2025 NFL Mock Draft: Carson Beck, Luther Burden III crack top 5, but defense rules early (2024)

As the college football season kicks off in earnest this week, it is the perfect time to collect data and information on some of the nation’s top prospects, with eyes on the 2025 NFL draft.

While it’s way too early to correctly connect any of these players with an NFL club, we can narrow down the players on the NFL’s radar this fall. The Athletic’s Nick Baumgardner (picking for the odd-numbered teams) and Scott Dochterman (even-numbered teams) paired those players with teams 1-32 for our projected first round.

(Note: The NFL draft order was established by Austin Mock’s projected win totals for the upcoming NFL season. Here are the projections for the NFC and AFC.)

1. Washington Commanders: James Pearce Jr., edge, Tennessee

As is the case with the top spot in the draft overall, the No. 1 edge ranking is up for grabs — and the winner of that race very well could be the first pick next spring.

Pearce, a twitched-up, long, 6-foot-4, 245-pound burner is firmly in both discussions. He led the SEC with a 21.8 percent win rate (No. 2 among Power 4 returning players), 52 pressures and 14 1/2 sacks last season. Pearce has to back that up in 2024, but he’ll be tough to top if he does. — Nick Baumgardner

2. Denver Broncos: Abdul Carter, edge, Penn State

This past April, Sean Payton concentrated on offensive additions. In Carter, the Broncos would take another step toward building their defense. Carter (6-3. 260) played off the ball at linebacker last fall but is moving to defensive end this year. His freakish skill set compares favorably to former Nittany Lion Micah Parsons, and with a big year, Carter could rival Pearce or a quarterback for No. 1 overall. — Scott Dochterman

3. Carolina Panthers: Will Johnson, CB, Michigan

No NFL team has ever taken a cornerback higher than No. 3 in the NFL Draft. It feels unlikely Johnson will change that. However, if ever there were a prospect that could make a team think about it, it’s a 6-2, 200-pounder with elite burst (near 11-foot broad jump), quicks (reported 6.57-second three-cone) and smarts.

Johnson is an extremely high-floor corner. If he has a Thorpe Award-type year, he might flirt with draft history. — Baumgardner

4. New England Patriots: Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri

Reminiscent of former Clemson star Sammy Watkins, Burden (5-11, 210) takes over games with his athletic ability, route running and power. He caught 86 passes for 1,212 yards and nine scores last year, leading Missouri to a Cotton Bowl win. In Burden, the Patriots could give rookie quarterback Drake Maye another weapon alongside 2024 rookie receiver Ja’Lynn Polk. — Dochterman

5. New York Giants: Carson Beck, QB, Georgia

Beck will enter the season as QB1 on most NFL boards, and I still maintain he’d have been a top-10 selection had he come out in 2024. He’s smart, aggressive, accurate, confident and comes with ideal size. There aren’t many more high-pressure college QB jobs than running Georgia’s offense, and Beck barely broke a sweat last season. — Baumgardner

6. Minnesota Vikings: Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame

The Vikings need reinforcements in the secondary, especially at cornerback, and Morrison (6-0, 186) is tough, tenacious and multi-faceted. Perhaps he doesn’t have long arms or top-end speed, but Morrison would fit perfectly into defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ overwhelmingly zone-coverage scheme. If required, he’d also be solid in man. — Dochterman

7. Tennessee Titans: Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado

Ran Carthon has been diligent and consistent with his plan to build the Titans from inside-out. Calvin Ridley and DeAndre Hopkins are on the roster, but they’re 29 and 32, respectively, and Treylon Burks has yet to pop. Hunter, a true two-way player who has a positional decision to make, could be a solution. This also might be too low for him when all’s said and done. — Baumgardner

8. Arizona Cardinals: Mason Graham, DT, Michigan

Low, quick and powerful, Graham (6-3, 320) is a nightmare for opposing offensive linemen. He has the type of skill that translates to a 3-4 defense and would be a perfect addition for Arizona. He’d instantly upgrade the Cardinals’ defensive line and be a fierce run-stuffer. — Dochterman

9. Las Vegas Raiders: Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado

Do I believe Sanders is one of the 10 best players in America right now? No. I would have said the same about Michael Penix Jr. or J.J. McCarthy last year, or Anthony Richardson in 2023. QB-desperate teams need quarterbacks, though. Sanders would check several boxes for the Raiders, including giving them an injection of pure confidence. — Baumgardner

10. Indianapolis Colts: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona

Maybe the most talented skill player in the draft, McMillan (6-5, 210) has the Mike Evans-like qualities that every team covets. Last year, he caught 90 passes for 1,402 yards and 10 touchdowns, and he was just as good on contested catches as he was running basic routes. Though he needs to fill out to reach his potential, McMillan could pair nicely with Anthony Richardson and the Colts’ group of receivers. — Dochterman

Can't wait to get verified hand measurement on @ArizonaFBall Tetairoa McMillan.

Rising true junior has stickiest mitts we've seen in 2025 @seniorbowl eligible WR class. 👀

Ball skills are 𝙀𝙇𝙄𝙏𝙀!#TheDraftStartsInMOBILE™️ pic.twitter.com/1rgYFUDX3K

— Jim Nagy (@JimNagy_SB) May 27, 2024

11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Mykel Williams, edge, Georgia

On production, this is a fine spot for Williams. On talent, it’s way too low — and would be a steal at 11. Not unlike Travon Walker entering his junior year before going No. 1, Williams (6-5, 265) is raw but insanely athletic and powerful. If he pops this year, he’ll be a potential top-three pick. — Baumgardner

12. Pittsburgh Steelers: Nic Scourton, DL, Texas A&M

Blessed with Cameron Heyward for all of these years, the Steelers need to find his eventual replacement up front. Scourton, who had a Big Ten-best 10 sacks last year for Purdue, could fill that void once the all-time great hangs it up. Scourton (6-4, 280) now will take on SEC offensive tackles, and his profile is likely to grow this fall. — Dochterman

13. Chicago Bears: Will Campbell, OT, LSU

Any team that truly needed an offensive tackle last year and didn’t take one in the top 60 will regret that choice. (Just check the preseason tape on how the ’24 class is doing for proof.) That said, what a steal this would be. I personally think Chicago will be drafting lower, but Campbell has top-10 tools. The Bears would be pairing the cleanest OT prospect in the 2025 class with Darnell Wright, in front of Caleb Williams. — Baumgardner

14. Jacksonville Jaguars: Malaki Starks, S, Georgia

Talk about a perfect match. The Jaguars ranked 26th in pass defense last year and could use a safety/nickel hybrid; Starks is a five-star talent with a slightly bigger frame than Detroit’s Brian Branch and could step in as an impact defender. A consensus All-American, Starks would have landed in the first round in April had he been eligible. — Dochterman

15. New Orleans Saints: Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas

Derek Carr’s contract likely will keep him with the Saints through 2025, regardless of how 2024 plays out, but the team does have an out on his deal ahead of 2026 (when he’ll be 35).

Ewers, like Sanders and every QB in this class, has to improve if he’s going to stick in the top tier. His arm talent is as good as it gets in this class, and when he’s right, he throws a beautiful ball. Ideally, the team that picks Ewers won’t be rushing him. The Saints could be in position to manage that. — Baumgardner

16. Seattle Seahawks: Harold Perkins Jr., LB, LSU

The Seahawks would have selected Ewers in this mock had he lasted one more spot. Instead, they get Perkins, who has made repeated splash plays at LSU but is a semi-positionless prospect for the next level. That’s not a problem for new Seattle coach Mike Macdonald, who can move Perkins (6-0, 215) around the field and allow him to blitz and play off the ball. — Dochterman

17. Cleveland Browns: Emery Jones Jr., OT, LSU

Welcome back to the first round, Cleveland! The draft clouds over Lake Erie are finally breaking.

Jones is a tone-setter who can be a downright bully at times for LSU, playing opposite Campbell. And like Campbell, Jones is still just 20 years old and will be firmly in the OT1 conversation. — Baumgardner

18. Los Angeles Rams: Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas

The Rams have had to piece together an offensive line the last few years because of salary-cap issues, but in drafting Banks, they would add a talented long-term piece. Banks (6-4, 325) started at left tackle for Texas the last two seasons and is entering his third year at the position. He has the body to play right tackle or perhaps shift to guard before finding a permanent position. — Dochterman

19. Los Angeles Chargers: Deone Walker, DT, Kentucky

The first step in the Harbaugh-ization of the Chargers was the Joe Alt pick, which could give this roster one of the NFL’s best tackle duos in short order. The next step? Fortifying the middle of Jesse Minter’s defense with a powerful gap-eater who’s athletic enough to move around. Walker is a behemoth (6-6, 350) who moves like a dancer and has loads of untapped potential. — Baumgardner

20. Houston Texans: Tyleik Williams, DL, Ohio State

Ohio State has oodles of draft-eligible prospects on defense, many of whom have higher profiles than Williams. But Williams provides the interior engine to the Buckeyes’ dominant defense. Last year, he finished with 53 tackles (including a team-best 10 for loss) and three sacks.

Houston has quickly built itself into a contender, but the next step is finding a tackle who can attack the interior the way Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter pressure from the outside. — Dochterman

21. Atlanta Falcons: Shavon Revel Jr., CB, East Carolina

A member of Bruce Feldman’s “Freaks List,” Revel slipped through the transfer portal cracks (somehow) and looks like the best non-Power 4 prospect in the class. At 6-3, 190, Revel will flirt with sub-4.4 speed and already has broad jumped more than 11 feet. The explosion/speed/length combination will remind some of Tariq Woolen. — Baumgardner

22. Miami Dolphins: Jonah Savaiinaea, IOL, Arizona

The Dolphins are in best-lineman-available mode, and Savaiinaea (6-5, 330) is a mauler at guard. He can move for his size and is perfect for a team that needs help protecting quarterback Tua Tagovailoa. Savaiinaea also could get out in space and block for the Dolphins’ speedy backfield. — Dochterman

23. New York Jets: Conner Weigman, QB, Texas A&M

We’ll mention a few others here who could be QB4: Notre Dame’s Riley Leonard, Penn State’s Drew Allar and South Florida’s Byrum Brown.

Weigman has yet to play a full season at Texas A&M, but — much like Leonard, Mike Elko’s last QB — he’s flashed a ton of NFL potential, both athletically and with his arm. If Aaron Rodgers gives them another year, letting him mentor a rookie along the way would be extremely tempting. — Baumgardner

24. Buffalo Bills: Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan

The Bills’ defense has few weak spots, but it also lacks Pro Bowl-caliber players. At this slot, the Bills could eye the best player available — and for Sean McDermott, that often means defense. Grant (6-3, 340) forms one of the nation’s top tackle tandems at Michigan. With Buffalo, he could slip in at nose tackle alongside Ed Oliver. — Dochterman

25. Green Bay Packers: JT Tuimoloau, edge, Ohio State

The lack of elite-level explosion will always be a mark against Tuimoloau, though the thing most casual observers fail to understand is how many different ways the savvy 6-4, 269-pounder has impacted games over the years. He’s a very nuanced player who isn’t likely to dominate but comes with a very high floor. — Baumgardner

26. Dallas Cowboys: Ollie Gordon II, RB, Oklahoma State

Dallas has few weaknesses and great depth across the board. But it does have questions at running back, even after bringing back Ezekiel Elliott this offseason. Gordon is an elite runner with college football’s Cowboys and put up 1,732 yards and 21 touchdowns last year. As an added plus, he’s a Fort Worth native. — Dochterman

Y'all… @Ollie_Gordon2

27 carries
221 yards rushing
3 TD's
8.2 yards/carry

📺: ESPN pic.twitter.com/L26kA2Gqqa

— OSU Cowboy Football (@CowboyFB) October 21, 2023

27. Baltimore Ravens: Aireontae Ersery, OT, Minnesota

Another member of the “Freaks List,” Ersery runs a reported 1.52-second 10-yard split (at 18.34 mph on the GPS), with a 9-foot, 2-inch broad jump at 6-foot-6, 330 pounds. Both of those marks (at the same weight) are higher than what Detroit Lions star Penei Sewell posted at the 2021 combine. The potential is outstanding. — Baumgardner

28. Philadelphia Eagles: Danny Stutsman, LB, Oklahoma

The Eagles started rebuilding their back seven this offseason, and the next step is to find another glue piece at the second level. Stutsman (6-4, 240) had a Big 12-high 125 tackles last year and would pair nicely with Nakobe Dean at linebacker. — Dochterman

29. Cincinnati Bengals: Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan

Loveland’s not going to have the same gaudy numbers in 2024 while playing with a new quarterback that he had with J.J. McCarthy in 2022 and 2023, but he’s an extremely dependable, agile and powerful pass catcher who has made plays all over the field. If Michigan rolls with young Alex Orji at QB, Loveland also will get a chance to fine-tune his run blocking — which already has been very good. —Baumgardner

30. Detroit Lions: Parker Brailsford, C, Alabama

This might be a little early for Brailsford (6-3, 290), who followed coach Kalen DeBoer from Washington to Alabama this offseason. Brailsford is entering only his third season, so he could stay in Tuscaloosa another year. But he’s the top center prospect, and the Lions might have a need at the position in a few years. This move would fortify a strength before it becomes a weakness. — Dochterman

31. Kansas City Chiefs: Denzel Burke, CB, Ohio State

A four-year starting cornerback at Ohio State, Burke has been an active coverage player (21 career pass breakups) and has improved his overall awareness against the pass throughout his career. His tackling at 6-1, 193 pounds leaves plenty to be desired. If he cleans that up, he’ll be in the first-round conversation. — Baumgardner

32. San Francisco 49ers: Luke Lachey, TE, Iowa

While it’s still too early for the 49ers to consider George Kittle’s replacement, perhaps picking up another Hawkeye would keep the position in good hands for another decade. Lachey (6-6, 247) has an impressive skill set, combining blocking prowess with soft hands and tremendous athletic ability. He suffered a broken leg in Week 3 and missed the rest of last season, but he’s next in the line of great Iowa tight ends. — Dochterman

(Illustration: Meech Robinson / The Athletic;Photos of Shedeur Sanders, James Pearce Jr. and Abdul Carter: Bryan Lynn / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images; Scott Taetsch / Getty Images; Ryan Kang / Getty Images)