2025 NFL mock draft: QB trades highlight latest projections
Draft day is one week away. Let's celebrate with another mock.
It's getting increasingly difficult to avoid chalk selections up top, as the first three picks are starting to seem like locks. We'll try to make up for it by getting creative further down the board, including a pair of big trades for quarterbacks.
The picks
Giants do both
The Giants passing on Shedeur Sanders at No. 3 would be a tough decision, but it's probably the right one with Abdul Carter still on the board. This doesn't have to be an either-or situation, though.
There should be no shortage of teams in the back half of the first round looking to trade down and stockpile picks. The Broncos, who happen to be selecting one spot in front of the quarterback-needy Steelers, are probably one of them. The Giants could put together a package of Day 2 picks, or perhaps a deal involving Kayvon Thibodeaux (who would likely be shopped after the Carter pick) to entice the Broncos to move back to the second pick of the second round.
It'd be an expensive move, but moving back up for Sanders is a reasonable gamble for the Giants to lock down a quarterback of the future. It makes plenty of sense for the Broncos, too. Denver gets a bunch of assets to slide back and take TreVeyon Henderson, a perfect Sean Payton running back who is probably a sneaky candidate to be picked at No. 20, anyway.
Saints follow suit
Quarterback is going to be a popular pick for the Saints at No. 9 after the news that a shoulder injury could keep Derek Carr out for the entirety of the 2025 season. Perhaps that's the route they go. But they probably don't have to force it that early.
Investing in a player such as Mykel Williams, a far more safe pick at another position of significant value, is the smarter move at ninth overall. Coming all the way up from No. 40 to get back into the first round for the quarterback won't be cheap, but the Saints have a pair of picks in both the third and fourth rounds to dangle in trade talks. While you can certainly argue against spending so much draft capital on a developmental quarterback such as Dart, that's never stopped this team from going bold before.
The Vikings would presumably be happy to move all the way back to the No. 8 pick of the second round because they've got only four picks currently at their disposal. Adding to that total and still landing a talented cornerback such as Shavon Revel Jr. would be the latest stroke of genius from this front office.
Steelers pass on QBs?
The Giants jumping up for the falling Sanders creates an interesting scenario for the Steelers. Reaching for one of the other quarterbacks is certainly an option. That could be either Dart or Jalen Milroe who have accepted invitations to the NFL draft green room - an apparent indicator of the league's confidence they'll be selected on Day 1.
But we're still operating under the assumption the Steelers will eventually get a deal done with Aaron Rodgers. With that in mind, there's a real argument to be made for doing everything they can to build around the future Hall of Famer for as long as he's playing - especially with the top two passers off the board. Hampton, an explosive three-down back, fills a major need in the backfield after the free-agent departure of Najee Harris.
Dolphins replace Ramsey
Miami has agreed to explore trade options for Jalen Ramsey, which would leave a glaring need at cornerback. While questions about Will Johnson's long speed won't go away after he opted against running the 40-yard dash at a pre-draft workout this week, the playmaking traits still make him a borderline top-10 talent. If the first round goes anything like this mock scenario, the starting-caliber depth at corner could be long gone by the time the Dolphins are back on the clock in the second round. They might not have as much trouble finding a way to upgrade the offensive line in that spot.
Dan Wilkins is theScore's senior NFL writer.