Welcome to Draft Week.
It’s possible you’ll really feel like you’ve made it, expensive reader, however there are nonetheless some miles to run till we attain the end line. However we will do it, collectively.
Here’s a take a look at the newest rumors across the 2025 NFL Draft.
Jaxson Dart: A primary-round QB with a third-round grade?
As now we have mentioned at size in these pre-draft rumor roundups, the historical past of quarterbacks being pushed into the primary spherical is prolonged. Jaxson Dart, Tyler Shough, and Jalen Milroe are the newest passers on that listing, with all three being mentioned as potential first-round QBs on Thursday evening.
The majority of the excitement facilities on Dart, the Mississippi passer who continues to pop up within the first spherical in mock drafts. The newest mock to have Dart within the first spherical comes from Tyler Dragon, who has been overlaying the league for USA At present for years. Dragon has Dart coming off the board with the ultimate choose within the first spherical, because the New York Giants commerce again into the primary to pick out the Mississippi QB.
Nonetheless, you will need to keep in mind the distinction between being a first-round choose and having a first-round grade. Discuss to scouts and you’ll be taught that for many groups, round 15 gamers have an precise first-round grade. However with 32 picks on Thursday evening, some gamers and not using a first-round grade are going to come back off the board.
That’s very true for quarterbacks, given the necessity on the place. And in keeping with a number of the rumors round Dart, that can certainly be the case if he’s picked within the first spherical. In keeping with ESPN reporter Jeremy Fowler, whereas Dart may come off the board within the first 15 picks, many groups have a second or third-round grade on him.
“There’s a variety of intrigue and buzz round Jaxson Dart,” Fowler stated Sunday on SportsCenter “The Saints have executed a variety of homework on this quarterback specifically. And the Steelers have a robust grade on him as effectively. So, anyone may make a transfer on Dart despite the fact that a variety of groups do have a second-round or third-round grade on the quarterback.”
This additionally comes as Dart’s title was faraway from the listing of gamers who could be attending the draft this week.
Patriots zeroing in on Will Campbell
Whereas the precise order is but to be decided, consensus holds that the highest three picks might be Miami QB Cam Ward, Colorado CB/WR Travis Hunter Jr., and Penn State EDGE Abdul Carter. Whether or not Hunter comes off the board second to the Cleveland Browns, or it’s Carter, stays to be seen.
Now it appears that evidently the celebs are aligning for the fourth-overall choice.
In his Friday pre-draft convention name Daniel Jeremiah of the NFL Community joined the refrain of analysts pointing to the New England Patriots drafting LSU offensive lineman Will Campbell in that spot.
“With the Patriots, I simply have regularly heard that offensive deal with was going to be addressed, and I’ve regularly heard that that’s Will Campbell’s spot,” stated Jeremiah.
“So it’s not common across the league, however the feeling in speaking to people is that Will Campbell is absolutely well-liked inside that constructing in New England,” added the NFL Community analyst.
We’re getting nearer to placing the Jacksonville Jaguars on the clock, not less than in principle.
A shock choose at No. 6 may alter the Jets’ plans
Ashton Jeanty coming off the board to the Las Vegas Raiders at No. 6 is likely one of the picks you see in mock drafts that appears like it’s set in stone. Actually, Raiders basic supervisor John Spytek fanned these flames himself final week. Talking with The Athletic, Spytek talked concerning the significance of operating backs, and pointed to what the Philadelphia Eagles did final season after including Saquon Barkley.
“I’m going to watch out about speaking about any particular participant, however extra broadly to the operating again query: We simply noticed Saquon Barkley change the Eagles in a single 12 months,” Spytek stated when talking with The Athletic. “Now, that they had an awesome group round him and added an elite participant. And I believe the place we sit, the thought is so as to add elite gamers at any place. I don’t attempt to devalue any sure place. … There’s sure methods to construct a group, and I don’t know the place we obtained to a spot the place we don’t really feel like operating backs are precious.”
With Jeanty coming off the board at No. 6, most mock drafts have the New York Jets taking one of the best offensive lineman out there, usually Missouri deal with Armand Membou.
However what if the Raiders shock everybody and take an offensive lineman, maybe Membou, at No. 6?
That’s the rumor mentioned by Jets insider Wealthy Cimini of ESPN, who pointed to Penn State tight finish Tyler Warren, or Texas deal with Kelvin Banks Jr., as choices at No. 7 if Membou had been to be picked forward of the Jets by the Raiders.
Cimini has usually pointed to tight finish as a place of want for the Jets, which could additionally provide a window into the pondering in New York:
#Jets draft nugget:
They’ve chosen 5 tight ends within the first spherical within the common-draft period (since 1967), essentially the most of any group. Most up-to-date: Dustin Keller, 2008.
Is No. 6 on the horizon?
Definitely Tyler Warren needs to be thought-about with the seventh choose. It is an enormous want and…
— Wealthy Cimini (@RichCimini) April 19, 2025
Is Atlanta a trade-down candidate?
Most mock drafts have the Atlanta Falcons staying put at No. 15 and including a cross rusher, given their want on the sting and the depth of that
place on this draft class. Nonetheless, in the event you take a look at the present draft order, the mid-teens may see a run on cross rushers.
After Atlanta at No. 15 there are two different groups — Arizona at No. 16 and Cincinnati at No. 17 — that might add cross rushers in these spots.
May that open the door to the Falcons buying and selling down for groups hoping to get a cross rusher, and leap in entrance of each Arizona and Cincinnati? That’s the thought floated by ESPN draft analyst Jordan Reid in addition to Sportskeeda draft insider Tony Pauline. As Pauline notes:
“I’ve talked about a number of occasions that I imagine the Arizona Cardinals, who maintain choose No. 16, could possibly be a flashpoint for a group that wishes to leap in entrance of the Cincinnati Bengals and draft an edge rusher,” wrote Pauline late final week. “But folks imagine the Atlanta Falcons, the group deciding on simply forward of the Cardinals, could possibly be the spot groups leap as much as. They level to the truth that the Falcons could be open to transferring down, as they personal simply 5 draft picks this 12 months, together with a pair within the last spherical, and so they may nonetheless get frontline defensive participant late within the first.”
Groups which may transfer up for a cross rusher? Groups like Baltimore, Detroit, and Washington are sometimes linked to cross rushers in mock drafts.
