2025 NFL Draft: Dane Brugler shakes up mock draft following NFL Combine as Shedeur Sanders falls, trade for No. 1 pick

With the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine officially in the rearview mirror, the NFL world is evaluating all it learned from the weeklong event inside Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

And with those evaluations come the usual post-Combine updates to mock drafts, including from The Athletic’s Dane Brugler, who unveiled his newest mock up of how the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft could play out following last week’s NFL Combine.

Brugler’s latest mock begins with a bang as he projects the New York Giants, in desperate need for a franchise quarterback, trades up from No. 3 to No. 1 with the Tennessee Titans, leapfrogging the quarterback-needy Cleveland Browns at No. 2 to get their guy, in this case, Miami QB Cam Ward.

But a year after six quarterbacks went in the first 12 picks, Brugler doesn’t expect the next QB to come off the board until the 20s, where he projects the Pittsburgh Steelers stopping Shedeur Sanders‘ draft-day slide and taking the son of NFL legend Deion Sanders at No. 21 overall.

Check out Brugler’s updated first-round mock draft below:

1. New York Giants (projected trade with TEN): Cam Ward, QB, Miami

Brugler expects the QB-needy Giants to be aggressive in order to land their next franchise quarterback, and, at least according to Brugler, that man is Ward after trading up to No. 1 overall. The well-traveled Ward led the nation with 39 passing touchdowns and ranked in the Top 5 in nearly every passing metric last season, including finishing second nationally with 4,313 yards on 67.2-percent passing in 2024.

Brugler: “The Giants need to make a splash in a quarterback market that is more of a puddle than an ocean. … Packaging a pair of Day 2 picks to move up from No. 3 to No. 1 likely would be enough to put Ward in a Giants jersey.”

2. Cleveland Browns: Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State

While many expect the Browns to be focused on taking a quarterback at No. 2, Brugler goes off script once Ward is no longer available and instead lands a talented replacement for outgoing pass rusher Myles Garrett, who has requested a trade out of Cleveland. The 6-foot-3, 260-pound Carter racked up a NCAA-best 23.5 tackles for loss and 68 total tackles to go along with 61 pressures and 12 sacks in 2024.

Brugler: “The Browns want to draft a quarterback, so I wouldn’t be surprised if they made an offer to the Titans to move up one spot. But if they don’t trade out and Ward is off the board, Carter wouldn’t be a bad fallback option.”

3. Tennessee Titans (projected trade with NYG): Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado

Another team that could be entertaining drafting a QB, the Titans instead trade back and still nab one of the two “generational talents” in the class in Hunter. The reigning Heisman Trophy winner gets it done on both sides of the ball racking up 96 receptions for 1,258 yards and 15 touchdowns on offense and four interceptions, 11 passes defended and 36 total tackles on defense in 2024.

Brugler: “No matter if he plays offense, defense or both, Hunter immediately would bring a jolt of energy to the Tennessee roster.”

4. New England Patriots: Armand Membou, OT, Missouri

The Patriots are focused on providing protection for second-year QB Drake Maye in this draft, and there is plenty of buzz around Membou, the massive Mizzou tackle who opened eyes at the Combine with elite numbers in Indy. In a head-to-head comparison with LSU‘s Will Campbell, the 6-foot-4, 332-pound outshined his SEC colleague in every metric but height.

Brugler: “Teams are warming up to the idea that Membou could go this high — his tape is good enough; his testing was more than good enough. … He is in the mix to be the first offensive lineman drafted.”

5. Jacksonville Jaguars: Will Campbell, OT/OG, LSU

This is a pick that checks the box for both best-available and need as the Jaguars land the 6-foot-6, 319-pound Campbell at No. 5, providing Jacksonville a versatile lineman with Pro Bowl potential at both guard and tackle for the next decade. Campbell’s consistency has been key in Baton Rouge, surrendering just two sacks in his last 25 games.

Brugler: “The Jaguars may need to replace impending free agent Brandon Scherff, … and Campbell would be a nice drive onto the fairway for a first-year general manager and head coach.”

6. Las Vegas Raiders: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State

The Raiders are another quarterback-needy team that Brugler projects will pass on Shedeur Sanders in favor of the Heisman Trophy runner-up, Jeanty, who led the nation with 2,601 yards and 29 touchdowns to go along with a NCAA-best 126 missed tackles in 2024.

Brugler: “The Raiders are in the market for playmakers. Ideally, one of those playmakers would be a quarterback, but adding Jeanty to Chip Kelly’s offense would vastly upgrade a unit lacking an identity.”

7. New York Jets: Mason Graham, DT, Michigan

The Jets have too many needs to count, including at quarterback after announcing plans to cut ties with 41-year-old veteran Aaron Rodgers. Still, Brugler sees too much value in Graham, a powerful plug-and-play prospect after tallying 52 tackles, 26 pressures, 7.5 tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks in 2024.

Brugler: “Graham isn’t going to blow anybody away with his length or testing … but teams are ready to trust his tape. His attitude and play style fit what Aaron Glenn wants to build in New York.”

8. Carolina Panthers: Shemar Stewart, EDGE, Texas A&M

The Panthers have needs at every position but quarterback after former No. 1 pick Bryce Young elevated his play late last season. That’s where the 6-foot-5, 267-pound Stewart comes in after the Aggies pass rusher flashed last week in Indianapolis, ranking in the Top 4 of every event he participated in.

Brugler: “Many people will get hung up on Stewart’s lack of sack production, but the tape shows a player who affects the backfield much more than the stat sheet suggests.”

9. New Orleans Saints: Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State

The 6-foot-6, 261-pound reigning John Mackey Award winner provides the Saints a pure playmaker regardless of how he’s utlized after leading the Big Ten with 104 receptions for 1,233 yards and 13 total touchdowns in 2024, including one passing and four rushing.

Brugler: “Regardless of who’s going to be the quarterback, the Saints are missing offensive playmakers … (and) Warren and his diverse skill set would greatly open up Kellen Moore’s offense.”

10. Chicago Bears: Tyler Booker, OG, Alabama

Like the Patriots, the Bears are focused on providing longterm protection for last year’s No. 1 overall pick, Caleb Williams, and, in Brugler’s eyes, that begins with Booker. While he didn’t necessarily flash at the Combine, the 6-foot-5, 321-pound Booker is a natural leader who boosts every locker room he’s a part of.

Brugler: “Despite his below-average athletic testing, Booker had one of the combine’s cleanest positional workouts, and teams are trusting the tape that shows a Pro Bowl-level player.”

Dan Brugler’s new 2025 NFL Mock Draft, picks Nos. 11-32:

11. San Francisco 49ers: Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia
12. Dallas Cowboys: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
13. Miami Dolphins: Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina
14. Indianapolis Colts: Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
15. Atlanta Falcons: Jalon Walker, EDGE/LB, Georgia
16. Arizona Cardinals: Donovan Ezeiruaku, EDGE, Boston College
17. Cincinnati Bengals: Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
18. Seattle Seahawks: Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Mike Green, EDGE, Marshall
20. Denver Broncos: Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina

21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
22. Los Angeles Chargers: Matthew Golden, WR, Texas
23. Green Bay Packers: Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon
24. Minnesota Vikings: Kelvin Banks Jr., OT/OG, Texas
25. Houston Texans: Grey Zabel, OG/OC, North Dakota State
26. Los Angeles Rams: Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
27. Baltimore Ravens: Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas
28. Detroit Lions: Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan
29. Washington Commanders: Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State
30. Buffalo Bills: Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky
31. Kansas City Chiefs: Josh Conerly Jr., OT, Oregon
32. Philadelphia Eagles: Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss