Identifying the Ideal Prospect for Every NFL Team’s Top Positional Need in the 2025 Draft

One of the most complicated elements in writing mock drafts is recognizing that every NFL team has a point where they will break away from obvious needs to take the “best player available.”

A useful analogy is how many of us approach buying a car. We might head to the car lot seeking a specific make or model. Perhaps we’re looking for a family-friendly four-door with plenty of seating. Maybe it needs to be an economical ride for the daily commute or a reliable used model for your inexperienced student driver. For some, the goal is a burly 4×4 with a towing package or a slick sports car. 

Some of us are committed to getting that perfect fit. Others, for whatever reason, find a different solution. 

The purpose of this article is to look beyond BPA and imagine a world in which every team prioritized filling their biggest remaining need post-free agency with their first-round pick. Who would be the best fit?  

As noted, this exercise is not another mock draft. To further separate it from them, the NFL teams are listed alphabetically. 

First-round draft position: No. 16
Biggest Need: Offensive line
Best Fit: Kelvin Banks, Jr., Texas: The Cardinals dedicated much of free agency to defense, retaining linebackers Baron Browning and Akeem Davis-Gaither and spending big to bring in edge rusher Josh Sweat and Dalvin Tomlinson. Banks has the lateral agility and grit to offer an immediate upgrade at left guard and his experience at tackle would give the Cardinals flexibility should starters Paris Johnson and Jonah Williams again struggle with durability. 

First-round draft position: No. 15
Biggest Need: Defensive end
Best Fit: Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M: Last season was the third since 2020 in which the Falcons finished either 31st or 32nd in the NFL in sacks. The addition of veterans Leonard Floyd and Morgan Fox add length and toughness, but neither is a game-wrecker at this stage of their careers. The 6-foot-5, 267-pound Stewart isn’t yet a finished product, but his upside is seemingly limitless. Raheem Morris is one of the game’s better teachers with the motivational skills to unlock Stewart’s potential. 

First-round draft position: No. 27
Biggest Need: Offensive line
Best Fit: Donovan Jackson, Ohio State: The seventh-round investment made two years ago in injured former Morris Trophy winner Andrew Vorhees makes replacing free-agent defection Patrick Mekhari less of a need than a wish. However, with little proven depth behind starting tackles Ronnie Stanley, Jr. and Roger Rosengarten, as well, the Ravens could use a versatile, dependable and battle-tested blocker like Jackson to fill in wherever he might be needed. 

First-round draft position: No. 30
Biggest Need: Cornerback
Best Fit: Shavon Revel, Jr., East Carolina: Even after extending young star Christian Benford, the Bills will be looking to add playmakers to a secondary needing to punish rival quarterbacks hoping to match league MVP Josh Allen point for point. Revel is coming off a torn ACL but his combination of length, physicality and hand-eye coordination make him an intriguing fit in Sean McDermott’s defense. 

First-round draft position: No. 8
Biggest Need: Edge
Best Fit: Mykel Williams, Georgia: The Panthers’ top pass-rushers last year were Jadeveon Clowney and A’Shawn Robinson, two veterans entering their 12th and 10th NFL seasons, respectively. Those veterans could serve as coaches on the field for an uber-talented 6-foot-5, 260-pound Williams, who seemingly just needs a little seasoning to become an all-around game-wrecker. 

First-round draft position: No. 10
Biggest Need: Free safety
Best Fit: Nick Emmanwori, South Carolina: With all due respect to veteran Kevin Byard and toolsy (but injury-prone) former second-round pick Jaquan Brisker, the Bears currently have more “guys” than “dudes” at the safety position and virtually all of them are entering the final year of their contracts. Emmanwori’s size and range could make him a moveable chess piece in Dennis Allen’s defense, providing the Bears with a formidable weapon in the middle to combat the high-octane passing attacks throughout the NFC North. 

First-round draft position: No. 17
Biggest Need: Edge
Best Fit: JT Tuimoloau, Ohio State: Superstar Trey Hendrickson led the NFL with 17.5 sacks a year ago (and had the same number in 2023), but he’s no guarantee to be on the roster after submitting a trade request in the offseason. Further, the Bengals have little in depth behind him. A pro-ready edge rusher to either complement or replace Hendrickson would be wise, and the Bengals could fall in love with Tuimoloau’s frame, physicality (including against the run) and, of course, his production, which includes a Big Ten-leading 12.5 sacks for the national champion Buckeyes.

First-round draft position: No. 2
Biggest Need: Quarterback
Best Fit: Shedeur Sanders, Colorado: It remains to be seen what the Browns can do with Deshaun Watson’s bloated contract, but with Kenny Pickett currently the only quarterback on the roster healthy enough to field snaps in training camp, clearly the club needs to bring in someone at the position. Sanders is polarizing, but he is the most accurate quarterback in this class with a track record of success in cold weather, as well as from a pro-style offense. 

First-round draft position: No. 12
Biggest Need: Playmaker
Best Fit: Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri: New head coach Brian Schottenheimer and first-year offensive coordinator Klayton Adams are known proponents of a physical running game, and it would be easy to plug in a star back here. The Texas native Ashton Jeanty would look awfully good with a star on his helmet, for example. But adding a RAC-monster like Burden might impact Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb even quicker, while complementing the free-agent signings of veteran runners Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders. 

First-round draft position: No. 20
Biggest Need: Running back
Best Fit: Ashton Jeanty, Boise State: There is no reasonable scenario in which Jeanty — one of the few true blue-chippers of this class — would still be available to Denver at No. 20 overall, but given his Alvin Kamara-like skill set, it might be worth pairing him with Sean Payton. North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton or either of the Ohio State duo of Quinshon Judkins and Treveyon Henderson would be less costly but quality alternatives. 

First-round draft position: No. 28
Biggest Need: Edge
Best Fit: Nic Scourton, Texas A&M: Everyone is hoping for a complete recovery from Aiden Hutchinson, but even if he returns to All-Pro form next season, the Lions should be looking for a quality complement to him. Scourton only registered five sacks a year ago, but he was more disruptive than his statistics suggest, possessing power, awareness and quite a pass rush repertoire, ranking as one of the more pro-ready edge defenders of this class. 

First-round draft position: No. 23
Biggest Need: Wide receiver
Best Fit: Matthew Golden, Texas: The Packers were reportedly in on the DK Metcalf trade talks and could use reinforcements to a receiver room that has Christian Watson recovering from injury and entering the final year of his contract, as is Romeo Doubs. Golden’s 4.29 speed could be the perfect replacement on the outside, taking advantage of Jordan Love’s talent as a deep ball passer. 

First-round draft position: No. 25
Biggest Need: Offensive line
Best Fit: Josh Simmons, Ohio State: An offensive line that struggled to protect CJ Stroud a year ago was further depleted with the trade of gifted left tackle Laremy Tunsil, but with no less than five veterans added to the unit over the offseason, it might no longer be viewed as a critical need by GM Nick Caserio. Still, any team with a talented young QB should consider Simmons, the most gifted blocker of this class. The San Diego State transfer looked well on his way to top-10 consideration prior to tearing his patellar tendon and missing the final 10 games of the year. The 6-5, 315-pounder is an easy, balanced mover with experience at both tackle positions, projecting as a long…  

First-round draft position: No. 14
Biggest Need: Tight end
Best Fit: Tyler Warren, Penn State: Similar to the Broncos/Ashton Jeanty pairing listed earlier, Warren will almost certainly be off the board when the Colts are currently scheduled to pick (No. 14 overall), but surrounding Anthony Richardson (or Daniel Jones) with playmakers should be the top priority, justifying a possible trade up. While not as effective in the blocking game as the blue-chipper Warren, Michigan’s Colston Loveland or perhaps LSU’s Mason Taylor, both sure-handed receivers, would be quality early-round fits, as well. 

First-round draft position: No. 5
Biggest Need: Defensive tackle
Best Fit: Mason Graham, Michigan: Pardon the pun, but the Jaguars could use a little more teeth up the middle. In a class full of gifted defensive tackles, Graham offers a position-best combination of awareness and agility inside, consistently re-setting the line of scrimmage with his ability to penetrate. Graham’s disruptive talent — not to mention his motor — could be a catalyst sparking Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen to big seasons.  

First-round draft position: No. 31
Biggest Need: Defensive tackle
Best Fit: Alfred Collins, Texas:Chris Jones remains one of the league’s very best players, but he’s entering his 10th season in the NFL and Kansas City’s depth behind him could use reinforcing. I’d like to see Jones paired with a massive and powerful nose guard from this class. Collins is a behemoth at 6-foot-6 and 332 pounds with a rare combination of power and agility. He is far from a finished product but is polished enough to play immediately while offering the same kind of home-run upside GM Brett Veach and Andy Reid have prioritized on draft day.  

First-round draft position: No. 6
Biggest Need: Wide receiver
Best Fit: Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona: Raiders fans should be excited by Pete Carroll trading for Geno Smith — but only if they provide him the kind of downfield weapons both enjoyed in Seattle. McMillan is no DK Metcalf in terms of straight-line speed, but he’s a remarkably smooth athlete given his 6-foot-4, 219-pound frame with ball skills honed from playing basketball and volleyball as a prep. 

First-round draft position: No. 22
Biggest Need: Edge
Best Fit: Mike Green, Marshall:  Khalil Mack remains one of the NFL’s best and 2023 first-round pick Tuli Tuipulotu made impressive strides a year ago, but the latter is the only edge rusher on the Chargers’ roster signed past next season. Green plays with the physicality and fire Harbaugh wants from his players, leading the country with 17 sacks and ranking second with 22.5 tackles for loss.