By: Justin Dedrick

With the conclusion of the Super Bowl, the NFL season has come to a close, and the NFL Draft is fast approaching. For most, draft season starts now, but for me, it started the day after the 2024 Draft in late April. As my common motto says, “Draft season never ends.” 

The NFL Draft is my favorite sporting event by far. Each year since 2020, I’ve spent countless hours scouting prospects, analyzing draft trends, and practicing player evaluation, all with the goal of eventually becoming an NFL Draft analyst in the future. 

With that said, let’s kick off my Bearcast Journalism debut with a 2025 NFL Mock Draft! 

  1. Tennessee Titans– Needs: QB, OL,  WR, CB

Selection: Cam Ward, QB-Miami 

It’s not everyday that you get to pick number one overall, and when you do get that chance, it’s logical to take a shot at a franchise Quarterback. Cam Ward spent 2 seasons at Incarnate Word and 2 seasons at Washington State before transferring to Miami for his final year of college where he passed for 3700+ yards and 39 touchdowns. Ward has been my QB 1 for this class for about 3 years now. He has great arm strength and zip on the ball and can fit the ball into tight windows. His best trait is his picket awareness, as he’s always calm and knows where the rushers are. The one thing Ward will have to fix is his hero ball tendency, which leads to most of his turnovers. If he can refine his game just a little bit, I fully believe Ward can be a future All Pro for the Titans. 

  1. Cleveland Browns– Needs: OT, QB, Edge, WR

Selection: Abdul Carter, Edge-Penn State

Star edge rusher Myles Garrett recently requested a trade from the Browns citing his desire to compete for a Super Bowl. It’s hard to replace his production off the edge but Abdul Carter has all the traits to be a star on the defensive side of the ball. Of course Cleveland has other pressing needs, but edge is a premier position and Carter is the #1 overall player on my personal board. Carter is a freak athlete with great get off on the line and sideline to sideline speed. He comes in with a developed pass rush plan and counter moves, and combined with a 6’3 259 pound frame, is going to be tough to block 1 on 1. 

  1. New York Giants– Needs: QB, OT, CB, 

Selection: Shedeur Sanders, QB-Colorado

I’m not the biggest fan of Sanders. He has an underwhelming arm and is a very lacking athlete. He punishes his offensive line by holding onto the ball for unnecessary time and will pass up open checkdowns for downfield shots. Where he is going to make his money is his elite accuracy. He is pinpoint on all levels of the field and can give his receiver the best chance to catch in stride almost every time. New York has been rumored to be heavily interested in Sanders and that interest seems mutual. 

  1. New England Patriots– Needs: OL, WR, CB, I

Selection: Travis Hunter, CB-Colorado

The reigning Heisman winner gets selected here to usher in a new era under head coach Mike Vrabel. Hunter notoriously played both sides of the ball at Colorado and Jackson State, but profiles to be a full time corner in the NFL. He’ll most likely be a red zone sub for his offensive snaps. Athleticism is going to carry him as a corner, but he’ll have to play a little more physically to be successful in the NFL. 

  1. Jacksonville Jaguars– IDL, CB, S, OT

Selection: Will Campbell, G-LSU

Will Campbell came into LSU as a 5 Star OT recruit and did not disappoint over his three seasons as a Tiger. He started at tackle all 3 years and even earned the honor as LSU’s number 7. He was almost unbeatable and rarely gave up pressures or sacks and has very few mistakes on tape. However he is projected to move inside to guard due to very short arms. The major question is whether his arms are over the 33” threshold that many stay true to. It may be worth it for Jacksonville to try him at tackle and move him to guard if he is unable to hold his own against NFL edge rushers. 

  1. Las Vegas Raiders– Needs: QB, IDL

Selection: Tetairoa McMillan, WR-Arizona

McMillian is many people’s WR1 in this class and that is no different for me. This past season at Arizona, McMillan caught 84 passes for 1,319 yards and 8 touchdowns. He has a big frame at 6’5 and the speed to cause mismatches. He doesn’t drop the ball either and is a cheat code in 50/50 balls. He lacks in his routes, where he struggles to get separation and sometimes doesn’t put full effort into a route. If he can develop as a route runner, the Raiders may finally have a dynamic outside weapon for whoever their QB is next season. 

  1. New York Jets– Needs: OL, Edge, WR

Selection: Mason Graham, DL-Michigan

Graham really has no major flaws which is why I believe he will be a top 10 pick easily in late April. He has great size at 6’3 320, 9 career sacks, and is a space eater in the run game. Almost every defensive play Michigan made at the line of scrimmage has Graham involved. DT isn’t a huge need for New York but they just need more talent as a whole. Graham could be an all pro and any player at that level is valuable. 

  1. Carolina Panthers– Needs: LB, Edge, CB

Selection: Jalon Walker, Edge-Georgia 

Jalon Walker played off ball at Georgia and blitzed a lot, but I want him to play off the edge. I see a similar transition to Micah Parsons coming out of Penn State. He can be solid off the ball, but he could be elite off the edge. He is super fast, bendy, and smart which combines to make him almost unblockable. Plus he would have the versatility to drop into coverage for disguised looks. He is a top 10 player in the class for me and I have super high hopes for Walker. 

  1. New Orleans Saints– Needs: WR, IOL, Edge

Selection: Tyler Warren, TE-Penn State

Tyler Warren burst onto the scene this past season at Penn State, catching 104 passes for 1,233 yards and 8 touchdowns, while also beating out BGSU’s Harold Fannin Jr. for the Mackey Award for best TE. He’s a prolific deep threat, and can block at a high enough level to be a full time in-line TE. He was known for his versatility, as he lined up in a multitude of spots such as TE, slot, outside receiver, the backfield, and even at center. The Saints desperately need better pass catchers in general and Warren brings a versatile weapon to New Orleans. 

  1. Chicago Bears– Needs: OL, RB, Edge

Selection: Ashton Jeanty, RB-Boise State

New Bears HC Ben Johnson loved to run the ball in Detroit, so much so that he had 2 lead backs and spent a first round pick on Gibbs. If he wants to replicate the offensive success he had as a Lion, he needs a great running back, and Jeanty is more than that. He is the best running back prospect I have ever scouted. He has great top end speed, exceptional contact balance, never goes down at first touch, always finds the open hole, and is a literal game breaker. His only concerns are size at only 5’9 and his pass blocking. Those concerns can be easily disregarded just due to how much he can change an offense. A home run pick for Chicago here. 

  1. San Francisco 49ers– Needs: Edge, OL

Selection: Armand Membou, OT-Missouri 

Membou jumped into first round talks last month and has since continued to rise up the boards. He is one of the few college tackles in that class that is expected to stick at tackle in the NFL. He plays at a great pad level, and moves quite fluidly in space. He could help fill a need at tackle in San Francisco and play on the other side of Trent Williams. The 49ers are also expected to extend star QB Brock Purdy, so protecting him should be paramount. 

  1. Dallas Cowboys– Needs: RB, WR, OT

Selection: Luther Burden III, WR-Missouri 

Back to back Missouri players as Burden III heads to Dallas. Burden, a former 5 star recruit, is electric with the ball in his hands. He’s a playmaker that you want to get in space and let him work. Most likely he’ll be a slot guy but the athleticism and RAC ability keep him as a top WR in the class. Dallas is at an odd crossroads at the moment, but it never hurts to improve your struggling receiving core and get CeeDee Lamb a running mate. 

  1. Miami Dolphins– Needs: OL, IDL, Edge, S

Selection: Malaki Starks, S-Georgia 

Starks is a top five player in the class that will inevitably fall because he plays safety. Teams just don’t value safety anymore, but Starks is too good to fall out of the top 20 picks. He has instincts and athleticism that you just can’t teach, and put together an amazing 2023 season with a solid 2024 campaign as well. With the Dolphins likely losing Jevon Holland to free agency, Starks is a no-brainer. 

  1. Indianapolis Colts– Needs: TE, S, CB, Edge

Selection: Will Johnson, CB-Michigan

Johnson is the best true CB in the class in my opinion. He has a big frame, great coverage instincts in both man and zone, and exceptional ball production. His only major concerns are top end speed and injury history. He could very well be taken higher than this, but his name has fallen in recent weeks, so we’ll follow this trend. Indy desperately needs an outside CB so not only does Johnson fill that need, but it’s a great value pick at a premier position. 

  1. Atlanta Falcons– Needs: All defensive positions

Selection: Shemar Stewart, Edge-Texas A&M

Stewart is a very unique player as he has the size, 6’6 290, to play both interior defensive line and edge. He’s an athletic monster and I expect him to be among the top of the class in Relative Athletic Score. His biggest concern is the lack of production, but NFL teams can overlook that. Atlanta just needs to take the best defensive player available, and Stewart has star written all over him.

  1. Arizona Cardinals– Needs: Edge, WR, IDL

Selection: Josh Simmons, OT-Ohio State 

Josh Simmons may have the best 2024 tape of all the tackles in this class. Unfortunately his season was cut short due to injury, but his stock stayed in the first round. He has ideal size for an NFL tackle, and moves his feet well. I expect Simmons to be a long time starter in the league, and he slots in as a day one starter to protect Kyler Murray. 

  1. Cincinnati Bengals– Needs: Defense, TE

Selection: Mykel Williams, Edge-Georgia 

Williams is another one of the athletic defensive players produced by the Georgia Bulldogs. Williams has great size, speed, and utilizes a well-developed rip move. He is a true edge rusher and fills a huge need on the Cincinnati defense. Their defense was miserable, especially the defensive line. Williams can start immediately and bring edge production to Cincinnati to start fixing the defense. 

  1. Seattle Seahawks– Needs: IOL, Edge, S

Selection: Mike Green, Edge-Marshall 

Mike Green was one of the sack leaders this past college football season, putting up a whopping 17 sacks. He has risen into first round talks, and solidified his draft slot with an impressive senior bowl week. He’s uber athletic, versatile off the edge, and lightning fast. His only real concern in my eyes is short arms but I don’t expect that to hold Green back. Seattle will need him to produce immediately and try to fix what was a shaky Seahawks defense in 2024. 

  1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers– Needs: LB, CB, Edge

Selection: Jahdae Barron, CB-Texas 

Barron is a very polarizing CB prospect, as due to his smaller size will most likely be a slot CB. There is no shame in being a slot, as recent years have shown how valuable a slot CB can be. Some expect Barron to stay on the outside like at Texas, and I believe he has the skill to play at both spots. He won the Thorpe award for best defensive back in 2024. Tampa Bay needs a trustworthy defensive back, and Barron will help fill that need with his reliable coverage. 

  1. Denver Broncos– Needs: TE, Edge, S

Selection: Emeka Egbuka, WR-Ohio State

Egbuka is your typical slot receiver. He’s undersized and slow, but reliable. He is a smooth route runner and always seems to get open, and he never drops the football. 

  1. Pittsburgh Steelers– Needs: WR, OT, CB

Selection: Kenneth Grant, DL-Michigan

Grant gets forgotten a lot due to playing next to Mason Graham for years at Michigan. Grant has been just as good and is worthy of a first round pick to Pittsburgh here. He has 6.5 career sacks and is a disruptive force in the run game. Pittsburgh usually adopts a best player available strategy regardless of position, and I think Grant fits that here. He can solidify their defensive line and make the Steelers defensive even more feared. 

  1. Los Angeles Chargers– Needs: WR, TE, IOL

Selection: Colston Loveland, TE-Michigan

This may be the easiest pick in this entire mock for me. Jim Harbaugh keeps the Michigan connection he has and takes Loveland to fill a huge hole on his offense. Not only do you get a do it all tight end, but you get a dynamic weapon for Justin Herbert. 

  1. Green Bay Packers– Needs: CB, LB, Edge

Selection: Nic Scourton, Edge-Texas A&M

Scourton transferred to Texas A&M from Purdue and kept his stock in the first round. However his stock did fall to the late first rather than the early first. One of the main reasons is that he put on weight which limited his speed that he showed at Purdue. Other than that, Scourton has a great pass rush plan and is great at stopping the run. If he drops the extra weight, he can be a productive player off the edge for the cheeseheads. 

  1. Minnesota Vikings– Needs: RB, IOL, OT, Edge

Selection: Quinshon Judkins, RB-Ohio State

This is a very talented running back class, with upwards of ten worthy to go in the first 60 picks. I contemplated Omarion Hampton here but I ultimately chose Judkins because of the name value and his college football championship run this past season as a Buckeye. Judkins may lack the top end speed you’d want in a lead back, but he makes up for it with strong running and great vision. Minnesota truly lacked a run game last season, and no matter who they decide to start at QB, they need to establish a ground game. Judkins can immediately help with that. 

  1. Houston Texans– Needs: TE, IDL, S, LB

Selection: Matthew Golden, WR-Texas 

Golden transferred to Texas after 2 seasons at Houston, and was a huge contributor in their CFP run. He put up 987 and 9 touchdowns this season. He’s a very polished route runner who makes smooth cuts and does not drop the ball. He also has great body control for contested and sideline catches. The Texans WR core has question marks with free agency and injuries, so Golden can come in and answer some of those questions. 

  1. Los Angeles Rams– Needs: QB, WR, LB, S

Selection: Kelvin Banks Jr., OT-Texas 

If Banks falls this far, the Rams would probably explode with excitement. They desperately need a true tackle and in this class, that is a rarity. Banks has great size, good footwork, and is strong. He’s reliable and doesn’t make many mistakes, but I have one major concern with him. He’s always on the ground. He pushes his rusher to the ground and falls with him way too often. If you are on the ground, then you can’t block anyone. Break that habit, and LA has a long term starter. 

  1. Baltimore Ravens– Needs: Edge, S

Selection: Nick Emmanwori, S-South Carolina 

Baltimore always drafts some of my favorite players and that is no different here as Emmanwori is a top 30 player for me. Nick Emmanwori most likely won’t hear his name called in the first round but he has the talent. He has incredible instincts and ball production, along with tackling chops on the back end. His name flies under the radar often, but if you turn on the tape, you would instantly see the talent. Depending on combine tests, he could end up as a top 20 player for me. 

  1. Detroit Lions– Needs: Edge, CB

Selection: James Pearce Jr., Edge-Tennessee 

Pearce Jr. is the definition of a pure athlete. His speed is very evident on tape and I expect him to run in the 4.4’s or higher at the NFL Combine. His concerns are pretty evident as well though. He is light off the edge and gets dominated easily by heavier tackles. A lot of his production was schemed as well. He’s very raw, but if you can develop him, he can be an all pro level edge rusher. Detroit lacked edge production once Hutchinson went down so even if this pick isn’t Pearce Jr., expect an edge still. 

  1. Washington Commanders– Needs: OT, RB, WR, S

Selection: Josh Conerly Jr., OT-Oregon

Josh Conerly Jr. was a 2 year starter at LT for Oregon and helped them into the college football playoffs this past season. He’s been as reliable as can be, with strong footwork and leverage at the point of contact. You may have seen the viral rep of Marshall’s Mike Green flattening Conerly, but that was just one rep of a long Senior Bowl week. By the end of the week, he was voted as the best offensive lineman by the players. Washington made an impressive run and that is largely due to the breakout play of OROTY Jayden Daniels. If Washington wants to make it back to the NFC Championship and have a chance at a Super Bowl, they need to protect Daniels much better. 

  1. Buffalo Bills– Needs: IOL, IDL, LB

Selection: Jihaad Campbell, LB-Alabama 

Campbell came to Alabama as a 5 Star edge recruit but eventually worked his way onto the field as an off ball linebacker. He has exceptional speed on tape, and flashes great coverage and run stuffing abilities. Some think he can even come off the edge as well as be a MLB which would add to his value. I think his best suited role is a coverage linebacker who can occasionally blitz and cause chaos. He would be a perfect fit in Buffalo’s defense, a defense that desperately needs a trustworthy linebacker. 

  1. Chiefs– Needs: OT, S, WR

Selection: Grey Zabel, OT-North Dakota State 

North Dakota State seems to be a pipeline for tackles moving inside to guard. Cordell Volson, Cody Mauch, and now Grey Zabel. Zabel however, has the best chance to stay at tackle and that is what Kansas City would draft him as. The Eagles defensive line dominated the Chiefs all game long and it forced Mahomes into bad decisions. If you want to continue your dynasty, you need to protect Patrick Mahomes better. 

  1. Eagles– Needs: DT, OL, S

Selection: Darius Alexander, DT-Toledo

To end off the first round we have a Senior Bowl standout in Darius Alexander. The 6’4, 320 pound senior put up 9 sacks and 23 tackles for loss in his career. He’s a force up the middle and will help Philadelphia stop the run. He’s not the greatest pass rusher but he has some juice in that area and could improve with time. The reigning Super Bowl Champions have a lot of free agents on their defensive line, so this was a no brainer pick. 

By: Peyton RiedmaierPosted on Categories : Categories : Football, NFL, SportsTags:

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