If you know my story, you know my goal is to produce the best mock draft ever. Josh Norris of Underdog Fantasy set the high watermark in 2021 with 16/32 correct picks and 27/32 correct players. Last year, Times News’ Jason Boris tied Josh under the Huddle Report’s scoring criteria by getting 15/32 correct selections but correctly identifying 29/32 of the first round players. Yearly, the best mock drafts tend to get around 28/32 of the players selected correct. I think whoever gets the most of these right has the inside track to best mock of the year so I try to start my mock with a bucket of my top 32 and work from there. Last year, I’m very proud to say I got 29/32 players correct, which gave me a real shot at the best mock of the year, but unfortunately I was only able to match 7 players to teams. Not bad at all, but no excuses, learn from it, play like a champion, win this year. Here is my Final 2025 NFL Mock Draft.
In the top 32 conversation:
This year, I think my top 18 are essentially locks for the first round. Jihaad Campbell, Kenneth Grant, Jahdae Barron, Donovan Jackson, Mike Green and Will Johnson feel pretty safe as well. After that, I want to bet on Shedeur Sanders, Emeka Egbuka, Malaki Starks and Josh Simmons,. Those 10 would leave me with 4 more spots for everyone discussed below.
My next 11 in consideration are Walter Nolen, Omarion Hampton, Nic Scourton, Donovan Ezeiruaku, Josh Conerly, Maxwell Hairston, Jaxson Dart, Treyveon Henderson, Luther Burden, James Pearce and Nick Emmanwori.
Others with >0% chance to go in 1 include Carson Schwesinger, Trey Amos, Azareyeh Thomas, Harold the goat Fannin Jr because I said so and maybe Mason Taylor.
Injury Concerns – Jihaad Campbell, Derrick Harmon and Coleston Loveland are being mentioned as players with medical flags. It would surprise me if it was enough to drop them out of the first round, but there is almost always one surprise like this.
Every year I tell myself that projecting trades is a fools errand and every year I get sucked into making at least one. I was extremely tempted to do more, but I settled on just one this time.
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Sean Balzer’s Final 2024 NFL Mock Draft
1. Tennessee Titans – Cam Ward, QB, Miami
Lock it in.
2. Cleveland Browns – Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado
Previously presumed #3 pick has moved to -1000 or longer to go 2nd. I like the fit.
3. New York Giants – Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State
There is no question Carter is worthy of this pick and is arguably the last blue chip prospect remaining but the Giants would be signing up for yet another year of non-contention by selecting him. I struggle to believe that Schoen and Daboll are ok going into the season with Russell Wilson as the starter while they are both very firmly on the hot seat. I think the odds ownership steps in and forces Shedeur are much higher than the market does (+650) but I’ll avoid being too contrarian for now.
4.New England Patriots – Will Campbell, OT, LSU
Again, I think the market is far too confident (-500) with Membou, Jeanty, Walker and McMillian all possibilities as well as a trade back. With no clear smoke pointing to any of those in particular, I’ll follow the consensus.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars – Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
I think new GM James Gladstone has done a tremendous job of throwing a smokescreen at several different players. I buy that the previous favorite Mason Graham isn’t an ideal fit but I also struggle with believing a millennial GM would go running back this high. I’ll lean Jeanty but only barely over Tet and OL.
6. Las Vegas Raiders – Armond Membou, OT, Missouri
I fully believe they want Jeanty and would take him if available but with him off the board Membou feels like a perfect fit for them on the right side of the line.
7. New York Jets – Kelvin Banks, OL, Texas
Aaron Glenn going defense and taking a falling Mason Graham or Jalon Walker feels very much in play or someone like Warren or Loveland to help Justin Fields, but I am buying the late smoke on Banks.
8. Carolina Panthers – Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
I’ve had Jalon Walker here in pen for awhile, but I think you have to support Bryce Young and give him as many weapons as possible after he showed late last season he is capable of being a good quarterback in this league. While Xavier Leggette showed some promise last year and I am a fan of undrafted free agent Jalen Coker, Adam Thielen is going on 50 and nobody else on that depth chart is intimidating. I admit I am worried I have Tet and Golden flip flopped from what happens on Thursday night and considered switching right before publishing.
9. New Orleans Saints – Jalon Walker, EDGE, Georgia
I’m between Tyler Warren, Jalon Walker and Mykel Williams for the Saints. While I wouldn’t blame anyone for mocking a QB, there is just zero evidence they like any of them enough to take at 9 so I’ll go with Walker, whose floor feels like 15.
10. Chicago Bears – Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia
Certainly the Bears would’ve liked to have seen more success out of Caleb Williams last year, but they really don’t have a ton of holes for a team with the 10th pick and when you don’t have a ton of holes I think you can consider RB. I could see them being a trade up for Jeanty team, staying here for a tight end or adding to either side of the line. We’ll give the defense some added firepower and assume Ben Johnson can do his thing for the offense.
11. San Francisco 49ers – Mason Graham, DL, Michigan
Late buzz seems to have Graham falling. If he does, I like this 10-13 area as a landing spot. Offensive line should be a higher priority but I don’t think the 9ers would pass on Graham.
12. Dallas Cowboys – Matthew Golden, WR, Texas
I’ve gone back and forth on Golden and Tet for Dallas and I’m still not sure which one they would take if they had their pick. I personally think Tet would be a better fit on the outside and that people are underrating the Cowboys plans for Kavonte Turpin so if forced to pick between the two I would go McMillian, but with him off the board in my Final 2025 NFL Mock Draft I’ll take Golden.
13. Miami Dolphins – Tyler Booker, OL, Alabama
This feels like it could be a lot of different positions, but continuing to fail to invest in the offensive line is going to get GM Chris Grier fired…eventually…I think. I think think wiser heads will prevail this time around, but I wouldn’t discount a WR if Tyreek is a goner or DT, especially if Graham makes it this far.
14. Indianapolis Colts – Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
This feels like Warren’s floor. I’m not sure the teams in front of the Colts would pass on him but I am sure they wouldn’t let him get past them unless they like Coleston Loveland more. I do think that is possible (fingers crossed on my Loveland 1st TE +500 ticket) but with some whispers of medical concerns on Loveland, I think he could end up falling quite a bit.
15. Atlanta Falcons – Mike Green, EDGE, Marshall
The Falcons have not had a player with 7 sacks in any of the last 5 seasons. No Falcons fan is surprised by this information but that is an absolutely crazy stat.
16. Arizona Cardinals – Shemar Stewart, EDGE, Texas A&M
The Cardinals defense ranked 24th in EPA per play last year and has obvious needs on the defensive line. DT could be the pick but I see Stewart as a good scheme fit for Jonathan Gannon.
17. Cincinnati Bengals – Derrick Harmon, DL, Oregon
The Bengals defense was a complete joke last year and they might be losing Trey Hendrickson too. This pick absolutely has to be defensive line. I’m going with Harmon due to the complete lack of production from the interior defensive line last year as well and on the odds they actually keep Hendrickson around and edge rush becomes less of a need.
18. Seattle Seahawks – Grey Zabel, OL, North Dakota State
Zabel’s value to the Seahawks comes in his versatility to play anywhere along the line and being a ready made starter on day one. This is nothing but OL or CB for me.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama
There has been some buzz on wide receivers here and I just can’t see it at all. If I had posted this a month ago this would’ve been consensus. I have gone back and forth on Barron since then, but I think Campbell is a better fit and the Bucs are less likely to be scared off by what seems like fairly short term injury concerns.
20. Denver Broncos – Treyveon Henderson, RB, Ohio State
Admittedly I’m just trailing Benjamin Albright here. He had a perfect read on Bo Nix last year. Perhaps with Loveland still on the board they would take him, but all signs seem to be pointing towards RB.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers – Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
What in the world are the Steelers doing? We know this roster is capable of making the playoffs but without a quarterback they are looking at a ceiling of a first round playoff exit yet again. There are reports Tomlin likes Sanders and thats enough for me to believe they are one of the most likely landing spots. Some think he could fall further than this but I think this is his floor. Either the Steelers take him or someone jumps them to take him. If they have some quiet deal already worked out to get Kirk Cousins or Aaron Rodgers (both of which would be a mistake) then I could see defensive tackle. RB would be straight malpractice but so is the rest of their offseason.
22. Los Angeles Chargers – Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan
The Chargers have a need at DT. Grant went to Michigan. Sometimes the dots connect themselves.
23. Green Bay Packers – Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas
He may not get past the Bucs, but with Jaire Alexander clearly on the way out the Packers have a desperate need at corner. I also think wide receiver is being overlooked as a possibility but I feel like we say that about the Packers every year and they never do it
24. *TRADE* New York Giants (via Minnesota Vikings) – Jaxson Dart, QB, Mississippi
The Vikings do not have a 2nd round pick and only have a total of 4 picks so I think they take what they can get to move down and are still able to scoop up a top 2 safety. I’m not sure who exactly New York is jumping other than the Browns in the early 2nd, but Schoen’s desperation kicks in to give him some sliver of hope of retaining his job.
25. Houston Texans – Donovan Jackson, OL, Ohio State
Fair or not, the Texans offensive line takes on a lot of the blame for the offense underperforming expectation last year so of course they shipped off their best lineman? I actually get selling fairly high on an aging Tunsil after a down year, but this line is a huge mess. OL has to be the pick, but I’m going with Jackson specifically for his versatility because there are potentially so many open spots. Cam Robinson’s one year contract feels like more of a bandaid than any shot at being a long term solution.
26. Los Angeles Rams – Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
The Rams benefit from a surprising fall for Loveland due to medical concerns. They were very clearly heavily in on Brock Bowers last year and weren’t able to make a deal. I think this could happen in the form of a trade up but don’t discount the odds of him just falling this far.
27. Baltimore Ravens – Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
I had James Pearce originally, but there are some pretty clear reports that his character concerns are enough to drop him out of the first round. Pairing Starks with Kyle Hamilton should make Ravens fans very happy, though I still think edge rusher is a possibility.
28. Detroit Lions – Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
You might be surprised to see Will Johnson all the way down here and I’m not confident he will fall quite this far, but there are concerns about medical, scheme fit and speed. Not running a 40 when speed was already a question hurt his stock win my eyes. With that being said, I think the Lions would be happy to scoop him up to pair with Arnold and continue a successful Michigan pipeline.
29. Washington Commanders – Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
I’ve had Nic Scourton here for awhile, but Terry McLaurin turns 30 this year, Deebo looked cooked last year and Egbuka would be the perfect receiver to make life easier on Jayden Daniels for the next decade.
30. Buffalo Bills – Walter Nolen, DT, Mississippi
I think Luther Burden is a stud who should be considered here. Keon Coleman and Dalton Kincaid have underperformed expectations so far but some reports are pretty clear he isn’t looked at that way by the NFL. Walter Nolen seems to be sliding due to some vague character concerns. He would fill a great need for Buffalo and on talent alone is a steal at 30.
31. Kansas City Chiefs – Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State
The Chiefs are doing their seemingly annual offensive line revamp after their underperformance in another Super Bowl. If fully healthy, there is no chance Simmons would be available at 31 so there is no way Andy Reid and Brett Veach would pass on this opportunity. I think the pick has to be OT personally and I could definitely see it being via trade up.
32. Philadelphia Eagles – Donovan Ezeiruaku, EDGE, Boston College
With all due respect to the draft goat Daniel Jeremiah, I am not buying Mason Taylor chatter here at all. A trade up for one of the top two tight ends? Maybe. Taking someone like my guy Harold Fannin late 2? Sure. If they stay at 32, edge rusher is by far the most likely to me unless there is an early run and a DT like Walker Nolen is still available. I have successfully read the Eagles draft plan every year I’ve done this (ok I got the player wrong last year but I had CB1 correct and Jalen Carter the year before) and with a hat tip to Jimmy Kempski I will go with Ezeiruaku.
First 5 out – Luther Burden, Nic Scourton, Josh Conerly, Maxwell Hairston and Omarion Hampton.
