefs, and in Simmons they would be getting a tough and athletic blindside blocker.
We saw Brian Flores transition to a more zone-heavy defense in 2024. If that is something he wants to lean into further there aren’t many better options than a player like Barron, who can align all over the secondary.
I would be taking an offensive lineman if I was the Texans, but if this is how the board falls I could see them bolstering their receiving corps with a player like Golden.
The Rams boosted their front seven last year with the addition of Jared Verse and Braden Fiske. Sorting out the secondary feels like the next biggest priority, making a versatile player like Starks an obvious choice.
Guys who run in the 4.2s rarely fall outside the first round, especially if they played in the SEC. Hairston can slot in opposite Nate Wiggins to give Baltimore a pair of speedsters on the boundary.
Aidan Hutchinson desperately needs a running mate, and there aren’t many I like more than Ezeiruaku. He is the kind of high-motor pass rusher that I can see Detroit falling for.
With Terry McLaurin and Deebo Samuel both set to turn 30 before the end of next season, it would be smart business to make a succession plan. Egbuka gives Jayden Daniels another talented pass catcher to work with.
I don’t love how the board fell for the Bills here but Williams does at least give them what they need in terms of a run-stuffing interior defensive lineman. He should be a nice complement to Ed Oliver.
The Packers could go in a few directions with this pick, but I think they still need to invest in their cornerback room, even after signing Nate Hobbs in free agency. Amos feels very much like a Packers type too.
I expect Nolen to fall a little in the draft due to the reported character concerns and what would be a more fitting way for the first round to close out than the Eagles getting a tremendous bit of value and everyone singing the praises of Howie Roseman.
Head of NFL Draft Content
Previously the founder of The Jet Sweep, Jack joined The Touchdown as head of Draft Content in 2024. A Scouting Academy alumnus, Jack has been Covering the NFL Draft since 2020. Follow him on Twitter @Jack_Brentnall.
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