Steven Cheah's 2025 Final NFL Mock Draft

Steven Cheah4/23/2025 5:00 PM

Jim McIsaac. Getty Images.

It's Draft Week! I'll preface this with the fact that this is not a great draft. In a good draft year, there are 16-18 consensus 1st Rounders. This year, you'd be hard pressed to find a dozen. But every team will get better in the next few days. So cheers to that!

For reference, here are prior mocks: 1.0, 2.0, 3.0

1) Tennessee Titans - QB Cam Ward (Miami)

The Titans have a ton of needs. I don't personally love going Cam Ward here at #1 because they're far from just a QB away. However the Titans came out on Tuesday and said they'd be sticking and picking.

Ward is a versatile piece with a big arm and elite athleticism. He's improved every program he's been with so the Titans are hoping they're next.

2) Cleveland Browns - WR/CB Travis Hunter (Colorado)

Hunter is one of the most dynamic players to ever enter the NFL Draft. He could be a very good Cornerback or Wide Receiver. On Monday's Pardon My Take, Draft Expert Daniel Jeremiah said that he expects Hunter to play more WR and less CB but do both, which was counter to what most people had thought.

Either way he plays, he should be a big get for a team in need of playmakers.

3) New York Giants - EDGE Abdul Carter (Penn State)

Coming off a 12.0 sack season, Carter is the top pass rusher in the Draft. At 6'3" 250 lbs. he's got solid size and elite get-off and motor. A potential foot surgery has clouded his status for training camp, but the hope is that he's Micah Parsons 2.0. I do think Shedeur Sanders gets consideration here as the Giants do really like him, but it's hard to pass up potentially the best player in the Draft at #3.

4) New England Patriots - OT/OG Will Campbell (LSU)

Will Campbell is an OKG for the Patriots - our kinda guy. Blue collar, 0% diva, and a flat out ass kicker. There are people that think he'll need to kick inside to Guard due to not having elite arm length for a Tackle, but either way, he has the right mindset and skills to be a very good pro for a long time. Safe pick for the Pats.

5) Jacksonville Jaguars - RB Ashton Jeanty (Boise State)

This is a wild card spot. New GM James Gladstone is only 34 years old and very analytical. But with Liam Coen at the helm, they're going to be able to run the football. The Bucs went from 31st in the NFL in rushing to 4th last year and have a very good O-Line. The Jags were 26th in the NFL in rushing in 2024. Coen's arrival will boost that, but do they have the guys to make it happen on the roster? Buccaneers RB Bucky Irving, despite being a 4th round pick, is an amazing talent. A hard worker. A versatile back that can be a weapon running, inside, outside, and in the receiving game. The longer and harder I thought about it, Travis Etienne and Tank Bigsby aren't those guys. Ashton Jeanty though, is. He's a game changer with the vision, tackle breaking, elite contact balance, and long speed to really add some juice to a running game.

6) Las Vegas Raiders - OT/OG Armand Membou (Missouri)

There is a new regime in Las Vegas and there are a lot of questions about what this pick could be. It's a popular landing spot for Ashton Jeanty in a lot of mocks. But I've known GM John Spytek for awhile and he's always preached the trenches. I wouldn't be surprised with a Jalon Walker or Mason Graham (from his alma mater, Michigan), but I think they go on the offensive side of the football and go with Armand Membou from Mizzou. At 6'4" 332 lbs. with 33 1/2" inch arms running a 4.91 40-yard dash he compares a bit to Buccaneers Left Tackle Tristan Wirfs who was a physical freak at 6'5" 320 lbs. with 34" inch arms running a 4.85 40-yard dash. Spytek was part of the group that drafted him in Tampa that led to an immediate Super Bowl and even if the results are different for the Raiders this year, they still will look at Membou as a building block for years to come.

If you want to bet Offensive Lineman to the Raiders, you can do it (responsibly) on DraftKings

7) New York Jets - TE Tyler Warren (Penn State)

The Jets have a ton of needs and with Justin Fields at QB, they'll be running the ball a lot more. Tyler Conklin was TE1 last year and without Davante Adams, the Jets don't have much outside after Garrett Wilson. Warren offers field stretching ability up the seam and is also an outstanding blocker.

8) Carolina Panthers - DT Mason Graham (Michigan)

The Panthers give up 184 total yards/game to opposing Runningbacks. That is league worst by about 30 yards. It's not a sexy pick, but Graham can help plug up those gaps and has the versatility to be a pass rush threat too.

9) New Orleans Saints - EDGE Jalon Walker (Georgia)

The Saints have been circling the Quarterback market with the news that Derek Carr may miss some time, but #9 is a bit too rich here. Walker is a promising EDGE player that can also drop and be a do-it-all type. But at 6'1" 243 lbs. with 32 5/8" inch arms is he big enough to hold up?

10) Chicago Bears - EDGE Mike Green (Marshall)

Green is a polarizing prospect with some character concerns. But with 17.0 sacks last season for the Thundering Herd and a terrific Senior Bowl week, Green is on the rise.

11) San Francisco 49ers - OT/OG Kelvin Banks Jr. (Texas)

After losing Deebo Samuel this off-season and Brandon Aiyuk coming back from injury, there is a possibility of a WR here. But Tet McMillan and Matthew Golden don't feel like 49ers WRs. Maybe Luther Burden, but #11 is too rich for him. They have met with Kelvin Banks Jr. and talked to him about playing Right Tackle. With an aging Trent Williams and Kolton McKivitz at Right Tackle, Banks could help upgrade their OL immediately and keep Brock Purdy clean.

12) Dallas Cowboys - OG Tyler Booker (Alabama)

Dallas isn't afraid to take Guards in the 1st Round and with likely future Hall of Fame 1st Round Guard, Zack Martin retiring in February, Booker would be able to slide in naturally at Right Guard.

13) Miami Dolphins - CB Jahdae Barron (Texas)

Jalen Ramsey is seeking a trade and their secondary needs a boost. Barron, while not the ideal height or arm length, is a sticky Corner with great on-ball production with 5 INTs and 11 passes defensed last year.

14) Indianapolis Colts - TE Colston Loveland (Michigan)

At 6'5 1/2" 248 lbs. with a nuanced wiggle at the top of his route, Loveland could give Anthony Richardson or Daniel Jones a reliable outlet over the middle.

15) Atlanta Falcons - Mykel Williams (Georgia)

Williams had a fairly disappointing season, but still had a career-high 5.0 sacks after 4.5 in each of his first two seasons. At 6'5" 260 lbs. with 34 3/8" inch arms, those guys go high. Williams is versatile and can rush outside or kick inside on 3rd downs. The Falcons need guys to get after the Quarterback and stop the run and Williams has the potential to do both at a high level.

16) Arizona Cardinals - EDGE Donovan Ezeiruaku (Boston College)

The Cardinals need pass rush, even after signing Josh Sweat in free agency. Darius Robinson is still a work in progress and Ezeiruaku is coming off a 16.5 sack season for Boston College.

17) Cincinnati Bengals - DT Kenneth Grant (Michigan)

The Bengals lost DT DJ Reader to the Lions prior to last season and their defense went from solid to dreadful. The 6'3 1'2" 330 lbs. monster out of Michigan can help clog up that middle again for the Bengals.

18) Seattle Seahawks - WR Tetairoa McMillan (Arizona)

Sam Darnold has got Jaxon Smith-Njigba to throw to, but with DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett both gone, they still need more weapons. McMillan is a big 6'4" 213 lbs. weapon on the outside that has an incredible catch radius and great hands. He played 76% of his snaps on the outside last year which would allow them to keep their best WR, Jaxon Smith-Njigba primarily in the slot.

19) TRADE New York Giants (via Tampa Bay Buccaneers) - QB Shedeur Sanders (Colorado)

The Giants are my Shedeur team. How could you not believe it? Maybe not at #3 but two spots in front of Pittsburgh sounds about right. Bucs GM Jason Licht is no stranger to trading back and this makes too much sense. Sanders tweeted out a picture of Giants cleats, he said to our own guy, Gillie that he'd be playing in the NFC East. Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston aren't the long term answers in the big apple and while Sanders is a polarizing prospect for throwing a lot of short passes and not having an elite physical trait, he does have elite mental processing, which in my opinion, is the most important characteristic of a good Quarterback. He's also obviously a former NFL player's son, so he understands the business and the commitment it'll take to be great. This is a perfect match and the cost isn't too steep for your next franchise QB.

Trade Details: Giants give up 2025 2nd round pick (#34), 5th round pick (#154 overall) and 2026 2nd round pick

20) Denver Broncos - RB Omarion Hampton (North Carolina)

The Broncos backfield just flat out was not good last year. Jaleel McLaughlin and Audric Estime left a lot to be desired. Javonte Williams looked like he lost a step after knee surgery and is in Dallas now. But Williams alma mater, North Carolina has a good looking ball carrier in Hampton who ran for 1,500+ yards and 15 TDs in each of the past two seasons. He can provide the jolt needed in the mile high city's backfield.

21) Pittsburgh Steelers - DT Derrick Harmon (Oregon)

Steelers DT Cam Heyward will be 36 years old in two weeks and Pittsburgh needs some more help on the inside. The 6'4 1/2" 313 lbs. Harmon can not only help stop the run, but like Heyward, he offers some pass rush upside with 5.0 sacks last year for the Ducks.

22) Los Angeles Chargers - S Malaki Starks (Georgia)

The Chargers have Derwin James, who is a do-it-all talent on the back-end, but they also had some big time Safety needs and even brought the 33-year old Tony Jefferson out of retirement to play Safety last year. Starks is a alpha who can not only cover up mistakes, but prevent them from happening.

23) Green Bay Packers - CB Will Johnson (Michigan)

Jaire Alexander has been the subject of trade discussions and Will Johnson is an outstanding Corner who had a down year with injuries. The 6'1 1/2" 194 lbs. CB had turf toe that ended his season prematurely but should be ready to pick up where he left off in 2023 for the National Champion Wolverines.

24) Minnesota Vikings - EDGE Shemar Stewart (Texas A&M)

Stewart doesn't have a ton of production (4.5 total sacks in three seasons), but a 6'5" 267 lbs. (rumors are he played closer to 290 lbs.) he is a massive EDGE rusher. He can help shore up their run defense, which is a big point of emphasis playing in a division with Detroit and Green Bay. But developing more of a pass rush plan he has sky high potential if he can put it all together.

25) Houston Texans - WR Matthew Golden (Texas)

CJ Stroud experienced a big time sophomore slump and while a lot of that was injuries to Tank Dell and Stefon Diggs. Wide Receiver is a clear need and Golden is a great option. After transferring from Houston to Texas, he was thought to be the #2 WR for the Longhorns, but he quickly emerged as the top dog in Austin putting up 987 yards and 9 TDs. He is only 5'10" but he plays bigger than his size and is a crisp

26) Los Angeles Rams - S Nick Emmanwori (South Carolina)

Emmanwori was the story of the Combine clocking in at 6'3" 220 lbs. with 32 7/8" inch arms and running a 4.38 40-yard dash. Those type of attributes don't grow on trees and Safety is a need for the Rams.

27) Baltimore Ravens - OT/OG Josh Simmons (Ohio State)

I've heard Simmons name all over. From Round 2 to top 10. At the end of the day, I settled here where the Ravens need help along the Offensive Line and Simmons could provide insurance for Ronnie Stanley, competition for Roger Rosengarten, or even kick inside.

28) Detroit Lions - OG/C Grey Zabel (North Dakota State)

The Lions have arguably the best Offensive Line in football and need to keep adding to it. Longtime Center Frank Ragnow has talked about retiring recently and Zabel's skill set is diverse. He played Offensive Tackle at North Dakota State but is projecting to play inside at either Guard or Center. Detroit can take him here and bring him along slowly and allow him to find his best spot.

29) Washington Commanders - LB Carson Schwesinger (UCLA)

Frankie Luvu is the real deal, but Bobby Wagner will be 35 in before training camp starts. Schwesinger came out of nowhere this year to have a monster season and is one of my favorite players in the Draft. He can do it all - read and react, stack and shed, blitz, and cover. He'd improve the Commanders offense and allow Wagner to be fresh for a January run.

If the Buccaneers don't trade out at #19, look for him to be a potential surprise pick there.

30) Buffalo Bills - DT Walter Nolen (Ole Miss)

Joey Bosa was a great addition in the off-season, but inside, they need help next to Ed Oliver. Nolen was the #1 overall recruit coming out of high school and has a lot of untapped potential. He can rotate in and help rush the passer with 10.5 sacks over the past two seasons.

31) Kansas City Chiefs - CB Maxwell Hairston (Kentucky)

Hairston really boosted his stock at the Combine blazing a 4.28 40-yard dash. Matching that up with his 5'11 1/2" 183 lbs. frame. He only played in six games this season but was coming off a 5 INT season in 2023.

32) TRADE* New Orleans Saints (via Philadelphia Eagles) - QB Jaxson Dart (Ole Miss)

Some teams really like Dart and some don't. Overall, the demand is not incredible, but the Saints are a QB needy team with Derek Carr's injury lingering. Mintzy gets his college's QB to go to his pro team in a match that makes sense. Dart has some questions about his accuracy, but is a good athlete and provides rushing upside. The cost isn't overwhelming and the Saints do a nice job getting their QB of the future without giving up too much.

Trade Details: Saints give up 2nd Round Pick (#40 overall) and 3rd Round Pick (#71 overall) and 7th Round Pick (#248 overall)

And the big surprise will be…

Kirk Cousins will be dealt to the Cleveland Browns on Friday night

Here's a wrap up of my final mock draft.

And watch the En Eff El Draft stream tomorrow night for Round 1 with Brandon Walker, Coach Gruden, Liam Blutman, Frank the Tank, myself and a ton of guests!