Rousing myself from a brief power nap, I found my phone buzzing to share some news. ‘Unprecedented Trade Shakes Up Latest Mock Draft’ – thus read the alert. Confession time – I loathe mock drafts. However, I comprehend their purpose; particularly when the NFL elects to schedule the draft in late April, nearly two months after the NFL Combine. This invariably results in days of intense debate over minor discrepancies in a receiver’s 40-time. As the 2025 NFL Draft seems to inch forward at a glacial pace, I’ve decided to embrace the insanity. The term ‘Mock Draft’ has become a trigger, leading me to adopt an all-black wardrobe, sprout bangs and exhibit unpredictable hip gyrations in public – all signs of my brewing madness. So here it is, my ‘parasite’ mock draft, let’s descend into lunacy together.
Kicking off the first round, with the first pick – New Orleans Saints (courtesy of the Tennessee Titans): QB Cam Ward, Miami. The trade deal in brief: Tennessee Titans get the 9th, 40th, 184th picks, plus a second and fifth-round selection in the 2026 Draft. New Orleans Saints acquire the first overall pick. A look at the books reveals a nosedive by Mickey Loomis – the man managed to free up a whopping $33 million in cap space for the Saints.
Next up, with the second pick – Cleveland Browns: they place their faith in WR Travis Hunter from Colorado. Following them, with the third pick – New York Giants: they decide on EDGE Abdul Carter. At pick four, the New England Patriots choose OT Armand Membou hailing from Missouri. Post a trade deal involving Brandon Aiyuk that saw the Patriots part with a Day Two and Day Three pick to the San Francisco 49ers, the newly drafted Membou now has the task of securing Drake Maye’s blindside.
Continuing the saga, Round 1, Pick 5 – Cleveland Browns (trading with Jacksonville Jaguars): they opt for QB Shedeur Sanders, Colorado. The rapid trade details are: Jacksonville Jaguars receive 33rd, 87th, 179th picks, plus a first and third-round choice in the 2026 Draft. The Cleveland Browns walk away with the fifth overall pick.
Moving forward, Round 1, Pick 6 – Dallas Cowboys (courtesy of the Las Vegas Raiders): they secure WR Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona. The details: Las Vegas Raiders accept the 12th, 76th and 171st picks. Dallas Cowboys scoop up the sixth overall pick. The Cowboys seemed torn between Ashton Jeanty and McMillan, but Stephen Jones ensures his pick, McMillan, makes it to Prescott’s lineup, keen on providing a solid secondary receiver to complement CeeDee Lamb.
Round 1, Pick 7 – Dallas Cowboys (courtesy of the New York Jets): they manage to grasp RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State. The hectic trade information is: New York Jets accept the 44th, 149th, 174th picks, along with a first-round selection in the 2026 draft and WR Jonathan Mingo in return. The Dallas Cowboys receive the seventh overall pick. Jerry Jones returns just in time to find out about McMillan’s drafting. Despite the minor family melodrama involving a discarded Red Bull can, Jets’ administration is thrilled about the valuable addition of Mingo to their lineup.
Progressing into the draft, Round 1, Pick 8 – Carolina Panthers: they decide on TE Tyler Warren from Penn State. Following them, Round 1, Pick 9 – Tennessee Titans (via New Orleans): they look towards QB Jaxson Dart from Ole Miss. Next, Round 1, Pick 10 – Chicago Bears: they root for RB Omarion Hampton out of North Carolina. Subsequently, Round 1, Pick 11 – San Francisco 49ers: they zero in on QB Will Howard from Ohio State.
Continuing, Round 1, Pick 12 – Las Vegas Raiders (via Dallas): they opt for WR Emeka Egbuka from Ohio State. It appears Mark Davis is attempting to create his own playbook. For the 13th Pick, Miami Dolphins: QB Jalen Milroe, Alabama. With time clocks in front, Mike McDaniel is taken aback. ‘Jalen Milroe ran that fast?’ follows an amazed exclamation.
Coming up next, Round 1, Pick 14 – Houston Texans: they claim OT Will Campbell from LSU. The concise trade info is: Indianapolis Colts receive the 25th and 89th picks along with OL Ed Ingram. The Houston Texans bag the 14th pick in exchange. Round 1, Pick 15 – Atlanta Falcons: they secure DT Mason Graham from Michigan.
Venturing farther, Round 1, Pick 16 – Arizona Cardinals: they go for CB Jahdae Barron, Texas. Followed by them, Round 1, Pick 17 – Cincinnati Bengals: they settle for EDGE Mike Green, Marshall. Coming next, Round 1, Pick 18 – Seattle Seahawks: they land on EDGE James Pearce Jr., Tennessee. Round 1, Pick 19 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers choosing WR Luther Burden III, Missouri.
Subsequently, Round 1, Pick 20 – Denver Broncos: RB Quinshon Judkins, Ohio State is their choice. Succeeding them, Round 1, Pick 21 – Pittsburgh Steelers: they go for WR Jack Bech from TCU. Following the trend, Round 1, Pick 22 – Los Angeles Chargers: they select OT Grey Zabel from North Dakota State. A look of understanding passes between Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman. ‘RUN THE BALL,’ they holler together, as Justin Herbert’s eyes give an involuntary twitch at the sight of his now depleted receiver lineup.
Next in line, Round 1, Pick 23 – Green Bay Packers: they lean towards WR Matthew Golden from Texas. Following swiftly, Round 1, Pick 24 – Minnesota Vikings: LB Jihaad Campbell from Alabama becomes their pick. Round 1, Pick 25 – Indianapolis Colts (via Houston): they opt for safety in S Malakai Starks.
Further into the draft, Round 1, Pick 26 – Los Angeles Rams: their choice is CB Trey Amos from Ole Miss. For the 27th Pick – Baltimore Ravens select TE Colston Loveland from Michigan. Pushing onward, Round 1, Pick 28 – Detroit Lions find their match in CB Will Johnson from Michigan.
Maintaining the tempo, Round 1, Pick 29 – Washington Commanders: they fasten their eyes on EDGE Shemar Stewart from Texas A&M. Round 1, Pick 30 – Buffalo Bills: they place their faith in WR Xavier Restrepo from Miami. For the 31st pick of the evening – Kansas City Chiefs go for RB Cam Skattebo from Arizona State.
Finally, to wrap up the first round of picks, Round 1, Pick 32 – Philadelphia Eagles: they opt for EDGE Mykel Williams hailing from Georgia, thus concluding the somewhat eccentric and wholly unpredictable Mock Draft for the NFL 2025. And with that, our mock draft rollercoaster concludes – until, of course, the next round of speculation begins.