2025 NFL Mock Draft: AFC wild-card round losers add much-needed playmakers for offense; Giants pass on QB

Cam Ward’s high-end tools, mixed with his continued improvement, make him easily the most intriguing quarterback prospect in the class. The Titans have a lot of work to do surrounding him with talent, but Ward is no stranger to having to create on his own.

Pairing Abdul Carter with Myles Garrett is too scary a proposition for the Browns to pass up. It was a slow start, but by the end of Carter’s first season as an edge-rusher for the Nittany Lions, he was unblockable. Carter racked up 44 pressures over his final nine games, including eight in their playoff loss to Notre Dame, according to PFF

The Giants could use both a wide receiver and a corner, so why not take the most uniquely qualified prospect in NFL history to play both. Travis Hunter’s tape comes with a constant asterisk that he hasn’t come off the field the entire game, and it’s scary to think how he’ll perform with some rest.

Beggers can’t be choosers, and the Patriots left tackle need is enough to lean Will Campbell with this pick. He was a three-year starter at left tackle for the Tigers, although some see him kicking inside to guard at the next level. Campbell is accomplished enough on the blindside that I’m keeping him there until proven otherwise.

Trent Baalke won’t like Mason Graham’s arm length, but he may not be in charge of the Jaguars draft board this year. The Michigan defensive tackle has very few weaknesses to his game, as he’d be a three-down starter on the Jags interior.

I don’t have a top of the draft grade on Shedeur Sanders, and some NFL teams may ultimately agree. The Raiders are unlikely to have the kind of options that the Browns and Giants will via trade/free agency, meaning they’ll set their sights towards the draft.

With a relatively thin offensive line class, expect them to fly off the board quickly. The Jets have lived through so many sloppy offensive lines the past decade, although they’re finally on the precipice of having a respectable unit. Kelvin Banks Jr. would round out what’s already a solid young unit.

Tetairoa McMillan is the kind of big, reliable target that the Panthers offense has been missing. His massive 6-foot-5 frame and easy ball skills make him open even when he’s not. With one of the highest drop rates in the NFL this season, the Panthers receiving corps is desperate for an upgrade.

Mykel Williams is the kind of high-ceiling project the Saints can afford to take a chance on in their current state. New Orleans will be firmly in rebuilding mode next year and is the likely frontrunner for the Arch Manning sweepstakes in 2026.

With tons of cap space, expect the Bears to address the offensive line elephant in the room in free agency. Once that box is ticked, Ashton Jeanty would be the perfect complement to Caleb Williams’ athleticism in the backfield. He’s a three-down back with elite tackle-breaking ability.

The 49ers defensive line took a massive step backwards from their Super Bowl form this season. James Pearce Jr. immediately brings some necessary juice that they’ve been missing. He should light up the NFL Scouting Combine and plays the run well for an undersized defender.

Josh Conerly has shot up boards over the course of this season. The junior has always had NFL-caliber athletic tools, but now they’re getting put into action. That’s the combination everyone is looking for in the draft.

Malaki Starks is one of the safest picks in this draft class, with a swiss-army skillset that plays out wide, in the slot, deep or in the box. With Jevon Holland set to hit free agency, Starks could be his seamless replacement.

Will Johnson’s turf toe injury drops him outside the top 10, but make no mistake: he’s still a top-10 talent. He’s precisely what the Colts were missing all last season at corner: a reliable press cover man on the outside. He may not have played much slot at Michigan, but his skillset should easily translate there if need be.

Kenneth Grant is one of the best athletes in this defensive tackle class despite tipping the scales over 330 pounds. He’s only scratching the surface of what he could become on tape. The Falcons need all the help they can get along the defensive line.

Derrick Harmon is one of the biggest breakout prospects this year after transferring from Michigan State to Oregon. He’s a versatile interior defender who lived in backfields all of last fall. That’s precisely what the doctor ordered for the Cardinals defense.

The Bengals aren’t going to find a Tee Higgins replacement at pick No. 17 in this year’s class. That being said, Colston Loveland has a very good shot at becoming Joe Burrow’s version of Travis Kelce. He’s got natural feel for the position and route-running ability that all the greats possess.

Armand Membou had a lights-out season at right tackle for the Tigers. So much so that he declared early as a true junior. His frame projects very well to guard at the next level, however, and that’s where the Seahawks are desperate for help. He’s a plug-and-play starter that could turn around their offensive line woes.

Luther Burden III didn’t put up the stats of a first-rounder this past fall, but the tape still showed the most dynamic wideout in the draft class. He breaks tackles at an elite clip. That’s a great skill to have in a Sean Payton-coached offense.

Finding an off-ball linebacker who can rush the passer the way Campbell did this past fall would be huge for Todd Bowles defense. The 20-year old Jihaad Campbell had a monster breakout campaign that saw him rack up 11.5 tackles for loss and 106 total tackles. He’s the kind of hybrid player whom everyone is looking for nowadays.

Emeka Egbuka is the perfect complement to George Pickens. He’s the kind of underneath and intermediate route-runner you can count on to move the chains. He may not be near the big-play threat Pickens is, but that’s not what the Steelers are missing.

The Rams love their athletes along the defensive line, and few are going to have profiles as impressive as Jalon Walker. He can affect the passer from on or off the line of scrimmage and be another piece to the Rams’ increasingly terrifying blitz packages.

Tyler Warren feels like a Jim Harbaugh player. He’s tough as nails over the middle of the football field and a true inline tight end. His ability to make contested plays at the catch point is something the Chargers receiving corps desperately needs.

Jahdae Barron is as well-rounded a corner as you’ll see in this class. He’s physical at the catch point with hefty experience in both the slot and out wide. He also fills a pretty drastic need for the Packers at corner.

Water Nolen is an explosive interior weapon who would take the Texans defensive line to another level. Everyone knows what Houston’s edge duo is capable of, but the defense has been susceptible up the middle. That wouldn’t be the case with the former five-star recruit in the fold.

The FBS leader in sacks is no product of his lower competition level. He’s a real-deal prospect. His combination of bend and burst is tailor-made to beat NFL tackles. The Commanders need as much help along the edge as they can get as they were never quite able to replace both Montez Sweat and Chase Young

Shemar Stewart had a breakout campaign for the Aggies with his rare physical skillset being on full display. The nearly 290-pounder gets off the line of scrimmage like an undersized edge making him a handful for opposing tackles. His inside-outside versatility is perfect for the Ravens defensive line.

Landon Jackson has really flashed this season not only at his left guard position where he spent two and a half years, but also the past few games after being forced to kick out to left tackle. He’s shut down talented edge-rushers from Oregon and Texas the past two weeks and been a big key to the Buckeyes playoff run.

Nic Scourton had a little bit of a disappointing junior season after transferring from Purdue. He was one of the hottest players in the portal after registering double-digit sacks as a sophomore. He followed that up with only five this past fall, but that talent hasn’t just gone away.

Howie Roseman is going to continue adding to his defensive line and chances are he’ll love David Walker’s tape. That’s because Walker’s game is darn near identical to Eagles legend Brandon Graham. He’s a squatty body that can collapse pockets with ease.

Jared Ivey is the kind of jumbo defensive end whom Steve Spagnuolo loves. He can easily reduce down in obvious passing situations and rush against guards and centers. Ivey had a massive breakout campaign after consistently flashing high-end ability his first four seasons.

The run on defensive ends is finalized with the playoff hero from over the weekend. Jack Sawyer isn’t the kind of athlete usually coveted in the first round, but he’s an every-down end who never quits on a rush. He’d fit in perfectly with the Lions culture defensively.