The Sports Branch 2025 Co-Mock Draft

The 2025 NFL Draft is just over one week away, and we are back with our 2025 edition of our Co-Mock Draft. For this mock, CJ and I split the teams, with me selecting for the odd numbered teams and CJ draftin g for the even numbered teams. Our picks were made based on what we think each team would do and what we would do if we were in the GM seat. Make sure to subscribe to the site and check out CJ on Instagram and TikTok.

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1) Tennessee Titans: Cam Ward QB, Miami

As of right now, the Titans have three QBs on the roster–Will Levis, Brandon Allen and Tim Boyle. To say the least, none of those are ideal options.

Tennessee has made moves to prepare for its next QB as well, spending the last two first-round picks on the offensive line and signing Dan Moore Jr and Kevin Zeitler. Lastly, recent news that the Titans canceled their visit with Shedeur Sanders has made it pretty clear that Cam Ward is soon-to-be the No. 1 pick in and future in Tennessee.

2) Cleveland Browns: Travis Hunter WR/DB, Colorado

With Joe Flacco back in the building, I think the Cleveland Browns bypass Sheduer Sanders and take the most versatile player in this draft, Travis Hunter.

The Browns will prioritize using Hunter as the team's No.1 boundary corner, allowing Denzel Ward to move back into the slot. He has great ball instincts and a sharp eye for positioning and leverage vs opposing wide receivers. Hunter also has great pursuit which will allow him to track down ball carriers with ease.

Head coach Kevin Stefanski won’t stop there though, as Hunter can complement the offensive side of the ball as a wide receiver. The Browns haven’t had a real offensive receiving threat since Odell Beckham Jr. in 2019, so I fully expect Hunter to give this offense a spark.

3) New York Giants: Abdul Carter Edge, Penn State

Shedeur Sanders to New York had a lot of steam towards the end of the college football regular season. But with the signings of Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston, it’s seemed to cool off.

Further, head coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen are likely fighting to keep their jobs this year. Investing in a rookie QB with an already crowded position room doesn’t help their situation but taking arguably the best player in the draft does.

4) New England Patriots: Will Campbell OT, LSU

With all of the top defensive players off the board, the New England Patriots decide to protect their quarterback of the future with offensive tackle Will Campbell.

Coach Mike Vrabel builds his teams through the trenches and I feel like his first pick with the Pats will be no different. A three-year starter at LSU, Campbell allowed only 3 sacks on 856 dropbacks, establishing himself as the clear-cut best tackle prospect in this draft.

Campbell has had some measurement issues, to the point where some people are questioning his technical ability, but worst comes to worst he can slide inside to guard and thrive in that position.

5) Jacksonville Jaguars: Mason Graham DT, Michigan

The Jaguars NEED more defensive line impact on the interior and around Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen. After Walker and Hines-Allen, the next-highest sack total for the Jaguars was three.

Arik Armstead turns 33 in November and is a pending free agent after this season. DaVon Hamilton had zero sacks last season five tackles for loss.

Selecting Graham gives Jacksonville a disruptive interior force as a pass-rusher and would help a run defense that surrendered the eight most rush yards per game a season ago.

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

Raider fans, you got your guy. Jeanty is one of the best running back prospects in NFL history.

The Heisman trophy runner-up finished last season with 2,601 rushing yards (7.0 YPC) and 29 touchdowns. With Pete Carroll as the head coach and the trade for Geno Smith, I can see Las Vegas transforming that offense to thrive off the RPO system.

Having an intimidating and successful run game allows people like Brock Bowers to get open downfield. Jeanty would slide into the Las Vegas running back one slot and carry the bulk of the offensive workload.

7) New York Jets: Armand Membou OT, Missouri

The Jets lost starter Morgan Moses this offseason in free agency, leaving a glaring hole in what has already been a mediocre unit as of late.

I know there’s a lot of chatter about Tyler Warren here but I think the Jets should secure another young offensive tackle before addressing pass catchers. They addressed left tackle in last year’s draft with Olu Fashanu and could pair him with the best right tackle in this class with Membou.

It’s also important to note that the Jets had an opportunity to select Brock Bowers last year at No. 10 but elected to prioritize the offensive line. Bowers was a better prospect than Warren and there was less tight end depth in that class than this one.

8) Carolina Panthers: Jalon Walker OLB, Georgia

Any defender makes sense here for the Panthers, who trotted out one of the worst defensive units in the NFL last season.

Jalon Walker will be viewed as an edge rushing linebacker with the ability to play off-ball, allowing him to have the potential to become a Luke Kuechly-esque player. Walker wins his edge battles with ridiculous speed and agility, using his smaller frame to sneak under the pads of the opposing tackles.

He also can drop back into coverage and chase down any quarterback or running back that tries to escape outside. The Butkus Award winner would make an immediate impact on the pass rush of this Carolina defense.

9) New Orleans Saints: Shedeur Sanders QB, Colorado

Finally, the Shedeur Sanders slide comes to a stop. If the Browns and Giants do pass on him, it’ll be interesting on draft night to see if someone trades up to take him, or if a team like the Saints stands firm and waits.

In this scenario where we aren’t making trades, the Saints sit and wait for Sanders to fall into their lap and get their future quarterback.

It’s worth noting that this mock draft was done before the news on Derek Carr potentially missing the 2025 season was shared. However, I think that news just reaffirms the likelihood of this pick.

10) Chicago Bears: Tyler Warren TE, Penn State

The Bears continue to juice up their offense and take Penn State TE Tyler Warren. After Chicago’s offseason o-line upgrades–Joe Thuney, Drew Dalman and Jonah Jackson, I view this pick to be a ‘luxury pick,’ meaning the Bears can afford to take who they feel is the best player in the draft.

Warren’s potential as a move-around chess piece makes him a fun fit in this revamped Bears offense. Ben Johnson loves to run two tight end sets in his offense, which will allow for Warren and Cole Kmet to flourish simultaneously. The two of them would help the run game edges and give Caleb Williams a new target to find underneath or over the middle of the field.

11) San Francisco 49ers: Will Johnson CB, Michigan

San Francisco lost Charvarius Ward in free agency, leaving Renardo Green and Tre Brown at their outside corners as of now. Deommodore Lenoir has been impactful for them but he plays primarily in the slot, so there’s uncertainty on if he’ll stay there or move outside.

Johnson is the No. 1 corner in this class in most people’s eyes but after missing the majority of his final season due to injury, his draft range has fluctuated a lot. But with the 49ers in desperate need of more talent at cornerback, this fit is perfect.

12) Dallas Cowboys: Tetairoa McMillan WR, Arizona

The Cowboys select the first true wide receiver in the draft, “Tet” McMillan.

Dallas has desperately needed a long-term WR2 to pair with CeeDee Lamb for a long time. McMillan is a true X-style wide receiver who will complement Lamb by allowing him to play out of the slot again, where he excels.

McMillan’s 6-foot-5 frame makes him a dynamic weapon who not only helps stretch the field but also creates blocks to fuel the run game. The duo of McMillan and Lamb would quickly become one of the best wide receiver duos in the league and would give the Cowboys’ passing game a higher ceiling for seasons to come.

13) Miami Dolphins: Malaki Starks S, Georgia

The Dolphins are very high on Malaki Starks. They had several front office members attend his pro day including GM Chris Grier. Head coach Mike McDaniel was in attendance as well. And they met with Starks at the draft combine.

Four-year starter Jevon Holland signed with the Giants in free agency, leaving the Dolphins with Ashtyn Davis and Ifeatu Melifonwu. Melifonwu played in just three games a season ago for the Lions.

The glaring need at safety, clear interest and Starks’ versatility make this an easy pick for Miami.

14) Indianapolis Colts: Jihad Campbell LB, Alabama

A ton of people think the Colts need to bring in another offensive weapon to help Anthony Richardson or Daniel Jones succeed. Come draft day, I think GM Chris Ballard will elect to go with another investment on the defensive side of the ball.

Jihad Campbell is a 6-foot-3, 244 lb off-ball linebacker who could fill that hole left by Darius “Shaq” Lennard. Campbell has great instincts and a nose for finding the football when it's in the air.

Campbell also hits offensive players like a freight train, making him a true force in the middle of a defense. The one concern that I have with Campbell is that his tackling isn’t the most effective, but that shouldn’t be something that should deter the Colts from selecting him.

15) Atlanta Falcons: Mike Green Edge, Marshall

There’s no way around it, the Falcons HAVE to figure out how to sack the quarterback. The team ranked second-to-last in 2024 in sacks and has finished in the top ten of that category just once since 2004.

The team had to cut veteran Grady Jarrett in the offseason for cap space purposes and after trading for Matthew Judon, he currently sits in free agency after a disappointing season.

Atlanta has been connected to Green according to rumors around the league. It feels like the Falcons are guaranteed to take a pass-rusher in round one, the bigger question is who will it be?

16) Arizona Cardinals: Walter Nolen DT, Ole Miss

Being in the run-heavy NFC West, Arizona reinforces the trenches with defensive tackle Walter Nolen.

Nolen’s versatility along the defensive front is appealing, along with his ability to impact both the run and the pass. On a Cardinals defense that loves to move their front seven guys all over the place, Nolen would be a perfect match as he can play any spot on the d-line.

While he is an incredibly talented player, he will need good coaching to help him sharpen and hone his talent.

17) Cincinnati Bengals: Mykel Williams Edge, Georgia

After spending a Brinks truck worth of money on offensive playmakers this spring, Cincinnati needs to focus on its defense, which was horrid a season ago.

To make matters worse, Trey Hendrickson–the NFL’s sack leader–has requested a trade and been very open about his frustrations with wanting a new contract. It’s unknown if he will hold out in the fall but regardless they need help on the defensive line.

Even with Hendrickson’s league-leading 17.5 sacks, the Bengals had the eighth fewest sacks in the NFL. Adding a pass-rusher, whether that’s Williams or another player, is certainly a possibility and should be one of the top priorities.

18) Seattle Seahawks: Grey Zabel OT/G, North Dakota State

After signing Sam Darnold to a 3-year $100M contract, Seattle’s top priority should be to protect him. With that, I am drafting Grey Zabel here to start at one of Seattle’s offensive guard spots since I see Olu Oluwatimi starting at center this upcoming season.

For an offensive line that can never seem to stay healthy, Zabel’s versatility will allow the Seahawks to plug and play any spot on the offensive line if needed. His athleticism and speed will make him a great fit in Klint Kubiak’s zone run-and-boot-heavy offensive scheme.

19) Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Shemar Stewart Edge, Texas A&M

The run on edge rushers continues here with Tampa Bay and Shemar Stewart.

Although the Buccaneers were in the top 10 in sacks last season, they need depth at the position. They currently have Calijah Kancey, who’s a true defensive tackle playing on the edge. While it’s been successful, they’ll eventually want to add someone to work with him and Vita Vea or give Kancey the chance to play on the interior.

Tampa Bay has met with Stewart at the combine and on a top-30 visit, showing clear interest in a prospect who has shot up draft boards due to his athletic profile.

20) Denver Broncos: Matthew Golden WR, Texas

After running a 4.29-second 40-yard dash at the NFL combine, Matthew Golden has made a name for himself. In his senior season at Texas, he played 16 games where he caught 58 balls for 987 yards and 9 touchdowns.

He is a player who uses his blazing speed and agile cuts to help create separation from opposing defenders. Golden is arguably the best deep-threat wide receiver in this class and pairing him with Courtland Sutton, Marvin Mims and newly acquired tight end Evan Engram would allow Bo Nix to achieve a new level of quarterback play.

21) Pittsburgh Steelers: Jaxson Dart QB, Ole Miss

How long is Aaron Rodgers going to keep the Steelers waiting–and hold them hostage? It’s been weeks now and there’s still no decision from the future Hall of Fame QB on if he’ll join the Steelers or retire.

If the season were to start tomorrow, Pittsburgh would have just two QBs on the roster, Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson. I don’t think anything else really needs to be said.

If there is another QB that will go in round one, it will likely be Dart. The Steelers have done their homework on him and met with him at the combine and on a top-30 visit.

22) Los Angeles Chargers: Kenneth Grant DT, Michigan

Coach Jim Harbaugh gets his Michigan man, but not the one you were probably thinking.

Kenneth Grant quickly established himself as the best run-stopping defensive tackle in college football this past year as he recorded a career-high 10 TFLs. The Chargers have been looking for someone with his kind of force upfront to play as a true nose tackle. Harbaugh has always built his team through the trenches and after losing Joey Bosa, I see this pick as an obvious homerun.

23) Green Bay Packers: Jahdae Barron CB, Texas

With basically all of the edge rushers worth taking in this range off the board, I pivoted to another positional need for Green Bay, cornerback.

Jaire Alexander is seemingly on his way out of Green Bay and even if something changes and he stays, he’s struggled to stay healthy. Outside of Alexander, the team would be relying on Nate Hobbs who is primarily a nickel/slot defensive back, and Keisean Nixon who is better known for his special teams play among other late-round picks who would have to prove themselves.

Insert Barron, the 2024 Jim Thorpe Award winner. Barron is viewed as the CB2 in this class with plenty of arguments for being ranked as the top corner. He shut down SEC receivers last year, racking up five interceptions and 11 PBUs.

24) Minnesota Vikings: Nick Emmanwori S, South Carolina

The Vikings have had a good offseason so far. They’ve signed interior defensive linemen Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave, offensive guard Will Fries and even re-signed Aaron Jones to a two-year deal.

Now they use their first-rounder on the most athletic player in the draft, Nick Emmanwori. Emmanwori had a stellar career at South Carolina where he showed not only his great ball skills but his ability to track down defenders and make open field tackles.

His physical showcase at the NFL combine helped propel him into the first round. To lay it all out there, Emmanwori is a 6-foot-3 box safety who ran a 4.38 40-yard dash–first among Safeties. He posted a 43” vertical–T-first amongst safeties, and an 11’ 6” broad jump which was also first amongst safeties.

Did I also mention that he had 20 reps on the bench press? Emmanwori will fit nicely as a Cam Bynum replacement in this Brain Flores defense.

25) Houston Texans: Josh Conerly Jr. OT, Oregon

Houston’s biggest problem last season was its inability to protect C.J. Stroud. Stroud was sacked 52 times, the second most in the league. That could have been the most if not for a historically poor performance by the Bears offensive line.

To make matters worse, they got rid of three starting linemen: Laremy Tunsil, Kenyon Green and Shaq Mason. Replacing Tunsil at left tackle is Cam Robinson who has had plenty of ups and downs in the league. At right tackle–where Conerly would play–is Trent Brown, who has not played well since leaving the Patriots years ago.

The Conerly pick may be surprising to some, especially with Josh Simmons and Kelvin Banks on the board. But Banks never played a single snap at right tackle in three years according to PFF.

Conerly met with the Texans at the NFL Combine and for a top-30 visit but Simmons has yet to meet with the team. These visits matter and for that reason, I think they’ll take Conerly over Simmons.

26) Los Angeles Rams: Colston Loveland TE, Michigan

The Rams continue to invest in Matthew Stafford and their passing attack by selecting Michigan tight end, Colston Loveland.

Loveland is a player who bolsters a high receiving upside at the tight end position while also being able to get involved in the run game. With the offensive genius Sean McVay calling plays, I can see the Rams finding ways to scheme Loveland all over the field.

He can be an outside guy on heavy run formations, or a slot receiver to spread the defense by allowing Puka Nacua and Davante Adams to play on the boundaries. Tyler Higbee’s contract concluding this offseason, Loveland will be in the wings waiting to get his shot as the team's No. 1 tight end.

27) Baltimore Ravens: James Pearce Jr. Edge, Tennessee

Although they were one of the best teams in the league last season, it didn’t feel like a ‘Ravens-esque’ season in Baltimore. The Ravens, who have been known for their stout defense historically, had the complete opposite of that.

A big reason for that was the secondary but with the top two safeties and corners off the board, I went to the defensive line for Baltimore’s pick.

I know, the Ravens had a great pass rush last season and finished second in the NFL in sacks. But many of those players are aging or pending free agents, or both.

Kyle Van Noy is 34 and will be a free agent after this year along with Odafe Oweh. Oweh is more likely to return but there’s no guarantee either will be back. On top of that, defensive tackle Michael Pierce retired.

This team needs depth and an insurance plan for its future free agents up-front and this pick provides exactly that.

28) Detroit Lions: Kelvin Banks Jr. OT, Texas

Kelvins Banks Jr’s slide in this mock draft has finally stopped and what a great landing spot for him to fall to.

Most analysts see Banks as the second-best offensive tackle in this draft but due to his poor measurements, most teams have been viewing him as an interior guard. After the departure of offensive guard Kevin Zietler, Detroit fans should be excited about this pick.

Detroit's run game is the face of its offense and Kelvin Banks Jr recorded the highest PFF run blocking grade this past season with a score of 89.1. His pass protection could also use some work, but that should be learned easily as he’ll be playing alongside Pro Bowl tackle Taylor Decker. Even though he’d be learning a new position, I think Banks Jr would have a really easy time adjusting to his new home.

29) Washington Commanders: Josh Simmons OT, Ohio State

With Simmons falling this far down the draft, it presents the perfect opportunity for Washington to secure a potential long-term option at right tackle.

Current starter Andrew Wylie had a much better 2024 season for the Commanders after really struggling in 2023. But Wylie spent most of his career at right guard before coming to Washington. I say that because starting right guard Sam Cosmi tore his ACL in the playoffs against the Lions and will miss at least part of next season.

Drafting Simmons could allow the Commanders to move Wylie back inside to make up for the loss of Cosmi and plug their hypothetical first-round pick here in Wylie’s spot.

30) Buffalo Bills: Maxwell Hairston CB, Kentucky

The Buffalo Bills need to address the elephant in the room, their secondary is horrendous. It has been the Achilles heel for years as the defense can’t get a stop when the team needs it the most.

So where do you start? By grabbing one of the best man coverage corners in the draft, Maxwell Hairston. Hairston is a 5’11” physical corner who can stick with and track down opposing wide receivers. He also has one of the best pass break-up percentages of any DB in this draft.

Last season, Buffalo ran man-coverage 58% of the time on third and fourth down plays. The Bills also allow an average of 9.9 YPC on those same man-coverage plays. After they moved on from Kaiir Elam back in March, I feel like Maxwell Hairston will be a major improvement for the DB room.

31) Kansas City Chiefs: Nic Scourton Edge, Texas A&M

The Chiefs have to address the line of scrimmage in the draft, regardless of if it's on offense or defense. With how this draft played out, I chose to go with the defensive line, assuming Kansas City would take an offensive lineman in round two.

Andy Reid’s team needs depth on the defensive line. They finished 18th in the NFL in sacks, which has not been the standard for their dynasty.

2022 first-round pick George Karlaftis has started to put it together the last two seasons, totaling 18.5 sacks in that span. But he needs help from the rest of the defensive line.

Chris Jones, who turns 31 in July, had his lowest sack total since his rookie year. The next edge rusher after Karlaftis had just 3.5 sacks.

Scourton can provide the needed help with some time to develop and rotate among the Chiefs’ pass-rushers.

32) Philadelphia Eagles: Derrick Harmon DT, Oregon

After Milton Williams departed in free agency, the Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles–as a Giants fan, that hurt to type, will select defensive tackle Derrick Harmon.

Harmon is one of the most complete tackles in the draft. He has an ideal build and a great combination of burst and strength to allow him to play both the run and the pass. This pick may feel too light as general manager Howie Roseman has stressed how he wants to move up in the draft for “his guy”...and we all know that Howie always finds a way to get his guy.