2025 NFL mock draft: Who do the Chicago Bears take after rebuilding their offensive line?

The bulk of NFL free agency is in the books, which means it's time to resume our regularly scheduled look at the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft.

As several teams added players to fill positions of need, we might've gotten some clarity on how the first round of this year's draft will go. So, I took my second stab at trying to project how the first 32 picks will shake up in April.  

Now, let's get to the mock!

1. Tennessee Titans: Miami (Fla.) QB Cam Ward

The Titans need a quarterback. Ward has continued to impress after the NFL Scouting Combine and throughout this entire process. I think his top end is very good. I've loved Ward for a long time, even back to his time at Washington State. It was a great signing for Miami, and he's just got enough gunslinger in him to really go out there to take a bad team and improve it — because he's willing to take chances. He's going to be willing to go out there and go put it on the line. The Titans have bulked up their offensive line in free agency, but they're not going anywhere without a QB.

2. Cleveland Browns: Colorado WR/CB Travis Hunter

Last week, I would've 100% predicted that the Browns would've picked Abdul Carter — assuming that Myles Garrett would be long done. However, now that Garrett is staying in Cleveland, the Browns can continue to bolster their roster. I don't know if you can pass up Hunter right here. He can improve both sides of the ball, and there's never been a player you can say that about in the history of the draft. I believe that he's going to be a great corner in the NFL, potentially being in the top five at the position. What makes him so special is that he can couple that with being a No. 3/slot-style wide receiver. He wouldn't be in on every play, so you'd get to minimize his stats to maximize his production. He's going to make an impact on both sides of the ball, just like how he was at Colorado en route to winning the Heisman Trophy. 

3. New York Giants: Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders

The Sanders-Giants relationship is strong. The Giants flew out to Colorado several times dating back to the fall to scout Sanders and get to know him at a deeper level. I really like Sanders' game. I know he has taken some arrows in this process. It's a tale as old as time that we get a polarizing player because people don't like a certain element about them. In this case, it's the name on his back. His dad happens to be Colorado head coach Deion Sanders, who's arguably the greatest showman in the history of sports. I think it's so lazy for people to attack the younger Sanders' character. In terms of his play, he can be surgical when he's protected and a magician when he's not. Few quarterbacks are like that. He also turned a terrible Colorado program from a one-win team to a nine-win squad in two years, and I think he was the biggest reason for that.

4. New England Patriots: Penn State edge Abdul Carter

You might be thinking there's no way Carter falls this far. Well, the Patriots would love this. They'd run to the podium. This would be a great scenario for them. Mike Vrabel's squad has been active in free agency, particularly on defense. Adding Carter would help further build that unit up. I know they've got issues along the offensive line, but there's just no way I'd take an offensive lineman with Carter still on the board. He's just too good. I loved covering Carter last season as he played everywhere for Tom Allen's defense, being an effective off-ball player and edge rusher. 

5. Jacksonville Jaguars: Michigan CB Will Johnson

The Jaguars were last in pass defense and takeaways in 2024, so they signed Jourdan Lewis to play slot corner, and now they can get their lockdown corner on the outside. It sucks that we didn't get to see Johnson for a full season in 2024 due to the turf toe injury, but he's an excellent player, showing great ball skills from the time he stepped foot on the field in Ann Arbor. He was one of the best cover guys on the outside. He's tough, and you can't play in that defense if you're not willing to make tackles. Three of his nine career interceptions went for pick-sixes. 

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6. Las Vegas Raiders: Michigan DT Mason Graham

Vegas is interesting. The Raiders went out and got quarterback Geno Smith, which I think allows them to take the best player available here. They're in a division with Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert and Bo Nix, so you'd think that after watching what the Eagles did in Super Bowl LIX that the Raiders would want to replicate that in some way. Adding Graham would bolster an already strong defensive line, putting him with Maxx Crosby and Christian Wilkins. That might be the most disruptive defensive line in football with Graham, and you need that to beat Mahomes. I don't think there's been a defensive tackle prospect like him in quite a while, being great against the run and at disrupting blocks.

7. New York Jets: LSU OT Will Campbell

There are rightly some concerns about the depth of the offensive linemen in this draft, but Campbell is a great player, and I'm not as concerned about his arm length as others. I get it, but Campbell was excellent at LSU. If it didn't show up on the tape, I'm not going to let measurements scare me.

8. Carolina Panthers: Georgia edge Jalon Walker

The Panthers had the worst scoring defense in the league. Luckily for them, it's a strong defensive draft, particularly with edge rushers, defensive tackles and linebackers. Walker fits what Carolina needs, being a do-it-all linebacker at Georgia. He can play inside and make tackles while being explosive at the edge. I'm a big fan of Walker.

9. New Orleans Saints: Georgia edge Mykel Williams

Williams had an incredible pro day at Georgia, running a 4.73 in the 40 at 6-foot-5 and 260 pounds. The only reason why he didn't have a better year in 2024 was due to a nagging ankle injury. I think he could've had a huge year. That Saints defense needs some help, finishing 30th in yards allowed. Williams would give them a much-needed playmaker.

10. Chicago Bears: Texas OT Kelvin Banks Jr.

This is an interesting pick because the Bears are close to having a pretty solid roster. They don't have a ton of needs, but they've got a ton of picks. Bolstering the offensive line is important and doing that will allow them to properly evaluate quarterback Caleb Williams. They've already got DJ Moore, Rome Odunze and Cole Kmet. Now, protect your QB. You can play Banks at left tackle, Darnell Wright at right tackle and the three veterans they picked up in the interior. Chicago should be a lot better soon.