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NFL MOCK DRAFT 1.0: JOHNNY RAIDER

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    by Sports director
  • Post Date
    Fri Jan 31 2025

ByJohnny Raider | @johnnyraider29 

Photo By: Johnny Raider

So the Super Bowl matchup between the Chiefs and Eagles is set to kick off two weeks from now. Two weeks is a lot of time to fill, and not much happens in the football world aside from a flag football game in Orlando. However, the college football all-star games are going on this week, and instead of writing a piece on the upcoming Pro Bowl this weekend, I feel it's more fitting to take my first stab at a mock draft before the season comes to a close. 

Let's dive right in. 

No. 1 (Tennessee Titans) : Travis Hunter WR/DB Colorado 

The Titans front office has been vocal about taking the BPA (Best Player Available) and seem comfortable with rocking with Will Levis for another year due to the weak QB class. This narrows it down to two players, Abdul Carter and Travis Hunter. Looking at the Titans roster, they do need a lot of help, but their secondary and wide receiver group seem to be in the most need of help. Outside of Lajarius Sneed, the cornerback room is wide open for a guy like Travis Hunter to flourish. This is by far the best fit for Travis Hunter to get starting cornerback reps while also dipping his toes into the offensive rotation. 

No. 2 (Cleveland Browns) : Abdul Carter DE Penn State  

As a Browns fan, I'm going to try to be as objective as possible here. The front office typically has taken analytical approaches to building the roster, and with the QB class appearing weak… I don't see them reaching for a guy like Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders. Taking the best player available is once again the move I expect an Ivy League GM like Andrew Berry to make. Abdul Carter is by far the best player you could take here when you put aside team needs. The Browns D-Line is probably their biggest strength, but they are beginning to age. Abdul Carter could be the young athletic freak that takes this defense into the future if they were to eventually move on from Myles Garrett. A lot of GM's share the value of “if you aren't taking a Hall of Famer with the number two pick, then you are reaching.” This pick could very easily change to a reach if the Browns fail to address the QB position in free agency or the trade market. 

No. 3 (New York Giants) : Shedeur Sanders QB Colorado 

This is going to be my first eyebrow raiser in this mock draft. With the fans I've talked to, almost everyone likes Cam Ward over Shedeur. However, I'm going to take into account Brian Daboll's offensive philosophy and how much communication the Giants front office and players have shown to Shedeur. First off, Shedeur Sanders seems by far like the better fit for Daboll's offense. His quick decision-making, accuracy, and ability to run a pro-style offense align well with Daboll's system, which requires efficiency, timing, and accuracy in the passing game. The Giants have shown to be an extremely conservative organization that does not tend to want to make splashes, and if they took Cam Ward, that would be quite the splash. Taking Shedeur Sanders feels like the move they'd make considering all of their jobs are on the line this year. 

No. 4 (New England Patriots) : Tetairoa McMillan WR Arizona  

This is the biggest wild card pick of the top five, because the Patriots have so many holes in the offense to fill around Drake Maye. They could very easily go with the offensive line, but an offensive weapon is also very much on the table as well. Which I do think is the direction they will go, the Patriots have a lot of cap space to play around with, and I think that would be best spent on the offensive line. With the incoming tackle class being deep but not having a clear-cut number one guy, you just have to go with the best weapon available. Tet McMillan is that guy at wide receiver. He can get any ball in the air and has the speed to back it up too. Drake Maye's go-balls to McMillan will be in the history books for years to come. 

No. 5 (Jacksonville Jaguars) : Will Johnson CB Michigan 

The Jaguars need defensive help ASAP. Whether they address that in the trenches or back end is the question. With that question on the table, the answer lies in who is the BDPA (best defensive player available). A great place to look is the Michigan Wolverine 2023-2024 defense that took home a national championship. It'll only take you five minutes of watching the tape to see who the alpha is. Will Johnson is an all out dog of a player who can instantly come in and be the face of your secondary, and that glows on a TV screen especially if I was forced to watch the disaster that was the Jacksonville Jaguars 2024 secondary. 

No. 6 (Las Vegas Raiders) : Cam Ward QB Miami 

At last Cam Ward has found a home in this mock draft. If the Raiders don't trade up, they likely will have to pray for a scenario like this. Their QB room is bottom three in the league at the moment and is in dire need of a spark. Cam Ward is that spark to bring the franchise into the future. If Pete Carroll plays his cards right assembling a coaching staff, it may be the perfect storm to develop a boom-or-bust talent like Cam Ward into a superstar. Best QB available lands in Las Vegas. 

No. 7 (New York Jets) : Will Campbell OT LSU 

Whoever is under center this upcoming year for the Jets will need to have protection, and Will Campbell is the first step in building a brick wall in the trenches. They will have an assortment of options to pick from in this tackle class, and I feel this would be their best decision with a rebuild looming. 

No. 8 (Carolina Panthers) : Mason Graham DT Michigan 

An absolute gem falls in the Panthers lap at number eight and would establish their interior for years to come. They lost Derrick Brown very early on in the 2024 season, which led to the Panthers run defense taking a massive step back. This is an opportunity for the Panthers to assemble a top 10 interior defensive line almost instantly and will set the Panthers up to be a serious spoiler going into next season. 

No. 9 (New Orleans Saints) : Luther Burden III WR Missouri 

This Saints team is in a really tough position without a clear direction to fix themselves. The only thing they can really do is draft the most talented player possible. I feel that the player is Luther Burden III. By far the best YAC (yards after catch) player in this draft, and would be a beautiful pairing with Chris Olave and Derek Carr. Maybe they'll be able to start 3-0 next year before inevitably falling off a cliff. 

No. 10 (Chicago Bears) : Kelvin Banks OT Texas 

It may not be the flashy pick, but it's the right pick. I know Ashton Jeanty is right there, but the bears have a clear weakness, and that isn't in the skill position department. For Ben Johnson to run his offense effectively, they need time in the pocket. All it takes is one look at the Seattle vs Chicago Thursday night football game to realize unblocked edge rushers ruined Chicago's offensive output. 

No. 11 (San Francisco 49ers) : Jalon Walker DE/LB Georgia 

Well, the 49ers are likely in win-now mode with an aging roster, and what better option to go with… than a hybrid edge rusher? Fast off the line of scrimmage, dominant against the run, and an extremely powerful bull rush. The 49ers defense has a lot of firepower and could use a guy who can play anywhere on the front seven. Would be one heck of a fit for Robert Saleh's crew. 

No. 12 (Dallas Cowboys) : Ashton Jeanty RB Boise State 

This is the best-case scenario for the Cowboys and is a no-brainer pick if he is still on the board. If Chicago turns the card in for Jeanty, Jerry Jones will turn his in within milliseconds. The Cowboys haven't had a guy like Jeanty since maybe 2018 and have been starving for a dominant run game. In terms of Ashton Jeanty as a player, he broke a baker's dozen worth of records at a group of five schools, was the Heisman runner-up, and it took a stacked Penn State box to “stop” him (he still had 100 yards). We could be looking at a Hall of Fame running back here in this kind of situation. 

No. 13 (Miami Dolphins) : Tyler Warren TE Penn State 

The Miami Dolphins are losing a lot of veteran talent this offseason and have very little cap space going into free agency. Taking a tight end may seem outrageous on the surface, but this tight end class is generational. If Tyler Warren were to fall this far on the draft board, the Dolphins would most definitely turn in the card for him. A very versatile weapon that has put up film doing almost anything on the field for Penn State and would almost certainly make a case to be the new face of the Miami Dolphins offense in 2025. 

No. 14 (Indianapolis Colts) : Colston Loveland TE Michigan 

Back-to-back Tight Ends? You bet! The Colts have two dire needs: tight end and defensive back. I have them taking the second generational tight end in this draft. Colston Loveland can play the safety valve role in Anthony Richardson and Shane Steichen's offense. Loveland is clean route runner who's quick to get out of his breaks and presents a big target to Richardson. He can quickly pluck the ball out of the air and can finish the catches in traffic. All of that added to crazy YAC potential as well. This will be the anchor piece of the Colts draft class, which will surely need to address the rest of the defensive needs. 

No. 15 (Atlanta Falcons) : James Pearce Jr. DE Tennessee 

The Atlanta Falcons are in a really good position to compete for the AFC South, but they will need to nail the offseason retooling phase. The biggest weakness with the Falcons was a lackluster pass rush with veterans with one year left on their deals. Players who saw a majority of the pass rush snaps, including Matthew Judon (who they traded a 3rd rounder for) and Lorenzo Carter, are both likely leaving in free agency this offseason. The clear pick here is James Pearce Jr., who is arguably the second-best edge player in this draft. A lengthy and speedy guy who can get around the edge and cause chaos is exactly what the Falcons need. Especially one that will be there for the long term. 

No. 16 (Arizona Cardinals) : Mykel Williams DE Georgia

Similar to the Falcons, the Cardinals started off hot and fizzled out. Lack of pressure on the quarterback is a big part of that equation. Anybody in the trenches would be a decent way to go for the cards, but Mykel Williams will be an intriguing project. Elite explosiveness and covers a ton of field for the run, but he can become a non factor against a lineman with strong hands. You won't see him get overpowered by anyone, but he can disappear in games. He is far from being a finished product and will need to grow into his full potential. That potential is astronomical and is why he is going in the first round. 

No. 17 (Cincinnati Bengals) : Malaki Starks S Georgia

Do you know how bad a defense has to be for an MVP-level quarterback and a triple-crown wide receiver to miss the playoffs? This defense did just about everything wrong in 2024 outside of Trey Hendrickson leading the league in sacks. Starts would be a perfect fit for establishing a foundation in Cincy's secondary. You can play him anywhere on the field because he is an absolute ball hawk in coverage along with having the versatility to be a run fitter. Cincinnati should have a ton of fun figuring out the best spot for him on the field. Following the “Baptism by Fire” method should do him wonders. 

No. 18 (Seattle Seahawks) : Armand Membou OT Missouri 

Most mock drafts I've seen have the Seattle Seahawks in dire need of a tackle. I wholeheartedly agree. Geno Smith is a completely different QB under pressure, and Seahawks fans have figured that out over his three years as a starter. I have them taking the most NFL-ready linemen in this class. He has the versatility to start right away at guard and even quickly switch over into an elite-level tackle. You could throw him out there in week one, and he should be a formidable starter who could develop into a monster. No-brainer here for Seattle. 

No. 19 (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) : Jihad Campbell LB Alabama 

The leader of Alabama's defense finds a home in sunny Tampa Bay. Tampa has two big-name linebackers hitting free agency this offseason with Lavonte David and KJ Britt. Jihad Campbell seems like the obvious pick for them here, a monster, lengthy, and explosive off-ball linebacker at 19 that can bridge a fast retooling of Tampa Bay's defense. 

No. 20 (Denver Broncos) : Benjamin Morrison CB Notre Dame

If you wondered why the Fighting Irish were so confident in their man coverage… well, this is the reason. Morrison is a textbook man-to-man corner with long arms, good technique, and the recovery speed needed to make up for mistakes. Why the Irish didn't have him follow Jeremiah Smith is beyond me, but the Denver Broncos don't care. They NEED a number 2 corner to complement Patrick Surtain, and this is their guy. They won't have any more Jerry Jeudy 200-yard performances on Morrison's watch. 

No. 21 (Pittsburgh Steelers) : Kenneth Grant IDL Michigan 

I think the Steelers draft strategy is pretty clear. They need interior D-linemen to make up for aging players and receivers to either take Pickens' place or complement Pickens. This draft is very much deeper in the receiver department compared to D-linemen, so I have the Steelers addressing this need. It's a very Tomlin-esque strategy, and it has proven to win games. Not to mention Kenneth Grant has been an elite run stuffer for a dominant Michigan defense two years running. 

No. 22 (Los Angeles Chargers) : Tyler Booker IOL Alabama

The Chargers under Harbaugh improved significantly despite a heartbreaking ending. The shift toward a Harbaugh/Roman offense has been mostly good, and I don't expect them to abandon that philosophy. They addressed tackle last year, and this year they will address the interior line. The Chargers aren't keeping it a secret; they want to run the ball. Not just that, but they want to play bully ball. Tyler Booker is the perfect guy for this. 

No. 23 (Green Bay Packers) : Shemar Stewart DE Texas A&M 

Did you skip right to the Packers pick? It's okay if you did (I would've done the same). Were you expecting something more flashy? You must not be familiar with the Packers front office if that's the case. A 6'6 SEC front seven player with exceptional pass rush grades is very much on par with what Gutey is comfortable taking. The Packers pass rush was inconsistent in 2024 but showed some occasional flashes. It's a tad concerning that so much capital has been invested in the line and we are still having these conversations, but I rest my case. Shemar Stewart is the Packers guy here. 

No. 24 (Minnesota Vikings) : Mike Green DE Marshall

At the time of writing this, Green is catapulting his stock at the Senior Bowl by showcasing a once-in-a-lifetime type of explosiveness and throwing projected first-round offensive tackles into the dirt. Call this a social media pick, but the Vikings need D-Line help and Brian Flores is salivating at an opportunity to use him in his defense. Great pick here for Minnesota. 

No. 25 (Houston Texans) : Josh Simmons OT Ohio State

CJ Stroud took a massive step back in his second year with the Texans and a good amount to blame for this was the offensive line. CJ Stroud took a whopping 54 sacks this year and was one of the most pressured QBs in football. Bobby Slowik was fired recently, and it looks like the Texans want a clean slate for Stroud. The first step in that journey is taking a pure tackle to protect Stroud from free rushers. 

No. 26 (Los Angeles Rams) : Josh Connerly OT Oregon

The Los Angeles Rams really aren't used to picking in the first round as a result of the “all in” years in 2021 and 2022. However, there are two main areas to keep an eye on for the Rams in the first round. They have to address protecting an old veteran QB in Stafford and also address an atrocious run defense. With the linebacker class being lackluster at best, the best course of action is to take a step forward in protecting an aging veteran QB. 

No. 27 (Baltimore Ravens) : Jahdae Barron CB Texas 

The Ravens are once again in position to draft a cornerback in the first round following an extremely disappointing playoff loss. The Ravens defense is a very good unit. That said, when the issues arise, it's usually tied to their secondary and players like Brandon Stephens. Jahdae Brown is a highly graded coverage corner and very versatile as a player. If you watched a Texas game, the opposing team's WR1 wasn't mentioned much. He is the perfect replacement to complement Wiggins on the other side of the field. An absolute steal for Baltimore here. 

No. 28 (Detroit Lions) : Jack Sawyer DE Ohio State 

This pick would almost certainly thicken the plot in Ohio State and Michigan's rivalry lore. The face of Ohio State's Defense in 2024 teaming up with the face of Michigan's defense in 2022. The media would eat up that story line so fast it would make your head spin. All rivalries aside however, the hole that Aidan Hutchinson left after his devastating injury was clear to all football fans. It changed their defensive gameplans and was arguably part of their eventual downfall. This pick would give the lions defense a much needed boost in pass rush and run defense. 

No. 29 (Washington Commanders) : Carson Schwesinger LB UCLA

This is probably the pick I'm least confident in so PLEASE take this pick with the biggest grain of salt in your pocket. The commanders really could use help at any position. However, I believe Carson will climb draft boards and eventually be seen as the best off-ball linebacker in the draft. The commanders are in dire need of an anchor for their linebacking crew. Bobby Wagner was a great one-year fill-in, but now it's time to take this seriously. This team is in win-now mode and needs to address glaring weaknesses fast enough to beat Jayden Daniels rookie contract window. 

No. 30 (Buffalo Bills) : Emeka Ebuka WR Ohio State

I'm sure he won't fall this far, but the Bills need a receiver and this would be an absolute dream scenario. The numbers may not be shocking for the casual football fan, but Emeka Ebuka played his role at Ohio State to perfection. Similar to Terry McLaurin's Buckeye tenure, other receivers may have overshadowed him, but anyone who has seen multiple of his games knows he is a first-round guy. The bills can immediately put him in the slot and expect him to click. He may have a small ball security issue to fix, but that's coachable. 

No. 31 (Philadelphia Eagles) : TJ Sanders DT South Carolina

If you got this far and are shocked the Eagles aren't at 32, don't be too mad. You are getting one of the best IDL in the draft. If you haven't heard much about this guy, I don't blame you. However, this is one of the highest-graded D-tackles in the SEC. You will see him ranked 2-3 on people's IDL rankings and will learn more and more about him through the pre-draft process. He fits Howie Roseman's philosophy and should fit swimmingly into the Eagles rotation. 

No. 32 (Kansas City Chiefs) : Matthew Golden WR Texas

Similar to last year, the Chiefs get a steal at wide receiver and once again give Mahomes a promising weapon. The champions always find a way to sustain being a champion. In terms of Golden, he fell this far because he has some mechanical issues and drop issues. However, that's really where the negatives end; he's an explosive physical receiver who earned the WR1 spot in Austin. If any team can coach him to his full potential, it's Andy Reid and the Chiefs. 

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