Tony Schultz’s NFL Mock Draft | 2025
As we all know, mock drafts are about as easy to guess as the NCAA College Basketball Tournament. With all the twists and upsets that usually occur, it can quickly go sideways, and your bracket is busted. I didn’t sit and mull this over and agonize over picks and crazy trades. I just went with my gut and rapid-fired through the first round.
Tony Schultz’s NFL Mock Draft | 2025
One, two, and three will all go as planned with Cam Ward, Travis Hunter, Abdul Carter, and Will Campbell. While a different team might jump up to get one of them, I don’t think those names change. I honestly don’t think any of those four teams trade out.
Time for the draft to get interesting!
5; TRADE: Bears – Ashton Jeanty, RB Boise
Ben Johnson can’t resist trying to copy his Detroit backfield, and giving Caleb Williams a premier weapon out of the backfield takes pressure off the quarterback.
6. Raiders – Armand Membou, Tackle, Missouri
The Raiders are upset they can’t get Jeanty, so they take the best tackle to protect Geno Smith or a future drafted quarterback.
7. Jets – Tetairoa McMillan, Wide Receiver, Arizona
The Jets follow the adage that offense sells tickets. So, they add a weapon for Juston Fields to toss to.
8. Panthers – Malaki Starks, Safety, Georgia
The Panthers strengthen their defensive backfield with the best safety on the board.
9. Saints – Mike Green, Edge Marshall
The Saints have many holes and may have Derek Carr on the shelf this season. They shore up the defense this year with Cam Jordan retiring in the next few years.
10 Jaguars – Mason Graham, Defensive Tackle, Michigan
The trade back pays off in value, and they are still getting the guy they wanted.
11. 49ers – Josh Simmons, Tackle, Ohio State
Brock Purdy will get paid, so they better get him some bodyguards to protect that bag he’s getting.
12. Cowboys – Luther Burden III, Wide Receiver, Missouri
Jerry Jones can’t help himself and needs to put more offense on the field. A great partner with CeeDee Lamb.
13. Dolphins – Kelvin Banks Jr., Tackle, Texas
They need to give Tua Tagovailoa time to throw before he gets hit again. Every hit puts them closer to a new quarterback with his concussion history.
14. Colts – Tyler Warren, Tight End, Penn State
This is another one that seems destined to happen. A great weapon for whichever quarterback finally gets named the starter.
15 Falcons – Emeka Egbuka, Wide Receiver, Ohio State
The Falcons need a better pass rush, but for some reason, go receiver. They feel they need to help Michael Penix, and he seems to be a wild card in the draft again.
16. Cardinals – Walter Nolen, Defensive Tackle, Mississippi
The Cards could go a few different directions, but they go defense as he is the best player available in their opinion.
17. Bengals – Donovan Ezeruaku, Edge, Boston College
Tey Hendrickson wants out, and they put all their money into their wide receivers.
18. Seahawks – James Pearce Jr., Edge, Tennessee
They are trying to bring back the defense they’re known for, and hope Sam Darnold plays better under pressure in his 2nd year of rebirth.
19. Buccaneers – Jihaad Campbell, Linebacker, Alabama
The Bucs could go a few different ways, but linebacker seems to be their biggest need on defense.
20. Broncos – Omarion Hampton, Running Back, North Carolina
Sean Payton doesn’t fool anyone for the second year in a row.
21. Steelers – Kenneth Grant, Defensive Tackle, Michigan
While we are in the Shedeur Sanders range. I think Mike Tomlin avoids the parental drama and goes with the best defender on the board.
22. Chargers – Colston Loveland, Tight End, Michigan
They need this piece to make their offense very dangerous, and they didn’t even have to trade up to get him.
23. Packers – Jahdae Barron, Cornerback, Texas
Jaire Alexander will be gone, and they have too many high-end receivers in their division. They are going to need new blood.
24, TRADE: Rams – Jaxson Dart, Quarterback, Mississippi
This is where the teams at the top of the 2nd round that need quarterbacks start to fight for position and that fifth-year option. The Rams want Dart to replace 37-year-old Matthew Stafford eventually.
25. Texans – Tyler Booker, Guard
They need to protect CJ Stroud, and he is a massive blocker to keep him safe.
26. Vikings – Grey Zabel, Guard, North Dakota State
The Vikings need more picks, and they could go down even farther, including into the top of the 2nd round. They move down slightly and still get the guy they want. I feel the bottom of the 1st round gets a bit crazy.
27. Ravens – Nic Scourton, Edge Texas A&M
The Ravens shore up their pass rush and make the defense more dangerous upfront.
28. Lions – Jalon Walker, Linebacker, Georgia
Walker adds to the second level of the Lions’ defense. They can get pass rush help later in the draft.
29. Commanders – Shemar Stewart, Edge, Texas A&M
There isn’t another great weapon to help out Jaydin Daniels at this point. They need pass rush help, and he brings their defense up to complement the offense better.
30. Bills – Will Johnson, Cornerback, Michigan
This is a best player available type pick. He falls to them, and the Bills snag him.
31. Chiefs – Josh Conerly Jr. Tackle Oregon
The Chiefs need offensive line help like they need to breathe. If the Vikings trade out of the 1st round, they jump on Zabel. That’s very much in play.
32. TRADE: Browns – Shedeur Sanders, Quarterback, Colorado
The Browns need that fifth-year option for a new quarterback and to climb out of salary cap Hell. Since they, the Giants, Raiders, and Saints, couldn’t get the Vikings to trade down further, this is how it works out.
33. Eagles – Trey Amos, Cornerback, Mississippi
They only went back one spot and still got the corner they needed for a little less money.
As I said, this is just my best guess, and if there is a bevy of trades, it could be a wild night with the usual surprise picks.
The Essential Vikings Draft Big Board
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