By Eddie Young, Joseph Caruso, Tyler Morello, Tyler Fennell and Jhett Laurie
Sports Editor and Staff Writers
The 2025 NFL Draft is just around the corner, as on April 24, the first round will be underway in Green Bay, Wisconsin, marking the first time the city has ever hosted the draft. The Signal’s sports staff has come together for a group mock draft, giving their predictions and reasoning for the first 10 draft picks.
1. Tennessee Titans - Cam Ward, quarterback, Miami (FL)
Pick by Joseph Caruso
Amid a full-on rebuild, there is no better way for new general manager Mike Borgonzi to make a splash. Cam Ward is undoubtedly the most talented quarterback in this class, boasting league-ready pocket movement and a rocket arm. It’s a long way back to contention for Tennessee, but Ward will give them everything they can hope for as a signal-caller.
2. Cleveland Browns - Travis Hunter, wide receiver/cornerback, Colorado
Pick by Jhett Laurie
Desperately in search of a franchise player, the Browns will set their sights on Travis Hunter to bring a new era to Cleveland. Widely considered to be one of the most hyped draft prospects in a long time, Heisman Trophy winner Hunter is likely to go top five in the draft. In desperate need of help offensively and defensively, Hunter’s two-way play will likely be very appealing to the Browns. Being a threat at wide receiver and defensive back, it’s not yet known where he will play the majority of his snaps, but he will likely make an impact on either side of the ball.
3. New York Giants - Abdul Carter, edge rusher, Penn State
Pick by Eddie Young
The Giants are in an interesting spot here. They do need a long-term solution at quarterback, and will be strongly considering Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders in this spot. However, general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll will both be entering the season on the hot seat and will be looking to take the best player available that can help them win games immediately. In this case, that is Abdul Carter, whose size and speed will lead him to terrorize opposing offenses the moment he steps onto an NFL field.
4. New England Patriots - Will Campbell, offensive tackle, Louisiana State
Pick by Eddie Young
The pick here should be easy for New England. Last draft, they drafted their franchise quarterback Drake Maye early in the first round. The first thing you have to do as a team after getting a franchise quarterback is protect him. This year, they will take their left tackle of the future in Will Campbell. The 6-foot-6-inch, 324-pound behemoth was one of the best offensive linemen in college football last year, and the Patriots will expect him to be protecting Maye’s blindside for at least the next decade.
5. Cincinnati Bengals (via Jacksonville Jaguars) - Mason Graham, defensive tackle, Michigan
Pick by Joseph Caruso
Just missing out on Campbell, the Jaguars will shift their attention to filling out the roster that has tons of gaping holes. In a trade with Cincinnati, they’ll concede the fifth overall pick in exchange for the Bengals' 17th pick, along with a future third and fourth-rounder. Now picking fifth, Cincinnati immediately bolsters its previously league-worst defense, adding a sure-fire stud in the interior. Mason Graham, along with new defensive coordinator Al Golden will look to take the Bengals to the next step.
6. Las Vegas Raiders - Ashton Jeanty, running back, Boise State
Pick by Jhett Laurie
Coming off one of the most dominant college rushing seasons of all time, Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty will seek to continue his dominance in the NFL. The Raiders secured a generational talent with tight end Brock Bowers, who broke countless rookie records last season. Vegas will acquire yet another generational player in Jeanty on Thursday, creating one of the strongest offensive duos in the league. They currently have a lackluster backfield with veteran running back Raheem Mostert, and will likely replace him with the young phenom.
7. New York Jets - Shedeur Sanders, quarterback, Colorado
Pick by Tyler Morello
Shedeur Sanders has fluctuated up and down on experts' draft boards since the college football season ended. He went from being a possible first overall pick to now being evaluated by some as a second-round talent. His collegiate stats and tape don’t lie, however, and the New York Jets have been searching for their franchise quarterback for a while now. Sanders could be just this for New York, as it would likely also put them back in the spotlight of the NFL.
8. Carolina Panthers - Tyler Warren, tight end, Penn State
Pick by Tyler Fennell
With Bryce Young performing incredibly well down the stretch for Carolina last season, the Panthers need to surround Young with weapons and protection. Selecting Tyler Warren fulfills both needs. Warren is the consensus best tight end prospect in the draft. Last season, he had 1,233 yards with 104 receptions, averaging 11.9 yards per reception. He also had eight receiving touchdowns and four rushing touchdowns. This selection would give the Panthers versatility in both their passing and rushing offenses.
9. New Orleans Saints - Will Johnson, cornerback, Michigan
Pick by Tyler Morello
After offloading star cornerback Marshon Lattimore last season and losing Paulson Adebo in free agency to the Giants, the New Orleans Saints are back to square one regarding their defensive backs. Will Johnson was phenomenal all three of his years at Michigan, earning first-team All-American honors his sophomore season and second-team All-American honors his junior season despite battling a toe injury. Johnson should give New Orleans more of an identity in their secondary.
10. Chicago Bears - James Pearce Jr., edge rusher, Tennessee
Pick by Tyler Fennell
James Pearce Jr. was once the projected first overall pick, and has back-to-back years being first-team All-SEC. However, character concerns involving him being arrested for disobeying orders from police after being stopped for speeding and driving with a suspended license have caused him to fall in draft rankings. The charges were dropped when he proved he had obtained a driver’s license and paid the cost of the speeding ticket. With Chicago’s 27th-ranked defense, it makes sense for them to take a swing on a player with incredible potential despite the character concerns.
