- Regardless of what happens at No. 2, the Browns need a quarterback: Cleveland could perhaps trade back into the later part of Round 1 to select a passer, with Shedeur Sanders or Jaxson Dart potentially still available.
- The Saints face a tough decision: Derek Carr’s 2025 status is reportedly up in the air, leaving New Orleans in limbo at Pick No. 9 and potentially forcing the front office to reach for a quarterback.
Estimated Reading Time: 14 minutes
Click here for more draft tools:
NFL Draft Big Board | Mock Draft Simulator | NCAA Premium Stats
2025 PFF Draft Guide | Mock Draft Hub | Prospect Data Profiles
Draft Position Rankings
What an NFL team should do during the draft won’t always line up with reality; it all depends on who is still on the board, positional value and needs.
Still, we’ll try to dissect how each franchise should approach Day 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft, with a bias toward the pass game. We’ll give more weight to quarterbacks, pass blockers, pass rushers, pass catchers and cornerbacks than running backs, run blockers and run defenders.
JUMP TO A TEAM:
ARZ | ATL | BLT | BUF | CAR | CHI | CIN | CLE | DAL | DEN | DET | GB | HOU | IND | JAX | KC | LVR | LAC | LAR | MIA | MIN | NE | NO | NYG | NYJ | PHI | PIT | SF | SEA | TB | TEN | WSH
ARIZONA CARDINALS: Draft a Cornerback
The Cardinals could use an impact cornerback outside. They haven’t spent a first-round pick on a cornerback since 2011, when they took Patrick Peterson at No. 5. Garrett Williams has been stellar playing inside, but none of the team’s outside cornerbacks earned a PFF coverage grade above 66.0 in 2024.
ATLANTA FALCONS: Draft an Edge Defender
The Falcons desperately need to improve their pass rush, as they ranked 30th in team PFF pass-rushing grade in 2024. The last time they spent a first-round pick on a defensive lineman was 2017, but this draft class is loaded with edge rushers. Atlanta should be in a good spot to address the need at pick No. 15, potentially with Mike Green (92.4 PFF overall grade in 2024), Donovan Ezeiruaku (90.0) or James Pearce Jr. (87.1).
BALTIMORE RAVENS: Draft a Guard
The Ravens want to run the ball, and selecting a guard should be among their top priorities. The loss of Patrick Mekari in free agency makes their depth at guard a bit thin, leaving Daniel Faalele as the team’s highest-graded returning guard (61.8 PFF overall grade). Grey Zabel and Tyler Booker are potential targets.
BUFFALO BILLS: Draft a Cornerback
The Bills need to improve their defense and will likely take a “best defensive player available” approach at Pick No. 30. While there are many directions they could go in, the best position to address is cornerback, as Buffalo earned a 31st-ranked 37.7 team PFF coverage grade in 2024. Trey Amos, Benjamin Morrison and Maxwell Hairston are potential targets at the end of the first round.
CAROLINA PANTHERS: Draft a Wide Receiver
The Panthers’ top priority should be to add players who can further Bryce Young‘s development. Carolina has invested top-40 picks in wide receivers in each of the past two seasons, but that draft capital has yet to translate to on-the-field production. Tetairoa McMillan would give the Panthers a true No. 1 wide receiver who dominated at all levels of the field in 2024, ranking in the top five among Power Four 2025 NFL Draft prospects in PFF grade on short, intermediate and deep targets.
CHICAGO BEARS: Draft an Edge Defender
While running back is a position of need for the Bears, the position class is also very deep and can be tapped into later in the draft. Chicago should take one of the top edge rushers at Pick No. 10, lacking a defensive player who tallied more than six sacks in 2024. Mike Green and Donovan Ezeiruaku would both be good options.
CINCINNATI BENGALS: Draft an Edge Defender
The Bengals’ 64.2 team PFF pass-rush grade in 2024 ranked 26th in the NFL, despite their having the top sack-getter last in Trey Hendrickson. The uncertainty around Hendrickson is another reason Cincinnati should draft an edge defender; if he is no longer on the team, no other Bengals front-seven defender earned a PFF pass-rushing grade above 64.0 last season. Shemar Stewart and Mike Green are potential fits at Pick No. 17.
CLEVELAND BROWNS: Draft a Quarterback
The Browns need a quarterback, and everyone knows it. Deshaun Watson isn’t the future, Kenny Pickett isn’t the future and Joe Flacco isn’t the future. While it doesn’t necessarily need to be at No. 2 overall, Cleveland could perhaps trade back into the later part of Round 1 to select a quarterback if they take a defensive blue-chip player with the No. 2 overall pick.
DALLAS COWBOYS: Draft a Wide Receiver
The Cowboys should draft a wide receiver, adding a weapon to complement CeeDee Lamb. Since Lamb does most of his work in the slot, the big-bodied Tetairoa McMillan or the speedy Matthew Golden are both potential targets at Pick No. 12. Golden ran a 4.29-second 40-yard dash and is coming off a career-best season, with a 75.6 PFF receiving grade, nine receiving touchdowns and 987 receiving yards.
DENVER BRONCOS: Draft a Middle-of-the-Field Receiving Weapon
The Broncos need to add more weapons for promising young quarterback Bo Nix. Head coach Sean Payton likes to attack the middle of the field on offense, and Marvin Mims Jr. was their leading slot target in 2024, with 341 receiving yards from that alignment. While Denver signed Evan Engram in free agency, a receiving tight end like Colston Loveland or a slot receiver like Emeka Egbuka or Luther Burden III would fit the bill.
DETROIT LIONS: Draft an Edge Defender
The Lions need another edge-rusher to pair with Aidan Hutchinson. One option would be to try and trade for a veteran pass rusher, such as Kayvon Thibodeaux or Trey Hendrickson. The other option is to address the position in the first round. Nic Scourton, whose 36 quarterback pressures were a top-15 mark among SEC edge defenders in 2024, is a potential target at Pick No. 28.
HOUSTON TEXANS: Draft a Left Tackle
The Texans should be trying to protect talented young quarterback C.J. Stroud at all costs. There will be starting-caliber tackle options available in the first round at Pick No. 25, but there will likely be a run on the position before Houston picks again at No. 58, so addressing left tackle in the first round should be the plan. Josh Simmons, Kelvin Banks Jr. and Josh Conerly Jr. are potential fits at Pick No. 25.
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS: Draft a Right Tackle
The Colts could use a tight end, but improving their offensive line would be a better use of their draft capital. Bernhard Raimann has been very good at left tackle for the Colts, but right tackle Braden Smith hasn’t played 750 snaps in a season since 2022. Armand Membou, who logged 800-plus snaps in each of the past two seasons, would be a perfect fit if he falls to the No. 14 pick.
GREEN BAY PACKERS: Trade for George Pickens
The Packers have a deep wide receiver group, filled with talented complementary players but lacking a true No. 1. Green Bay hasn’t spent a first-round pick on a wide receiver since 2002, and that could change this year. But by trading for George Pickens, who has put together three straight seasons of 800-plus receiving yards, four receiving touchdowns and a 69.0-plus PFF receiving grade, Green Bay could address the need and still use its first-round pick on an edge defender.
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS: Draft an Offensive Tackle
The Jaguars added depth along their offensive line in free agency, but they shouldn’t pass on the chance to add an impact offensive tackle. While Walker Little earned a career-high 72.8 PFF overall grade in 2024, his promotion to a starter and the trade of Cam Robinson have left Jacksonville in need of talent and depth at the position. Sitting at Pick No. 5, the Jaguars will likely have a shot to draft either Will Campbell or Armand Membou.
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS: Protect Patrick Mahomes
The Chiefs will go as far as Patrick Mahomes takes them, so protecting him should always be the top priority. No returning Kansas City offensive tackle earned a PFF pass-blocking grade above 69.5 in 2024, and free-agent addition Jaylon Moore has never played more than 280 snaps in a season. Josh Conerly Jr., Donovan Jackson and Charles Grant could be potential fits at Pick No. 31.
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS: Draft a Cornerback
When you play in a division with the Chiefs, being able to cover their offensive weapons is paramount. The Raiders’ 32.0 team PFF coverage grade in 2024 ranked last in the NFL. Las Vegas at Pick No. 6 should have its choice of every defensive back not named Travis Hunter. Jahdae Barron and his 91.1 PFF coverage grade in 2024 would be a good fit.
LOS ANGELES CHARGERS: Draft a Cornerback
The Chargers have spent a first-round pick on offense for five straight years. And yet, they could use another wide receiver. The team hasn’t spent a first-round pick on a cornerback since 2008 but is set to face prolific offenses in the AFC West, so improving the secondary is paramount. While the Chargers had a very good team PFF coverage grade in 2024, the only cornerback to play more than 500 snaps and earn a PFF coverage grade above 70.0 was Tarheeb Still (74.8). Ole Miss’ Trey Amos could be a good option at Pick No. 22.
LOS ANGELES RAMS: Draft a Quarterback
It’s fair to say that the Rams‘ biggest positional need is cornerback. However, Matthew Stafford is entering his 17th season in the NFL, and the team should start to prepare for a post-Stafford era. It’s better to draft a quarterback a year too early than a year too late. The class is full of depth options, many of which you can read about here. Texas‘ Quinn Ewers is one potential fit.
MIAMI DOLPHINS: Draft a Left Tackle
The Dolphins’ offense is explosive when Tua Tagovailoa has time to throw downfield. The offensive line was already a problem point, but following Terron Armstead‘s retirement, Miami is without its best lineman and starting left tackle. The Dolphins should be in a good spot at Pick No. 13 to address the offensive tackle position, where a player such as Kelvin Banks Jr., who earned an 86.2 PFF overall grade at left tackle in 2024, could be an option.
MINNESOTA VIKINGS: Draft an Interior Offensive Lineman
The Vikings should continue to improve their interior offensive line to aid the development of second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy. Minnesota did secure help in free agency, but North Dakota State’s Grey Zabel would be a great fit at Pick No. 24. While he played mostly tackle in college, he is expected to move to guard in the NFL after allowing just 10 combined sacks and quarterback hits across 1,137 career pass-blocking snaps.
NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS: Draft an Offensive Tackle
Protecting quarterback Drake Maye is paramount right now for the Patriots, whose 52.3 team PFF pass-blocking grade ranked 31st last season. Few things will stunt a quarterback’s development faster than a lack of pass protection. New England should have its choice of offensive linemen at Pick No. 4, with Will Campbell and Armand Membou both being good fits.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS: Draft a Quarterback
The Saints need to find their quarterback for the future. Derek Carr is entering his 12th season in 2024 and is reportedly dealing with a serious shoulder injury that could force him to miss time in 2025. Jaxson Dart and Shedeur Sanders are possible targets at Pick No. 9. Both have questions to answer at the next level, though.
NEW YORK GIANTS: Draft a Quarterback
If Russell Wilson can help the Giants win a few games, it will only make it harder to draft a starting quarterback in 2026. If New York passes on a quarterback at Pick No. 3, as they are widely expected to, they should look to get back into the first round for a desired signal-caller — perhaps Jaxson Dart, Shedeur Sanders or Jalen Milroe.
NEW YORK JETS: Draft a Pass Catcher
With the Jets giving Justin Fields a two-year contract, the best way to support him is to add another pass-catching weapon. Whether it’s a tight end like Tyler Warren or Colston Loveland, or a wide receiver like Tetairoa McMillan, the Jets need another receiver to strike fear in defenses other than Garrett Wilson. Warren and Loveland were among the five highest-graded tight ends in college football in 2024.
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES: Draft a Safety
Drafting the best edge defender available at Pick No. 32 would be a solid choice for depth, but the Eagles can fill a bigger hole by drafting a safety. Nick Emmanwori’s size and athleticism would be a fun addition to an already loaded defense.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS: Draft a quarterback
The Steelers have a glaring hole at quarterback. They traded a second-round pick for wide receiver D.K. Metcalf before signing him to a big contract, but they don’t have a decent starting quarterback in place to throw him the ball. If Shedeur Sanders, Jaxson Dart or Jalen Milroe are available at Pick No. 21, the Steelers should jump at the opportunity. If they don’t manage to secure a signal-caller early, they could target a player such as Will Howard, who is capable of making big-time throws with pressure in his face.
SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS: Draft a Left Tackle
Trent Williams will be back in 2025, but he will be 37 years old and entering his 15th season. The 49ers should look to draft a left tackle who excels at outside-zone run blocking and pass blocking. Armand Membou or Kelvin Banks Jr. would make a good addition at Pick No. 11.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS: Draft an Offensive Lineman
The Seahawks have a bridge quarterback in place with Sam Darnold but need to take steps to improve their pass protection. Seattle’s 52.9 team PFF pass-blocking grade ranked 28th in the NFL last season. Grey Zabel and Donovan Jackson would be some options possibly available at Pick No. 18.
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS: Draft an Edge Defender
The Buccaneers did add Haason Reddick in free agency, but it’s only on a one-year deal. They could use a young starting edge defender to pair with Yaya Diaby, who earned the highest PFF pass-rushing grade among Buccaneers edge defenders in 2024 (79.4).
TENNESSEE TITANS: Draft Cam Ward
The Titans should draft Cam Ward at No. 1. That’s it.
WASHINGTON COMMANDERS: Draft an Edge Defender
The Commanders’ offense is in good shape. Now, the defense could use more pass-rushing juice to close out games. Tennessee edge defender James Pearce Jr. would be a great fit if he is still available at Pick No. 29. His 23.0% pass-rush win rate in 2024 ranked seventh among all college football edge defenders.
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
Canelo Alvarez ‘sinks’ Tiger Woods further with controversial comment at a delicate moment for the golf star
Canelo Alvarez and Tiger Woods are both legends in their respective arenas - one a four-division world champion in boxing, the other a fifteen-time Major winner in golf. But when these two sports icons cross paths, the result isn't the dazzling collaboration fans might expect. Instead, Canelo's latest comments have unintentionally added another layer to the challenges currently facing the golf titan.Tiger Woods' legendary caddie used to check the wind by smoking a cigaretteWoods, once the dominant force at the summit of the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) for an unprecedented stretch, has now hit the lowest point of his career. The 49-year-old icon has fallen to 1341st in the world rankings, a dramatic slide largely due to an extended absence from the PGA Tour.Earlier this year, Woods suffered an Achilles injury during training, forcing him to withdraw from the […]
Saints QB Derek Carr says ‘people are lying’ about him and his shoulder injury
<!--> New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr stated publicly for the first time that he has a shoulder injury, but stopped short of disclosing any specifics about how or when it happened, or how it might affect his availability to play during the coming season."I hate that I have to say this, but I have to say this: Yes, I have a shoulder injury," Carr said while delivering a guest sermon at a church in Las Vegas on Sunday."I have an MRI report to prove it," Carr continued. "The team knows about it. We’ve been in constant communication. There’s nothing wrong. We’re figuring it out and we’re going to go forward with that. Is that OK?""I've been dealing with people lying about me ... and I'm like, ‘Lord, why do I have to continue to deal with this nonsense?" Carr […]
Bei Blackout in Spanien – Tennis-Profi erlebt Fahrstuhl-Albtraum
Wir haben personalisierte Videos für dich! Um mit Inhalten von Drittanbietern zu interagieren oder diese darzustellen, brauchen wir deine Zustimmung. externen Inhalt aktivieren Um eingebettete Inhalte anzuzeigen, ist Ihre jederzeit widerrufliche Einwilligung (über den Schalter oder über " Widerruf Tracking und Cookies " am Seitenende) zur Verarbeitung personenbezogener Daten nötig. Dabei können Daten in Drittländer wie die USA übermittelt werden (Art. 49 Abs. 1 lit. a DSGVO). Mit dem Aktivieren des Inhalts stimmen Sie zu. Weitere Infos finden Sie hier.
Best value picks of the 2025 NFL Draft
Jaguars trade up for Travis Hunter, the draft's most unique playmaker: Jacksonville aggressively moves up to select the No. 1 player on the PFF Big Board, who earned 89.0-plus grades as both a receiver and cornerback in 2024. Shedeur Sanders‘ slide eventually came to an end: The Browns secured elite value by drafting the Colorado quarterback in Round 5. Final chance to claim 25% off PFF+: Use code DRAFT25 and unlock access to player grades, fantasy tools and the 2025 Draft Guide. The 2025 NFL Draft offered plenty of talent, but a handful of picks stood out as true steals. Using PFF’s live draft tracker grades, we highlight the selections where teams maximized value — finding prospects who could easily outperform their draft slot and make an immediate impact. Here are the best value picks from this year’s draft class. […]
2025 Fantasy Football Rankings: Quarterbacks
The quarterback position has been among the deepest in fantasy football the past few years. Whether you decide to grab one of the big-name superstars early, or you choose to select a high-upside signal caller in the middle rounds or even if you deign to address the position towards the end of your drafts, there's something for everyone.[Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season]We saw it last year — Josh Allen went off, but so did Jayden Daniels, a rookie drafted in the later rounds. Shoot, even Bryce Young, written off by many in both fantasy and reality, had some week-winning performances late in the year.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementSuffice it to say, you can go many different ways at the QB position.So, which route will you take in 2025? Our fantasy football draft rankings can help you […]
Anthony Edwards over Luka Dončić? Wolves will take it; plus NBA playoffs observations
It never hurts to ask about the other team’s star player.That’s a general truth in the NBA. There are only so many game-changers available, and it’s worth checking in on all of them, even if there’s a 0.0007 percent chance of hearing the answer you desire. But when Dallas general manager Nico Harrison asked Minnesota about Anthony Edwards in mid-January, starting a casual conversation about the prospect of a star-for-star swap that quickly ended when the Timberwolves showed no interest, it was met with some confusion, because there was only one logical way for the Mavericks do that sort of deal: by giving up their franchise centerpiece, Luka Dončić.AdvertisementA few weeks later, when Dallas decided to send the five-time All-Star to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a first-round pick shocked the basketball world, Timberwolves officials […]
Related
Canelo Alvarez ‘sinks’ Tiger Woods further with controversial comment at a delicate moment for the golf star
Canelo Alvarez and Tiger Woods are both legends in their respective arenas - one a four-division world champion in boxing, the other a fifteen-time Major winner in golf. But when these two sports icons cross paths, the result isn't the dazzling collaboration fans might expect. Instead, Canelo's latest comments have unintentionally added another layer to the challenges currently facing the golf titan.Tiger Woods' legendary caddie used to check the wind by smoking a cigaretteWoods, once the dominant force at the summit of the Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) for an unprecedented stretch, has now hit the lowest point of his career. The 49-year-old icon has fallen to 1341st in the world rankings, a dramatic slide largely due to an extended absence from the PGA Tour.Earlier this year, Woods suffered an Achilles injury during training, forcing him to withdraw from the […]
Saints QB Derek Carr says ‘people are lying’ about him and his shoulder injury
<!--> New Orleans Saints quarterback Derek Carr stated publicly for the first time that he has a shoulder injury, but stopped short of disclosing any specifics about how or when it happened, or how it might affect his availability to play during the coming season."I hate that I have to say this, but I have to say this: Yes, I have a shoulder injury," Carr said while delivering a guest sermon at a church in Las Vegas on Sunday."I have an MRI report to prove it," Carr continued. "The team knows about it. We’ve been in constant communication. There’s nothing wrong. We’re figuring it out and we’re going to go forward with that. Is that OK?""I've been dealing with people lying about me ... and I'm like, ‘Lord, why do I have to continue to deal with this nonsense?" Carr […]
Bei Blackout in Spanien – Tennis-Profi erlebt Fahrstuhl-Albtraum
Wir haben personalisierte Videos für dich! Um mit Inhalten von Drittanbietern zu interagieren oder diese darzustellen, brauchen wir deine Zustimmung. externen Inhalt aktivieren Um eingebettete Inhalte anzuzeigen, ist Ihre jederzeit widerrufliche Einwilligung (über den Schalter oder über " Widerruf Tracking und Cookies " am Seitenende) zur Verarbeitung personenbezogener Daten nötig. Dabei können Daten in Drittländer wie die USA übermittelt werden (Art. 49 Abs. 1 lit. a DSGVO). Mit dem Aktivieren des Inhalts stimmen Sie zu. Weitere Infos finden Sie hier.
Best value picks of the 2025 NFL Draft
Jaguars trade up for Travis Hunter, the draft's most unique playmaker: Jacksonville aggressively moves up to select the No. 1 player on the PFF Big Board, who earned 89.0-plus grades as both a receiver and cornerback in 2024. Shedeur Sanders‘ slide eventually came to an end: The Browns secured elite value by drafting the Colorado quarterback in Round 5. Final chance to claim 25% off PFF+: Use code DRAFT25 and unlock access to player grades, fantasy tools and the 2025 Draft Guide. The 2025 NFL Draft offered plenty of talent, but a handful of picks stood out as true steals. Using PFF’s live draft tracker grades, we highlight the selections where teams maximized value — finding prospects who could easily outperform their draft slot and make an immediate impact. Here are the best value picks from this year’s draft class. […]
2025 Fantasy Football Rankings: Quarterbacks
The quarterback position has been among the deepest in fantasy football the past few years. Whether you decide to grab one of the big-name superstars early, or you choose to select a high-upside signal caller in the middle rounds or even if you deign to address the position towards the end of your drafts, there's something for everyone.[Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season]We saw it last year — Josh Allen went off, but so did Jayden Daniels, a rookie drafted in the later rounds. Shoot, even Bryce Young, written off by many in both fantasy and reality, had some week-winning performances late in the year.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementSuffice it to say, you can go many different ways at the QB position.So, which route will you take in 2025? Our fantasy football draft rankings can help you […]
Anthony Edwards over Luka Dončić? Wolves will take it; plus NBA playoffs observations
It never hurts to ask about the other team’s star player.That’s a general truth in the NBA. There are only so many game-changers available, and it’s worth checking in on all of them, even if there’s a 0.0007 percent chance of hearing the answer you desire. But when Dallas general manager Nico Harrison asked Minnesota about Anthony Edwards in mid-January, starting a casual conversation about the prospect of a star-for-star swap that quickly ended when the Timberwolves showed no interest, it was met with some confusion, because there was only one logical way for the Mavericks do that sort of deal: by giving up their franchise centerpiece, Luka Dončić.AdvertisementA few weeks later, when Dallas decided to send the five-time All-Star to the Los Angeles Lakers for Anthony Davis, Max Christie and a first-round pick shocked the basketball world, Timberwolves officials […]
Be the first to leave a comment