We are mere days away from the 2025 NFL Draft , which means we are in lying season. This is the time of the year when we are fed more lies than ever.

We heard rumors last year that the Patriots wanted to move down from No. 3 (which we know isn’t true after watching the Hard Knocks offseason show) or that they were considering taking J.J. McCarthy at No. 3.

However, a few bits of information that come out at this time of year always turn out to be true. A good example from last year was that the Broncos were seriously considering selecting Bo Nix at No. 12, and that ended up being the case.

Fact or Fiction on Draft, Trade Rumors

Cowboys Prefer Golden over McMillan at No. 12

It’s almost a foregone conclusion that the Dallas Cowboys will take a wide receiver at No. 12 to pair with CeeDee Lamb. McMillan is the consensus No. 1 receiver in this class (not including Travis Hunter ). The rumblings out of Dallas are that the Cowboys like McMillan, but he isn’t their preferred option in Round 1.

Matthew Golden has been a steady riser in mock drafts and in big boards during the last two months, and there have been a few NFL Draft experts who have ranked him as the top receiver in the class. But will he really be the first receiver off the board despite never posting a 1,000-yard season in college football?

Stephen Jones admitted during the NFL Owner’s Meeting that the Cowboys are searching for a “really explosive No. 2” receiver to pair with Lamb. McMillan is a fantastic player, but “explosive” doesn’t describe his game. However, it does for Golden, who ran a 4.29 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine.

Golden has a lot of warts to his draft profile, but his speed and fit with the Cowboys do make sense. At this point, it would be a minor shock if he weren’t the pick at No. 12 when Dallas is on the clock.

Tyler Shough Could Be Taken In The First Round

Several NFL insiders have been pushing to move Louisville quarterback Tyler Shough up in mock drafts. According to Dianna Russini of The Athletic , she’s been hearing that Shough could go in the first round. She also mentioned that an NFL head coach believes he is the best quarterback in the class and would take him over Cam Ward.

There has also been some talk that Shough could be the second quarterback off the board behind Ward, and that just doesn't make any sense. Shough will be 26 during his rookie season, and he's had three season-ending injuries during his collegiate career.

On top of an extensive injury history, Shough has never had a season with more than 23 passing touchdowns.

The production just isn't there for a first-round pick, and while he has good tools, they certainly aren't elite. Nothing about his collegiate profile suggests he is anything close to a first-round pick, and we shouldn't expect him to get picked there.

Instead, look for him to get picked sometime on Day 2, likely when he can be a high-end backup and compete for a starting gig. The first-round talk here is nonsense.

Giants Are Still Considering Shedeur Sanders At No. 3

The Giants have been connected to Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders throughout the draft process. Brian Daboll was at the East-West Shrine practices to meet with Sanders, and they have been in contact with him throughout every step of the pre-draft process.

There is no argument that the Giants need to add a young quarterback to their roster. Sanders just isn’t worth that selection. He’s No. 32 on The Athletic’s consensus board , while Abdul Carter sits at No. 1. With Cam Ward and Travis Hunter likely to be No. 1 and No. 2, the Giants will have the opportunity to select arguably the best player in the class at No. 3.

The Giants might really like Sanders, and if they are offered a king’s ransom to move back a few spots, he could then be an option. Still, don’t expect the Giants to seriously consider selecting him at No. 3.

Steelers Not Interested In A First-Round Quarterback

The Steelers are one of the toughest teams in the NFL to figure out going into the NFL Draft. The expectation is that Aaron Rodgers will eventually sign with Pittsburgh, but that isn’t the case right now. That leaves Pittsburgh with the worst quarterback room in the league, with only Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson on the roster.

The Steelers are obviously a quarterback-needy team, but does that mean they will select one in Round 1? Mark Kaboly from The Pat McAfee Show reported on a radio hit that Pittsburgh “isn’t really interested in the quarterbacks in the first round.” And that’s not hard to believe.

Jaxson Dart , Jalen Milroe , and Tyler Shough don’t seem like ideal fits in Arthur Smith’s offense, and none of them are worthy of the No. 21 pick. It would be a shock to see any of those three picked at that spot, so we tend to believe Kaboly here.

However, if Sanders were available at No. 21, that might change the equation for Pittsburgh. Sanders made a visit to Pittsburgh last week on a 30 visit, and he said that it was a 10 out of 10. His fit with Mike Tomlin makes a lot of sense, even if he’s not the most athletically gifted player.

However, it does seem somewhat unlikely that Sanders will fall to the 20s, and he probably isn’t a realistic option for Pittsburgh. So, overall, we tend to believe that Pittsburgh will be out on the first-round quarterbacks in this year’s class, as it will likely roll with Aaron Rodgers.

Pittsburgh is trying to snap its eight-year playoff win drought, and over-drafting a developmental quarterback at No. 21 certainly won't help it accomplish that.

Raiders Will Pass On Ashton Jeanty At No. 6?

One of the most common picks in mock drafts during the past month has been Boise State star Ashton Jeanty going to the Las Vegas Raiders at No. 6. It makes sense, as the Raiders have a big need at running back, and Jeanty is likely to be the best player on the board when they are on the clock.

However, don’t forget who the team's new general manager is. John Spytek was the assistant general manager of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers , who have selected multiple first and second-round offensive linemen since 2020. He loves to build up the trenches and the Raiders have a massive need at right tackle on their roster.

Jeanty will be hard for the Raiders to pass, but Armand Membou is the best fit because he can be an instant starter at right tackle.

Look for the Raiders to add one of the former Ohio State running backs (TreVeyon Henderson or Quinshon Judkins ) in Round 2 to pair with Chip Kelly. Expect them to go with the trenches in Round 1 despite Jeanty being one of the best players in the class.

LSU TE Mason Taylor Could Be A First-Round Pick

There have been a few steady risers in this year’s class, and Mason Taylor is certainly among the biggest. Going into the Senior Bowl , he was viewed as a borderline top-100 selection. Now, his overall ranking is 48th on Grinding The Mocks , and he is 39th on The Athletic’s consensus board.

Taylor is a good prospect with NFL bloodlines (dad is Jason Taylor) and above-average athleticism. However, there isn’t too much of his game that screams first-round pick. It won't be a shock at all if he’s a top-50 selection, but getting picked at the end of Round 1 seems a tad rich.

The Eagles and Chiefs could consider Taylor, as they have older starting tight ends, but both teams value the trenches, and we should expect them to target offensive and defensive linemen early. Other late-drafting teams, like the Bills, Ravens, and Lions, all have their starting tight ends on the roster, so don’t expect Taylor to land there.

Taylor will be a high draft pick next week, and he deserves to be after an impressive pre-draft process. But don’t expect him to sneak into the first round.

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