It's still too early in the offseason to have a tight grasp on how things will shake out when Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft gets underway on April 24. We're a month away from free agency and a couple weeks from the NFL Scouting Combine. So, why not take some big swings in this exercise of the imagination? I'm projecting three trades in the first round, including one that sends the 2023 Defensive Player of the Year to a new home. Boom!
Programming note: Tune in for live coverage of the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine beginning Feb. 27 on NFL Network and NFL+.
Ward might not be a “generational talent,” but the Titans can’t run it back with Will Levis and hope for better results. Unless they land one of the top veteran QBs available this offseason, taking the top passer on their board -- whether it’s Ward or Shedeur Sanders -- must be the play.
In this mock, Cleveland has a massive hole off the edge after honoring Myles Garrett’s trade request (see his destination at Pick No. 12). Fortunately for the Browns, they're in position to fill the void with arguably the top talent in the draft.
Can the Giants pull off a blockbuster swap for Matthew Stafford? If the G-Men decide to go the trade or free agency route to find their next QB and manage to keep the No. 3 pick, they could find themselves able to land the Heisman Trophy winner, too, who could help them on both sides of the ball.
Mike Vrabel opts to build the Patriots from the inside out, adding protection for Drake Maye after his promising rookie season.
The Jaguars have made major investments in the defensive line, but they haven’t paid off in the win column. Jacksonville goes back to the well one more time to try to complete the puzzle with a wrecking ball on the interior.
The QB-needy Raiders take their shot, trusting that Tom Brady, Pete Carroll and Chip Kelly will put Sanders in position to succeed.
New head coach Aaron Glenn knows well that a cornerback’s best friend is a good pass rush. Gang Green adds some versatility to its defense with Walker, who can play off-ball linebacker or get after opposing quarterbacks off the edge.
Bringing in another weapon for Bryce Young would be nice, but Carolina can’t pass on a chance to add some juice to its pass rush. The Panthers had the league’s lowest QB pressure rate last season (25.5%), per Next Gen Stats.
Kellen Moore begins the pursuit of putting together an offense that can compete with the likes of the one he just coordinated all the way to a championship in Philly. McMillan pairs with Chris Olave to give the Saints a dynamic duo at receiver.
While the Bears must bolster the defensive line, too, giving Caleb Williams a better front five than he had in 2024 has to be the laser-like focus for Ryan Poles in the months ahead. Membou played right tackle in college, but as NFL.com lead draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah has said, the former Tiger has the potential to be an All-Pro guard, where he’ll slot in for Chicago.
With Trent Williams and Colton McKivitz under contract for 2025, the 49ers are an ideal landing spot for Simmons. He can ease his way back from the knee injury that ended his 2024 season in October and learn from Williams -- one of the greats at the position -- before eventually taking the baton.
PROJECTED TRADE WITH DALLAS COWBOYS
The Cowboys’ all-in mantra is back, baby. Jerry Jones isn’t going to sit on his hands and watch the NFC East run away from him, so he trades two first-rounders (this year’s and next year’s) for Myles Garrett, while the Browns get a new centerpiece for their offense. It would take some creative salary cap maneuvering for Dallas to make it happen, but Micah Parsons has already said he’d take less if it meant he would get to play opposite Garrett.
Protecting Tua Tagovailoa should be the main priority in South Beach. Booker provides the toughness the Dolphins were lacking inside the trenches last season.
Chris Ballard was chuckling with glee when Laiatu Latu fell to Indy in last year’s draft. We might see a similar reaction from him if a player some view as the top corner in the draft slips to the Colts.
PROJECTED TRADE WITH ATLANTA FALCONS
Let the tight end race begin! Sensing he could miss out on the top TEs in the class if he sits back and waits, Sean Payton sends the Falcons his first-, third- and fourth-round picks to move up five spots for Warren. NFL.com draft guru Lance Zierlein compared the former Nittany Lion to Jeremy Shockey, a player Payton coached during his time with the Giants and Saints.
PROJECTED TRADE WITH ARIZONA CARDINALS
More tight end mania! Jim Harbaugh isn’t about to let his fellow Michigan Man slide to the Bengals. The Bolts snag another pass-catcher for Justin Herbert, sending Arizona a first-, third- and fourth-round pick in this year’s draft, along with a 2026 fourth-rounder, in exchange for the No. 16 pick and a 2025 fifth-rounder.
Barron could step right in as the replacement at nickelback if trusted veteran Mike Hilton departs in free agency.
Banks becomes a starting guard for Seattle from Day 1, and he can also play tackle if injuries make it a necessity. Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet will like running the ball with Banks clearing lanes.
You can never have enough good pass rushers. I can hear Todd Bowles saying that as the Bucs select the 2024 FBS leader in sacks.
PROJECTED TRADE WITH DENVER BRONCOS
After trading down, the Falcons stay in-state to add a versatile piece for a defense that figures to be among the hardest hit in free agency.
Whoever is taking snaps at quarterback for Pittsburgh next season could use an upgraded receiving corps. Golden can be the big-play complement to George Pickens that the Steelers have sorely lacked.
PROJECTED TRADE WITH LOS ANGELES CHARGERS
Jonathan Gannon finds a new pupil with the potential to become the foundation of his defense. Grant has a rare blend of size (listed at 6-foot-3, 342 pounds) and quickness -- it will be up to Gannon to help him put it all together.
Matt LaFleur has made it clear that a better pass rush is going to be essential for the Packers to take the next step. Stewart has the tools to help, although he might need a little more seasoning.
With Harrison Smith ticketed for free agency, the Vikings could be in the market for a new enforcer in the secondary. Emmanwori could develop into a stud under the tutelage of DC Brian Flores.
With Stefon Diggs and Robert Woods headed for free agency, and Tank Dell working his way back from a severe injury, there’s a gaping void at receiver in Houston. The Texans do right by their quarterback and reunite C.J. Stroud with his fellow Buckeye.
If the Rams trade Matthew Stafford this offseason, they might have bigger fish to fry in Round 1, but for now, I could see Les Snead replacing the on-the-block Cooper Kupp with the slot threat out of Mizzou.
Jackson fits best as a guard -- which is an area of need for the Ravens -- but he also showed last season that he can hold his own at tackle, which happens to be another area of need for Baltimore. He’ll be plug-and-play on the interior, but might be able to step outside in a pinch.
Brad Holmes has selected at least one Crimson Tide player in each of the last three drafts. He extends the streak to four with Campbell, who can generate heat off the edge right away and play off-ball linebacker if needed down the road.
If you’re going to protect Jayden Daniels from the ferocious pass rushers of the NFC East, you better invest in the offensive line. Washington spends its top pick on an O-lineman for the first time in a decade.
If they’re going to get past the Chiefs in the AFC, the Bills might want to follow the Eagles’ blueprint. Ramp up the pass rush szn is here.
In this scenario, the Chiefs address their pressing offensive line issues in free agency. That frees them up to look at the other side of the ball in the draft. As my colleague Chad Reuter has pointed out, Chris Jones is currently the only defensive tackle the Chiefs have under contract for the 2025 season.
Give Vic Fangio time to mold Pearce, who’s dripping with upside, and the Eagles could end up with one of the biggest steals of the draft.
