As we make our way through the 2024 season, some teams are gearing up for a deeper run in the playoffs, and other teams are gearing up for the 2025 NFL Draft, and selling players in order for Draft Capital.
Today, we’ll dive in and complete a full first round mock draft, all 32 teams, along with my comparisons for each player. The order is PFN’s Mock Draft Order, and is set as of 10-15. Without further ado, let’s dive in, as the folks in Foxborough, Massachusetts are on the clock:
1.01- New England Patriots select Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado.
- For New England, this selection ultimately comes down to Edge Rusher, Cornerback, and Offensive Tackle. While I like this edge rusher class, I don’t see a prospect currently worthy of the 1.01 selection, same for offensive tackle. At this point, it’s a best player available scenario for New England, as they take the best talent available at a position of need.
My comparison for Travis Hunter: Champ Bailey, CB, Denver Broncos
1.02 – Cleveland Browns select Cam Ward, QB, University of Miami.
- For Cleveland, while I don’t think they cut Deshaun due to the overwhelmingly large dead cap number, with this terrible play, I think it becomes very likely to pay him to sit at home. In order to soften that blow on your cap, you need to take a rookie Quarterback, and one who can play well early. Cam Ward is currently my QB1 of this class, and I think his overall arm talent and arm strength is the top of his class.
My comparison for Cam Ward: Daunte Culpepper, QB, Minnesota Vikings
1.03 – Jacksonville Jaguars select Will Johnson, CB, University of Michigan.
- For Jacksonville, their top need (Offensive tackle) doesn’t match up with the board here, as my top tackle prospect is likely a top 10-15 guy, so taking him here would be a reach. So we slide over to the defensive side of the ball and take my CB1A, a excellent prospect from the big ten with a wonderful frame to line up versus some of the larger receivers in the AFC South.
My comparison for Will Johnson: Joey Porter JR, CB, Pittsburgh Steelers
1.04 – Carolina Panthers select Nic Scourton, Edge, Texas A&M.
- For Carolina, while I think Quarterback is on the table, I still think that they need to build this team back from the ground up, and you start by adding the best edge rusher in this class, a guy who is extremely explosive coming off the edge to get after opposing quarterbacks in the NFC South.
My comparison for Nic Scourton: Cameron Jordan, Edge/DL, New Orleans Saints
1.05 – Los Angeles Rams select Ben Morrison, CB, Notre Dame.
- For the Rams, you’d love to see them add a premier talent on the back end of their defense after attacking the defensive line last year. Despite the injury, Ben is still a top cornerbacking talent in this class, very athletic and has the ability to stay with any receiver in the league.
My comparison for Ben Morrison: AJ Terrell, CB, Atlanta Falcons
1.06 – Tennessee Titans select Shedeur Sanders, QB, University of Colorado.
- For Tennessee, this pick is all about getting Brian Callahan his guy at quarterback, after Will Levis has been turning it over more than any quarterback should. Sanders brings his swagger, arm strength, and amazing accuracy to Nashville, and should fit perfectly in Callahan’s offense.
My comparison for Shedeur Sanders: Geno Smith, QB, Seattle Seahawks.
1.07 – New York Jets select Luther Burden, WR, Missouri.
- For the Jets, this selection is all about maximizing the window of Aaron Rodgers. While I am in love with this tight end class, I still believe 1.07 is too rich for them, and the same goes for offensive tackle. With that said, let’s get Aaron Rodgers another receiving weapon, one who has some serious speed with the ball in his hands, and can move on a dime, either as a route running, or running with the ball on the way to the end zone.
My comparison for Luther Burden: Percy Harvin, WR, Minnesota Vikings.
1.08 – Cincinnati Bengals select Mason Graham, DT, University of Michigan.
- For the bengals, getting a defender along the interior would be a high priority, and an absolute stud like graham at pick 1.08 would be a steal.
My comparison for Mason Graham: Sharrif Floyd, DT, Minnesota Vikings.
1.09 – New Orleans Saints select Mykel Williams, Edge, Georgia.
- For the Saints, you need some serious help getting after the quarterback. What better way to get after the quarterback than by adding a talent who physically appears to have been created in a lab. Williams is raw from a skill set perspective, but has every physical trait you could ask for.
My comparison for Mykel Williams: Ezekiel Ansah, DT, Detroit Lions
1.10 – Arizona Cardinals select Deone Walker, DT, Kentucky.
- For the Cardinals, its all about generating pressure on opposing quarterbacks, and Deone Walker can do that from both inside and out. He also has the athletic prowess and physical skills to play any spot along the defensive line.
My comparison for Deone Walker: Derrick Brown, DT, Carolina Panthers
1.11 – Las Vegas Raiders select Garrett Nussmeier, QB, LSU.
- For the Raiders, this is all about getting their playcaller of the future. Nussmeier is a gunslinger in every sense of the word, and you can read about him more in my article here.
My comparison for Garrett Nussmeier: Baker Mayfield, QB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
1.12 – New York Giants select Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama.
- Back to back quarterbacks! For the Giants, getting a young playcaller to operate in Daboll’s offense and maximize Nabers ceiling is the most important thing coming out of this draft. You could argue the Giants might even consider moving up to ensure they lock in a young signal caller.
My comparison for Jalen Milroe: Cam Newton, QB, Carolina Panthers.
1.13 – Miami Dolphins select Will Campbell, OT, LSU.
- For the Dolphins, this selection is all about keeping Tua upright in the pocket, should he be able to return to full health. If he can’t, then this likely changes to a quarterback, Campbell is my top tackle in this class and sports a size profile (6-6, 325 lbs) to keep Tua clean and healthy and strength to move mountains in the run game as well for Achane.
My comparison for Will Campbell: Paris Johnson JR, OT, Arizona Cardinals.
1.14 – Seattle Seahawks select Princely Umaimelen, Edge, Ole Miss.
- For Seattle, you’d love to be able to get younger on defense, and give Mike Macdonald a pass rusher who can get after the qb early and often. Princely can do this easily, and also has a very high ceiling to develop into an elite level pass rusher. This is an ultimate boom or bust pick for Seattle.
My comparison for Princely Umaimelen: Sam Hubbard, DE, Cincinnati Bengals.
1.15 – Denver Broncos select Tetairoa McMillan, WR, University of Arizona.
- For Denver, getting Bo Nix a top pass catcher is of the utmost importance. Getting McMillan here at 15 when I have him as a top 6 talent is an absolute steal, especially when the receiver is as talented as Mcmillan. If the draft does truly fall this way, I fully expect Payton to run the card to the podium.
My comparison for Tetairoa McMillan: Mike Evans, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
1.16 – Dallas Cowboys select Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State.
- For Dallas, getting a premier talent at running back is key. When you can get a guy like Jeanty (who is the overwhelming heisman favorite, and a generational talent in his class), you don’t hesitate. This pick takes a lot of pressure off of Dak and company on the offensive side of the ball. You can also check out my report on Jeanty here.
My comparison for Ashton Jeanty: Ladanian Tomlinson, RB, San Diego (Los Angeles) Chargers.
1.17 – Philadelphia Eagles select James Pearce Jr, Edge, University of Tennessee.
- For the Eagles, if they can get another young edge rusher to add to their rotation, they will come out of the draft in a much better spot than when they started. Pearce is a freak athlete along the defensive line, but will need to improve his pass rushing skills, as he often is trying to out athlete his opponents.
My comparison for James Pearce JR: Brian Burns, Edge, New York Giants
1.18 – Chicago Bears select Jonah Savaiinaea, G/T, University of Arizona.
- For the Bears, getting Jonah at this point in the draft to help solidify the right side of the offensive line is a huge get. You can read more about my report on the mauler from Arizona here.
My comparison for Jonah Savaiinaea: DJ Humphries, OT, Arizona Cardinals
1.19 – Indianapolis Colts select Luke Lachey, TE, Iowa.
- For the Colts, getting a security blanket for Anthony Richardson is important. Getting another blocker to open holes for Taylor is important as well. Why not get the best of both worlds in Lachey? You can learn more about him in my prior report here!
My comparison for Luke Lachey: Sam Laporta, TE, Detroit Lions.
1.20 – San Francisco 49ers select Shavon Revel, CB, ECU.
- For the 49ers, they’d love to either get an offensive lineman to eventually replace Trent Williams, or a cornerback to be able to call their number 1 guy. Even though his injury may affect his draft stock for some, Revel had done enough for me to lock him into the top 32, especially with his frame and speed leading the way for him as a prospect.
My comparison for Shavon Revel: Benjamin St. Juste, Washington Commanders.
1.21 – Los Angeles Chargers select Denzel Burke, CB, Ohio State.
- It’s a cornerback run in California! For the Chargers, getting younger on defense is imperative, especially on the back end of the defense. A guy like Burke who has excellent play recognition skills and an innate ability to track the ball while in the air would excel in a Harbaugh led defense.
My comparison for Denzel Burke: Rasul Douglas, CB, Buffalo Bills
1.22 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers select Abdul Carter, Edge, Penn State
- For the buccaneers, getting younger along the defensive line is a huge key. While I may be lower on Carter than the general consensus, Todd Bowles and his defensive staff would be absolutely ecstatic if he were to land here for this Tampa team, as his Raw power and strength would be a huge positive for this Tampa defensive line.
My comparison for Abdul Carter: Bud Dupree, Los Angeles Chargers/Pittsburgh Steelers
1.23 – Baltimore Ravens select Tate Ratledge, G/T, University of Georgia.
- For the Ravens, getting a guy like Ratledge here is amazing value, as he is only one of two offensive lineman I have a round 1 grade on. In addition, his run blocking skills will fit right in with this Baltimore team, as he is a true road grader in every sense of the word.
My comparison for Tate Ratledge: Graham Glasgow, G, Detroit Lions.
1.24 – Green Bay Packers select Tacario Davis, CB, University of Arizona.
- For the Packers, selecting a guy like Davis to be their future CB1 this late in round 1 is amazing value. Davis’ length and physicality to mix it up with the best of them will allow him to handle wide receivers in the NFC North with ease.
My comparison for Tacario Davis: Coby Bryant, CB, Seattle Seahawks.
1.25 – Buffalo Bills select Landon Jackson, Edge, Arkansas.
- For the Bills, getting a replacement for Von Miller and getting younger in the edge rusher room should be priority number 1. Landon Jackson is a name that is sneakily rising up draft boards, and should be a name to watch for come April. His first step quickness off the line, along with his powerful hands will make him tough to handle for opposing offensive linemen in the AFC East.
My comparison for Landon Jackson: John Franklin-Myers, Edge, Denver Broncos
1.26 – Washington Commanders select Elic Ayomanor, WR, Stanford.
- For the Commanders, getting Jayden Daniels a young WR1 that he can grow with is of the utmost importance in this draft. A guy like Ayomanor would fit wonderfully in the Nation’s Capital, and you can learn more about him in my previous article that I wrote on him here.
My comparison for Elic Ayomanor: Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, WR, Tennessee Titans.
1.27 – Pittsburgh Steelers select Dontay Corleone, DT, Cincinnati.
- For the Steelers, getting a defensive tackle to anchor the middle of this line next to Watt will likely be the focus for Tomlin and Company. Dontay ‘The Godfather’ Corleone is a hyper athletic, versatile defender, and shows a strong punch at the point of attack, especially in the run game. While health concerns (blood clots in his lungs) will surround him all the way up to draft day, the Godfather is rising up draft boards, and he is becoming one of my sneakiest first round prospects.
My comparison to Dontay Corleone: Chris Hovan, DT, Minnesota Vikings
1.28 – Detroit Lions select Dani Dennis-Sutton, Edge, Penn State.
- For the Lions, getting an edge rushing partner across from Hutchinson is a huge need. Dennis-Sutton is flying up draft boards for his elite first step, amazing burst coming off of the line, and his overall quickness. I’d love to see him get stronger at the point of attack, and landing in Detroit is the best place for him to do so.
My comparison for Dani Dennis-Sutton: Lorenzo Carter, Edge/LB, Atlanta Falcons
1.29 – Atlanta Falcons select Isaiah Bond, WR, Texas.
- For the Falcons, this selection is all about adding some speed to this offense, especially out of the slot. Sliding Isaiah right next to Drake London, Bijan Robinson, and Kyle Pitts would make this offense a virtual track meet with all the elite weaponry.
My comparison for Isaiah Bond: Jordan Addison, WR, Minnesota Vikings
1.30 – Houston Texans select Tyleik Williams, DT, Ohio State.
- For the Texans, getting a defender next to Anderson Jr on the defensive line is important. In addition, selecting Tyleik here gives the Texans a massive, explosive athlete who has the strength and power to eat up multiple blocks like an all you can eat buffet. Texans getting a solid powerhouse here late in round 1.
My comparison for Tyleik Williams: John Henderson, DT, Jacksonville Jaguars
1.31 – Kansas City Chiefs select Xavier Watts, S, Notre Dame.
- For the Chiefs, adding a safety on the back end of this defense is important coming out of the Draft. Xavier Watts is my premier Safety in this class, and will be an excellent addition to the back end of this Kansas City defense with his elite pass coverage ability and instincts in coverage.
My comparison for Xavier Watts: Ronnie Hickman, S, Cleveland Browns.
1.32 – Minnesota Vikings select Kevin Winston, S, Penn State.
- For Minnesota, adding to a defensive back room that is in need of an infusion of talent is very important. Kevin Winston is my Safety2 in this class, as he rarely misses tackles when he gets his hands on opposing offensive talent, as well as has the ability to run sideline to sideline with ease.
My comparison for Kevin Winston: Kenny Vaccaro, S, New Orleans Saints/Tennessee Titans
