Your Ultimate Guide to Round 1: Big Board, Top QBs, Mock Draft Links & What to Expect

The wait is over. The 2025 NFL Draft kicks off tomorrow night at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wisconsin — and if you're trying to keep up with the latest player rankings, mock drafts, value picks, and day two steals, you have come to the right place.

🏟️ Draft Attendees: Who Will Walk the Stage Tonight?

Sixteen top prospects will be in the building:

Mason Graham (DT, Michigan)
Abdul Carter (EDGE, Penn State)
Travis Hunter (ATH, Colorado)
Cam Ward (QB, Miami)
Will Johnson (CB, Michigan)
Colston Loveland (TE, Michigan)
Tetairoa McMillan (WR, Arizona)
Ashton Jeanty (RB, Boise State)
Mike Green (EDGE, Marshall)
Will Campbell (OT, LSU)
Tyler Booker (IOL, Alabama)
Jihaad Campbell (LB, Alabama)
Jalen Milroe (QB, Alabama)
Josh Simmons (OT, Ohio State)
Malaki Starks (S, Georgia)
Shemar Stewart (EDGE, Texas A&M)

🔢 Draft Order: Top 10 Picks Set to Shake Up the Board

There are 257 picks in this year’s draft. The Titans own the top pick, while the Chiefs will close out Day 3 with Mr. Irrelevant.

🔟 Top 10 Picks

Tennessee Titans
Cleveland Browns
New York Giants
New England Patriots
Jacksonville Jaguars
Las Vegas Raiders
New York Jets
Carolina Panthers
New Orleans Saints
Chicago Bears

Football Scout 365: Top 10 Prospects for the 2025 NFL Draft

With the 2025 NFL Draft just hours away, here are the final Top 10 overall prospects according to the Football Scout 365 Big Board — a ranking built on film evaluation, advanced analytics, and positional value.

1. Mason Graham | IDL | Michigan

The most disruptive interior lineman in the class, Graham wins with elite leverage, heavy hands, and nonstop motor. He projects as a day-one anchor in both even and odd fronts.

2. Abdul Carter | EDGE | Penn State

A versatile pass rusher with freaky athletic traits and violent hands. Carter’s first-step explosion and ability to bend through contact make him a future Pro Bowl-caliber edge in the right scheme.

3. Travis Hunter | ATH (WR/CB) | Colorado

Hunter is one of the rarest two-way prospects we’ve ever graded. He could be a WR1 or CB1 in the NFL — or both. His ball skills, route tempo, and instincts on either side of the ball are elite.

4. Ashton Jeanty | RB | Boise State

Jeanty is the most complete back in this class: elite vision, low-center power, and pass-catching versatility. He’s a modern, three-down workhorse with explosive lateral cuts and contact balance.

5. Will Johnson | CB | Michigan

A long, fluid cover corner with NFL bloodlines and elite instincts in zone. Johnson thrives in top-down coverage and shows the tools to mirror receivers in man. Day-one starter potential.

6. Mike Green | EDGE | Marshall

This year’s top Group of Five riser. Green led the FBS in sacks and has the athletic profile to match. Don’t be shocked if he’s the most productive rookie edge defender in this class.

7. Will Campbell | OT | LSU

Campbell combines SEC-tested strength with strong footwork and hand timing. He’s scheme-versatile and projects as a long-term LT or RT, depending on team needs and depth.

8. Jahdae Barron | CB | Texas

An instinctive playmaker who can play outside or in the nickel. Barron is one of the most physical corners in the class and is a true tone-setter against the run.

9. Cam Ward | QB | Miami

Ward is our QB1 — a creative, fearless thrower with off-platform ability and elite arm angles. He elevated Miami’s offense in 2024 and brings starter-level traits into a league desperate for QB upside.

10. Colston Loveland | TE | Michigan

Loveland is a fluid route runner with the size, speed, and catch radius to be a matchup nightmare. He's a modern vertical tight end with red-zone dominance written all over his game.

📎 Click here to view the full Football Scout 365 Top 100 Big Board

Top 3 Quarterbacks in the Class

1) Cam Ward | Miami | 6'2", 220 lbs

Player Comp: Justin Fields meets Josh Allen

Projection: 1st overall Titans

Ward is the top off-script creator in this class with elite velocity, pocket poise, and a scheme-diverse skill set. He enters draft night as the consensus QB1.

2) Shedeur Sanders | Colorado | 6'2", 215 lbs

Player Comp: Joe Burrow ceiling, Andy Dalton floor

Projection: Day One

A surgical rhythm passer with clean mechanics and elite anticipation. Some question his sack avoidance and ability to create late in downs, but the floor is high.

3) Tyler Shough | Louisville | 6'5", 225 lbs

Player Comparison: NA

Projection: Early Day 2

Shough is a physically gifted passer with play-action comfort and RPO polish. Medical history is the red flag, but the upside is undeniable in the right system.

📎 Full QB Rankings & Positional Grades

Latest Mock Drafts

We’ve tracked trends, evaluated tape, and adjusted with insider intel.

Each pick features full analysis of scheme fit, draft capital value, and how front offices are approaching positional needs.

📎 View All Mocks Here

📊 How the 2025 NFL Draft Class Stacks Up

🧱 Trenches Rule Round 1: 11 Defensive Linemen Projected

This year’s draft is defined by elite talent up front. In our final mock, 11 defensive linemen are selected in Round 1 — including seven edge rushers and four interior defenders — making this one of the deepest front-line groups in recent memory.

Dynamic pass rushers like Abdul Carter, James Pearce Jr., and Mike Green headline the edge class, while Mason Graham and Walter Nolen anchor a dominant interior group. These are plug-and-play impact players with high ceilings and scheme versatility.

🎯 Skill Positions Bring Value Beyond the Top 10:

The intrigue at QB, RB, and WR lies mostly outside the top tier — but don’t mistake that for a lack of talent.

We’ve consistently projected just two quarterbacks in Round 1:

Cam Ward (Miami) – QB1 with elite off-script traits
Shedeur Sanders (Colorado) – Clean processor, NFL pedigree

Some mocks have floated Jaxson Dart or Jalen Milroe into the late first, but we view both as high-upside Day 2 picks. Dart, in particular, has a real shot to crack the top 32 for teams chasing the fifth-year option. And don’t forget about Tyler Shough, a legit sleeper with tools and pro experience.

💥 Running Back Depth Mirrors the 2017 Class

This RB group is as deep as we've seen in years.

Ashton Jeanty (Boise State) and Omarion Hampton (UNC) are locked into Round 1 on our board. Both offer elite contact balance, burst, and three-down value.
TreVeyon Henderson (Ohio State) remains a wild card — he’s a home-run hitter with receiving ability who could sneak into Round 1. Even if he slides, he brings Day 1 impact potential.

We’ve graded 25+ RBs with draftable grades, and expect 3–5 more backs to come off the board in Round 2. Day 3 will offer starter-level talent — and this is the kind of class where an undrafted RB could make serious noise as a rookie.

🧭 QB Landing Spots to Watch

Titans (No. 1): Locked on Cam Ward
Steelers (No. 21): Top Shedeur destination
Saints (No. 9): Wild card with Derek Carr injury. Shedeur Sanders and Jaxson Dart are heavily connected.
Giants: Trade-up potential for Jaxson Dart, Jalen Milroe, or Shedeur Sanders. They could trade back into the back of round one for a QB.

Dark horse late day one, early day two risers: Jaxson Dart, Tyler Shough, Kyle McCord, Will Howard

💎 Best Value: 5 Day 1 Steals in the 2025 NFL Draft

Late Round 1, Early Round 2 Prospects with First-Round Impact

The 2025 NFL Draft class may not be top-heavy, but there’s real gold to be found in the back half of Round 1 and early Round 2. In under four minutes, we spotlight five players with legitimate Day 1 impact potential — each carrying first-round traits at a discount.

TreVeyon Henderson | RB | Ohio State

Henderson’s tape shows a home-run hitter with elite acceleration, short-area burst, and big-play instincts. When healthy, he's the most dangerous open-field threat in the class. Though running back value has pushed him down boards, his ability to flip the field on any touch is unmatched.

James Pearce Jr. | EDGE | Tennessee

One of the most explosive edge defenders in the draft, Pearce offers elite first-step quickness, flexibility, and pass-rush counters. His tape screams top-10 talent, but questions about consistency and size have kept him just outside the top tier. He’s a prime candidate to outplay his draft slot.

Donovan Ezeiruaku | EDGE | Boston College

Ezeiruaku doesn’t have the freaky traits of others in this class, but his technical polish, hand usage, and play recognition make him one of the most pro-ready edge rushers on the board. He wins with leverage, motor, and intelligence — traits that translate quickly to the NFL.

🧩 Favorite Day Two Prospects with Round 1 Traits

These aren’t just Day Two picks — they’re potential franchise cornerstones with Day One ceilings.

Whether it’s injury history, positional value bias, or under-the-radar production, these are the types of prospects who can define a draft class. Each one flashes traits that belong in the first round — and all three could become major steals on Friday night.

Tyler Shough | QB | Louisville

At 6’5”, 225 lbs, Shough checks every box for a modern NFL quarterback — size, arm strength, mobility, and play-action efficiency. He thrived in Louisville’s RPO and boot-action concepts, delivering the ball with velocity and timing. If not for injury concerns, we’re likely talking about a top-20 pick. In the right situation, Shough has the tools to be a multi-year starter and potential long-term answer at QB.

Quinshon Judkins | RB | Ohio State

Judkins is a violent, downhill runner with elite vision, power through contact, and pass-catching upside. After transferring to Ohio State, he proved he can carry the load against top-tier defenses. He brings three-down versatility and a physical edge that will immediately elevate any backfield.

Jaylin Noel | WR | Iowa State

Noel is a twitchy, explosive YAC weapon with the kind of short-area burst and route nuance that translates quickly to the NFL. He’s electric after the catch, and his ability to separate on underneath and intermediate routes gives him instant slot value.

🔮 Final Bold Predictions for the 2025 NFL Draft

Only Two Quarterbacks Go Round 1

Just Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders hear their names called on Day One. Despite late buzz around Jaxson Dart and Jalen Milroe, the board holds steady.

Three Running Backs in Round 1

Ashton Jeanty, Omarion Hampton, and TreVeyon Henderson all crack the first round — the most Day One RBs we’ve seen since 2018.

Two Tight Ends in the Top 12

Both Colston Loveland and Tyler Warren are selected within the first 12 picks — a rare occurrence at the TE position and a testament to this class's elite traits.

Only Two Wide Receivers Go Round 1

Expect a quieter WR market up top. Tetairoa McMillan leads the way, and the second spot comes down to Luther Burden III, Emeka Egbuka, or Matthew Golden — we project one sneaks into the back end of Day One.

Ashton Jeanty Cracks the Top 5

Jeanty’s stock surges late. He doesn’t land where people expect — instead, watch for the Patriots or Jaguars to shock the board early and secure a top-tier offensive weapon.

Mason Graham Falls to Back End of Top 10

Our top overall player, Michigan DT Mason Graham, surprisingly slips to the 8–10 range. Carolina or Chicago are the likely beneficiaries.

Will Johnson Slides to Pick 22

The draft's top cornerback, Will Johnson, unexpectedly falls out of the top 10 and into the lap of the Los Angeles Chargers at No. 22 overall.

QB Run Kicks Off Early on Day Two

Day Two starts fast as teams target value and upside at quarterback. Expect a flurry of picks between picks 33–50 with Jaxson Dart, Tyler Shough, and Jalen Milroe headlining the scramble.