We’re getting closer to crowning the next Super Bowl champion. The divisional playoff games left us with just four teams remaining.
The Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, Philadelphia Eagles, and Washington Commanders are still in it, while the rest of the league is preparing for the offseason in hopes they’ll be able to make a deep playoff run of their own in 2025.
Before we shift our focus to the conference championship games next weekend, here’s an updated look at how this year’s first round could play out.
1. Tennessee Titans
Cam Ward | QB | Miami
The Titans take their quarterback of the future. Tennessee experimented with Will Levis, but it did not turn out as expected. Ward needs to cut down on making risky decisions. Still, he has the desired traits to be a franchise quarterback, possessing the mentality, arm talent, mobility, and accuracy to deliver the football to all levels of the field.
2. Cleveland Browns
Abdul Carter | EDGE | Penn State
The Browns need a quarterback, but they don’t force it here. Instead, they go with value. Carter is a dominant pass rusher who would create a scary duo opposite Myles Garrett.
3. New York Giants
Shedeur Sanders | QB | Colorado
The Giants have been desperate for a reliable quarterback since Eli Manning. They now turn to Sanders, hoping he will bring New York success. Sanders’ pocket management can be maddening, but he is poised, accurate, tough, and has a good feel for layering the football to his receivers.
4. New England Patriots
Travis Hunter | WR/CB | Colorado
The Patriots are happy to have the best player in the draft fall to them. Hunter would give New England a shut-down corner while supplying Drake Maye a weapon that can be utilized in 10-15 plays per game.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars
Mason Graham | DL | Michigan
The Jaguars finished the season in the bottom five in sacks and quarterback pressures. They also struggled immensely against the run. Putting Graham on the defensive line with Josh Hines-Allen, Arik Armstead and Travon Walker could solve a lot of those problems.
6. Las Vegas Raiders
Tetairoa McMillan | WR | Arizona
After trading away Davante Adams midway through the season, the Raiders need a No. 1 wide receiver. McMillan is a big-bodied pass catcher with strong hands who can make plays downfield and create after the catch, stylistically similar to Buccaneers’ Mike Evans.
7. New York Jets
Will Campbell | OT | LSU
The Jets are out of the running for one of the top quarterbacks, so they address the offensive line to ensure it’s solidified for Aaron Rodgers or whoever is under center. Some suggest that Campbell may be better inside, but he has the talent to try to be the long-term replacement for right tackle Morgan Moses first.
8. Carolina Panthers
Will Johnson | CB | Michigan
The Panthers need to improve their pass rush, but with Abdul Carter long gone, they shift their focus to the secondary. Jaycee Horn has only one more year left on his contract and should sign an extension, but adding a shutdown cover man opposite would go a long way for a team that finished last in total defense in 2024.
9. New Orleans Saints
Mykel Williams | EDGE | Georgia
The Saints struggled to get after the quarterback this season and with Cameron Jordan set to be 36 next season and Chase Young signed only for this season, they need more talent in edge defender room. Williams is raw, but he is an inside-out defensive lineman with the traits to wreak havoc.
10. Chicago Bears
Josh Simmons | OT | Ohio State
If the Bears want Caleb Williams to succeed, they must keep him upright. Williams was the most sacked quarterback this season, with 68 sacks taken. Simmons suffered a season-ending knee injury, so the medicals will be crucial during the pre-draft process. But if everything checks out, Simmons could be a prolific blindside blocker for Williams.
11. San Francisco 49ers
Shemar Stewart | DL | Texas A&M
The 49ers need to revamp their defensive line, which has been a struggle since trading away DeForest Buckner in 2020. Stewart has a rare combination of size, speed and power that would cause problems for opposing offensive linemen. He never surpassed more than 1.5 sacks in a single season, but these are traits you don’t pass up on.
12. Dallas Cowboys
Luther Burden | WR | Missouri
The Cowboys could take Ashton Jeanty, but they resort to a wide receiver to complement CeeDee Lamb and give Dak Prescott another target. Burden is a lethal weapon who plays with slick separation skills, elusiveness, and creativity when the ball is in his hands.
13. Miami Dolphins
Malaki Starks | S | Georgia
Jevon Holland is an impending free agent. Even if Holland returns to Miami, the Dolphins would not go wrong with having two studs in the secondary. Starks is a playmaker from multiple alignments and is impactful against the pass and the run. Starks is the No. 1 safety and one of the safest picks in this year’s draft class.
14. Indianapolis Colts
Tyler Warren | TE | Penn State
Warren is a do-it-all tight end who can make plays from multiple alignments, supplying Anthony Richardson with a go-to target. He can also help on the ground with his aggressive temperament as a blocker.
15. Atlanta Falcons
James Pearce Jr. | EDGE | Tennessee
The Falcons need more playmakers along the interior and on the edges of the defensive line. Pearce is far from a finished product, but Atlanta doesn’t pass on the traits and upside. He is an athletic pass rusher who can create consistent disruption.
16. Arizona Cardinals
Derrick Harmon | DL | Oregon
The Cardinals need to upgrade their defensive line, and adding Harmon is a great way to do so. Harmon has three-down potential early in his career, as he has an established arsenal of pass-rush moves, quickness, play strength and versatility to play outside or inside.
17. Cincinnati Bengals
Jalon Walker | EDGE | Georgia
Even with Trey Hendrickson on the field, the Bengals still struggled to get to opposing quarterbacks. At Georgia, Walker would drop into coverage or play the run. But Walker is a natural at rushing the passer with his explosiveness off the edge, length and power to cause fits.
18. Seattle Seahawks
Kelvin Banks Jr. | OT | Texas
The Seahawks must address both lines, but many of their offensive problems came up front. Banks, the 2024 Outland Trophy winner, played tackle for the Longhorns but is also seen as a guard at the next level. Banks was inconsistent at times, but the upside is immense.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Emeka Egbuka | WR | Ohio State
Chris Godwin is coming off a season-ending knee injury and there is no guarantee that he will be back since he’s a free agent. Mike Evans is entering the final year of his contract. Egbuka would give Baker Mayfield another weapon with a pro-ready skill set with crisp route-running skills and great hands.
20. Denver Broncos
Ashton Jeanty | RB | Boise State
It would be a surprise to see Jeanty fall to the 20s, but there aren’t many landing spots for him beyond the Cowboys. Jeanty is an elite back with outstanding contact balance, burst and acceleration to wear defenses down. He would take some pressure away from Bo Nix.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers
Kenneth Grant | DL | Michigan
The Steelers have a huge need at wide receiver, but history shows they aren’t the ones to take one in Round 1. Cameron Heyward isn’t getting any younger, and Keeanu Benton offers no more than a pass rusher. Grant would provide a boost with his ability to control the point of attack and generate pressure consistently.
22. Los Angeles Chargers
Mike Green | EDGE | Marshall
The Chargers need a true No. 1 tight end, so Colston Loveland will be hard to pass on. However, Khalil Mack is a free agent, and Joey Bosa is a cut candidate, which makes edge defender another pressing need. The nation’s leader in sacks, Green is a twitched-up pass-rusher with a good bag of moves who could quickly become a starter opposite Tuli Tuipulotu.
23. Green Bay Packers
Jahdae Barron | CB | Texas
Jaire Alexander has struggled with injuries for the past few seasons, and aside from him, the Packers don’t have much to offer at the position. Barron is proven at multiple spots, possesses lock-down coverage skills and is physical when coming downhill.
24. Minnesota Vikings
Shavon Revel | CB | East Carolina
The Vikings have a handful of impending free agents in the cornerback room: Byron Murphy, Stephon Gilmore, Shaquill Griffin and Fabian Moreau. Revel suffered an unfortunate season-ending knee injury but looked like a top-15 pick before it. He has the length, speed, and physicality to match up with bigger receivers at the next level.
25. Houston Texans
Tyler Booker | OL | Alabama
C.J. Stroud spent much of this past season on the ground, as he was the second-most sacked quarterback. Booker is a plug-and-play starter, possessing a mean streak and physical demeanor that would pay dividends in keeping Stroud upright and paving the way in the running game.
26. Los Angeles Rams
Cameron Williams | OT | Texas
Rob Havenstein will be 33 years old and is entering the final year of his contract. Alaric Jackson and Joe Noteboom will be free agents. Williams is raw but extremely talented with the necessary length, power and speed to succeed at the next level.
27. Baltimore Ravens
Benjamin Morrison | CB | Notre Dame
The Ravens must revamp their cornerback room after struggles from Brandon Stephens, Nate Wiggins and Marlon Humphrey. Morrison is an athletic and physical cover man who can start from Day 1. He’d likely be drafted much earlier if he had not suffered a hip injury during the season.
28. Detroit Lions
Nic Scourton | EDGE | Texas A&M
The Lions must find an edge rusher to go opposite of star Aidan Hutchinson. Scourton possesses a rare combination of size, length and strength and power to make an impact at rushing the passer and defending the run.
29. Washington Commanders
Josh Conerly Jr. | OT | Oregon
The Commanders need to find their franchise left tackle to protect Jayden Daniels. Conerly is coming off an excellent season for the Ducks. He possesses elite pass-protection potential skills with great athleticism and recovery skills.
30. Buffalo Bills
Tyleik Williams | DT | Ohio State
The Bills’ defensive front needs a makeover, and they start the process with the selection of Williams. Williams will need to be a more consistent player at the next level, but his combination of size, strength and athleticism oozes sky-high potential.
31. Philadelphia Eagles
Princely Umanmielan | EDGE | Ole Miss
The Eagles could snag the successor to Lane Johnson, but with Brandon Graham retiring and Josh Sweat set to hit the free agency market, they stick to the game plan that has made them great by adding another pass rusher. Umanmielan has elite burst and bend, making it difficult for tackles to block him.
32. Kansas City Chiefs
Colston Loveland | TE | Michigan
They can’t keep getting away with this. The Chiefs get another steal to close out the first round. As they prepare for life without Travis Kelce, Kansas City lands Loveland, a mismatch in the passing game. His size and athleticism make it difficult for teams to defend him. He is willing to mix it up and block in the running game, too.
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