It's official April—the month of the 2025 NFL draft—so now feels like a good time to update my NFL mock draft.

For previous versions, check out my Fantasy Life author page as well as our Fantasy Life NFL Draft Hub.

Also, every Saturday edition of the Fantasy Life Newsletter is now dedicated to the draft.

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Updated 2025 NFL Mock Draft

Now that the 2025 NFL Draft order is fully set, here's my "it's finally April" mock, followed by notes.

2025 Mock Draft Methodology

Here's an outline of my general mock process.

1. Identify the 32 players most likely to go in Round 1.
2. Match teams with positions of need.
3. Order players correctly within their position groups.
4. Attempt to mock players within their likely draft ranges.

Accuracy, more than precision, is the priority.

"Must Include" Prospects in Round 1

Right now, there are 27 players I think have around an 80% chance (or better) to go in Round 1 (unless something drastically changes in their evaluation between now and the draft).

• QB: Cam Ward (Miami), Shedeur Sanders (Colorado)
• RB: Ashton Jeanty (Boise State), Omarion Hampton (North Carolina)
• WR: Travis Hunter (Colorado), Tetairoa McMillan (Arizona), Matthew Golden (Texas)
• TE: Tyler Warren (Penn State), Colston Loveland (Michigan)
• OT: Armand Membou (Missouri), Will Campbell (LSU), Kelvin Banks (Texas), Josh Simmons (Ohio State)
• EDGE: Abdul Carter (Penn State), Jalon Walker (Georgia), Mykel Williams (Georgia), Shemar Stewart (Texas A&M), Mike Green (Marshall), James Pearce (Tennessee)
• DT: Mason Graham (Michigan), Kenneth Grant (Michigan), Derrick Harmon (Oregon) 
• LB: Jihaad Campbell (Alabama)
• CB: Will Johnson (LSU), Jahdae Barron (Texas)
• S: Nick Emmanwori (South Carolina), Malaki Starks (Georgia)

All of these guys I'm including in this mock.

"Want to Include" Prospects in Round 1

After the "must include" players, I have another five players with at least a 60% chance of going in Round 1.

• OG: Tyler Booker (Alabama)
• OT: Grey Zabel (North Dakota State)
• DT: Walter Nolen (Mississippi)
• CB: Maxwell Hairston (Kentucky)
• EDGE: Donovan Ezeiruaku (Boston College)

I'm including all of them in the mock except for Ezeiruaku: I doubt we see seven EDGEs go in Round 1, and ultimately I need to bump him to include someone else …

Borderline Prospects in Round 1

And then I have six more guys right on the borderline of Rounds 1-2.

• QB: Jaxson Dart (Mississippi)
• WR: Emeka Egbuka (Ohio State), Luther Burden (Missouri)
• OT: Josh Conerly (Oregon)
• OG: Donovan Jackson (Ohio State)
• CB: Azareye'h Thomas (Florida State)

Of this sextet (get your mind out of the gutter), Dart is the guy I'm including, as he has continued to get buzz as an option for the Steelers at No. 21.

Plus, it has been a while since I've done a mock with three QBs. I figure I need practice.

NFL Mock Draft Top 24 Analysis

1.01: Titans - QB Cam Ward (Miami)

Here are Cam Ward's odds to go No. 1 at various sportsbooks.

• Caesars: -1300
• FanDuel: -1350
• DraftKings: -2000
• BetMGM: -3000

All signs point to the Titans taking a QB at No. 1: The Titans didn't adequately address the QB position in free agency, they haven't been tied to any starting-caliber QBs via beat reporters, they haven't hyped up QB Will Levis over the offseason, and they attended Ward's pro day en masse.

They could trade the pick, but it would be hard for the Titans to pass up on Ward if they think he's their guy, and I have him ranked as the No. 1 QB in the class.

Last year he won the Davey O'Brien Award as the nation's best QB with 4,313 yards and 39 TDs passing to just seven INTs with 60-204-4 rushing (including sacks).

I expect him to be a Week 1 starter in the NFL.

Thor's Prospect Profile: Cam Ward

1.02: Browns - QB Shedeur Sanders (Colorado)

One of my favorite draft props is Sanders to the Browns at No. 2.

For all my NFL draft props, see our free Fantasy Life bet tracker, which I update regularly.

Like the Titans, the Browns have failed to add a starting-caliber QB in free agency, which makes them a real candidate to select one in the draft, perhaps as early as No. 2.

They could look to swing a deal for veteran QB Kirk Cousins, but even if they do, they (like the Falcons last year with Michael Penix) could still take a QB in Round 1.

HC Kevin Stefanski, despite being a two-time COY winner (2020, 2023), has never had the luxury of having "his handpicked guy" at QB, given that Baker Mayfield was already on the team when Stefanski was hired and Deshaun Watson was foisted upon him by ownership.

With Sanders, Stefanski will now have his guy.

As a true freshman at Jackson State, he passed for 3,231 yards and 30 TDs to eight INTs, and then as a sophomore, he improved upon those numbers with 3,752 yards and 40 TDs to six INTs.

As a junior, he passed for 3,230 yards and 27 TDs to just three INTs in his first year at Colorado, and then as a senior he had a nation-best 74.0% completion rate while slinging it for 4,134 yards and 37 TDs to 10 INTs and winning the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award as the nation's top upperclassman QB.

Sanders might not be a true difference-making QB in the NFL, but he might be, and he's likely to be an improvement on what the Browns had last year. As a pocket passer, Sanders could fit into Stefanski's offense well.

Thor's Prospect Profile: Shedeur Sanders

1.03: Giants - WR/CB Travis Hunter (Colorado)

Now that the Giants have QBs Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston on the roster, they are less desperate to draft a passer in Round 1—and Ward and Sanders are off the board anyway.

So now it's between Hunter and EDGE Abdul Carter (Penn State).

I believe the Giants, in this instance, would go with Hunter, who helps them fortify two positions of need, whereas Carter merely adds to a position of relative strength, as the Giants already have EDGEs Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux.

In terms of all-around skill set, Hunter's the most talented prospect in this class.

The prevailing sentiment among draft analysts is that Hunter in the NFL will be a full-time perimeter corner who rotates as a situational receiver. 

Maybe … but Hunter is too good (in my opinion) not to be used heavily on offense, given that last year he won the Fred Biletnikoff Award as the most outstanding receiver in college football with 96-1,258-15 receiving.

Of course, he's also a total stud on the other side of the ball: Last year, he won the Chuck Bednarik Award as the defensive player of the year.

If any guy can step into the NFL and right away play significant snaps on both offense and defense, it's Hunter—and the Giants need help at WR and CB, so he's an ideal option at No. 3.

Thor's Prospect Profile: Travis Hunter

1.04: Patriots - EDGE Abdul Carter (Penn State)

Carter didn't work out at the combine because of a stress reaction in his right foot.

And then he didn't work out at his pro day because he's still rehabbing his shoulder from an injury suffered during the season.

Carter might be able to work out for teams in April … but his injury status is starting to feel like a red flag, so I think it's fine for him to drop to No. 4, where I expect the Patriots and new defensive HC Mike Vrabel would be happy to get him: Carter's young (21 years old), pedigreed (unanimous All-American), and productive (12 sacks and nation-leading 24 tackles for loss as a junior).

The No. 4 pick feels like Carter's absolute floor … unless his injury status becomes an even bigger issue.

1.05: Jaguars - DT Mason Graham (Michigan)

The Jags need help all over the defense, and Graham is a unanimous All-American who has the power to anchor against the run and the athleticism to rush the passer.

Putting Graham on a line with EDGEs Josh Hines-Allen, Travon Walker, and Arik Armstead feels like a no-brainer move.

1.06: Raiders - RB Ashton Jeanty (Boise State)

Jeanty is -125 (DraftKings) to be selected by the Raiders and -5000 (BetMGM, Caesars) to be the No. 1 RB taken.

Last year, Jeanty put up 2,739 yards and 30 TDs in 14 games, earned unanimous first-team All-American recognition, and won the Maxwell and Doak Walker Awards as the best all-around player and top RB in the nation.

With the Seahawks, first-year HC Pete Carroll, for years, had an offense built around the backfield. With Jeanty, he will have that once again.

Thor's Prospect Profile: Ashton Jeanty

1.07: Jets - OT Armand Membou (Missouri)

LT Tyron Smith and RT Morgan Moses are no longer with the team, and although the Jets have OT Olu Fashanu tapped to step in for Smith, they could still use a replacement for Moses.

That could easily be Membo, whose draft stock has skyrocketed after his memorable combine testing.

• Size: 6-4, 332 lbs.
• 40-Yard Dash: 4.91 seconds

A natural RT, Membou could start for the Jets in Week 1.

1.08: Panthers - EDGE Jalon Walker (Georgia)

For months, I've said that the Panthers can't go into the season with WR Adam Thielen as their top pass catcher if they want to give QB Bryce Young every chance of succeeding.

And that's why I've regularly mocked them with WR Tetairoa McMillan (Arizona).

But I can't ignore how common it is to see the Panthers go with an EDGE in mocks, and I've started to move WRs down the board in general, so I don't feel (at least right now) that McMillan is the best option at No. 8.

And that puts me on Walker, whom I view as a top-10 talent: He's young (21 years old) and pedigreed (2024 Butkus Award as the nation's top LB).

While I expect Walker to play primarily on the edge in the NFL, I do think he has the athleticism a la Micah Parsons to line up off the ball as well, and that added versatility could make him attractive to the Panthers.

1.09: Saints - CB Will Johnson (Michigan)

Johnson is a tough player to place, and I could see him falling all the way to the Packers at No. 23.

But over the past year, the Saints have traded away No. 1 CB Marshon Lattimore and watched No. 2 CB Paulson Adebo leave via free agency. They need help in the secondary, and I still think Johnson is justifiable in this range.

Blessed with good size (6-2, 194 lbs.) and pedigree (five recruitment stars), Johnson is a worthy No. 1 CB in this class.

1.10: Bears - OT Will Campbell (LSU)

The Bears have been active this offseason in rebuilding their OL by trading for LG Joe Thuney and RG Jonah Jackson and signing C Drew Dalman.

But they could look to protect franchise QB Caleb Williams and bolster the OL even more by adding Campbell, who has the upside of youth (21 years old) and pedigree (five-star recruit, first-team All-American).

Immediately, Campbell could challenge LT Braxton Jones on the perimeter or Jackson on the interior for a starting role.

1.11: 49ers - EDGE Mykel Williams (Georgia)

The 49ers are a pivot point in the draft: They have needs at so many positions.

But the need feels especially large at EDGE, where over the past four years they've cycled through Leonard Floyd, Chase Young, Clelin Ferrell, Randy Gregory, Charles Omenihu, Samson Ebukam, Jordan Willis, and Arden Key.

In adding Williams, the 49ers finally might have a long-term option opposite 2022 Defensive Player of the Year Nick Bosa.

Williams is young (turns 21 years old in June) and was a key contributor to Georgia's defense over the past three seasons. As a freshman, he actually led the championship-winning Bulldogs in sacks (4.5).

1.12: Cowboys - WR Tetairoa McMillan (Arizona)

As a Cowboys fan, I would be thrilled with this pick, which is why it won't happen.

But a man can dream.

The Cowboys desperately need a No. 2 WR to play alongside CeeDee Lamb, and McMillan feels like he could be a great supplementary option in the offense.

With 90-1,402-10 receiving as a sophomore and 84-1,319-8 as a junior, McMillan might end up being better than Hunter as an NFL pass catcher.

Thor's Prospect Profile: Tetairoa McMillan

1.13: Dolphins - OT Kelvin Banks (Texas)

The Dolphins are weak at OL with the exception of LT Terron Armstead, who turns 34 in July. In selecting Banks, they get a potential successor to Armstead in the long term and someone to challenge RT Austin Jackson (or maybe LG Liam Eichenberg or RG James Daniels) in the short term.

Banks is young (21 years old), decorated (unanimous first-team all-American, Outland Trophy winner), and experienced (three years starting in college). Even if Banks ultimately plays on the interior for most of his career, he's worthy of a selection in this spot.

1.14: Colts - TE Tyler Warren (Penn State)

Right now, the Colts have five TEs on their roster, and as the old saying goes, “If you have five TEs, you don't have a TE.”

Whether they go with Anthony Richardson or Daniel Jones as the starting QB, the Colts need to give him another pass-catching option, and Warren makes sense.

Honestly, the Colts are lucky to get him here at No. 14: He could go in the top 10 with his skill set.

Although Warren did little his first few seasons in college, as a redshirt junior he was No. 2 on the Nittany Lions with 34-422-7 receiving, and then last year—in a John Mackey Award-winning campaign as the most outstanding TE in college football—he served as the driving force of the Penn State offense with a team-best 104-1,233-8 receiving, to which he added 26-218-4 rushing.

I resisted it for a little, but now Warren is my No. 1 TE. 

Thor's Prospect Profile: Tyler Warren

1.15: Falcons - EDGE Shemar Stewart (Texas A&M)

The Falcons could go in a number of directions, but I think GM Terry Fontenot and defensive HC Raheem Morris will be drawn to Stewart's elite freaky athleticism, especially given that he has the size and versatility to line up all over the DL and the Falcons could lose EDGEs Matthew Judon and Lorenzo Carter in free agency.

Essentially, the Falcons need DL bodies—and what a body Stewart has.

As an athlete, Stewart is comparable to Myles Garrett.

Of course, his college production was as un-Garrett-like as it gets. Last year, Stewart had just 1.5 sacks. That's why he's going No. 15 instead of No. 1.

But he absolutely tore up the combine with his physical testing.

• Broad Jump: 10 feet, 11 inches
• Vertical Jump: 40 inches
• 40-Yard Dash: 4.59 seconds

After a showing like that, I expect Stewart to go in the top half of Round 1, and I was tempted to make him the No. 2 EDGE in the class and slot him to the Saints at No. 9.

1.16: Cardinals - DT Kenneth Grant (Michigan)

This offseason, the Cardinals added DT Dalvin Tomlinson, but they could use another interior playmaker along the DL. With his size (6-4, 331 lbs.), Grant has the potential to anchor against the run in the NFL, and with his sack production (6.5 over the past two seasons), he might be able to rush the passer as a professional.

When third-year HC Jonathan Gannon was the 2021-22 Eagles DC, his unit had the most success when it was dominant in the trenches. With EDGEs Josh Sweat, Baron Browning, Zaven Collins, and BJ Ojulari on the perimeter and then Tomlinson and Grant in the middle, Gannon is hoping to build a DL that can dominate the line of scrimmage.

1.17: Bengals - EDGE Mike Green (Marshall)

EDGE Trey Hendrickson had an NFL-high 17.5 sacks last season in an impressive first-team All-Pro campaign, but he turns 31 years old in December, he wants either to be traded or paid more money, and the team has little positional depth after him.

Green led the nation with 17 sacks last year, and he flashed his NFL potential when competing against top-tier talent in the season (Ohio State) and at the Senior Bowl (OT Josh Conerly).

With Green alongside Hendrickson, the Bengals could have some real pass-rushing power.

1.18: Seahawks - G Tyler Booker (Alabama)

Booker is unathletic (5.38-second 40-yard dash, 7.96-second three-cone drill).

But he's great at football (two-time All-SEC), he's a run-game force because of his size (6-5, 321 lbs.), he's respected (team captain at Alabama), and he's young (doesn't turn 21 until shortly before the draft).

The Seahawks might have the league's worst interior OL, so Booker is in play.

1.19: Buccaneers - LB Jihaad Campbell (Alabama)

Campbell entered college as a five-star recruit. As a junior at Alabama, he racked up 117 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, and five sacks. At the combine, he exhibited elite athleticism (4.52-second 40-yard dash at 6-3, 235 lbs.). While he's probably best used off the ball, he still has the ability to line up on the edge as a traditional pass rusher. And he'll be 21 years old for the entirety of his rookie campaign.

The only drawback with Campbell is his post-combine shoulder surgery, which could prevent him from practicing in training camp and limit his availability in his first season.

Even so, that's a short-term concern, and it's easy to imagine GM Jason Licht and defensive HC Todd Bowles looking at Campbell and viewing him as a worthy long-term successor to 35-year-old LB Lavonte David.

1.20: Broncos - RB Omarion Hampton (North Carolina)

The Broncos let RB Javonte Williams leave in free agency. In Hampton, they get a marked upgrade and something of a steal, as he could go as high as No. 12 to the Cowboys. 

In fact, some teams might legitimately have him as their No. 1 RB ahead of Jeanty: Hampton has elite athleticism (9.67 RAS), and he was productive in college (2,033 yards, 17 TDs in 12 games last season).

What Marshawn Lynch (No. 12) was to Adrian Peterson (No. 7) in 2007 or Jahmyr Gibbs (No. 12) was to Bijan Robinson (No. 8) in 2023—that's what Hampton could be to Jeanty this year.

Thor's Prospect Profile: Omarion Hampton

1.21: Steelers - QB Jaxson Dart (Mississippi)

The Steelers have the financial components of a deal in place with QB Aaron Rodgers—but he's yet to decide if he actually wants to accept it.

Sure, Rodgers has had a throwing session with new Steelers WR DK Metcalf.

Yes, he has spent hours meeting with HC Mike Tomlin.

No, no other NFL team seems to be in the running for him.

But Rodgers still isn't sure he wants to accept the Steelers' offers. OK then.

And if he does accept it, that still won't preclude the Steelers from drafting his eventual replacement, as Rodgers probably has no more than two years left in the league.

So the Steelers, one way or another, could look to take a QB, and Dart has a shot to go in Round 1. Last year, he had an FBS-best 11.5 AY/A, and he led the SEC with 4,279 yards passing and a 69.3% completion rate.

With 124-495-3 rushing last year (including sacks), Dart is a competent runner, and while he doesn't have a cannon, he does have enough arm strength to make all the NFL throws.

But Dart played in a spread offense at Mississippi and might need time to transition to an NFL-style system.

On the one hand, that could cause teams to shy away from him. On the other hand, that could make him an ideal candidate, like Jordan Love before him, to back up Rodgers for a while so he can get up to speed as a professional.

In full disclosure: I'm not sold on the Steelers taking a QB or Dart going in Round 1.

But with or without Rodgers, this team/player match is in play.

Thor's Prospect Profile: Jaxson Dart

1.22: Chargers - TE Colston Loveland (Michigan)

I've previously speculated that the Chargers will trade up for Colston—but in this mock, they're able to stick with their original pick and get their guy.

This past year, Loveland was the No. 1 pass catcher for the Wolverines with 56-582-5 receiving (in just 10 games), and the season prior, he was the No. 2 option on a championship team with 45-649-4 receiving.

With his production and youth (turns 21 in April), Loveland should absolutely go in Round 1.

HC Jim Harbaugh would probably love to reunite with Loveland, whom he recruited to and coached at Michigan, and the Chargers need to upgrade the TE position.

Perfect fit.

Thor's Prospect Profile: Colston Loveland

1.23: Packers - WR Matthew Golden (Texas)

While WR Jayden Reed has been an efficient and productive contributor for the Packers, his slot-restricted game limits him mainly to three-WR sets, and the team's perimeter WRs are notably imperfect.

Christian Watson (knee) could miss much of the 2025 campaign recovering from last year's season-ending ACL tear. Romeo Doubs is a possession receiver out of unathletic necessity. And Dontayvion Wicks proved himself to be unreliable when elevated above his rotational role.

The Packers could use a perimeter-capable pass catcher with speed, and that's Golden, who blazed a 4.29-second 40-yard dash at the combine (at 5-11, 191 lbs.) and was the No. 1 WR at Texas last year in his first season with the team (58-987-9 receiving).

With his strong athletic testing and sufficient production, Golden is now ahead of Emeka Egbuka and Luther Burden in my WR rankings. I was happy to get him as an upside depth option in a recent superflex fantasy football mock draft.

Thor's Prospect Profile: Matthew Golden

1.24: Vikings - S Nick Emmanwori (South Carolina)

Emmanowori is young (21 years old), productive (four INTs, 88 combined tackles last year), and athletic (4.38-second 40-yard dash at 6-3, 220 lbs.).

He might be Kyle Hamilton 2.0, and he makes an excellent SS complement for the Vikings alongside veteran FS Harrison Smith.

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