Texas A&M

Even without the rumored trade discussions involving Trey Hendrickson, the Bengals have a glaring need at defensive end. With Sam Hubbard retiring and Myles Murphy looking like a major bust, Cincinnati must revamp its pass rush—and fortunately, this draft class is deep at the position. Shemar Stewart is a high risk, high reward pick but a better fit here than Mike Green or James Pearce Jr. Stewart is known for his modest production at college (4.5 sacks in 3 seasons) but is a lab-built physical specimin with a team-leading pressure rate at Texas A&M. With Stewart, Scourton and Turner all statistically underwhelming - as well as Walter Nolen when he was at Texas A&M, this writer believes a lot of the production question marks may be due to the Aggies' scheme. Stewart is already a terrific run defender and his pass rush isn't absent, he just needs to be developed and close on his pressure, as well as learn different pass rushing moves. For Cincinnati, he's worth the gamble here as his upside is immense as a 4-3 base end.

North Dakota State

One hesitates mocking the Seahawks an interior offensive lineman in Round 1 given their historic drafting philosophy to address the position on Day 2, but every team bucks trends eventually. The Packers and Eagles are prime examples with their Round 1 targets last year. Tyler Booker and Gray Zabel are both compelling option for the Seahawks to improve their league-worst IOL. Although this writer has a higher grade on Booker, Zabel is probably the better scheme fit, and also most versatile as a 3-position starter along the interior who can also play swing tackle if required via injury (Abe Lucas is amongst the most injury-prone starting right tackles in the NFL).

Alabama

Tampa Bay’s linebacker unit has degraded year after year, with Lavonte David aging and Devin White not panning out, the Bucs' need for linebacker talent is urgent. Campbell's is a fiendish off-ball linebacker with great legnth, sideline-to-sideline coverage ability, quality blitzing pass-rushing potential and physicality. Campbell’s all-around abilities fit Todd Bowles’ scheme hand-in-glove.

North Carolina

The Broncos are at a pivotal moment in building around Bo Nix, who had an impressive rookie season. Adding an offensive weapons at running back, tight end and receiver are all valid options, as is defensive tackle given their impending free agents after 2025. Highest ranked in these positional groups on this writer's big board is Omarion Hampton could elevate their offense significantly with his blend of power, field vision and agility.

Colorado

The Steelers could address their defense, but one finds it hard to believe they would pass on Shedeur Sanders - warts and all - if he were to slide to 21. Once projected as a top-3 pick, Shedeur Sanders has slid to being a fringe first-rounder in the media. However, whilst not an elite prospect, he offers poise, toughness, and accuracy. Despite concerns over sacks, athleticism, and arm strength, Sanders is a safe bet to be a mid-level NFL starter and in this writer's opinion a superior QB prospect to Cam Ward, and much superior prospect to their 2022 reach on Kenny Pickett.

Michigan

The Chargers are rumored to be targeting an offensive weapon such as Colston Loveland or Omarion Hampton, but they also have a pressing need to solidify their defensive front with a dominant 3-4 defensive/nose tackle. Kenneth Grant could be too enticing for Jim Harbaugh—his former college coach—to pass up. While Mason Graham is more highly regarded by the media, Charlie Campbell reports that several teams actually value Grant ahead of him. In this writer’s opinion, Grant is the most underrated Round 1 prospect in this class. He’s more athletic than Graham, possesses impressive multi-gap versatility as a premier run defender, and offers solid interior pass-rush ability from the 1-tech that is continuing to develop. Graham will likely be the more polished defender from day one, but Grant’s upside could make him an elite defensive tackle by his second contract—potentially in the mold of Derrick Brown or Dexter Lawrence II.

Texas

The Packers haven’t drafted a receiver in the 1st round since 2002, but with several current options set for free agency, securing a true No. 1 target is a priority. Edge rusher, cornerback, and defensive tackle have depth later in the draft. Former Longhorn speedster Matthew Golden has sky rocketed up draft boards. His route-running, short-area quickness, and hands make him a dynamic offensive weapon with borderline WR1 potential.

Georgia

The Vikings are highly likely to trade down, but with such a terrific player falling to them in this mock, it would be hard for them to pass on one of this draft's premier talents. Harrison Smith can't play forever, and they lost Camryn Bynum to the Colts in free agency. While no longer viewed as the consensus top safety prospect, Starks remains an exceptionally skilled free-roaming defender with impressive nickel versatility. Praised for his leadership and work ethic during his time at Georgia, he offers a rare combination of talent and character that any team would covet in their secondary.

Alabama

The Texans’ offensive line was a disaster in 2024, prompting a dramatic overhaul by the front office. With Laremy Tunsil and Kenyon Green traded away and Shaq Mason released, Houston finds itself in dire need of multiple starting-caliber linemen. At guard, Tyler Booker stands out as one of the safest prospects in the draft. A physically dominant force, he combines overwhelming power with refined technique. Teams reportedly rave about his character, and one believes he could develop into a perennial Pro Bowl interior lineman. At 6’5” and 325 pounds, Booker’s immediate "plug-and-play" ability makes him exactly the type of stabilizing presence Houston needs. Booker has the potential to be selected much earlier than this.

Texas

The Rams have done well rebuilding their defense through the draft, but significant concerns remain in their secondary. They still need a true No. 1 boundary corner and ideally an upgrade at nickel cornerback. Here, they capitalize on strong value by selecting a prospect who has slid down the board due to the run on edge rushers in the mid-1st round. Texas' DB Jahdae Barron is seen as atop-10 pick in some mock drafts, and is an impressive ball hawking, versatile defensive back. His college tape at boundary cornerback was equally impressive as his nickel play, but whether he can hold up on the outside at the next level remains uncertain—potentially making him more of a late first-round selection.

Marshall

The Ravens seem primed once again to capitalise on the fall of a talented but flawed prospect. James Pearce Jr. could be one candidate due to his character issues, as does Malaki Starks due to limited team-player fits. Given their desperate need to improve their rush linebacking group and Mike Green's odd-man scheme fit, he could be a great fit. On tape, Mike Green stands out as a high-impact edge rusher who could be argued as a top-16 pick. Dominating for Marshall, he racked up an impressive 17 sacks and numerous pressures this season. Despite his size, he’s also an effective run defender and one of the younger, more promising prospects in this draft class. However, well-known concerns about Green’s off-field character and past could impact his draft stock. If these concerns are alleviated through clean background checks and strong interviews, he’s likely to go in the top 20. Still, there remains the possibility of a fall.

Ohio State

The Lions have never been a team to follow groupthink, consistently prioritizing players who fit their culture and scheme over conventional draft rankings or positional needs (see Gibbs, Campbell). Donovan Jackson was exceptional for Ohio State at both guard and tackle (in wake of Josh Simmons' season ending injury). For the NFL, Donovan Jackson is a guard only, but he has a high floor and good versatility in wake of injury. As a plug and play guard, Jackson is on the 1st round bubble and could pair with Christian Mahogany as their long-term pairing.

Ohio State

Terry McLaurin is nearing 30, and Deebo Samuel has been a huge disappointment since his 2021 breakout season, resulting in his trade from San Francisco. With Samuel’s future beyond 2025 uncertain and Washington’s receiving corps primarily composed of short-term veteran starters and rotational players, the team needs a reliable long-term option. While Emeka Egbuka may not reach the elite level of recent Ohio State wide receiver prospects, he is a dependable WR2 with the skill set to contribute immediately. His consistency makes him a strong bet to produce 800-1,000 yards annually for the next decade, offering stability to whichever team selects him.

Kentucky

The Bills desperately need another boundary starter alongside Christian Burford. Several prospects in the 25-40 range could address this need, but Maxwell Hairston stands out after an elite combine performance, which has elevated him to a borderline top-25 prospect. His 2023 season was outstanding, and his determination to return from injury and perform well in limited action for Kentucky further highlighting his resilience.

Ohio State

The Chiefs have signed Jaylon Moore to a two-year deal as their presumptive starter, but their offensive line still needs reinforcement. Kingsley Suamataia struggled immensely as a rookie, and Jawaan Taylor remains highly replaceable, and The cleanest LT prospect in this draft class, Josh Simmons boasts immense talent and potential, potentially as a top-16 draft choice. However, his severe knee injury is could push him to Day 2.

Ole Miss

The Eagles lost Milton Williams in free agency, and in this mock capitalise on the decision making of others to take a falling prospect. Walter Nolen - at his best- is a top-16 calibre prospect with elite run defense, high-end pass rushing ability and athletic upside. However, his report is marred by underwhelming tape at Texas A&M and reports of maturity concerns. Walter Nolen is a love/hate prospect who could go as high as San Francisco at 11, or as low as the mid-2nd round.