2025 NFL Draft: ESPN releases new mock with blockbuster trade for No. 1 pick, predictions for all 32 selections

As the NFL enters the final third of the 2024 regular season, when many teams and fanbases already out of the playoff chase begin to look ahead to next year, ESPN NFL Draft analyst Matt Miller unveiled a new projection for how that first round of the 2025 NFL Draft could shake out. And he starts it with a bang.

Miller expects the New York Giants to make an aggressive attempt at resolving their longstanding quarterback conundrum by acquiring the top overall pick from Jacksonville for No. 3 overall plus the Giants’ second- and third-round 2025 draft picks AND a 2026 second-round selection. That’s quite the trade haul for the Jaguars, which already has a former No. 1 overall pick at QB (Trevor Lawrence) and is expected to be in the midst of another organizational upheaval this offseason.

Without further ado, here’s ESPN’s latest 2025 NFL Mock Draft, according to Miller:

1. New York Giants (via projected trade with JAX): Shedeur Sanders, QB – Colorado

Like many around the NFL, Miller projects the NFL legacy — the son of “Primetime” Deion Sanders — standing head and shoulders above the field as the favorite to go No. 1 overall to the Giants (after their big trade with the Jags). The dynamic Shedeur Sanders would be tabbed to replace recently-demoted Daniel Jones as the man in New York, where he would bring a level of star quality to the Big Apple.

Miller cites Sanders’ “pinpoint accuracy” with a nearly 72.9 completion percentage and natural playmaking ability as heavily desired attributes for a long-struggling Giants offense. Drawing comparisons to former Ohio State QB C.J. Stroud, who went No. 2 overall to the Houston Texans in 2023, Miller believes Sanders would pair perfectly with 2024 top pick Malik Nabers to help New York return to relevancy in the NFC East.

2. Cleveland Browns: Travis Hunter, WR/CB – Colorado

While the Browns have their own issues at quarterback with Deshaun Watson, the $230 million QB that is once again sidelined by a season-ending injury, Miller expects Cleveland to address that position in free agency and go best-available at No. 2 overall and take Colorado’s two-way dynamo in Hunter. Travis Hunter has proven himself to be a future NFL star since he first landed in Jackson State and has only continued to shine under Deion Sanders’ tutelage in two seasons at Colorado.

While it’s unclear if Hunter will continue to play both ways in the NFL, Miller projects the electric Hunter as a potential star at receiver, where he’d join a young Browns WR corps that includes Jerry Jeudy and Cedric Tillman, while also potentially experimenting opposite Denzel Ward at cornerback should Cleveland roll the dice.

3. Jacksonville Jaguars (via projected trade with NYG): Kelvin Banks Jr., OT – Texas

After trading out of the No. 1 overall pick, Miller expects the Jaguars to make protecting Lawrence its top priority this offseason, and that could start by selecting the expected top-rated tackle in Banks to replace recently-traded Cam Robinson along the left side of the line.

Banks is a road grader at 6-foot-4 and 320 pounds and has been “rock solid” for Texas this season, only allowing a single sack all season (against Georgia) and just three sacks and 13 pressures over 36 career collegiate starts in Austin.

4. Las Vegas Raiders: Cam Ward, QB – Miami

With the Giants pulling the trigger for Sanders, Miller believes the QB-needy Raiders will opt for the draft’s second-best signal caller in Ward, a dual-threat talent with the ability to make explosive plays whether in the pocket or on the move.

Making an immediate impact in his first season in Miami, Ward leads all of college football averaging nearly 350 passing yards per game this season to go along with a 32-to-6 touchdown-to-interception ratio. It’s that sort of production the Raiders have sorely missed since moving from Oakland to Las Vegas prior to the 2020 season.

5. Tennessee Titans: Luther Burden III, WR – Missouri

Another NFL team seeking an upgrade at QB opts to build around the position by selecting college football’s most dynamic pass catcher in Burden, whose 2024 production has been hampered by Missouri’s own offensive issues after racking up more than 1,200 yards and nine touchdowns in 2023.

Miller sees Burden pairing with former Alabama WR Calvin Ridley on the outside, providing former Kentucky QB Will Levis and the Titans an SEC-heavy offensive attack with explosive potential.

6. New England Patriots: Will Johnson, CB – Michigan

Miller projects the draft’s first defensive player to come off the board at No. 6 to the Patriots, which need help along the offensive line but will go with the best available with the selection of Johnson out of Michigan. Given his appealing 6-foot-2, 202-pound frame that has him drawing comparisons to Denver CB Pat Surtain II, Johnson is widely considered college football’s top-rated cornerback and could make an immediate impact much like Surtain.

Johnson could pair with Patriots 2023 first-round pick Christian Gonzalez to boost New England’s beleaguered secondary, as well as create much-needed flexibility for a Patriots organization that has plenty of holes needing to be filled this offseason.

7. New York Jets: Abdul Carter, DE/LB – Penn State

Another NFL team with more questions than answers, the Jets will be looking to add immediate impact players to an aging roster that already features 41-year-old QB Aaron Rodgers and 31-year-old Davante Adams on offense. At 6-foot-3 and 260 pounds, Carter fits that mold and has long been billed as the second-coming of Dallas Cowboys edge rusher Micah Parsons — with both sporting No. 11 with the Nittany Lions.

Whether he plays on the line of scrimmage or standing up at linebacker, Carter is a natural pass rusher with eight sacks and a 16.4% pressure rate on his snaps to rank fifth nationally. That sort of production would fit well opposite 2022 first-round pick Jermaine Johnson, who is currently on injured reserve with an Achilles injury.

8. Carolina Panthers: Tetairoa McMillan, WR – Arizona

Following a brief run on defensive players, Miller projects the Panthers to target a big-bodied playmaker in the 6-foot-5, 212-pound McMillan, who has long drawn strong comparisons to Falcons WR Drake London. Paired with Carolina 2023 first-round pick Xavier Legette, McMillan would provide former Alabama quarterback Bryce Young a pair of massive targets to spread the ball around to.

A big-play threat averaging nearly 16.5 yards per reception this season, McMillan is a Biletnikoff semifinalist ranking third nationally with 1,136 receiving yards to go along with seven touchdowns.

9. Dallas Cowboys: Mason Graham, DT – Michigan

While running back remains a tenuous position in Dallas, Miller expects the Cowboys to shore up the interior of its struggling defense with the selection of Graham at No. 9 overall. The 6-foot-3, 320-pound Graham is widely considered college football’s top defensive tackle and a plug-and-play talent in line with another talented Michigan lineman: Aidan Hutchinson.

Miller praised Graham’s “first-step speed through gaps and relentless effort in chasing quarterbacks” and why he projects the Cowboys to pass on a likely Heisman finalist in Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty.

10. Cincinnati Bengals: Mykel Williams, DE – Georgia

Miller believes the Bengals will seek to strengthen its defensive front with the selection of Williams, a 6-foot-5 and 265-pound pass rusher who has long drawn comparisons to former Georgia No. 1 overall pick Travon Walker.

And much like Walker, Williams’ place as a Top 10 selection is based more on pure upside talent and potential at the next level than production, as Williams has struggled with just two sacks for the Bulldogs in 2024.

2025 NFL Draft picks No. 11-32

11. New Orleans Saints: Jalon Walker, DE/LB – Georgia
12. Chicago Bears: Derrick Harmon, DT – Oregon
13. Miami Dolphins: Shemar Stewart, DT – Texas A&M
14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: James Pearce, Jr., DE – Tennessee
15. Indianapolis Colts: Malaki Starks, S – Georgia
16. San Francisco 49ers: Cameron Williams, OT – Texas
17. Seattle Seahawks: Will Campbell, G/OT – LSU
18. Los Angeles Rams: Carson Beck, QB – Georgia
19. Denver Broncos: Aireontae Ersery, OT – Minnesota
20. Atlanta Falcons: Nic Scourton, DE – Texas A&M
21. Arizona Cardinals: Isaiah Bond, WR – Texas
22. Washington Commanders: Benjamin Morrison, CB – Notre Dame
23. Houston Texans: Ashton Jeanty, RB – Boise State
24. Baltimore Ravens: Shavon Revel Jr., CB – East Carolina
25. Los Angeles Chargers: Colston Loveland, TE – Michigan
26. Green Bay Packers: Jahdae Barron, CB – Texas
27. Philadelphia Eagles: Barrett Carter, LB – Clemson
28. Pittsburgh Steelers: Jalen Milroe, QB – Alabama
29. Minnesota Vikings: Walter Nolen, DT – Ole Miss
30. Buffalo Bills: Tyleik Williams, DT – Ohio State
31. Detroit Lions: Jonah Savaiinaea, G – Arizona
32. Kansas City Chiefs: Josh Simmons, OT – Ohio State