After columnist Chris Perkins published the initial 2025 mock NFL draft for the South Florida Sun Sentinel last week, Miami Dolphins beat writer David Furones takes his crack at making the 32 first-round selections, including the Dolphins’ top pick at No. 13.
Trades can be made in this mock draft, so does Miami get to wheeling and dealing?
The three-day NFL draft is April 24-26 in Green Bay, Wis.
1. Tennessee: Cam Ward, QB, Miami
Titans don’t overthink it and select their franchise QB as UM has the No. 1 pick for the first time since 1991 (Russell Maryland).
Top Needs: QB, Edge rusher, WR
2. Cleveland: Travis Hunter, WR-CB, Colorado
If the Browns aren’t taking the second quarterback in Shedeur Sanders, it’s between the top two pure talents in the draft, Hunter and Abdul Carter, and they go with the two-way phenom.
Top Needs: QB, WR, RB
3. New York Giants: Abdul Carter, Edge, Penn State
Already with Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux in house, it’s truly a best-player-available pick, and the G-Men would really be set with pass rushers now. No Sanders after signing Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston to wait for the 2026 QB draft class.
Top Needs: QB, DL, OL
4. New England: Will Campbell, OT, LSU
The Patriots hope either Hunter or Carter are on the board with Sanders taken, but with no such luck and after trying to trade down to no avail, they give Drake Maye the blind-side protection he needs.
Top Needs: OT, DL, WR
5. Jacksonville: Mason Graham, DL, Michigan
With Travon Walker and Josh Hines-Allen on the edge, this pick would be a home run for new Jaguars defensive coordinator Anthony Campanile, the former Dolphins linebackers coach.
Top Needs: DL, CB, S
6. Las Vegas: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
The Raiders consider Sanders but pass and also receive trade interest here, but they ultimately opt to select an immense talent and difference-maker who can learn from ex-Dolphin Raheem Mostert as a rookie.
Top Needs: RB, CB, WR
7. New York Jets: Armand Membou, OT, Missouri
The Sanders slide continues as the Jets commit to a year of Justin Fields while solidifying right tackle after taking Olu Fashanu at left tackle in the first round last year.
Top Needs: OT, WR, TE
8. Carolina: Jalon Walker, Edge, Georgia
The way the board falls, this seems like a natural, solid pick for the Panthers and second-year general manager Dan Morgan, the former Taravella High and UM standout.
Top Needs: Edge, DT, WR
9. New Orleans: Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
After the Derek Carr shoulder injury news, this now seems like the natural landing spot for Deion Sanders’ son, and the Saints won’t have to trade up to get him.
Top Needs: QB, CB, OL
10. Chicago: Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas
Caleb Williams was running around like a madman last year, and this will alleviate the constant pressure he’s under — while delivering a blow to Miami’s hopes of a top three lineman in this draft.
Top Needs: OT, RB, Edge
11. San Francisco: Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
Another possible Dolphins first-round target off the board as the 49ers need to rebuild their defense after a mass exodus this offseason; a good place to start is the taking the first CB in the draft (after Hunter, who plays both sides of the ball).
Top Needs: Edge, DT, CB
12. Dallas: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
The Cowboys need another playmaker to pair with CeeDee Lamb, and they give Dak Prescott the draft’s first wide receiver (aside from Hunter).
Top Needs: RB, WR, CB
13. Miami: Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
If GM Chris Grier is going best player available, that’s what this pick is the way the draft plays out. With the top three linemen off the board, don’t reach for guard Tyler Booker or tackle Josh Simmons. Cornerback Jahdae Barron would be considered, as would safeties Malaki Starks and Nick Emmanwori, but this is too high for them with Warren there. He plays the same position as the Dolphins’ lone Pro Bowl selection last season, but the George Kittle comparisons would appeal to coach Mike McDaniel and free up Jonnu Smith to do other things in the offense.
Top Needs: G, DL, DB
14. Indianapolis: Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
Suddenly, it’s a run of tight ends, and after Miami takes the Colts’ guy, they settle for the next best for young quarterback Anthony Richardson.
Top Needs: TE, LB, OL
15. Atlanta: James Pearce, Edge, Tennessee
The Falcons need pass-rushing help and have options here with a lot of them still available in the middle of the first round.
Top Needs: Edge, DT, CB
16. Arizona: Shemar Stewart, DL, Texas A&M
What an opportunity for South Florida product Shemar Stewart (Miami Monsignor Pace High) to learn from former Dolphin Calais Campbell as a rookie.
Top Needs: DT, WR, OL
17. Cincinnati: Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama
The running joke for the Bengals is they’ve spent so much on big offensive contracts that they have little money for the defense; so draft best defender available.
Top Needs: Entire defense
18. Seattle: Matthew Golden, WR, Texas
After trading DK Metcalf to the Steelers, bring in this speedster to play alongside Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Cooper Kupp for Sam Darnold.
Top Needs: OL, DL, WR
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19. Tampa Bay: Mykel Williams, Edge, Georgia
The Bucs could trade back here with several viable options, but Todd Bowles gets his pass-rushing help right there at 19.
Top Needs: Edge, CB, LB
20. Denver: Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina
The Broncos think about trading up for Matthew Golden, but with Hampton also sticking around, Sean Payton finds his playmaker in the backfield.
Top Needs: WR, RB, CB
21. Pittsburgh: Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon
It could be quarterback Jaxson Dart here, but the Steelers also want to win now, possibly with Aaron Rodgers behind center, so Harmon fortifies their D-line.
Top Needs: QB, DT, RB
22. Los Angeles Chargers: Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan
Yep, Jim Harbaugh is reunited with his college player. He would’ve loved Loveland, but he’s long gone in this mock.
Top Needs: TE, DL, WR
23. Green Bay: Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas
There’s talk about Barron 10 picks earlier to the Dolphins, so this is an excellent value pick as the Packers add a versatile piece in coverage.
Top Needs: CB, Edge, WR
24. Minnesota: Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina
Time for the first safety to come off the board, and defensive coordinator Brian Flores gets an athletic freak he can move around.
Top Needs: S, OL, CB
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25. Houston: Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State
Seems like a natural fit after the Texans traded left tackle Laremy Tunsil and need protection for quarterback C.J. Stroud.
Top Needs: OL, WR, CB
26. Los Angeles Rams: Jaxson Dart, QB, Ole Miss
Dart finds a first-round home, and Sean McVay has Matthew Stafford for the present and Dart for the future.
Top Needs: CB, LB, OL
27. Baltimore: Mike Green, Edge, Marshall
The Ravens need pass rushers to get after Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes and get over the hump in the AFC, and with Green lasting this long, he will help.
Top Needs: Edge, DL, S
28. Detroit: Donovan Ezeiruaku, Edge, Boston College
A defense ravaged by injury last season needs some help, and the prolific pass-rusher would form a fierce tandem with Aidan Hutchinson.
Top Needs: Edge, G, DL
29. Miami (mock trade with Washington): Grey Zabel, OL, North Dakota State
Zabel would be a great fit as a versatile lineman who can start off at guard in his career to fill an immediate need. The Dolphins can move up from No. 48 in the middle of the second round to land him, using one of their seven Day 3 picks in this year’s draft and maybe another mid-to-late-round 2026 selection. With Zabel still there at this point, Miami might need to get in front of the Chiefs at 31 and probably can’t do it via the division rival Bills next.
Top Needs: G, DL, DB
30. Buffalo: Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky
The Bills let the Chiefs get Xavier Worthy last year by trading with them. Now, they better draft a cornerback who can keep up with him, and Hairston blazed with a 4.28-second 40-yard dash.
Top Needs: CB, WR, DT
31. Kansas City: Josh Conerly Jr., OT, Oregon
Tyler Booker is the best offensive line prospect available, but the Chiefs need a tackle to pass protect for Mahomes and Conerly fits the bill as the future at left tackle.
Top Needs: OL, DL, TE
32. Philadelphia: Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
The Super Bowl champs’ losses in free agency make this pick come down to Starks and Ole Miss’ Walter Nolen for Vic Fangio’s defense, but we know the Eagles love taking Georgia defenders in the draft.
Top Needs: S, DT, LB
