Gavin Riley's 2025 NFL mock draft: Post-combine predictions

Two top-10 running backs and a quarterback slide in my NFL mock draft 1.0.

Photo via Don Juan Moore/Getty Images

The lights have dimmed in Indianapolis. Now, free agency awaits.

Mock drafts before free agency is in full swing are essentially educated guesses wrapped in speculation. The coming weeks will reshape team needs across the league as veterans find new homes and roster holes either get filled or become more glaring.

But that's what makes this time of year so damn fun.

Some of these picks will look ridiculous a month from now. Team needs will evolve, and prospects will rise and fall based on pro days and private workouts. That's the beautiful chaos of the NFL offseason.

Here's my first crack at a predictive 2025 NFL mock draft. Enjoy.

1. New York Giants (Via trade w/ TEN): Cam Ward, QB, Miami

Reports from the combine echo that the Giants are actively trying to trade up to the No. 1 pick — and the Titans are open to moving the pick. I would think the Giants want to move up for a quarterback, and their preference is widely surmised to be Ward.

2. Cleveland Browns: Abdul Carter, ED, Penn State

The Browns are likely in the market for a QB (Cam Ward). If Ward goes No. 1, they don’t have to force the selection of Sanders. With Myles Garrett probably on his way out, Carter would make the most sense here.

3. Tennessee Titans (Via trade w/ NYG): Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado

The Titans have a lot of needs, so a trade-down makes a ton of sense. If they do, they’ll either end up with Carter, who may be the pick if they stand pat at No. 1, or Hunter, the two-way star who could help Tennessee on both sides of the ball. In this case, they end up with Hunter, who fills an immediate need at both WR and CB.

4. New England Patriots: Armand Membou, T, Missouri

You’ve got your franchise quarterback in Drake Maye. Great. Now, you need to protect him. Membou checks every box — he’s technically sound, tough, athletic, and has prototypical tackle size. His tape and athletic test warrant a selection this high.

5. Jacksonville Jaguars: Will Campbell, OL, LSU

New general manager James Gladstone emphasized the importance of building through the trenches, along with emulating the Rams’ team-building philosophy. While I think Mason Graham could be in play, Trevor Lawrence needs protection. I believe teams love Campbell despite his short arm length (32/5/8). His SEC tape is rock solid, and he had a dominant on-field workout at the combine. He’d be a nice fairway finder for the first-year GM.

6. Las Vegas Raiders: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State

The Raiders stunned the NFL community Friday night when they traded a late third-round pick for quarterback Geno Smith. Now, Vegas can take the best player available, which is Jeanty. The Boise State product and Heisman runner-up would address a need for an offense that finished dead last in rushing yards per game (70.8) and yards per rush (3.6).

7. New York Jets: Mason Graham, DL, Michigan

Graham isn’t the most athletic DT in the class, but he’s incredibly disruptive — has been since he stepped foot onto Michigan’s campus. He and Quinnen Williams would form an elite duo. I’d think new head coach Aaron Glenn is salivating at this pairing.

8. Carolina Panthers: Shemar Stewart, ED, Texas A&M

At 6-foot-5 and 267 pounds, Stewart lit up the combine: He sprinted a 1.58-second 10-yard split and 4.59-second 40-yard dash, broad jumped 10'11", and vertical jumped 40". The Panthers desperately need defensive help, starting with rushing the passer; The Panthers ranked No. 31 in the NFL in pass rush win rate.

Stewart didn’t have incredible production with the Aggies — just 4 1/2 sacks in his collegiate career — but his play-wrecking ability is evident on tape. Carolina swings big with Stewart’s high ceiling.

9. New Orleans Saints: Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State

There’s a glaring need for offensive playmakers — an absence that caused the Saints 2024 offense to be quite predictable — regardless of who the quarterback will be. Warren is a do-it-all offensive chess piece. He would immediately become the first or second option in the pecking order for Kellen Moore’s offense.

10. Chicago Bears: Omarion Hampton, RB, UNC

Surprise! Well, it really shouldn’t be. The Detroit Lions took Jahmyr Gibbs just two years ago at No. 12, and it was a home run. I would have given them an offensive lineman, but they revitalized the interior within the last two days (trading for Jonah Jackson and Joe Thuney.) Ben Johnson likes to run the ball, and if they decide to keep D’Andre Swift, Hampton would be a great compliment.

11. San Francisco 49ers: Mike Green, ED, Marshall

Green’s prospect status is enigmatic at the moment due to reports that sexual assault allegations led to his dismissal from Virginia’s program and transfer to Marshall. He denies any wrongdoing. If Green’s situation clears up, he shouldn’t fall far in the draft. He’s one of the best pure pass rushers in this group.

12. Dallas Cowboys: Tetaroia McMillan, WR, Arizona

Outside of Ceedee Lamb, what other weapons does Dallas have? McMillan is a prototypical X receiver with a wide catch radius. He’s Drake London-esque. I think McMillan will have a similar impact and role.

13. Miami Dolphins: Kelvin Banks, OT, Texas

What the hell is going on with Terron Armstead? He’s under contract for 2026, but the team isn’t including him in its 2025 plans — at least that’s what Mike McDaniels insinuated at a press conference at the Scouting Combine. To me, that means finding Armstead’s replacement with this pick is a priority.

Banks, a three-year starter at left tackle, seems like a safe selection here. Analysts project him better at guard due to his playstyle, but he has the tools to stay outside.

14. Indianapolis Colts: Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas

The Colts could look to add another weapon for Anthony Richardson — or whoever wins the starting quarterback job — but the secondary has major holes. Teams too often dissected the Colts’ pass defense. To make the transition of Lou Anarumo smooth, solidifying the back-end of the defense.

Barron is a smothering coverage corner underneath who found himself in the right place at the right time, often throughout the 2024 season. He could play a bigger-nickel role with JuJu Brents set to come back from injury. I think Barron could have a similar impact Cooper DeJean had with the Eagles.

15. Atlanta Falcons: Jalon Walker, LB/ED, Georgia

For the third consecutive year, I’m projecting a pass rush for the Falcons — well, kind of. Walker is a bit of a tweener, or hybrid, if you will. He’s had success rushing the passer but lacks the ideal size to be a full-time edge rusher. The Falcons would get the most value from him as an early-down off-ball linebacker who rushes off the edge occasionally or lines up as a blitzer across the line.

16. Arizona Cardinals: Will Johnson, CB, Michigan

The Cardinals could go pass rush here, but they probably weren’t expecting Johnson to fall. He could be the lockdown CB1 they’ve been missing since Patrick Peterson.

17. Cincinnati Bengals: Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan

This has to be defense, right? Last season, the Bengal's defense was, for lack of a better term, abysmal. A gargantuan interior defender like Grant would be a good place to start. He’s great against the run and can rush the passer.

18. Seattle Seahawks: Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina

Head coach Mike MacDonald was the Ravens’ defensive coordinator when they drafted Kyle Hamilton in the first round of the 2022 draft. While Emmanwori’s not quite Hamilton, he’s a freak in his own nature.

Emmanwori, a 2024 First-Team All-American, stole the show at this year’s Scouting Combine with his freakish testing. The 6-foot-3, 220-pound safety ran a 4.38 40-yard dash and jumped a 43’’ vertical and 11’6’’ broad.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Donovan Ezeiruaku, ED, Boston College

This seems like a hand-in-glove fit. The Bucs need a pure pass rusher, and Ezeiruaku is just that. At 6-foot-2, 248 pounds, he’s not biggest, fastest, or strongest, but he has a deep bag of pass-rush moves and pairs each with elite bend. The Boston College product has 16.5 sacks in his final year.

20. Denver Broncos: Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan

Connecting the Broncos to a tight end is far from original, but the Michigan product fits the “joker” need Sean Payton is looking for. Payton defined his desired “joker” as a tight end or running back with exceptional receiving skills. That’s Colston Loveland’s strong suit.

21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado

The slide stops! Could the Steelers actually luck out here? Sanders would be a perfect fit for the culture Mike Tomlin has built, and they need a quarterback, pending the free agency decisions of Russel Wilson and Justin Fields. I don’t see this as another Kenny Pickett situation, either. I think Sanders can be Pittsburgh’s guy.

22. Los Angeles Chargers: Tyler Booker, OL, Alabama

Jim Harbaugh's identity has always been physical football. Booker embodies that mentality with his nasty play style. The Chargers must keep Justin Herbert upright after he took a beating last season. Booker's SEC experience against elite competition means he can start immediately.

23. Green Bay Packers: Shavon Revel, CB, East Carolina

The Packers desperately need secondary help, especially with Jaire Alexander likely on his way out the door. The 6-foot-3 cornerback has incredible closing speed and the physical traits to match up with the NFC North's upper-echelon receivers. His ball skills and length will fill the void Alexander is imminent to leave behind.

24. Minnesota Vikings: Grey Zabel, IOL, North Dakota State

I fully expect the Vikings to trade down from this pick. They have just three picks in 2025, the next coming in the fifth round. But for this exercise, they stand pat, mainly because I can’t envision a trade-up scenario for another team with the prospects currently on the board.

Whether it’s Sam Darnold or J.J. McCarthy starting, the Vikings need to add some interior protection — the NFC Wildcard matchup against Detroit showed that. Zabel can play across the line but is probably best suited for guard or center at the NFL level. Nonetheless, he’s a blue-collar brawler and a plug-in-play upgrade on the interior.

25. Houston Texans: Matthew Golden, WR, Texas

Tank Dell is likely to miss all of 2025, and Stefon Diggs — coming off an ACL tear — is no sure thing to re-sign this offseason. A 4.29 40-yard dash, A+ tracking, and exceptional route running — Golden is the perfect complement to what the Texans already have in Nico Collins. Golden staying in Texas just feels right.

26. Los Angeles Rams: Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State

The Rams made it clear they plan to move on from Cooper Kupp, so why not replace him with a player possessing a similar skill set? Egbuka is arguably the most polished receiver in this class — crisp routes, reliable hands, exceptional blocking, and the football IQ that McVay covets. The Ohio State product could step in immediately and keep the Rams’ offense humming.

27. Baltimore Ravens: Mykel Williams, ED, Georgia

The Ravens could use help on the edge. Williams is an A+ run defender who’s still raw as a pass rusher but undeniably has the freakish traits to become one of the premiers in the league.

28. Detroit Lions: Jihaad Campbell, LB/ED, Alabama

Whether he’ll be an off-ball linebacker or full-time edge defender opposite of Aidan Hutchinson, Campbell is a perfect fit for Detroit. He’s the kind of player head coach Dan Campbell covets — relentless with a high motor.

29. Washington Commanders: Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State

The Commanders opt to select their hopeful left tackle of the future to protect quarterback Jayden Daniel’s blindside. Pre-ACL tear, Simmons had a case for the best left tackle in college football. His recovery is going as planned thus far, so him being available at No. 29 is quite the steal.

30. Buffalo Bills: James Pearce Jr., ED, Tennessee

The Bills could afford to add depth to their pass rush. Pearce Jr., once considered a top-10 prospect before the start of the 2024 season, would be a good get late in the first round. A tall and slender rusher, Pearce Jr. often teleports into the backfield with blurry speed, which he showcased with his 4.47 40-yard dash (in a hoodie!).

31. Kansas City Chiefs: Josh Conerly Jr., OT, Oregon

After quarterback Patrick Mahomes was sacked six times on zero blitzes in the Super Bowl, the Chiefs may feel inclined to make changes to their offensive line. Conerly has helped himself not only at the Senior Bowl, but at the combine, too.

32. Philadelphia Eagles: Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss

Anticipating the Eagles lose Milton Williams in free agency, Nolen would be a gift-wrapped replacement. Nolen, like Williams, excels at rushing the passer from the interior. This pick would fall in line with general manager Howie Roseman scooping up players who fall further than they should.