It’s time for our first 2025 NFL mock draft, and let’s just say it’s a little topsy turvy. The Vikings are WHERE? The 49ers are WHERE? The Bengals are HOW HIGH?

Five weeks into the college football season, some early observations on this class are starting to come into focus. This is a defense-heavy class: 19 of the top 32 picks in this early mock draft were on the defensive side of the ball, and it could be even more by the time the second mock rolls around. This defensive class is special, with super fun prospects leading the pack at corner, defensive tackle and EDGE. When we get to my midseason big board, I’m sure most of the top guys will be from that side of the ball. Colorado’s Travis Hunter and Michigan’s Will Johnson are stars at corner, Michigan DT Mason Graham and Kentucky DT Deone Walker and battle to be the first tackle picked, and the deep race at EDGE, there’s so many cool things to go and watch for on the defensive side of the ball.

On offense … not so much. It’s a relatively thin class at receiver and QB this year. Only five players from those positions made the mock, and where they land is anyone’s guess. You could say anyone is QB1 right now and you might be able to sway me, but so far I think I’m going to roll with Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders as my QB1. I went into the season with him at 2, but I’ve been impressed with his ability to weather the storm of pressure and find answers more often than not. I still think he creates some of it on his own, and his arm is just good more than it is top tier, but he offers a large base to work with. Offensive tackle is also a really interesting spot, largely because some guys might work better as guards rather than tackle. But hey, if you need a RB, take one this year. Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty is the best of the bunch, and he’s absolutely worth a first round pick.

Without further ado, let’s get into the first mock of the season! This mock was created using Tankathon current NFL standings.

Jaguars take electrifying CB—if they stay here

Oh look, the Jaguars are picking first overall! It’s Groundhog Day…again. The Jaguars are in need of a major facelift, from management down to coaching and the lack of talent on the field. If a new regime is coming to Duval at the end of the year and the Jaguars indeed get the top pick, I expect them to heavily consider trading out of this pick and drafting a tackle like Texas’ Kelvin Banks or LSU’s Will Cambell. Current LT Cam Robinson has been rough to start the year and his contract, along with backup LT Walker Little’s, is up at the end of the year. As is starting right guard Brandon Scherff, who also hasn’t played well at all. However, there are no trades in this mock, so I’ll give Jacksonville one of the most impressive cover corners I’ve seen at the college level, Colorado’s Travis Hunter. While Hunter might be a good receiver, he has the tools to be an elite corner. His ball skills really show up reading passes in the flat and jumping them to make plays on the ball, and he rarely loses patience downfield. This would be a slam dunk pick for any team, but Jacksonville sorely needs a boost on the back end.

Where the heck are the QBs?

Like I said at the top—this QB class is up to your interpretation. Right now, I have Sanders following his Buffalo teammate with the 2nd pick, going to the Tennessee Titans. As much as I want to believe in Will Levis, he is actively hurting his team with the turnovers, and new HC Brian Callahan might want to pick his own QB. Sanders is a pinpoint passer who has excellent touch downfield on vertical passes. I could still see the Titans picking a right tackle here to help build out a poor offensive line, but if Levis can’t iron out the turnover issue, it might be new QB time in Tennessee.

I think the Daniel Jones experiment for the Giants is over, and if (and that’s a big if) Brian Daboll is still coaching in New York, having a moldable QB might buy him more time. Alabama QB Jalen Milroe is coming off one of the best performances of his career, and I think it puts him firmly in the QB1 race. Milroe is a special athlete at the position who has shown exponential growth as a passer in the short areas, while still being able to create explosives with his legs and downfield. That’ll get you drafted early.

I struggled a bit with Miami’s Cameron Ward. Not that I don’t think he’s a talented player—the arm angles he’s able to hit and the easy release make him such a tantalizing prospect—but man sometimes he just goes off script way too much. Add in the fact that Miami really hasn’t faced a quality defense yet, and I still think you have a QB who can be a Day 1 pick, but might be best on the second day. QB tax, am I right? Ward ends up in Las Vegas, where they absolutely NEED the help at signal caller. Ward, TE Brock Bowers and WR Davante Adams? I can be talked into that.

Dallas finally gets a playmaker

The Cowboys have been running the “Dak and CeeDee help us” offense for quite a bit now, and I think it’s time to get them some help. While the offensive line has been quite good (11th in Adjusted Line Yards per FTN Fantasy), they’re 29th in Second-Level Yards gained per attempt and dead last in Open Field Yards gained per attempt, and none of their running backs average more than 1.6 Yards After Contact. Enter Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty, the best tackle breaking machine in the country. Jeanty already has a ridiculous 845 yards and 13 touchdowns through four games, and a sparkling 10.3 yards per carry. Jeanty runs with a low center of gravity and has an expansive toolbag of tackle breaking moves, from stiff arms to juke moves that leave defenders in the dust. He’s the top offensive playmaker in the 2025 draft class, a can’t miss prospect who the Cowboys need to punch up their run game.