Mar 21, 2025, 06:50 AM ET
The 2025 NFL draft class is starting to take shape as top prospects make their final on-field statements at pro days across the country. We’re a little more than one month from Round 1, which begins April 24.
We’ve heard a lot of buzz about early picks, potential trades and the quarterback class. So we asked NFL draft analysts Matt Miller, Jordan Reid and Field Yates to break down the latest intel from around the league and dish on what they’ve heard about intriguing pro day workouts.
Do the Tennessee Titans have a plan for the No. 1 pick? Is Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders really sliding in the first round? What are the best Day 1 prospect fits, and could a sleeper team select a passer early? We get into all that and then let Miller, Reid and Yates alternate selections in a mini mock draft of the top 12 picks. Finally, our experts empty their scouting notebooks with what they’re hearing, seeing and thinking as we near April.
Jump to:
Titans’ top pick buzz | Sanders’ stock
Best team fits | Sleeper QB teams
Mini mock draft | More notes from this week
What’s the latest on the Titans’ lean at No. 1?
Miller: In conversations with sources around the NFL in the past two weeks, I’ve often heard that front office executives aren’t quite convinced on this quarterback class. That might be the case in Tennessee. The way I hear it, nothing is settled with the Titans, even though they didn’t sign a veteran QB in free agency.
Pro day visits — specifically the interviews and time spent with the players — are crucial for teams making QB decisions, and that could help cement what Tennessee does in Round 1. And the Titans have ample time to make a call on whether Miami’s Cam Ward or Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders could be their guy under center. But trading the pick or deciding to instead go with a non-quarterback, such as Colorado receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter or Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter, are seemingly still in play.
Reid: The feeling at the combine was that Tennessee was aggressively shopping the No. 1 pick, but that sentiment has cooled off a bit. Now signs are trending toward the Titans drafting Ward at the top of the draft, and many sources around the league are preparing for that outcome. Tennessee’s moves in free agency — such as signing left tackle Dan Moore Jr. and adding reliable veteran guard Kevin Zeitler — and the fact it hasn’t created any competition for Will Levis point to the Titans keeping the pick and drafting a QB.
Because Ward did not throw at the combine, there’s a lot of anticipation for his March 24 pro day. That’s not to say his throws will dictate what happens with the top pick, but his performance will at least influence the chatter about the Titans’ plans.
Yates: I agree with Jordan. Following the breadcrumbs, Ward is a strong favorite to be the first overall pick. The Titans’ recent QB moves include signing Brandon Allen — who previously played for coach Brian Callahan in Cincinnati — and seeing Mason Rudolph head back to Pittsburgh. They’re left with a thin quarterback room that doesn’t have an obvious option to start Week 1. Many people around the NFL now believe Ward is bound to be the No. 1 selection — though there’s still the possibility that the Titans could receive a trade offer too good to refuse.
What are you hearing about Shedeur Sanders potentially sliding in Round 1?
Reid: I don’t think anything has really changed since the combine. Based on what I’m hearing, the Jets’ No. 7 pick is still the floor for Sanders. There are plenty of landing spots prior to that point, as the Browns (No. 2) and the Giants (No. 3) are desperate for long-term answers under center. It’s hard to see the Giants passing on Sanders because GM Joe Schoen and coach Brian Daboll need to win in 2025 and don’t have a QB1. One AFC executive said, “The Giants are praying that Cleveland takes one of Hunter or Carter because they’d [otherwise] miss out on a QB for the second straight year.”
The supply of quarterbacks this year isn’t meeting the demand, as teams are still scrambling to sign older veterans such as Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston. And that’s another factor that should work in Sanders’ favor.
Yates: This is an important year to remember one of the golden rules of the NFL draft: It takes only one team. I’ve asked sources from all over the NFL about the top quarterbacks. Many view Ward as the clear-cut best option, and some have told me they’d be apprehensive about taking Sanders with a top-10 pick. But yes, several sources told me Sanders has a real shot to be a top-three selection.
We’ve seen prospects fall every year, and there is a chance that happens with Sanders. But my stance is he’s still the strongest candidate to be QB2 and is unlikely to fall out of the top 10-15 picks.
Miller: I haven’t heard any information about Sanders sliding from anyone employed by an NFL team. There’s always buzz about quarterbacks rising into or falling out of Round 1, yet the reality is there are too many teams with a need at the position this year. I agree with both of you that Sanders could be drafted as early as No. 2, but I’m going to extend the range just a tad more and say at worst he won’t slip past the Steelers at No. 21 overall.
play
Mel Kiper Jr.: Shedeur Sanders is a ‘perfect fit’ for the Giants
Mel Kiper Jr. explains the reasons why Shedeur Sanders and the New York Giants would be a great fit.
What’s a team-prospect fit you love in Round 1 after free agency?
Miller: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona, to the Seattle Seahawks at No. 18. After releasing Tyler Lockett and trading DK Metcalf, the Seahawks need help at outside receiver — even after adding Cooper Kupp. Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Kupp both play a lot out of the slot. McMillan, though, has the size to be a force as an X receiver at 6-foot-4, 219 pounds. His highlight reel is full of big plays in 50-50 situations, and his expertise with deep vertical routes is ideal opposite the in-breaking dominance of Kupp and Smith-Njigba. Ranked No. 18 on my board, McMillan could easily be available for Seattle.
Which sleeper team is your favorite to watch for targeting a QB in the first two rounds?
Miller: Seattle Seahawks. The Sam Darnold redemption story is great. But there’s a chance he doesn’t maintain the level of success he had in 2024 now that he doesn’t have Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell calling the plays and a great receiver duo supporting him. And given the short term of his contract (three years) and large payout in Year 1, the Seahawks could still look to add at the position. OK, maybe not quite as early as the Falcons did last year by taking Michael Penix Jr. at No. 8 after signing Kirk Cousins, but the idea is the same. I’d keep an eye on Texas’ Quinn Ewers on Day 2, when Seattle has four total selections.
If Sanders is available at No. 9, the Saints should consider drafting him. Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart could be an option in the second round, too, though some evaluators believe he could be picked at the back end of Round 1.
Yates: Los Angeles Rams. On one hand, Matthew Stafford is still playing at a very high level at 37, and the Rams don’t currently have a second-round pick. On the other, Stafford’s relationship with the organization is year-to-year at this point after his contract restructure, and it would be logical for Los Angeles to at least consider a quarterback somewhere on Day 2. Louisville’s Tyler Shough has similar traits to Stafford; he can throw from a variety of different angles and hit tight windows.
Mini mock of the week: Let’s alternate picks in the top 12
2. Miller’s ideal pick for the Cleveland Browns: Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado. Abdul Carter is the best player on my board, but Hunter is close and fills two needs for the Browns. He would give them another threat at wide receiver and a starting-level cornerback.
4. Reid’s ideal pick for the New England Patriots: Abdul Carter, Edge, Penn State. This franchise is starved for talent on both sides of the ball, and Carter would give the team an immediate building block on defense. His first-step quickness and continued growth as a pass rusher could lead to double-digit sacks right away as a rookie.
• Rankings: Kiper | Miller | Reid | Yates
• QB Board | Pos. ranks | Latest buzz
• Pick order | Scouting evals | More
5. Miller’s ideal pick for the Jacksonville Jaguars: Mason Graham, DT, Michigan. The trenches in Jacksonville need the most attention, especially on defense, and Graham would draw attention away from pass rushers Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen.
7. Reid’s ideal pick for the New York Jets: Armand Membou, OT/G, Missouri. Even after drafting Olu Fashanu a year ago, the Jets should continue to fortify the offensive front. Membou could be an immediate replacement for right tackle Morgan Moses, who’s now in New England. He is a plug-and-play starter.
8. Miller’s ideal pick for the Carolina Panthers: Jalon Walker, Edge/LB, Georgia. The early parts of this draft should be all about defense for Carolina after last season’s unit allowed 31.4 points per game, worst in the NFL. Walker is a bit of a hybrid defender with linebacker and pass rusher versatility, but I think he’ll become a star as an outside edge defender.
9. Yates’ ideal pick for the New Orleans Saints: Shemar Stewart, Edge, Texas A&M. Few teams are more willing to bet on traits than the Saints, and Stewart might be the biggest gamble in this draft. He had just 4.5 sacks in his three college seasons, but his explosiveness and power are impressive.
11. Miller’s ideal pick for the San Francisco 49ers: Will Campbell, OT/G, LSU. Addressing the offensive line and planning for 36-year-old Trent Williams‘ eventual retirement with Campbell would be a win-win for the 49ers’ front office. Overall, hitting on picks in this draft class is imperative to reloading the roster after it was depleted through free agency.
12. Yates’ ideal pick for the Dallas Cowboys: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona. The Cowboys have a lot of needs, but wide receiver should not be ignored. McMillan’s combination of size and ball skills would give him a real chance to become a star alongside CeeDee Lamb.
What else did you hear and see this week?
Miller’s notes:
- Last week, Georgia edge rusher Mykel Williams had scouts asking questions after his pro day workout. Weighing in at 267 pounds, Williams was timed at 4.75 seconds in the 40-yard dash. That’s well below expectations given his reputation as a high-level mover. And remember, he did not participate in the combine, meaning that pro day showing is his only data point in pre-draft testing. Williams played through an ankle injury for much of the season, so much of his draft projection has been based on upside and potential. But the common comp to the Jaguars’ Travon Walker (who ran a 4.51 at 272 pounds) isn’t landing. Williams’ stock could slip slightly to the middle of Round 1; he’s going to be No. 22 in my new rankings, which land this weekend.
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- Ole Miss defensive tackle Walter Nolen is one of the more interesting players in the class. In talking to multiple NFL teams, the range on him varies from the top 10 to the second round. Nolen was the top recruit in ESPN 300’s 2022 class, and he had a fantastic final season with the Rebels (6.5 sacks, 14 tackles for loss) after transferring from Texas A&M. But teams are torn on his lack of refined pass-rush moves, making his draft range among the widest in the class.
Reid’s notes:
- Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan held a private workout for scouts Monday afternoon, participating in the 40-yard dash and running routes. The three evaluators I talked to were very complimentary of his performance. Times ranged in the 4.52-4.56 range for McMillan, which matches the speed scouts projected for him. Brian Gutekunst of the Packers was the lone NFL general manager in attendance, per sources. Along with Texas’ Matthew Golden, McMillan is considered a strong contender to be the first receiver off the board and a fringe top-10 pick (No. 15 in my top 50).
- Linebacker Jihaad Campbell showed up to Alabama’s pro day with a sling on his left arm. On SEC Network, he confirmed he had surgery for a torn labrum after the combine, and the recovery time is not yet known. Campbell is my top-ranked linebacker and No. 14 player overall, and his stock is worth watching. But I still think his floor is the Buccaneers at No. 19.
Yates’ notes:
- It’s only natural for us to compare each draft class to the past one, and scouts throughout this cycle have weighed in on just how unpredictable the first round is this year. In 2024, we had virtual certainty from the day the order was set that three quarterbacks would get picked early, along with strong confidence that players such as Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers, Joe Alt and JC Latham were locks in the top 10. This year? The stone-cold locks for teams are Cam Ward, Abdul Carter and Travis Hunter. Players such as Mason Graham, Will Campbell, Tyler Warren, Jalon Walker and Armand Membou are often mentioned but not at the same level as last year’s locks. It’s a different vibe.
- We’ve talked about it plenty over the past month, but more and more of the top players are not taking part in the totality of pro days and are opting to stand on their tape. That’s the nature of the NFL draft these days and not a particular surprise, as we’ve seen combine participation drop dramatically for the best players. Throw this trend into the category of the evolving draft landscape.
