It is time to unveil my first 2025 Boston Sports Journal mock draft (version 1.0 if you will). Several more will follow in alternate forms, though there won't be one the first week of April because of the league meetings in West Palm. For this one, I'm doing round one with no trades. I am picking for every team, considering free agency and short—and long-term needs.
1. Tennessee, Cam Ward, QB, Miami: Before the Combine, there was a lot of buzz that the Titans were shopping this pick. No more. Ward has elevated himself to the head of the class for his on-field play and the way he carries himself off it. He has a powerful lower half (dudes bounce off him) and a whip of an arm, and while Ward sometimes creates his own problems, he's also shown an ability to overcome them.
2. Cleveland, Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado: A lot of folks think quarterback here and have made a compelling case for it. But when I talk to league executives, coaches, and scouts, there's far too much variance in who Shedeur Sanders is as a prospect. Hence, Hunter. He's a unique talent who can impact either side of the ball or both (if he gets his way).
3. New York Giants, Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado: Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen are fighting for their professional lives in NY, and every swing they've taken at a QB has missed (Stafford, trading up, likely Rodgers). Thus, the combo platter everyone has been waiting for: Sanders and Jameis Winston, the human version of peanut butter and jelly. Winston can start while Daboll grooms Sanders. The son of Deion is accurate, tough as shoe leather, poised, and has an above-average arm (so long as his feet are rooted). He's not an elite athlete like Dad and tends to drift out of the pocket (think Drake Maye this fall), but Sanders has a chance in the right situation.
4. New England, Abdul Carter, Edge, Penn State: Is it odd that I don't love the pick, even if I think Carter is one of the two true blue-chippers in this draft? Why? Because the offense is bereft of talent, and even if there's not anyone here on that side of the ball that's Carter's equal, it sure would be nice to pluck a tackle and forget about that spot (left or right, quite frankly) for the next decade. But at #4, that's too rich for a historical outlier like Will Campbell or RT Armand Membou (I love him, btw).
There is no denying that Carter has the kind of explosiveness off the edge that the Patriots haven't had in a long time (like maybe Andre Tippett!), and that bend-ability at the top of his rush that makes you think he's co-starring in 'The Matrix.' He's dealing with that stress reaction, but thus far, I haven't talked to a team that's overly concerned with that. The off-field stuff (there's the whole tow truck driver incident) and his personality (different is the best way it's been described to me) will need further evaluation by Vrabel and Co.
5. Jacksonville, Mason Graham, DL, Michigan: So he was 20 pounds lighter at the Combine than he was listed at Michigan. His tape doesn't show any reason to be concerned about that. A former wrestler, Graham has the leverage thing down and is a freakin' handful on the interior. Everyone I've talked to loves this dude. Plug and play for a Jaguars team in search of an identity.
6. Las Vegas, Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State: I tried not to make this pick because it's chalk, and this running back class is stacked like Schwarzenneger at his peak. But Jeanty's power, contact balance, and cutability are elite. Pete Carroll wants to win ASAP, and this kid can be his Marshawn Lynch.
7. New York Jets, Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State: I've heard plenty of Membou love here, and there's also been some Jaxson Dart noise (that would be something), but Warren is a hell of a football player, and will aid Justin Fields in the passing game and be an asset in the run game as well (He's a real tight end, not a Travis Kelce-clone).
8. Carolina, Jalon Walker, Edge/LB, Georgia: There is some hesitation with Walker because his best pass rush reps came as a blitzing linebacker over centers and guards. Still, there are a slew of scouts who believe his best spot is as a disruptive edge because of his speed and quickness. He and Jihaad Campbell (Alabama) will be fun to chart this year to see how they're deployed. Carolina's defense was wretched a year ago.
9. New Orleans, Tet McMillan, WR, Arizona: McMillan is a smooth route runner, especially for someone 6'5", and while he doesn't have game-breaking speed (mid 4.5's hand-timed at his pro day), can still stack corners with his stride length. McMillan's a 50/50 ball winner, and he's a pain in the ass with that size in the red zone. Another guy describe as "different" to me from a personality standpoint.
10. Chicago Bears, Malaki Starks, S, Georgia: The freak, Nick Emmanwori, got all the headlines after the Combine, but no one's on-field workout matched Starks. He was a top-8 guy before the season started, and while he didn't make as many plays this year as in 2023, Starks is a damn good football player with high football character (like teammate Walker). The Bears might be on to something if Caleb develops under Ben Johnson.
11. San Francisco, Will Campbell, T/G, LSU: Highest of football character. A true leader. Incredibly smart. Excellent athlete. But damn, those arms and that wingspan. Kyle Shanahan will line him up at guard and revisit the tackle thing once Trent Williams calls it a career.
12. Dallas, Matthew Golden, WR, Texas: I like Golden. I think this is too high for him, but the Cowboys have often marched to the beat of their own drum on draft day and have done well. Golden is a burner but also has excellent body control and made a lot of big catches for Texas this past year.
13. Miami, Armand Membou, T, Missouri: His tape this past year was nearly flawless. He's a terrific athlete. Powerful. Mean. Still improving as a pass blocker. The Dolphins need OL help in a big way. Membou starts for them on the right side from day one.
14. Indianapolis, Coleston Loveland, TE, Michigan: GM Chris Ballard loves a specific type. Loveland fits that type. Awesome athlete. Dealt with some injuries this past year at Michigan. Is the very definition of a move tight end, cut from them Kelce/Brock Bowers mold. Anthony Richardson (or, more likely, Daniel Jones, will be happy with this pick).
15. Atlanta, Jihaad Campbell, LB/edge, Alabama: Off-the-ball linebacker with pass-rush capabilities. Raheem Morris would love to have a weapon on that side of the ball, and despite having undergone surgery for a torn labrum, should be ready to impact the Falcons early.
16. Arizona, Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas: Head coach Jonathan Gannon is a defensive-minded guy, and adding Barron gives him a needed cover corner who's equally adept playing man or zone.
17. Cincinnati, Mike Green, Edge, Marshall: After spending all their money on offense, the Bengals need to draft difference-makers on defense. If Green's off-field issues pass muster with the team and league security, having him opposite Trey Hendrickson will make life difficult for opposing QBs.
18. Seattle, Donovan Ezeiruaku, Edge, BC: He is not the ideal height for an edge rusher, but with long arms and a plethora of moves, if you told me he approached double-digit sacks in year one for Mike Macdonald, I'd nod in agreement.
19. Tampa Bay, Mykel Williams, Edge, Georgia: He didn't run a super-fast 40 at his pro day. Who cares? His 10-yard split is explosive, and Williams is already an NFL-level run defender. He bullies dudes. Playing for and in Todd Bowles' system could unlock his potential.
20. Denver, Omarion Hampton, RB, UNC: Based on their work in free agency (Greenlaw, Hufanga), a playmaker on offense is the play here. I've heard Hampton love, and also TreVeyeon Henderson (OSU). Hampton would be more in the 1st and 2nd down role, whereas Henderson isn't considered a lead dog but, as a committee back, could be an explosive piece behind Bo Nix.
21. Pittsburgh, Jaxson Dart, QB, Ole Miss: I wouldn't do it, but the Dart-goes-first-round chatter hasn't stopped since the Senior Bowl. I don't see it. I think he's the perfect 2nd or 3rd rounder. Less pressure and more time to develop (that Ole Miss offense doesn't get QBs ready for the pro game). But with the Steelers still in the QB market (even if Rodgers signs there), GM Omar Khan rolls the dice at the most critical position on the field.
22. LA Chargers, Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan: Jim Harbaugh knows he needs to bolster DL and WR. The WR fits here are more slot types, which would overlap too much with Ladd McConkey. So, take the big-bodied Wolverine that he knows well.
23. Green Bay, Shemar Stewart, Edge, Texas A&M: Ridiculous athlete who caused havoc at A&M but couldn't finish the job (4.5 sacks in 3 years). Not a great tackler, but with his ability and length, that should get corrected. This could be a massive hit if Stewart maxes out. The Packers also need WR but are in the same boat as LA regarding overlap.
24. Minnesota, Will Johnson, CB, Michigan: His tape in 2023 is fantastic. This year? Not so much, and then an injury ended his season. Johnson's not the fastest corner, but as a big guy, he handles business in the press and has a knack for making plays on the ball. This might be a little low for him, and if he tests and runs in the 4.4s, probably won't slide this far.
25. Houston, Josh Simmons, T, OSU: He was trending toward being a top 1o before the knee injury cost him the second half of the season. A little difficult in terms of personality, but plenty of teams will overlook that for the potential of a franchise LT. If Nick Caserio isn't comfortable with Simmons, the person, and the medicals, they can easily pivot to Kelvin Banks.
26. LA Rams, Kelvin Banks, T/G, Texas: Speak of the devil. He is another less-than-ideal arm-length guy; I continue to have people I trust tell me he's more likely a guard than a tackle. But the Rams can work him inside and out. Considered Emmanwori here as well, but his tape doesn't quite match his testing.
27. Baltimore, Tyler Booker, G, Alabama: He didn't test well at the Combine, but you pop in the tape and see him going 10-12 picks higher. Super powerful, plays with a clean edge, and if you want to play smashmouth - hi, Ravens - Booker's your dude. The Alabama staff loves this kid.
28. Detroit, Grey Zabel, G/C, North Dakota State: The Lions have built their identity on being tougher, meaner, and more physical than the other guys. Much of that stems from their offensive line, but as it ages, finding someone like Zabel, who fits that bill to a tee, might bring Dan Campbell to talk about biting kneecaps again.
29. Washington, Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky: Another guy whose tape in 2023 is better than in 2024, but he's showed out since the season ended and went from mid-2nd rounder to the first. Considering how much the Commanders have focused on the DL, adding someone of Hairston's caliber in the secondary is a big win.
30. Buffalo, Shavon Revel, CB, East Carolina: If Revel's medicals check out (he blew out his knee in September), this could be a home run pick. Revel was a top-15 guy before the injury, with the length and ball skills to pair with Christian Benford in that Bills secondary.
31. Kansas City, Josh Conerly, T, Oregon: I'm a fan. Excellent mover/athlete and stoned Abdul Carter in their meeting. KC signed Jaylon Moore to play left tackle, but it's a two-year deal, giving them the flexibility to move Conerly inside in the short term. Plus, that contract isn't so massive that moving Moore to the bench or the right side would be out of the realm if Conerly develops quickly.
32. Philadelphia, Emeke Egbuka, WR, OSU: I could also see the Eagles going James Pierce, the edge rusher out of Tennessee who was the odds-on-favorite to go 1st overall back in August. Pierce has character concerns, but the Eagles have shown a willingness to roll the dice on those types. Without knowing where they're at, however, the safe pick is Egbuka, who is pro-ready and an upgrade alongside AJ Brown and Devonta Smith.
