2025 NFL live mock draft: Final updates impacting first-round picks – USA Today

The 2025 NFL Draft is here, and it is expected to be one of the more unpredictable ones in recent memory.
Miami quarterback Cam Ward is essentially locked into the No. 1 overall pick, and a consensus seems to have formed about the top four selections.
However, once the Jacksonville Jaguars are on the clock at No. 5, the draft could get shaken up quickly. The 2025 draft class is considered to be top-light, so there figures to be a wider-than-average variance in how each team’s big board shakes out.
Still, the order in which players will come off the board during the draft should only become clearer with each passing hour ahead of its 8 p.m. ET start. The final rumors of the draft cycle are often the most clairvoyant, as scouts and decision-makers are less close-to-the-vest with critical information.
How will the 2025 NFL Draft shake out? Below is USA TODAY Sports’ live mock draft for 2025, which will be updated with the latest news, rumors, reports and leaks in the hours ahead of the draft..
Ward is effectively locked in as the Titans‘ selection at No. 1 overall. Tennessee needs a franchise quarterback and is hoping that Ward’s strong arm and athletic skill set will turn him into a quality NFL starter.
The Browns were increasingly tied to Hunter in the lead-up to the 2025 NFL Draft. General manager Andrew Berry has been candid about his appreciation of the Colorado star’s two-way skill set. Cleveland views Hunter more as a receiver, so he would likely play more on offense with select packages on the defensive side of the ball.
That said, there is a lot of buzz about the Jaguars potentially trading up to the second selection, and Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com reports the Browns “are believed to have something cooking at No. 2.” If the Browns trade down, that could significantly shake up the top of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Will the Giants take a quarterback, or go with the best player available? Shedeur Sanders could draw consideration, but Carter may be too good to pass up. Carter had 12 sacks and 24 TFL last season while demonstrating the ability to play both on the edge and as a stand-up linebacker. He has some Micah Parsons in his game and would create an elite pass-rushing trio alongside Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux.
The Patriots had one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL last season. They added Morgan Moses to play right tackle but need a long-term solution on the left side. Campbell was a three-year starter at LSU and moves fluidly for a 6-6, 319-pound tackle. His experience on the left side gives him an edge over Armand Membou, who profiles more as a right tackle.
Mason Graham was long penciled in as the top option here, but there is a lot of smoke surrounding Jeanty and the Jaguars. The fit is sensible, as the Jaguars could use an upgrade over Travis Etienne. Jeanty’s physical, explosive running style would help transform Jacksonville’s running game and take pressure off Trevor Lawrence.
Offensive tackle may not look like a massive need for the Raiders, but left tackle Kolton Miller is entering the final year of his contract in 2025. He is seeking an extension, but if Las Vegas doesn’t want to give the top tackle one ahead of his age-30 season, they could draft his successor. Banks was a three-year starter at Texas and could play at left guard while waiting to take over for Miller.
Pick change; previously Armand Membou, OT, Missouri
The Jets will likely choose between Membou, Tyler Warren and Mason Graham here if the board falls like this. That said, Aaron Glenn came to the Jets from the Detroit Lions, who turned themselves into a contender by rebuilding their offensive line. That could make the supremely athletic Membou the top option as a plug-and-play right side replacement for Morgan Moses.
Pick change; previously Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
If Walker is on the board for the Panthers, they will probably run their draft card in. The Georgia product has great versatility and is regarded as a smart, high-character player. Carolina desperately needs a top edge rusher, and Walker is a good bet to fill that void – though the Panthers are taking calls about moving down, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
If Shedeur Sanders makes it past the Saints at No. 9, he could slide down the board. That’s exactly what we’re projecting at present. While New Orleans doesn’t have clarity on Derek Carr’s injury, as NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports, new Saints coach Kellen Moore may prefer to build up the trenches after seeing the Eagles enjoy success with that strategy.
Williams is a high-ceiling prospect who played most of the 2024 season on an injured ankle. If healthy, he could emerge as a 10-sack player thanks to his combination of size, length and athleticism.
The Saints could also consider Jaxson Dart here. CBS Sports’ Aditi Kinkhabwala reports the Ole Miss quarterback isn’t expected to get past the No. 9 selection.
Pick change; previously Mason Graham, DT, Michigan
The Bears upgraded their interior offensive line in free agency. They could add competition for Braxton Jones at left tackle here if one of the top three tackles falls to them, but that doesn’t happen in this mock.
Instead, Chicago can target Warren, a versatile playmaker, to serve as a middle-of-the-field playmaker for Caleb Williams. Warren and Cole Kmet would create a terrific one-two punch at tight end and give Williams plenty of weapons to target in his second season.
Pick change; previously Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas
Could Nolen really go this high? It’s possible. The Ole Miss product has been a “red-hot riser” ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft, according to ESPN’s Matt Miller, and is looking more and more likely to go in the top 15 selections.
Nolen plays hard and is quick off the ball with an excellent first step. The 49ers have a big need on the interior defensive line, and the Nolen’s skill set makes him an ideal fit next to Nick Bosa. Mason Graham would be the other top-tier option for this pick.
Pick change; previously Mason Graham, DT, Georgia
Most believe the Cowboys will target an offensive weapon at this juncture. It’s just a question of which one. While Matthew Golden will draw consideration, McMillan’s rare combination of size (6-foot-4, 219 pounds) and contested-catch ability makes him a strong complement to CeeDee Lamb.
Would Graham really go behind Walter Nolen? Maybe not, but if he does drop to the early teens, the Dolphins should be pleased to land him at this juncture. The Michigan has a relentless motor and would be a big-time upgrade for Miami’s defensive line, which is lacking on the interior outside of Zach Sieler.
Pick change; previously Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
The Colts haven’t had a high-end starter at tight end since Dallas Clark. They could use one as Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones battle for the starting job and look to prove themselves as NFL quarterbacks. Loveland fits the draft range and put together well-rounded tape as a blocker and receiver at Michigan.
The Falcons will almost certainly target an edge rusher here. It’s just a matter of which one. The buzz surrounding Pearce Jr. and the Falcons continues to grow, so the Tennessee product – who has elite athletic traits and modest production for the Volunteers – will get the nod here.
Atlanta only has five picks in the 2025 NFL Draft, so it could also look to trade down given the depth of this year’s edge rusher class. Boston College’s Donovan Ezeiruaku is a particularly good fit for the Falcons’ 3-4 scheme, so they could potentially target him in the early 20s – if they find a willing partner.
Mike Green has also been connected to the Falcons by Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer. Shemar Stewart and Mykel Williams could also draw consideration, if available, because of their athletic ceilings.
The Cardinals could look to get a Milton Williams-type to pair with free-agent signee Josh Sweat, but Jonathan Gannon may not be able to pass on the versatile Campbell here. The Alabama linebacker is an intriguing hybrid player who can play on the edge but has the sideline-to-sideline athleticism needed to be a stand-up linebacker. He’s dealing with a shoulder injury, but the Cardinals can afford to be patient with him.
Pick change; previously Mykel Williams, edge, Georgia
The Bengals had 36 sacks last season, seventh-fewest in the league. A whopping 17.5 of those belongs to one player, Trey Hendrickson, who demanded a trade away from the team during the offseason. Even if Cincinnati keeps Hendrickson, it needs to find him a top-end partner. Green, who led the FBS with 17 sacks last season and starred at the Senior Bowl, would provide that.
The Seahawks need to be able to protect Sam Darnold, who had the third-longest time to throw during his Pro Bowl season with the Vikings in 2024. Adding the versatile and tough Zabel, whose stock has steadily risen since the Senior Bowl, to plug a hole at either guard or center would go a long way toward fixing Seattle’s issues on the interior offensive line.
The Buccaneers may be holding out hope Jihaad Campbell makes it to them, but he is unavailable in this edition of our mock. Tampa Bay could target a safety, cornerback or edge rusher here, but Ezeiruaku, who had 16.5 sacks during his final year at Boston College, has the production Buccaneers general manager Jason Licht has typically coveted.
Pick change; previously Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama
The Broncos currently have Jaleel McLaughlin perched atop their running back depth chart. Sean Payton will surely change that at some point during the 2025 NFL Draft. Denver doesn’t have a lot of pressing needs, and Hampton has the breakaway speed needed to add a new dimension to the Broncos’ running game.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter also reports the Broncos are fielding trade calls for the 20th pick. If any team is worried about the Steelers taking a quarterback, perhaps Denver could get a better-than-market-value offer for the selection and target a running back later in the draft.
Will the Steelers select Shedeur Sanders? It’s possible, as manager Omar Khan recently said the Steelers still need to add two quarterbacks, so they are likely to draft a quarterback at some point. If Pittsburgh want a potential starter, they may have to use their first-round pick on one after sending the Seahawks their second-round pick in the DK Metcalf trade.
Still, the Steelers may be holding out hope that Aaron Rodgers will sign with them in free agency. Perhaps Pittsburgh believes trading for Kirk Cousins could be a contingency plan if Rodgers opts not to play, so that could lead the team to target a developmental, mid-round quarterback like Will Howard rather than spend a premium pick on a passer.
As such, the Steelers could target a disruptive defensive lineman like Harmon here. Cameron Heyward is entering his age-36 season, so Harmon could ultimately become the successor for the four-time All-Pro.
Perhaps Jim Harbaugh’s Chargers won’t take the “best Wolverine available” approach, but Grant fills a big need for them. They lost run-stuffer Poona Ford in free agency, and the 6-foot-4, 331-pound Grant has the skills and upside needed to become a three-down playmaker in the middle of Los Angeles’ offensive line.
The Packers haven’t spent a first-round pick on a receiver since 2002. That could change if Golden is on the board. Green Bay needs to get a true, No. 1 receiver to pair with Jordan Love, and Golden showed great separation skills during his lone season with the Longhorns. The Texas receiver ran the fastest 40-yard dash at the NFL combine, so that pop of speed could provide the Packers’ receiving corps a much-needed boost.
Pick change; previously Shemar Stewart, edge, Texas A&M
Barron could go a lot higher than this, but questions exist about whether he’ll be limited to playing in the slot or if he can play outside. If the Jim Thorpe winner is available for Brian Flores, the Vikings defensive coordinator should pound the table for him. Barron has great ball skills and instincts that should allow him to be a playmaker at the next level.
The Texans took a chainsaw to their offensive line during the offseason. They added plenty of veterans to it in an effort to rebuild, but they still need to add a long-term option at left tackle, as Cam Robinson was signed to just a one-year deal.
Conerly was a steady blocker at Oregon and should have inside/outside versatility at the NFL level. He could begin his career at guard before eventually kicking out to replace Robinson. That would go a long way toward protecting C.J. Stroud after he was sacked 52 times last season.
Pick change; previously Tyler Booker, G, Alabama
The Rams have spent a lot of recent draft resources on improving their offensive line. They could now look to do the same with their secondary, especially if a talented player like Johnson falls to them.
Johnson has a wide draft range. His tape at Michigan was terrific, as he generated nine interceptions in 32 career games, but speed and injury concerns could cause him to drop out of the top 20 picks of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Pick change; previously Matthew Golden, WR, Texas
The Ravens always seem to have a talented player fall in their lap. Starks would be no exception. He was a versatile, do-it-all playmaker at Georgia and profiles as an excellent fit alongside Kyle Hamilton in Baltimore’s secondary. The Ravens could explore trading up a few spots if they aren’t convinced Starks will slide to them.
Pick change; previously Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
Booker feels like the type of player who Dan Campbell would love to have on his roster. The Alabama product isn’t the best athlete, but the 6-5, 321-pounder plays with great physicality, power and toughness. The kneecap-biter could challenge Christian Mahogany for the starting right guard spot with the loser eventually serving as the successor to left guard Graham Glasgow, who is entering his age-33 season.
Pick change; previously Donovan Jackson, G, Ohio State
The Commanders traded for Marshon Lattimore ahead of the 2024 NFL trade deadline but could still use depth and talent in their secondary. Hairston blazed a 4.28 40 at the NFL combine and demonstrated great ball skills at Kentucky, making him an ideal fit here.
Pick change; previously Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
The Bills signed Joey Bosa in free agency, but he is only playing on a one-year deal. Buffalo needs to add another productive pass rusher to play in tandem with Greg Rousseau, and Stewart is a great value at this point.
Stewart is 6-5, 267 pounds, ran the 40-yard dash in an impressive 4.59 seconds and logged a 10-11 broad jump. That should pique Brandon Beane’s interest – who took a similar chance when drafting the hyper-athletic Rousseau – if the top-tier athlete’s lack of production (4.5 sacks across three seasons) causes him to slide.
Pick change; previously Donovan Ezeiruaku, edge, Boston College
Patrick Mahomes was pressured relentlessly in the Chiefs’ Super Bowl 59 loss to the Eagles. Kansas City figures to address their problematic tackle situation at some point early in the 2025 NFL Draft. Simmons is coming off a torn patellar tendon but was one of the best blockers in college football over the six games he played. He could be a steal for the Chiefs at this point.
The Eagles may want to add to their defensive line after losing Milton Williams and Josh Sweat in free agency, but Emmanwori is a potential steal at this point. The hyper-athletic safety starred at the NFL combine and has the movement skills needed to be a big-time playmaker at the position. His physicality would help replace the departed CJ Gardner-Johnson, making him an ideal fit for Philadelphia.
All the NFL news on and off the field. Sign up for USA TODAY’s 4th and Monday newsletter.

source