2025 NFL mock draft: Two top-10 trades see 49ers, Seahawks make moves for top defenders

As college pro days wrap up this week, NFL teams are locked in on the 2025 NFL draft. Round 1 kicks off Thursday, April 24 in Green Bay, Wis. and all 32 franchises across the league currently have a first-round pick. If that holds, it’d be the first time in modern NFL history every team has a pick in Round 1 of the NFL draft.

This is a draft that is ripe for trades all over the first three rounds. This class lacks a lot of blue-chip prospects and the player drafted at No. 15 overall will likely be of a similar level of talent to the one taken at No. 55 overall.

That could open up the draft to trades as teams who value a specific player maneuver up the order to secure him. Other teams who could use more draft capital may move down the board to recoup more picks in a class defined by talent at defensive line, running back, tight end and guard.

Here’s a first-round mock featuring multiple trades, including two moves inside the top 10:

2025 NFL mock draft: Two top-10 trades

1. Tennessee Titans: Cam Ward, QB, Miami

This seems like a near-certainty at this point. The Titans were out in full force for Ward’s pro day at Miami and brought him in for a private workout as well. Tennessee bolstered the offensive line in free agency to ensure he’ll have as clean a pocket as possible as a rookie.

2. Cleveland Browns: Abdul Carter, Edge, Penn State

Cleveland could’ve gone quarterback here but the opportunity to take an edge rusher with Carter’s ceiling is just too good to pass up. This draft will have serviceable players to play quarterback later on and instead Carter and Myles Garrett should form a dangerous pass rush for Cleveland in 2025.

The Browns hold the first pick of the second round and could drop back into the first round to get a quarterback or stick and pick. Lousiville’s Tyler Shough, who they’ve met with pre-draft, could be an ideal fit on Day 2.

3. New York Giants: Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado

New York is no longer as desperate for quarterback after signing Jameis Winston and Russell Wilson. That leaves them available to take the best player available in Hunter. He’ll be a day one starter in the secondary and work in on offense to diversify the passing game around Malik Nabers.

4. New England Patriots: Armand Membou, OL, Missouri

The Patriots‘ moves in free agency all but confirm they’re looking for a left tackle in the draft at No. 4. Membou offers elite athleticism in a big frame (6-foot-4, 332 pounds) that should make him at least a good starter in the NFL. He’s solely been a right tackle in college so it may take some time for him to transition to the other side.

5. Jacksonville Jaguars: Mason Graham, DT, Michigan

Jacksonville was hoping Hunter or Carter somehow fell to them but it wasn’t meant to be. Instead, they get one of the safest picks in the draft with Graham. The Michigan product is a force in run defense already and could develop as a pass rusher alongside Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen.

6. TRADE: San Francisco 49ers (via Las Vegas Raiders): Mykel Williams, Edge, Georgia

San Francisco trades No. 11, their third-round pick (No. 100 overall) and a 2026 third-round pick to Las Vegas for No. 6.

The 49ers need help in the trenches and Williams fits the archetype they like at the position as a long, powerful, athletic edge rusher. Armed with a compensatory pick in the third round (and potentially another one in the 2026 draft), they make the move up from No. 11 without losing too much draft ammunition.

The Raiders, in turn, move out of the top 10 picks but recoup a third-round pick after dealing one for quarterback Geno Smith. They should still get a similarly talented player at No. 11 to make the move work.

7. New York Jets: Will Campbell, OL, LSU

The Jets opted against quarterback here and instead decided to take one of the best offensive linemen in the class in Campbell. Though there are plenty of questions about his wingspan, Campbell is a rare enough athlete for his size that he’s a tackle until proven otherwise. New Jets head coach Aaron Glenn came from Detroit where the Lions built a juggernaut offense behind a top-tier offensive line.

8. Carolina Panthers: Shemar Stewart, Edge, Texas A&M

Carolina needs to improve its anemic pass rush and opt for one of the freakiest athletes in the entire class in Stewart. His performance at the NFL combine is reminiscent of current Panthers edge Jadeveon Clowney. He could learn from the former No. 1 overall pick as a rookie.

9. TRADE: Seattle Seahawks (via New Orleans Saints): Jalon Walker, LB/Edge, Georgia

Seattle sends No. 18 overall and a second-round pick (No. 52) to the Saints for No. 9 overall.

The Saints need a big influx of low-cost talent in the draft to upgrade one of the oldest rosters in the league. Seattle has extra draft value thanks to the D.K. Metcalf trade and move up to secure one of the most explosive athletes in the draft who can either be an off-ball linebacker or rush off the edge. Mike Macdonald could get creative in how he deploys Walker over the formation.

10. Chicago Bears: Kelvin Banks Jr., OL, Texas

Yes, the Bears brought in three new starting offensive linemen for the 2025 season. But guard Joe Thuney and left tackle Braxton Jones will both be free agents next year. Selecting Banks here ensures that properly protecting Caleb Williams with top talent won’t end after one year. Whether he ends up at tackle or guard, the Bears invest in another starter on the offensive line.

11. Las Vegas Raiders (via San Francisco): Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State

The Raiders moved back, recouped more draft capital and still ended up with their likely choice at No. 6 overall. Jeanty was a bell-cow back in Boise State in 2024 with a ridiculous 1,970 rushing yards after contact. He has untapped potential as a receiver and could bring a new wrinkle to the Raiders’ offense.

12. Dallas Cowboys: Matthew Golden, WR, Texas

The Cowboys missed out on Jeanty but still decide to invest on offense with local talent Golden. The former Longhorn had a stellar finish to the 2024 college football season and showed out at the NFL combine. He could operate on the outside while star CeeDee Lamb goes to work from the slot position.

13. Miami Dolphins: Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss

The Dolphins have four defensive linemen (non-edge rushers) on their roster: Matt Dickerson, Benito Jones, Zach Sieler and Neil Farrell. They desperately need help at the position and opt for Nolen at No. 13. His burst off the line is elite and he had flashes of dominance in 2024.

14. Indianapolis Colts: Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State

Only the Denver Broncos targeted their tight ends less in the passing game than the Colts in 2024. They need an upgrade at the position with top pass-catchers Kylen Granson and Mo-Alie Cox out of the building. Warren is a mismatch in coverage with run blocking skills as well. In a year to find out if quarterback Anthony Richardson is the long-term starter or not, Warren would help provide an answer.

15. TRADE: Baltimore Ravens (via Atlanta Falcons): Mike Green, Edge, Marshall

Baltimore sends No. 27, their third-round pick (No. 91 overall) and their fifth-round pick (No. 176 overall) to Atlanta for No. 15.

No more relying on late-career free agents, late-first round picks or Day 2 developmental selections. The Ravens have come too close to the Super Bowl in recent years to miss another opportunity. They jump into the top 15 for one of the best edge rushers on the board. They get the player who led the country in sacks in 2024 and projects very well at the next level.

Atlanta entered the draft with just five selections and this helps the team replenish its draft stock in a deep defensive class.

16. Arizona Cardinals: Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan

Grant may not have the same pedigree as teammate Graham but he’s an incredibly athletic nose tackle at 6-foot-4 and 331 pounds. Yes, the Cardinals signed Dalvin Tomlinson in free agency but he’s 31 and Grant offers a long-term answer at the position with a high ceiling thanks to his physical gifts.

17. Cincinnati Bengals: James Pearce Jr., Edge, Tennessee

The Bengals need more juice off the edge with Trey Hendrickson’s future in doubt. With Pearce Jr., they get a ridiculous athlete with length and explosiveness who led the SEC in sacks in 2023. He’s falling due to off-field concerns and that provides the Bengals with an opportunity.

18. New Orleans Saints (via Seattle): Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State

New Orleans moved back and still picked up the prospect who could end up as the best offensive tackle in the class. Simmons was having a stellar season before a knee injury cut his year short in 2024. If he makes a full recovery, New Orleans will have an answer at a key position on the offensive line. New Saints coach Kellen Moore understands the importance of that from his time in Dallas and Philadelphia.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama

The Buccaneers need help on defense and Campbell could at least offer a succession plan for franchise icon Lavonte David. Campbell has the ideal size and skillset for a modern linebacker and untapped potential as a pass rusher.

20. Denver Broncos: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona

Denver gets another weapon for Bo Nix in Year 2 with the Arizona product McMillan. The Wildcat star is built like Drake London with length, fluid athleticism and a huge catch radius. Courtland Sutton will turn 30 this year and McMillan could be the long-term succession plan at outside receiver for him while playing an important role as a rookie in 2025.

21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado

The Steelers need an answer at quarterback, even if Aaron Rodgers takes his talents to the AFC North. Sanders is the second-best quarterback in the class with a high floor as at least a league-average starter. He should be a contributor immediately which will be appealing to a Steelers team in win-now mode.

22. Los Angeles Chargers: Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon

The Chargers are very, very tempted by tight end Colston Loveland but in the end this is a Jim Harbaugh team that needs to improve in the trenches. Harmon’s mix of power, athleticism and length should make him a movable piece who swallows up blockers in run defense and a solid contributor in the pass rush.

23. Green Bay Packers: Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas

Barron played all over the formation in 2024 as a ballhawking cornerback with speed, versatility and the attitude to play hard in run defense. Green Bay’s secondary needs an injection of talent at cornerback and Barron would fit the bill.

24. Minnesota Vikings: Malaki Starks, S, Georgia

Minnesota’s secondary still needs some help after free agency as the team opted to upgrade other positions of need. Starks is one of the best players in the draft, regardless of position, and is the type of versatile piece defensive coordinator Brian Flores could deploy in myriad ways.

25. Houston Texans: Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State

Egbuka reunites with former Buckeyes quarterback C.J. Stroud and helps a spot of need as wideout Tank Dell recovers from his significant leg injury. Egbuka is a plug-and-play starter from the slot who should be a contributor immediately and a familiar target for Stroud.

26. TRADE: Buffalo Bills (via Los Angeles Rams): Donovan Ezeiruaku, Edge, Boston College

Buffalo sends No. 30 and a fourth-round pick (No. 109) to Los Angeles for No. 27 overall.

Buffalo sees Atlanta at No. 27 and makes the call to move up to the board and secure the most pro-ready pass rusher in the class. Ezeiruaku is a long, bendy edge rusher with an impressive array of pass rush moves in his game. He’d be welcome for a Bills team looking for more difference-makers on defense.

Los Angeles ekes out the better fourth-round pick in the Bills’ draft stockpile this year in return for a move that likely won’t see their target off the board.

27. Atlanta Falcons (via Baltimore): Nic Scourton, Edge, Texas A&M

The Falcons need pass rush help and, with Ezeiruaku off the board, take Scourton. The Texas A&M product isn’t as athletic as teammate Stewart but sets the edge in run defense, uses pass rush moves to win and has a high motor to get to the quarterback.

28. Detroit Lions: Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky

With Scourton and Ezeiruaku off the board, Detroit opts to reinforce the secondary with the speedy ballhawk Hairston. He ran the fastest 40-yard dash at the NFL combine and should help the Lions after losing longtime coordinator Glenn. Injuries doomed the Lions’ 2024 campaign and Hairston helps safeguard from that happening again in the secondary.

29. Washington Commanders: Shavon Revel Jr., CB, East Carolina

Revel is a long, athletic corner who would be a fantastic fit for Dan Quinn’s coverage systems. Revel missed out on his senior season due to a torn ACL and if not for that, he’d likely go much higher thanks to his traits and thumping attitude in run defense.

30. Los Angeles Rams (via Buffalo): Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan

The Rams tried trading up for Brock Bowers last year and that deal never materialized. After trading back, they get a tight end of the future in Loveland. The Michigan product is better built for the pro game than college due to his mix of size (6-foot-6, 248 pounds) and playmaking in the passing game.

31. Kansas City Chiefs: Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri

Kansas City opts to grab the last of the top-tier pass catchers at No. 31 overall by selecting the slot playmaker Burden III. He didn’t test well at the NFL combine but his tape shows a slot wide receiver built like a running back (6-foot, 206 pounds) who is an after-the-catch weapon. He could be another weapon for the offense alongside Xavier Worthy.

32. Philadelphia Eagles: Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina

Philadelphia has few, if any, holes on the roster. Safety is one of those after the franchise traded away C.J. Gardner-Johnson to the Texans. Emmanwori is a freak athlete with linebacker size (6-foot-3, 220 pounds) who could continue the secondary’s ascent following the Eagles’ 2024 draft haul of Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell.