It is time to unveil my second 2025 Boston Sports Journal mock draft. There will be more to follow in alternate forms, but for this one, I'm doing two rounds with trades. I am picking for every team, considering free agency and short and long-term needs.
Also, I'm not picking the same players for the Patriots in every mock. That's boring. I don't like boring. Bring the CHAOS
(** indicates traded pick)
1. Tennessee: Cam Ward (QB, Miami) - They need a quarterback. Duh.
2. Dallas**: Travis Hunter (WR/CB, Colorado) - This noise started at the Shrine Bowl and has gotten slightly louder since. We know Jerry Jones loves his stars (even if he drags his feet when it comes time to pay them). Hunter can impact both sides of the ball equally. The cost to move up is #12 and #44, plus a 1st and 3rd round pick in 2026. They get #2 from Cleveland and #104.
3. NYG: Abdul Carter (Edge, PSU) - Every media person wonders if the Giants wouldn't do Carter here because they have Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux. Well, Thibodeaux low-key stinks. He had five sacks last season, and NY hasn't decided whether to pick up his fifth-year option yet. Enter Carter.
4. New England: Jalon Walker (Edge/LB, Georgia) - You didn't see this coming, did you? Walker may be the best player in the draft (not named Hunter or Carter), and he has a lot of fans at One Patriot Place. Nothing the Pats did on the defensive side of the ball in free agency would prevent Vrabel & Co from tabbing the 21-year-old with this combination of athleticism, surprising power in his 245-pound frame, and the highest football character (Georgia staff LOVES him). Is he an edge? An off-ball linebacker? He split reps for the Bulldogs, but the more I've watched his tape, the more I foresee him on the outside for the Pats.
5. Jacksonville: Will Campbell (OL, LSU) - The Jags didn't expect Campbell to be here. He immediately becomes one of their best 5 (LT? LG? RT?)
6. Las Vegas: Mason Graham (DL, Michigan) - Pete Carroll is over the moon with this pick. He'll line up Maxx Crosby, Christian Wilkins, Graham, and Malcolm Koonce on the front four. Good luck blocking that.
7. NYJ: Tet McMillan (WR, Arizona) - McMillan has been picked apart, but teams have been consistent with how they view the talent. His catch radius is absurd, and every time Arizona needed a play, he was the guy. Aside from Garrett Wilson, the Jets are in wide receiver hell right now. TMac changes that.
8. Carolina: Will Johnson (CB, Michigan) - This is the floor for Jalon Walker, but with him gone, the Panthers add the playmaking Johnson to the lineup opposite Jaycee Horn.
9, New Orleans: Armand Membou (T, Missouri) - Kellen Moore saw first-hand how the Eagles won. The Saints' offensive line needs Membou, especially with Trevor Penning never living up to his first-round status.
10. Chicago: Ashton Jeanty (RB, Boise State) - Ben Johnson gets to build his version of the Lions with the best back in the draft. Not bad getting a blue-chip talent at #10
11. SF: Colston Loveland (TE, Michigan) - I couldn't resist, even if it's not the 49ers biggest need. Shanahan loves his versatile weapons, and Loveland can be a big slot, line up in the backfield, and be a havoc-causer.
12. Cleveland**: Shedeur Sanders (QB, Colorado) - The Browns trade back with the Cowboys and still get the type of QB that Kevin Stefanski has had success with. This is the right range for Sanders. Somewhere between here at the Rams at #26.
13. Miami: Malaki Starks (S, Georgia) - Dolphins need offensive line help, but Starks is a damn good football player and replaces Jevon Holland (lost in free agency to the NYG).
14. Indianapolis: Tyler Warren (TE, PSU) - GM Chris Bradley needs to help his QB room.
15. Denver**: Omarion Hampton (RB, UNC) - The Broncos jump up to 15 (and get pick 242) by sending the Falcons their first and third rounders (20 and 85). They were hoping Hampton would be there at #20 but got nervous as the league loves the physical Tar Heel.
16. Arizona: Jahdae Barron (CB, Texas) - Can play outside, in the slot, or at safety — nice piece for Jonathan Gannon.
17. Green Bay**: Matthew Golden (WR, Texas) - With Christian Watson likely out for most of the year, the Packers make a move, dealing picks 23 and 87 to the Bengals for this spot. Golden doesn't play as fast as he ran at the combine, but he showed excellent growth, especially down the stretch.
18. Seattle: Mike Green (Edge, Marshall) - Give Mike Macdonald all the pass rushers. Green might turn out to be the best of the bunch. They make this pick assuming they're comfortable with Green's off-field stuff (league seems to be).
19. Tampa Bay: Jihaad Campbell (LB, Alabama)—In the pre-devalued off-the-ball linebacker era, Campbell was a top-10 pick. Todd Bowles and GM Jason Licht will be thrilled with this talent at 19.
20. Atlanta: Emeka Egbuka (WR, OSU) - There's a lot of love for him in the league. This pick gives Michael Penix another weapon, and the tradeback recoups the third-rounder sacrificed to the Pats for Matthew Judon.
21. Pittsburgh: Kenneth Grant (DT, Michigan) - They visited with Jaxson Dart, and I could see it. Grant would be a perfect rotational piece in year one and then be Cam Heyward's replacement (should he retire).
22. LA Chargers: Mykel Williams (DE, Georgia) - I wouldn't fall over if you told me he went 4th to the Pats.
23. Cincinnati: Tyler Booker (G, Alabama) - The Bengals decide protecting Joe Burrow takes priority over the defense because, of course, they do.
24. New England**: Josh Conerly (T, Oregon) - The Pats get their tackle in round one, but it takes a trade to accomplish it (picks 38, 69, and 171). Conerly has terrific feet and fits the athletic profile Vrabel favored in Tennessee. His arms are 33 1/2 inches (wingspan 82 1/4 inches); he has enormous paws (10.375), and his 10 and 20-yard splits are each .01 behind Taylor Lewan. And yes, I'm aware Vrabel didn't draft Lewan, but he did give him an extension.
25. Houston: Josh Simmons (T, OSU) - I don't think it's a lock the Texans go offensive line here, but after signing Cam Robinson and Trent Brown, they give themselves options as Simmons makes his way back from the torn patellar tendon.
26. Cleveland**: Kelvin Banks (T, Texas) - The Browns remain active, using picks 33 and 94 to move back into the first round and get the Rams to move out. That awesome OL they used to have is no longer the same. Banks can help the transition.
27. Baltimore: Donovan Ezeiruaka (Edge, BC) - Doesn't he feel like a Raven?
28. Detroit: Grey Zabel (IOL, North Dakota St) - They want guys that bite kneecaps, and Zabel will do that. Plus, the Lions' awesome OL is littered with guys on the wrong side of 30.
29. Washington: Shemar Stewart (Edge, Texas A&M) - Betting on traits over production, but I can envision a scenario where Dan Quinn gets the measurables to actually show up on the stat sheet.
30. Buffalo: Walter Nolen (DT, Ole Miss) - The Bills signed two veteran DLs who will begin the year with PED suspensions. Nolen is a freakish talent that's too good to pass up here.
31. KC: Donovan Jackson (OL, OSU) - Jackson can line up just about anywhere on the OL, and while this may be high, he's NFL-ready for a Chiefs team that may need an LG (if Kingsley Sumataia can't make the transition).
32. Philadelphia: Aireontae Ersery (T, Minnesota) - The Eagles have their tackles locked up, but Lane Johnson isn't a kid. Ersery gets at least a year at (Jeff) Stoutland University, and then we'll all wonder why the hell he lasted until the end of the first round.
SECOND ROUND
33. LA Rams (TRADE): Jaxson Dart (QB, Ole Miss) - I think he should be a third-round QB but we know that position gets inflated. It wouldn't surprise me if he's the Steelers pick at #21 or the Rams stick and pick him at #26.
34. NYG: Derrick Harmon (DT, Oregon) - When he wants, Harmon is a pain in the ass to block.
35. Tennessee: Luther Burden (WR, Missouri) - He's got loads of off-field flags and was the master of bad body language on the field in '25. However, super talented.
36. Jacksonville: Jack Bech (WR, TCU) - It could be a full round too soon, but new HC Liam Coen gets his Puka Nacua-light.
37. Las Vegas: Trey Amos (CB, Ole Miss)
38. Minnesota (TRADE): Nick Enmanwori (S, South Carolina)
39. Chicago: Tyleik Williams (DT, OSU)
40. New Orleans: Jayden Higgins (WR, Iowa State) - I like his entire tape catalog (multiple years) more than Golden's flourish to end the season.
41. Chicago: Xavier Watts (S, Notre Dame)
42. NYJ: J.T. Tuimoloau (Edge, OSU) - Good player.
43. SF: Jack Sawyer (Edge, OSU) - Good player, part 2.
44. Denver (TRADE): Elijah Arroyo (TE, Miami) - The Broncos continue to be aggressive, trading picks #51 and #122 to the Browns for #44. Sean Payton continues to juice up his offense.
45. Indianapolis: James Peace (Edge, Tenn) - The guy who was the preseason favorite to go #1 sees his slide stop with the Colts.
46. Atlanta: Landon Jackson (DE, Arkansas)
47. Seattle (TRADE): Maxwell Hairston (CB, Kentucky) - The Seahawks move up from #50 by sending the Cardinals picks #50 and #175. They add the lightning-fast Hairston, a good outside CB fit for Macdonald's defense.
48. Miami: Shavon Revel (CB) - Possible top 20 pick if he hadn't blown out his knee.
49. Cincinnati: Jared Ivey (Edge, Ole Miss)
50. Arizona (TRADE): Nic Scourton (Edge, Texas A&M) - Better in '23 than '24 but talented.
51. Cleveland (TRADE): Azareye'h Thomas (CB, FSU) - Wowed at Senior Bowl. Long
52. Seattle: Jonah Saviinaea (G, Arizona) - He played tackle in college, but he's kicking inside at this level.
53. Tampa Bay: Princely Umanmielen (Edge, Ole Miss)
54. Green Bay: Benjamin Morrison (CB, Notre Dame) - If his medicals check, Morrison is a steal at #54.
55. LA Chargers: Mason Taylor (TE, LSU) - I could see Taylor being the third TE off the board, but in this scenario, he falls to Harbaugh, and love is in the air.
56. Buffalo: TreVeyon Henderson (RB, OSU) - James Cook put his Buffalo house for sale because this is how kids these days react to not getting their contract extensions right when they want 'em
57. Carolina: Elic Ayomanor (WR, Stanford) - I don't love his hands or ball-tracking. Gets lost sometimes.
58. Houston: Jaylin Noel (WR, Iowa State) - Big fan. Not a slot-only smaller receiver. With Tank Dell likely out for the upcoming season, the Texans can't bypass the explosive little fella.
59. Baltimore: Braydn Swinson (Edge, LSU) - Ravens double up early on edge rushers.
60. Detroit: Alfred Collins (DT, Texas) - A mountain of a human being.
61. KC (TRADE): Darius Alexander (DL, Toledo) - A small trade-up by the Chiefs, surrendering picks #63 and #226 to the Commanders. Alexander is already 25 but dominated at Toledo and then had an outstanding Senior Bowl.
62. Buffalo: Darien Porter (CB, Iowa State) - Has all the tools, and at 6'4", is a toy Sean McDermott has never had before.
63. Washington**: Cam Skaettbo (RB, ASU) - Dan Quinn guy through and through.
64. Philadelphia: Omarr Norman-Lott (DT, Tennessee) - One of the best interior pass rushers in college last year as a part-time player. That'll be the same role Norman-Lott will be asked to assume for the Eagles.