2025 NFL Mock Draft 1.0: Cowboys land starting RB of the future
By Mike Luciano
The Dallas Cowboys are already looking forward to the 2025 NFL Draft, as the injury to Dak Prescott and complete lack of an ability to withstand any turbulence has sent the Cowboys on the fast track to a major retooling as this season grinds on ahead unsuccessfully.
The Cowboys, like many other teams across the NFL, have the benefit of some very clear needs that can be alleviated by a savvy front office loading up on top young talent. Time will tell if Jerry Jones will end up following that path.
Irrespective of what Dallas does in the next few months, teams across the league will take advantage of a draft that is full of promising defensive talent and intriguing skill position studs. One of them could be headed to Texas if Jones and Will McClay are at the top of their game.
2025 NFL Mock Draft: Dallas Cowboys add star RB
1. Jacksonville Jaguars: Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado
Not only will Hunter be an immediate star cornerback who can challenge for Pro Bowl nods as soon as he arrives in the league, but he would give Trevor Lawrence a reliable big-play target. Hunter is the best skill position athlete the league has seen in years, and he is very much in consideration for the Jaguars at No. 1 overall.
2. New York Giants: Cam Ward, QB, Miami
Ward is starting to separate himself from the rest of the pack by putting up gaudy numbers in his final college season. An experienced starter with a rocket arm and tremendous accuracy on shorter passes, Ward's playmaking gene will give the Giants an upgrade over Daniel Jones.
3. Tennessee Titans; Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State
The Titans wouldn't be judged harshly for replacing Will Levis, but Brian Callahan might give the former high pick one more year. Carter gives them a star pass rusher they can build their defense around, as his speed and refinement make him an immediate threat to become a starter in the pros.
4. Cleveland Browns: Will Campbell, OT, LSU
The Browns appear to be stuck with the Deshaun Watson contract, which makes it difficult to replace him under center through the draft. No matter what happens at that position, the one mighty offensive line is breaking apart. Campbell has been a rock-solid pass blocker with premium athleticism for
5. Las Vegas Raiders: Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
Sanders brings a media circus with him, but he also has deadeye accuracy down the field and a very advanced football brain capable of handling very complex offenses. The Raiders need a quarterback in the worst way, and Sanders would give Antonio Pierce a player he can build around.
6. New England Patriots: Kelvin Banks, OT, Texas
This pick will assuredly be either a wide receiver or offensive lineman, as the Patriots need to either protect Drake Maye or get him someone who can make plays. Banks could make a more immediate impact for New England, as he could lock down Maye's blind side for the next decade.
7. New Orleans Saints: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
New Orleans will need to take it on the chin financially for the next few years, making this pick extremely important. The safest thing to do is picking a 6-5 wide receiver with speed and a nose for the ball. McMillan and Chris Olave will give Derek Carr his most potent passing attack yet as a Saint.
8. New York Jets: Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama
If the Jets are picking this high, the Aaron Rodgers experiment has been a complete failure that requires a thorough rebuild. Whoever ends up coaching this team would love to work with Milroe, a premium athlete with a beautiful deep ball and the most raw talent of any quarterback in this class.
9. Carolina Panthers: Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
Even with Hunter going before him, Johnson may be the best pure cover corner in this entire class due to his 6-2 frame and high football IQ. The Panthers' defense is a train wreck right now, and Carolina might be better off by eschewing a quarterback addition and picking the best defensive player available.
10. Miami Dolphins: Mason Graham, DT, Michigan
The Dolphins' offensive woes can be attributed to their injuries on offense. The defensive line is very much in flux, and adding a crazy athlete like Graham, who can come in and immediately stuff the run, would be the best way to beef up the roster as a whole.
11. Dallas Cowboys: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
The Cowboys need a running back in the worst way, and Jeanty has been so dominant he could break some records. Sometimes, the easiest solution for building a winner is the simplest one. Jeanty could be a Pro Bowler today in the pros.
12. Indianapolis Colts: Malaki Starks, SAF, Georgia
While the Colts' scheme is very outdated, getting Starks would raise the floor. No one on the roster can cover and hit as hard as a player with the No. 1 safety in this class' raw talent.
13. Cincinnati Bengals: Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan
Often overshadowed by Graham, Grant is a monstrous tackle who weighs 340 pounds and can immediately plug up gaps. Cincinnati's depth on the defensive line is thin, and Grant could team with former college teammate Kris Jenkins.
14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: James Pearce Jr, EDGE, Tennessee
Pearce's stock has fallen a bit since he started the 2024 campaign, but he can scream off the edge and defend the run fairly well. Tampa Bay's defense is deplorable, and Pearce would start right away.
15. Seattle Seahawks: Jalon Walker, LB, Georgia
The Ernest Jones trade shows how Seattle was not happy with their linebacking performance. A. versatile player, Walker can be for Mike Macdonald what Kyle Van Noy was in Baltimore.
16. Los Angeles Rams: Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame
Morrison has dealt with some injuries, but he has put more than enough quality film on tape to get teams like the Rams interested in him as a long-term defensive cornerstone. Morrison had nine picks in his first two seasons as a gold domer.
17. Chicago Bears: Tyler Booker, IOL, Alabama
Caleb Williams is getting beat up. While he holds the ball too long sometimes, the Bears need to protect him to have any chance of succeeding. Booker's improvement this year could help Williams go from a promising youngster to a high-end passer fairly soon.
18. San Francisco 49ers: Aireontae Ersery, OT, Minnesota
A gigantic tackle with oodles of raw power and a mean streak to match, Ersery could be the perfect unerstudy to Trent Williams. Be it as a left or right tackle, Kyle Shanahan should be very keen on Ersery's tools.
19. Denver Broncos: Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri
Bo Nix has looked better than many expected, and he's doing it without a very good skill position group. Burden is a weapon with the ball in his hands, which is music to Sean Payton's ears.
20. Houston Texans: Jonah Savaiinaea, IOL, Arizona
CJ Stroud has been good this year, but not great. This is partially due to an offensive line that has taken a major step back. With tackle-guard versatility, Savaiinaea is a plug-and-play starter for Houston.
21. Atlanta Falcons: Nic Scourton, EDGE, Texas A&M
It's been literal years since Atlanta had a solid pass rush. After Bralen Trice's ACL injury and Arnold Ebiketie's iffy development, Scourton could leapfrog both of them and become a starter on the edge.
22. Arizona Cardinals: Tacario Davis, CB, Arizona
Arizona stays local for their next secondary addition, as Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon likes bigger, aggressive corners. The 6-4 Davis is volatile, but his highs are worthy enough to be picked this high
23. Los Angeles Chargers: Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
The Chargers need to keep adding players around Justin Herbert to maximize his prime. Egbuka is a jack-of-all-trades at wide receiver, giving Herbert a new No. 1 wide receiver next to Ladd McConkey.
24. Green Bay Packers: Deone Walker, DT, Kentucky
The Packers' biggest flaws are in the trenches, as both the offensive and defensive lines need help. Walker is an old-school space eater Green Bay can eventually into a long-term starter on the line.
25. Washington Commanders: Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia
Williams was almost tailor-made to play in Dan Quinn's defense. After Washington drafted Mike Sainristil and traded for Marshon Lattimore, edge rusher has become their biggest hole on defense.
26. Baltimore Ravens: Emory Joens Jr, OT, LSU
The Ravens appear to have hit with Roger Rosengarten, but Baltimore needs to eventually find a replacement for Ronnie Stanley. While Jones may need to switch positions, he has the mobility and athleticism needed to make that transition.
27. Pittsburgh Steelers: Isaiah Bond, WR, Texas
Bond is all about speed, and the Steelers could use that on a team that has failed to integrate Roman Wilson into their offense. Russell Wilson will love stretching the field with Bond.
28. Minnesota Vikings: Shavon Revel Jr, CB, East Carolina
Revel's inury will not impact his stock too much, as he is still a freaky athlete with great size and some comical tape against lower-tier competition. Minnesota could use one more impact player in their secondary.
29. Philadelphia Eagles: Harold Perkins, LB, LSU
Perkins is a complete raw bag of tools, as he is half a pass rusher and half a linebacker. An Eagles team that has had success with Zack Baun could be the best spot to figure out how to use him.
30. Buffalo Bills: Tre Harris, WR, Ole Miss
Harris will need to adapt from Ole Miss' gimicky offense, but he has enough explosiveness down the field to give Josh Allen a speedy complement to the physical Keon Coleman in Buffalo's new-look receiving corps.
31. Detroit Lions: JT Tuimoloau, EDGE, Ohio State
With or without a healthy Adian Hutchinson, the Lions needed one more impact defensive lineman. A two-way player, Tuimoloau is equally adept at setting the edge and pressuring the quarterback
32. Kansas City Chiefs: Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
The Chiefs' Travis Kelce replacement is the best tight end in a strong class. With imposisbly logn arms and qualoty blocking, Loveland will play a big role in Kansas City's offense right out of the gate.
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