Christian Williams' NFL Mock Draft 5.0

With the NFL Combine in the rearview mirror, Christian Williams predicts the first three rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft.

The NFL Combine is behind us. The slow drip of free agency news has begun. Teams are trading old wideouts for pennies on the dollar. The NFL offseason is in full swing. Here’s how I see the first three rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft playing out following the NFL Combine.

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The longer this offseason goes, the more apparent it is that there is one quarterback at the top of most teams’ boards. Rumors swirled that the Giants are planning a move up to No. 1 to get their new franchise quarterback, and that’s what they do here with Ward. They send No. 3, No. 65, Kayvon Thibodeaux, and a 2026 second-round pick for No. 1 and Harold Landry III.

Adam Schefter believes the Browns will take a quarterback. Still, the recent restructuring of Deshaun Watson’s deal — the second restructure since December — gives them the flexibility to add someone like Kirk Cousins instead. With a Myles Garrett trade looming, they turn to Carter, the elite pass-rusher with explosiveness, bend, and untapped potential.

Ideally, the Titans would move back and still add Carter to a depleted edge rusher group. In this scenario, they get an elite athlete who can play both sides of the football coming off a Heisman season. He’d slot in as their No. 1 cornerback and add some juice on offense, albeit slightly sporadically.

Membou was one of the stars of the NFL Combine, measuring in at 6’4 and 332 pounds with 33 1/2” arms and reaching 20.28 miles per hour during his 4.91-second forty-yard dash. The film suggests he hasn’t yet reached his ceiling, and the Patriots need answers along the offensive line to ensure that Drake Maye succeeds.

Despite measuring smaller with shorter arms than many expected, the film doesn’t lie, and Graham is a game-changing force on the interior. His powerful hands, elite athleticism, and ability to hold the point of attack despite measuring in smaller arguably make the film more impressive. Graham would drastically improve the Jaguars’ defensive front.

Many expect the Raiders to take a quarterback here, but I believe they’ll have a starter in place by this time next week. Jeanty would give new head coach Pete Carroll the ability to control the pace of games, as he should come in and be a top-ten running back in the NFL immediately.

While Johnson has more questions now than he did a year ago, he remains the best cover-corner in the class. The Jets desperately need a No. 2 cornerback, with D.J. Reed likely to depart in free agency next week. Johnson would give new head coach Aaron Glenn a formidable duo in the secondary, something he succeeded with in Detroit last year.

Trent Williams is getting older, and the 49ers don’t have a great succession plan in place. With two teams ahead of them that may be interested in taking an offensive tackle, they send No. 11, No. 99, and a 2026 second-round pick to Carolina for No. 8 to get Williams’s successor in Simmons. If Simmons’s knee checks out, he’ll be a starter in the NFL for a decade.

Chris Olave has dealt with an unnerving number of concussions, Rashid Shaheed missed most of 2024, and the Saints don’t have a reliable No. 3 wideout. McMillan offers the opportunity to shift coverage away from Olave while having him operate as the Z, giving the Saints’ offense more explosiveness and upside.

I’m not a fan of Stewart, but it’s difficult to imagine Ryan Poles sharing my sentiment. He consistently drafts traits-based players, and he’s hit on a few (Darnell Wright, Gervon Dexter, etc.). Stewart is an explosive, elite athlete with the potential to develop into one of the league’s most disruptive edge defenders. However, his trajectory depends heavily on how well he’s coached at the NFL level.

The Panthers have many needs, but the current wide receiver group isn’t good enough to win with Bryce Young as the quarterback. Xavier Legette flashed, and Adam Thielen was solid. Jalen Coker gave the team hope that they had hit on an undrafted gem. Still, Golden’s NFL Combine turned heads, posting the fastest forty-yard dash time among the wideouts and leaving evaluators impressed. He’d give Young a true No. 1 wideout.

The Cowboys’ linebacker room is a mess, and two wideouts have already left the board at No. 12. Campbell was another NFL Combine winner, though he’s always been a top-20 player on my board. He’s everything teams want in a modern backer: coverage skills similar to a safety, elite athleticism, and range to impact the run game.

Emmanwori was expected to be a riser after the NFL Combine, but he’s one of the most athletic guys ever to touch the turf in Indianapolis. With a 4.38-second forty-yard dash, 11’6” broad jump, and 43” vertical jump at 6’3 and 220 pounds, Emmanwori is as elite as they come. His film is inconsistent but full of potential, and he’s a defensive chess piece for a team likely losing Jevon Holland this offseason.

The Colts have more needs than just tight end, but general manager Chris Ballard has specifically highlighted the need to upgrade the group this offseason. Warren is the perfect fit, offering a safety valve for Anthony Richardson (or the veteran competitor the Colts sign), as well as the ability to create yards after the catch. Although inconsistent, he’s a force as a run blocker, and he fits the modern game perfectly.

Seattle sits back as long as possible before moving up to get Geno Smith’s successor. They send No. 18, No. 82, and a 2026 third-round pick to move up and take the divisive Colorado quarterback who left the NFL Combine with more negative buzz than positive. Sanders is the most accurate quarterback in the class when he's in rhythm and on time. In this scenario, he’d sit and learn behind Smith for a year before taking the reins.

Campbell had an excellent NFL Combine, but his short arms will surely give a ton of teams pause, especially when there were some concerning reps on his 2024 film. Still, the Cardinals take him here to slide into guard and take the Peter Skoronski route, giving Kyler Murray more big guys to attempt to see over when he’s throwing to the middle of the field — heavy stress on “attempt.”

With Sam Hubbard’s retirement and the Bengals’ willingness to let Trey Hendrickson seek a trade, there’s a massive hole on their defensive front. They drafted Myles Murphy a couple of years ago, but he’s the only notable piece along the defensive line. Williams didn’t play his best football in 2024, but I’m willing to write some of that off due to his playing through an injury. The best football is ahead of him, and the Bengals fill a massive need.

While the Falcons may return to a 4-3 base scheme in 2025, Jeff Ulbrich has made it clear he intends to be multiple. With needs at both linebacker and edge rusher, they get the best of both worlds with Walker, a player who I project as an impactful edge rusher despite his smaller stature. His elite athleticism gives him the potential to be a knock-off of Micah Parsons, and the Falcons need anyone to get to the quarterback in 2025.

Ezeiruaku is rated higher than Walker for me, but he offers less versatility, so he goes one spot later to a Bucs team that likely desired a Jihaad Campbell fall. With Joe Tryon-Shoyinka mostly disappointing, Yaya Diaby lacking consistency, and Chris Braswell’s disappointing rookie year, Ezeiruaku would give them a starting edge rusher with an elite toolbox who can make an early impact.

The Broncos drafted Audric Estime last year, hinting at what kind of running back Sean Payton is looking for. This time, they get an actually good one in Hampton. The former Tar Heel turned heads at the NFL Combine and virtually guaranteed his spot among the first 32 picks. In this situation, he takes the backfield behind Bo Nix, giving the team a more consistent, reliable option to control football games.

The Steelers desperately need a wideout but also upgrades in their secondary. Barron had an excellent 2024 for Texas and showed out at the NFL Combine. He can impact games as a slot, a safety, or on the boundary, especially now that teams know he has the long speed to carry vertical routes up the field. The Steelers return to the defensive side of the football here, something they traditionally draft well.

Green doesn’t seem like a Harbaugh fit, but he is more powerful and nasty than many give him credit for. In this scenario, some old allegations push him down the board, but the Chargers replace Joey Bosa with a high-upside, high-motor edge rusher with elite bend and an outstanding set of pass-rush moves.

Cornerbacks who run in the 4.2s don’t typically last very long in the NFL Draft, and Hairston has had an excellent pre-draft process. From the Senior Bowl to the NFL Combine, Hairston has skyrocketed up draft boards, and the Packers desperately need to upgrade their cornerback room. I will consistently question if Hairston can hold up to the NFL’s physicality, but time will tell.

The Browns desperately need an offensive tackle, so they stay put and get Myles Garrett’s successor before trading up into the back of the first round to select Banks, a talented three-year starter from Texas who impressed with his movement skills and fluidity at the NFL Combine last week. They send No. 33, No. 103, and No. 181 for No. 24 and a 2026 fifth-round pick.

Many believe Booker will be gone long before this pick, but the Texans sit back and reap the reward of some questionable athletic testing at the NFL Combine. Booker has been described as an immediate-impact leader who commands the locker room, and he has excellent film as both a pass protector and run blocker.

The Rams are having a weird offseason, but it’s hard to debate that cornerback is one of their most significant needs. With a few off the board already, they turn to the former East Carolina Pirate in Revel. A season-ending injury derailed what was supposed to be his first-round-locking season, but he’s reportedly a sub-4.4-second athlete with long arms and a nose for the football as a run defender.

Zabel may not play tackle at the NFL level, but he’s a top-15 player in the class sitting here at No. 27, which means the Ravens will undoubtedly capitalize on that. Zabel is a tenacious people-mover who has experience all along the offensive line. Baltimore has needs at tackle and guard, so Zabel could find his footing at whatever spot he is best at in camp.

After moving on from Christian Kirk and Evan Engram, the Jaguars are suddenly devoid of weapons outside of Brian Thomas Jr. Here, they move up for the best No. 2 wideout in the class, giving Trevor Lawrence a reliable chain-mover with the upside to have an Amon-Ra St. Brown-like impact on the offense.

Andrew Wylie is starting at right tackle for the Commanders. While they do have more pressing needs on defense, Conerly gives them a solid, young offensive tackle duo to build with Jayden Daniels for long playoff runs. Conerly is loaded with upside, but showed massive growth in 2024.

Williams seems to be falling after the NFL Combine, though I’m still unsure why. Still, he’s an excellent pass-rushing defensive tackle who can penetrate gaps and hold his own in the run game. He’d fit nicely on a defensive line that needs more pass-rushing juice.

In the next in this flurry of defensive tackles, the Chiefs miss out on many offensive linemen but grab Harmon, a player who had excellent reviews coming out of the Combine. He’s slightly unproven with just one year of starting experience, but he has excellent hands and is constantly in the backfield.

While some teams are concerned about off-field issues, the Eagles profit (see: Jalen Carter). They do the same here, losing Milton Williams during free agency and replacing him with a player with as much, if not more, upside. Nolen’s a freaky athlete with power and would keep the strength of the defensive line on the inside.

Second Round

33. DAL - Quinshon Judkins (RB - Ohio State)

34. NYG - Luther Burden III (WR - Missouri)

35. TEN - Jaxson Dart (QB - Ole Miss)

36. DET - Jack Sawyer (EDGE - Ohio State)

37. LV - Azareye’h Thomas (CB - Florida State)

38. NO - Colston Loveland (TE - Michigan)

39. CHI - TreVeyon Henderson (RB - Ohio State)

40. NE - Donovan Jackson (G - Ohio State)

41. CHI - Malaki Starks (S - Georgia)

42. NYJ - Kenneth Grant (DT - Michigan)

43. SF - Darius Alexander (DT - Toledo)

44. MIN - Darien Porter (CB - Iowa State)

45. IND - Xavier Watts (S - Notre Dame)

46. ATL - Jayden Higgins (WR - Iowa State)

47. CAR - James Pearce Jr. (EDGE - Tennessee)

48. MIA - Tate Ratledge (G - Georgia)

49. LAC - Mason Taylor (TE - LSU)

50. SEA - Jaylin Noel (WR - Iowa State)

51. DEN - Elijah Arroyo (TE - Miami)

52. PIT - Jalen Milroe (QB - Alabama)

53. TB - Carson Schwesinger (LB - UCLA)

54. SEA - Nic Scourton (EDGE - Texas A&M) DK Metcalf traded to Green Bay here.

55. CIN - Aireontae Ersery (OT - Minnesota)

56. BUF - Trey Amos (CB - Ole Miss)

57. ARI - TJ Sanders (DT - South Carolina)

58. HOU - Alfred Collins (DT - Texas)

59. BAL - JT Tuimoloau (EDGE - Ohio State)

60. DET - Jared Wilson (C - Georgia)

61. WAS - Princely Umanmielen (EDGE - Ole Miss)

62. BUF - Landon Jackson (EDGE - Arkansas)

63. KC - Demetrius Knight Jr. (LB - South Carolina)

64. PHI - Marcus Mbow (OL - Purdue)

Third Round

65. TEN - Josaiah Stewart (EDGE - Michigan)

66. KC - Dylan Sampson (RB - Tennessee)

67. CLE - Kaleb Johnson (RB - Iowa)

68. LV - Quinn Ewers (QB - Texas)

69. NE - Jack Bech (WR - TCU)

70. JAX - Benjamin Morrison (CB - Notre Dame)

71. NO - Charles Grant (OL - William & Mary)

72. CHI - Terrance Ferguson (TE - Oregon)

73. LV - Tre Harris (WR - Ole Miss)

74. CAR - Kevin Winston Jr. (S - Penn State)

75. SF - Bhayshul Tuten (RB - Virginia Tech)

76. DAL - Elic Ayomanor (WR - Stanford)

77. NE - Joshua Farmer (DT - Florida State)

78. ARI - Luke Kandra (G - Cincinnati)

79. WAS - Xavier Restrepo (WR - Miami)

80. IND - DJ Giddens (RB - Kansas State)

81. CIN - Jackson Hawes (TE - Georgia Tech)

82. ATL - Dorian Strong (CB - Virginia Tech)

83. PIT - Damien Martinez (RB - Miami)

84. TB - Jacob Parrish (CB - Kansas State)

85. DEN - Chris Paul Jr. (LB - Ole Miss)

86. LAC - Cam Skattebo (RB - Arizona State)

87. GB - Bradyn Swinson (EDGE - LSU)

88. JAX - Cameron Williams (OT - Texas)

89. HOU - Andrew Mukuba (S - Texas)

90. LAR - Ozzy Trapilo (OT - Boston College)

91. BAL - Jaydon Blue (RB - Texas)

92. NYJ - Tyler Shough (QB - Louisville)

93. NO - Jordan Phillips (DT - Maryland)

94. CLE - Will Howard (QB - Ohio State)

95. KC - Jared Ivey (EDGE - Ole Miss)

96. PHI - Harold Fannin Jr. (TE - Bowling Green)

97. MIN - RJ Harvey (RB - UCF)

98. MIA - Deone Walker (DT - Kentucky)

99. CAR - Kyle Kennard (EDGE - South Carolina)

100. LAR - Danny Stutsman (LB - Oklahoma)

101. DET - JJ Pegues (DT - Ole Miss)