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The 2025 NFL draft is just over a week away, and Round 1 is shaping up to be as unpredictable as ever.
While a consensus has formed atop the 2025 NFL draft, there is little certainty about what will happen in the back end of the top 10 selections and beyond. Many players at each position group are closely bunched together on big boards by NFL teams and draft analysts alike.
That's why it's important to look closely at mock drafts this time of year. They can help parse through the noise and rumors that percolate throughout draft season and give a more accurate projection of how each team will approach its first-round pick.
Recently, ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. and Field Yates put together a joint mock draft that spanned the draft's first 102 picks. Here are some takeaways from their exercise, which revealed the floors and ceilings of some of the top NFL draft prospects.
NFL MOCK DRAFT 2025: ChatGPT AI predicts the entire first round
Click here to read Kiper and Yates' full 102-pick mock draft.
Carr may not play during the 2025 NFL season because of a shoulder injury. Yates believes that could lead the Saints to select Sanders. He noted the Colorado product has "really good accuracy, poise and toughness," which would make him a strong fit in Kellen Moore's offense.
Some recent mock drafts have placed Jaxson Dart ahead of Sanders, but it appears the Colorado quarterback still holds the advantage over the Ole Miss product.
Sanders didn't slide, but McMillan did. The 6-4, 219-pound playmaker wasn't chosen until Houston Texans' selection at No. 25 despite being a staple in the top 20 of most NFL mock drafts.
Why did McMillan slide? Yates noted the receiver "is not blazing fast" but praised his contested-catch skill set. Still, it wasn't enough to have McMillan rise above speedster Matthew Golden, who Kiper mocked to the Dallas Cowboys at No. 12, or "crisp route runner" Emeka Egbuka, who Kiper gave to the Los Angeles Chargers 22nd overall.
Perhaps Kiper is lower on McMillan than the consensus. It could also indicate that the NFL is worried about the big-bodied pass catcher's speed.
2025 NFL DRAFT: Ranking top 10 WRs in class from Tetairoa McMillan to Tory Horton
Like McMillan, Stewart and Williams have often gone within the first 15 or 20 picks of mock drafts but found themselves going at the end of Round 1. Stewart went 23rd overall to the Green Bay Packers while Williams lasted until the Detroit Lions' selection at 28.
The reasons each player fell were sensible. Yates highlighted Stewart's elite athletic traits but noted the Texas A&M product had just 4.5 sacks across three college seasons. Meanwhile, Kiper noted Williams' "explosiveness" but that the Georgia product had "upside" to unlock.
The main takeaway? Stewart and Williams have undeniable talent and athleticism, but they may need time to develop at the NFL level. That could cause them to go slightly lower than expected.
The Brownsseem unlikely to take a quarterback with the No. 2 overall pick. Trading up from the 33rd pick and into the back end of the first round could be in play, however, as that would allow them to land a high-upside signal caller with a fifth-year option.
Kiper and Yates had that happening. They projected the Browns to trade up to the Washington Commanders' pick at 29 to get Dart – who Yates called "accurate and mobile with a big arm" – while the Commanders landed an extra Day 2 pick while still being able to get a top pass rusher, Donovan Ezeiruaku, at 33.
Washington is one of many teams with a late first-round selection that could consider trading down with a quarterback-needy team, so this is a sensible projection.
Milroe has a wide draft range. One of USA TODAY Sports' recent mock drafts saw him sneak into the end of the first round. In Kiper and Yates' joint mock, he lasted until the 68th pick.
The ESPN analysts' mock had Pittsburgh trading up to get Milroe. They noted the Alabama quarterback has the mobility and arm strength needed to develop into a quality NFL quarterback. He would benefit from sitting behind Aaron Rodgers for a season should the veteran signal-caller sign with the Steelers.
RYAN CLARK: ESPN analyst blasts Aaron Rodgers, Steelers for free agent situation
Milroe's placement was notable not only because he went in Round 3, but also because he went 34 picks after Louisville quarterback Tyler Shough. The two are battling to be the No. 4 overall quarterback, but this mock indicates Shough might have an edge over his younger counterpart.
Shough was a seven-year college player at Oregon, Texas Tech and Louisville and will turn 26 early during his rookie season. While he may not have the same upside as Milroe, he has the arm talent, athleticism and experience needed to challenge for a starting job.
The New York Giants landed Shough in Kiper and Yates' mock. He would add competition to a quarterback room that already features Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston and Tommy DeVito.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Takeaways from Mel Kiper and Field Yates' joint 2025 NFL mock draft
Continue reading...
While a consensus has formed atop the 2025 NFL draft, there is little certainty about what will happen in the back end of the top 10 selections and beyond. Many players at each position group are closely bunched together on big boards by NFL teams and draft analysts alike.
That's why it's important to look closely at mock drafts this time of year. They can help parse through the noise and rumors that percolate throughout draft season and give a more accurate projection of how each team will approach its first-round pick.
Recently, ESPN's Mel Kiper Jr. and Field Yates put together a joint mock draft that spanned the draft's first 102 picks. Here are some takeaways from their exercise, which revealed the floors and ceilings of some of the top NFL draft prospects.
NFL MOCK DRAFT 2025: ChatGPT AI predicts the entire first round
Takeaways from Mel Kiper and Field Yates' latest mock draft
Click here to read Kiper and Yates' full 102-pick mock draft.
Saints roll with Shedeur Sanders after Derek Carr's injury
Carr may not play during the 2025 NFL season because of a shoulder injury. Yates believes that could lead the Saints to select Sanders. He noted the Colorado product has "really good accuracy, poise and toughness," which would make him a strong fit in Kellen Moore's offense.
Some recent mock drafts have placed Jaxson Dart ahead of Sanders, but it appears the Colorado quarterback still holds the advantage over the Ole Miss product.
Tetairoa McMillan slides, is third pure WR selected
Sanders didn't slide, but McMillan did. The 6-4, 219-pound playmaker wasn't chosen until Houston Texans' selection at No. 25 despite being a staple in the top 20 of most NFL mock drafts.
Why did McMillan slide? Yates noted the receiver "is not blazing fast" but praised his contested-catch skill set. Still, it wasn't enough to have McMillan rise above speedster Matthew Golden, who Kiper mocked to the Dallas Cowboys at No. 12, or "crisp route runner" Emeka Egbuka, who Kiper gave to the Los Angeles Chargers 22nd overall.
Perhaps Kiper is lower on McMillan than the consensus. It could also indicate that the NFL is worried about the big-bodied pass catcher's speed.
2025 NFL DRAFT: Ranking top 10 WRs in class from Tetairoa McMillan to Tory Horton
Shemar Stewart, Mykel Williams fall to end of Round 1
Like McMillan, Stewart and Williams have often gone within the first 15 or 20 picks of mock drafts but found themselves going at the end of Round 1. Stewart went 23rd overall to the Green Bay Packers while Williams lasted until the Detroit Lions' selection at 28.
The reasons each player fell were sensible. Yates highlighted Stewart's elite athletic traits but noted the Texas A&M product had just 4.5 sacks across three college seasons. Meanwhile, Kiper noted Williams' "explosiveness" but that the Georgia product had "upside" to unlock.
The main takeaway? Stewart and Williams have undeniable talent and athleticism, but they may need time to develop at the NFL level. That could cause them to go slightly lower than expected.
Could Browns trade into Round 1 for Jaxson Dart?
The Brownsseem unlikely to take a quarterback with the No. 2 overall pick. Trading up from the 33rd pick and into the back end of the first round could be in play, however, as that would allow them to land a high-upside signal caller with a fifth-year option.
Kiper and Yates had that happening. They projected the Browns to trade up to the Washington Commanders' pick at 29 to get Dart – who Yates called "accurate and mobile with a big arm" – while the Commanders landed an extra Day 2 pick while still being able to get a top pass rusher, Donovan Ezeiruaku, at 33.
Washington is one of many teams with a late first-round selection that could consider trading down with a quarterback-needy team, so this is a sensible projection.
Steelers pass on first-round QB, get Jalen Milroe in Round 3
Milroe has a wide draft range. One of USA TODAY Sports' recent mock drafts saw him sneak into the end of the first round. In Kiper and Yates' joint mock, he lasted until the 68th pick.
The ESPN analysts' mock had Pittsburgh trading up to get Milroe. They noted the Alabama quarterback has the mobility and arm strength needed to develop into a quality NFL quarterback. He would benefit from sitting behind Aaron Rodgers for a season should the veteran signal-caller sign with the Steelers.
RYAN CLARK: ESPN analyst blasts Aaron Rodgers, Steelers for free agent situation
Tyler Shough could go before Jalen Milroe
Milroe's placement was notable not only because he went in Round 3, but also because he went 34 picks after Louisville quarterback Tyler Shough. The two are battling to be the No. 4 overall quarterback, but this mock indicates Shough might have an edge over his younger counterpart.
Shough was a seven-year college player at Oregon, Texas Tech and Louisville and will turn 26 early during his rookie season. While he may not have the same upside as Milroe, he has the arm talent, athleticism and experience needed to challenge for a starting job.
The New York Giants landed Shough in Kiper and Yates' mock. He would add competition to a quarterback room that already features Russell Wilson, Jameis Winston and Tommy DeVito.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Takeaways from Mel Kiper and Field Yates' joint 2025 NFL mock draft
Continue reading...
