NFL mock draft 2025: Early projection is mild on franchise QBs, heavy on protection

The 2024 NFL Draft has wrapped up, which suggests we are able to lastly do what all of us love: prepare for the 2025 class! The NFL Draft cycle by no means stops, and with the bow on prime of 2024 we are able to get proper into 2025.

The 2024 NFL Draft set a report with 23 offensive gamers coming off the board in spherical one, and 14 of them consecutively. In 2025, that may not be the case. This draft class is protection heavy, with the highest 5 guys in my early large board all on the defensive aspect of the ball and 9 (10 when you rely Travis Hunter as a DB) within the prime 15. In the event you want an affect defender, that is the draft you’re going to need to get one.

In the meantime, this draft doesn’t have a QB within the top-15 picks, no less than for now. Right here’s our way-too-early take a look at the primary spherical of the 2025 NFL Draft..

Why Tennessee’s James Pearce Jr. is our No. 1 participant

The board is topped by Tennessee EDGE James Pearce Jr., who has a extremely good shot at being the primary Volunteer chosen inside the highest 5 since Eric Berry in 2010. The very first thing that stands out about Pearce is the pace, and oh boy he has a number of it. His 6’5, 242 pound body bursts out of a four-point stance at unbelievable speeds, and he makes use of that burst and bend to dip proper across the nook. I imply, that is simply absurd off the snap of the ball.

Not solely does he use his pace to get across the nook, however he additionally has an increasing move rush sport that sees him use his pace to arrange tackles on the sting in an effort to dip proper again inside. He’s deadly on stunts and loops, and closes gaps actually shortly.

He’s a real bottom EDGE defender, one who chases down performs from the bottom relentlessly and offers juice within the move rush division. As his sport and body proceed to develop and fill out, there’s no cause why he shouldn’t be the highest choose within the 2025 draft.

High defensive tackles stand out

Among the many top-10, there are two defensive tackles that stand out: Kentucky’s Deone Walker and Michigan’s Mason Graham. Walker is constructed like your common condo complicated at 6’6, 348 kilos, however not like your conventional house consuming DTs that dimension, Walker has top-flight quickness and agility unbecoming of a man so large. Amongst each defensive deal with in faculty soccer final yr, Walker was first within the NCAA in complete pressures and tied for third in sacks. He performed alongside the entrance for the Wildcats and goes to proceed to be a giant issue of their protection. I need to see him enhance his consistency together with his pad stage and move rush plan however he’s arguably the very best of the mountain males which have come into the NFL at that dimension.

Mason Graham is a ball of chaos in the course of Michigan’s protection. He’s highly effective off the snap and has a pleasant arsenal of move rush strikes on the within. Graham can also be actually good on stunts and loops, the place he crashes into the backfield like a bull in a china store. As Michigan will get able to make their repeat marketing campaign, Graham and cornerback Will Johnson (quantity 5 on the board) are going to be large of their defensive efforts.

Look someplace else for QBs

In case your crew wants a QB in 2025 … good luck. Solely two QBs make my early prime 32, and even then they nonetheless have many inquiries to reply. Georgia QB Carson Beck is QB1 and is available in at No. 16. He’s bought spectacular velocity on his passes and might execute passes with flashes of contact and accuracy. Nevertheless, his play outdoors of construction nonetheless wants a little bit of progress, as does his ball placement consistency. Groups will love his play inside construction, nevertheless.

After that comes Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders. The very first thing that involves thoughts with Sanders’ sport is how lovely of a deep ball he throws. He’s bought good, not nice velocity however has such good contact and timing downfield that he makes up for it with anticipation. He’s a real pocket passer who needs to get by way of progressions and make performs. Nevertheless, his play beneath stress has to enhance. Colorado’s offensive line remains to be extra of a suggestion than an precise factor, and he’s bought to determine his solutions vs stress. I additionally suppose he tries to press to arduous, which may be a mirrored image of Colorado’s offense. He goes in as QB2, however might simply make his approach to prime standing.

After that, the cabinet will get naked. Notre Dame’s Riley Leonard might be QB3, however he’s going to want to reply questions on his downfield passing and his capacity to mitigate the Jackass moments. Miami switch QB Cam Ward might be in there, however he additionally has to drastically scale back the Jackass performs. The switch portal has made a serious affect on NFL Draft analysis, and 2025 is perhaps the primary true yr we get to see it.

The yr of the slash

The slash is again, child! Within the 2025 draft class, there are a number of gamers who match extra of a hybrid position. Penn State’s Abdul Carter seems to be eerily just like one other quantity 11 who performed at Penn State, however he’s moved from off-ball LB to EDGE, the place his blinding burst and athleticism makes him a terror off the road of scrimmage. Off the ball, his imaginative and prescient and skill to course of will get a bit of spotty, so holding him on the sting is greatest for his NFL future.

Colorado’s Travis Hunter is the opposite prime prospect from the Buffaloes on this large board. Whereas he generally is a excellent large receiver, he has the potential to be an elite cornerback. His ball abilities and processing of route ideas stands out in zone coverages, the place he makes use of his prime tier burst to shut down on the ball. He nonetheless has some refinement to endure at cornerback together with his method in press, however he’s bought NFL traits and instincts at cornerback, one thing that shouldn’t be forsaken due to how good he’s as a receiver.

LSU LB Harold Perkins is likely one of the most fascinating instances within the class. He flew onto the scene as a freshman EDGE, utilizing his quickness and burst to overwhelm tackles. Nevertheless, his slighter body (220 lbs) and a scarcity of depth for the Tigers off the ball compelled him to maneuver off the road of scrimmage. Perkins remains to be an excellent athlete with the vary to shut gaps within the run and passing sport, his really feel on the within nonetheless wants to enhance. His progress at off-ball LB will proceed to be enjoyable to look at.

The working backs are again!

This upcoming draft class has a LOT of very gifted RBs. 4 of them make my prime 32, however some guys that just about made the listing had been UCF’s RJ Harvey, Ohio State’s Treyveon Henderson and Penn State’s Kaytron Allen and Nicholas Singleton. My favourite again on this class is Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty, a man who simply by no means goes down on first contact. Jeanty was fourth within the nation in Yards After Contact per try and Damaged Deal with + Missed Deal with Charge. He’s bought a robust, low heart of gravity at 5’9 and 215 kilos, whereas offering sufficient breakaway pace to take performs to the home. Ball safety is a little bit of a problem (4 fumbles in 2023), however he offers three down versatility to make him my prime again within the class.

A man it is best to maintain your eye on: Kansas’ Devin Neal. Whereas he’s a senior prospect, Neal has nice imaginative and prescient and stability, whereas being such a tough charging again in a enjoyable Kansas offense. He’s not essentially the most dynamic receiver out of the backfield, Neal is a brilliant enjoyable, intriguing prospect to control within the 2025 draft class, which options a number of actually cool backs.