Reacting to The Athletics' New 2025 NFL Mock Draft

the waiting is over I'm officially back and what is cooling by the way I hope you're having a good day man I've been waiting to say that for a long time no I mean we've been rolling with the scouting throughout the summer and all that stuff and we'll be getting that big board out on Saturday safety rankings will be coming out on Friday we got a mock draft though to cover today which Speaking of we're also going to have our mock Drive coming out early next week probably will be on Monday Tuesday time frame I'm also going to do team rankings for all 32 teams and breakdowns and stuff like that in one video we'll get through that and that'll bring my draft order together any which way let's get all the blabbering out of the way come on let's get to the mock draft and I'm super excited man because the athletic just released on oh look at the cover you got shador you got James Pierce and you got Abdul Carter so let's take a look at this mock draft done by Nick Bob Gardner and Scott dman I'm so bad with Nam sorry Scott I'm Bing your name but this is going to be a draft order that established off of Austin mocks projected win total what a great name for a mock draft woo man that's that's a perfect one let's go on to pick number one the Washington commanders are going to be taking James Pierce Jr Edge rusher from Tennessee I like this one a lot and reasoning for that well they need Edge and I think Doris Armstrong will have a good year and I think he could have a breakout sort of campaign I mean he had a good year last season but I think coming over with Dan Quinn's going to be really good for him James Pierce gives you that speed off the edge now James Pierce is not my number one Edge but he is that prototypical edge style rusher that you see off the edge it's like okay this is what works in the NFL this is what a dominant Edge rusher looks like is he there yet with the play strength and the overall pass rush no but you got another season he's a young player and I think that he could easily catapult himself into that number one overall pick with some time certainly has the solid profile let's go on to my number one Edge rusher in this draft so far Abdul Carter formerly a linebacker who did play off the edge a little bit for Penn State this past year the N Lions number 11 the infamous number 11 there at Penn State very very big you can't wear that unless you're a stud man and Abdul Carter is a stud like he qualifies for sure dude I think Abdul Carter is legit I think he is a top five talent in this draft class he's one of those dudes that I'm taking no problem for the Denver Broncos here who needs some more pass r why not right I think this is a good move for them and they've got some guys there for sure and and I think there's some some obvious chances for Nick Bonito to take that next step up Baron Browner is already kind of taken that next step as well and you got Jonathan Cooper but now you add an Abdul Abdul Carter that next tier stud who can be you know a phenomenal 10 sack guy a season you got Carolina Panthers will Johnson from Michigan The Wolverine going to the Panthers here you solidify that cornerback unit JC horn been on and off injured even as such you need a number two guy and we'll see about danne Jackson if he can be a solid number two for them but the contract not a big contract one that may not be longterm either they could use another corner I just say you take the best available I think between will Johnson I mean I'm high on Travis Hunter personally I would really like Hunter but will Johnson's really good too like you're you're kind of looking your scheme and saying hey which one fits our scheme better those top three Morrison Johnson and Hunter are all phenomenal prospects so I have no problem here with Will Johnson I think it's proba get the highest floor in this class A reported 6.57 three con woo man you can tell on the field the dude moves really well New England Patriots Luther Burton III to Missour from Missouri going to New England they need themselves a number one weapon right you got Jaylen pul in here you go get that number one target for Drake may this one makes a lot of sense I mean ideally you know you I think that you have to evaluate Drake May with you know get the right Talent around him so I totally understand this pick and I don't have a problem with this one at all I think it's a good move for the Patriots let's go on you know you can bring the offensive tackle position and that's kind of what I was thinking it's like well what about the offensive tackle position however you can figure it out between free agency we'll see if chumo warfor sticks around at the left tackle position I like him I think he's got a lot of upside or at least potential to be a solid starter so if he can work out there maybe you you look at an extension possibly and and we'll obviously keep an eye out on things there throughout the season the Giants the gmen going with Carson Becket quarterback and this one here you it's an obvious Daniel Jones situation A DJ situation is the problem right but we shall see you know a lot of people are really negative on Daniel Jones this year I'm still not buying that negative hype at the moment I still think Daniel Jones has a chance so I'm not ready to rule him out at this moment and I know they don't have Matt rule at the coaching but any which way I do like I do think that Daniel Jones has a chance and I'm not ready to give up on him especially with Malik Neighbors in town wearing the number one which will be very very interesting uh overall I'm I'm I understand why the projection if you're picking number five overall too you're probably taking a quarterback that's just what it is I think for me personally I'm I'm more Shor Sanders number one guy but I understand Carson Beck has those prototypical size the length you know all the not the length but you know he probably does but he has the arm talent and all the size attributes and stuff like that he looks like a pocket passer looks like a Smooth Operator back there is what I meant to say let's go on to the Minnesota Vikings this is one of my guys well I I think he's a lot of everybody's guys Benjamin Morrison I feel like he's been mocked too low in a lot of drafts I think Morrison's as good as any Corner in this class I think he could even be the best corner in this class if you're talking about just strictly man-to-man who do I want on that guy well Benjamin Morrison to me is that guy he is so so dominant in man coverage you saw what he did against Marvin Harrison Jr yeah he held some reps but every corner does I think Benjamin Morrison is a phenomenal Prospect and I I really like him I ton Minnesota Vikings man Brian Flores fits his scheme to a te now this next pick is a doozy the Tennessee Titans on the clock here Travis Hunter and for me personally Travis Hunter is my number one player in this draft class I think what he brings to the table strictly as a corner is worth a top five pick but when you also throw in what he brings as a receiver I truly think he is a generational level talent and I don't like the I mean I know throwing that Roar out is is a is a tricky one and there's no doubt about it so I got to be careful with all those words but with that word but Travis Hunter to me I think he is as good of a prospect as you're going to find and I I just really don't see much downside with Travis Hunter and for the Tennessee Titans you're probably really looking at this and you're saying to your we're getting another really good receiver so I don't have a problem with this in the sense because DeAndre Hopkins is getting older K Ridley's even getting a little bit older we'll see about Trin Burks coming along but you got 29 32 for those you know receivers respectively Hunter gives you some help there and you're certainly drafting him as a receiver who can also play Corner in this scenario I like him still as a corner who can play receiver and you want to utilize him on both sides like you are not drafting Travis Hunter unless you are utilizing him on both sides in my opinion you need to he is that good of a prospect on both sides I think his athleticism it's just top tier so let's go on to the Cardinals here so you know it's not a huge in terms of corner but receiver you can use the need I just think he's the best player in this draft so yeah I'm cool with it Arizona Cardinals going Mason Graham the defensive tackle there at Michigan The Wolverine I love this he's my number two player in the draft class and when we get that about Big Board again we'll get this out more in a convenient way here soon but Arizona need interior players I mean they brought in some guys Justin Jones with bald Nichols they've got some dudes you you also have um Darius Robinson who's able to kind of play a hybrid role for them I think Mason Graham though is an absolute monster he's one of those guys where he may not have the crazy high-end athletic tools but he just wins consistently his play strength is monstrous his block ability it's high high level Jaylen Carter level Prospect stuff on to the Raiders they go shador Sanders this one makes a lot of sense of course because you look at menum Mania maybe it doesn't work out maybe it does who knows but you have minu Mania you have a no Connell do they have a clear-cut starting quarterback at the time no I think shador Sanders is really good option and I know people talk about the off the field stuff I'm not worried about it I think he's he's a cool dude and you know just got his own personality I mean you grew up in the spotlight look you have to deal with it you know that everybody's different everyone grows up in a different situation I think shador Sanders is a good kid and is a hard worker somebody I want to draft and put on my team I I he's the number one quarterback in this class so far to me Indianapolis Colts going tet rowa M Millan look I love McMillan this is not a discredit to McMillan I just would say that you know obviously the cornerbacks are off the board defensive tackle I would you know you went Le out to latu I love ad Mitchell so you know it's a tough one man I don't know if it's their biggest need but at the same time I mean they know you look at their needs you got safety maybe Malachi Starks here who is a first round pick type of player in my opinion I'm I'm okay with taking a m or 10 do think it's maybe a little early for Malachi Starks you could also look at more defensive you know interior help because they're getting a little bit older there and I I think they could use some more help for the future at that defensive tackle spot maybe a Dion Walker that's even a little bit early for me you know Kenneth Grant maybe you trade down and obviously there's no trades in this McMillan's a great player okay now you got Pitman you got ad Mitchell and you got McMillan then you got Josh do down it seems like a lot right but obviously you can always use receivers so maybe just a little bit of of embarrassment of riches here of options and what you could go after maybe even I'd lean on to the interor of the offensive line position because of you know maybe options and free agency Etc we'll see how things work there on that offensive line I don't know if there's a a guard but I would actually take Will Campbell here and play him a guard that's kind of what I would do and Shuffle some things around on your offensive line overall Teto McMillan a good player I just don't know if I agree with the fit the team right there Mel Williams said Tampe Buccaneers I like this one I think Mel's a really good Prospect I think you know Nick scorton is a better day one starter which we're going to see go next to the Ste that's an interesting one actually I like that fit we'll talk about that in a minute but Mel Williams they need Edge presence on that Tampa Bay Buccaneer line and I I think Mel Williams can certainly help that so I I don't mind that pick whatsoever for their and their defensive line you got the Pittsburgh Steelers Nick scorton Texas A&M formly a Purdue boiler up let's go unfortunately Co to Texas A&M just just like we lose all our talent it seems like but this is what I was thinking and they already said it think of him as like a cam Hayward type of replacement Long Haul I think he can put on another 10 15 plus pounds very easily he doesn't have the longest arms but man he is fast for his size he's got really good explosiveness really powerful and he's super young I mean a dude's not even 20 years old I believe yet but I actually really like this pick I think he put him on the interior as like a five tech early on as he continues to get stronger and and you could work him in and out of a R Tech role on pass rushing situations you got to start looking at the future for Cameron Hayward who's been such a disruptor and a problem for them on on that defensive line bears go Will Campbell and Will Campbell tackle I think he moves inside the guard at the next level I mean you're drafting him here to compete at least with Braxton Jones I like Braxton and I've been watching him in the preseason too this year again I've been keeping an eye on Braxton Jones and he's come a long way from me I think his technique is massively improved he's got all the athletic traits in the long arms to be a really good laugh left tackle again he's contracts so those are some things that are going to come up maybe he doesn't get paid maybe gets paid by a bigger you know another team will Campbell could slide into that role I do think maybe he moves inside to guard at the next level keep an eye out on that move not a bad one and we'll have to see how things work out for the Bears who don't have tons of needs at this point now anymore Jaguars Malachi Starks safety Georgia Prospect here I you know we'll see how Anthony Antonio Johnson works out but they could use another safety in that back into to pair along with Andre Cisco for the future Jags though I I do like them addressing maybe like going after possibly more offensive line maybe a guard maybe you say since will um since um will Campbell's off the board I was blanking I'm like I just saw his name will Campbell's off the board maybe you know you don't go that route Malachi Starks is a good football player Corner could be another option too because Ronald Derby is a free agent well they gave him a two-year deal I think but I mean you could look at the future there so that could be an option interior maybe try to get a little younger at that spot they did bring in or Eric Armstead so maybe a Dion Walker could be something pled to the Future especially with his upside right drafting him because he's probably about a year or two project you know those are options for me but Malachi Starks good football player I think the value makes a lot of sense too here for the Jags on to the Saints Quin yers Texas quarterback he's the third quarterback off the board here and I I think more than likely that the Saints if they are not in the playoffs this year they will go after a quarterback and I do think there's a good chance that Dennis Allen could be on the hot seat as well so I expect maybe a new regime in here trying to go get their Fran franchise future signal caller and Quinn ERS I like yers I do think he's more of a day two guy at the moment got to clean up some decision-making and still accuracy issues but he certainly has the arm talent and The Moxy to be a really good quarterback at the next level Harold Perkins to the Seattle Seahawks he would be a linebacker and that's what he's playing this year I like this pick actually because they could still use some more pass rush and I think you have to draft Harold Perkins as a situational pass rusher too because of how dangerous he is in that role but I like this pick as somebody who can play a will linebacker spot for the Hawks and then you also have him as a blitzing linebacker uh in McDonald's scheme which I think fits to a te then you go on to the Cleveland Browns emry Jones Jr tackle LSU the other tackle at LSU I think the Cleveland Browns don't necessarily I mean unless you feel like you're moving him over to left tackle emry Jones there could be some question marks on him playing guard at the next level and I actually if you want to say you move him to guard for the Cleveland Browns I like this one because you might need to start thinking about Joe Antonio longterm who could be retiring soon SL contract coming up so those are some situations you could be looking at there two on their offensive line I don't hate the pck I really don't I think Emy Jones a good football player and in this range it starts to make sense there I could also see them going you know more interior defensive line there but I they did address that with Michael Hall so we'll see how that comes along maybe they go after some more Edge looking at the long term there into into that spot so overall I don't hate this one at all receiver could be in play but I think Judy's going to be stepping up we'll see what happens toari Cooper on to the Rams here Kelvin Banks Jr tackle Texas they go ahead and get themselves that long-term tackle you know we we'll see how things work out over that left tackle position right now with eldric Jackson but Kelvin Banks to me could also be a guy that moves inside the guard they're good at the guard situation their interior is looking really strong they need a tackle for the future and in this case scenario Banks either playing one of those tackle spots either for Rob havenstein longterm or Elder Jackson maybe Jackson you know works it up but you know on the right side they could use a long-term right tackle anyway they could still attack the defense though go after a corner I mean there's some guys you know you got sioban Revel you got some dudes tario Davis you know you got some options at the cornerback spot too that they could go after I'm a little lower on Kelvin Banks and I I actually like this spot for banks I'm seeing him go top 10 a lot I think he's more in that 15 to 25 range as a project type of guy so I I do like that range you got the Chargers going Dion Walker who also I think is a project but they need more interior help so this is a clearcut pick for me I mean Chris Jenkins might be the most reasonable pick because you think the Jim Harbaugh connections at Michigan but Dion Walker really good football player I'm not going to you know look at that too much because teams try to be unbiased with that so Dion Walker has all the talent just need to see more consistency especially with the pad level with Dion Walker they need interior help though Houston Texans going Ty leek Williams Ohio State they need interior help makes a lot of sense they kind of got stop gaps right now with Foley fashi we'll see if Deno autre plays a little bit more inside this year I imagine they're going to try to get him in like a three tick on Rush situations Houston needs into defense line This is an A+ move for me Williams I do think Tyler Williams is more of a back end of the first round player so maybe bit of a reach but I do think Williams is such a phenomenal player you know maybe doesn't have Elite upside that like a Mason Graham you know or a Jaylen Carter of the years Etc but he's a good football player he one of those guys you just don't really think about really good run Defender and has some pass rush upside Siobhan Revel here East Carolina going to Atlanta you him and AJ Terell wooo man that's a crazy corner corner back dooo yeah I'm down with that I am down with that so I I'm okay with this pick also other areas that they could look at as an edge rusher still I think that is their number one need and there's still some pass rushers on the board that I'm I'm not against at this point and you got princely Umami Ellen you got some guys um jt2 and moow but I think revel's actually the best player available in terms of upside for what they're getting here there's a little bit of Boomer bus but man he he has some really high level play and going to test out like a freak so I'm okay with going after the corner back spot if you don't feel confident about these Edge rushers off the board here you don't have to force picks free agency you can help add to your Roster Miami going Jonas salvania Savania I however you want to say it but Savanah that's what I'm going to call him for now Arizona into your offensive line they need help on their offensive line so take the best offensive Lin available I'm a little lower on Jo Jon Salan I'm a lower on this offensive line class in general at least for the time being but at the same time I think Sal Sala is a really powerful blocker and just the reason why Jonah Coleman you know one of the reasons I mean Coleman's a beast in his own right but they were opening some Lanes there thanks to Jonas alvania in that right side was P you know pancaking some guys um I also like Josh conell if you're looking for a tackle situation I think he's got a lot of upside there we'll see how he comes along some other tackles keep an eye out on the Jets Jet Jet Jets my favorite team going Conor Weedman Texas A&M quarterback I'm not as high on Connor Weedman I have more of a day to grade on him I need to see a bigger sample size oh I love that they mention Byron Brown he's a dude to keep an eye out on I've watched him in limited sample size he could be a Heisman sleeper I'm just saying that right now but Connor Weedman certainly has all the tangibles and intangibles as well from what I hear to be a quarterback down the line we just need to see more consistency we need to see him out on the field right but I got a lot more respect for him after watching Texas A&M's offensive line like I've scouted pretty much everyone on that offensive line and I was unimpressed leadon Robinson was my favorite of the bunch I do like Bryce Foster as well in the upside because he looks like Creed Humphrey but besides that man I don't know see anyway let's go into the Buffalo Bills Kenneth Grant got to think of the future dayquon Jones getting a little bit older now I actually like this one I think this is where it makes sense on Kenneth Grant at the moment with his upside and his athletic tools obviously everyone brings up him bringing you know chasing down KRON Allen the dude is a Freakazoid man he was like number one and number two on Bruce felman's freaks list for a good reason he is an elite athlete for his size at 340 pounds he is a monster that moves literally like I don't know an alien or something maybe aliens don't move fast I don't know you never know cuz I don't know I've never met an alien maybe I I'm an alien but uh yeah Kenneth Grant I like that pick here for the bills Packers the Pack Attack go jt2 amola add more riches to that edge rushing room you got to think Preston Smith getting a little bit long in the tooth I do think Lucas fan next steps into that but they love their rotation in Green Bay other areas to keep an eye out on is going they did bring back Kenny Clark I believe they resigned him don't quote me on that I I almost positive they resigned him so if they did then it's not a huge need all right but could be something if they don't resign him you got some guys like Carl Brooks who can play you know Inside Out Etc Kobe wooden you know what can do that too but other areas to keep an eye out on they could if Eric Stokes struggles this year they could look at a quarterback two spot depending on Carrington Valentine uh their offensive side of the ball I mean they look pretty Dam good man I mean there's not too many things you can always go offensive line so that could be another area but Packers have a really good roster oh yeah how about them Cowboys there go Ali Gordon the second Oklahoma State phenomenal running back Prospect I could see him being the number one running back off the board very easily Ashton Genty is my current number one guy but I think olly Gordon's number two number three there with junkins and trayon Henderson's really good too but clearly right now the Cowboys are running with the veteran approach with dvin cook and and Zeke so we'll see how things work out long term but I do think running back could very easily be in play in a deep running back class I think they'll at least take one within those top three rounds more than likely depending on what they do in free agency but yeah Oly Gordon's a stud Aron arser from Minnesota going to the Ravens he is a raven style of offensive lineman and he is a scheme dependent offensive lineman too in my opinion he's one of those guys that needs to go to a run heavy blocking assignment team now with Todd Mony coming in here I don't know if he's as of a fit like I could see him going to the Chargers big time with Greg Roman I think that'd be a fit they're good at offensive line now at this point but I I do see him in a run heavy offense I mean they're still going to be you know run they're going to run the ball but arser is a good football player he does have some limitations in pass blocking uh you know I I noticed it especially you know watching some guys like John prias over there at uh Willam Mary kind of got the best of him on on some big time reps with some speed so we'll keep an eye out on airer but at the end of the first round I'm not I'm not against it at all I'm a little lower though I'm more of a a round three guy on him at the moment Denny stutsman linebacker Oklahoma another guy that I still need to see another year I want to see his coverage prow improve right I mean and some Miss tackle rate go down a little bit but he's definitely has got that ferociousness he's got that play mentality that you look for the eagles need linebacker too so if you can't get Harold Perkins um I'm a little bit higher on Barett Carter that's a little bit you know where I'm at at this point I'm actually okay with bar Carter in the first round but I do think stman fits that rle next to Kobe Dean and what they're looking for there with that size profile uh so I'm I'm not against that pick it just maybe a little bit early for me at at this time frame but studman definitely has the athletic upside and the the length and the size profile Bengals go couston levelin add another weapon in here for Jamar Chase or sorry Jamar CH Joe burrow and Jamar Chase and T Higgins if tgin is still there anyway Coulson leveland really good Prospect and this is more of the range where I like him I think he's more in that Dalton concade range really good Prospect don't get me wrong am I ready to you know say he's a true first round lock at this moment no he needs to work on his blocking right now as a route Runner yeah he's really good as a separator he can create space for himself he moves really really well for a tight end Prospect and certainly has some receiving upside and that's what you're drafting him for but he does need to get a little bit better with his play strength got pushed around a little bit too often for my liking Detroit Lions going Parker brailford Center Alabama you got to think the Tank Man Frank Frank ragn now is you know is a monster on that interior however you got to think long term is he the perfect scheme for for them no but you look at Tyler Lind bomb it just works out when you draft good players it works out I think you got to start thinking about the future at that Center position for the Lions so whether that's maybe a first may not be a first round need we'll see how Frank rag now does this season if he's able to stay healthy it may not be a first round need but you know retirement could be looming for him with all the injuries that he's had so I don't hate this pick I think Edge 2 could be in play here for them I think wide receiver you know a bigger bodied wide receiver could be very much in play here too for this team or you know even you know I mean guess the Isaiah Bond I don't know if he'd be exactly because you got you know Jameson Williams and hopefully he develops some more you do need maybe more that bigger physical guy maybe an El AUM Manor could be an option for them too but I will say braford would add another level of athleticism to this offensive line and make it even better than it already I mean and it could be right I mean yeah so I I like the pick continuing that offens line making a strength and even stren a stronger position and thinking about it to the Future uh we go to the Chiefs Denzel Burke Ohio State quarterback you know going through Burke I graded him as a second third round guy and and obviously when you're getting into this back in first round and projections Etc things can change Burke has the athletic tools all right and he's show some really good flashes I do want to see him work on his ball skills a little bit more in terms of turning his head and also just being a little more feisty in general to his game right having a little more of a you know INF to you know an umph to his uh his cornerback play but definitely has all the tools to be a really nice cornerback and and you got to think that after losing Leger sne we'll see if Joshua Williams can kind of fill that void but they're going to have to consider at least adding a corner in this next draft again onto the 49ers luk Lee oh okay um I like luk Lee I mean he's a really good tight end um he is a little bit of an older Prospect which is fine right tight ends typically take a little bit longer to develop anyway he's a good player and he had to deal with an injury this past season he probably would have gone into this pass draft had it not been for that injury like he was featured so early and often in that Iowa offense those first couple of games but yeah it is a little early I don't think he's got like insane athletic profile like he's a good athlete and he has some blocking chops to him I mean Iowa tight end right you signed me up of course but uh yeah maybe not this high on him we'll see how he does after that with that ankle injury or whatever the season ending he had that's going to be something to keep an eye out on with luk Lee for the 49ers maybe think about long term with George KD I have some other needs so this this team needs to go they still need to address the offensive line This is where I'm cool taking like a j connly or just a developmental offensive lineman even that with some upside I think there's some good players there with upside that I would personally take over the tight end position at the moment even going defense maybe we'll see what their cornerback situation looks after with all their free agents they did draft a bit so keep an eye on some things there that's going to do it here for this mock draft let me know your thoughts on this mock how do you think it was for your team yay or nay or just in general on any teams who are your favorite Steals and and favorite over you know your biggest overreaches Etc overreaches or reaches I don't know anyway I hope you guys have a cool in day mine is G sling I'm doing my thing I can't wait we're back man let's go