Race for the No. 1 Pick of the 2025 NFL Draft:
New England Patriots:
Thanks to the Giants getting a win over Indianapolis, the Patriots jump to the top as a candidate to land the No. 1 overall-pick. If New England gets the No. 1 pick, it would make sense to trade down with a team that wants Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders. The Patriots are set with Drake Maye, and they could use a bounty of picks to help rebuild their roster after years of poor drafting by Bill Belichick.
Tennessee Titans:
The Titans were dropped by the Jaguars, and Tennessee falls to 3-13. If New England wins next week, the Titans could land the No. 1 overall pick. They need a franchise quarterback, as Will Levis has proven not to be the answer.
New York Giants:
The Giants got a shocking win over the Colts to improve to 3-13. Big Blue was in position to land the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft if they lost their final two games, but the Giants blew that pole position with an unnecessary win. If there are wins next week that changes the board and New York gets the No.1 pick, they should take Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders to be their franchise quarterback.
Cleveland Browns:
The Browns fell to 3-13 with a loss to the Dolphins. If the Browns land the No. 1 pick, it would make sense to draft a quarterback as Deshaun Watson has been a disaster.
Top General Manager Candidates:
- Detroit Lions director of scouting development Mike Martin
- Detroit Lions assitant general manager Ray Agnew
- Atlanta Falcons vice president of player personnel Kyle Smith
- Indianapolis Colts chief personnel executive Morocco Brown
- Buffalo Bills director of player personnel Terrance Gray
- Tennessee Titans director of pro scouting Brian Gardner
- Philadelphia Eagles director of scouting Brandon Hunt
- Miami Dolphins assistant general manager Marvin Allen
- Washington director of pro scouting Eric Stokes
- New England Patriots executive Alonzo Highsmith
Top Head Coach Candidates:
- Super Bowl-winning head coach Jon Gruden
- Super Bowl-winning head coach Bill Belichick
- Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson
- Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn
- Houston Texans offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik
- Indianapolis Colts defensive coordinator Gus Bradley
- Green Bay Packers special teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia
- Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers offensive coordinator Liam Coen
- Tennessee Titans defensive coordinator Dennard Wilson
- Former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel
Head Coach Hot-Seat Tracker:
- Jacksonville Jaguars: Doug Pederson
- Dallas Cowboys: Mike McCarthy
- New York Giants: Brian Daboll
Let’s Play Matchmaker:
New York Giants: Cam Ward, QB, Miami 
The Giants got a surprising win over the Colts with a shocking 45-point explosion. Drew Lock threw four touchdowns and had 309 yards with zero interceptions. Malik Nabers (7-171-2) dominated and the Giants defense had two rare interceptions. This win could easily cause the Giants to miss out on Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders, and New York might have to settle for the second quarterback in Cam Ward.
In 2024, Ward completed 67 percent of his passes for 4,313 yards with 39 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He had four rushing touchdowns as well. Ward (6-2, 223) was a point machine over the previous three seasons at Washington State, generating a prolific number of touchdowns. He broke out in 2021, completing 65 percent of his passes for 4,638 yards, 47 touchdowns, and 10 interceptions. In 2022, Ward completed 64 percent of his passes for 3,231 yards with 23 touchdowns and nine interceptions. Ward then completed 67 percent of his passes in 2023 for 3,735 yards, 25 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. He also notched eight rushing touchdowns during 2023, which matched the total of his ground scores from the previous three seasons. Team sources say they feel that Ward could be a poor man’s Russell Wilson as a pro quarterback.
Las Vegas Raiders: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona 
The Raiders got their fourth win of the season in New Orleans with Aidan O’Connell throwing two touchdown passes and Ameer Abdullah running for 115 yards on 20 carries. This win could take the Raiders out of contention to land either Shedeur Sanders or Cam Ward in the 2025 NFL Draft. If Las Vegas misses out on a quarterback, they could look to add a No. 1 receiver. Brock Bowers is going to need more help with a true replacement for Davante Adams.
In 2024, McMillan has 84 receptions for 1,319 yards and eight touchdowns. To open the season, McMillan had an amazing performance with 10 catches for 304 yards and four touchdowns taking on New Mexico. Arizona had an impressive 2023 season while featuring a dangerous passing attack. Wide receiver Jacob Cowing was a known factor for 2023, but McMillan emerged as a playmaker that season. The sophomore caught 90 passes for 1,402 yards and 10 touchdowns. McMillan notched 39 catches for 702 yards and eight scores as a freshman. The 6-foot-5, 210-pounder McMillan has mismatch size for the NFL and he would be a good first-round pick for Las Vegas.
Jacksonville Jaguars: Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado 
The Jaguars won at home to improve to 4-12 on the season, as the Titans could only muster 13 points. Jacksonville allowed a good game to Calvin Ridley (5-84) and Ridley would be even more dangerous if Tennessee gets a legit quarterback. Jacksonville needs more corner talent to pair with Tyson Campbell and could use more receiving weapons for Trevor Lawrence. Hunter would be a dream come true pick in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
In 2024, Hunter had 96 receptions for 1,258 yards with 15 touchdowns receiving and one rushing. He has 35 tackles with four interceptions, 11 passes broken up, and a forced fumble on defense. Hunter flashed dominant cover ability in 2023 with 31 tackles, three interceptions, and five passes defended before getting injured and missing some time. As a receiver, he provided some big plays to the Buffs’ offense, catching 57 passes for 721 yards and five touchdowns. As we reported in the Hot Press, teams are divided on whether Hunter should be a wide receiver or a cornerback in the NFL. The 6-foot-1, 185-pounder possesses other-worldly athleticism alongside superb instincts and feel. The 2025 NFL Draft has the potential to be a strong year at cornerback, and Hunter is my No. 1-ranked corner prospect in the class and he could end up grading out as a first-round receiver as well. At Jackson State in 2022, he recorded 19 tackles, two interceptions, and eight passes broken up. As a part-time receiver, Hunter also totaled 16 receptions for 213 yards.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jihaad Campbell, ILB, Alabama 
The Bucs blew out Carolina at home as Baker Mayfield and Bucky Irving dominated. All season the linebacker position has been a weakness and they could use more pass rush. Here is a player that can help them at both spots.
The 6-foot-3, 244-pound Campbell is a big linebacker with speed and athleticism to go with his size. Campbell has showed versatility by dropping into coverage, defending the run well, and rushing the passer. In 2024, he has 108 tackles with five sacks, two forced fumbles, one interception, and two passes broken up. Campbell looks like a first-round talent for the 2025 NFL Draft and he would be a great fit for Todd Bowles’ variable defense in Tampa Bay.
Los Angeles Rams: Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State 
The Rams intercepted Kyler Murray twice to lead Los Angeles to a defensive win over Arizona. Surprisingly, they combined for only 22 points despite both teams having good offensive talent. Los Angeles had a big outing from Puka Nacua (10-129), but Cooper Kupp (1-29) was quiet and no other receiving option had four catches or 30 yards through the air. Los Angeles could target a receiver in the 2025 NFL Draft to give them a long-term No. 2 receiver to pair with Nacua.
In 2023, Egbuka had 65 catches for 824 yards and nine touchdowns. The 6-foot-1, 205-pounder turned in 74 receptions for 1,151 yards and 10 touchdowns in 2022. He emerged as a potential No. 1 receiver or really good No. 2 wideout. At other schools, Egbuka would have had an even bigger year, but he was the No. 2 receiver for Ohio State across from Marvin Harrison Jr. While injuries were a factor in 2023, Egbuka needs a bounce-back season in 2024 as he looked much faster in 2022 compared to his 2023 performance. Thus far in 2024, Egbuka has 56 catches for 692 yards and nine touchdowns. He would be a quality second-round pick for the Rams.
Cincinnati Bengals: Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina 
The Bengals got an overtime win over the Broncos as once again the Cincinnati offense had to save the day. The Bengals’ defense has not been the same since Jesse Bates and D.J. Reader left. If they can get more talent on defense, the Bengals could jump back into the elite of the AFC next season as they have an offense ready to challenge for a return to the Super Bowl.
Emmanwori has 83 tackles, two passes broken up, and four interceptions with two returned for a touchdown. He had an interception returned for a touchdown against Kentucky, another returned for a score against Oklahoma, and had a 102-yard touchdown pick-six that had the return whipped out on a suspect penalty versus LSU. Emmanwori (6-3, 220) is a huge safety with rare coverage ability for a player that big. He has been a steady contributor for the Gamecocks for the past two seasons. In 2023, he had 71 tackles, 10 passes broken up, and two interceptions in 11 games. The previous season, he totaled 85 tackles as a freshman. Emmanwori is a freak athlete with instincts and speed and can flash some physicality.
Seattle Seahawks: Donovan Jackson, G, Ohio State
It looked like a Mariners vs White Sox score of 6-3, but the Seahawks defense dominated the Bears offense to lead Seattle to a critical win in Week 17. Surprisingly, Seattle’s offense struggled to score, but adding offensive line talent could help make their scoring attack more consistent next season. They could use more talent on the inside of the line, especially. On day two of the 2025 NFL Draft, they could add an impact run blocker.
The 6-foot-4, 300-pound Jackson has been a tough blocker for the Buckeyes over the past few seasons. He is reliable to open holes in the ground game and does a steady job of protecting his quarterback. Jackson shows good enough feet and athleticism to handle speed rushers with the strength in his base to anchor against bull rushes. Jackson looks like a safe pick to turn into a solid pro starter. He would be a good second-round pick for Seattle.
Team Draft Report:
In this section, we take a deeper look at specific teams and where they stand in regards to the 2025 NFL Draft.
Philadelphia Eagles:
The Eagles have one of the strongest rosters in the NFL, so if they fall short of a Super Bowl championship this year, they should be right back in the mix to win it all come early 2026. Philadelphia has an aggressive front office, so this offseason, they will likely be aggressive making moves that could put them over the top.
The Eagles do not have a lot of needs on their roster, but one area they could address is an edge rusher. Philadelphia has always invested heavily in the defensive line under Howie Roseman. Brandon Graham is nearing the end of his excellent career, so I have the Eagles taking a replacement in LSU’s Bradyn Swinson in my latest mock 2025 NFL Draft. Swinson would give them size and pass-rush ability like Graham has provided. Aside from Swinson, they could consider other edge rushers like Marshall’s Mike Green, LSU’s Bradyn Swinson, Texas A&M’s Nic Scourton, and Georgia’s Jalon Walker. In a strong defensive line class, one can bet that there is a high likelihood tha Roseman will take advantage by drafting a good defensive line value in the early rounds.
Aside from the defensive line, Philadelphia might consider adding more safety talent. Given his size, physicality, and speed, South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori would be a great addition for Vic Fangio’s scheme. Emmanwori would give them a force on the back end that offers ball skills, playmaking ability, and an imposing presence. Philadelphia could also consider Georgia safety Malaki Starks to help upgrade the back end.
The Eagles could also consider some offensive line youth, but this is not a great draft for offensive line talent, so Philadelphia might want to add some young depth through free agency. It also would make sense to take advantage of some good running back prospects and add another runner on day two or the mid-rounds to have a player available to help reduce the workload on Saquon Barkley and aim to keep him healthy.
With elite talents on offense and defense, Philadelphia will be a top Super Bowl contender next season, and one more good run through free agency, and the draft could have them hoisting the Lombardi Trophy in early 2026.
Carolina Panthers:
The Panthers had a miserable 2023 season and early stretch of 2024, but week by week, their young team has improved, and Carolina has started to show significant signs of growth. Quarterback Bryce Young struggled mightily last year and to start this season, but he has played much better. The Panthers should have had a win over Tampa Bay weeks ago if it weren’t for a Chuba Hubbard fumble. Carolina had the Eagles beat on a brilliant drive by Young that only resulted in a loss because Xavier Legette dropped a touchdown. With general manager Dan Morgan and head coach Dave Canales, it looks like the Panthers finally have leadership in place that can rebuild the franchise back to being playoff contenders.
In my latest mock 2025 NFL Draft, I have the Panthers taking Tennessee edge rusher James Pearce Jr., and that would fill a big need to give them a legit edge rusher to replace Brian Burns. Pearce has a lot of similarities to Burns coming out of Florida State. Aside from Pearce, Penn State’s Abdul Carter would be another great addition as an edge rusher. Prospects like Marshall’s Mike Green, LSU’s Bradyn Swinson, Texas A&M’s Nic Scourton, and Georgia’s Jalon Walker would be worth considering if the Panthers moved down.
The Panthers could also consider LSU left tackle Will Campbell in the first round. Even if Icky Ekwonu develops next year with his second season in Canales’ offense, they could consider a tackle to replace Taylor Moton eventually. However, the 2025 NFL Draft is not strong on the offensive line, so Carolina might be better off adding some veteran
Depending on where Carolina is picking, they also could consider adding cornerback talent to go with Jaycee Horn. Horn is nearing the end of his rookie contract and has had injury issues, so the Panthers will have to decide if they want to commit to Horn long-term. Carolina probably won’t pick high enough to land Colorado’s Travis Hunter, but they could have a shot at Michigan’s Will Johnson or Ole Miss’ Trey Amos. While either one would be a good pick, it might make more sense to land a pass rusher in the first round and look to get a complement for Horn on day two.
After some painful seasons, Carolina finally appears to be heading in the right direction. The NFC South is wide open, so with a good draft and run in free agency, the Panthers could challenge for the division as soon as next season. Improving their pass rush and defense has to be the top priority for the 2025 offseason.
