Who are the new faces looking to take the NFL by storm next year and beyond?
As we hit the empty section of the NFL offseason, it's time to take an early look at possible paths for every team to improve in the 2025 NFL draft. Which rebuilders will snatch blue-chip prospects to build their future around, and which contenders can extend their window with solid contributors?
Draft order taken from my season predictions
1.01: Las Vegas Raiders: Carson Beck, QB, Georgia
While I have Quinn Ewers a touch higher at the moment, Beck's accuracy and pocket presence give him the clear highest floor of the class. After so many busts in recent Raiders drafts (Henry Ruggs and Alex Leatherwood come to mind), GM Tom Telesco would do well to reunite Beck with his college target in Brock Bowers for the foreseeable future.
1.02: New England Patriots: Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas
While the Pats brought in Steelers castoff Chukwuma Okorafor to play LT for this year, it feels much more like a band-aid than a long term answer. In this scenario, New England manages to sign a big name WR in free agency, and bring in the mauler from Texas to start on Drake Maye's blindside for the next decade.
1.03: Tennessee Titans: James Pearce Jr., DE, Tennessee
If the Titans are picking this high, Will Levis should absolutely be on the hot seat, but forces to help Jeffery Simmons on the defensive line is a glaring hole. Many view Pearce as a possible #1 prospect, and for good reason. The Tennessee trio of Simmons, Pearce, and 2024 2nd rounder T'Vondre Sweat would inspire fear in opposing QBs for a long time to come.
1.04: Carolina Panthers: Abdul Carter, DE, Penn State
Carolina did a good job building around their young QB this offseason, but their defense might struggle to hold up after losing Brian Burns and Frankie Luvu. Carter is still relatively unproven, but if he can put his sheer athletic ability together with more controlled play on the field for Penn State this season, he has all it takes to be a positionless game-wrecker for whichever team that decides to take him.
1.05: Washington Commanders: Will Campbell: OT, LSU
The Commanders have built up a credible offense around rookie QB Jayden Daniels, but his protection seems set to suffer with 3rd rounder Brandon Coleman preparing to start at left tackle at the time of this writing. Enter Will Campbell, whose rare movement skills and power should fix that situation relatively instantly.
1.06: New York Giants: Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas
Big Blue attempting to trade up for Drake Maye in 2024 seems to be the nail in the coffin ending Daniel Jones' time as their franchise QB. Barring another miracle playoff push, the stage seems set for the young Texas gunslinger to step in and bring hope back to Gotham City. New York has some promising pieces, especially on defense, but a lot of work remains to fix their brutally middling WR and CB rooms.
1.07: Atlanta Falcons: Deone Walker, DT, Kentucky
It's pretty easy to make a solid pick for the Falcons these days; just don't take a backup QB. As they have just the 20th best run defense league-wide, Walker should fill the nose tackle spot and then some in Raheem Morris' defense- with plenty of pass-rush upside as well.
1.08: Seattle Seahawks; Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
Even if Geno Smith has a great year, and doesn't end up regressing like I project, Seattle would be wise to have his succession plan in place. Sanders was sacked way too often last season, but he would join one of the most complete rosters in football, giving him time to develop if necessary.
1.09: Chicago Bears: Nic Scourton, DE, Texas A&M
While Caleb Williams could have some growing pains adapting to an NFL offense, there is little doubt that the future is finally here in the Windy City. The Bears only had 30 sacks in 2023, so they add the final piece to an uber-talented defense in another pass rusher to play opposite Montez Sweat.
1.10: Arizona Cardinals: Mason Graham, DT, Michigan
CB is also a need for Arizona, but taking one here would not help the fact that their 2023 run defense was dead last in the NFL. GM Monti Ossenfort lands an absolute steal here however, landing a DT with elite strength who can make an impact in the run and pass games.
1.11: Denver Broncos: Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame
I am personally higher on the Nix-Payton partnership than most, but this defense is still pretty devoid of talent. Denver goes BPA here, creating arguably the best man-coverage CB duo in the NFL, capable of taking away huge chunks of the field at the time for rival QBs.
1.12: New York Jets: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
If this Jets team misses the playoffs, resetting with a young QB could be an option, but the top 3 are gone here. Gang Green cannot afford to keep all their young talent, so since Mike Williams is a FA after the season, they overhaul their roster one final time, adding a 6'5 contested-catch monster in McMillan to play opposite Garrett Wilson.
1.13: Minnesota Vikings: Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado
Despite all the offensive talent Minnesota possesses, it's hard to win many games with the worst pass defense in the NFL in 2023. Hunter's ballhawk ability can remedy that in Year 1, plus coach Kevin O'Connell can play him in as a receiver behind Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison.
1.14: Los Angeles Chargers: Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
A match made in heaven for LA here, as Johnson's unreal fall helps him reunite with his college coach in Jim Harbaugh. This wasn't the pick just for the school either, as Johnsons polish and poise in zone coverage gives the Charger defense a much higher upside than it had previously.
1.15: Los Angeles Rams: Tacario Davis, CB, Arizona
The run on CBs continues, as the Rams posted just the 25th best pass defense leaguewide in 2023. While they added vets Tre'Davious White and Darious Wiilliams to try and improve that, the 6'4 Davis would be a long-term staple in the secondary, and likely the best LA corner since Jalen Ramsey in their Super Bowl run.
1.16: Jacksonville Jaguars: Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
After trading back with Minnesota in 2024, the Jags have plenty of picks later to address help for Trevor Lawrence on offense. Here they plug their biggest hole in a talented chess piece that could be the centerpiece of DC Ryan Nielsen's defense for the foreseeable future.
1.17: Pittsburgh Steelers: Luther Burden III: WR, Missouri
Steel City usually doesn't take receivers in Round 1, but the value of a consensus Top 10 prospect at 17 is too good to pass up. After my projection of them signing QB Dak Prescott, Pittsburgh lands a YAC monster to create one of the most explosive and versatile WR trios ever along with George Pickens and Roman Wilson.
1.18: Cleveland Browns: Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
I'm not convinced the Browns have real Super Bowl chances with Deshaun Watson at QB, but their best chance lies in building a 49ers-type stacked roster. Colston Loveland is another piece to that puzzle, as he could wear many hats to upgrade Cleveland's offense.
1.19: New Orleans Saints: Mykel Williams, DE, Georgia
My Saints are finally digging out of cap hell, but there is no franchise QB available at this spot. Carl Granderson could use a running mate off the edge if Chase Young walks, and Williams has the athleticism to star inside or outside in Dennis Allen's defense.
1.20: Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Harold Perkins, LB, LSU
The Bucs made a surprise run in the postseason last year, but their LB room is still lacking with Lavonte David only getting older with not much replacement in sight. Since Tampa could also use some pass-rushing aid, Perkins is the perfect pick here, packaging stellar coverage and sack-creating into one player.
1.21: Miami Dolphins: Ajani Cornelius, IOL, Oregon
Tua could walk after the 2024 season, making QB a massive need, but I believe they will franchise tag him for 2025. Miami would then gear up for one last championship-or-bust season, plugging a huge hole on the inside with Cornelius here.
1.22: Baltimore Ravens: Quinshon Judkins, RB, Ohio State
2025 would be Derrick Henry's final year under contract in Baltimore, and while he hasn't shown much signs of slowing down yet, 30 is generally the end of high production for great running backs. Lamar Jackson has played at his best with an alpha RB next to him in the backfield, and Judkins has elite combination of vision and acceleration that will help make him just that.
1.23: Green Bay Packers: Jabbar Muhammad, CB, Oregon
While Jaire Alexander is still one of the best at his craft, outside of him the Pack have less to be excited about, only creating 7 interceptions in 2023. Muhammad would fit nicely here, with his feistiness and ballhawk ability on an island endearing him to DC Jeff Hafley and fans alike.
1.24: Indianapolis Colts: Mitchell Evans, TE, Notre Dame
The Colts have set up young QB Anthony Richardson beautifully with the weapons they have for him at RB and WR, but the final piece is a game-changing TE for them. Evans is a bit of a reach here, but AR5 will love his seam-stretching play and his big catch radius as yet another weapon for him to play with in Year 3.
1.25: Buffalo Bills: J.T. Tuimoluau, DE, Ohio State
No clue if I spelled that right, but he should help out the Bills anyway. If Buffalo's young pass-catchers develop well, the offense is pretty much set, but you can never have enough pass rushers with Patrick Mahomes living in your conference.
1.26: Philadelphia Eagles: Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
I didn't think I would live to see GM Howie Roseman take a player not from the SEC in Round 1, but the prophecy finally came true this year with Quinyon Mitchell out of Toledo. One of Philly's few needs is a consistent WR3- and Egbuka, coming from WRU in Ohio State, can provide that and much more for them.
1.27: Dallas Cowboys: Ollie Gordon II, RB, Oklahoma St
Another benefit of the Eagles' previous pick is that it would've been a good target for Jerry Jones' Cowboys, who could use a running mate for CeeDee Lamb badly. I believe Dak will walk after another failed "all in" season in Dallas, but since great QBs aren't exactly lining up to be taken here, Jones elects to address another HUGE need at running back by grabbing Gordon II. It also marks 3 players taken in a row from colleges "O State".
1.28: Houston Texans: Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss
As far as the Texans go, their roster is so complete that they can really go BPA and not worry about filling holes on their team. That said, Nolen had 4 sacks and 37 tackles in 2023, and his explosive presence should only boost the blue-chip DEs next to him in Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter.
1.29: Detroit Lions: Emory Jones, OT, LSU
Detroit is the Motor City after all, so having another rusher that moves as quickly as those race cars would be nice for them. However, with LT Taylor Decker set to be a FA in 2025, Penei Sewell could find himself back on the left side, with the extra-strong and extra-nasty Jones coming in to fill the RT void.
1.30: Kansas City Chiefs: Denzel Burke, CB, Ohio State
After the trade of their CB1 in L'Jarius Sneed, this feels like an easy pick (thank god). Burke is a very polished prospect, which should help him slot in Day 1 with incumbent Trent McDuffie on the other side.
1.31: Cincinnati Bengals: Landon Jackson, DE, Arkansas
RB is also a need, but I have some belief in Chase Brown to grab the starting role. There have been some rumors about start DE Trey Hendrickson wanting out, so an athletic project DE here to try and replace him could make a ton of sense.
1.32: San Francisco 49ers: Danny Stutsman, LB, Oklahoma
If the 49ers can FINALLY get over the hump for a long-awaited Super Bowl (and even otherwise)
, plenty of key pieces, such as LB Dre Greenlaw, could be on the way out for greener pastures and richer bank accounts. Stutsman might not be more than a solid starter, but he might not need to be with perennial All-Pro Fred Warner there to aid and mentor him.