Several teams are eagerly awaiting the start of the 2025 NFL Draft, scheduled for Thursday through Saturday in Green Bay.
Many struggling franchises know if they make the correct picks, it can give them a kick-start. With that in mind, here are five teams that must nail the draft:
Tennessee Titans (3-14)
Signs are pointing toward Tennessee taking Miami quarterback Cam Ward (6-foot-2, 219 pounds) with the No. 1 overall pick. Assuming the Titans select the 2024 Heisman finalist, they must provide a better supporting cast.
In 2024, the Titans tied for fifth in the league in sacks allowed (52) and finished 26th in passing yards (195.1).
In his latest mock draft, The Athletic’s Dane Brugler has Tennessee taking Missouri WR Luther Burden III (6-foot, 206 pounds) with pick No. 35 in the second round and Texas offensive tackle Cameron Williams (6-foot-6, 317 pounds) with pick No. 141 in the fifth round.
Burden had 192 receptions for 2,263 yards and 21 TD catches in three seasons at Missouri. Meanwhile, Pro Football Focus gave Williams an above-average 72.6 pass-block grade in 15 games in 2024.
New Orleans Saints (5-12)
The Saints must find another QB in the draft. Starting QB Derek Carr is battling a shoulder injury and could miss the 2025 season. Backup Spencer Rattler — a fifth-round pick in 2024 — went 0-6 in six starts last season.
Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders (6-foot-2, 212 pounds) could be available for the Saints at pick No. 9. In 13 starts last season, he tossed 37 TD passes.
New Orleans also must bolster its passing defense, which ranked 27th in the league in passing yards allowed in 2024 (238.5).
In Tankathon’s latest mock draft, they grab Ole Miss CB Trey Amos with pick No. 40 in the second round. The 6-foot-1, 195-pounder intercepted three passes and defended 13 in 13 games in 2024.
New York Giants (3-14)
Giants general manager Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll could be on the hot seat in 2025. Over the past two seasons, the Giants have missed the playoffs twice, compiling a 9-25 record.
To save their jobs, Schoen and Daboll must reload their roster. Last season, New York ranked second to last in the league in points scored (16.1) and 21st in points allowed (24.4).
With pick No. 3, the Giants could take Penn State edge-rusher Abdul Carter (6-foot-3, 250 pounds), who earned a 2024 first-team All-American nod.
New York signed QBs Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston in free agency. However, it should still consider grabbing another passer on Day 2 of the draft, perhaps Alabama QB Jalen Milroe (6-foot-2, 217 pounds) or Louisville QB Tyler Shough (6-foot-5, 219 pounds).
Dallas Cowboys (7-10)
Surprisingly, Dallas didn’t use free agency to plug its roster holes. Spotrac estimates the Cowboys have spent $39.002M on free agents this offseason, 29th in the NFL. This makes the draft even more important for the team, which missed the playoffs for the first time since 2020 last season.
Providing more weapons for new head coach Brian Schottenheimer would be wise. Last season, the Cowboys ranked 21st in the league in points scored (20.6).
In Brugler’s mock, Dallas takes Texas WR Matthew Golden (5-foot-11, 191 pounds) with pick No. 12 and Ohio State RB Quinshon Judkins (6-foot, 221 pounds) with pick No. 44 in the second round.
Both would make the Cowboys offense faster. At the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Golden ran a 4.29 40-yard dash, while Judkins ran a 4.48.
San Francisco 49ers (6-11)
The 49ers made multiple cost-cutting moves this offseason to possibly prepare for an extension for QB Brock Purdy, who’s entering the final year of his rookie contract in 2025.
In March, they dealt star WR Deebo Samuel to the Washington Commanders for a 2025 fifth-round pick. Safety Talanoa Hufanga signed with the Denver Broncos during free agency.
In his latest seven-round mock draft, Fox Sports’ Henry McKenna has the Niners taking Washington State WR Kyle Williams (5-foot-11,190 pounds) with pick No. 100 in the third round and Clemson safety R.J. Mickens (6-foot, 199 pounds) with pick No. 138 in the fourth round.
Williams logged a career-high 14 TD catches in 13 games in 2024, while Mickens posted an elite 89.8 PFF coverage grade.
