2025 NFL Draft: Daniel Jeremiah makes big changes in Mock 2.0 for NFL.com, RBs rise, QBs fall

With the NFL Combine less than a week away, NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah overhauled his projections for how the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft could play out in his second mock of the offseason.

And Jeremiah wasn’t afraid to really shake things up, especially with the quarterback and running back positions. Given some apparent apathy about this year’s quarterback class, with some around the NFL questioning if there are any sure-fire Day 1 starters in the entire group, Jeremiah decided to lean into the running back position in Round 1, projecting a mini-run on tailbacks in the Top 20.

Check out where Jeremiah projects the biggest stars of the 2025 NFL Draft class landing in his latest mock 2.0 below:

1. Tennessee Titans: Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State

Daniel Jeremiah clearly believes new Titans GM Mike Borgonzi when he said they’re targeting a “generational talent” with the No. 1 overall pick, and there is no one more generational than Penn State’s pass rushing phenom. The 6-foot-3, 250-pound Carter was practically unstoppable this past season, racking up 12 sacks, 61 pressures, a NCAA-best 23.5 tackles for loss and 68 total tackles in 2024.

Jeremiah: “The Titans have their share of holes to fill and decide to take the best player available in this year’s class. They decide to find their QB of the future in next year’s draft.”

2. Cleveland Browns: Cam Ward, QB, Miami

With so much uncertainty surrounding the future of Browns QB Deshaun Watson, Jeremiah projects Cleveland won’t hesitate to grab their next franchise quarterback in Ward. Despite some doubters, Ward is considered the crown jewel of the 2025 QB class after leading the FBS with 39 passing touchdowns last season while ranking second nationally with 4,313 passing yards.

Jeremiah: “The Browns could look to Travis Hunter here, but they need to usher in a new era at quarterback.”

3. New York Giants: Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado

With Ward off the table, Jeremiah doesn’t see the QB-needy Giants jumping the gun and potentially reaching for Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders as their next franchise quarterback. Instead, Jeremiah believes New York will nab the Buffs’ Heisman Trophy winner in Hunter, who has the talent to become a star in the Big Apple, regardless of what position he plays.

Jeremiah: “The Giants do their best to make up for letting Saquon Barkley walk in free agency last year by adding a dynamic two-way player in Hunter.”

4. New England Patriots: Will Campbell, OT, LSU

Jeremiah expects the Patriots will be focused on protecting last year’s No. 3 overall pick — QB Drake Maye — after New England surrendered 52 sacks in 2024. That begins by taking the reliable 6-foot-6, 323-pound Campbell, who is considered the draft’s most pro-ready offensive lineman after allowing just two sacks on 524 pass-block snaps in 2024.

Jeremiah: “There are higher-rated players available here on my board, but the Pats need to upgrade their offensive line in a big way.”

5. Jacksonville Jaguars: Mason Graham, DT, Michigan

The Jaguars had the NFL’s worst pass defense last season, and Jeremiah sees a perfect fit by bypassing on a cornerback in favor of the most pro-ready defensive tackle in the draft. The powerful 6-foot-3, 320-pound Graham is a plug-and-play prospect after tallying 52 tackles, 26 pressures, 7.5 tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks as the heart of the Wolverines’ defensive in 2024.

Jeremiah: “This seems like a perfect marriage between need, talent and fit. Graham is one of the most consistent players in the class.”

6. Las Vegas Raiders: Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado

Jeremiah sees another natural fit at No. 6, where he projects the Raiders will solve their longstanding QB quandary by taking the son of NFL great Deion Sanders. While a somewhat polarizing prospect, Shedeur Sanders has the traits to be elite after leading the FBS with a 74.0 completion percentage along with 4,134 passing yards and 37 touchdowns in 2024.

Jeremiah: “I wouldn’t be shocked if the Raiders decided to wait until Day 2 of the draft to address the QB position, but I do see Sanders as a good fit in Chip Kelly’s offense.”

7. New York Jets: Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State

After officially moving on from 41-year-old QB Aaron Rodgers, the new-look Jets face a serious offseason overhaul with plenty of holes to fill, especially on offense. That’s where the versatile Penn State TE comes into play. The 6-foot-6, 261-pound Warren, a former quarterback, led the Big Ten with 104 receptions for 1,233 yards and 13 total touchdowns, including one passing and four rushing, in 2024.

Jeremiah: “The Jets ranked second-to-last in rushing offense last season, and they desperately need another target in the passing game. Warren helps them improve in both of those areas.”

8. Carolina Panthers: Jalon Walker, EDGE, Georgia

While Jeremiah acknowledges the Panthers could be well-served by trading down, given their plethora of needs, the reigning Butkus Award winner would be an immediate upgrade off the edge. The 6-foot-2, 245-pound Walker racked up 62 total tackles, 6.5 sacks and seven tackles for loss for the Bulldogs in 2024, and will help fill the defensive void left by the loss of Brian Burns to free agency last offseason.

Jeremiah: “If they stay put, Walker would be a versatile playmaker for them. He offers enormous upside as a pass rusher.”

9. New Orleans Saints: Mike Green, EDGE, Marshall

Jeremiah’s first real surprise comes at No. 9, where he projects the Saints grabbing Marshall’s Green in the Top 10. The 6-foot-4, 250-pound defensive end put together an All-American season in 2024, leading the FBS with 17 sacks and finishing second nationally with 22.5 tackles for loss, just one behind Penn State’s Abdul Carter in that category.

Jeremiah: “New head coach Kellen Moore saw the impact a dominant pass rush can have on a squad during his time with the Eagles. New Orleans selects Green, a very polished and productive rusher.”

10. Chicago Bears: Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas

As Jeremiah indicated, the Bears have one mission this offseason: protecting last season’s No. 1 overall pick, Caleb Williams. In this mock, that means landing the 6-foot-4, 320-pound Banks out of Texas. Banks has the versatility to play inside and out, but his best attribute is his consistency, surrendering only three sacks over 42 career starts in his three seasons in Austin.

Jeremiah: “The Bears need to devote their offseason to upgrading the group playing in front of Caleb Williams. Banks has the skill set to play tackle or guard.”

NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah 2025 NFL Mock Draft 2.0 picks 11-32

11. San Francisco 49ers: Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
12. Dallas Cowboys: Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss
13. Miami Dolphins: Tyler Booker, OG, Alabama
14. Indianapolis Colts: Armand Membou, OT, Missouri
15. Atlanta Falcons: Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia
16. Arizona Cardinals: Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan
17. Cincinnati Bengals: Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas
18. Seattle Seahawks: Grey Zabel, OG/C, North Dakota State
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
20. Denver Broncos: Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan

21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
22. Los Angeles Chargers: Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina
23. Green Bay Packers: Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State
24. Minnesota Vikings: TreVeyon Henderson, RB, Ohio State
25. Houston Texans: Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
26. Los Angles Rams: Darius Alexander, DT, Toledo
27. Baltimore Ravens: Shemar Stewart, EDGE, Texas A&M
28. Detroit Lions: Donovan Jackson, OG, Ohio State
29. Washington Commanders: Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama
30. Buffalo Bills: Matthew Golden, WR, Texas
31. Kansas City Chiefs: Josh Conerly Jr., OT, Oregon
32. Philadelphia Eagles: Malaki Starks, S, Georgia