Man, the 2025 draft cycle has been a total fever dream. If you’ve been following the 2025 NFL mock draft 3 rounds chatter, you know the vibe shifted roughly six times between the first Saturday in September and the final whistle of the regular season. We went from "this QB class is trash" to "wait, maybe Cam Ward is a superstar?" and back again.
Honestly, looking at the board now that the initial 2025 draft order is set, it’s clear this isn't going to be your typical "three quarterbacks in the top five" kind of year. It’s the year of the unicorn. We’ve got a guy who plays both ways better than anyone since Deion, a running back who looks like he was built in a lab to destroy linebackers, and a defensive tackle class that is actually terrifying.
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Let's get into what the first three rounds are likely going to look like.
The Top 10: Chaos and Cornerbacks
Most people expect the Tennessee Titans to stay put at number one and just take the best signal-caller available. Cam Ward out of Miami has basically solidified that spot. He’s got that "it" factor—the ability to make throws from platforms that don't even seem physically possible.
But things get weird immediately after that.
The Cleveland Browns and the New York Giants are sitting there in the top five, and while they both desperately need a fresh start under center, the value of Travis Hunter might be too high to ignore. Hunter is the definition of a blue-chip prospect. Is he a WR1? Is he a lockdown CB1? The answer is "yes." If you’re a GM, how do you pass on a guy who can legitimately give you 60 snaps of elite play on both sides of the ball?
- Tennessee Titans: Cam Ward, QB (Miami)
- Cleveland Browns: Abdul Carter, EDGE (Penn State)
- New York Giants: Travis Hunter, CB/WR (Colorado)
- New England Patriots: Will Campbell, OT (LSU)
- Jacksonville Jaguars: Ashton Jeanty, RB (Boise State)
Wait, a running back in the top five? Yeah, it sounds like 1995 called, but Jeanty is that good. He finished the season with over 2,600 yards and nearly 30 touchdowns. The Jaguars need a spark, and Jeanty is basically a human blowtorch.
Round 1: The Trench Warfare
If you aren't picking a skill player early, you're looking at the big boys. Mason Graham from Michigan is a monster. He’s not just a "clog the hole" defensive tackle; he’s a "live in your backfield and ruin your marriage" type of player.
The Raiders, picking at six, are the biggest wild card. There’s so much noise about them wanting Shedeur Sanders. It makes too much sense—the Vegas lights, the "Prime" brand, the fact that they’ve been searching for a franchise identity since they left Oakland. But don't be shocked if they go for an offensive tackle like Kelvin Banks Jr. to protect whoever they eventually bring in.
Further down the first round, watch out for the Pittsburgh Steelers. They’re sitting in the 20s and could be the landing spot for the second tier of quarterbacks. Jaxson Dart or Shedeur Sanders could easily end up in black and gold if the board falls right.
The Mid-First Round Steals
- Carolina Panthers: Mason Graham, DT (Michigan)
- New Orleans Saints: Mykel Williams, EDGE (Georgia)
- Chicago Bears: Colston Loveland, TE (Michigan)
- Dallas Cowboys: Tetairoa McMillan, WR (Arizona)
McMillan to Dallas is a scary thought. Pairing him with CeeDee Lamb would give Dak Prescott—or whoever is back there—the best contested-catch duo in the league.
Round 2: Where the Value Lives
This is where the 2025 NFL mock draft 3 rounds exercise gets really fun. The second round is where you find the guys who were "too small" or "too raw" to go in the first but have Pro Bowl ceilings.
Take a look at the defensive back depth. Will Johnson from Michigan might actually slide a bit because of some minor injury concerns earlier in the year, but if he falls to the early second round, someone is getting a Day 1 starter.
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The offensive line class is also incredibly deep this year. You’ve got guys like Armand Membou from Missouri who have elite athletic traits but might need a year of seasoning. In the second round, teams like the Jets or the Seahawks are going to be looking to bolster those units.
Notable Round 2 Projections
- Las Vegas Raiders: Shedeur Sanders, QB (Colorado) - If they skip QB in Round 1.
- Green Bay Packers: Maxwell Hairston, CB (Kentucky)
- Minnesota Vikings: Derrick Harmon, DT (Oregon)
- San Francisco 49ers: Grey Zabel, IOL (North Dakota State)
The 49ers taking an interior lineman from North Dakota State is the most "49ers" move possible. Zabel is a technician who would fit perfectly into Kyle Shanahan’s zone-blocking scheme.
Round 3: The Compensatory Chaos
By the time we hit the third round, things get messy. This is where the compensatory picks start flying around. The NFL awarded 35 compensatory picks this year, and a huge chunk of those are tucked into the end of the third round.
Teams like the San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Rams, and Miami Dolphins are loaded with extra picks here. This is where you look for those specific role players—the "zero-technique" nose tackle, the "speed-only" wide receiver, or the "special teams ace" linebacker.
Keep an eye on Jalen Milroe from Alabama. He’s a polarizing prospect. Some scouts love the athleticism and the deep ball; others hate the footwork and the processing speed. If he’s still there in the middle of the third round, a team like the Los Angeles Rams might take a flyer on him to develop behind Matthew Stafford.
Third Round Sleepers
- Miami Dolphins: Malaki Starks, S (Georgia) - Technically a Round 1 talent who might slide due to position value.
- New York Giants: Tyler Warren, TE (Penn State)
- Detroit Lions: Mike Green, EDGE (Marshall)
What Most People Get Wrong
The biggest misconception about the 2025 draft is that it's "weak" because there isn't a Caleb Williams or a Trevor Lawrence. That’s just wrong. It’s actually one of the strongest defensive drafts we've seen in five years.
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The defensive tackle and EDGE depth is insane. If your team needs a pass rush, they are going to find a guy who can play in the first 75 picks. The "weakness" is really just at the very top of the quarterback board, where there isn't a consensus "generational" guy. But honestly? That usually leads to a more interesting draft anyway.
Teams are going to have to actually scout, not just follow the hype.
Practical Next Steps for Draft Fans
If you're trying to stay ahead of the curve as the draft approaches, here is what you should be doing:
- Watch the Senior Bowl: This is where the small-school guys like Grey Zabel or Mike Green prove they can play with the Power Five blue-bloods.
- Ignore the "Draft Grades": Nobody knows anything in April. Look for team-fit instead of just "value."
- Track the Combine 40s: For this specific class, the athletic thresholds for the offensive tackles (like Armand Membou) are going to determine if they stay in the first round or slide to the second.
- Follow the Trade Rumors: With the QB class being "shaky," expect teams to be much more willing to trade down and acquire more picks in that sweet spot between 40 and 100.
The 2025 NFL mock draft 3 rounds outlook will keep shifting as we get closer to April, but the core identity of this class is already clear: it's a year to build the trenches and grab a once-in-a-generation athlete like Travis Hunter.
Keep an eye on the compensatory pick announcements in March. Those extra selections at the end of Round 3 are going to be the currency that drives the trade market on Day 2.