2025 NFL Draft: PFF releases new first-round mock, heavily influenced by QB class

With the 2024 college football season a week away from its postseason, and the NFL season already 2/3rds of the way through, many teams and fan bases are already looking toward the 2025 NFL Draft.

Pro Football Focus (PFF) took all those realities into consideration as it unveiled a brand-new first-round mock of how it expects the first 32 picks to play out next April. As the draft order has evolved, so too has PFF’s mock, with a focus on teams that will undoubtedly be targeting quarterbacks early in Round 1.

And, while PFF went off script with the Jacksonville Jaguars‘ first-overall selection, the QB-needy teams at the top of the draft were able to land their potential quarterbacks of the future.

Here’s a breakdown of the latest PFF first-round mock draft:

1. Jacksonville Jaguars: WR/CB Travis Hunter, Colorado

With former No. 1 overall pick Trevor Lawrence still showing promise despite continued struggles, the Jaguars stay home and simply drafts the two-way prospect PFF describes as “arguably the most unqiue draft prospect in over a decade” in Hunter.

The overwhelming favorite to win the 2024 Heisman Trophy, Hunter has been sensational on both sides of the ball this season, earning a 87.3 receiving grade and 89.6 coverage grade from PFF. Although it’s unclear what position he’ll play at the next level, Jacksonville just rolls the dice on Hunter’s generational talent and lets the rest work itself out.

2. New York Giants: QB Shedeur Sanders, Colorado

Hunter’s talented teammate doesn’t wait long to hear his name called as the QB-needy Giants jump at the chance to draft the son of NFL icon and Colorado head coach Deion Sanders at No. 2 overall. Already drawing comparisons to last year’s No. 2 pick, Jayden Daniels, Shedeur has flashed great potential while leading the Buffs to new heights in Year 2 in Boulder.

PFF has evaluated Shedeur Sanders with an elite 90.5 passing grade this season while leading the Big 12 with 3,488 yards and 30 touchdowns on 73.4 completion percentage that ranks third nationally.

3. Las Vegas Raiders: QB Cam Ward, Miami

With Sanders off to New York, the QB-needy Raiders land the draft’s second-best quarterback in the dual-threat Ward from Miami. A former Washington State transfer, Ward has a career-high 90.6 passing grade from PFF this season and has proven his explosiveness with big-time throws on six-percent of his attempts according to PFF.

Ward, who has been among the Top 3 Heisman Trophy contenders all season, leads the NCAA with 34 passing touchdowns while ranking second nationally with 3,774 passing yards and a 171.24 QB rating that ranks fourth in the country.

4. New England Patriots: WR Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona

After selecting its QB of the future a year ago by taking UNC’s Drake Maye at No. 3 overall, the Patriots land him one of the most physically-gifted pass catchers in college football with the 6-foot-5, 215-pound McMillan.

A finalist for the Biletnikoff Award, McMillan ranks third nationally with 1,251 receiving yards on 78 receptions and seven touchdowns for the Wildcats this season. Given his size, McMillan has long drawn comparisons to Mike Evans in the NFL.

5. Carolina Panthers: EDGE Abdul Carter, Penn State

Having drawn comparisons to former Nittany Lions pass rusher Micah Parsons, including wearing the familiar No. 11 this season, Carter has impressed with a PFF pass rush grade above 90.0 each of the past two seasons in Happy Valley.

After allowing Brian Burns to leave for the New York Giants in free agency last offseason, the Giants could find his replacement in Carter, who has 39 pressures, including 13 combined sacks and quarterback hits, already this season.

6. Tennessee Titans: CB Will Johnson, Michigan

Given Will Levis‘ sophomore progress in Nashville, the Titans could be in prime position to take one of the premier defensive talents in this year’s draft class, and the tall and athletic Johnson certainly qualifies.

Johnson remains limited by a turf toe injury that kept him out of Michigan’s last four games, but the former All-American is considered far-and-away the best cornerback in college football with a PFF coverage grade of 75 or higher in all three of his collegiate seasons.

7. New York Jets: QB Jalen Milroe, Alabama

With rampant speculation the Jets and Aaron Rodgers could part ways this offseason, New York would be in line for its next QB1, and PFF believes the dual-threat Milroe would fit the bill.

Milroe has received criticism this season as Alabama has struggled through three regular-season losses, including after a career-high three interceptions in a loss at Oklahoma last weekend. But PFF focuses on the numbers and Milroe has a career-high 81.6 passing grade this season while also forcing 24 missed tackles on 124 carries this season.

8. Cleveland Browns: DT Mason Graham, Michigan

While quarterback remains a snake-bit position in Cleveland, PFF has the Browns targeting Graham out of Michigan to shore up the heart of their defensive front.

PFF cites Graham’s dominance this season, where he has 33 total pressures on 311 pass-rushing snaps and earning a powerful 91.2 run-defense grade.

9. New Orleans Saints: EDGE Nic Scourton, Texas A&M

The Saints made a rare midseason coaching change, firing Dennis Allen after seven straight losses in early November. But regardless of who ends up taking over, securing a powerful edge rusher like Scourton would be a boost to New Orleans’ 31st-ranked defense.

Scourton, in his first season with the Aggies, has been consistent off the edge with 33 total pressures on 298 pass-rushing snaps. But it was his dominance last season at Purdue that caught PFF’s attention, earning a 90.9 pass-rush grade with 42 total pressures.

10. Cincinnati Bengals: WR Luther Burden III, Missouri

Given the uncertainty of the Bengals’ receiver room with Tee Higgins expected to leave in free agency, PFF projects Cincinnati snagging arguably the best pure receiver in Burden, giving former LSU quarterback Joe Burrow a talented 1-2 WR tandem to pair with Ja’Marr Chase.

Although he’s struggled this season, managing just 60 receptions for 665 yards and six touchdowns, Burden remains an elite prospect after earning a 91.0 receiving grade from PFF in 2023.

2025 NFL Draft: Picks 11-32, via PFF

11. Dallas Cowboys: RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State
12. Chicago Bears: DT Kenneth Grant, Michigan
13. Indianapolis Colts: S Malaki Starks, Georgia
14. Miami Dolphins: OT Will Campbell, LSU
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: EDGE James Pearce Jr., Tennessee
16. Los Angeles Rams: OT Josh Simmons, Ohio State
17. San Francisco 49ers: CB Benjamin Morrison, Notre Dame
18. Arizona Cardinals: WR Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State
19. Atlanta Falcons: LB Jalon Walker, Georgia
20. Seattle Seahawks: OT Kelvin Banks, Texas
21. Washington Commanders: OT Aireontae Ersery, Minnesota
22. Houston Texans: DT Alfred Collins, Texas
23. Denver Broncos: TE Colston Loveland, Michigan
24. Baltimore Ravens: CB Darien Porter, Iowa State
25. Los Angeles Chargers: WR Isaiah Bond, Texas
26. Pittsburgh Steelers: WR Tre Harris, Ole Miss
27. Green Bay Packers: DT Tyleik Williams, Ohio State
28. Minnesota Vikings: CB Shavon Revel, East Carolina
29. Philadelphia Eagles: EDGE Mykel Williams, Georgia
30. Buffalo Bills: EDGE Princely Umanmielen, Ole Miss
31. Kansas City Chiefs: TE Tyler Warren, Penn State
32. Detroit Lions: EDGE LT Overton, Alabama