Will Colorado buffalo the 1st round of the 2025 draft?

There are a couple of rock-solid givens in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Cam Ward will be the number one pick by Tennessee, the Cowboys won’t get a chance to draft Ashton Jeanty thanks to the Raiders, and two Colorado Buffaloes could go back-to-back.

Okay, the last one is the least likely of the three.

Many mock drafts have the Browns taking Sheduer Sanders at quarterback, despite Cleveland having recently acquired Kenny Pickett. I disagree.

Without further ado, let’s check out my mock draft, starting today with the opening round.

And With The First Pick

Tennessee Titans

Cam Ward, QB, Miami (6-2, 219 pounds)

The Will Levis experiment died a quick death in Tennessee, didn’t it? Ward is the best quarterback in the rookie class and should elevate the Titans passing game.

The biggest winner: Titans running back, Tony Pollard.

Cleveland Browns

Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado (6-0, 188 pounds)

No, I am not having a stroke.

Hear me out.

The Browns have Pickett. They could get DeShaun Watson back too.

So they don’t have to draft a quarterback here, unless the Titans go with Shedeur Sanders instead of Ward.

If that happens, Cleveland will dash to the podium with their card with Ward’s name on it 10 seconds after the Titans pick is announced.

Look for Cleveland to go with a 2-for-1 player that can help on both sides of the ball.

And trust me, the Browns lead a lot of help on both sides of the ball.

New York Giants

Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State (6-3, 250 pounds)

Oh yes, the Sanders free fall is on!

The Giants have Jameis Winston and Russell Wilson at quarterback. That position is filled to get them through 2025.

What the Giants need more is a solid edge rusher.

Welcome to the Big Apple Mr. Carter.

New England Patriots

Shemar Stewart, EDGE, Texas A&M (6-5, 267 pounds)

The Patriots are another team in need of a premium pass rusher. With the Giants sniping Carter, the Patriots will take the next best edge player on the board.

Not only is Stewart solid against the pass, he also stuffs the run.

Jacksonville Jaguars

Armand Membou, OT, Missouri (6-4, 332 pounds)

The Jaguars’ biggest issue is keeping Trevor Lawrence from getting killed every time he drops back to pass.

Membou has the skill set to shore up Jacksonville’s leaky offensive line.

Las Vegas Raiders

Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State (5-8, 211 pounds)

I really, really, really want Jeanty to fall to the Cowboys.

The only way this happens is if Sanders does fall this far. Las Vegas might consider nabbing him instead.

I just don’t see them passing up on a back like Jeanty though, not with Pete Carroll as head coach.

Dangit…

New York Jets

Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado (6-1, 212 pounds)

The Sanders free fall ends in New York. Just with the Big Apple’s other team.

As poorly as the two-year Aaron Rodgers run played out, Sanders has a low bar to clear with the Jets.

I will make this prediction: Sanders will be the bust of the first round.

Carolina Panthers

Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona (6-4, 219 pounds)

The Panthers could use help on defense. But with the top receiver on the board, they can’t pass up on a big receiver to help out quarterback, Bryce Young.

Right? Right???

New Orleans Saints

Mason Graham, DT, Michigan (6-3, 296 pounds)

The Saints defensive front was a weak area in 2024.

Graham is a run stopper who can pressure the quarterback and shore up that weakness in the defense. Look, defensive linemen from Michigan work out for any team other than the Cowboys, okay?

Deal with it.

Chicago Bears

Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas (6-5, 315 pounds)

Banks is a beast. If by some miracle he slips to the Cowboys at 12, Dallas should take him.

Alas, like Jeanty, Banks will not be there as Da Bears upgrades its offensive line.

San Francisco 49ers

Will Campbell, OT, LSU (6-6, 319 pounds)

It’s a mini-run on offensive linemen! The 49ers are going to need to protect Brock Purdy and open holes for its run game.

Campbell fits that bill nicely.

The Cowboys Are On The Clock

Dallas Cowboys

Barring another trade, the Dallas Cowboys will draft 12th in the opening round. Here are the current 10 draft picks Dallas owns:

Round 1: 12

Round 2: 44

Round 3: 76

Round 5: 149

Round 5: 171

Round 5: 174

Round 6: 204

Round 6: 211

Round 7: 239

Round 7: 247

Assuming both Jeanty and Banks are in fact gone here, the Cowboys have a choice to make. Do they get a solid playmaker opposite of CeeDee Lamb to help open up the offense?

Or, do they try to shore up the defensive backfield?

Frankly, they need more playmakers on offense, in my opinion. Here’s the pick they should make:

Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri (6-0, 206 pounds)

Burden will force defenses to stop double-teaming Lamb and make sure they have someone covering Burden.

This could be the best 1-2 receiver punch Dallas has had in a long time.

Miami Dolphins

Will Johnson, CB, Michigan (6-2, 202 pounds)

The Dolphins need defensive help, especially in the backfield. Johnson’s size makes him a strong shutdown cornerback.

Indianapolis Colts

Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State (6-5, 256 pounds)

No matter who ends up QB1 in Indianapolis, they are going to need a nice tight end to throw to. Enter Warren, who could be the Colts’ Travis Kelce from the get-go.

Atlanta Falcons

Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan (6-3, 331 pounds)

With Grady Jarrett gone, the Falcons need a new big man in the middle. Again, a Wolverine defensive lineman is a safe bet if you are not the Cowboys.

Arizona Cardinals

Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas (5-11, 194 pounds)

The Cardinals need to shore up their secondary. Barron gives them many ways to do just that.

Cincinnati Bengals

Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia (6-5, 260 pounds)

The Bengals need to put more pressure on opposing quarterbacks. This is the first step in doing just that.

Time For The Playoffs Teams

Seattle Seahawks

Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss (6-3, 296 pounds)

With Seattle seemingly rebuilding its offense, it will need the defense to step up and keep games close. Nolen can help make opposing running backs earn every inch.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama (6-3, 235 pounds)

Campbell is strong in coverage and can also pressure the passer. A solid pick for Tampa Bay.

Denver Broncos

Jalon Walker, LB, Georgia (6-1, 243 pounds)

As if getting Dre Greenlaw wasn’t enough, Vance Joseph gets another shiny new linebacker to plus into his defense.

The Broncos are aiming to take the Chiefs AFC West crown away this year.

Pittsburgh Steelers

Jaxson Dart, QB, Ole Miss (6-2, 225 pounds)

Whether or not the Steelers bring in Aaron Rodgers, Dart will be Pittsburgh’s pick here.

The Steelers mistakenly picked Pickett in the first-round last year because of hometown feelz. This time they are making the right pick.

Los Angeles Chargers

James Pearce Jr., EDGE, Tennessee (6-5, 245 pounds)

The Chargers need to replace Joey Bosa. Here he is.

Green Bay Packers

Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State (6-1, 202 pounds)

Jordon Love will absolutely love this pick. Sorry, couldn’t resist. Giving him a solid target to throw too will only make him that much better.

Minnesota Vikings

Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina (6-3, 220 pounds)

Free agency put a hole in the Vikings’ secondary. This first-round pick fills it nicely.

Houston Texans

Malaki Starks, S, Georgia (6-1, 197 pounds)

The safety run is underway as the Texans shore up their defense with a solid pick in Starks.

Los Angeles Rams

Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan (6-5, 248 pounds)

The Rams probably should look at defense here, but they could also use another target for Matt Stafford. Loveland gives them a very BIG target to throw the ball at.

Baltimore Ravens

Nic Scourton, EDGE, Texas A&M (6-2, 257 pounds)

The Ravens pass-rush needs a jolt. Scourton can provide that shock to its defense.

Detroit Lions

Tyler Booker, G, Alabama (6-5, 321 pounds)

The Lions need to shore up their offensive line, both for Jared Goff and for their running backs. Booker fits that bill perfectly.

The Final Four

Washington Commanders

Donovan Ezeiruaku, EDGE, Boston College (6-2, 248 pounds)

The Commanders appear to be set on offense. And Dan Quinn loves him some defense, especially edge players.

Ezeiruaku will improve Washington’s pass defense but needs to improve against the run.

Buffalo Bills

Mike Green, EDGE, Marshall (6-3, 251 pounds)

Green’s issues off the field are of concern. But with Von Miller likely heading south to Baltimore, they need a solid pass rusher.

That’s Green, if he stays on the field and out of the NFL’s dog house.

Kansas City Chiefs

Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina (6-0, 221 pounds)

Kansas City might go defense here, but it would be difficult for them to pass on a solid running back.

Philadelphia Eagles

Grey Zabel, G, North Dakota State (6-6, 312 pounds)

When you win the Super Bowl, you usually have very few holes to fill, even accounting for departures in free agency. Shoring up the offensive line for that Tush Push, is never a bad idea.

And he’s from North Dakota State too.