As the NFL regular season nears its conclusion, and the college football season inches closer to the College Football Playoff national championship game later this month, fans of both sports already have their eyes on the 2025 NFL Draft.
With that in mind, CBS Sports overhauled its latest NFL mock draft to best reflect the newest draft order after some surprising Week 17 results shook things up in the regular season’s penultimate weekend.
Check out how CBS Sports projects the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft playing out in its updated mock:
The Patriots lucked into the No. 1 pick after the Giants and Raiders both pulled off Week 17 upsets, and CBS believes the Super Bowl-winning organization will target the reigning Heisman Trophy winner.
As a true two-way threat at both receiver and cornerback, Hunter is a generational talent that is widely believed to be the No. 1 overall player in the 2025 draft class. CBS Sports expects New England to at least entertain trade-down options with QB-needy teams, but with a player of Hunter’s elite pedigree there for the taking, the Patriots don’t hesitate in this mock.
Tennessee was another major beneficiary of the Week 17 upsets and while this would seem like an ideal trade-down opportunity as well, CBS Sports projects the Titans stand pat and select the draft’s top-rated receiver in McMillan.
The 6-foot-5, 215-pound McMillan already has a sturdy NFL frame and proved himself on the field this season, ranking third in the FBS with 1,319 receiving yards on 84 receptions and eight touchdowns as a Biletnikoff finalist.
Another team with serious questions at quarterback opts to pass on the top available QB in order to land the top-rated offensive lineman in the LSU stalwart. The 6-foot-6, 320-pound Campbell in a plug-and-play lineman with a wealth of experience with 38 career starts under his belt.
Along with his NFL-ready frame, Campbell would provide the Browns much-needed protection for Deshaun Watson or whatever other QB that Cleveland opts to trot out in 2025.
The Giants might have fallen in the draft but they still get their choice of the top QBs and opt for the veteran Miami quarterback. CBS Sports doesn’t even expect New York to contemplate this one.
Ward, a Heisman Trophy finalist, powered the No. 1-ranked offense in the FBS after throwing a NCAA-best 39 passing touchdowns and ranking second with 4,313 yards on 67.2-percent passing in 2024. He would be an immediate improvement over what the Giants had under center in 2024.
The Jaguars nab the top-rated cornerback in the draft in Johnson, a big-bodied DB at 6-foot-2 with a knack for interceptions. Johnson saw his 2024 season cut short due to a nagging turf toe issue, but he’s expected to be fully healthy by the time training camp rolls around.
Regardless, Johnson is a need-based pick for the Jaguars, which ranked second-to-last in total defense in 2024. Despite his injury issues, Johnson finished his Michigan career with nine interceptions, including returning both of his 2024 picks for touchdowns this season.
CBS Sports also thinks the Panthers go defense and grab the top-rated pass rusher in the draft to fill the loss of former top-pick Brian Burns, who joined the Giants in free agency last offseason.
The 6-foot-3, 250-pound Carter is a physical freak drawing comparisons to fellow former Penn State star Micah Parsons. CBS Sports cited Carter’s “incredible burst and flexibility” off the edge after finishing with 11 sacks, 52 pressures, 22.5 tackles for loss and 85 total tackles in 2024.
7. New York Jets: Mason Graham, DL, Michigan
Another team with uncertainty at quarterback, given the tumultous situation with 40-year-old veteran Aaron Rodgers, opts to shore up its defensive front with arguably the best down-lineman in the draft.
The physically-imposing 6-foot-3, 320-pound Graham was the heart of Michigan’s defensive the past two years and showed out with 52 tackles, 26 pressures, 7.5 tackles for loss and 3.5 sacks in 2024. Pairing Graham with Quinnen Williams would give the Jets one of the best defensive lines in the NFL.
8. Las Vegas Raiders: Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
The wait is over for the talented NFL legacy. Sanders, the much-ballyhooed son of NFL legend and Colorado head coach Deion Sanders falls slightly but still lands with what is widely-believed to his preferred NFL destination.
Shedeur Sanders would be a shoo-in to step in as the Raiders’ No. 1 QB after rotating between three starters at the position this past season. Sanders led the FBS with a 74.0 completion percentage and finished 2024 just behind Ward in production with 4,134 passing yards and 37 touchdowns on the year.
CBS Sports expects the Bears, who selected former USC quarterback Caleb Williams at No. 1 overall last year, to do everything in their power to protect their franchise QB better in 2025. Chicago leads the NFL with 67 surrendered sacks this season, something Banks should help with considerably.
The 6-foot-4, 320-pound Banks remains in contention with Campbell to be the top offensive tackle taken, and for good reason. The former five-star recruit has only surrendered three sacks in over 40 career starts over his three years in Austin.
CBS Sports compared Burden to 49ers star Deebo Samuel in his uncanny ability to gain yards-after-catch, something the offensive-inept Saints are in desparate need of. The 5-foot-11 Burden doesn’t have the largest frame, but his fluidity in the open field that has NFL teams drooling.
After a breakout 2023 campaign when he led Missouri with 86 receptions for 1,212 yards and nine touchdowns, Burden had a bit of a disappointing 2024 with a team-high 61 catches for 676 yards and just six scores through the air.
CBS Sports’ NFL Draft picks Nos. 11-32
11. San Francisco 49ers: James Pearce Jr., EDGE, Tennessee
12. Indianapolis Colts: Nic Scourton, EDGE, Texas A&M
13. Dallas Cowboys: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
14. Arizona Cardinals: Princely Umanmielen, EDGE, Ole Miss
15. Miami Dolphins: Jalon Walker, EDGE, Georgia
16. Cincinnati Bengals: Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
17. Atlanta Falcons: LT Overton, DL, Alabama
18. Seattle Seahawks: Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia
19. Houston Texans: Tyler Booker, IOL, Alabama
20. Denver Broncos: Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
21. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Landon Jackson, EDGE, Arkansas
22. Los Angeles Chargers: Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
23. Los Angeles Rams: Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
24. Green Bay Packers: Derrick Harmon, DL, Oregon
25. Pittsburgh Steelers: Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas
26. Washington Commanders: Ashton Gillotte, EDGE, Louisville
27. Baltimore Ravens: Kenneth Grant, DL, Michigan
28. Philadelphia Eagles: Mike Green, DL, Marshall
29. Buffalo Bills: Andrew Mukuba, CB, Texas
30. Minnesota Vikings: Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame
31. Detroit Lions: T.J. Sanders, DL, South Carolina
32. Kansas City Chiefs: Wyatt Milum, OT, West Virginia
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