NFL news: 2025 mock draft – Patriots land Travis Hunter, Ashton Jeanty heads to New York
The NFL draft is far more than just an annual player selection process – it’s a landscape-altering event that shapes the futures of teams and the careers of young athletes.
For franchises, it is an opportunity to secure generational talent, the type of player who doesn’t merely fill a role but redefines an organisation’s entire identity.
On the other hand, the draft is a proving ground for the players themselves and the moment they transition from hopeful prospects to professionals stepping into a league where only the strongest survive.
Sports News Blitz writer Nnaemeka Obinna previews the upcoming draft and offers a mock account of how it might go down.
Importance of the NFL draft
As an opportunity to seek validation amongst peers, both those who invite your failure and those who wish for your success, the NFL is where the big dogs play and talent is often exposed as fraud.
The great players understand the hard work, the provocative noises from the crowd, and the pressure of being shamed.
At the same time, they have charisma, God-given ability, and the competitive drive to be the best.
Their destiny is almost pre-determined, because they won’t be denied their greatness – they’ll take it!
Every NFL draft class brings potential superstars into the limelight, players who can shift the course of a franchise.
Names like Peyton Manning, Patrick Mahomes, and Lawrence Taylor weren’t just top picks – they were era-defining selections that elevated franchises and changed history.
But with that potential comes the reality of the NFL: not everyone lives up to the hype.
Some rise, some fall, and some get exposed.
At the end of the day, one can only wonder: Who will take it? Who can define themself as a household name? Who can remake a franchise? Who has the will to claim their place among NFL royalty?
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Cam Ward – Quarterback, University of Miami to Tennessee Titans
Born: 25 May 2002 (22 years old), West Columbia, Texas
Height & weight: 6’2’’, 223 lbs
Season passing stats: Yards – 4313, touchdowns – 39, interceptions – 7, completion rate – 67.2%, quarterback rating – 88.0 (ranked 1st nationally).
Season rushing stats: Yards – 204, touchdowns – 4, yards per carry – 3.4.
Awards: Heisman Trophy finalist (2024), Davey O’Brien Award (2024), Manning Award (2024), Consensus All-American (2024), ACC Player of the Year (2024), All-ACC first team (2024), SLC Offensive Player of the Year (2021), Jerry Rice Award (2020).
Cam Ward’s 2024 season with the Miami Hurricanes was nothing short of remarkable, with the youngster cementing his status as one of college football’s elite quarterbacks.
Transferring from Washington State, Ward delivered record-breaking performances that left an indelible mark on Miami’s football program.
He set single-season records for Miami in passing yards, passing touchdowns, and completion percentage, while his dual-threat capability added a dynamic edge to Miami’s offence and kept defences on their heels.
Ward’s leadership guided the Hurricanes to a 10-2 regular-season record that saw the team narrowly miss out on a place in the College Football Playoff.
His decision to sit out the second half of the Pop-Tarts Bowl sparked debate, but his overall impact on the programme remains undisputed as he proved his talent, work ethic, and readiness for the challenges of the NFL.
The Tennessee Titans are very much in a transitional phase at the moment and previously drafted Will Levis for quarterback, but Ward could become the franchise QB if Levis doesn’t develop as expected.
With an arm that fits the modern NFL and a good amount of mobility, Ward can help the Titans fulfil their potential, although it will take a lot of time and patience.
After a lacklustre season that finished with a 3-14 record, the Titans might just be the perfect place for Ward to develop further without the pressure of expectation.
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Shedeur Sanders – Quarterback, University of Colorado to Atlanta Falcons
Born: 7 February 2002 (23 years old), Tyler, Texas
Height & weight: 6’1”, 216 lbs
Season passing stats: Yards – 4134, touchdowns – 37, interceptions – 10, completion rate – 74.0%, quarterback rating – 78.2 (ranked 16th nationally).
Season rushing stats: Yards – -50, touchdowns – 4, yards per carry – -0.5.
Awards: Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year (2024), All-Big 12 first team (2024), SWAC Offensive Player of the Year (2022), All-SWAC first team (2022), Jerry Rice Award (2021).
Shedeur Sanders had a standout season as the quarterback for the Colorado Buffaloes, delivering impressive numbers and establishing himself as one of college football’s top passers.
Under his leadership, Colorado’s offence thrived, showcasing his precision passing and ability to make plays under pressure.
Sanders’ 4,134 passing yards set a new single-season record for Colorado, while a 74% completion rate highlighted his accuracy.
Although he is not known for his rushing ability, Sanders still managed to contribute with four rushing touchdowns and a capacity to extend plays when necessary.
With his ability to command the offence, make wise decisions, and deliver under pressure, the Texan helped Colorado improve significantly from the previous season, keeping them competitive through a tough schedule.
The Atlanta Falcons have talent on offence – Bijan Robinson, Drake London, Kyle Pitts – but no clear answer at quarterback.
Shedeur could be the face of the franchise in that role on account of his composure, leadership, and tendency to perform well in clutch moments.
Coached by his NFL Hall of Famer father, Deion Sanders, since middle school, Shedeur knows what it takes to turn a franchise around from his time at Jackson State University and the University of Colorado Boulder, both of which were mediocre programmes prior to his arrival.
Put simply, he has what you need in a quarterback: a killer, focused mindset.
Atlanta finished with an 8-9 record in the NFC South last term, and Sanders’ poise, play-making ability, and leadership skills would elevate the team’s offence and bring consistency to the quarterback position for a team clearly ready to compete.
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Abdul Carter – Edge rusher, Penn State University to Arizona Cardinals
Born: 2 January 2004 (21 years old), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Height & weight: 6’3”, 250 lbs
Season defence stats: Tackles – 68, solo tackles – 43, tackles for loss – 19.5, sacks – 12, forced fumbles – 2, pass break-ups – 4.
Career defence stats at Penn State: Tackles – 173, solo tackles – 105, tackles for loss – 35.5, sacks – 23, forced fumbles – 5, pass break-ups – 13.
Awards: Unanimous All-American (2024), Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year (2024), two-time All-Big Ten first team (2023-24).
Abdul Carter had an outstanding 2024 season as a defensive end for Penn State, showing off his exceptional skills and earning significant accolades.
Carter’s 19.5 tackles for loss ranked third in Division I and led the Big Ten Conference, while his 12 sacks placed him 12th nationally and second in the Big Ten.
His performances were, by all accounts, instrumental in Penn State’s defensive success during the campaign.
The Arizona Cardinals could certainly use a player like Carter considering their defence in 2024 was below average.
They gave up far too many yards per play and struggled against the run throughout, giving up 126.4 rush yards per game to rank 20th in the NFL and allowing one of the highest opposition completion percentages in the league at 69% to rank 29th.
If the Cardinals obtain a physical and speedy individual like Carter, it could potentially put more pressure on opposing quarterbacks and push them to fumble the ball, lose more yards on crucial plays, or even throw interceptions.
Ultimately, Arizona needs to rebuild their defence around star power and Carter offers an elite pass-rushing ability that could slot in nicely next to Zaven Collins.
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Ashton Jeanty – Running back, Boise State University to New York Giants
Born: 2 December 2003 (21 years old), Jacksonville, Florida
Height & weight: 5’9”, 216 lbs
Season rushing stats: Yards – 2601 (ranked 1st nationally), touchdowns – 29 (ranked 2nd nationally), yards per carry – 7, all-purpose yards – 2750 (ranked 1st nationally), yards after contact – 1970 (ranked 1st nationally), missed tackles forced – 164 (ranked 1st nationally).
Awards: Heisman Trophy runner-up (2024), Maxwell Award (2024), Doak Walker Award (2024), Unanimous All-American (2024), two-time MW Offensive Player of the Year (2023-24), two-time All-MW first team (2023-24).
Ashton Jeanty had an extraordinary 2024 season as the running back for the Boise State Broncos, delivering one of the most impressive performances in college football history.
Notable achievements included racking up six games with over 200 rushing yards and at least one rushing touchdown as well as – in the season opener against Georgia Southern – setting the single-game school record with 267 rushing yards and six touchdowns.
Jeanty’s remarkable vision, agility, and power made him a standout player, one who led the nation in multiple categories and etched his name into the record books.
The New York Giants need some sort of offence booster, having not seen any progression since Saquon Barkley left in 2023.
They struggled a lot in the 2024 season, with per-game averages of 16.1 points (31st in the league), 294.8 yards (30th), and 189.9 passing yards (28th).
On his own, Jeanty averaged 200.1 rushing yards per game last year.
As a result, the Jacksonville native would offer the Giants some much-needed offensive fuel to gas out the opposing team's defensive line and allow more rushing plays for the quarterback.
In turn, that leads to greater confusion for the opposition, especially in play recognition and gap assignments.
Cornerbacks may then be forced to creep closer to the line of scrimmage, opening up opportunities for deep shots and explosive plays in the passing game.
The Giants failed to replace Barkley with a suitably dynamic running back after his departure and Jeanty is their opportunity to finally solve that problem.
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Travis Hunter – Cornerback/Wide receiver, Colorado to New England Patriots
Born: 18 May 2003 (21 years old), West Palm Beach, Florida
Height & weight: 6’1”, 185 lbs
Season receiving stats: Receptions – 96, yards – 1258, touchdowns – 15, average yards per catch – 13.1.
Season defensive stats: Tackles – 35, solo tackles – 24, pass break-ups – 11, interceptions – 4.
Awards: Heisman Trophy (2024), Walter Camp Award (2024), Chuck Bednarik Award (2024), Fred Biletnikoff Award (2024), Unanimous All-American (2024), Consensus All-American (2023), Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year (2024), two-time All-Big 12 first team (both 2024), All-Pac-12 first team (2023).
Travis Hunter was exceptional with the Colorado Buffaloes in 2024, excelling as both a wide receiver and cornerback.
He ranked second for receptions and third for receiving yards while setting a new Colorado record for touchdown receptions.
His defensive prowess, meanwhile, was highlighted by multiple interceptions and pass break-ups as his overall versatility positioned him as a top prospect in the upcoming draft.
With speed, agility, and charisma in abundance, not to mention a unique skill set and level of athleticism that make him capable of significant contributions in multiple facets of the game, Hunter is considered a potential first-overall pick.
In particular, his ability to make quarterbacks hesitant to throw the ball deep also renders cornerbacks a liability when facing a one-on-one match-up with Hunter.
While many critics believe that Hunter cannot possibly play both offence and defence due to the physical demands of such a dual role, he thinks otherwise.
This mentality aligns well with the New England Patriots, a franchise that has won a joint-record six Super Bowls.
Bill Belichick may be gone, but the Pats still love versatility and Hunter gives them both a playmaker on defense and an occasional spark on offence, similar to how they sometimes used Troy Brown or Julian Edelman.
The Patriots finished with a 4-13 record last season, averaging 17 points scored (30th in the league) and 24.5 points allowed per game (22nd).
If they can get a hold of Hunter, the Patriots should be able to accelerate the development of their young team and start challenging for the play-offs again.
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Summary
The NFL draft isn’t just about drafting talented players – it’s a celebration of the attempt by franchises to improve through recruiting the best young stars.
It is based on a hope for struggles to end, for revenue to grow from selling out games, and for viewership to increase as new fans become aligned with the team.
Every player that gets drafted brings a new sense of personality to his franchise and the wider league along with a fresh celebration and a novel playing style.
A perfect example of this is Justin Jefferson, a flashy individual made of diamond chains and grills whose swagger has drawn in a lot of awestruck kids thanks to his adoption of the popular dance move, The Griddy.
The draft, then, is as much about the desire to hold up the Vince Lombardi Trophy as it is about entertainment, hope, legacy, and family.
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