2025 NFL Mock Draft: The SEC will dominate the first round once again

Later this Month, the 2025 NFL Draft kicks off on Thursday, March 24th, with the first round kicking off in Green Bay. This NFL Draft is fascinating for several reasons, starting with the fact that for the first time in ages. The quarterback class is also regarded as one of the worst in recent memory, which has made predicting the early portion of the draft difficult, as the Top 5 picks could go several different directions.

One thing has become easy to predict every year in the NFL Draft as the SEC dominates the first year on a yearly basis. As of late, the SEC has caught up on offense after years of sending defensive stars to the NFL which has made the conference a powerhouse. In our latest mock draft just weeks away from the draft, the SEC produces 17 1st round picks accounting for more than half of the 32 picks while the Big 10 falls far behind.

At the start of the offseason, it appeared the Titans were okay with passing on a quarterback with the first overall pick but, every sign is now pointing toward the team taking Cam Ward 1st overall. The Titans spent this offseason building up their offensive line and when Ward arrives in Tennessee he'll be well protected. The Titans will have to use some of their other draft capital to surround him with better receivers but, Cam Ward can give the team the chance to compete for the AFC South crown in a weaker division.

While the Browns don't have a clear cut quarterback to lead this team in 2025, the team has no reason to force the pick at 2. The team will likely go best player available with the 2nd overall pick punting on this season getting another year off of Deshaun Watson's massive contract. Drafting Abdul Carter gives the Browns another game wrecker opposite Myles Garrett as the defense could help overcome their offensive struggles.

The New York Giants move to sign a pair of veteran quarterbacks this offseason signaled that they're not in love with the quarterbacks in this draft class. The Giants sent a massive group of coaches and front office personnel to Colorado's Pro Day and they got a close look at Travis Hunter's ability as a wide receiver. The Giants nab Travis Hunter pairing him with Malik Nabers for the most exciting young wide receiver duo setting the team up nicely for when they draft a quarterback.

The Patriots will be disappointed to miss out on Travis Hunter and Abdul Carter but, it may end up being a blessing in disguise. The Patriots top priority should be building around Drake Maye and it starts with keeping him healthy. Drafting Will Campbell gives the Patriots the offensive tackle that can protect Maye's blindside long term hopefully cutting down on the injuries he's suffered.

The Jacksonville Jaguars still need talent across the board and the team should jump at the chance to land the best player available. Mason Graham is a slam dunk selection for the Jaguars as he'd join a defensive line with Travon Walker and Josh Allen-Hines giving the team an identity on defense.

When the Las Vegas Raiders traded for Geno Smith this offseason, it signaled that the team was looking to compete sooner rather than later. When you think of a Pete Carroll team, you think of bell cow backs from Reggie Bush and LenDale White to Marshawn Lynch, and Carroll gets his next star in Ashton Jeanty. Drafting Ashton Jeanty will allow the team to have a balanced offensive attack as he'll draw a ton of attention, which should free the field up for Brock Bowers.

While the New York Jets won't head into the NFL Draft seeking out a quarterback, if one falls to the team, the new regime may jump at the chance to land their guy. If Shedeur Sanders slides out of the Top 5, the New York Jets are a great landing spot. The Jets signed Justin Fields this offseason, which will allow Sanders time to sit and learn the offense, and when he does play, he'll have weapons in Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall to work with.

The player that is quietly rising draft boards after teams and analysts got around to fully evaluating him is Georgia Linebacker Jalon Walker. The Bulldogs star has rare physical tools, and while he lacks a true position, he'll make an impact whether it's as a linebacker or coming off the edge. The Panthers need difference makers, especially after trading Brian Burns, and Walker becomes a key addition to the defense.

The Saints need to stockpile young talent across the board as their aging core continues to get older while they work their way out of salary cap troubles. Derek Carr is coming back, and while the team can't get their rookie quarterback this season, they'll help him out by drafting Tetairoa McMillan. The wide receiver brings rare size to the position and will give the team a massive threat on the outside who can become a weapon next season when the team finds a quarterback.

This offseason was all about the Bears building up their offensive line after Caleb Williams was sacked 68 times as a Rookie. While the team built up their interior offensive line, Ben Johnson knows how important having solid offensive tackle play is which should lead the team toward taking Armand Membou. This season, Membou showed how impressive he is as a pass protector while being a mauler in the rushing attack which can help transform the Bears offense.

After a rare down season, the San Francisco 49ers continued to retool the roster this offseason and have the benefit of picking near the top of the Draft. The 49ers need to leave this draft with a blue-chip talent at a premium position, and as Will Johnson falls to the 49ers, they get their wish. As Charvarius Ward left in Free Agency, the 49ers need a cornerback and Will Johnson has shown enough on tape that he could be an incredible NFL star.

Predicting which way Jerry Jones goes is nearly impossible, but, as the Cowboys face loaded offenses in Philadelphia and Washington twice a year, the Cowboys need to get after the quarterback. Shemar Stewart has been one of the biggest winners of the pre-draft cycle as his athletic testing numbers jump off the charts. Adding Shemar Stewart to the Cowboys' defensive front with Micah Parsons only helps the team replace DeMarcus Lawrence and Chauncey Golston.

The agreement Terron Armstead and the Dolphins made earlier this offseason made sense this weekend when the veteran Left Tackle announced his retirement after injury struggles. The Dolphins now have a void at Left Tackle, and they turn to outstanding tackle Kelvin Banks Jr to fill that void. Banks Jr can come in right away, helping the Dolphins keep Tua Tagovailoa healthy so he can get the ball to the two stars on the outside.

The Colts are in a weird place heading into the NFL Draft as they've created a quarterback battle between Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones. Whichever way the quarterback battle shakes out, the Colts will need to improve the receiving core and Tyler Warren is the weapon the team is missing. Warren will help open up holes in the rushing attack while Tyler Warren can be a safety blanket for two quarterbacks that have struggled with turnovers.

After years of drafting offensive playmakers in the top half of the NFL Draft, the Atlanta Falcons have to start building up their defense. The Falcons need a hand-in-the-dirt pass rusher, and they get one with all the athletic tools in Mykel Williams. In Georgia, Williams never fully hit his ceiling as injuries hampered him, but he can come in right away and start for the Falcons, continuing to develop.

The Arizona Cardinals need to add difference makers on the defensive line, as they struggled to get after the quarterback. Insert Mike Green, who put up the most sacks in College Football and then went to the Reese's Senior Bowl, proving he can compete against the top offensive tackles in this draft class. Green can come in right away and give the Cardinals the threat off the edge they've lacked for the past few seasons.

The Bengals' defense let the team down as they wasted an MVP Caliber season from Joe Burrow and one of the greatest WR seasons ever by Ja'Marr Chase. As the team looks to improve their defense, Jahdae Barron can come in and instantly take this defense up a notch. The Bengals need a cornerback, and Barron can solve those issues while his defensive versatility gives the team a chess piece.

The Seattle Seahawks have experienced offensive line struggles since the Pete Carroll and Russell Wilson era, but have been unable to solve them. At the Reese's Senior Bowl, not only did Grey Zabel prove he can succeed against some of the best players in the Country, but he also proved he can play every offensive line position. The Seahawks here take Zabel, who can start his career off at guard with the ability to also play right tackle, helping solve some of this team's issues.

Todd Bowles has made it clear all offseason long that he's looking for ballhawks that can create takeaways. Nick Emmanwori is the defensive game changer that Todd Bowles is looking for and alongside Antoine Winfield Jr the two would make an elite dynamic in the backend. Emmanwori gives the Buccaneers another defensive chess piece to work with as they look to make a deep run in the Playoffs.

The Broncos' struggles in the rushing attack were well documented as the team's leading running back picked up just 513 yards this season. As the Broncos look to build around Bo Nix, drafting a bell-cow running back will only make the team more balanced, taking some pressure off of Nix. Hampton is an explosive back who can give the team a ton of production out of the backfield as a receiver if utilized better.

The Pittsburgh Steelers are currently without a quarterback but, the expectation is that Aaron Rodgers will sign with the team. While the Steelers will wait on Rodgers, he's not the answer the team is looking for long term. Jalen Milroe received an invitation to the NFL Draft which means he's likely going in the first round and the Steelers make the most sense. Jalen Milroe can sit and learn behind a veteran quarterback developing while his ability to throw the deep ball fits well with DK Metcalf and George Pickens.

The Los Angeles Chargers desperately need a defensive tackle after losing Poona Ford in free agency. Luckily, the Chargers get the best defensive tackle class in a long time to pick from, and they land Derrick Harmon here. Harmon is an impressive athlete with a versatile pass rush ability which gives him a chance to be a special player at the NFL level.

The NFC North is only getting stronger on offense which means the Packers need to add some young talent on defense. As James Pearce Jr slides down the draft board, the Packers jump on drafting him giving the team a star edge rusher. Pearce will slide down the draft board as other edge rushers had better seasons but, Pearce has all the tools to be a top edge rusher in the NFL.

While JJ McCarthy is still a relative unknown, the Vikings still have one of the best rosters in the NFL with very few weaknesses. One of the few areas that needs to be addressed is safety as the team needs to find a player who can fit alongside Harrison Smith. The Vikings luck out as Malaki Starks is one of the top players in the draft but will fall because of positional value and Nick Emmanwori putting up a massive NFL Combine performance.

After a rocky year where the offensive line disappointed, the Houston Texans decided to blow up their offensive line, trading Laremy Tunsil and Kenyon Green. As the team looks to retool their offensive line, the team rolls the dice on Left Tackle Josh Simmons who's a top talent but, missed most of the season with an injury. Simmons gives the team a tackle to protect CJ Stroud's backside on a Rookie deal as the team starts to reward its younger defensive stars with massive contracts.

The Rams' offense is always what wows everyone, but the Rams have quietly nailed their recent draft picks on defense, building an exciting young defense. As the Rams continue to build a great young defense, they can now turn toward building a younger secondary by picking Shavon Revel. After tearing his ACL, Revel may need some time to develop, which the Rams have the luxury of allowing, but he can become a long-term cornerstone for an emerging defense.

The Baltimore Ravens don't have a ton of holes, but this offseason did take some key pieces away from their interior offensive line. As the team looks to keep Lamar Jackson upright and to open holes in the run game for Derrick Henry, Tyler Booker fits the Ravens' mold. Booker won't impress you as a pulling guard, but, blocking downhill, he's a road grader that will help get a push for Derrick Henry to post another massive season.

While the Lions had an incredible regular season, the team dealt with defensive line injuries all season long which kept them from reaching their ceiling. As the team looks to load up on the defensive line, they'll need to add a young pass rusher and Nic Scourton makes a ton of sense. Scourton has an arsenal of pass rush moves with the ability to improve as a run defender but, early in his career he'll give the team production opposite Aidan Hutchinson.

The Washington Commanders did a great job to start the offseason using trades to bring in veteran pieces that'll help Jayden Daniels develop. Most of the team's moves were made to upgrade the offense which wasn't the team's problem this season which means Washington should look to upgrade on defense. Jihaad Campbell would be an incredible selection for the Commanders as he can learn from one of the games best in Bobby Wagner while bringing speed to the middle of the defense.

The Buffalo Bills addressed some of their wide receiver needs this offseason but, the team needs to add some younger inexpensive weapons they can build around. Matthew Golden is a great fit for what the Bills need as he has the speed to beat teams deep while he can get open underneath. The team has cycled veteran receivers in season after season but, drafting Golden would finally bring continuity to the room.

The Chiefs saw first hand what a dominant interior defensive line could do in the Super Bowl when the Chiefs derailed their game plan with constant pressure. The Chiefs follow the same blueprint the Eagles laid out for them, landing Ole Miss star Walter Nolen. Alongside Chris Jones, Walter Nolen will be a game changer as he'll get the benefit of going 1 on 1 which should allow him to be a productive pass rusher for the Chiefs.

The Eagles just won the Super Bowl thanks to an incredible defensive front, and Howie Roseman has found the blueprint drafting pass rusher after pass rusher. As Brandon Graham retires, the Eagles need to add another pass rusher, and they'll get one at the end of the first round in Landon Jackson. Adding Jackson gives the team another young threat off the edge, as he can come in and develop on a Rookie contract as the team balances the salary cap.

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