The NFL Draft season is here! It’s the perfect time to visit a mock draft website and predict which players your favorite team will select. All NFL scouting departments are working tirelessly to ensure they make the right pick in April. Each team has specific needs and positions to fill to strengthen their roster for the upcoming season. Different teams are searching for various player positions or archetypes to build their squads effectively.
Pittsburgh Steelers Pick: Georgia Offensive Tackle Broderick Jones Grade: C+
Cincinnati Bengals Pick: Georgia Offensive Tackle Amarius Mims Grade: B
Baltimore Ravens Pick: Clemson Cornerback Nate Wiggins Grade:B+
Cleveland Browns Pick: Ohio State Defensive Tackle Michael Hall Jr. Grade: C-
Green Bay Packers Pick: Arizona Offensive Lineman Jordan Morgan Grade: D-
Minnesota Vikings Pick: Alabama Outside Linebacker Dallas Turner Grade: C+
Detroit Lions Pick: Alabama Cornerback Terrion Arnold Grade: B
Chicago Bears Pick: USC Quarterback Caleb Williams Grade: B+
The Ravens finish the season as one of the AFC’s premier contenders once again but still have not made the long-awaited Super Bowl reappearance they’ve longed for ever since they drafted Lamar Jackson out of Louisville. John Harbaugh and his team are solid on both sides, have playoff experience, and have a two-time MVP at quarterback. After constant playoff shortcomings, Baltimore is looking for proven winners and prospects to lead them to victories in late January.
Projected Ravens’ Targets: Boston College EDGE Donovan Ezeiruaku, Ohio State OT Josh Simmons, Missouri WR Luther Burden III
Another quarterback carousel is expected in Pittsburgh this off-season. Veteran Quarterback Russell Wilson has looked decent in various stints this season, but does Mike Tomlin want to unleash Justin Fields after a season of short playing time in Pittsburgh? The Steelers also lack secondary and wide receiver depth. Which weaknesses will they target?
Projected Steelers’ Targets: South Carolina S Nick Emmanwori, Georgia S Malaki Starks, Ohio State WR Emeka Egbuka
Joe Burrow, Jamarr Chase, and the Bengals’ electric offense kept this team in playoff contention, but the defense held them back. It would be wise for Cincinnati to spend all of its draft compensation in 2025 on that side of the ball. Their abysmal defense gave up way too much, and if they want to give their generational quarterback a chance to get back to the big game, they need to reinforce this unit.
Projected Bengals’ Targets: Missouri IOL Armand Membou, Georgia EDGE Mykel Williams, Tennessee EDGE James Pearce Jr.
Will Deshaun Watson be the future quarterback for the Cleveland Browns? With the Browns holding the 2nd overall pick in this year’s draft, they can select a top rookie quarterback like Shedeur Sanders or Cam Ward. Additionally, Cleveland could benefit from adding a receiving threat to complement breakout star Jerry Jeudy. The Browns have various options to explore in the draft, giving them much flexibility moving forward.
Projected Browns’ Targets: Boise State RB Aston Jeanty, Colorado WR Travis Hunter, Miami QB Cam Ward
Green Bay needs some reinforcements to compete with the fierce competition of the NFC North. The Pack finished third in the division and were defeated in the first round by the eventual champs, the Philadelphia Eagles. Jordan Love had a good year, but the Packers could use some help at receiver and pass rush.
Projected Packers’ Targets: Marshall EDGE Mike Green, Texas WR Matthew Golden, Ohio State WR Emeka Egbuka
Minnesota is planning to trade quarterback Sam Darnold to make sophomore quarterback JJ McCarthy their starting quarterback next season. To support their young quarterback, Minnesota must focus on improving its pass protection. Once it has prioritized that, it should also consider drafting additional talent for its secondary.
Projected Vikings’ Targets: Texas OT Kelvin Banks Jr., Ohio State IOL Donovan Jackson, Georgia S Malaki Starks
The Lions looked to be the favorites to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl this season. They lost to the young Commanders because of injury limitations. Detroit should have superstar edge rusher Aidan Hutchinson back next season, which will help immensely. The secondary was very thin, and the depth of the unit was exposed heavily against the explosive connection between Jayden Daniels and Terry McLaurin.
Projected Lions’ Targets: Georgia S Malaki Starks, Ohio State EDGE Jack Sawyer, Florida State CB Azareye’h Thomas
Caleb Williams’s rookie season was significantly overshadowed by fellow quarterback Jayden Daniels’s impressive performance. The Bears have long had areas needing improvement, but with new Head Coach Ben Johnson at the helm, they appear to be heading in the right direction. It will take a few years for him to establish a strong culture, but there’s potential for the Bears to become contenders. To help the USC product reach his full potential, the Bears must prioritize enhancing their defense and bolstering pass protection.
Projected Bears’ Targets: Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty, LSU OT Will Campbell, Penn State TE Tyler Warren
The 2025 NFL Draft is set to showcase a wealth of exceptional talent and intriguing prospects that could reshape teams across the league. Each year, certain franchises experience remarkable turnarounds, moving from top draft picks to playoff contenders due to stellar draft selections. Who will emerge as the standout player this year? Which organization will find a hidden treasure, and which team might face disappointment with their choices?
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