2025 Mock Draft 1.0: Patriots give Meyer the piece he desperately needs originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

The Titans put the NFL Draft into the ether (or misinformation) Wednesday when they made it clear they wouldn't be passing on "generational talent" with their first overall pick of the spring.

For those who scoffed at the quarterback coming to Tennessee for weeks, that will change. There is no "generational" quarterback in this class, it seems. Then, Miami's Cam Ward and Colorado's Shedeur Sanders can slide in a bit.

And, if Patriots fans follow this logic... they're not happy. Not only did they blow their chance on the overall draft pick by beating the Bills in the season finale, but now they may not be able to grab one of the two blue-chip players at the top of the draft.

Let’s see how this all plays out in our first NFL mock draft of the offseason…

1. Tennessee Titans: Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado State

The talent of a generation is attributed to the team and hopefully that is exactly what it takes. The question is, where will Hunter's talent focus primarily: at cornerback or wide receiver?

2. Cleveland Browns: Abdul Carter, Alb., Pa.

The Browns are an analytics-driven organization that understands more than any other franchise right now how disastrous it is to force things at quarterback. They moved on to the best pass rush in the draft instead.

3. New York Giants: Kander Ward, QB, Miami

The first quarterback on the board is the consensus top 2 pick in the class. Head coach Brian Daboll has to hope this is the player that takes him to 2026.

4. New England Patriots: LSU OT Will Campbell

The Patriots can shop this pick until the cows come home. But if other clubs call their bluff when it comes to trade compensation, Mike Vrabel may have to stick to his guns by going fourth overall and getting the best lineman on the board.

There will be some debate as to whether Campbell is the best tackle in the class. Some would make him better suited to guarding due to prolonged concerns. But he's smart and tough, and the 6-foot-6, 323-pounder finished the past two seasons at LSU with a prestigious seventh-place finish as the team's top playmaker.

The Patriots should try to address their tackle woes in free agency, but that's easier said than done. Getting their favorite lineman in the draft is a nice consolation prize.

Not only can he help Drake Maye be protected in the pocket, but he should also help Maye get some "breather" games by adding to the Patriots' running game.

5. Jacksonville Jaguars: Michigan DT Mason Graham

Blues are hard to come by in this draft class, but Graham looks like one. He was their best interior defensive lineman in a game full of them.

6. Las Vegas Raiders: Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado

Sanders may not be the best passer in the class, but he won't be in the quarterback league for long.

7. New York Jets: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona

Davante Adams is likely out and Garrett Wilson is entering a contract year. If there isn't an obvious quarterback option, it makes sense to have a playmaker here.

8. Carolina Panthers: Jalon Walker, Ed, Georgia

It's smart business for the Panthers to remain in a place where they're simply assembling talented players at senior positions. Walker is one of the top seven most talented types in this class.

9. New Orleans Saints: Luther Burden III, Missouri WR

Will New Orleans quarterback it here? We'll have one more in the first round. Instead, they purchased dynamic offensive weapons.

10: Chicago Bears: Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State

Ben Johnson knows that part of the reason he had so much success in Detroit was because of his offensive line. It's time to build one in Chicago.

11: San Francisco 49ers: Kelvin Banks, Texas OT

San Francisco needs to keep going through the trenches to get back to where they think they belong. Trent Williams is still a freak, but he won't play forever.

12. Dallas Cowboys: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Cowboys

The Dallas-area kid ended up with his hometown team, giving the Cowboys their most talented class yet. He'll be breaking tackles for long periods of time, reminding people of Emmitt Smith at times.

13. Miami Dolphins: Malaki Starks, S, Georgia

Javon Holland will be one of the best free agents on the market this offseason. If big money awaits him elsewhere, Starks would be a great fill-in.

14. Indianapolis Colts: Will Johnson, CB, Michigan

That might be too low for Johnson, whose 2024 was cut short due to injury. The Colts are the beneficiaries and need real help in the secondary.

15. Atlanta Falcons: James Pearce Jr., Tennessee

Another year. Another push for the Falcons to address their passing situation. Pearce is a weird promoter but probably a third-place specialist.

16. Arizona Cardinals: Tyler Warren, Penn State

Arizona is near the top of the league in terms of its efficiency metrics. Adding Warren to Trey McBride could cause real problems for opposing defenses.

17. Cincinnati Bengals: Mykel Williams, Georgia

If the Bengals need all the help they can get on the defensive side of the ball, adding Williams will go a long way to helping their pain up front. His size (6-foot-5, 265 pounds) tucks in the running game and athleticism, allowing him to grow into a formidable pass rusher.

18. Seattle Seahawks: Oregon OT Josh Conerly Jr.

Adding five-star talent at tackle after a sparkling 2024 season for the Ducks should help give the Seahawks what they need in the NFC West and looks like it's there.

19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Shemar Stewart, Texas DL

Tampa Bay needs help on defense, and although they have invested in defensive linemen recently, Stewart's talent is just too much in the first round.

20. Denver Broncos: Hurts, WR, Ohio State

This offseason should be about giving Bo Nix the help he needs to improve his game in year two. Egbuka won't light up the scoreboard with explosives, but he looks like he could be the Knicks' style safety for years to come.

21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame

Joey Porter Jr., however, needs help on the other side of the field. Morrison finishes the 2024 season injured but has the talent to be an immediate starter.

twenty two. Los Angeles Chargers: Derrick Harmon, DL, Oregon

Jim Harbaugh's club was near the bottom of the league in yards per carry allowed last season (27th, to be exact). Harmon will generate pressure as a pass rusher, but he has the skills to handle double plays on early downs.

twenty three. Green Bay Packers: Armand Membou, Missouri OT

The Packers are interesting at the tackle position, as their left and right tackles (Zach Tom and Rasheed Walker) are entering contracts in a few years outside of the first round of the 2022 draft. To give themselves a little insurance, they went with Membou, who had the athleticism and nasty streak to become a fan favorite in Green Bay.

24. Minnesota Vikings: Tyler Booker, OR, Alabama

Sam Darnold looked like a shaky man as he continued to experience pressure drops in the wildcard round. Booker should assume a starting role in Minnesota, a team that may need multiple new starters this offseason.

25. Houston Texans: Donovan Jackson, Ohio State

Another team that wants to compete. Another team with offensive line issues. Jackson was one of the key players on the national championship team as he moved from guard to left tackle when Simmons injured his knee in October. Jackson's ability to deliver high-end results at multiple spots might make Nick Caserio salivate.

26. Los Angeles Rams: Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan

Sean McVay has proven in the past that he loves the unpredictability that two-end groupings provide. Along with Saddle Loveland and Tyler Higbee, you can help make up for some of the production that might be lost if Cooper Kupp ends up moving on.

27. Baltimore Ravens: Aireontae Ersery, Minnesota OT

Ronnie Stanley will hit free agency and maybe he won't leave. But he's going to be 32 years old, and there are only a lot of big tackles at this point in the draft who look like they would fit Baltimore's preferred profile. At 6 feet 6 inches and weighing 330 pounds, he is one of a kind.

28. Detroit Lions: Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama

The Lions may be trying to win, but if they're going to win at the highest level, the quarterback needs more. Milroe will be a roll of the dice, but if he can be their version of Jalen Pain, he can provide Detroit with the kind of all-around style the Eagles have that the Lions will love. Hawks. Deployed under the leadership of Dan Campbell.

29. Washington Commander: Mike Green, Ed, Marshall

Adam Peters will look to upgrade at the senior level early in the draft, and in green he'll add a physical passer who can develop among the organization's top players.

30. Buffalo Bills: Tyleik Williams, DT, Ohio State

Buffalo is right in the middle of the game in terms of run defense this season, but Williams will go a long way in freeing up Bills defenders to roam the field and keep the game moving toward the scrimmage lane. He's probably the best defensive tackle in the class.

31. Philadelphia Eagles: JT Tuimoloau, Ed, Ohio State

Philadelphia could lose Josh Sweat via free agency, and there's real value in Howie Roseman being able to ride a bike to stay fresh late in games. Tuimoloau isn't the sweaty freak athlete he was coming out of Florida State a few years ago, but he's an NFL-ready body and he works as hard as he can.

32. Kansas City Chiefs: Cameron Williams, Texas OT

Kansas City is lucky to have Joe Thuney able to play left tackle and give them a better chance of sustaining the game there. However, if they want to address their offensive line issues, they will need to continue investing in the draft. Williams is the Longhorns' right tackle, but he's physical enough that the Chiefs could try him at any position and see if it works.