10 Bold Predictions For The 2025 NFL Draft: Ashton Jeanty, Tetairoa McMillan, Tyler Warren, Jaxson Dart

The 2025 NFL Draft is a few weeks away, and time is running out for players' draft stocks to rise or fall. With the NFL Combine complete and college pro days well underway, we're getting a clearer picture of what to expect come draft night.

This year's draft is set to be an interesting one, as several positions do not have a consensus top prospect. For instance, we still don't know for certain which OT, OG, and LB will come off the board first in April.

The one constant -- and the thing that makes the draft so special -- is unpredictability. What unforeseen picks or trades will shock fans and shake up the draft? Here are 10 bold predictions I have for the 2025 NFL Draft.

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Panthers Snag WR Tetairoa McMillan at No. 8 Overall

The Panthers defense was terrible in 2024, allowing a whopping 6.0 yards per play. And that was by far their biggest need going into free agency. However, they upgraded at safety, defensive tackle, and linebacker by signing key free agents like Tre'von Moehrig, Tershawn Wharton, and Pat Jones II.

While the Panthers defense still needs work, head coach Dave Canales was brought in to fix the offense and help QB Bryce Young get his career on track. And while Young showed promise in his second season, it's clear that his supporting cast is a big weakness. While the offensive line isn't bad, the receiving corps is lacking any sort of spark or explosion.

Enter McMillan: the 6-foot-4, 219-pound wideout was clocked at 4.48 in the 40-yard dash at his pro day. That confirmed what we already knew about him; the Arizona product moves exceptionally well for his size and has the skills to match. McMillan slots in as Young's top target right away and could help take his development to the next level.

Seahawks Take a Mid-Round QB to Push Sam Darnold

This one may seem a bit preposterous. Seattle just gave Sam Darnold a contract worth over $100 million; why on earth would it draft a quarterback in the same year? Well, Darnold's contract is just three years, and his yearly salary ranks just 17th among QBs despite the sensational season he produced in 2024 with Minnesota.

That raises an obvious question: Why was Seattle's contract with Darnold not longer and more expensive? It could be because the Seahawks don't see Darnold as a franchise QB but rather as a bridge for a younger player instead. Sitting at No. 18 overall, Seattle doesn't have the draft capital for top prospects Cameron Ward and Shedeur Sanders, so a mid-round player is the best option.

While selecting Ole Miss's Jaxson Dart is a possibility, Seattle should address the offensive or defensive line with that pick. That leaves Alabama's Jalen Milroe or Texas's Quinn Ewers as the likely candidates. Both require far more development and time before becoming starting-caliber players, which will allow them to sit behind Darnold for multiple years.

Armand Membou is the First OT Drafted

The left tackle position is one of the most important positions in football. So, how wild would it be for a player who never played LT before to be the first tackle drafted in April? It turns out that Missouri's Armand Membou is so good at right tackle that NFL teams may ignore that stigma and project his ability onto the blindside.

Armand Membou was 1/2 Lineman to earn 85+ Grades as a Pass AND Run Blocker🐯 pic.twitter.com/GuEEUPu46g

— PFF College (@PFF_College) March 20, 2025

Membou could be drafted as high as No. 4 overall by the New England Patriots. New England needs to improve in the trenches, and the Pats have made it no secret that Membou is on their radar. Other potential landing spots include the New York Jets at No. 7 and the Chicago Bears at No. 10.

Bears Bolster Running Game With Ashton Jeanty

With Ben Johnson now running the show in Chicago, a clear vision for the Bears offense is taking shape. By acquiring offensive linemen Joe Thuney, Jonah Jackson, and Drew Dalman, Johnson made running the football and protecting Caleb Williams a priority.

In Detroit, Johnson's offense was spearheaded by the outstanding running back duo of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery. Well, how about pairing D'Andre Swift with the best running back in this year's class? Jeanty is a force to be reckoned with at the running back position; his power, low center of gravity, and quickness make him difficult to stop in the open field.

Missed tackles forced vs yards after contact https://t.co/g0DnMWephv pic.twitter.com/jpWRRHZ1tR

— Football Insights 📊 (@fball_insights) March 18, 2025

The Bears may have bigger needs than running back. A left tackle could still be the pick at No. 10 overall, and their defensive line could use more bodies. However, Jeanty fits the Bears' new identity and could prove to be a wise choice, just as it was for the Lions to select Gibbs two years ago.

Bengals Trade Up For CB1

The Cincinnati Bengals made the interesting choice this offseason to spend big on both of their top receivers. Paying Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins may look like a good move on paper, but committing $69 million per year on two skill players while the rest of the roster is full of holes is downright absurd. That means the team's biggest needs will be filled in the draft, in which Cincy has six selections.

But what if the Bengals decide to spend big in the draft as well? Their secondary is incredibly weak, and the pathetic cornerback pairing of Cam Taylor-Britt and Dax Hill must be addressed. So, if the Bengals feel that a top talent at CB is necessary, then a trade-up may be in the cards.

The Bengals currently select at No. 17 overall, so trading up to around No. 10 is certainly doable. Travis Hunter is in a class of his own, so let's scratch him off the list. That leaves Michigan's Will Johnson and Texas's Jahdae Barron as players Cincinnati could target by moving up in the first round.

Packers Finally Go WR in Round 1

The last time Green Bay selected a wide receiver in the NFL Draft's first round was 2002, and it's clear that it needs to consider doing so this year. The offense was overly reliant on Josh Jacobs and the running game in 2024, and the passing game took a clear step back from 2023. In a crowded room of wide receivers, Jayden Reed, Romeo Doubs, Christian Watson, and Dontayvion Wicks each failed to emerge as a top option.

That means it might be time for Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst to reverse the trend. But if Green Bay wants to take a receiver at No. 22 overall, who will the options be? Assuming McMillan is valued appropriately on draft night, he should not be available when the Packers are on the clock.

That leaves Texas's Matthew Golden or Missouri's Luther Burden III for Green Bay to consider. Depending on what the Packers are looking for, either is a good option; Golden is a polished route runner with explosive speed, while Burden is an excellent deep threat and yards-after-catch demon.

S Nick Emmanwori Slips Out of Round 1

Emmanwori put the league on notice when he destroyed the NFL Combine. By putting on a clinic in the 40-yard dash, broad jump, and vertical leap, the South Carolina safety earned a 10.00 Relative Athletic Score (RAS), the best by any safety since the statistics were first tracked in 1987.

Nick Emmanwori is a SS prospect in the 2025 draft class. He scored an unofficial 10.00 #RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 1 out of 1079 SS from 1987 to 2025.

Splits projected, times unofficial. Pending agis and bench, could be a new top guy!https://t.co/WDmbwaGk56 pic.twitter.com/53Vx9vR7dx

— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) February 28, 2025

However, Emmanwori's tape does not reflect his freakish athleticism. In the run game, he lacks the desire to get down quickly and make a play on the ball-carrier. Emmanwori's breaks on the ball in the passing game also appear to take longer than they should. A questionable motor is not something you would expect for such a big and athletic safety, but the tape doesn't lie.

If NFL teams do their due diligence on Emmanwori, there is a possibility they recognize that his combine performance does not correlate with his on-field play. And if they do, Emmanwori loses appeal as a potential first-round pick.

TE Tyler Warren Slips Outside Top 10

Tyler Warren just had an exceptional season at Penn State, breaking out in a big way and becoming the nation's best tight end. His 104 catches for 1,233 yards and eight scores helped the Nittany Lions make the expanded College Football Playoff in 2024. But the 22-year-old did practically nothing before that, which is a concern.

Warren often relies on his athleticism to get open rather than his route-running ability, which is also a potential issue in the NFL. Sure, he's big, strong, and fast, but so are the safeties and linebackers who will be tasked with defending him.

SO many gimmicky plays in Tyler Warren’s film.

Screens, pick plays, shuffle passes, you name it.

He’s a unit with the ball but his lack of ability to separate is a red flag to me.

2 clips from the great game he had where snapped the ball and caught the TD the same play lmfao pic.twitter.com/Z7Go2SK6Jw

— Jonny Tooma (@FantasyPicasso) March 18, 2025

Colston Loveland has also emerged as a contender for TE1 in this year's draft. The Michigan man is a smooth route runner with reliable hands, while Warren has struggled with drops in the past. Warren will still go in the first half of Round 1 and have a chance to be a great pro; however, he should not be seen as a can't-miss prospect.

Dolphins Take Tua Tagovailoa's Heir Apparent: Jaxson Dart

Wait ... what? The Dolphins have constructed their roster around QB Tua Tagovailoa, given him every chance to succeed, and even rewarded him with a $212 million contract. So, why would they draft a quarterback to replace him?

Tagovailoa's constant injury issues make him a huge liability for the Fins. One more concussion -- Tagovailoa has suffered four known concussions dating back to his time at Alabama -- could mean the end of the road for him.

And Dart is hard not to get excited about. His velocity and touch are special, which he pairs with solid mobility and instincts. He may need development before he's ready for the NFL, but Mike McDaniel's offense could use a bigger arm, and Dart will provide it. Should he be given time to learn how to read NFL defenses, Dart could become one of the league's best passers in a few years.

Jalon Walker Does Not Go in Round 1

A versatile chess piece on the vaunted Georgia defense, Walker has been getting top-10 buzz for a decent chunk of the offseason. However, NFL teams will likely take a more conservative approach to Walker than analysts, and for good reason.

While Walker can line up on the edge and at inside linebacker, there are a couple of issues that limit him at each of those positions. His build -- 6-foot-1, 243 pounds -- is simply not big enough to be an edge at the NFL level, where tackles can weigh upward of 310 pounds. And he lacks the instincts to be an inside linebacker as well.

It's not an ideal situation for Walker, a tweener who may not find a home at either position in the NFL. While he has a ton of potential -- his football IQ is very good, and his athleticism jumps off the page -- it's hard to project a player to go in the first round when we don't even know if he can fit in the NFL.

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