10. New Orleans Saints: EDGE James Pearce Jr. – Tennessee

While there might be a lower floor here, I genuinely think Pearce has as high of a ceiling of any of the edge rushers in the 2025 NFL Draft. He’s as explosive as anyone on the board and has some physical-freak-type traits. New Orleans needs help in several spots; I think they will try to improve by getting someone who gets after the quarterback with this pick.

11. San Francisco 49ers: EDGE Mykel Williams – Georgia

The Niners need to add along the lines of scrimmage and in the secondary. There are a few options at each of those positions here, but I think they’d go the pass-rusher route. Mykel Williams has had an outstanding season, and drafting Georgia defenders is usually a safe strategy.

12. Miami Dolphins: DL Kenneth Grant – Michigan

It’s the third Michigan defender off the board! Miami needs to fill out in the middle of its DL. They need to get meaner, tougher, and nastier in their trenches, especially on defense. Kenneth Grant provides a big body in the middle that will demand double teams and help clog up running lanes. He’d be a significant step toward filling out their defensive line and changing their reputation a bit on the front line.

13. Indianapolis Colts: S Malaki Starts – Georgia

The Colts need help in the secondary, I think ideally they’d like to take a corner and Benjamin Morrison could still end up being the pick, but Malaki Starks is going to keep climbing up the boards and might be the safer pick for Indy here.

14. Cincinnati Bengals: CB Benjamin Morrison – Notre Dame

I still have no idea where Morrison will end up, and it will probably depend on how he looks in the pre-draft process. If he looks healthy and ready to go following hip surgery that cost him most of his season at Notre Dame, he’ll probably go in the top 15. If not, he could fall to the back end of the first round. Cincinnati needs playmakers on defense and really help just about everywhere. Morrison, if healthy, would be a great addition.

15. Dallas Cowboys: RB Ashton Jeanty – Boise State

Dallas has bigger needs than a running back, but as we’ve seen this year the right one can make a huge difference. Jeanty is a very good running back, and he’s probably the best player available at this point. It seems like most mock drafts are making this connection, but that’s for a good reason. Dallas has a ton of holes in their roster that need filling. Having said that, the Cowboys’ ground attack has been brutal this year, and Jeanty can help.

16. Arizona Cardinals: EDGE/LB Jalon Walker – Georgia

Arizona has been one of the surprises of the NFL this season. Offensively, they’ve done a decent job building up their core. While their defense has played well this year, they have been overachieving a bit and could use some help getting to the quarterback. They go the Georgia route here with Jalon Walker who can play in a few different spots in that defense.

17. Seattle Seahawks: OL Jonah Savaiinaea – Arizona

Savaiinaea has played both tackle spots for Arizona and can play almost anywhere on the line except for center. Outside of Charles Cross, the Seahawks offensive line will be a question mark this offseason, and this pick would allow them some flexibility in their personnel decisions while also bringing in a nice piece. They might have other OLs higher on their board, but Savaiinaea’s versatility might be too much to pass up.

18. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: WR Luther Burden III – Missouri

With no corner jumping out at this spot yet, another wide receiver makes a lot of sense for Tampa in this spot. Mike Evans isn’t getting younger, and Chris Godwin will likely be elsewhere next season and has injury issues as well. Burden would be a nice fit alongside Evans and would inject some more youth into the Bucs’ skill group on offense.

19. Atlanta Falcons: EDGE Nic Scourton – Texas A&M

The Falcons need some help on the edge getting to the quarterback, and Nic Scourton can give them just that. He’s effective in both stopping the run and rushing the passer and has been one of the most consistent edge defenders in college football over the last couple of seasons. He seems like a smart, safe pick for a defense that can use an impact player.

20. Los Angeles Chargers: TE Colston Loveland – Michigan

The Chargers have had a nice first season under Jim Harbaugh, but they still have a few holes to fill. Harbaugh loves having a tight end that he and his quarterback can rely on. Loveland has already been that for Harbaugh at Michigan, and in this situation, the two sides feel like a perfect match to reunite at the NFL level.

21. Houston Texans: DL Walter Nolen – Ole Miss

Nolen would provide a much-needed boost to the Texans’ interior defensive line. The edge rushers in Houston haven’t been an issue, but they need to beef up in the middle of that defense, and this pick would allow them to do that.

22. Denver Broncos – TE Tyler Warren – Penn State

A reliable and versatile tight end that can be deployed in many different ways and in many different spots on the offense feels like a perfect fit for Sean Payton and his offense. Warren has been Penn State’s best player this year offensively and has done almost everything for them; for that, he’s entered the first-round conversation. He’d be a great fit in Denver as they build up their young offense.

23. Los Angeles Rams: OT Aireontae Ersery – Minnesota

Ersery might need a little development, but he’s got the size, strength, and ability to be a good tackle in the NFL. The Rams need to add to their offensive line, and tackle is undoubtedly a need. This pick helps keep Matthew Stafford upright and hopefully operating at a high level for the next couple of seasons.

24. Washington Commanders: CB Shavon Revel Jr. – East Carolina

For as good of a season as the Commanders have had, they still have a decent amount of work to do on their roster. Their secondary has been one of the biggest problems with their roster this season, and being a defensive coach, I think Dan Quinn would like to build up that side of the ball the best he can. Shavon Revel Jr. might need a little development, but he’s got the size and the tools to be a good cornerback in the NFL, and that’s a massive need for Washington right now.

25. Pittsburgh Steelers: WR Emeka Egbuka – Ohio State

This would be a little out-of-character pick for Pittsburgh, which usually likes to build from the inside out. However, Egbuka is as NFL-ready of a receiver as there is. He can play in the slot or outside and run any route on the tree. His teammate, tackle Josh Simmons, could be a potential target here too, but Egbuka could help add a little more explosiveness to a Steelers offense that could use some.

26. Baltimore Ravens: G Tyler Booker – Alabama

The Ravens aren’t a franchise that will prioritize positional value over the best player available. Baltimore will likely look to boost its offensive line this offseason with some uncertainty. At this point, Tyler Booker might be the best player in the draft, even if a guard isn’t the sexiest pick.

27. Green Bay Packers: DL Tyliek Williams – Ohio State

Green Bay loves spending first-round picks on defensive players. They could also stand to go the cornerback route here, but the defensive line will be a need for them, too. Really, it just depends on how their draft board and priorities play out. Here, I have them going with one of the better interior DLs in the draft, but seeing them grab a corner they like wouldn’t surprise me either.

28. Philadelphia Eagles: LB Jihaad Campbell – Alabama

Campbell is listed as a linebacker and mostly plays there, but he can also move out to the edge. He’s an explosive defender who can get after the passer and stop the run. He could do just about whatever Vic Fangio asks him to. Look for Campbell to rise up draft boards as the season continues.

29. Buffalo Bills: DT T.J. Sanders – South Carolina

The Bills have been one of the most fun teams in the NFL this season, however, if there’s a spot to get them it’s their run defense and ability in the defensive trenches. Their losses this season have highlighted some needs on defense, namely up the middle, and Sanders can come in and provide some help there and help fill one of those.

30. Minnesota Vikings: CB Jahdae Barron – Texas

While Minnesota’s defense has been good this year, cornerback could be a spot to make an addition this offseason. Stephon Gilmore is up there in age and on a one-year deal. Barron would be a solid fit in that secondary and help give them a long-term answer at cornerback. He can play multiple positions on the back end and would be able to slot in wherever needed.

31. Detroit Lions: EDGE Jack Sawyer – Ohio Stae

The Lions have done a nice job getting after the quarterback, even after the loss of Aidan Hutchinson. However, they could still use a mainstay on the opposite side of Hutchinson, and ZaDarius Smith is more likely to be a filler in the short term. Ohio State has a pair of star edge rushers that have a chance to go in the first round, and I could very much see them going with Jack Sawyer here. It might just be a matter of which edge rusher they covet most at this spot.

32. Kansas City Chiefs: OT Cameron Williams – Texas

While the Chiefs don’t have many holes, adding a tackle would be one of the few to address. Defensively, they’ve been great this year, but they can do a little bit better of a job protecting Patrick Mahomes, and going with a first-round tackle from one of the better OLs in college football would be a start.