BOOM
Former North Carolina defensive end Beau Atkinson commits to Ohio State.
With under 24 hours to go until the 2025 NFL draft, it’s time for my annual rite of passage of predicting how the start of the draft will go.
While I’ve been covering Ohio State football for Eleven Warriors since 2017, I’ve been an NFL draft junkie for much longer than that, participating in The Huddle Report’s annual media mock draft contest for more than a decade. Though I’ve had mixed results competing against those who cover the NFL draft year-round, I had one of my best showings ever last year, finishing in the top 15 out of 172 total entrants, fueling me to take another shot at predicting every first-round pick this year.
Although the contest only scores first-round mock drafts, I’ve decided to expand my annual mock drafts to two rounds this year due to the number of Ohio State players who have a chance to be selected in Round 1 or 2. You’ll find seven total Buckeyes in this mock draft – four in Round 1 and three in Round 2 – though I expect 15 total Buckeyes to be drafted in the first five rounds, as you can see in the draft projections for every Buckeye that Garrick Hodge and I published earlier today.
My full predictions for the first and second rounds of the NFL draft, complete with a brief synopsis of every projected selection, can be found below. (Note: While it’s likely the actual draft will include plenty of trades, I did not predict any trades in this mock draft. All listed trades are trades that have already been completed.)
Round 1
1. Tennessee Titans: Cam Ward, QB, Miami (Fla.)
All signs point to the Titans drafting Ward after they opted not to pursue a veteran quarterback in free agency.
2. Cleveland Browns: Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado
As it appears increasingly unlikely the Browns will draft Shedeur Sanders, his Heisman-winning Colorado teammate seems likely to be their pick. Abdul Carter could also be their choice, but Hunter’s unique ability to play at an elite level on both offense and defense is tough to pass up.
3. New York Giants: Abdul Carter, DE, Penn State
Hunter and Carter are considered to be the draft’s top two prospects, so the Giants will likely draft whichever one the Browns don’t take, as they also appear unlikely to draft Sanders after signing Russell Wilson to be their starting quarterback this season.
4. New England Patriots: Will Campbell, OT, LSU
The Patriots desperately need an upgrade at left tackle, and Campbell is widely considered to be the best offensive lineman in the draft. They’d be hard-pressed to pass up Hunter or Carter if either fell into their lap, but otherwise they’d be smart to address their most pressing need.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
While Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham has been seen as the Jaguars’ likely pick for most of the past few months, the smoke in the days leading up to the draft has been that Jacksonville wants an offensive playmaker with its top pick. There’s no better offensive playmaker in the draft than Jeanty, who ran for a jaw-dropping 2,601 yards and 29 touchdowns at Boise State last year.
6. Las Vegas Raiders: Mason Graham, DT, Michigan
This pick could come down to whoever’s still available between Jeanty and Graham. New Raiders offensive coordinator Chip Kelly learned the hard way last November how dominant a run-stopper Graham could be, and pairing Graham with Christian Wilkins would give Las Vegas an excellent defensive tackle tandem alongside star defensive end Maxx Crosby to build their defense around.
7. New York Jets: Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
Warren is the best player available in this scenario, and while the Jets have former Ohio State tight end Jeremy Ruckert, they don’t have much else at the position. Missouri right tackle Armand Membou would also fill a need for the Jets, but Warren’s ability to do a little bit of everything could be tough to pass up as New York builds out its offense around Justin Fields.
8. Carolina Panthers: Jalon Walker, OLB, Georgia
The Panthers need pass-rushing help, and they’ve been consistently connected to Walker, a North Carolina native with the versatility to be a difference-maker as both an edge rusher and an inside linebacker.
9. New Orleans Saints: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
McMillan’s 6-foot-5 size could make him a perfect complement to Chris Olave, and the Saints have shown interest in the former Arizona star by hosting him for a pre-draft visit. If the Saints aren’t sold on Shedeur Sanders as their quarterback of the future, they could look to add a weapon for whoever their 2025 quarterback will be instead.
10. Chicago Bears: Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
New Bears head coach Ben Johnson is known for using two-tight end sets regularly, so it wouldn’t be surprising if the Bears select one of the draft’s top tight ends even though they already have Cole Kmet. With Warren off the board in this scenario, the Bears could target Loveland to fill out their group of weapons for Caleb Williams.
11. San Francisco 49ers: Mykel Williams, DE, Georgia
The 49ers need to rebuild their defensive line around Nick Bosa, and Williams has been projected as a top-10 pick in many mocks leading up to draft day.
12. Dallas Cowboys: Matthew Golden, WR, Texas
The Cowboys are expected to draft a wide receiver early to pair with CeeDee Lamb, and Golden is the receiver they’ve been consistently connected with throughout the draft process. They’ve also shown interest in Ohio State’s Emeka Egbuka, but Golden appears more likely to be the pick if the Cowboys draft a wideout at No. 12.
13. Miami Dolphins: Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan
The Dolphins need a nose tackle to anchor the middle of their defensive front, and Grant’s proven ability to be a difference-maker at 331 pounds makes him the best fit in the draft to fill that role.
14. Indianapolis Colts: Armand Membou, OT, Missouri
Membou is projected to be a top-10 pick in many mock drafts, so he’d be a great value choice for the Colts if he’s still on the board at the 14th overall pick, giving them a long-term option with high upside at right tackle with the flexibility to slide either Membou or Braden Smith inside to right guard in the short term.
15. Atlanta Falcons: Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
Edge rusher has been the most popular projection for the Falcons, but they also need cornerback help and there’s more value on the board at CB than edge rusher in this scenario. As they’ve signaled interest in Johnson by hosting the former Michigan cornerback for a pre-draft visit, I have the Falcons drafting Johnson over Texas’ Jahdae Barron.
16. Arizona Cardinals: Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas
Josh Simmons and Donovan Jackson could both be in play for the Cardinals, considering former Ohio State offensive line coach Justin Frye is now their offensive line coach, but Banks – who could either start opposite Paris Johnson Jr. at right tackle or kick inside to play guard – is projected to be the top offensive lineman drafted among those still available in this scenario.
17. Cincinnati Bengals: Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss
The Bengals need more difference-makers on their defensive line alongside Trey Hendrickson, and Nolen – a consensus All-American last season at Ole Miss – has as much star potential as just about any defensive lineman in this year’s draft.
18. Seattle Seahawks: Grey Zabel, G/C, North Dakota State
This is another potential landing spot for Jackson as the Seahawks need interior offensive line help, but Zabel is the offensive lineman who Seattle has been connected with most consistently as a potential pick at No. 18.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas
The Buccaneers will be looking to add to their secondary after allowing the fourth-most passing yards per game in the NFL last season, so they’d have good reason to draft the Jim Thorpe Award winner – the leader of the only secondary that shut down Jeremiah Smith last season – if he’s still on the board at No. 19 overall.
20. Denver Broncos: TreVeyon Henderson, RB, Ohio State
Until recently, few were projecting Henderson to potentially be Ohio State’s first draft pick this year. In the week leading up to the draft, however, there’s been a lot of chatter from NFL insiders that Henderson could be a first-round pick – and specifically that the Broncos are eyeing Henderson as a weapon for their offense. They have a big need at RB, so I’m choosing to believe that rumor.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
It’s certainly possible that someone trades up into the top 20 to draft Sanders before he falls this far, but with the Steelers still waiting on an answer from Aaron Rodgers, I believe they’ll be the team to end Sanders’ slide and make him their quarterback of the future if he falls this far.
22. Los Angeles Chargers: Shemar Stewart, OLB, Texas A&M
The Chargers have reason to target a pass-rusher early in the draft after moving on from Joey Bosa this offseason. Stewart is one of the draft’s most freakish athletes and has star potential that could be tough to pass up late in the first round.
23. Green Bay Packers: Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky
This could be a potential landing spot for Emeka Egbuka, but the Packers have gone more than two decades without drafting a wide receiver in the first round. Their most pressing need is at cornerback, especially with rumblings that Jaire Alexander could be on his way out of Green Bay, and Hairston is expected to be a first-round pick after leading all of this year’s NFL Scouting Combine with a 4.28-second 40-yard dash.
24. Minnesota Vikings: Donovan Jackson, G, Ohio State
Left guard is one of the Vikings’ biggest needs entering this year’s draft, and the Vikings were one of six teams that hosted Jackson for a pre-draft visit. This feels like a natural landing spot for the former Ohio State guard, and Minnesota will likely need to take Jackson at No. 24 if it wants him with his hometown Houston Texans lurking at pick No. 25.
25. Houston Texans: Tyler Booker, G, Alabama
Upgrading the offensive line is the top priority for the Texans after C.J. Stroud was sacked 52 times last season. That makes Ohio State left tackle Josh Simmons a candidate for this pick – as would Jackson if he was still on the board – but Houston has been rumored to have eyes for Booker if he’s available, which he is in this scenario.
26. Los Angeles Rams: Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama
Linebacker is one of the Rams’ biggest needs, and Campbell is one of the top players still on the board in this scenario. His experience playing both as an off-ball linebacker and as an edge rusher could make him a valuable chess piece in the Los Angeles defense.
27. Baltimore Ravens: Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
The Ravens’ known best-player-available strategy makes Josh Simmons a player to watch if he’s still on the board – especially after they brought him in for a pre-draft visit – but their starting tackles are already accounted for after they re-signed Ronnie Stanley. They’d get more immediate value out of another playmaker in the secondary, and either Starks or South Carolina’s Nick Emmanwori could also be considered best player available here.
28. Detroit Lions: Donovan Ezeriuaku, DE, Boston College
The Lions need another defensive end to pair with Aidan Hutchinson, and there’s several DEs still on the board here who could be worth taking late in Round 1, including Ohio State’s JT Tuimoloau. But I’m not sure Tuimoloau goes before Ezeriuaku, who led all Power 4 pass-rushers with 16.5 sacks last season.
29. Washington Commanders: Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina
This is another potential late first-round landing spot for Tuimoloau, or another top available edge rusher like Marshall’s Mike Green or Tennessee’s James Pearce Jr., but Emmanwori’s tantalizing upside as a 6-foot-3, 220-pound safety who runs a 4.38-second 40-yard dash could make him tough to pass up as a Jeremy Chinn replacement for the Commanders.
30. Buffalo Bills: Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon
The Bills have done plenty of homework on the draft’s top defensive tackles, including Ohio State’s Tyleik Williams. Harmon would be a more natural fit to play alongside Ed Oliver in Buffalo, however, given that Williams primarily played the same 3-technique position at Ohio State that Oliver plays for the Bills.
31. Kansas City Chiefs: Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State
The Chiefs haven’t drafted a Buckeye since 2009, but Simmons falling into their lap could be exactly what it takes to change that. Offensive line is the clear priority position for the Chiefs in this year’s draft after the onslaught of pressure Patrick Mahomes faced in the Super Bowl, and Simmons has the potential to be the draft’s best left tackle, though he could slide into the late first round due to the season-ending knee injury he’s still recovering from.
32. Philadelphia Eagles: Tyleik Williams, DT, Ohio State
Williams hasn’t drawn a ton of first-round projections in mock drafts, but his pre-draft visit schedule that included trips to see six teams picking in the final 10 slots of Round 1 makes me think he’s got a real shot to hear his name called Thursday night. Emeka Egbuka could also be in play for the Eagles, who have the flexibility to draft for value rather than having to draft for any specific need, but they’ve always placed a premium on defensive linemen and have shown interest in Williams, who would be a good fit to replace Milton Williams in Philadelphia’s defensive line rotation.
Tyleik Williams sits on the bubble between being a late first- or early second-round pick. (Photo: Kyle Robertson/Columbus Dispatch/USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images)
Round 2
33. Cleveland Browns: Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama
34. New York Giants: Jaxson Dart, QB, Ole Miss
If they pass on Sanders in Round 1, the Browns and Giants could kick off Round 2 by drafting quarterbacks – or trade up into the late first round if they’re worried about other teams jumping them to do so. The Browns have been connected to Milroe while the Giants have been connected to Dart as the quarterbacks they could potentially be targeting.
35. Tennessee Titans: Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri
36. Jacksonville Jaguars: Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
Burden and Egbuka will likely both come off the board in the early second round if they aren’t drafted in the late first round. I’ve got the Titans drafting Burden with their second pick after hosting him for a pre-draft visit, but Egbuka coming off the board just one pick later to the Jaguars, who are likely to draft a wide receiver early to pair with 2024 first-round pick Brian Thomas Jr.
37. Las Vegas Raiders: Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina
Quinshon Judkins could certainly draw consideration from the Raiders as well if they miss out on Jeanty, considering Judkins’ Ohio State connection with Kelly, but Hampton gets the nod here as the top-rated running back on the board.
38. New England Patriots: James Pearce Jr., DE, Tennessee
The Patriots should look to continue bolstering their pass-rush after ranking dead last in the NFL with 28 sacks in 2024. Pearce has been projected to go as high as the top half in the first round, so he’d be a great mashup of value and need as an early second-round choice.
39. Chicago Bears (from Carolina Panthers): Josh Conerly Jr., OT, Oregon
The Bears are looking for a left tackle to round out their offensive line in front of Caleb Williams, and Conerly is the best left tackle prospect still on the board by a significant margin.
40. New Orleans Saints: Mike Green, DE, Marshall
Like Pearce, Green has been projected to go everywhere from the top 15 to the second round. While the Saints could also target a quarterback in Round 2, they’re also looking for pass-rush help and Green’s value after leading the FBS with 17 sacks last season might be too good to pass up in this scenario.
41. Chicago Bears: Kaleb Johnson, RB, Iowa
Judkins and Tuimoloau could both draw consideration at this pick, but the Bears want to come out of this draft with an early-round running back and may have Johnson ahead of Judkins on their board after hosting Johnson for a pre-draft visit.
42. New York Jets: Aireontae Ersery, OT, Minnesota
If the Jets take Warren over Membou in the first round, Ersery would be a likely second-round target to fill their right tackle need.
43. San Francisco 49ers: Jonah Savaiianea, G, Arizona
The 49ers need a new left guard, and Savaiianea – who played right tackle at Arizona but is expected to kick inside in the NFL – is the only offensive lineman left on the board who’s consistently projected as a second-round pick.
44. Dallas Cowboys: Quinshon Judkins, RB, Ohio State
The Cowboys would seemingly love to draft one of Ohio State’s running backs as they hosted both Henderson and Judkins for pre-draft visits. Judkins would be an immediate candidate to start in Dallas after the Cowboys moved on from Rico Dowdle and Ezekiel Elliott, and his proven ability to be effective as both a workhorse back at Ole Miss and in a committee with Henderson at Ohio State should make him an appealing second-round target.
45. Indianapolis Colts: Mason Taylor, TE, LSU
The Colts would likely pounce on Loveland or Warren with the 14th pick if either of them was still on the board, but Taylor – the son of Pro Football Hall of Fame defensive end Jason Taylor – would be a nice second-round consolation prize as the draft’s No. 3 tight end.
46. Atlanta Falcons: JT Tuimoloau, DE, Ohio State
If the Falcons don’t draft an edge rusher in Round 1, they’ll almost certainly be looking to take one in Round 2. That would make Atlanta a great landing spot for Tuimoloau, who would have a chance to quickly establish himself as a starter on the Falcons’ defensive front.
47. Arizona Cardinals: Darius Alexander, DT, Toledo
Like Atlanta, Arizona is expected to target defensive line help in the first two rounds. Alexander could give Toledo a top-50 draft pick for the second year in a row as the former Rockets star has drawn considerable interest from NFL teams – reportedly making 11 pre-draft visits – as a likely second-round pick.
48. Miami Dolphins: Trey Amos, CB, Ole Miss
With rumors swirling around the possibility of the Dolphins trading Jalen Ramsey, they’re likely to draft a cornerback in the early rounds. Amos, who ranked third in the FBS with 16 passes defended in 2024, is the top CB on the board.
49. Cincinnati Bengals: Jack Sawyer, DE, Ohio State
I’ve had my eye on Sawyer as a potential Bengals draft pick ever since Sam Hubbard announced his retirement. He’d be a natural fit to replace Hubbard as the Bengals’ No. 2 defensive end opposite Trey Hendrickson, and the Bengals have shown interest in drafting another former Ohio State defensive end by hosting Sawyer for a visit. While some mocks have Sawyer falling into Round 3, I think the Bengals would need to take him in Round 2 to ensure landing him.
50. Seattle Seahawks: Shavon Revel Jr., CB, East Carolina
The Seahawks are in the market for an outside cornerback. Revel, who was drawing first-round projections before his season was cut short by a torn ACL, has the size Seattle has often coveted in its cornerbacks at 6-foot-2 and 194 pounds.
51. Denver Broncos: Jayden Higgins, WR, Iowa State
If the Broncos draft their running back in Round 1, they’ll likely look to add a downfield pass-catcher in Round 2. Higgins is the top-rated wide receiver still on the board in this scenario.
52. Seattle Seahawks (from Pittsburgh Steelers): Jordan Burch, DE, Oregon
One of the draft’s most physically gifted defensive ends at 6-foot-4 and 279 pounds, Burch would bring high upside and positional versatility to the Seahawks’ defensive front as they look to add another pass-rusher.
53. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Nic Scourton, OLB, Texas A&M
Tampa Bay is another team that’s expected to draft a pass-rusher in the early rounds, and Scourton – an All-SEC performer this past season after transferring to Texas A&M from Purdue – is both the top edge defender available in this scenario as well as a player who visited the Buccaneers pre-draft.
54. Green Bay Packers: T.J. Sanders, DT, South Carolina
Continuing to connect the dots between pre-draft visits, value and need, Sanders is a projected late second-round pick who made a trip to Green Bay and who would address the Packers’ need to add defensive tackle depth.
55. Los Angeles Chargers: Carson Schwesinger, LB, UCLA
Projected by some as a possible surprise first-round pick, Schwesinger is one of the top players available in this scenario and one of several linebackers who the Chargers hosted for pre-draft visits, suggesting they’re looking to add at that position.
56. Buffalo Bills (from Vikings via Texans): Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame
A projected first-round pick before his season was cut short by a hip injury, Morrison demonstrated his ability to be a dominant cornerback when he led Notre Dame’s effort to hold Marvin Harrison Jr. to just three catches for 32 yards in 2023. The Bills appear to be targeting a cornerback along with a defensive tackle in the early rounds, and Morrison is the best available here.
57. Carolina Panthers (from Los Angeles Rams): Xavier Watts, S, Notre Dame
The best safety not named Caleb Downs in college football last season, Watts would address the Panthers’ need for a ballhawking free safety to lead the back end of their defense.
58. Houston Texans: Kyle Williams, WR, Washington State
Along with improving the protection in front of C.J. Stroud, the Texans also need to add another weapon for Stroud with Stefon Diggs leaving in free agency and Tank Dell suffering a major knee injury last season. Williams was a top-10 receiver in college football last season in both yards and touchdowns and could add a big-play threat to the Texans’ offense with his 4.4-second 40-yard dash speed.
59. Baltimore Ravens: Princely Umanmielen, OLB, Ole Miss
Continuing the trend of teams that will likely target pass-rushers on Day 2 if they don’t draft them in Round 1, Umanmielen is the best edge rusher still on the board and the Ravens hosted him for a pre-draft visit.
60. Detroit Lions: Marcus Mbow, G, Purdue
Guard is the Lions’ second-biggest need and Mbow – who played both guard and tackle at Purdue but will likely play inside in the NFL – is the best offensive lineman remaining on the board.
61. Washington Commanders: Oluwafemi Oladejo, DE, UCLA
Oladejo appears likely to be drafted in the first two rounds after visiting with a multitude of teams during the pre-draft process, including the Commanders, another team viewed as a strong candidate to draft an edge rusher in the first two rounds.
62. Buffalo Bills: Landon Jackson, DE, Arkansas
While the Bills signed Joey Bosa this offseason, that’s only a one-year deal, so they’re likely to target another pass-rusher with one of their early-round choices. Jackson has been connected with the Bills during the pre-draft process and is the best defensive end still on the board here.
63. Kansas City Chiefs: Azareye’h Thomas, CB, Florida State
Offensive line is the Chiefs’ only truly pressing need in this year’s draft, but they’d benefit from adding another cornerback for depth. Thomas, a big, physical cornerback at 6-foot-2 and 198 pounds, could be a good fit for Steve Spagnuolo’s defense.
64. Philadelphia Eagles: Elijah Arroyo, TE, Miami (Fla.)
Dallas Goedert is a candidate to be traded this offseason, which would leave the Eagles in need of a new starting tight end. Arroyo is one of the most widely projected second-round picks that’s still on the board, so this would be a good pairing of need and value to wrap up Round 2.
