Bucky Brooks, Peter Schrager release final mock drafts
We are now only ONE day away from the start of the 2025 NFL Draft.
The latest analyst to release his final predictions for the first round of this year's draft is NFL Network's Bucky Brooks, who put out his fourth mock draft of the year.
In his last mock draft, Brooks projected Colorado cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter to the Giants at No. 3. But with Hunter going to the Browns at No. 2 in his final mock, Brooks now has the Giants taking Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter with the third pick.
"Bypassing a chance to land a potential franchise quarterback is risky, but the Giants could take a disruptive playmaker to enhance a pass rush that features three quarterback hunters (Brian Burns, Dexter Lawrence and Kayvon Thibodeaux) on the front line," Brooks wrote.
Carter primarily lined up at off-ball linebacker in his first two seasons at Penn State, totaling 11.0 sacks, 17 tackles for loss, nine passes defensed, one interception, and three forced fumbles to go with his 104 total tackles (61 solo). He earned second-team All-Big Ten honors from the media both seasons, while being tabbed first-team all-conference by the Big Ten coaches in 2023.
Carter then transitioned to a full-time edge rusher this past season and put together a breakout campaign. The 6-foot-3, 250-pound pass rusher picked up 12.0 sacks and a nation-high 23.5 tackles for loss, along with two forced fumbles and four passes defensed, on his way to being named Unanimous All-American and first-team all-conference.
He was also selected as the Nagurski-Woodson Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and the Smith-Brown Big Ten Defensive Lineman of the Year.
Carter registered 10 games with two or more tackles for loss out of 42 total contests (35 starts).
Here are the first 10 picks in Brooks' final mock draft:
- Tennessee Titans - Cam Ward, QB, Miami
- Cleveland Browns - Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado
- New York Giants - Abdul Carter, Edge, Penn State
- New England Patriots - Will Campbell, T, LSU
- Jacksonville Jaguars - Mason Graham, DT, Michigan
- Las Vegas Raiders - Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
- New York Jets - Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
- Carolina Panthers - Jalon Walker, LB, Georgia
- New Orleans Saints - Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
- Chicago Bears - Kelvin Banks Jr., T, Texas
ESPN's Peter Schrager also released his one and only mock draft of the year, in which he agreed with his former NFL Network colleague with the selection of Carter at No. 3.
"A few days ago, it sounded as if it was Carter or Hunter, but the Giants are having fluid conversations all week," wrote Schrager. "I could imagine a host of teams calling if Carter is not a slam dunk. In the end, the Giants passed on Micah Parsons in 2021, instead trading down and taking wide receiver Kadarius Toney. I can't see them passing on another star pass rusher from Penn State."
Schrager's mock draft does not end there for the Giants. Later in the round, he has the Giants trading with the Rams, sending picks No. 34 and No. 99 to move up to No. 26.
"In this deal, the Giants would send pick Nos. 34 and 99 to the Rams to move up to No. 26," Schrager wrote. "And crucially, New York would keep its original third-round pick -- No. 65 -- to continue to add talent to its roster."
Then with the No. 26 pick, Schrager has the Giants selecting Mississippi quarterback Jaxson Dart.
"I think the Giants would pounce on Dart," the analyst said. "I just am not 100% certain."
View photos of every player projected to the Giants in mock drafts.
Abdul Carter, Edge, Penn State
Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado
Mason Graham, DT, Michigan
Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon
Mike Green, Edge, Marshall
Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama
Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan
Josh Conerly Jr., T, Oregon
Josh Simmons, T, Ohio State
Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
Grey Zabel, OL, North Dakota State
Jaxson Dart, QB, Mississippi
Donovan Jackson, OL, Ohio State
Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri
Tyler Booker, IOL, Alabama
Tyleik Williams, DT, Ohio State
Darien Porter, CB, Iowa State
Kaleb Johnson, RB, Iowa
Tyler Shough, QB, Louisville
Marcus Mbow, T, Purdue
Jack Sawyer, Edge, Ohio State
Darius Alexander, DT, Toledo
Jared Ivey, Edge, Mississippi
Landon Jackson, Edge, Arkansas
Joshua Farmer, DT, Florida State
Harold Fannin Jr., TE, Bowling Green
Kyle Kennard, Edge, South Carolina
Ozzy Trapilo, T, Boston College
Jamaree Caldwell, DT, Oregon
Damien Martinez, RB, Miami
Barrett Carter, LB, Clemson
Jonah Savaiinaea, OL, Arizona
Cam Skattebo, RB, Arizona State
Jackson Slater, OL, Sacramento State
Oluwafemi Oladejo, Edge, UCLA
Anthony Belton, T, North Carolina State
Omarr Norman-Lott, DT, Tennessee
Dont'e Thornton Jr., WR, Tennessee
Alfred Collins, DT, Texas
Jordan Phillips, DT, Maryland
Tate Ratledge, IOL, Georgia
Jalin Conyers, TE, Texas Tech
Jalen Rivers, OL, Miami
Tai Felton, WR, Maryland
Bradyn Swinson, Edge, LSU
Ty Robinson, DT, Nebraska
Elic Ayomanor, WR, Stanford
Cameron Williams, OL, Texas
Isaac TeSlaa, WR, Arkansas
Cobee Bryant, CB, Kansas
Deone Walker, DT, Kentucky
Arian Smith, WR, Georgia
Warren Brinson, DT, Georgia
Jaylen Reed, S, Penn State
Jalen Travis, T, Iowa State
Malachi Moore, S, Alabama
Trevor Etienne, RB, Georgia
Andrew Mukuba, S, Texas
Thomas Fidone II, TE, Nebraska
Nohl Williams, CB, Cal
Antwaun Powell-Ryland, Edge, Virginia Tech
Jay Higgins, LB, Iowa
Kobe King, LB, Penn State
Ajani Cornelius, T, Oregon
Jackson Woodard, LB, UNLV
Brashard Smith, RB, SMU
Xavier Truss, IOL, Georgia
Roc Taylor, WR, Memphis
Esa Pole, T, Washington State
Raheim Sanders, RB, South Carolina
Rylie Mills, DT, Notre Dame
Luke Kandra, IOL, Cincinnati
BJ Mayes, CB, Texas A&M
Mac McWilliams, CB, Central Florida
Will Sheppard, WR, Colorado
Tahj Brooks, RB, Texas Tech
Eugene Asante, LB, Auburn
Hollin Pierce, T, Rutgers
Jake Majors, C, Texas
Kaden Prather, WR, Maryland
Justin Walley, CB, Minnesota
Malik Verdon, S, Iowa State
Note: Jersey numbers are always subject to change.
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