Even before the 2023 college football season kicked off, there was a fairly clear pecking order among quarterbacks when it came to their status as pro prospects.
The University of Southern California’s Caleb Williams was the presumptive top quarterback and likely first overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, with North Carolina’s Drake Maye considered the most likely challenger to Williams.
There was one big riser within the group in LSU’s Jayden Daniels, who went from potential second-day selection to Heisman Trophy winner to No. 2 overall pick.
As we look toward the 2024 college football season and the 2025 NFL draft, the depth of the talent pool looks deep (thanks, NIL), and unlike this past week in Detroit, there should be plenty of defensive players selected in the first round this time next year in Wisconsin as the Green Bay Packers bring the offseason extravaganza to their town.
The quarterback pecking order is not so clear. Shedeur Sanders (Colorado), Carson Beck (Georgia) and Quinn Ewers (Texas) enter the season with the most buzz.
AP photo by Young Kwak / Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders carries the ball during a Pac-12 game against Washington State on Nov. 17 in Pullman, Wash.That makes trying to project a way-too-early mock draft even more challenging, because as this past week showed when a record six were selected in the first 12 picks, it’s all about the quarterbacks on draft day. But here goes, with the draft order taken from BET MGM’s projected NFL win totals.
1. Tennessee Titans (via trade with Carolina Panthers): Carson Beck, quarterback, Georgia.
Teams bail on first-round quarterbacks quicker than ever, but let’s give 2023 top pick Bryce Young the benefit of the doubt with the Panthers and pencil in the Titans to make a move up for Beck after he emerges as the top QB prospect in his second season as a starter at Georgia.
2. New England Patriots: Mykel Williams, edge rusher, Georgia.
The previous time teammates went 1-2 in the draft was in 2000, when Penn State defensive stars Courtney Brown and LaVar Arrington were selected. Williams will be the breakout star of another dominant Georgia defense.
3. Denver Broncos: Will Campbell, offensive tackle, LSU.
He’ll go from freshman starter to first-round draft pick in three seasons.
4. Washington Commanders: Benjamin Morrison, cornerback, Notre Dame.
The competition to be the top cornerback prospect should be excellent with Morrison, Michigan’s Will Johnson and Colorado’s Travis Hunter all vying to be top-10 picks.
5. Panthers (via trade with Titans): James Pearce, edge rusher, Tennessee.
He’s a long, explosive pass rusher who will be at home in the NFL.
6. New York Giants: Shedeur Sanders, quarterback, Colorado.
Coach Deion Sanders’ son needs some better protection this season, but he will become Daniel Jones’ replacement in New York.
7. Minnesota Vikings: Walter Nolen, defensive tackle, Ole Miss.
This should be a top-notch class of defensive tackles, and the former five-star recruit could be the best of the bunch.
8. Las Vegas Raiders: Quinn Ewers, quarterback, Texas.
In his third season as a starter, Ewers has a chance to reach the ceiling of his recruiting hype.
9. Arizona Cardinals: Will Johnson, cornerback, Michigan.
Johnson was the defensive MVP of the national title game for the Wolverines last season.
10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Travis Hunter, cornerback, Colorado.
He is a spectacular athlete and a two-way player for the Buffaloes, but cornerback is probably his pro home.
11. Seattle Seahawks: J.T. Tuimoloau, Edge, Ohio State.
He’s one of several Buckeyes who passed on the 2024 draft to chase a national title this fall.
12. Pittsburgh Steelers: Kelvin Banks, offensive tackle, Texas.
Here’s another offensive tackle who will go from freshman starter to first-round draft pick.
13. New Orleans Saints: Cameron Ward, quarterback, Miami.
The Saints will finally draft a replacement for Drew Brees.
14. Los Angeles Rams: Tyler Booker, offensive tackle, Alabama.
Can there be a first round without a Crimson Tide offensive tackle?
15. Los Angeles Chargers: Colston Loveland, tight end, Michigan.
Not quite Brock Bowers, the former Georgia star who was taken 13th overall this past week, but Loveland is a fluid athlete at 6-foot-5 and one of Chargers Jim Harbaugh’s former Michigan guys.
16. Jacksonville Jaguars: Harold Perkins, outside linebacker, LSU.
He flashed superstar qualities as a freshman and stagnated last season, but with consistency, he has top-10 potential.
17. Indianapolis Colts: Luther Burden III, wide receiver, Missouri.
He is a yards-after-catch machine and maybe a steal this low.
18. Cleveland Browns: Abdul Carter, outside linebacker, Penn State.
He’s not quite Micah Parsons, but Carter will draw some comparisons to the former Nittany Lion and current Dallas Cowboys linebacker.
19. Chicago Bears: Kenneth Grant, defensive tackle, Michigan.
At 339 pounds, Grant has a high ceiling and rare quickness.
20. New York Jets: Drew Allar, quarterback, Penn State.
He has a lot of work to do to get here, but he has all the traits and the Jets are once again looking for their QB of the future.
21. Miami Dolphins: Mason Graham, defensive tackle, Michigan.
He is the steadier of Michigan’s two monsters in the middle.
22. Houston Texans: Dontay Corleone, defensive tackle, Cincinnati.
Did we mention this draft could be loaded with defensive tackles?
23. Green Bay Packers: Jordan Hancock, cornerback, Ohio State.
One of two Buckeyes cornerbacks who could go in the first round.
24. Atlanta Falcons: Tyleik Williams, defensive tackle, Ohio State.
Yes, the Buckeyes are absolutely loaded on defense.
25. Philadelphia Eagles: Tetairoa McMillan, wide receiver, Arizona.
He was the Pac-12’s second-leading receiver (90 catches for 1,402 yards) as a sophomore last season.
26. Detroit Lions: Nic Scourton, defensive lineman, Texas A&M.
The Purdue transfer has a chance to be a force in the Southeastern Conference.
27. Dallas Cowboys: Ollie Gordon, running back, Oklahoma State.
Cowboys grab a Cowboy to fill a need in the backfield.
28. Cincinnati Bengals: Patrick Payton, edge rusher, Florida State.
He’s next up for the Seminoles after recent first-round pass rushers Jermaine Johnson and Jarden Verse.
29. Buffalo Bills: Denzel Burke, cornerback, Ohio State.
Another 6-1 cornerback for the Buckeyes.
30. Kansas City Chiefs: Deone Walker, defensive tackle, Kentucky.
He is a massive run stuffer.
31. San Francisco 49ers: Josh Conerly Jr., offensive tackle, Oregon.
Trent Williams can’t play forever. Probably.
32. Baltimore Ravens: Evan Stewart, wide receiver, Oregon.
The Texas A&M transfer will bust out with the Ducks.