Post Free Agency Frenzy 2025 3 Round NFL Mock Draft
Free Agency is now mostly behind us, with the exception of a few big name QB vets who remain undecided, and the draft landscape is now much clearer than it was just a few weeks back. Things are going to continue to evolve over the coming weeks but we can officially make some reasonable draft predictions.
This is the second of a 4 part series of mock drafts that I’ll be doing on this page, followed by: a full 7 rounder that will release one week before the draft and a final 1 round mock the night before the draft. This mock will also be my first stab at predicting draft day trades. As always, I’d expect some movement throughout the first round of the draft, that’s where things really get fun. Let’s get rippin’:
Round 1:
1. Tennessee Titans - QB Cam Ward Miami:
Originally, I thought Tennessee would opt to move back in a trade with The Giants here, gain some capital, and select either Abdul Carter or Travis Hunter at 3. That said, The Titans willingness to let Levis’ counterpart Mason Rudolph walk in free agency coupled with their lack of interest in the veteran QB market has me expecting them to stay put and go Ward here. While Tennessee still has a lot of needs, they brought in some veteran offensive pieces that should ease the transition for the young QB. I think Ward has set himself apart in this class and nearly locked himself in at the number 1 spot regardless of who’s picking.
2. Cleveland Browns - Edge Abdul Carter PSU:
The world has been telling Cleveland that they need to move on at QB, but they’ve been uninterested in that idea to this point. I’m getting the feeling that The Browns’ thought process is more of the same. The Pickett trade and their interest in the veterans available give me the feeling that they’re content playing out Watson’s contract before looking to the future. I expect to see Pickett competing with a veteran for starting rights until Watson returns from injury. In the meantime, Carter will be a huge upgrade across from Miles Garrett. The question is whether or not the offense can keep up.
3. New York Giants - QB Shedeur Sanders Colorado:
I really could see Shedeur sliding a bit, but it’s QB or bust for The Giants. If they’re able to get Tennessee to move off of 1, I think Shedeur is more in that 7 to 9 range. I believe New York views Jameis/Russ as the short term bridge (hopefully winning enough games to keep Daboll employed until the rookie is ready) and DeVito as the long term steady back-up QB, a role he’s played very well. The stakes are high for the current administration to find a long-term solution at QB and The Giants will leave this draft with their guy. However, if the top 2 QBs happen to be gone here, I think they’d take the easy win with Hunter or Carter at 3 and look to slide up a bit for Dart or Milroe if needed.
4. New England Patriots - CB/WR Travis Hunter Colorado:
This is an obvious pick here in my opinion and I doubt Mike Vrabel’s squad is going to over-think this one. Hunter is a huge steal at 4 and can help New England in many ways. The Pats have got to get Drake Maye a little bit of assistance and while many think O-Line is a must, I’d argue that Hunter would have twice the impact any Lineman could here (Like that one?). Normally I’d say that Hunter needs to be viewed more as a corner than a receiver, but the addition of Carlton Davis gives New England the luxury of being deep at both spots. Hunter is an upgrade on both sides of the ball, but would drastically help Drake Maye’s development by playing a bit more at receiver. I expect him to make an impact on both sides and immediately become the juice in this offense.
5. Chicago Bears - HB Ashton Jeanty Boise State:
Now here’s where things get interesting! Chicago has done a great job of building out a solid roster that looks poised to win a lot of games this season. Ben Johnson knows he’s only a key piece or two away from a quick turnaround, so I wouldn’t be shocked to see him leverage the luxury of having two early day 2 picks and make a move to lockdown one of those “key pieces”. Johnson’s offense really began to thrive in Detroit when another 1st round HB (Jamyr Gibbs) blossomed into a featured star. The Raiders are a clear contender for Jeanty’s services, so Chicago may be looking to leapfrog them to get Johnson’s new feature back. Jeanty will make an instant splash and The Bears can limit his wear by mixing in a pair of capable secondary options in D’Andre Swift and Roschon Johnson. What better way to help Caleb Williams develop than taking some pressure off of him with a stellar run game. For Jacksonville, this makes a lot of sense too. There are a lot of different directions I could see them taking this pick and I’m not sure that any of their options stick out way ahead of the rest. Mason Graham is the best player left on my board, and contrary to popular belief I don’t think The Jags view DT as a huge need. There’s a decent chance they can still land one of the stars they’d consider here at 10.
6. Las Vegas Raiders - DT Mason Graham Michigan:
Vegas is in a great spot here at 6, Graham and the aforementioned Jeanty would both be huge upgrades/need fillers in this spot. Both players are also a great fit for how Pete Carroll likes to build his teams, with physicality. Graham will instantly elevate this D-Line to being one of the best in the league, while The Raiders will look to add some weapons for Geno on day 2 after missing out on Jeanty.
7. New York Jets - OT Armand Membou Missouri:
While Olu Fashanu is expected to step up big time this year, The Jets haven’t made any other moves to fix their spotty O-Line. Membou will compete with Carter Warren and likely step in at RT from day one but can take a year inside if needed. He was a combine superstar and his tape is really solid, not to mention the fact that he’s still only 20 years old! This is a big need fill and a very high upside pick. Solidifying the Tackles will help Aaron Glenn build a real foundation for the future.
8. Carolina Panthers - Edge Jalon Walker Georgia:
This is probably the most popular prediction in the draft right now and for good reason. Jalon Walker is a perfect fit for this Ejiro Evero defense, a defense starved of Edge talent at that. If Walker’s tape isn’t enough to convince you that he’ll be the best Edge in the class not named Abdul Carter, his athleticism and versatility should be enough to push him to the top of 90% of team’s boards. This is a need fit, scheme fit, and best player available fit. What could go wrong?
9. New Orleans Saints - OT/OG Will Campbell LSU:
I believe this is the absolute floor for Will Campbell, despite the questions circulating around about his size. The Saints are very familiar with Campbell’s game and he’s the perfect piece to set the trenches first approach that Kellen Moore had been so successful with in Dallas and Philadelphia. Whether at Guard or Right Tackle, Campbell will help the new regime right the ship in New Orleans and fix an O-Line that’s been a weak point for quite some time.
10. Jacksonville Jaguars - TE Tyler Warren PSU:
This was a really difficult pick, even after moving back 5 spots Jacksonville still has several great need fillers available. Will Johnson could just as easily be the pick here but there are several things pushing me in Warren’s direction: Johnson’s still getting healthy limiting his ability to ease his biggest concern (a lack of top end speed), Jacksonville desperately needs to help Lawerence out with both protection and playmaking prowess (Warren does both), and Brock Bowers’ success last season should raise the value of top tier rookie Tight End talent. Warren will give Lawerence a Kelce-esque safety valve that will pair perfect with rising deep threat star Brian Thomas Jr. Not to mention, Warren provides both a boost in blocking and physicality as well.
11. San Francisco 49ers - LB Jihaad Campbell Alabama:
The 49ers will look desperately to move back here, hoping to find a WR needy team looking to jump Dallas but unfortunately they’ll find no takers. San Fran has a whole lot of needs and can use all the draft capital they can get. So, if they can’t find that capital, I expect they’ll covet the next best thing: versatility. While Campbell will start at Linebacker (the lifeblood of San Fran’s defense) alongside Fred Warner, he’ll immediately find himself in the conversation for Edge reps as potentially the 2nd best Edge in town out the gate. Campbell will also provide Robert Saleh with a chess piece who can easily matchup with both Backs and TEs when needed. Campbell is also only 21 years old, positioning him to be the center piece for this new era of Niner football. Kelvin Banks is a versatile O-Lineman that I’d expect to be in consideration here too.
12. Dallas Cowboys - OT/OG Kelvin Banks Texas:
The Cowboys have two major need positions that I could see getting filled here WR and OL, Banks fills the later but I could see either Tet McMillan or Matthew Golden filling the former. Banks to Dallas is another perfect fit where familiarity, need fill, and scheme fit all play together in perfect harmony. Jerry Jones has been building this roster from the O-Line since the 90s, why stop now? Banks may be the final piece on that Dallas OL rebuild giving them flexibility to start at LT, RT, or either Guard spot. He’ll be a huge upgrade for The Cowboys on day one and is underrated as a very high floor Lineman. The Cowboys will look to add some weaponry for Dak on day 2.
13. Miami Dolphins - CB Will Johnson Michigan:
Seeing how The Dolphins have built their roster through the offseason, I believe McDaniel and company would sprint this card to the podium. While they could use some reinforcements in the trenches, Corner has been a sore spot in Miami for some time. The Phins have taken quite a few draft swings at Corner over the last few years and have stacked up quite a few misses, not to mention this is one of the shallowest position groups on their roster. That said, the addition of Johnson suddenly forms a very good tandem with Jalen Ramsey and restores some prowess to Miami’s secondary. With Johnson in town, turnovers will be abundant and we already know this offense has the tools to take advantage.
14. Indianapolis Colts - OL Grey Zabel North Dakota State:
With Tyler Warren off the board, I expect Indy to look to trade back here but this feels like a draft where trade up interest will be limited. Players like Colston Loveland and Jahdae Barron could be good fits here as well, but I think teams are falling in love with Zabel’s toughness and versatility. Frankly, if Indy does move back I don’t think they’ll be able to get Zabel, Arizona feels like a great potential fit for him at 16. Zabel will start at RG for The Colts immediately with the potential to be either a long term Tackle or Center, so I’d expect we see him move up and down the line this year if injuries hit Indianapolis.
15. Atlanta Falcons - Edge Mykel Williams Georgia:
This is another sprint it to the podium pick, Atlanta has been struggling for quite some time to build up their Edge Rushing talent despite having some notable young players in the building. At one point, Williams felt like a lock to go inside the top 12 picks but Raheem Morris’ crew will be pleasantly surprised to see him hanging around at 15. The Falcons will be ultra familiar with the Georgia product’s game and need to start grabbing players from that pipeline, it makes too much sense to pass on every year. While many view Williams as a 4-3 End who would be slightly out of position in this defense, his talent is simply too big to pass on in this spot.
16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - DL/Edge Shemar Stewart Texas A&M:
The Buccaneers have the luxury of having a very solid roster with no major holes, so they are uniquely positioned to shoot for the moon with a player like Stewart. For that same reason, they won’t mind burning some draft capital here to leapfrog Cincinnati and ensure they get this done. Stewart could easily go much earlier, even inside of the top 10, it just takes one team to believe that they can make the most out of his A+ traits. Stewart should be a menace in the future no matter where he lines up if he gets the right coaching, but early on I could see him playing base 3-4 End with the ability to rush from all over the line.
17. Cincinnati Bengals - CB Jahdae Barron Texas:
The Bengals have a defense full of under-achievers, it’s honestly crazy how many guys in this group were drafted on the first two days but have yet to realize their potential. With Trey Hendrickson on his way out, Edge is just as big of a need as Corner, maybe even more. So, I wouldn’t be shocked to see the Edge run continue at this pick with Marshall’s Mike Green and I think Cincy will enter the draft assuming they grab one of the many talented Edges here. That said, what they won’t expect is to see one of the true top flight Corners sticking around at this point in Barron. The depth at Edge allows them to grab the best player available here and immediately help bolster their secondary while remaining confident they can grab an Edge upgrade on day 2.
18. Seattle Seahawks - WR Tetairoa McMillan Arizona:
Seattle is another team with a really well built roster, they have a few areas where they can improve and despite it not being a massive weak spot, Receiver is one of them. McMillan gives Darnold another unique tool to add to his chest, a true jump ball receiver. This is a move that really sets Darnold up for long term success in Seattle and takes some pressure off of McMillan who spent the past season not quite 100%. I think McMillan’s sub 4.5 40 is a really big deal for his draft stock and it wouldn’t surprise me if he went earlier than this, that said Matthew Golden and himself are really a 1a/1b situation in this draft so it all comes down to preference. McMillan gives Seattle something they’re missing.
19. Arizona Cardinals - WR Matthew Golden Texas:
Positions like Safety, D-Line, and IOL are probably higher on Arizona’s wish list but they’d be tempted by the top two WRs still being available at 16 and even more tempted by Golden still being here after trading back. Golden can pair with Marvin Harrison Jr. to form one of the best young tandems in the league taking Arizona’s passing game to the next level. Like I mentioned, it would come as no surprise if Golden and/or McMillan came off the board much earlier.
20. Denver Broncos - HB Omarion Hampton UNC:
This is a perfect pick for Denver, they can stay put and grab a guy who not only fills their biggest need but is a great fit for what they want to do running the football. Think less of the recent Sean Payton years with Alvin Kamara and more of Mark Ingram or Chris Ivory with a little bit of that Kamara pass-catching flair. Hampton will be nasty in Denver’s offense and help Bo Nix take the next step forward. I do want to mention, if Ashton Jeanty goes a bit later than I have here and starts approaching that 10 to 12 range I believe Denver is a big contender to make a move up to go get him. This is a playoff team that can become a championship contender by adding a dynamic threat out of the backfield, Sean Payton is well aware of that.
21. Houston Texans - DT Kenneth Grant Michigan:
As a Steeler fan, trading back is not your typical Pittsburgh Steeler move. I’m thinking Omar Khan has learned a thing or two from the Pickett debacle and won’t make that same mistake twice. The threat for The Steelers to miss out on their future QB1 is very low here as I believe they’d be happy with either Dart or Milroe and have them ranked somewhat closely. Therefore, Khan opts to gather a bit of draft capital to help make the pick as fool proof as possible. For Houston, Grant being around at 21 is an absolute shock. There is a good chance his slide ends at 22 when his former coach Jim Harbaugh has a chance to bring him to LA. The Texans don’t mind giving up a day 3 pick and moving back a bit on their 2nd third rounder to grab a guy that they thought would be unattainable. Not only does Grant offer some of the best upside in the entire class, but he’s instantly The Texans best interior run stuffer and possibly their best interior rusher from day 1.
22. Los Angeles Chargers - TE Colston Loveland Michigan:
Around pick 19 or so, reality starts to set in for Jim Harbaugh that one of his guys will be making the journey from Michigan to LA the only question is who. After Arizona’s pick, I believe The Chargers start having a difficult internal conversation about who makes more sense between the aforementioned Grant and TE Colston Loveland. In this scenario, we’ll never get an answer on who Harbaugh would pick and I really have no idea which one would’ve been right. Two things are for sure though, both would be huge need fills and LA would be ecstatic to see either at 22. Loveland instantly makes this Charger offense very annoying for opposing schemes.
23. Green Bay Packers - WR Emeka Egbuka Ohio State:
While there are a few questionable spots on this roster, I find myself agreeing with Josh Jacobs, finally getting a number 1 wide out for Jordan Love is paramount. I do think Green Bay will look to move back from this spot but if they’re forced to stay put, I believe Brian Gutekunst will find himself at the same conclusion here. Egbuka has the steady hands and route savvy to quickly blossom into Jordan Love’s most trusted weapon. While Christian Watson and Jayden Reed are great at what they do, they serve very specific roles. Egbuka fills that gap as a true go-to guy. It’s also worth mentioning that quite a few of these GB receivers are entering a contract year, including Watson. It makes too much sense to fill an immediate need as well as begin back-filling for the future here with Egbuka.
24. Minnesota Vikings - S Nick Emmanwori South Carolina:
The Vikings grabbed some great reinforcements in free agency and could go a number of directions here, but I expect them to lean toward nabbing one of the two ultra-talented Safeties available. While Malaki Starks would still be a great fit in a different way, I think Minnesota will lean towards Emmanwori’s tremendous ceiling. The way Minnesota utilizes fellow safety Josh Metellus is an interesting case study, now imagine Brian Flores being able to deploy him and Emmanwori with the same swiss army knife approach. I’m sure Flores sees the 4.38 speed, massive 6’3” 220 pound frame, and tremendous length of Emmanwori and a million ideas for how to use him come to mind.
25. Pittsburgh Steelers - QB Jaxson Dart Ole Miss:
The Steelers move back a few spots and still get their guy in Jaxson Dart. As many of you may already know I’ve been mocking this pick since the Senior Bowl because it makes way too much sense. The Steelers know that they need to find a long term solution at QB before they can return the culture to it’s former glory. Frankly, Pittsburgh’s offense doesn’t ask too much of it’s QB and hasn’t for years, Dart will be able to build confidence right away before getting an expanded offense in the future. Dart would deliver some beautiful deep balls to Pickens and DK, while this star studded defense removes the pressure from Dart to do it all. While there is intrigue with Milroe, I think Pittsburgh much prefers this solution.
26. Los Angeles Rams - OT Josh Simmons Ohio State:
This a perfect coupling of best fit for the player and best value for the team. The Rams are uniquely positioned to take a player with the concerns Simmons has. In LA, Simmons can sit for a year or two and focus on refining his skills while regaining his health before taking over on the right side for long-time veteran Rob Havenstein. While I do believe Simmons career starts on the right side in LA, I believe he’ll be a Pro-Bowl caliber LT down the road, keep in mind if not for injury Simmons may have been a top 10-15 pick.
27. Baltimore Ravens - S Malaki Starks Georgia:
It’s going to be very hard for a team that loves investing draft capital in Edge Rushers like Baltimore to pass on the talent available here, but if they do they’ll be greatly rewarded. Baltimore’s defense has reached new heights with Kyle Hamilton’s ability to affect the game in many different ways. Not only does Hamilton’s unique usage invoke Baltimore to have a lot of depth on the back end, but it encourages the team to continue adding playmakers with great versatility. The Ravens get another one of those versatile playmakers here with star Georgia safety Malaki Starks. The combination of him and Hamilton can be lethal and give Baltimore’s D that little bit of extra juice they’ve been missing.
28. Detroit Lions - Edge James Pearce Jr. Tennessee:
Detroit has a need for an Edge Rusher to lock down the opposite side of the Aidan Hutchison and they may just hit on another future superstar here with Pearce. While he was a bit of an underachiever at UT, James Pearce has unique athleticism and the initial skills to make a very great complementary player for Hutch in this Detroit pass rush. I could see Pearce going much earlier but this is a very deep class for Edges and DLs, I think that depth coupled with the level of risk and his freakish athleticism being a bit overshadowed by DL/Edge counterpart Shemar Stewart lead to the slide here. Detroit is the right fit for Pearce and I think this duo develops into a Freeney/Mathis level of dominance in relatively short order.
29. Washington Commanders - Edge Mike Green Marshall:
Similarly to Pearce, the depth of this class hurt Green’s stock but he also has some major off the field concerns. Dan Quinn is the type of coach that believes he’ll get the best out of a player like Green and that confidence lands him an Edge Rusher who would otherwise find himself inside the top 15 of this entire draft. Washington is in win now mode and they find a way at 29 to make their pass rush light years better than it was before.
30. Buffalo Bills - DT Walter Nolen Ole Miss:
Yes, Buffalo badly needs some Cornerback help but I’m not sold that this second tier of CBs has earned enough buzz to get elevated into the 1st Round. Maxwell Hairston could be the pick here but Buffalo’s track record of drafting Corner early has not been good. I see The Bills sticking with what they know and getting back to building up the defensive front early and finding capable DBs a bit layer on. Nolen is an immense value at this point and Buffalo will be elated to see him on the board at 30. This pick could give The Bills quite the 3 headed monster on the interior between Nolen, Ed Oliver, and 2024 3rd Rounder DeWayne Carter.
31. Kansas City Chiefs - OT Josh Conerly Jr. Oregon:
After another solid regular season, The Chiefs achilles heel reared its ugly head in the big game. Kansas City desperately needs to reinforce their offensive line and has missed on several mid-round picks the last few years. I think it’s no secret that KC will elevate the best remaining O-Lineman on their board here especially if it’s a LT. Of course, Tyler Booker will be in this conversation but I see them locking down the high upside OT from Oregon; Josh Conerly. Conerly very well may be the starting LT in Kansas City from day 1 but he’ll without a doubt develop into a long term solution on the outside.
32. Philadelphia Eagles - Edge Donovan Ezeiruaku Boston College:
Philly has needs across the defensive front and is pleasantly surprised to see both Ezeiruaku and Oregon DT Derrick Harmon still around at 32. While it’s a tough choice between these two, I see Philly opting for Edge here as Ezeiruaku is an awesome fit for their defense and will make an immediate impact on passing downs. I’d be stunned if Philly didn’t go D-Line or Edge here come draft day.
Round 2:
33. Cleveland Browns - HB TreVeyon Henderson Ohio State
34. New York Giants - DT Derrick Harmon Oregon
35. Tennessee Titans - WR Luther Burden III Missouri
36. Jacksonville Jaguars - Edge Nic Scourton Texas A&M
37. Las Vegas Raiders - HB Quinshon Judkins Ohio State
38. New England Patriots - OT Aireontae Ersery Minnesota
39. Jacksonville Jaguars - CB Shavon Revel ECU
40. New Orleans Saints - QB Jalen Milroe Alabama
41. Chicago Bears - Edge Jack Sawyer Ohio State
42. New York Jets - TE Mason Taylor LSU
43. San Francisco 49ers - CB Azareye’h Thomas FSU
44. Dallas Cowboys - OG Tyler Booker Alabama
45. Indianapolis Colts - CB Trey Amos Ole Miss
46. Atlanta Falcons - S Xavier Watts Notre Dame
47. Arizona Cardinals - OG Donovan Jackson Ohio State
48. Miami Dolphins - DE Darius Alexander Toledo
49. Cincinnati Bengals - Edge Landon Jackson Arkansas
50. Seattle Seahawks - CB Matthew Hairston Kentucky
51. Denver Broncos - Edge J.T. Tuimoloau Ohio State
52. Seattle Seahawks - OT/OG Jonah Savaiinaea Arizona
53. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - LB Carson Schwesinger UCLA
54. Green Bay Packers - CB Benjamin Morrison Notre Dame
55. Los Angeles Chargers - DE Shemar Turner Texas A&M
56. Buffalo Bills - CB Darien Porter Iowa State
57. Carolina Panthers - WR Isaiah Bond Texas
58. Houston Texans - OT Charles Grant William & Mary
59. Baltimore Ravens - LB Barrett Carter Clemson
60. Detroit Lions - OG Tate Ratledge Georgia
61. Washington Commanders - OT/OG Wyatt Milum WVU
62. Buffalo Bills - WR Elic Ayomanor Stanford
63. Kansas City Chiefs - DT Tyleik Williams Ohio State
64. Philadelphia Eagles - OT Ozzy Trapilo Boston College
Round 3:
65. New York Giants - OL Marcus Mbow Purdue
66. Kansas City Chiefs - HB Kaleb Johnson Iowa
67. Cleveland Browns - QB Tyler Shough Louisville
68. Las Vegas Raiders - WR Jayden Higgins Iowa State
69. New England Patriots - TE Elijah Arroyo Miami
70. Jacksonville Jaguars - WR Jaylin Noel Iowa State
71. New Orleans Saints - Edge Jordan Burch Oregon
72. Chicago Bears - TE Harold Fannin Jr. Bowling Green
73. New York Jets - S Andrew Mukuba Texas
74. Carolina Panthers - S Kevin Winston Jr. PSU
75. San Francisco 49ers - DT Alfred Collins Texas
76. Dallas Cowboys - WR Tre Harris Ole Miss
77. New England Patriots - Edge Princely Umanmielen Ole Miss
78. Arizona Cardinals - DT Joshua Farmer FSU
79. Houston Texans - HB Dylan Sampson Tennessee
80. Indianapolis Colts - TE Terrance Ferguson Oregon
81. Cincinnati Bengals - OG Joshua Gray Oregon State
82. Seattle Seahawks - Edge Bradyn Swinson LSU
83. Pittsburgh Steelers - DE T.J. Sanders South Carolina
84. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - S Billy Bowman Jr. Oklahoma
85. Denver Broncos - WR/HB Savion Williams TCU
86. Los Angeles Chargers - Edge Josaiah Stewart Michigan
87. Green Bay Packers - Edge Oluwafemi Oladejo UCLA
88. Jacksonville Jaguars - S Lathan Ransom Ohio State
89. Pittsburgh Steelers - OT Anthony Belton NC State
90. Los Angeles Rams - LB Danny Stutsman Oklahoma
91. Baltimore Ravens - DT Deone Walker Kentucky
92. Seattle Seahawks - QB Quinn Ewers Texas
93. New Orleans Saints - CB Nohl Williams Cal
94. Cleveland Browns - CB Denzel Burke Ohio State
95. Kansas City Chiefs - Edge Ashton Gillotte Louisville
96. Philadelphia Eagles - DT J.J. Pegues Ole Miss
97. Minnesota Vikings - OG Dylan Fairchild Georgia
98. Miami Dolphins - OT/OG Cameron Williams Texas
99. Miami Dolphins - S Jonas Sanker Virginia
100. San Francisco 49ers - C Jared Wilson Georgia
101. Los Angeles Rams - WR Jalen Royals Utah State
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