2025 NFL Draft: Trade shakes up latest CBS Sports mock draft

The 2025 NFL Draft will officially kick off in less than a week. NFL pundits and prognosticators everywhere are dotting their I’s and crossing their T’s as they wrap up their final attempts at predicting how the opening round will play out on April 24 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

CBS Sports’ Tom Fornelli has done just that after releasing his final mock draft Friday morning, revealing what he described as his “best guess” with how Day 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft will work out next Thursday. And he didn’t disappoint, predicting an early focus on quarterbacks in the Top 5 with another Top 10 team trading back into the bottom of the first round to land their desired QB.

Check out Tom Fornelli’s final 2025 NFL Mock Draft for CBS Sports here:

1. Tennessee Titans: Cam Ward, QB, Miami

Outside a last-minute trade offer that would be too good to pass up, the Titans appear set to move on from Will Levis at quarterback in favor of Ward at No. 1 overall. That said, Fornelli made the point, “if the Titans go any other direction at this point, the entire NFL world would be shocked.”

Ward is considered the overwhelming No. 1 quarterback in the class. He directed Miami’s NCAA-best offense with a FBS-leading 39 passing touchdowns and 4,313 passing yards in 2024.

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

Although the Browns clearly need a quarterback and could also be intrigued by Abdul Carter, Fornelli revealed his “sense” is that Cleveland targets the reigning Heisman Trophy winner. Hunter would give the Browns a much-needed playmaker on both sides of the ball, contributing opposite Jerry Jeudy at receiver and Denzel Ward at cornerback.

Hunter ranked second in the FBS with 15 receiving touchdowns. He also had 1,258 receiving yards in 2024 and added four interceptions and 36 total tackles defensively.

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

Despite already signing two veteran QBs (Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston) in free agency, Fornelli believes the Giants will take a big swing. He has the Giants grabbing the son of NFL legend Deion Sanders at 3, despite admitting, “This pick makes little sense to me, but it also seems likely.”

Still, Fornelli acknowledged New York’s clear interest in Shedeur Sanders. The Colorado product led the FBS with a 74% completion rate, 4,134 passing yards, and 37 touchdowns in 2024.

4. New England Patriots: Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State

This would be a dream come true for the Patriots and first-year head coach Mike Vrabel. The team would be adding arguably the best defensive player in this entire draft at No. 4.

The 6-foot-3, 250-pound Carter was practically unblockable at times last season. He led the FBS with 23.5 tackles for loss to go along with 12 sacks in 2024.

5. Jacksonville Jaguars: Mason Graham, DT, Michigan

Fornelli explains this selection simply as “it just makes sense.” The Jaguars land the draft’s top-rated interior defensive lineman at No. 5 after missing out on landing a defensive tackle in free agency.

The powerful 6-foot-3, 320-pound Graham was the heart of Michigan’s defense the past few seasons. He racked up 52 tackles, 26 pressures, 7.5 tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks in 2024.

6. Las Vegas Raiders: Will Campbell, OT, LSU

While many expect the Raiders and new head coach Pete Carroll to target Ashton Jeanty here, Fornelli goes against the grain. He gives Vegas the draft’s top tackle prospect with the expectation they can land a running back in Round 2.

The 6-foot-6, 323-pound Campbell is among the most reliable tackles in the draft. He allowed just two sacks over the past two years in Baton Rouge.

7. New York Jets: Armand Membou, OT, Missouri

With Campbell off the board, Fornelli bets on Membou’s loaded potential after an impressive showing at the NFL Combine. He gives the Jets back-to-back first-round tackles to anchor their line for years to come.

The massive 6-foot-4, 332-pound Membou posted the best broad jump (9-foot-7) at the combine. He also had the second-fastest 40-yard dash time (4.91 seconds) among all offensive linemen in Indianapolis.

8. Carolina Panthers: Jalon Walker, EDGE/LB, Georgia

While Fornelli acknowledges the Panthers’ willingness to trade down, he expects they’ll stand pat. Fornelli believes the team will select “one of the most interesting pass rush prospects in the class.”

The 6-foot-2, 245-pound Walker won the 2024 Butkus Award. He racked up a team-leading 62 tackles and 6.5 sacks last season at Georgia.

9. New Orleans Saints: Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia

Fornelli knows most of the pre-draft buzz has the Saints taking a quarterback at No. 9. But with the top options on the board, New Orleans instead opts for the uber-talented 6-foot-5, 260-pound Williams.

But fear not, Fornelli comes through later when he mocks the Saints trading back into the bottom of Round 1. He predicts they land Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart with the Commanders‘ pick at No. 29 overall.

10. Chicago Bears: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State

Although the Bears clearly had other more pressing needs, the Heisman Trophy runner-up is too good to pass up here. New Chicago coach Ben Johnson lands one heck of a “consolation prize” in Jeanty.

The powerful 5-foot-8, 210-pound Jeanty nearly eclipsed Barry Sanders‘ NCAA single-season rushing record last year. He had an FBS-best 2,601 rushing yards, 29 touchdowns and 126 missed tackles in 2024.

Tom Fornelli’s Final 2025 NFL Mock Draft, pick Nos. 11-32:

11. San Francisco 49ers: Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas
12. Dallas Cowboys: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
13. Miami Dolphins: Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss
14. Indianapolis Colts: Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
15. Atlanta Falcons: Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
16. Arizona Cardinals: Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas
17. Cincinnati Bengals: Mike Green, EDGE, Marshall
18. Seattle Seahawks: Tyler Booker, IOL, Alabama
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama
20. Denver Broncos: Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina
21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon
22. Los Angeles Chargers: Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
23. Green Bay Packers: Trey Amos, CB, Ole Miss
24. Minnesota Vikings: Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina
25. Houston Texans: Donovan Jackson, IOL, Ohio State
26. Los Angeles Rams: Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State
27. Baltimore Ravens: Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan
28. Detroit Lions: Josh Conerly Jr., OT, Oregon
29. New Orleans Saints (mock trade w/ WAS): Jaxson Dart, QB, Ole Miss
30. Buffalo Bills: Donovan Ezeiruaku, EDGE, Boston College
31. Kansas City Chiefs: Shemar Stewart, EDGE, Texas A&M
32. Philadelphia Eagles: Malaki Starks, S, Georgia