2025 NFL Draft | Cody Carpentier’s Two-Round Mock Draft

PlayerProfiler is home to award-winning dynasty rankings and tools. Our Dynasty Deluxe package includes complete Dynasty Rankings, Rookie Rankings, Trade Analyzer, Draft Planner, Mock Drafts, and more. Check it out! Up next, the big dog returns as Cody Carpentier presents his 2025 NFL Draft, a two-round NFL mock draft. 

We are now officially less than four weeks away from the 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay, Wisconsin. I will be in Tampa Bay with the PlayerProfiler team, broadcasting for all three days live from their draft house. I am here today, however, to bring you a new iteration of my 2025 NFL Mock Draft Series. I’ll be back in a few weeks with a 7-Round Mock Draft to prepare you for the Draft with less than a week to go.

This mock is built on research done across media in an attempt to hit on the 32 players that are expected to be drafted in Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft, followed by landing spots that make the most sense based on need/history and fit for the following four rounds. Today, my target is to match 10 players to the teams they will be drafted by in April. Look for my notations (M) throughout the mock.

Round 1 – (Pick 1-32)

No. 1 – Tennessee Titans – Cam Ward, QB – Miami

What has long been a conversation over the last three months quickly shifted last Monday after the Miami Pro Day. All of the skuttlebut ultimately shifted the conversation to “What will Cleveland do at 2?” and the proceeding New York Giants move for Russell Wilson at Quarterback. Both teams have been pressuring for the No. 1 overall pick in trades over the last month.

No. 2 – Cleveland Browns –Abdul Carter, EDGE – Penn State

When Cleveland decided to make Myles Garrett the highest-paid non-quarterback in the sport last month, they did so under the expectation that a Quarterback move would be made this spring. Garrett mentioned in interviews after his new 4-year $160 million contract that, “Any team that’s going to go far needs a quarterback and one that’s young, can learn and is willing to be patient with the process – There’s going to be some bumps in the road. It’s going to be some learning pains. But us as a team has to be able to be a landing pad for him to fall back on, and know, being on the defensive side, to help him out whenever things go wrong.”

No. 3 – New York Giants – Travis Hunter, CB/WR – Colorado

The Giants are the team left with a choice: Do you take the Heisman Trophy-winning 2-way player that can start at Cornerback for you on Day 1 and be the best No. 2 complement in the sport at wideout? Or take the guy that has thrown him (Hunter) the football over the last three seasons, and as much as people seem to dislike the arm strength and athleticism, Sanders’ processing and mental strength is that of a 5th year NFL veteran

No. 4 –New England Patriots – Will Campbell, OT – LSU

The Draft is a Flat Circle. We are back to square one after the Measurement Gate from the NFL Combine reared its head. Campbell officially measured in at 33″ arms at the LSU Pro Day. Generally, we take NFL Combine numbers for granted.

But the fact that nearly 30- yes, 30 offensive linemen that measured both at the NFL Combine and a following NFL Pro Day ALL measured in with significant changes in Arm length, not just 1/8 of an inch. Nonetheless, Campbell is OT1 for a ton of people, and this allows Mike Vrabel to get his Taylor Lewan type at left tackle.

No. 5 – Jacksonville Jaguars – Mason Graham, DL – Michigan

Nothing has changed here for me in Jacksonville for a hot minute. I’ve believed ever since we heard new General Manager James Gladstone talk at the NFL Combine that this pick would be Mason Graham or Jalon Walker.

No. 6 –Las Vegas Raiders – Will Johnson, CB – Michigan

One more flat circle candidate, Johnson’s Pro Day workout will be private and take place on April 14th. He took a step back in play this season but dealt with a hamstring injury for the duration. Many expect Johnson to be “slow,” but the talent is enough to offset a potential 4.55-4.58 result that we have seen from other Tier 1 Cornerback Talents like Xavien Howard (Dolphins) and Marcus Peters (Rams).

No. 7 – New York Jets – Armand Membou, OT – Missouri

Membou as a Raider or Membou as a Jet. Whatever direction these teams decide to go, I’m all in on the Monster Run Game Road Grater from Missouri. Membou had the best 2024 season among any offensive lineman in this class, however, he is viewed as a stringent Right Guard/Right Tackle.

No. 8 – Carolina Panthers – Jahdae Barron, CB – Texas

The Jim Thorpe award winner is not a common selection here for Carolina, a team that could be looking to move back if Shedeur Sanders is indeed available right now. The Panthers have been attached to Jalon Walker, Mykel Williams, and Mason Graham as much. The Patriots missed out on DL Milton Williams after he departed from Philadelphia this spring, but the Patriots snagged him at the last moment during the first week of free agency.

No. 9 – New Orleans Saints – Shedeur Sanders, QB – Colorado

The Saints have been notorious traders over the last decade, moving up in Round 1 a whopping 6 times. Most recently, in 2022 going up five spots for Chris Olave and up 11 spots in 2023 for Bryan Bresee. In 2025, they think about it, but stand pat at 9, and the Quarterback of the future falls gracefully into the lap of the distraught Saints.

No. 10 – Chicago Bears – Kelvin Banks, OT – Texas

Many sort of forget about Banks in the Top 10 and the Offensive Tackle position, for what reason? I don’t know, nobody will answer. Banks won the Outland Trophy (Top Interior Lineman) and the Lombardi Award (Best Overall Lineman on Defense or Offense) in 2024.

As a True Freshman at Texas, Banks did not enroll early, rather he showed up in June like a normal Freshman and quickly asserted himself as the alpha in the OL room, starting every game as a True Freshman, including earning Freshman All-American Honors, including a matchup with Alabama in Week 2 against Will Anderson. Banks allowed 0 sacks and one pressure on 45 dropbacks. In his career, with 1,544 career drop-backs, Banks has allowed just four sacks.

*No. 11 – Pittsburgh Steelers – Jaxson Dart, QB – Ole Miss

The only trade in Round 1 involves the Pittsburgh Steelers moving up 10 spots to grab a future signal caller from Ole Miss. Someone that can efficiently run an offense at a very high level when there is pressure in his face and when not. The Steelers have done a good job reshaping their offensive line of the last three drafts and added a super alpha on the outside in DK Metcalf. Regardless if/when Aaron Rodgers signs with Pittsburgh, it feels like a one-year deal. Embrace the future, Draft Dart – you won’t be selecting up in this area anytime soon.

No. 12 – Dallas Cowboys – Ashton Jeanty, RB – Boise State

No. 13 – Miami Dolphins – Tyler Booker, OL – Alabama

Booker was a 2022 Freshman All-SEC and All-American honoree who played in 12 games and was versatile enough to start for the Tide at both right and left guard. A true leader in the locker room, many are ignoring Booker in the early portion of their Mock Drafts. That is a mistake.

No. 14 – Indianapolis Colts – Tyler Warren, TE – Penn State

The lynch-pin landing spot. I don’t think anyone truly loves this, but it feels better than the Jets or Bears off the tongue. Daniel Jones gets a security blanket when Josh Downs isn’t open. lol.

No. 15 – Atlanta Falcons – Jalon Walker, LB – Georgia

The 2024 Butkus Award winner (Best Linebacker) fell too far in the draft, projected by many at 5 to Jacksonville and 8 to Carolina. It feels more likely that his teammate, Mykel Williams, is the pick here. But that’s not how it unfolded.

No. 16 – Arizona Cardinals – Matthew Golden, WR – Texas

I’d be willing to bet that nobody saw this one coming. Matthew Golden is the pick for Arizona, not the Offensive or Defensive line. The Cardinals went out and added Zay Jones this offseason, not quite the move I expected them to make to lineup opposite of Marvin Harrison Jr.

Don’t get me wrong, I love Michael Wilson, but the missing piece in this offense is a do-it-all no.. 2 and that is Golden. This is your Garrett Wilson to the Marvin Harrison Jr. combo. Michael Wilson and Greg Dortch are a great pairing at WR 3/4, all while Trey McBride soaks up his 100 targets. Onward to a potential MVP campaign for Kyler.

No. 17 – Cincinnati Bengals – Shemar Stewart, EDGE – Texas A&M

The EDGE Run begins at 17 with the former SEC All-Freshman freak athlete from College Station. Stewart totaled just 4.5 career sacks at A&M while totaling 39 pressures in 2024 and 79 in his three-year career.

No. 18 – Seattle Seahawks – Mykel Williams, EDGE – Georgia

A maniacal value for the Seahawks with Williams falling to 18. Williams dealt with a Grade 2 left ankle sprain from the season opener on and reportedly played at less than 60% after that. Over the next five games, he played just 42 snaps before his game of the year performance against Texas, where he played 38 snaps and finished with 4 pressures and 2 sacks.

No. 19 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – James Pearce, EDGE – Tennessee

No. 20 – Denver Broncos – Tetairoa McMillan, WR – Arizona

The Comparison between Tetairoa McMillan and Courtland Sutton has been made; he’s a player with true high-end abilities but carries some questions off the field as well as a rocky career game log for analytic folks, all while showing prolific splashes against middling opponents. I like McMillan, but all of the tea leaves point to a drop outside the Top 10. I’m looking at 12 to Dallas through 28 to Detroit.

*No. 21 – San Francisco 49ers – Kenneth Grant, DT – Michigan

The Niners trade down with Pittsburgh and get their preferred player at 11. Kenneth Grant and Walter Nolan are a bit rich. However, with the three offensive tackles and both cornerbacks off the board, a trade-out seems possible.

No. 22 – Los Angeles Chargers – Colston Loveland, TE – Michigan

Really, Harbaugh… really!

No. 23 – Green Bay Packers – Trey Amos, CB – Ole Miss

The Packers have selected 9 defensive backs in the last 10 drafts. And here they are again, drafting a Corneback in Round 1. Eric Stokes left this spring and Jaire Alexander is a bit long in the tooth, I see Safety and Offensive Line as an option too (Emmanwori / Starks / Zabel)

No. 24 – Minnesota Vikings – Nick Emmanwori, S – South Carolina

Losing Camryn Bynum in Free Agency to the Colts stings the Vikings’ back end. Couple that with Harrison Smith deciding to come back for “one last run” and the Cornerback room being… in a bit of a spot.

Defensive Back has to be the focus ahead of Defensive Line or Left Guard. Emmanwori is a sicko of an athlete and someone that can learn from Harrison Smith what it’s like to play in the box, deep and out wide at Corner.

No. 25 – Houston Texans – Grey Zabel, OL – North Dakota State

Maybe we will look back in five years and wonder why Grey Zabel went so low in this draft. Or maybe we will wonder why he was a first-round pick. Regardless, I believe he starts on Day 1 for the Texans at any of the five Offensive Line positions because he can.

No. 26 – Los Angeles Rams – Jihaad Campbell, LB – Alabama

I’m not as allured by Jihaad Campbell as others are, but he can bring the wood and took a big step forward in 2204 with 117 tackles and five sacks. Up from 66 tackles and 0.5 sacks in 2023

No. 27 – Baltimore Ravens – Malaki Starks, S – Georgia

Eric DeCosta and Eagles GM Howie Roseman, year after year, seem to just hang out in the 20s and get these Georgia Bulldogs or high-end Power 5 players for what I view as pennies on the dollar. Make it make sense!

No. 28 – Detroit Lions – Derrick Harmon, DL – Oregon

With Walter Nolan, Darius Alexander, and Derrick Harmon on the board here for Detroit, I went the route of the Dawg. Harmon is a former Michigan State Spartan who grew a lot as a player in one season at Oregon. His mentality feels a few miles ahead of Walter Nolan despite the talent mismatch.

No. 29 – Washington Commanders – Omarion Hampton, RB – North Carolina

No. 30 – Buffalo Bills – Walter Nolen, DL – Ole Miss

The affirmation Nolan lands in a glowing situation, a defensive line room with Ed Oliver, DaQuan Jones and Larry Ogunjobi is one that Nolan can grow as an NFL Player and become a stud.

No. 31 – Kansas City Chiefs – Josh Conerly Jr, OT – Oregon

Another flat circle candidate who has fallen out of Round 1 conversations after his one bad rep in Mobile against Marshall’s Mike Green. Conerly is a very good Tackle that projects to come in on Day 1 and protect Patrick Mahomes‘ blind side.

No. 32 – Philadelphia Eagles – Luther Burden, WR – Missouri

Again, how do these guys just hang out and land studs? Burden would be my overall WR1 in the class if not for his rather small 8 1/2″ hands. The profile is glowing with dynamism and his 4.4 at 206 pounds gets me out of my chair every Saturday. Now, plug him into the slot with AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith… forget abaht it!