2025 NFL Draft: Case for Michigan DL as No. 1 Overall Prospect and New Top 10 Mock

The top of the 2025 NFL draft class is fascinating, because it lacks a surefire No. 1 overall prospect.

In recent years, the likes of quarterback Trevor Lawrence, edge-rusher Will Anderson Jr. and wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. ran the table as Bleacher Report's No. 1 overall prospects.

Far more uncertainty resides atop next year's group.

Colorado's Travis Hunter is arguably the best pure talent, even though he doesn't have a clear position, and neither of his positions—cornerback and wide receiver—are usually considered for the slot. Another quarterback could very well take the spot, but none are currently viewed as slam-dunk options. No edge-rusher presents a complete package, either.

An opening exists for something untraditional to occur. Maybe it's Hunter becoming the first name off the board (more on that in a bit). Or, a non-premium position could work its way to the top of the rankings.

Even as a interior defender, Michigan's Mason Graham has an outside chance of achieving that very thing.

The Bleacher Report Scouting Department of Brandon Thorn, Cory Giddings, Dame Parson and Matt Holder continue to break down prospects weekly, including Graham's potential ascension to the top of the draft board.

How will these latest trends reflect in B/R's newest top-10 mock draft (order determined by the site's power rankings)? Follow along to see how the collegiate season continues to shape evaluations.

1. DL Mason Graham, Michigan

The term "trending" as it pertains to prospect evaluation is relative. For Michigan's Mason Graham, he's already considered an elite talent. At the same time, he should be viewed differently than most defensive tackle prospects.

True difference-makers along the interior are rare and quite valuable. Only four have landed among the top five picks over the last 15 years. Each of them made at least two Pro Bowls.

"It's hard for Graham to 'trend up' given he was a highly touted prospect heading into the season," Holder said, "but he is making a strong case to be the best overall prospect in this year's draft class.

"He has plenty of traits that NFL scouts will like and a well-rounded game to enter the discussion. What's putting him over the top is that he's been excellent in Michigan's biggest games so far this season, specifically Texas and USC. Combine that with a strong showing during the College Football Playoff, the Wolverine is proving himself against top competition, which could make him the first non-quarterback off the board on draft night."

2. QB Cam Ward, Miami

Baker Mayfield. Kyler Murray. Joe Burrow. Jayden Daniels. All four quarterbacks rose exponentially during their final seasons on campus. Miami's Cam Ward appears to be next in line as a potential high draft selection.

"Through the first four weeks of play, no quarterback performed better than Ward. He has ascended with his stellar play and should be heavily discussed in the QB1 conversation," Parson said.

"Ward is completing 72.4 percent of his passes for 1,439 yards, 14 passing touchdowns and two interceptions. His control of the Hurricanes offense is evident on film. Ward is playing with impressive calmness and poise in the pocket. He is making great throws with accuracy, ball placement, and arm talent that is not easily found in college football.

"Heading into ACC play this week, Ward has another opportunity to prove why this start is not a fluke."

3. RB Kaleb Johnson, Iowa

The Iowa Hawkeyes offense isn't a complete embarrassment this season. In fact, Kirk Ferentz's squad is averaging 163.2 more yards per game compared to last year. Running back Kaleb Johnson is a big reason. The 6'0", 225-pound ball-carrier is the nation's leading rusher with 685 yards, including 206 this past weekend against Minnesota.

"We often use phrases like, 'Player X is the lifeblood of their team' or 'He is the engine of their offense." Well, these phrases ring true for Johnson," Parson said. "He has carried this offense through the first four weeks. For context, Johnson has 685 rushing yards, while the Hawkeyes have 590 passing yards.

"Johnson pairs quick footwork with a dense frame and good contact balance. He is a volume running back who becomes more effective and dangerous the more carries he receives to wear down the opposing defense. His best game came against Minnesota last week. He could not be stopped, and neither has his draft stock."

4. LB Jay Higgins, Iowa

Two Iowa prospects must be a mistake. Not in this case. Both Johnson and Jay Higgins are well-deserving of the attention. While the former may be a bit of a surprise, the latter has consistently been one of college football's best linebackers, which should translate regarding his draft status.

"Somewhat quietly, Higgins is having an outstanding year for the Hawkeyes," Holder said. "He was Pro Football Focus' highest-graded linebacker heading into last weekend and had a another strong performance against Minnesota. He's been especially impressive in coverage, surrendering very few yards while collecting two interceptions and two passes defended.

"It wouldn't be surprising to see the Iowa product enter the draft as the top linebacker in the class at this rate."

5. CB Charles Brantley, Michigan State

Cornerback Charles Brantley has consistently been one of the best players on the field through the first four weeks of Michigan State's season. He was sticky in coverage against Boston College. A week earlier, the redshirt junior graded as the nation's best cornerback, per Pro Football Focus.

"Brantley has a bunch of experience over his career," Giddings said. "Between the 2021 and 2023 seasons, he played in 22 games, with 15 starts. He plays with very good technique and understanding of his coverage. A physical player in the run game, if Brantley continues to play at this level, he will see his stock continue to rise.

1. LB Harold Perkins Jr., LSU

LSU's Harold Perkins Jr. already made this list once because of uninspiring play. Unfortunately, he's on it again because of injury. Perkins had plenty of hype entering the season. The junior prospect now needs to mend his knee and long-term draft status.

"Perkins had plenty of hype heading into the season as a potential first-round pick and the top linebacker in this year's draft class," Holder said. "However, he wasn't living up to expectations and was missing far too many tackles. Now he's out for the year with a torn ACL, so it wouldn't be surprising to see the junior go back to school and recoup some draft stock next season."

2. CB Shavon Revel Jr., ECU

Like Perkins, East Carolina cornerback Shavon Revel suffered a torn ACL during this past week. Revel was a lesser-known name with the potential to become a top defensive back for the 2025 class. The senior does have a redshirt available if he choses to return for another season.

"Revel could have been this draft class' Quinyon Mitchell, a non-pipeline cornerback whose stock continued to rise throughout the year," Giddings said. "In the first few games, Revel showed exactly why his name had been discussed as an early-round prospect. After all, he's a long-armed defender with a great frame, the ability to run in the open field and the skills to play the ball in the air.

"Next year, Revel is someone to watch if he chooses to go back for another collegiate season."

3. OT Xavier Truss, Georgia

The Georgia Bulldogs didn't play this past weekend. However, concerns along their offensive line have lingered after a concerning outing against the Kentucky Wildcats. Particularly, right tackle Xavier Truss doesn't look like he'll be able contain NFL pass-rushers.

"Truss has continued to struggle, dating back to last year, with opening up his outside hip prematurely against high-side speed rushes that result in him being late to his spot and either getting edged quickly or being late to redirect against inside counters," Thorn said. "This results in him being a liability when left on an island, particularly in true dropback passing situations, while calling into question his range, quickness and body control. This will likely lead to a move inside at the next level to help mitigate his pass-protection issues and provide him a chance to stick on a roster.

"Truss does have heavy hands and good physicality to deliver some body blows on defenders when things align for him, but those flashes are sandwiched between too many glaring, quick losses."

4. WR Deion Burks, Oklahoma

Deion Burks could be an excellent wide receiver prospect. He's yet to show how explosive he can be as part of the Oklahoma Sooners offense.

"Burks entered the season with plenty of excitement after transferring from Purdue to Oklahoma," Parson said. "Burks has been compared to Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Zay Flowers. Through four games, he has not produced at the level of preseason expectations.

"Burks has caught 26 passes for 201 yards and three touchdowns. He is being targeted, but the quality of the targets has his stock trending downward. Oklahoma's quarterback situation is less than ideal, leading to an ineffective passing attack. There remains time to get back on track, but Burks needs help from whoever is lining up behind center."

5. QB Kyron Drones, Virginia Tech

Plenty of NFL talent can be found on the Virginia Tech roster. Quarterback Kyron Drones has struggled to prove he belongs in that conversation. The Hokies offense is better right now when the junior prospect runs the ball instead of drops back to pass.

"Drones began the season with a strong passing performance against Vanderbilt," Parson said. "Since then, he has struggled to show any competency when throwing the football. Drones is a dual-threat quarterback who thrives when his legs are incorporated into the offensive game plan. During the summer, his play invoked early memories of Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts. Drones simply has not been consistent in the dropback passing game.

"The 21-year-old must become more efficient to become a serious quarterback prospect."

The Cincinnati Bengals' season couldn't have gotten off to a worse start.

At 0-3, a quick turnaround is necessary or the entire season could quickly spiral out of control. A potential silver lining to the latter scenario is a potential top-10 selection to address a position that's clearly going to be a problem going into next offseason.

Tee Higgins didn't sign a long-term extension. He'll likely be looking for one so he can be WR1 somewhere else. Others meant to fill the void left by Tyler Boyd have yet to fully step up, though Andrei Iosivas has flashed.

The Bengals don't expect to be here when it's all and done. If it does happen, a talent of Luther Burden III's caliber will be a godsend.

Burden can step in immediately and fill the void likely left by Higgins while restarting the clock on a rookie contract to offset Ja'Marr Chase's inevitable mega contract extension. The Bengals can continue to field an elite group of wide receivers to maximize quarterback Joe Burrow.

The uncertain status of Tua Tagovailoa's career after suffering yet another concussion could change the entire direction of the Miami Dolphins franchise. As of now, no indication has been provided on how the quarterback and his family plans to proceed.

Until that decision is made, we'll assume he'll return to the lineup, whenever that may be.

With Tagovailoa out, the Dolphins will face an uphill battle each week. Mike McDaniel's offense will struggle to create positive momentum. A top-10 pick could be the result.

If so, an opportunity to land an elite talent, even at a non-premium position, should take precedence.

Georgia's Malaki Starks is a rare safety prospect worthy of a first-round draft pick. He's even more rare in that he's a top-five talent for this particular class. The NFL hasn't seen a top-10 safety since the New York Jets drafted Jamal Adams with the sixth overall pick in 2017.

Unlike Adams, Starks' skill set doesn't primarily rely on being a tone-setter. The Bulldog is a skilled and fluid coverage option capable of playing at all three levels.

The Chicago Bears recently saw one first-round quarterback fail, in part because the organization did not properly build around him. They can't let it happen again.

Caleb Williams is now in place. The rookie is dealing with his own issues. But they're not helped by an offensive line that's been subpar.

LSU's Will Campbell has been the most consistent prospect among the class' offensive tackle options. Last weekend, he graded better than anyone in the country, according to Pro Football Focus.

Some questions about length and overall athleticism on an island will come to the forefront throughout the evaluation process. The Bears need someone to play with far more consistency than their O-line has produced.

Campbell starting at left tackle or even guard as a rookie—depending on how the situation develops—should be considered an upgrade.

Cam Ward has done more for his draft stock this season than any other prospect.

At points, Ward was special during his time with the Washington State Cougars. The biggest issue with his previous play in the Pac-12 was how mistakes tended to be compounded. Ward tried to do too much, which led to turnovers or poor play. That version hasn't shown up in Miami.

Instead, Ward looks like this year's candidate to emerge from being a good collegiate quarterback to a potential Heisman Trophy front-runner and future high draft pick.

To be clear, the Hurricanes have yet to face top competition. It picks up immediately with ACC action, though the league isn't considered strong with only two other programs currently ranked, and Miami doesn't play Clemson during the regular season.

The Las Vegas Raiders should be quite happy that a third quarterback prospect could work his way into top-10 consideration. The team already benched starter Gardner Minshew II during a game, though he'll start again this weekend. But it has been clear for months that the Raiders will go into another offseason looking for a long-term answer at quarterback.

Despite the earlier conversation about Michigan's Mason Graham possibly working his way into the becoming the No. 1 overall talent, regardless of position, he still slides slightly in the mock draft because of circumstances.

Either teams had bigger needs at quarterback or they had already made significant investments along their defensive front that may sway them away from taking a defensive tackle, even one as talented as Graham.

The Denver Broncos benefit.

Graham is a rare defensive tackle capable of shutting down opposing ground games and providing a matchup nightmare as a pass-rusher. He's going to affect the game, whether he actually finishes plays or simply sets up others to do so.

With a potential front including Zach Allen as the 5-technique, Graham at 3-technique and someone to replace D.J. Jones, who's a free agent next offseason, at nose, the Broncos can field a stellar defensive front.

As quarterback Bo Nix continues to grow on the other side of the ball, Denver will have a built-in identity on defense because of the ability to consistently win at the point of attack.

Even coming off the New York Giants' first victory, the win was less about quarterback Daniel Jones' performance and more about what rookie wide receiver Malik Nabers did.

Nabers looked like the future NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year with a couple of the big-time receptions. Jones delivered the football, of course. But when a quarterback is in Year 6 and people still openly wonder if he's "the guy," he probably isn't.

Another top-10 pick should all but secure Jones' eventual departure and signal a replacement.

Georgia's Carson Beck has the ability to stand in the pocket and pick apart opposing secondaries. He gets the ball out quickly and accurately. However, like many young quarterbacks, he struggles when pressured. His status as a potential top-10 pick will likely be confirmed or disrupted when the Bulldogs face the Alabama Crimson Tide, Texas Longhorns, Ole Miss Rebels and Tennessee Volunteers.

Plenty has yet to be determined regarding next year's quarterback class. Beck has the ability to win at the NFL level. He needs to show he can do so consistently against other NFL talent-laden units.

The Jacksonville Jaguars secondary is not good. In fact, they currently rank among the bottom three pass defenses through the first three games. The entire unit provided no resistance against the Buffalo Bills throughout an embarrassing prime-time loss.

During the contest, Buffalo scored on eight of nine drives, not including the final possession to take a knee. The first five scores were touchdowns. The Jaguars had no answer on defense, which places the entire team is an unwinnable situation.

Michigan's Will Johnson epitomizes a prototypical playmaking cover corner. He has the size (6'2", 202 lbs), length, athleticism and ball skills to make an instant impact in any secondary, especially one as bad as the Jaguars'.

During Saturday's contest against the USC Trojans, Johnson broke on the ball for a 42-yard pick-six.

According to Pro Football Focus, Johnson hasn't allowed a touchdown since the start of the 2023 campaign, but he's contributed three pick-sixes during that same stretch.

"Preparation allows me to play comfortably," the cornerback told reporters. "But at the end of the day, it's about having confidence and pulling the trigger."

The amount of damage control coming out of the Carolina Panthers' building after benching quarterback Bryce Young has been something to behold.

Publicly, the team went through specific channels—namely an NFL Network reporter—to try to not damage its relationship with the 2023 No. 1 overall pick beyond repair.

"The NFL has not seen the last of Bryce Young as the Panthers' starting QB," Ian Rapoport reported. "In fact, his benching following Carolina's Week 2 loss to the Chargers should be viewed as more of a break than anything, sources say."

The Athletic's Dianna Russini reported otherwise: "It's over. No matter what Carolina says, rest assured: It's over. This isn't an experiment. This isn't a Ross and Rachel break. This is Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston over."

Adjust accordingly.

So, the Panthers organization swallows its pride that comes along with a failed first-round pick and takes another shot at the game's most important position.

Shedeur Sanders is almost single-handedly carrying the Colorado Buffaloes offense. His team had no right to win this past weekend against the Baylor Bears. But Sanders threw for 340 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-tying 43-yard touchdown as regulation time expired.

Eventually, the New England Patriots will hand the reins of the offense over to this year's third overall draft pick, Drake Maye.

An incomplete offensive unit seems to be one of the reasons Maye isn't already in the lineup. Throw a rookie quarterback in there and things could prove disastrous. Thus, the Patriots must continue to build around Maye and provide the young signal-caller with a stronger cockpit.

The selection of Arizona's Tetairoa McMillan this high in the process may surprise some. However, he presents legitimate WR1 traits as a 6'5", 212-pound target with fluid hips and movement skills.

McMillan's addition can create a cascading effect throughout the wide receiver corps.

Talent can be found in the current crop. But the Patriots' wide receivers are not currently positioned to the point where their skill sets fit correctly. Ja'Lynn Polk is a second-round draft pick. He's a complementary piece, though, much like he was with the Washington Huskies. DeMario Douglas leads the team in targets. He shouldn't be anything more than the primary slot option. Tyquan Thornton, meanwhile, is the vertical threat.

The Patriots lack a legitimate top-end talent at wide receiver. McMillan can fill the void.

The Tennessee Titans may find themselves in an extremely difficult position next offseason.

If the organization does fall completely apart during the regular season and "earns" the No. 1 overall pick for the 2025 draft, some serious reassessment will be necessary.

Should the franchise go after a first-round quarterback for the first time since it selected Marcus Mariota with the second overall pick in the 2015 draft? The Titans haven't owned the first pick since they were the Houston Oilers and chose Earl Campbell atop the 1978 class.

It sounds like an easy decision. It's not.

Will Levis still presents upside. Maybe Tennessee's front office won't be totally sold on one of next year's quarterback options. It's quite possible considering the current state of the crop.

Instead, general manager Ran Carthon can made the prudent choice by taking the best all-around talent in Colorado's Travis Hunter. Interestingly, Tennessee is one of the possibilities for Hunter where he may be viewed more as a wide receiver than a cornerback since both DeAndre Hopkins and Tyler Boyd are free agents after this season.

Either way, an organization can't go wrong taking the best player in college football.