As the 2024-2025 NFL Season comes to a close, it is a new beginning for teams eyeing the top prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft. This draft isn’t too Quarterback-Heavy, but when it comes to every other position, it has an opportunity to be one of the all-time greats.
The College Football season has concluded, and the offseason invitational events for these prospects are upon us. Some of these events have either raised prospects’ draft stock or plummeted them down where they think they should be.
On April 24th, the lives of these prospects will change as they accomplish their lifelong dream of being drafted into the profession. It’s still relatively early to predict where these players will go. We haven’t seen the NFL Draft Combine or Collegiate Pro days. I’ve decided to watch film and break down what each team needs, and have them select a player based on those immediate needs. Since no first-round picks have been traded, we will keep it that way in this mock.
With that aside, here is the Matt Goldman 2.0 NFL Mock Draft!
Tennessee is in a weird spot. Many speculations don’t have them drafting a quarterback but rather going for an edge rusher or the best player available. Ward seems too good to pass up on for the Titans, as the Will Levis experiment has been a disaster. Coach Brian Callahan has a piece for the Titans for the foreseeable future, and after seeing Ward’s big-play ability, this pick seems destined for a franchise starting its rebuild.
The Browns don’t know who’ll play Quarterback for them in 2025, but after former Defensive Player of the Year and Brown legend Myles Garrett requested a trade, I don’t see Cleveland passing up on Abdul Carter. An ultimate game wrecker for Penn State, Carter has the intangibles to be the next Myles Garrett in Jim Schwartz’s system.
Sheduar going to New York feels like the missing piece to Brian Daboll’s puzzle. In Year 4, Daboll can finally say he has his guy at Quarterback with the NFL Hall of Famers’ son. Sanders has made it obvious that he wants to play in the big market. After a stellar year at Colorado, where he proved all the doubters wrong, the Giants finally get their guy after years of constant disappointment.
In this mock, the Colorado teammates go back-to-back. It’s no lie that Mike Vrabel loves his defensive players, but adding that factor with a player who can help Drake Maye develop can lead to success on both sides. The 2024 Heisman Winner did something we never saw before, and now, having the opportunity to play in New England, he can make his mark.
It’s no surprise many scouts are comparing Will Johnson to Patrick Surtain. After his lower-body injury at the halfway point of the College Football season, Johnson began to train for the NFL. With his rare blend of size and fluidity and impressive statistics throughout his Freshman and Sophomore seasons, Johnson is a star in the making if paired next to Tyson Campbell. This pick can mimic their past cornerback duo, including Jalen Ramsey and AJ Bouye.
McMillian was the bright spot on an underwhelming Arizona Wildcats offense. With the Raiders not having an opportunity to select Quarterback this early, the Pete Caroll regime in Vegas starts with a player who has drawn comparisons to one of Caroll’s favorite toys, DK Metcalf.
The Jets’ offensive line is a problem every single year. Tyron Smith and John Simpson proved to be very disappointing additions to help Aaron Rodgers. Campbell, a prospect who can play on the outside and the interior, is the perfect player to protect whoever throws the ball in New York next year. Building a core with established veteran Alijah Vera-Tucker and second-year Oli Fashanu is the ideal path to success.
Mike Green has arguably the most impressive performance during the Senior Bowl. He led the FBS in Sacks last year at Marshall and has proved in drills against power five Offensive Linemen that he is a dominant player. The Panthers desperately need an edge rusher, so having Green fill the hole left by Brian Burns a year prior would be a little of a shocker, but they can be successful towards the end.
The Saints are in desperation. It’s still a mystery who will coach them in 2025 (Kellen Moore, more than likely). I think they swing for the fences and go with the record-breaking back from Boise, as he’s arguably the best overall player in the draft. Alvin Kamara is aging, and New Orleans is looking for someone productive right away. This pick feels the Kellen Moore way, a lead back behind a young offensive line.
With Ben Johnson taking over the helm in Chicago, the first thing he will need to adjust is the offensive line. The Bears gave up 68 sacks in 2024, making it difficult for Caleb Williams to progress in year 1. Adding an accomplished collegiate lineman like Kelvin Banks, who was a unanimous All-American last season with the Longhorns, can add a much-needed safety blanket for Chicago.
Simmons is another player I didn’t add in the first mock draft, but after seeing his protection packages for the Buckeyes in the College Football Playoff, I thought he was a monster. As the lead blocker for two thousand-yard rushers, Simmons would fit very nicely in a banged-up offensive line, as Trent Williams’ future in San Francisco is uncertain at this point.
Dallas desperately needs offensive weapons ahead of the 2025 draft, and having one of the best yard-after-catch prospects would help them. Without counting Ceedee Lamb, the Cowboys don’t have a premier playmaker in their offensive scheme. Burden has shown very high potential for Missouri since his true freshman season. This move would propel the passing attack that seemed to be off in Dallas last year.
As mentioned in the previous mock draft, both safeties who started in Miami a season ago will more than likely be gone. Starks was an All-American as a junior and continued to be a man amongst boys, orchestrating the Bulldogs’ defense. His tackling ability and coverage versatility will be reasons that GM Chris Grier will fall in love with the young safety.
It’s uncertain how in love the Colts are with third-year quarterback Anthony Richardson. It’s definitely a make-or-break year for the former fourth-round pick. Tyler Warren is the safe pick for the Colts if they want to develop Richardson. After a Mackey award-winning season and making clutch plays for the Nittany Lions all season, the Colts fit seems destined.
Georgia Bulldog defensive players in the NFL always lead to instant success. The Falcons were heavily rumored to go pass rusher last year in the first round but shocked the league by selecting Michael Penix Jr. This year, seeing how below-average their pass rush was, Mykel Williams can plug and play into their defensive scheme as he was a game changer in 2024. Atlanta needs that ferocious nature to secure the NFC South title.
Once projected to be the No.1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, James Pierce had a stellar season at Tennessee. The big reason why Pearce isn’t in the top pick consensus is that everyone around him got better. Arizona is looking for someone to pair next to Zaven Collins to elevate their pass rush, and there’s no better option remaining than Pearce.
Mason Graham does not fall below the top 10 in most mock drafts. There are a few concerns about him as a pass rusher, including conditioning and technique. Still, despite his coveted potential and great potential, Cincinnati elects to go with the best player available. Their defense was historically bad this year, so adding Graham would bolster them immediately.
Membou has been a riser on a ton of mock drafts, and for a good reason. Whether it’s his body control, power, or our ability to dump defenders against SEC defenses, his film has been quite impressive. He has a ton of potential, whether it’s boating on the inside or the outside of the offensive line. It feels like Seattle is constantly having issues with its protection. Membou, though still raw, can be a franchise piece for the Seahawks.
Tampa Bay’s roster is filled with a ton of playmakers outside of an edge rusher that’s been consistent. Nic Scrouton has been a lethal player in two of college football’s toughest conferences through his collegiate career. He’s still a little raw but will have a ton of time to adjust into a polished player. Todd Bowles takes a little time to develop young pieces, andScrouton will be no exception.
There was some regression for Colston Loveland in 2024, but there’s no denying he’s an imposing prospect. The collegiate champion would help the development of Bo Nix, giving him a reliable option outside of Courtland Sutton. The Broncos appear to be going offensive-heavy in this year’s draft, and they can start that campaign by taking Loveland.
If one guy decided to break out at the tail end of the college football season, it was Texas wide receiver Matthew Golden. With big performances in the SEC Championship and the Cotton Bowl, Golden can be a reliable option for whoever is starting for Pittsburgh next season. Outside of George Pickens, Pittsburgh is on the quest to find an offensive weapon, and they find it here with Golden.
Jim Harbaugh’s motto is to run the football down the middle, which usually leads to success. The Chargers had one of the worst interior offensive lines last season. If they decide to start fresh, there’s no better option than Alabama’s Tyler Booker. With his unique blend of size, power, and athleticism, Booker is an excellent option in the Chargers scheme.
Despite being hurt early in 2024 with a hip injury, Morrison was consistently one of the better cornerbacks in college football. With ongoing rumors of Jaire Alexander, most likely Green Bay in the offseason, their number one ended before anything else is cornerback. There’s a lot of concern for Green Bay on that roster, but a player like Benjamin Morrison can steer the problematic Packers in the right direction.
Despite having 14 wins last season, Minnesota has many positions up in the air. Whether it’s running back, cornerback, or safety, the Vikings may not look the same as they did a season ago. I’m electing them for the best player available, but Walter Nolan hasn’t been selected yet. Once projected to be a top-three pick before the season saturated, Nolen can bring a much-needed interior force to Minnesota.
Houston may be disappointed that Walter Nolen went off the board before their pick, but Grant isn’t a bad consolation prize. Despite being in Mason Graham’s shadow for most of his collegiate career, his agility and explosiveness make him out to be a first-round talent. His compact frame will allow Houston’s run defense to improve in 2025, a scary painting next to Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter.
The Jim Thorpe Award winner for the 2024 season, Jahdae Barron, is a jack of all trades who plays multiple positions in the secondary. The Rams’ defensive back room hasn’t had a consistent player since Jalen Ramsey’s departure; Barron can fill that role. A high motor prospect, Barron’s football IQ and tenacious nature make him a shoo-in for a successful career as a pro.
Donovan Jackson is a proven winner at Ohio State, and he is expected to bring some of that momentum to Baltimore. A long-term starter in Columbus, Jackson’s versatility makes him such a coveted pick. The Ravens have the opportunity to beef up that offensive line more and more going into 2025. The bigger Baltimore gets upfront, the easier it will be for Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry to get things going quicker and more efficiently.
The 2024 college football season was about how Group of Five players can be exceptional once given the opportunity at the professional level. Revel is one of the players who pleaded in that case. His length and ball-hawking skills make him an attractive option to many teams. Despite a season-ending injury near the beginning of the season, Detroit rolls the dice on Revel. Having to go up against some of the best receivers in the league, the Lions need somebody to come in there and step up, and they believe Revel can be that guy.
This year’s running back class is very deep, and Hampton seems to be the consensus number two back. Jayden Daniels showed the ability to use his legs a lot this year, but besides him, there wasn’t really a sense of flashiness. Hampton has been phenomenal during his time at North Carolina and gives Washington that lead back they’ve been looking for a while now.
Emmanwori was a player who got better and better throughout the 2024 season, being a top piece on the Gamecocks defense. The Bills have needed secondary help all season after injuries and inconsistent play. Emmanwori is a player scouts rave about once they see him in person. At 6-foot-3 and 227 pounds, he has rare speed and range at deep safety, with the power to charge downhill and erase running backs or mobile quarterbacks. Essentially, it was a match made in heaven for the Bills.
We saw in the Super Bowl the Offensive Tackles were Kansas City’s weak point. Ersery has been falling out of the first round in many mocks, but he is the best option for a team that desperately needs a tackle. After going against Big 10 edge rushers for most of his career, Ersery can fit right into Kansas City’s outside. He has the ideal frame you need in a guy who has to face off against Maxx Crosby, Joey Bosa, and Nik Bonitto twice a year.
Jack Sawyer is a very appealing option for Philly. A proven leader and a player who isn’t afraid of the big moment, Sawyer can be a championship-level winning piece on many teams. His football IQ and leadership qualities alone make him draft-worthy, but factor in his pass-rushing technique, and he will flourish in the big leagues. Vic Fangio, having this guy go against opposing offensive lines is scary for the league. Essentially, the rich get richer.
