The NFL Scouting Combine has arrived, just days away before the top prospects in the 2025 class will workout in front of all 32 teams. Not only will the top prospects showcase themselves for teams, this is also the time in which teams will discuss trades and the rumor mill will start to swirl. This year’s draft class is different than most recent years, where the quarterback and wide receiver groups are not as deep, yet there is depth at running back, offensive and defensive line positions. With the Combine set to begin, here are our latest first-round projections, which includes the Tennessee Titans going quarterback at No. 1, the New York Giants landing a steal at No. 3, and the
Chicago Bears nabbing a stud offensive lineman at 10th overall.
1. Tennessee Titans: Cam Ward, QB, Miami (FL)
There is no clear cut favorite for the top pick this year, and the Titans could go anywhere, but quarterback is their biggest need. Shedur Sanders will not throw at the combine, Ward will, and that makes him the current favorite as the top pick for a team that is desperate to improve at quarterback.
2. Cleveland Browns: Abdul Carter, DE, Penn State
The Cleveland Browns need to address their quarterback position, just like the Tennessee Titans, but there’s other ways to do it. After star pass rusher and former Defensive Player Of the Year, Myles Garrett, requested a trade this week, the Browns should heavily consider the move. Likely to receive at minimum a first round pick this year, they’ll have the chance to stockpile picks that could be used to pursue a young quarterback if that is the direction they’d be looking to go. One name that comes to mind is
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who missed his entire rookie year in 2024, but head coach Kevin O’Connell came out this week and publicly endorsed the return of veteran Sam Darnold. Stockpile assets by trading Garrett, begin to replace him with Carter, and go all in on the rebuilding process.
3. New York Giants: Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado
The Patriots need to protect their young franchise quarterback in Drake Maye, and Banks is a no-brainer selection. Banks and Will Campbell are the top offensive linemen in the draft, and with questions as to where Campbell will play at the NFL level, the Patriots would secure their left tackle for years to come with the selection of Banks.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars: Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
Liam Coen, one of the most successful offensive coordinators in the NFL this season is now the head coach for Jacksonville. That means there is an interesting decision to make, but it should lean towards the defensive side of the ball. Outside of Johnson, his collegiate teammate defensive tackle Mason Graham could be in consideration here as well. Being compared to some of the best lockdown corners in the NFL before he even arrives, Johnson warrants a selection in the top five, and the Jaguars would hit a homerun by choosing him.
6. Las Vegas Raiders: Shedur Sanders, QB, Colorado
This would be quite a moment of great fortune for the Las Vegas Raiders, who now have Pete Carroll as head coach, but no quarterback for him to work with. The instant rumors tied Las Vegas to pending free agents Russell Wilson and Sam Darnold, and while they still might be on the board, the Raiders also need a young option to consider as well. Free agency will come before the draft, so Vegas may be comfortable with whoever they potentially sign, but it would be hard to pass on the polarizing figure that is Sanders.
7. New York Jets : Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia
Aaron Glenn is the new head coach for the Jets, who, like multiple teams in the first seven selections, have quarterback questions, but they can’t pass on a top defensive option. Williams would come in and immediately be an upgrade to the Jets defensive pass rush, and working with the Jets first year head coach could be a match made in heaven for both sides.
The best at his position and the Panthers would have an incredible 1-2 with Graham and Derrick Brown in the middle of their defensive line. In a class that is loaded with defensive line talent, Graham sends reminders of Jalen Carter who has been an absolute stud since being drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2023.
No matter who is throwing the ball for New Orleans, McMillian would be a fantastic selection for a team facing several roster decisions. No matter where the Saints go, they’ll likely be replacing a veteran who may be cut from their roster, and although wide receiver is not their biggest need, McMillian’s talent is hard to pass up. There are injury questions about the long-term health of Chris Olave who has battled concussions the last couple of seasons, and while McMillian would provide insurance, he’d also form a great 1-2 punch at wide receiver for the Saints.
10. Chicago Bears: Will Campbell, OL, LSU
With each passing day, it’s hard not to slot running back Ashton Jeanty at this selection. To be very clear, if Campbell falls to the Chicago Bears, it should be the easiest no-brainer pick of the year. After allowing quarterback Caleb Williams to be sacked 68 times in his rookie year, the offensive line needs an upgrade nearly everywhere, but specifically the interior position. For a non-playoff team, no organization hit as big in the month of January as Chicago, and while bringing in one of college football’s best playmakers and the best running back in the nation sounds fun for Ben Johnson, this is a draft selection of need not want.
11. San Francisco 49ers: Shemar Stewart, EDGE, Texas A&M
It has been a back-and-forth battle between Nic Scourton and Shemar Stewart for the 49ers’ selection. Stewart saw his stock rise, as many defensive linemen did at the 2025 Senior Bowl, and he would be a fun new weapon for returning defensive coordinator Robert Saleh. He didn’t have numbers that popped off the page in college, but being able to work on the opposite end of Nick Bosa while learning from Saleh, Stewart could be a beast, but San Francisco can’t go wrong with either player at their selection.
12. Dallas Cowboys : Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
This is going to be the most simple and repeated pick in any mock draft you’ll see on the internet. Jeanty had a remarkable season for the Boise State Broncos, running for 2,601 yards and 29 touchdowns while finishing as a runner-up in the Heisman Trophy voting. The Dallas Cowboys need a premier running back and Jeanty is the pure definition of just that.
13. Miami Dolphins : Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
With Miami expected to move on from Jevon Holland, Starks would be an immediate replacement for the Dolphins. With six interceptions in three seasons, Starks is a ballhawk who would fit well in Miami’s secondary.
14. Indianapolis Colts: Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
The Colts are another team who will need help at the quarterback position, if they don’t believe in Anthony Richardson for the long term future. Passing on a talent like Tyler Warren seems hard to do, especially for a team that is lacking big-time playmakers, and Warren is someone who can do it all for a team.
15. Atlanta Falcons : Jalon Walker, LB, Georgia
Jalon Walker falling to this spot would be a gift for the Atlanta Falcons who will have a new defensive coordinator in Jeff Ulbrich. As is the case for all teams in the NFL, getting to the quarterback was a major focus point for Ulbrich when he was introduced as the team’s new coordinator. Walker has great versatility that can see Ulbrich use him in many different ways either at linebacker or pass rusher.
16. Arizona Cardinals: Mike Green, LB, Bowling Green
No one has seen their name rise as much as Green during the pre-draft process. The Cardinals have a few needs on defense, but no bigger need than pass rusher. Green helped himself at the Senior Bowl and if he tests out well at the combine, he should see his name called in the first half of the first round.
Cincinnati is going to have a big offseason, looking to keep their offensive core of Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins together. It’ll likely take a restructure of Burrow’s contract to keep his top two wide receivers on the Bengals, but then there’s also the question of Trey Hendrickson. If the Bengals can’t keep Hendrickson, Scourton could be tabbed as his replacement. A quick and athletic pass rusher, it would be ideal for Scourton to be on the opposite side of Hendrickson to form a big time duo, but Cincinnati should not look past him.
18. Seattle Seahawks : Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State
A talent worthy of being selected much higher than this spot, Simmons will be working his way back from injury which could halt his momentum. Seattle has aging veterans entering free agency and getting a talent like Simmons this late would be an immediate steal for the Seahawks, as long as he can return to his elite form once healthy at the NFL level.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Armand Membou, OL, Missouri
One of the names who is certain to get more attention in the pre-draft process, Membou is a versatile lineman who could be a big boost to the Tampa offensive line. They’ll need to address their interior and at 6’3”, 314-pounds, Membou is not only a team need, but could turn into a force to be dealt with on the line.
20. Denver Broncos: Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
Even though Tyler Warren was slated to be selected before him in this mock, Loveland is arguably the better talent at tight end making him the perfect fit for Denver. With rookie quarterback Bo Nix leading the Broncos to the playoffs for the first time since 2015, he needs more weapons on offense and Loveland is the best pass-catching tight end available. It is one of their biggest needs on the roster, if not the biggest, and makes this a perfect fit.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
The Pittsburgh Steelers will have an interesting offseason, needing to figure out if they’ll bring back quarterback Justin Fields or potential trade for a veteran like Matthew Stafford or Aaron Rodgers. No matter what they do, they have to get a wide receiver to pair with George Pickens. Egbuka, at 6’1” and 205 pounds, could be a potential No. 1 receiver for some teams, but pairing him with Pickens is the upgrade needed in Pittsburgh.
22. Los Angeles Chargers: Landon Jackson, EDGE, Arkansas
The Chargers may lose both Khalil Mack and Joey Bosa this offseason, so the need for pass rush is a big one. They’ll also have to address the interior offensive line, which could be a position to target for Los Angeles here, but it would be hard to pass up Jackson. Likely another player who can increase his stock at the combine, Jackson is a name to watch this weekend.
23. Green Bay Packers : Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri
The Packers have to address their secondary, but they also need to bring in a top wide receiver threat for their offense. Christian Watson suffered a torn ACL in the final week of the season against the Bears, and no one on the current roster feels like a true No. 1 threat. Burden is one of the best wide receivers of this class and would be a home run pick for Green Bay.
24. Minnesota Vikings: Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame
Cornerbacks are a need in the NFC North, and Morrison would be a nice get as the top secondary players start to come off the board late in the first round. The Vikings were led by 34-year old Stephon Gilmore as their top secondary this past season, and they’re going to need to get younger. Morrison is smart, disciplined, and is a blanket in coverage.
25. Houston Texans : Tyler Booker, OG, Alabama
Taking care of quarterback CJ Stroud is of the utmost importance in Houston, and Booker is a top talent on the interior offensive line. When it comes to offensive guards, there is no better player than Booker, so it’s highly unlikely he falls this far down, but if he does, Houston must strike immediately.
26. Los Angeles Rams: Matthew Golden, WR, Texas
A lot of draft boards have been changed around due to veteran players making trade requests, or in the case of the Rams, letting it be known superstar wide receiver Cooper Kupp will be on the move this offseason. It’s hard to replace a guy like Kupp, but with Puka Nacua already on the roster, Matthew Golden, at 6”0’ and nearly 200 pounds, Golden excels as a route runner, who can be another deep threat for Matthew Stafford.
27. Baltimore Ravens : Shavon Revel Jr., CB, East Carolina
Baltimore could be in play for an offensive lineman here, especially if they lose Ronnie Stanley in free agency. If they keep their offensive line intact, the Ravens, known for their fantastic defense, could use another addition to their secondary, and Revel could use a place like Baltimore. Coming off a torn ACL, Revel is likely higher on most teams’ draft boards but there will be concerns about coming off the injury, causing a short slide. A physical cornerback who can make plays on the ball, Revel would join a long list of great defensive selections in Ravens franchise history.
28. Detroit Lions: James Pearce Jr., EDGE, Tennessee
Coming into the 2024 college football season, Pearce was highly regarded as one of the premier pass rushers. A down season will hurt his draft stock, but he would benefit well from falling to a team like Detroit where he’d work opposite of Aidan Hutchinson. There’s no denying that Detroit needs to upgrade their defensive line, and Pearce has proven his ability to get after the quarterback, even if he did take a step back in college this year. A great combine will help, but Pearce could fall into a fantastic spot where he’d learn from Hutchinson and head coach Dan Campbell.
29. Washington Commanders: Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama
The Commanders seem to have the right offense in place and now it’s time to build a strong defense for head coach Dan Quinn. Washington could use help at every level of their defense, and Campbell is a dynamic linebacker who gets after the football and is good in coverage. It would be a surprise if he was available here, but he’d be an excellent fit in Washington.
30. Buffalo Bills : Walter Nolen, DT, Oregon
Buffalo needs to address their defensive line and secondary positions, and Nolen is a guy who could benefit the most from the combine. The 2025 draft class is incredibly deep at defensive tackle, but Nolen, who had 6.5 sacks in one season with Oregon should be of the highest consideration here.
31. Kansas City Chiefs: Grey Zabel, OL, North Dakota State
Just as the aforementioned Mike Green, no one was praised as highly as Zabel during the Senior Bowl. An impressive combine effort would likely see him elevated from a mid-round pick to a first round selection. The Chiefs need to be prepared to fill in any replacements they may lose in free agency, especially offensive guard Trey Smith. Zabel would fit in immediately to what the Chiefs will need.
32. Philadelphia Eagles: Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan
The Super Bowl Champions don’t have many needs, but adding to their defensive line wouldn’t hurt them either. Taking advantage of a top talent at a deep position, Grant would be quite the fun addition for defensive coordinator Vic Fangio who put on a masterclass during the 2024 season and Super Bowl LIX.
