2025 NFL Draft: CBS Sports shakes up mock draft, first round predictions with big QB trade

Ahead of the holidays this next week, CBS Sports released the latest update to their mock of the first round for the 2025 NFL Draft.

The topic of conversation, or lack thereof, is at quarterback. Miami’s Cam Ward and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders are the only two projected to be selected in the first round after five were off the board in the top-dozen picks last spring. That would make the position even more of a premium for any team who needs one.

As for the selections, Michigan led the way with four in total with all of them going in the Top-20. Georgia and Ohio State were then tied next with three apiece yet with only one in the Top-10. Colorado, Penn State, Texas, Texas A&M, and Tennessee were the only others to have more than one with a pair apiece for each.

With that, here’s how CBS Sports has the 2025 NFL Draft going in April from No. 1 through No. 32, including a pair of trades in the top-five:

1. New York Giants: QB Cam Ward – Miami Hurricanes

Cam Ward remained the top projected pick and quarterback selected for the NFL Draft after his lone season at The ‘U.

Ryan Wilson did note that Ward, as well as Sanders, would have been no higher than QB5 in 2024, especially since his stock from the last draft was outside the first round. However, with his skillset and now the development to go with it, especially after this season in Coral Gables, he is QB1 in ’25 at CBS.

2. New England Patriots: ATH Travis Hunter – Colorado Buffaloes

The New England Patriots would then get the top prospect in the draft per CBS in Hunter.

As Wilson put it, Hunter, the latest winner of The Heisman Trophy, is “the best athlete — and the best player — in this draft class” with what he does on both sides of the ball at receiver and corner. It’s just a matter of how any franchise, including the Patriots, would choose to utilize him at this next level.

3. Las Vegas Raiders (Trade with Jacksonville Jaguars): QB Shedeur Sanders – Colorado Buffaloes

Sanders would follow soon at No. 3, after Ward at No. 1 at quarterback as well as his teammate in Hunter at No. 2, with Las Vegas trading up for him with Jacksonville.

Sanders makes the case as the top quarterback in this draft as well considering the lack of depth at the position this year. However, athleticism and arm strength are what separated he and Ward at the top for Wilson.

4. Tennessee Titans: OT Kelvin Banks Jr. – Texas Longhorns

Wilson hasn’t changed on Banks Jr. at all with him remaining the top offensive tackle in this draft for him and now being taken here to be part of the offensive line in Music City.

Banks Jr. has everything at the position as “he’s athletic, has good feet, plays with balance and power and uses his hands well…and he’s only going to get better.”

5. Cleveland Browns (Trade with Las Vegas Raiders): OT Will Campbell – LSU Tigers

Campbell will be the next tackle off of the board right afterward following a trade between Las Vegas, with two picks currently projected in the top-five, and Cleveland.

Consistency was the main aspect here for Campbell considering what he did through three seasons as a full-time starter in Baton Rouge. It’s now whether he can provide that same thing to the Browns’ offensive line that has allowed the most sacks in the league to this point of the season.

6. Jacksonville Jaguars: DL Mason Graham – Michigan Wolverines

After trading down to six, the Jaguars would get Graham, who is one of four players from the maize & blue to be selected and one of two in the top-ten.

Of all the defensive linemen that they have in this class, Graham is the top one for Wilson at CBS with him being “a special talent who headlines” following three seasons in Ann Arbor.

7. Carolina Panthers: DE Abdul Carter – Penn State Nittany Lions

Carter, the Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year, would then go to Carolina at No. 7.

This is where Carter, “a freakish athlete,” has risen too off of a position change from his sophomore to his junior year. However, because of that, “he’s just scratching the surface on what he can do” as a defensive prospect in the future.

8. New York Jets: CB Will Johnson – Michigan Wolverines

An injury over this season led Johnson, previously the No. 1 prospect overall for Wilson, to have slid following just six appearances this fall for the Wolverines.

Still, he “remains a Top-10 talent” and, when available, “he’s one of the best defenders in college football” with him having nine interceptions, three of which were pick-sixes, in his career there, which would give the Jets quite the duo of corners in their secondary.

9. Chicago Bears: DE Mykel Williams – Georgia Bulldogs

Williams projects to be the next defensive prospect to succeed in the league out of Athens and, per Wilson, “may end up being the best of the group.”

That’s what the Bears could be getting in him to add to their defense after Williams averaged 21.3 tackles, had no less than 4.5 sacks in any of his seasons, and forced three fumbles while at Georgia.

10. New Orleans Saints: DE Nic Scourton – Texas A&M Aggies

Scourton then rounds out the top-ten after his lone season following his transfer to College Station.

He had 37 tackles, five sacks to give him 17 total in his collegiate career, a pair of deflections, and another fumbled this year for the Aggies. Simply put, “it’s hard not to love his game” and the Saints could do so after adding him in the draft.

Nos. 11-32

11. San Francisco 49ers: OT Josh Simmons – Ohio State Buckeyes
12. Miami Dolphins: DB Malaki Starks – Georgia Bulldogs
13. Indianapolis Colts: DE Jalon Walker – Georgia Bulldogs
14. Cincinnati Bengals: WR Tetairoa McMillan – Arizona Wildcats
15. Dallas Cowboys: RB Ashton Jeanty – Boise State Broncos
16. Arizona Cardinals: DL Kenneth Grant – Michigan Wolverines
17. Seattle Seahawks: DL Deone Walker – Kentucky Wildcats
18. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: DL Shemar Stewart – Texas A&M Aggies
19. Atlanta Falcons: DE James Pearce Jr. – Tennessee Volunteers
20. Los Angeles Charges: TE Colston Loveland – Michigan Wolverines
21. Houston Texans: DL Walter Nolen – Ole Miss Rebels
22. Denver Broncos: TE Tyler Warren – Penn State Nittany Lions
23. Los Angeles Rams: OT Aireontae Ersery – Minnesota Golden Gophers
24. Washington Commanders: CB Shavon Revel Jr. – East Carolina Pirates
25. Pittsburgh Steelers: WR Luther Burden III – Missouri Tigers
26. Baltimore Ravens: DL Derrick Harmon – Oregon Ducks
27. Green Bay Packers: CB Jahdae Barron – Texas Longhorns
28. Philadelphia Eagles: DL Omarr Norman-Lott – Tennessee Volunteers
29. Buffalo Bills: DE Landon Jackson – Arkansas Razorbacks
30. Minnesota Vikings: DL T.J. Sanders – South Carolina Gamecocks
31. Detroit Lions: DE Jack Sawyer – Ohio State Buckeyes
32. Kansas City Chiefs: WR Emeka Egbuka – Ohio State Buckeyes