2025 NFL Draft: Mel Kiper releases first mock draft, predictions for all 32 first-round picks

ESPN’s Mel Kiper released his first NFL Mock Draft of 2025 and it’s time to start debating and analyzing!

Things are going to change with this draft, as they usually do, over the next few months. Trades, hires, injuries, you name it. This board will shift but this is a great first look from Kiper with some surprises.

Let’s dive into Kiper’s newest Mock Draft for the 2025 edition.

1. Tennessee Titans: Cam Ward, QB – Miami

The Titans will hit the reset button with Ward with the top pick in the draft. He is Kiper’s top QB available and Tennessee certainly needs a new face.

The Will Levis experiment is seemingly over and Brian Callahan needs a chance to put his stamp on the franchise. Ward got better and better throughout his college career and had serious Heisman buzz in 2024.

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

Now we get to the Heisman winner in the NFL Draft. Hunter will go next according to Kiper as the Browns will pass on taking a quarterback.

Hunter plans to play both ways in the league, but the Browns have plenty of other holes to fill. But at least they get the best player on the board and a superstar coming to Cleveland.

3. New York Giants: Shedeur Sanders, QB – Colorado

It’s finally time for the Giants to draft a quarterback. If Cleveland takes Hunter, the Giants cannot pass on a QB per Kiper.

Sanders put up big numbers in two years at Colorado and was one of the more accurate quarterbacks over the last two seasons. He has franchise quarterback pedigree and swagger and could bring a serious buzz back to the Giants.

4. New England Patriots: Abdul Carter, OLB – Penn State

The Patriots have a QB in place so this draft could be about defense first. With Mike Vrabel manning the ship, take Carter here.

This man is a game wrecker on the edge and could be an instant impact type of player. Aside from wearing No. 11, people already compared Carter to a Micah Parsons-type player.

5. Jacksonville Jaguars: Mason Graham, DT – Michigan

The Jaguars took major steps back once the middle of the 2023 season came around, so they basically need everything. Why not draft a top tier defensive prospect?
Graham’s been dominant in his college career, helping Michigan win the national title last season. He was productive this year as well and can immediately start in the middle of that defensive line in Jacksonville.

6. Las Vegas Raiders: Tetairoa McMillan, WR – Arizona

The Raiders need some weapons on the outside and McMillan is seemingly the best wide receiver in the draft, outside of Hunter, according to Kiper. McMillan is a deep ball threat and can change the game on a dime.

As of now, the Raiders still need a head coach and maybe a quarterback. Unless they trade up, they won’t get Ward or Sanders. Perhaps free agency is the way to go in that department and then give said-quarterback McMillan as a new target.

7. New York Jets: Mykel Williams, OLB – Georgia

The Jets are close to hiring Aaron Glenn as their new head coach, so logically, New York should go defense first. Williams is another star in the making coming from a Georgia defense.

Why not beef up that unit that had a lot of promise last year but was shaky? The QB is probably the biggest question mark, as in, if Aaron Rodgers comes back or not. But get another great defender in there!

8. Carolina Panthers: Jalon Walker, LB – Georgia

Another Georgia player off the board in this draft! The Panthers showed a lot of promise down the stretch and it looks like they don’t have to worry about QB Bryce Young anymore.

So now, start beefing up the defense! Like Williams before him, Walker can be a game changing linebacker. Very typical of the Georgia defense.

9. New Orleans Saints: Will Johnson, CB – Michigan

Arguably the best cornerback in the NFL Draft, Johnson likely won’t make it out of the top 10 picks. So the Saints can’t miss here.

Johnson was key to MIchigan’s defense for their national championship run in 2023-24. Unfortunately, he missed about half of the season with injury this year, but he essentially takes away half of the field when he lines up opposing wide receivers.

10. Chicago Bears: Will Campbell, OT/G – LSU

Now that the Bears have a franchise QB in Caleb WIlliams and some weapons, and oh yeah, a new head coach in Ben Johnson, they need to protect Williams. Campbell is Kiper’s top offensive lineman in this draft class.

Don’t let him get out of the top 10 Chicago! Otherwise Williams is doomed going into 2025 with a lack of protection!

Mel Kiper Mock Draft 2025: Picks 11-32

11. San Francisco 49ers: Kelvin Banks Jr., OT – Texas
12. Dallas Cowboys: Luther Burden III, WR – Missouri
13. Miami Dolphins: Malaki Starks, S – Georgia
14. Indianapolis Colts: Tyler Warren, TE – Penn State
15. Atlanta Falcons: Shemar Stewart, DE – Texas A&M
16. Arizona Cardinals: Tyler Booker, G – Alabama
17. Cincinnati Bengals: Jihaad Campbell, LB – Alabama
18. Seattle Seahawks: Armand Membou, OT/G – Missouri
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Nick Emmanwori, S – South Carolina
20. Denver Broncos: Ashton Jeanty, RB – Boise State
21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Emeka Egbuka, WR – Ohio State
22. Los Angeles Chargers: Colston Loveland, TE – Michigan
23. Green Bay Packers: Mike Green, OLB – Marshall
24. Minnesota Vikings: Benjamin Morrison, CB – Notre Dame
25. Houston Texans: Josh Simmons, OT – Ohio State
26. Los Angeles Rams: Josh Conerly Jr., OT – Oregon
27. Baltimore Ravens: Shavon Revel Jr., CB – East Carolina
28. Detroit Lions: James Pearce Jr., OLB – Tennessee
29. Washington Commanders: Nic Scourton, DE – Texas A&M
30. Buffalo Bills: Maxwell Hairston, CB – Kentucky
31. Kansas City Chiefs: Walter Nolen, DT – Ole Miss
32. Philadelphia Eagles: Kenneth Grant, DT – Michigan