Obviously all of these projections will be 100% correct
It’s the end of August, and college football just finished its “Week 0” slate of games. The NFL preseason is over. Teams have finalized (sort of) their 53-man rosters. Now is a good time to look back over where teams are projected to finish and which college stars they might select in the 2025 NFL Draft. For this exercise, I based the Draft order on major sportsbook win projections. Let’s see how the season and Draft will definitely play out in just eight short months (win projections in parentheses):
1. New England Patriots (4.5) – Kelvin Banks, OT, Texas
New England “Maye” have found their franchise quarterback (get it?), so they might be looking to move this pick if they have it. If they stay put, they’ll definitely want to address their terrible offensive line.
2. Denver Broncos (5.5) – Mason Graham, DL, Michigan
With Bo Nix apparently impressing in camp and preseason, the Broncos will likely also forego a quarterback in April. Here they address the middle of their defensive line with a very disruptive presence in Graham.
3. Carolina Panthers (5.5) – Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia
The Panthers will likely not move on from Bryce Young, and edge rusher will definitely be one of the target positions. Williams is a freakish athlete who could provide the burst off the edge that the Panthers are desperate for after trading Brian Burns.
4. Tennessee Titans (6.5) – Will Campbell, OT, LSU
Another team that thinks they have their quarterback of the future, the Titans will look to protect Will Levis a bit better. After acquiring L’Jarius Sneed and Calvin Ridley this offseason, I don’t see them going after a defensive back or wide receiver this high.
5. Washington Commanders (6.5) – James Pearce Jr, EDGE, Tennessee
The Commanders recently jettisoned pass rushers Montez Sweat and Chase Young, so they would love to pick up a disruptive pass rusher like Pearce to help fill in that gap.
6. Las Vegas Raiders (6.5) – Carson Beck, QB, Georgia
Despite the love fest for Aiden O’Connell, the Raiders need a quarterback who can raise the ceiling of their offense. Beck has the ability to do just that and has the experience in college to start right away.
7. New York Giants (6.5) – Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas
The Giants definitely regret the contract extension they gave Daniel Jones. Here, they’re able to get a promising young quarterback to take over the reins.
8. Minnesota Vikings (7.5) – Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
JJ McCarthy will be back next season, so the offense will likely look a lot better than it will with Sam Darnold under center. Here the Vikings are able to get possibly the best cover corner in the Draft to help Brian Flores’ defense.
9. New Orleans Saints (7.5) – Shadeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
Assuming Derek Carr and Spencer Rattler don’t light the world on fire, the Saints may be in the market for one of the top quarterbacks in the Draft. New Orleans does not shy away from controversial players, which Sanders has turned into since he and his dad moved to Colorado.
10. Seattle Seahawks (7.5) – Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
Three Bulldogs taken in the top ten would not be surprising. Starks is smart and athletic and would immediately upgrade Seattle’s secondary.
11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7.5) – Travis Hunter, CB, Colorado
Most experts believe that Hunter’s best NFL prospects are at corner, and that’s where Tampa Bay would line him up. They may put him in some offensive packages, but he’ll mainly be used to upgrade the pass defense.
12. Arizona Cardinals (7.5) – Deone Walker, DL, Kentucky
The Cardinals’ offense will likely be pretty potent this season with Kyler Murray and Marvin Harrison Jr. In April, they’ll likely want to improve their defensive front, especially with Jonathan Gannon being a defensive minded coach.
13. Los Angeles Chargers (8.5) – Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
The Chargers will look to run the ball more under Harbaugh, but they don’t want to waste the generational arm talent that Justin Herbert has. They jettisoned some offensive weapons (Keenan Allen, for starters) that need to be replaced.
14. Jacksonville Jaguars (8.5) – Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame
One of the few corners in college football last season to shut down Marvin Harrison Jr, Morrison is a press man corner. His coverage ability and tenacity will help shore up the defensive backend for Jacksonville.
15. Pittsburgh Steelers (8.5) – Cam Ward, QB, Miami
Russell Wilson looks washed and Justin Fields is basically a more athletic Taysom Hill at this point in his career. If the Steelers are going to keep Mike Tomlin’s winning season streak alive, they’ll need better quarterback play.
16. Los Angeles Rams (8.5) – Jonah Savaiinaea, OT, Arizona
If Matthew Stafford is considering retirement, the Rams could go quarterback here. Otherwise, protecting Stafford is priority number one.
17. Cleveland Browns (8.5) – Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri
The Browns are hoping beyond hope that Deshaun Watson turns things around. One way to help that happen (and avoid that massive dead cap hit from cutting or trading him) is to surround him with big play weapons like Burden.
18. Indianapolis Colts (8.5) – Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State
The Colts’ offense will be potent, especially if Anthony Richardson stays healthy. The defense will likely be an area they want to improve come April, especially when it comes to rushing the passer.
19. Chicago Bears (8.5) – Harold Perkins Jr, LB, LSU
The Bears traded away their best linebacker in a decade in Roquan Smith. Here, they look to try to replace his presence in the middle of their defense.
20. Green Bay Packers (9.5) – Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
Green Bay is a young, up and coming team with a very good quarterback. They are using a wide receiver by committee approach, but they could use a WR2 across from Christian Watson.
21. Houston Texans (9.5) – Denzel Burke, CB, Ohio State
The Texans already have a dominant corner in Derek Stingley Jr. They’ve tried a few other options across from him, but Burke could provide another high upside presence on the other side.
22. Atlanta Falcons (9.5) – Emery Jones, OT, LSU
Regardless of which quarterback ends up playing in 2025, the Falcons have to protect him. Cousins will still be an older quarterback with a devastating injury in his past, and Michael Penix Jr will still be a young and relatively inexperienced signal caller.
23. New York Jets (9.5) – Conner Weigman, QB, Texas A&M
Speaking of older quarterbacks with a devastating injury in his past, Aaron Rodgers is even older than Cousins. Weigman’s season was cut short because of an injury, but he definitely looked the part while he was out there.
24. Miami Dolphins (9.5) – Shavon Revel Jr, CB, East Carolina
Revel is a long, fast defensive back who can track almost anyone on deep routes. If he can get a little more play strength, he could go even higher in the Draft.
25. Dallas Cowboys (9.5) – Tyler Booker, IOL, Alabama
The Cowboys’ offensive line has undergone some turnover and will continue to do so. With Ceedee Lamb getting paid and Dak Prescott and Micah Parsons likely next on the docket, they’ll have to fill other roster positions with rookie contracts.
26. Cincinnati Bengals (10.5) – Tyleik Williams, DL, Ohio State
The Bengals could use some more beef up front considering the division they play in. Williams has great size, strength, and athleticism and should hold up well at the next level.
27. Buffalo Bills (10.5) – Nick Scourton, EDGE, Texas A&M
Scourton is a high-motor power rusher that defensive coaches like Sean McDermott love. The Bills need some production from the edge after the disappointing performance of Von Miller so far.
28. Detroit Lions (10.5) – JT Tuimoloau, EDGE, Ohio State
Tuimoloau had an excellent game against Penn State last season, squaring up against first round tackle Olu Fashanu. The Lions still need another pass rush presence to free up Aidan Hutchinson a little more.
29. Baltimore Ravens (10.5) – Ollie Gordon II, RB, Oklahoma State
The Ravens added Derrick Henry this offseason, but he’s no spring chicken. Gordon would offer an excellent complement to Henry’s running style and is a threat in the passing game as well.
30. Philadelphia Eagles (10.5) – Danny Stutsman, LB, Oklahoma
The Eagles’ defense definitely needs to get a little younger in the back seven. Nakobe Dean has been decent so far but doesn’t have much size at the position. Stutsman has plenty of size, allowing Dean to flow a little more freely.
31. San Francisco 49ers (11.5) – Tacario Davis, CB, Arizona
Davis is a massive corner (6’4”) who had 15 pass breakups last season. The 49ers offense will look good, as it always does, so they add to the defensive back end here.
32. Kansas City Chiefs (11.5) – Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
Travis Kelce has already hinted at retiring before, and he may consider it more strongly now that Jason is out of the league. Loveland could be the heir apparent at tight end for the Chiefs dynasty.