Why is an NFL Mock Draft article on a site dedicated to the United Football League? It’s a fair question that has a personal answer. The Draft is where my love and advocacy for alternative non-NFL pro football leagues started. It’s the genesis of my football nerdom. It lured me to the Canadian Football League and all the American leagues operating in a world separate from the NFL.
Before the emergence of the internet, and in a world with no computers, at least not in my home. The pen and pad were my tools for mocking what was, back then, twelve rounds of an NFL Draft. The adolescent version of myself was so in love with college football and the NFL that a draft that merged the two worlds was peak fantasy—the equivalent of comic book characters like Superman entering the universe of Marvel.
It wasn’t just the main characters in football that intrigued me. I was fascinated by the drafted players and those who weren’t. Beyond that, the science, strategy, and logic utilized by teams in the drafting process. Undrafted underdog players who were unknown to most were my heroes. My Wayne Chrebet jersey hangs proudly in my closet to this day. Still, there were also star players like Warren Moon and Doug Flutie, who were snubbed for various reasons but stood out as defiers of conventional practice and accepted wisdom.
My superhero back then, who defied all boundaries, was Georgia running back Herschel Walker. In a pre-free agency world, Walker spurned the college drafting rules process and the NFL to be drafted into the USFL. To this day, I have never seen a running back as good as Walker was in his prime. In his first three seasons as a pro with the New Jersey Generals, Walker ran for 5,562 yards, scoring 54 rushing touchdowns; he also caught 130 passes for 1,484 yards, scoring seven touchdowns through the air. In the 1985 season, Walker rushed for an otherworldly 2,411 yards in 18 games, averaged 5.5 yards per carry, and scored 21 touchdowns on the ground. He had 37 receptions for 467 receiving yards and a score that season for added measure.
The modern-day version of Spring Pro Football is on a much different planet than the USFL from over four decades ago. It’s not an adversarial entity to the NFL but more of an alternate and in a complementary fashion to the biggest league there is. The UFL of 2025 has over 70 players drafted by NFL teams. The rosters of the eight teams, averaging 25 years old per player, have over 98 percent of players who have spent time on NFL rosters. Some will get another shot at being in the NFL when the UFL 2025 season concludes. It’s become a yearly occurrence since the Alliance of American Football arrived on the landscape in 2019. Every year, 50 to 100 players participating in leagues like XFL, USFL, and UFL sign NFL contracts. Typically, over a dozen or more land regular season jobs, some have been NFL regulars for multiple seasons, while others become All-Pros like Brandon Aubrey and KaVontae Turpin.
With over 98 percent of college football players not landing NFL jobs, the existence of other pro leagues is a must. NFL teams will draft players in the 2025 Draft who don’t stick for many reasons. Recent NFL draftees like quarterbacks Matt Corral and Kellen Mond are currently in the UFL. And there will be players who are not drafted or signed this weekend, who will wind up in the UFL and prove why they should have been.
So, for those who have reached this point of the article and are not scrolling down to quickly glance at my mock draft, thanks for indulging me and my history as a full-time football nerd. As a gift for your patience, I will spare you by not posting a seven-round mock. Here is my final first-round mock of the 2025 NFL Draft. I have been decent at doing this. I am likely to jinx myself, but I had the second-most accurate mock draft in the football community last year, behind Peter Schrager. In the two years prior, I finished 36th and 27th in draft accuracy. So here goes: No trades in this mock. Although I think there will be action in the 20 range for players, possibly a QB or two.
MIke Mitchell’s 2025 First Round Mock NFL Draft
- #1- Tennessee Titans: Cam Ward, QB, Miami (FL)
The Titans make a no-brainer choice. Ward is the safest bet in a unique quarterback class. - #2- Cleveland Browns: Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado
Arguably the most unique prospect ever in the NFL Draft, Hunter can be an all-pro on offense and defense. It depends on whether the team that selects him is daring enough to allow Hunter to do it - #3- New York Giants: Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State
The true definition of a best player available pick. The Giants don’t need Carter with Kayvon Thibodeaux and Brian Burns in tow. But it’s almost impossible to pass on the type of difference maker that Carter projects to be.#4- New England Patriots: Will Campbell, OT, LSU
The Patriots have to keep their prized possession, quarterback Drake Maye, upright and in an ideal environment to succeed. Consensus selection Campbell accomplishes that aim as Maye’s protector in what is ideally a role he flourishes at for the rest of the quarterback’s career. - #5- Jacksonville Jaguars: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
The Jaguars could trade down and add a potential difference-maker at a different position. But the hometown Jacksonville product is too hard to pass up. Jeanty is a megastar talent who could have the most impact of any rookie in 2025. - #6- Las Vegas Raiders: Mason Graham, DT, Michigan
The Raiders could make a move for Jeanty, who they desperately need on a team lacking elite playmakers. Graham is a boring selection by comparison, but he can be just as impactful playing next to star pass rusher Maxx Crosby. New GM John Spytek and Tom Brady, the Raiders’ minority owner, have ties to the University of Michigan. As a result, they truly realize Graham’s value. - #7- New York Jets: Armand Membou, OT, Missouri
The Jets under Aaron Glenn will be tempted to take a new lynchpin for the team’s defense or select tight end Tyler Warren as someone who can galvanize the Jets’ new personality on offense, but Membou fills the team’s most significant need at offensive tackle with Morgan Moses gone. - #8- Carolina Panthers: Jalon Walker, Edge/LB, Georgia
The Panthers desperately need a star player on defense who can impact the run and pass game. Walker fits that bill and has the character traits of a leader and team captain. - #9- New Orleans Saints: Mykel Williams, Edge, Georgia
- GM Mickey Loomis’ history of prioritizing defensive linemen will trump a forced pick at quarterback or the more logical choice of an offensive tackle.
- #10- Chicago Bears: Kelvin Banks, OT, Texas
The Bears could move up the chart for Jeanty. But they complete what has been one of the most dramatically improved offensive lines in the NFL this offseason by drafting Banks. - #11- San Francisco 49ers: Walter Nolen, DL, Mississippi
With Robert Saleh back as defensive coordinator, the 49ers target one of the draft’s most dominant prospects on the defensive line. Nolen can follow the path of other star former Saleh players on the interior. - #12- Dallas Cowboys: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
The Cowboys need a true WR2 for Dak Prescott. McMillan, a king-sized receiver with mismatch size, perfectly fits Brian Schottenheimer’s offense. - #13- Miami Dolphins: Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
Miami’s defense and secondary are in transition and need new star players. The Dolphins have tipped their hand by making Jalen Ramsey available for trade. - #14- Indianapolis Colts: Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
The Colts, seeking offensive playmakers, can’t pass on Warren if he’s available. His size and athleticism make him a matchup nightmare, and his ability to gain tough yards after safe and simple throws make him a cheat code for whoever the Colts trot out at quarterback. - #15- Atlanta Falcons: Shemar Stewart, DE, Texas A&M
Atlanta’s defense is in desperate need of an upgrade up front. Stewart is stellar against the run but has tantalizing upside as a pass rusher. - #16- Arizona Cardinals: Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas
The Cardinals’ secondary has some nice pieces but lacks a true shutdown corner who can excel in man and zone coverage. Barron is an ideal selection to fill those purposes. - #17- Cincinnati Bengals: Mike Green, Edge, Marshall
A year ago, the Bengals’ defense prevented them from being a playoff team. Cincinnati has to be more than just a one-man show with Trey Hendrickson. - #18- Seattle Seahawks: Grey Zabel, OL, North Dakota State
Seattle’s interior offensive line is a priority. Zabel, who can play multiple positions, is another in the long line of recent FCS standout linemen who project to be premium mainstays in the NFL - #19- Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama
With an aging linebacker corps that includes Lavonte David, the Bucs draft Campbell as a successor for a team with a rich history of off-ball linebacker play. - #20- Denver Broncos: Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina
Denver might be wheeling and dealing on draft day to secure what would be one final key piece to their offense. They could move up or down with WR, TE, and RB in play. But if they stay, Hampton is an ideal fit to play Sean Payton’s joker role. - #21- Pittsburgh Steelers: Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado,
It’s not a given that the Steelers take a QB in round one. But if they do, Sanders, who has a fair share of detractors, makes a ton of sense. Despite having what some deem a limited upside due to a generic overall skillset. Sanders is pro-ready, playing in a pro-style offense in college, and has shown excellent toughness and accuracy. - #22- Los Angeles Chargers- Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan
No selection seems more telegraphed than this one. The Chargers have an obvious need after losing Poona Ford, and there’s no better place for Jim Harbaugh to turn for reinforcement than with one of his former Wolverines. - #23- Green Bay Packers- Matthew Golden, WR, Texas
The Packers continually swear up and down that they are content at wide receiver. But Golden is the missing component they don’t have at the position. A game changer who can make everyone else’s job easier. l - #24- Minnesota Vikings: Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
With limited draft assets, the Vikings must hit on a day-one starter. That’s what Starks is, and he fills a pressing need. - #25- Houston Texans: Tyler Booker, OL, Alabama
The Texans parted ways with Laremy Tunsil and have since added depth with multiple veteran additions, but they need a long-term front-line answer. Booker is a safe choice to be just that. - #26- Los Angeles Rams: Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
After attempting to move heaven and earth for Brock Bowers last year, the Rams get lucky in love with one of the draft’s most enticing and versatile weapons in Loveland. - #27- Baltimore Ravens: James Pearce Jr., EDGE, Tennessee
The Ravens have come up short in the arms race against Buffalo and Kansas City in a quest to win a championship. To overtake Mahomes and Allen, Baltimore must do what Philadelphia did, weaponizing its pass rush. Pearce helps them do that. - #28- Detroit Lions: Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
Sometimes, the good get lucky. That’s what happens here: The Lions add a completing piece in Egbuka to their already explosive offense to help offset the loss of brainchild Ben Johnson. - #29- Washington Commanders: Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina,
The Commanders need a captain in the back end of their secondary to help replace Jeremy Chinn. Emmanwori fits the bill. - #30- Buffalo Bills: Derrick Harmon, DL, Oregon
The Bills’ bend but don’t break defense struggled against elite rush offenses in 2024. Buffalo needs to strengthen that area. - #31- Kansas City Chiefs: Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State
There’s no guarantee that Simmons makes it to this spot. But even if he doesn’t. The Chiefs should address the offensive line early and often after what occurred to them in the Super Bowl. It’s a significant reason why KC doesn’t have at least two more Lombardi trophies in their collection. - #32- Philadelphia Eagles: Luther Burden, WR, Missouri
The Eagles’ phone line should be busy with teams looking to move up and snag a quarterback, but with a boatload of draft picks, they don’t have to move down. And because they don’t have a ton of pressing needs. They can afford to make a luxury pick. Burden is a boom or bust player, but if he booms, he can be a tantalizing asset in the passing game to complement A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith.
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