Normally for my post-combine mock, I like to propose a few trade ideas. But I found it tough to do with this class because teams like the depth on Day 2 a whole lot more than the options in a relatively light first round. It doesn’t sound like teams will be eager to give away second- or even third-round picks to move up — the main exception being at No. 1, if/when the Titans decide to bolt from the top pick.

Among the candidates for a possible trade up, the Browns and Giants are the clear favorites to make a move for expected top quarterback Cam Ward. Those teams hold picks 2 (Cleveland) and 3 (New York), respectively, and I believe the Titans want to stay somewhere in the top three so they can nab Penn State’s Abdul Carter or Colorado’s Travis Hunter.

Ward is widely viewed as the top guy this year, but the quarterback rankings after him vary wildly from team to team. Some believe Shedeur Sanders is QB2, while other teams view him more as a Day 2 type of prospect — and someone who didn’t help himself at this year’s combine. The free-agent quarterback dominoes (hopefully) will help sort some of this out.

A post-combine look at how Round 1 might play out:

1. New York Giants (projected trade with Tennessee): Cam Ward, QB, Miami

The Giants need to make a splash in a quarterback market that is more of a puddle than an ocean.

This is the only trade I am projecting in this mock, and it probably would be the least-surprising move if it comes to fruition. Packaging a pair of Day 2 picks to move up from No. 3 to No. 1 likely would be enough to put Ward in a Giants jersey.

2. Cleveland Browns: Abdul Carter, Edge, Penn State

The Browns want to draft a quarterback, so I wouldn’t be surprised if they made an offer to the Titans to move up one spot. But if they don’t trade out and Ward is off the board, Carter wouldn’t be a bad fallback option. Carter’s medicals could be tricky, though, so they’ll be something to watch over the next month.

3. Tennessee Titans (projected trade with New York Giants): Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado

Should the Titans trade out of the top spot, it is a good bet they won’t move down further than the third pick — they’ll want to ensure they get one of the top players in this draft class. No matter if he plays offense, defense or both, Hunter immediately would bring a jolt of energy to the Tennessee roster.

4. New England Patriots: Armand Membou, OT, Missouri

Teams are warming up to the idea that Membou could go this high — his tape is good enough; his testing was more than good enough.

That said, he is still just 20 and had to pull out of the Senior Bowl because of an illness, so teams still have homework to do on him. But he is in the mix to be the first offensive lineman drafted.

OT1?

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— Nick Baumgardner (@nickbaumgardner.bsky.social) March 2, 2025 at 3:14 PM

5. Jacksonville Jaguars: Will Campbell, OT/G, LSU

The tackle-guard debate with Campbell will be popular in the next two months, so let’s pace ourselves. Regardless, Campbell is one of the more well-liked players in the draft class by teams, because of his tape and talent.

The Jaguars may need to replace impending free agent Brandon Scherff (ironically, the last guard to be drafted in the top five), and Campbell would be a nice drive onto the fairway for a first-year general manager and head coach.

6. Las Vegas Raiders: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State

The Raiders are in the market for playmakers. Ideally, one of those playmakers would be a quarterback, but adding Jeanty to Chip Kelly’s offense would vastly upgrade a unit lacking an identity.

7. New York Jets: Mason Graham, DT, Michigan

Graham isn’t going to blow anybody away with his length or testing (he sat out everything but the bench press at the combine), but teams are ready to trust his tape. His attitude and play style fit what Aaron Glenn wants to build in New York.

8. Carolina Panthers: Shemar Stewart, Edge, Texas A&M

At 6-foot-5 and 267 pounds, Stewart ripped off a 1.58-second 10-yard split in the 40-yard dash. To put that into context, Von Miller posted a split of 1.59 — and he was 20 points lighter. Many people will get hung up on Stewart’s lack of sack production, but the tape shows a player who affects the backfield much more than the stat sheet suggests.

Shemar Stewarat’s first 40 attempt is a 4.60u.

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— NFL (@NFL) February 27, 2025

9. New Orleans Saints: Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State

Regardless of who’s going to be the quarterback, the Saints are missing offensive playmakers — an issue that has allowed opposing defenses to dictate the action, rather than the other way around. But Warren and his diverse skill set would greatly open up Kellen Moore’s offense.

10. Chicago Bears: Tyler Booker, G, Alabama

The Bears will have their choice of several different prospects in the trenches here.

Despite his below-average athletic testing, Booker had one of the combine’s cleanest positional workouts, and teams are trusting the tape that shows a Pro Bowl-level player. By the end of his rookie year in Chicago, Booker would be one of the leaders in the locker room.

11. San Francisco 49ers: Mykel Williams, Edge, Georgia

Although his 2024 season didn’t go as planned (mostly due to a nagging ankle injury), Williams has the length and physical traits that have teams excited about his NFL future. He is an outstanding run defender and holds a lot of promise as a pass rusher.

12. Dallas Cowboys: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona

Outside of CeeDee Lamb, where is the juice coming from in the Cowboys’ offense? McMillan could provide some. With his rangy catch radius and ball skills, he is a quarterback-friendly target who is open even when covered.

13. Miami Dolphins: Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina

In regards both to the need and the best player available here, Emmanwori would fit well in Miami. At 6-3 1/8, 220, his 4.40 40-yard dash, 43-inch vertical and broad jump of 11 feet, 6 inches give him “certified freak” status.

Very interesting (and sizable) difference in the vertical between Nick Emmanwori (43″) and Malaki Starks (33″)

— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) February 28, 2025

14. Indianapolis Colts: Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan

Connecting the Colts with a tight end here is far from original, but it makes a lot of sense. Loveland has the pass-catching athleticism that will make him an immediate asset for whoever is playing quarterback in Indianapolis next season.

15. Atlanta Falcons: Jalon Walker, Edge/LB, Georgia

I know, I know — the Falcons don’t draft Bulldogs in the first two rounds. But I’ll bet Raheem Morris is very interested in the athletic versatility and intangibles that Walker would bring to Atlanta’s front seven.

16. Arizona Cardinals: Donovan Ezeiruaku, Edge, Boston College

With a 6.94-second three-cone, Ezeiruaku was the only pass rusher at this year’s combine to clock in under seven seconds in the short-area agility drill. Between his 34-inch arms and the 16.5 sacks he produced last season, the Boston College product could sneak into the top 20.

17. Cincinnati Bengals: Will Johnson, CB, Michigan

I don’t know if we’ll ever see Johnson run a 40-yard dash (Michigan’s pro day is scheduled for March 21), which would be an issue for some teams. But with Johnson’s fluidity and footwork, his tape shows a corner who should start immediately as an NFL rookie.

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18. Seattle Seahawks: Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama

Though his off-ball instincts are still developing, Campbell didn’t post 117 tackles last season on accident. His explosive speed and finishing skills are traits that make him a playmaker in the front seven.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Mike Green, Edge, Marshall

As long as the Buccaneers wouldn’t be concerned with Green’s off-field baggage, the Marshall product has the play speed and violence in his game to be a disruptive player, both as a pass rusher and run defender.

20. Denver Broncos: Omarion Hampton, RB, Marshall

Be it a “joker” pass catcher or a dynamic running back, there is a good chance Denver will be hunting for an offensive difference-maker here.

At 221 pounds, Hampton ripped off a 4.46 40 and 38-inch vertical, numbers that reflect the explosion he shows on the field.

21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado

Sanders is going to be a wild card in this draft. He could go in the top six or fall out of the first round entirely — and neither outcome would be a shock.

He is not a first-round quarterback for a lot of NFL teams, which isn’t a major surprise (and matches my evaluation). But all it takes is one front office to roll the dice on his skill set. If Sanders falls out of the top 10, this would be an interesting landing spot. The Steelers are searching for answers at the QB position.

22. Los Angeles Chargers: Matthew Golden, WR, Texas

The Chargers could go offensive line (Grey Zabel?), defensive line (Derrick Harmon?) or corner (Jahdae Barron?) here. But if I’m another AFC West team, the idea of this offense adding an exciting weapon such as Golden is what I wouldn’t want to see.

Texas’ CFP standout Matthew Golden just ran a 4.30u 🤘

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— NFL (@NFL) March 1, 2025

23. Green Bay Packers: Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon

Harmon (6-4 1/2, 313) was one of only two defensive tackles weighing more than 305 pounds to run under 5.00 seconds in the 40-yard dash — he did it in 4.95. His athleticism off the ball was reflected in his FBS-best 55 pressures last season.

24. Minnesota Vikings: Kelvin Banks Jr., OT/G, Texas

The projection of Banks moving to guard was never about size, it was more about his play style. He has the tools to stay outside, but several teams see his best long-term position inside, which fits what the Vikings could be looking for with this pick.

25. Houston Texans: Grey Zabel, G/C, North Dakota State

Zabel put himself in the top-50 mix based on his 2024 tape. And after his Senior Bowl and combine performances, a spot in the top 25 is certainly possible. He played every position in college except for center, but his skill set is a perfect fit to be snapping the football.

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26. Los Angeles Rams: Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State

With Cooper Kupp on his way out, the Rams don’t have many answers at receiver beyond Puka Nacua and Jordan Whittington. Egbuka is already a pro in terms of his mindset and versatile skill set.

27. Baltimore Ravens: Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas

I don’t know if the Ravens would go cornerback in the first round in back-to-back years, but with Brandon Stephens unlikely to return, the need is there. Barron helped himself with his on-field workout at the combine.

28. Detroit Lions: Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan

At 6-4, 331, Grant is a massive man with some unique traits. Do teams wish the tape was more consistent? No question. But the NFL is a big man’s league, and there aren’t many with Grant’s combination of size and ability in this class.

29. Washington Commanders: Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State

The Commanders could go in a few directions in the first round, including adding an offensive tackle to help protect their franchise quarterback. If not for the knee injury he suffered early last season, Simmons would be long gone by this point.

30. Buffalo Bills: Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky

Similar in ways to Nate Wiggins in last year’s draft class, Hairston is rail thin (183 pounds) — but 4.2 athletes with coverage ability aren’t easy to find. Buffalo could use his quick-twitch play style.

“Official” 40 results for the CBs

4.28 – Maxwell Hairston
4.30 – Darien Porter
4.33 – Caleb Ransaw
4.35 – Jacob Parrish
4.36 – Zah Frazier
4.39 – Jahdae Barron, Robert Longerbeam
4.40 – Justin Walley
4.41 – Mac McWilliams

— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) February 28, 2025

31. Kansas City Chiefs: Josh Conerly Jr., OT, Oregon

The Chiefs have no choice but to make some changes this offseason at offensive tackle. Conerly, who had the best 10-yard split of any lineman at the combine, has high-level quickness and recovery balance.

32. Philadelphia Eagles: Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss

With Milton Williams on his way out of Philadelphia, Nolen would be a nice fit on that defensive line. The Eagles have made a habit of scooping up trench players who fall a little further than they should in the draft.

GO DEEPER

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(Illustration: Will Tullos / The Athletic; Photos of Abdul Carter, Cam Ward and Travis Hunter: Megan Briggs, John E. Moore III, Kevin Abele / Getty Images)