2025 NFL Mock Drafts

MaroonBells wrote:
Time to get away from the simulators. My mock draft 16 days out (assumes Samuel signing):

1.24 - traded down to 32 with Phi for their 3rd and 4th rounder
1.32 - Donovan Jackson, G, OSU - “a second-round pick as a left tackle and a Pro Bowl player as a guard...He’s one of the best run blockers I’ve seen in a long, long time.”
3.96 (from Phi) - Bayshul Tuten, RB, VT - “He’s the closest one to Gibbs as far as, if there’s a crease, it’s over....really good kid”
3.97 - Jonas Sanker, S, UVA - “he’s so smart and so mature and so professional.”
4.134 (from Phi) - Yahya Black, DT/NT, IA - 6-5, 330, 35-inch arms. “emerged as a leader. He’s vocal.”
5.139 - Jeffrey Bassa, LB, OR - “leadership was on display at the Senior Bowl when he addressed the team after one practice.”
6.187 - Kai Kroger, P, SC - “He’s the best holder, for sure. He’s a legitimate threat to run a fake.”

Bassa had an excellent Senior Bowl. I swear he had a dozen tackles. Black was another guy with a good showing in Mobile. I’m not sure Tuten plays to that speed but I’d like a speed guy.

MaroonBells wrote:

Well, I don't agree about Starks, but I do have some doubts about Thanos. Complete bust or Sean Taylor, neither would surprise me. 

Starks:
“Everybody loves him (at Georgia)...They think he’s a slam dunk. Can play nickel, safety and, corner, in a pinch. Leader, instinctive, athletic. Everybody stands on the table when they talk about him. Top 20....If he comes out last year he’s easily a top-10 pick...Kirby Smart loves, loves Malaki Starks. Real great reputation … think he’s one of the most valuable defensive players in this draft because he can play safety and/or down as a sub defender....Hell of an athlete, great kid. He’ll know everything there is to know about your defense..It’s hard to find these guys. I don’t really have any negatives....Outstanding young man. A+ across the board."

Just sounds real familiar. Kirby loved him some Lewis Cine also..

"Cine is reliable in zone coverage against the pass. He covers ground well and is adept at picking up receivers who come into his area. Cine shows some coverage ability and movement skills, but he is not as natural as the deep single-high free safety. Cine is a more natural strong safety for the next level but the has flexibility to switch safety roles because he is fast, smart and instinctive. Cine is better suited to play man coverage against tight ends, or helping against big wide receivers along the sideline. Teams like interchangeable safeties who can execute both strong and free safety. Some schemes require that as they like to flip responsibilities pre-snap to make it hard for quarterbacks to know where defenders will move and what they will be responsible for. Cine could offer that pre- and post-snap flexibility. Sources from around the league raved about Cine after his combine interview. They loved his football IQ, intelligence, passion, and work ethic. They say he has super intangibles and will be a locker room leader. Cine is likely to be a second-round pick at the lowest in the 2022 NFL Draft, and he could sneak into the late first round."

I know...can't lump them all into the same basket, but all the pre-draft jargon sure sounds about the same. Let's just stick with taking a lineman and we can all be happy

supafreak84 wrote:

Just sounds real familiar. Kirby loved him some Lewis Cine also..

"Cine is reliable in zone coverage against the pass. He covers ground well and is adept at picking up receivers who come into his area. Cine shows some coverage ability and movement skills, but he is not as natural as the deep single-high free safety. Cine is a more natural strong safety for the next level but the has flexibility to switch safety roles because he is fast, smart and instinctive. Cine is better suited to play man coverage against tight ends, or helping against big wide receivers along the sideline. Teams like interchangeable safeties who can execute both strong and free safety. Some schemes require that as they like to flip responsibilities pre-snap to make it hard for quarterbacks to know where defenders will move and what they will be responsible for. Cine could offer that pre- and post-snap flexibility. Sources from around the league raved about Cine after his combine interview. They loved his football IQ, intelligence, passion, and work ethic. They say he has super intangibles and will be a locker room leader. Cine is likely to be a second-round pick at the lowest in the 2022 NFL Draft, and he could sneak into the late first round."

I know...can't lump them all into the same basket, but all the pre-draft jargon sure sounds about the same. Let's just stick with taking a lineman and we can all be happy

I don't think we'll ever know why Cine was a bust. But I'd bet the folding money under my mattress that the Vikings have not removed from their board all players whose coaches rave about them.

MaroonBells wrote:

I don't think we'll ever know why Cine was a bust. But I'd bet the folding money under my mattress that the Vikings have not removed from their board all players whose coaches rave about them.

Certainly the injury played into it, but if I'm not mistaken there were whispers prior to the injury and going into year two that he was struggling to pick up the scheme and understand his responsibilities, and that was the bigger reason as to why he was buried on the depth chart.

MaroonBells wrote:
Time to get away from the simulators. My mock draft 16 days out (assumes Samuel signing):

1.24 - traded down to 32 with Phi for their 3rd and 4th rounder
1.32 - Donovan Jackson, G, OSU - “a second-round pick as a left tackle and a Pro Bowl player as a guard...He’s one of the best run blockers I’ve seen in a long, long time.”
3.96 (from Phi) - Bayshul Tuten, RB, VT - “He’s the closest one to Gibbs as far as, if there’s a crease, it’s over....really good kid”
3.97 - Jonas Sanker, S, UVA - “he’s so smart and so mature and so professional.”
4.134 (from Phi) - Yahya Black, DT/NT, IA - 6-5, 330, 35-inch arms. “emerged as a leader. He’s vocal.”
5.139 - Jeffrey Bassa, LB, OR - “leadership was on display at the Senior Bowl when he addressed the team after one practice.”
6.187 - Kai Kroger, P, SC - “He’s the best holder, for sure. He’s a legitimate threat to run a fake.”

I like this draft. I would change out Tuten for Neal or Martinez I think. Or draft Ransom at 96 and take Harvey later. 

Really been liking Jackson. I like that idea for sure. Mocked him today with a trade down. I also assumed the Samuel signing. Get Strong or Williams later for your CB then.

Canthony wrote:

I like this draft. I would change out Tuten for Neal or Martinez I think. Or draft Ransom at 96 and take Harvey later. 

Really been liking Jackson. I like that idea for sure. Mocked him today with a trade down. I also assumed the Samuel signing. Get Strong or Williams later for your CB then.

I think Neal's an efficient runner, but I don't see him as a number one back. That's what I think we need, a feature back to replace Jones after this season, if not before. I'd rather gamble a bit on greatness in backs like Henderon, Tuten and Harvey. Love Martinez and I think he has an outside chance to be a feature back, but right now I see him more in the Mason role. 

I like Ransom. But in this draft I was specifically looking for culture fits. Not that Ransom isn't. I think he has a lot of Bynum qualities. But loved what I was reading about Sanker. Also think these guys with high-intangible, poor-athlete reputations don't get moved up enough when their combine numbers demolish the notion they were poor athletes to begin with.

MaroonBells wrote:

I think Neal's an efficient runner, but I don't see him as a number one back. That's what I think we need, a feature back to replace Jones after this season, if not before. I'd rather gamble a bit on greatness in backs like Henderon, Tuten and Harvey. Love Martinez and I think he has an outside chance to be a feature back, but right now I see him more in the Mason role. 

I like Ransom. But in this draft I was specifically looking for culture fits. Not that Ransom isn't. I think he has a lot of Bynum qualities. But loved what I was reading about Sanker. Also think these guys with high-intangible, poor-athlete reputations don't get moved up enough when their combine numbers demolish the notion they were poor athletes to begin with.

I guess I do see Neal as a number 1, but I would prefer Harvey as well. Is Harvey going to go at 97 or 139 is the swirling question about this draft. The closer it gets, I would take Henderson at 24 and not be upset. He really is that good. 

I like your approach with adding in high intangible guys, guys that will fit the culture. That is an underrated approach to take and I feel that is important. You need players with those things. Players with heart for example, may not be the best, but they will give you everything they have. Those players, I feel, turn out more than the players that just relied on their talents to get them to the NFL.

MaroonBells wrote:

I think Neal's an efficient runner, but I don't see him as a number one back. That's what I think we need, a feature back to replace Jones after this season, if not before. I'd rather gamble a bit on greatness in backs like Henderon, Tuten and Harvey. Love Martinez and I think he has an outside chance to be a feature back, but right now I see him more in the Mason role. 

I like Ransom. But in this draft I was specifically looking for culture fits. Not that Ransom isn't. I think he has a lot of Bynum qualities. But loved what I was reading about Sanker. Also think these guys with high-intangible, poor-athlete reputations don't get moved up enough when their combine numbers demolish the notion they were poor athletes to begin with.

I know this sounds like a broken record, but we have a chance at the end of Rd 1 to add a player who can take this offense to the next level in Henderson. 

I'm not saying he's Randy Moss, but what he could do for us in 25 "may" harken us back to what adding Moss did to the surround here in 98. 

An OG will not do that. 

I can get on board with going D #1, but if offense is getting more love? I think you have to grab one of the two 1a guys (Henderson or Hampton).

purplefaithful wrote:

I know this sounds like a broken record, but we have a chance at the end of Rd 1 to add a player who can take this offense to the next level in Henderson. 

I'm not saying he's Randy Moss, but what he could do for us in 25 "may" harken us back to what adding Moss did to the surround here in 98. 

An OG will not do that. 

I can get on board with going D #1, but if offense is getting more love? I think you have to grab one of the two 1a guys (Henderson or Hampton).

I'd be pretty jacked (and about $600 richer) if we drafted Henderson. :-)  I also think the chances we go RB with our first pick are a lot higher than many think. 

We can't mess around with left tackle though. With a "rookie" QB, that's something that could really hurt is if Darrisaw is out more than a few weeks. Jackson covers that and gives us a badass guard when CD comes back. The depth at RB in this class also argues we can maybe wait on one.

purplefaithful wrote:

I know this sounds like a broken record, but we have a chance at the end of Rd 1 to add a player who can take this offense to the next level in Henderson. 

I'm not saying he's Randy Moss, but what he could do for us in 25 "may" harken us back to what adding Moss did to the surround here in 98. 

An OG will not do that. 

I can get on board with going D #1, but if offense is getting more love? I think you have to grab one of the two 1a guys (Henderson or Hampton).

I agree with this 100%. The pick has to be a lineman (offense or defense) or a weapon on offense. I think there is even some justification for a receiver, but yeah Henderson would be my pick also.

There's a reason Milroe was invited to the combine. This could be it.

Todd McShay’s latest mock draft has the Vikings trading number 24 to the Giants for 34 and 65. With pick 24 the Giants take QB Jalen Milroe.

Do you like this trade for the Vikings? pic.twitter.com/CdlYJb3e8i

— SleeperVikings (@SleeperVikings) April 10, 2025

MaroonBells wrote:
There's a reason Milroe was invited to the combine. This could be it.

Todd McShay’s latest mock draft has the Vikings trading number 24 to the Giants for 34 and 65. With pick 24 the Giants take QB Jalen Milroe.

Do you like this trade for the Vikings? pic.twitter.com/CdlYJb3e8i

— SleeperVikings (@SleeperVikings) April 10, 2025

That wouldn't be a bad trade down. Pick 65 is the top of the 3rd round.

supafreak84 wrote:
That wouldn't be a bad trade down. Pick 65 is the top of the 3rd round.

The math favors the Vikings by a decent amount. But I think fans of all teams have to start preparing themselves for a much-less-than-normal return on any trade down between 15 and 70, since there is so little difference between the players in that tier.

MaroonBells wrote:

The math favors the Vikings by a decent amount. But I think fans of all teams have to start preparing themselves for a much-less-than-normal return on any trade down between 15 and 70, since there is so little difference between the players in that tier.

True, but it's always going to boil down to desperation and the need to win now. The Giants are clearly in that boat or the head coach and GM are getting canned. This is on the heels of them still wiping the egg off their faces for letting Saquan walk out the door. Depending on how the board falls, hearing a lot of noise about both the Giants and the Browns potentially trading back into the 1st round for a quarterback. Interestingly enough, McShay has Dart going to the Saints at #9...before Shaduer Sanders. This really is one of the more unpredictable drafts in some time, I mean...outside of us taking Emmanwori.

MaroonBells wrote:

The math favors the Vikings by a decent amount. But I think fans of all teams have to start preparing themselves for a much-less-than-normal return on any trade down between 15 and 70, since there is so little difference between the players in that tier.

I get that feeling as well. I don't think it will be a great year for a ROI in terms of trading out of the first. I am thinking more of a trade back with this type of return. 

Cle: 33, 94, 179

LV: 37, 108, 143

NO: 40, 93, 131

NYG: 34, 99, 154

Top 10%.

First time I decided to do this. I think their rankings are weird. There you go people; it is proven I suck. You're better than me.

I guess overall it was worth the $119. Good content within the site. Never really cared much for PFF, but the subscription is cheap.

Canthony wrote:
First time I decided to do this. I think their rankings are weird. There you go people; it is proven I suck. You're better than me.

I wouldn't pay any attention to their grades. Consensus has Donovan Jackson at exactly 37 and PFF gives you a D+ for taking him at 37? That's probably because he's listed by PFF as a tackle, which isn't among our needs. But Jackson's a guard.

MaroonBells wrote:

I wouldn't pay any attention to their grades. Consensus has Donovan Jackson at exactly 37 and PFF gives you a D+ for taking him at 37? That's probably because he's listed by PFF as a tackle, which isn't among our needs. But Jackson's a guard.

Yeah, I thought that was odd. I think Jackson could play both, but G is his all-pro meal ticket I feel. I got subscription on Wednesday, didn't have much time to play with the simulator till last night. I saw right away your thoughts on their rankings. Still not a terrible idea to get it. 

I just am really starting to be on Jackson for us. Also, a player I have been starting to dig a lot deeper into on is Chase Lundt. Could be ideal to take over at RT if or when we decide on O'Neill. Give Lundt a year to gain some weight and work on the offense, and I think he could be a really good get for us.

I am not saying I would be mad at this, but this would NEVER happen lol. Looking like this is a bit unrealistic

Malachi Starks- only 4 safeties ran slower at the combine. Ran the slowest 3 cone at the combine. Ran the slowest short shuttle at the combine. He'd be right up there at the top of worst potential 1st round picks for the Vikings. Nevermind the fact that he's another Georgia safety coming from the same program where we just had one of the biggest colossal bust picks in franchise history. Let's just stop with the Malachi Starks foolishness. We could go in five other directions and get a bigger impact with our first pick.