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2025 Nfl Mock Draft Updates Rumors Impacting First Round Picks

Bonisiwe Shabane
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2025 nfl mock draft updates rumors impacting first round picks

Editor's note: Follow 2025 NFL Draft live updates, grades and analysis. The 2025 NFL Draft is here, and it is expected to be one of the more unpredictable ones in recent memory. Miami quarterback Cam Ward is essentially locked into the No. 1 overall pick, and a consensus seems to have formed about the top four selections. However, once the Jacksonville Jaguars are on the clock at No. 5, the draft could get shaken up quickly.

The 2025 draft class is considered to be top-light, so there figures to be a wider-than-average variance in how each team's big board shakes out. Still, the order in which players will come off the board during the draft should only become clearer with each passing hour ahead of its 8 p.m. ET start. The final rumors of the draft cycle are often the most clairvoyant, as scouts and decision-makers are less close-to-the-vest with critical information. Matt's updated NFL Mock Draft 3.0 and NFL Draft predictions for the 2025 NFL Draft. RotoBaller breaks down all 32 mock draft picks from the first round.

The initial wave of free agency is now officially behind us. Many teams took the opportunity to reshape their rosters ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft, with many familiar faces changing places. Plenty can still happen between now and when teams meet in Green Bay, as some notable free agents are still available. Names such as Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson headline the quarterback position, along with notable options such as Stefon Diggs, Keenan Allen, Nick Chubb, and Von Miller, among others, still searching for a new... You can follow along with all the latest free-agent signings here at RotoBaller. 1.

Tennessee Titans - Cam Ward, QB, Miami The NFL draft is about three weeks away, meaning prospect scouting is just about concluded after some intriguing pro days. Some players are set in stone on the general range experts believe they will land, while other players are still gliding around draft boards. With even more rumors swirling about certain players, mock drafts are only getting harder and requiring more critical thinking on what all the rumors are indicating. That means making a mock draft that feels right is only getting more difficult. It is not a certainty, but things should clear up more as the draft gets closer.

To make matters even more difficult, this mock draft includes trades, unlike some of the previous ones. Here is an updated mock for the entire first round with predicted trades, otherwise known as NFL Mock Draft 4.0. As usual, Ward goes number one given he is the clear top quarterback in this year's class. The Titans need to replace Will Levis and have an easy opportunity to do so in this year's draft. Rumors are indicating Sanders may fall in the draft, but it is hard to believe the Browns passing on him when they currently have just Kenny Pickett as a healthy quarterback option. A trade down is possible, but sticking and taking the quarterback seems like the more straightforward option.

The 2024 NFL season is drawing to a close with the football world now turning its attention toward the 2025 NFL Draft. This year’s class is particularly intriguing because it lacks depth and premier talent at positions like wide receiver and cornerback, but the pre-draft process will create plenty of risers and fallers. Our latest 2025 NFL mock draft takes you through our latest Round 1 projections for all 32 teams. With the offseason underway, we’ve also included a few trades in our 2025 NFL Draft mock so let’s dive in. By keeping general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll, the New York Giants put themselves in a position where they must take a quarterback. A GM with his job at stake will be more aggressive, even if it means sacrificing future draft assets.

So, New York gets aggressive here. Cam Ward offers superior physical tools compared to Shedeur Sanders and he seems to be the preferred QB for Tyrone Tracy Jr. and Malik Nabers. Ward’s athleticism and arm strength make him an exciting fit in Daboll’s offense and New York has enough of a supporting cast in place to make life easier for the rookie quarterback. Related: Best landing spots for top NFL free agent QBs 2025 The Cleveland Browns need a new face of the franchise with Deshaun Watson almost guaranteed to never play another snap for this team.

Signing a veteran QB on the cheap (Kirk Cousins) is a viable possibility, but at this point, other teams can offer a better supporting cast. So, Cleveland rolls the dice on a rookie. Shedeur Sanders is experienced, poised, makes good decisions with the football and is accurate. Kevin Stefanski’s system needs a polished passer on a rookie-scale contract who can execute the play designs while adding a little creativity when needed. Plus, there won’t be a ton of pressure on Sanders to perform well immediately. Related: Insider sheds light on odds of Cleveland Browns making Myles Garrett trade

The Titans have kept things quiet, but they have not signed a veteran quarterback or made a move to trade this pick. Thus, Tennessee’s actions suggest they targeting a quarterback with the first pick. I personally am not high on Cam Ward, but my mock drafts are a projection of what I think teams WILL do and not what they SHOULD do. Hence, I think Tennessee will take Ward at No. 1 overall. In 2024, Ward completed 67 percent of his passes for 4,313 yards with 39 touchdowns and seven interceptions.

He had four rushing touchdowns as well. Ward (6-2, 223) is considered to be a good leader and he has an adequate arm to distribute the ball throughout the field. He is at his best when plays break down, and he makes something happen off-script. Ward holds the ball too long, needs to improve his internal clock, and has some athletic limitations for the NFL. Multiple team sources feel that Ward could be a poor man’s Russell Wilson as a pro quarterback. Ward was a point machine over the previous three seasons at Washington State, generating a prolific number of touchdowns.

He broke out in 2021, completing 65 percent of his passes for 4,638 yards, 47 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. In 2022, Ward completed 64 percent of his passes for 3,231 yards with 23 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Ward then completed 67 percent of his passes in 2023 for 3,735 yards, 25 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. He also notched eight rushing touchdowns during 2023, which matched the total of his ground scores from the previous three seasons. Ward flirted with transferring to Miami or Florida State before deciding to enter the 2024 NFL Draft, backing out, and completing the transfer to the Hurricanes. It sounds like Cleveland is leaning towards Hunter with the second pick, and he might be a receiver for them.

I think the Browns are enamored with the idea of adding Hunter and then maybe trading back into the first round for Shedeur Sanders. In 2024, Hunter had 96 receptions for 1,258 yards with 15 touchdowns receiving and one rushing. He has 35 tackles with four interceptions, 11 passes broken up, and a forced fumble on defense. Hunter flashed dominant cover ability in 2023 with 31 tackles, three interceptions, and five passes defended before getting injured and missing some time. As a receiver, he provided some big plays to the Buffs’ offense, catching 57 passes for 721 yards and five touchdowns. As we reported in the Hot Press, teams were divided on whether Hunter should be a wide receiver or a cornerback in the NFL.

The consensus was for Hunter to be an every-down cornerback and a rotational gadget receiver. The 6-foot-1, 185-pounder possesses other-worldly ball skills with elite athleticism alongside superb instincts and feel. Hunter is not the biggest of players, and teams have some durability concerns with him. However, he projects as a potential No. 1 corner in the NFL. With the Browns, Hunter could be their No.

1 receiver. The Giants take the best player on their board and add an impact player. Carter could form a dynamic pass-rushing trio with Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux. In 2024, Carter had 68 tackles with 12 sacks, two forced fumbles, and four passes broken up. Carter notched 49 tackles, 4.5 sacks, five passes defended, and one interception in 2023. In 2022, he made his presence felt as a freshman with 56 tackles, 6.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and four passes defended.

Carter is extremely fast off the ball, and his rare explosiveness is even more dynamic with his ability to bend off the edge. While Carter (6-3 250) is a dangerous speed rusher off the edge, and he has the versatility to play Sam linebacker as well. Penn State lined him up inside the linebacker and rushed off the edge, so he already had experience moving around the defensive front. After signing Carlton Davis to a big contract, it doesn’t make sense for New England to take a third cornerback, even if Travis Hunter were available. They also signed edge rusher Harold Landry, so even if Carter gets here, they might not take him. They have a much bigger hole at left tackle and need to help second-year quarterback Drake Maye.

Here’s a long-term blindside protector for Maye. Campbell earned the starting left tackle job in training camp as a true freshman in 2022 and started 13 games there. He then held onto the spot as a sophomore in 2023, protecting the blind side of Jayden Daniels. The 6-foot-6, 325-pound Campbell is big and enters the NFL with a lot of experience. Team sources say that Campbell plays well with his hands, has good technique, is big, and strong. However, in 2024 he has had some issues with playing over his toes too often and getting off balance.

Campbell is a safe prospect to be a solid starter at tackle or guard. Jacksonville is keeping things hush-hush, but I think this pick is coming down to Jeanty, Mason Graham, and Kenneth Grant. The Jaguars know that Trevor Lawrence has been trending in the wrong direction. They can go with the best player available and grab Lawrence a difference maker to improve their rushing offense while providing Lawrence with better down-and-distance situations. In 2024, Jeanty averaged 7.0 yards per carry for 2,601 yards with 29 touchdowns and 23 receptions for 138 yards and one touchdown. Jeanty (5-8, 217) has a strong build with explosive speed, athleticism, and incredible instincts as a runner.

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