Jeff Kirby’s Final Mock Draft, Version 3.0

By Jeff Kirby of The Renegade Roundtable

We are just a few days away from the 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Here is what I believe will happen in the first round of this year’s draft with my mock draft “3.0.”

Tennessee Titans: Cam Ward, QB, Miami. As we are now a week away from the NFL Draft, the Titans are expected to go with a QB first overall. Ward seems to be the clear QB1 in this class and Tennessee gets their signal caller of the future.

Cleveland Browns: Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado. With Myles Garrett getting his extension, the conversation about Abdul Carter here may fade. The talk of the Browns taking Hunter is a major one. How they will use him is the question.

New York Giants: Abdul Carter, Edge, Penn State. You can never have too many great pass rushers on a defense. 23rd in total defense and middle of the road on 3rd down isn’t going to cut it for the G-men. They get here arguably the best player in this draft and one that will wreak havoc on opposing offenses in the NFL.

New England Patriots: Will Campbell, OT, LSU. The first OL to come off the board and for good reason. They need to help protect the blindside of last year’s 2nd overall pick QB Drake Maye.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Mason Graham, DT, Michigan. The Jags were bad all over the board on defense last year. 28th in points allowed, 25th against the run, dead last against the pass, and 31st in total defense. They can choose the highest defensive player on their board and not make a mistake.

Las Vegas Raiders: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State. Offensively, the Raiders were not good in 2024. 27th in total offense, dead last in rushing, 30th on 3rd down. They need to build an offense with weapons for new QB Geno Smith. Jeanty will be a work horse for new OC Chip Kelly and should have success from the start.

New York Jets: Armand Membou, OT, Missouri. New head coach Aaron Glenn came from Detroit where they took Penei Sewell who helped turn that OL into a great group. Glenn may want to repeat that with this pick and can be a plug-and-play starter day-one for this team.

Carolina Panthers: Jalon Walker, LB, Georgia. I am still on the train that the Panthers should draft a WR here for Bryce Young. This isn’t a mock draft of what I want to happen but what I believe WILL happen. All signs indicate that they will want to find someone to replace what they had before trading Brian Burns last year to the Giants. Walker’s versatility will be huge for this defense.

New Orleans Saints: Sheduer Sanders, QB, Colorado. Speculation of the Saints drafting Sanders has been on fire lately. Is this just a smoke screen or is this legit? It makes sense considering Derek Carr has not been the answer for this team and they have been in cap hell for a while now. If they decide to not go QB here, they will more than likely look at the highest-rated edge rusher on their board.

Chicago Bears: Mykel Williams, Edge, Georgia. I can see a scenario where the Bears may try and trade down, get more draft capital, and draft a LT. If they stay put, this would be perfect value and fills a need that this team has.

San Francisco 49ers: Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon. How quickly have we gone from seeing this team have arguably the best DL in football to what it is now? Not very impressive or intimidating outside of Nick Bosa. With Robert Salah returning to the helm as defensive coordinator, building up the defensive line again will be his biggest priority and they get that here.

Dallas Cowboys: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona. There is a real possibility that the Cowboys may trade up if they really want Jeanty. However, they need a WR badly opposite of Cee Dee Lamb. They get a big-body receiver with a mile-long catch radius that Dak Prescott will love.

Miami Dolphins: Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina. The loss of Jevon Holland is a big hit for this defense. Emmanwori jumped out of the gym at the NFL Combine and raised his stock tremendously. He brings versatility where he can play deep but also in the box as well or can even kick inside to play nickel.

Indianapolis Colts: Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State. One of the very few picks that have stayed consistent in all of my mock drafts so far. The potential for Warren is off the charts and he will come in on day one and open things up over the middle making Anthony Richardson’s life easier.

Atlanta Falcons: Shemar Stewart, Edge, Texas A&M. When you are 31st at getting to the QB last year, the Falcons will be desperate to fill that void. They get someone in Stewart who can get to the QB and play in multiple positions along the defensive line.

Arizona Cardinals: Matthew Golden, WR, Texas. Two years in a row drafting a WR in the first round? Yes, they will. I wouldn’t be shocked to see a DT here either. GM Monti Ossenfort invested in the defense in free agency so he will add to the offense in the draft. Matthew Golden will be the perfect Z receiver for this team and can contribute right away.

Cincinnati Bengals: Malaki Starks, S, Georgia. This team has struggled at that safety spot since letting Jessie Bates walk in free agency back in 2023. With Vonn Bell still a free agent too, this makes perfect sense for this team. They have so much invested in the offense they have to build the defense in the draft.

Seattle Seahawks: Grey Zabel, OG, North Dakota State. This team has a major need for a guard on this offensive line and they get that in Zabel. Zabel had a huge senior bowl that helped his stock rise. He can legitimately play all five positions on the offensive line which brings tremendous versatility and value.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jihaad Campbell, ILB, Alabama. Lavante David is back on a 1-year deal but is also 35 years old. Campbell is a rangy and instinctive linebacker who is exactly what teams want in today’s middle linebacker. He can learn so much from David and become a top linebacker in the NFL.

Denver Broncos: Omarion Hampton, RB, UNC. Hampton over the last month or so has been seen in a lot more first-round mocks and for good reason too. He is a downhill runner and the Broncos are in a big need of a RB—and they get one here.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Jaxson Dart, QB, Ole Miss. This pick was very tricky because the Steelers can go in a multitude of directions. Do they get the QB of the future? Do they get an interior DL? Do they get a corner? At the end of the day, regardless of what happens with Aaron Rodgers, Dart can come in and learn.

Los Angeles Chargers: Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan. This feels self-explanatory on why I have this pick. The Michigan connection with Jim Harbaugh is there and Harbaugh loves TEs, o this is a match made in heaven for the Chargers.

Green Bay Packers: Will Johnson, CB, Michigan. A run on Michigan Wolverines has started and the Packers have to be ecstatic for this prospect to reach them. Will Johnson is an absolute baller on the field but with injury questions, his stock may have dropped a little. The uncertainty surrounding Jaire Alexander makes this pick all that much better.

Minnesota Vikings: Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas. Ahhh yes, what feels like the yearly or every other year journey of the Vikings taking a corner. Brian Flores runs a complex defensive scheme and needs very smart corners. That is what you get with Barron and he gives the Vikings versatility in the defensive backfield.

Houston Texans: Tyler Booker, G, Alabama. They can go with an OT or an OG with this pick here. Tyler Booker is the best Guard in this draft and would be tremendous value pick for the Houston Texans this deep in round one.

Los Angeles Rams: Azareye’h Thomas, CB, Florida State. Here’s an almost 6’2 corner who is long and can come in right away and play for DC Chris Shula.

Baltimore Ravens: Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan. With Michael Pierce deciding to retire, this leaves a big hole in this defensive line. The value here is tremendous so this is a win-win for GM Eric Decosta and Head Coach John Harbaugh.

Detroit Lions: Mike Green, Edge, Marshall. 26th in total defense and 23rd at getting to the QB will not get you to where the Lions want to go.. Za’Darius Smith is still a free agent, and Mike Green is very fast off the line of scrimmage. He and Aidan Hutchinson opposite each other will be a scary proposiiton for QBs in the NFL.

Washington Commanders: Donovan Ezeiruaku, Edge, Boston College. Ezeiruaku’s value has risen some over the last few weeks or so. At only 248 LBs, he can be disruptive coming off the edge. I do believe Dan Quinn will be able to get the most out of him.

Buffalo Bills: Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon. The Bills have three defensive tackles pending free agency and all three are over 30. This is a position of real need and the Bills get their guy to anchor the interior of their line. Harmon is a run stuffer who would be the perfect complement to Ed Oliver and his pass-rush abilities.

Kansas City Chiefs: Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss. This pick was tricky based on needs vs who is available. Nolen has been falling and with what I have seen on film I have zero clue why. He can stop the run, be a threat as a pass rusher, and is fast/twitchy for his size.

Philadelphia Eagles: James Pearce, Edge, Tennessee. Josh Sweat is off to Arizona and Brandon Graham retired. This becomes a big need for this defense. Pearce will feast on this defensive line.