2025 NFL mock draft: Giants trade for Matthew Stafford, select Abdul Carter; Raiders move up to No. 1 for QB

What I've come to realize about NFL Scouting Combine week in Indianapolis is that early on all the buzz centers around potential quarterback movement on the veteran market. Happens every year. 

And the buzz at the 2025 NFL combine has centered around the Giants' supposed very real interest in Matthew Stafford.

With what is presumed to be a "down" quarterback class in the draft, and plenty of desperate-ish teams with some of the first few picks in April, that is tracking toward potentially seismic moves with already-established NFL passers. 

And that's what I'm generating in this mock draft scenario: Two big and related trades that drastically shake up the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. And one enormous free-agent transaction.

First, a Giants and Rams trade. The initial domino. 

Giants get: Matthew Stafford, 2026 sixth-round pick

Rams get: 2025 third-round pick (No. 65 overall), and 2026 fourth-round pick that can become a third-round pick

Then, the second domino to fall -- which I assume would thereby happen quickly -- a Vikings and Rams trade: 

Rams get: Sam Darnold

Vikings get: 2025 third-round pick (No. 90 overall), 2026 third-round pick that can become a second-round pick

And it makes an incredible amount of sense. The Giants, led by GM Joe Schoen and head coach Brian Daboll are desperate for a quarterback. They need one who can help them win this very second. Stafford absolutely can be that player, especially if you sign Cooper Kupp after (if) he's released by the Rams. 

From a Rams perspective, you unload Stafford, get some draft capital, then turn around and take Darnold off the Vikings' hands, clearing the way for J.J. McCarthy to start in Minnesota, and Kevin O'Connell can give a vote of confidence to Sean McVay for Darnold, particularly because he'd be running essentially the same system. 

2025 NFL Draft: Sleeper prospects to watch at combine, including QB Dillon Gabriel, RB Bhayshul Tuten

Josh Edwards

It's glorious, isn't it? 

Oh, and also in this mock, that free-agent transaction I mentioned earlier -- Aaron Rodgers signs with the Tennessee Titans. Figured I should mention that before I got to the picks. That leads to the Titans being extremely motivated to move out of No. 1 overall. 

For more draft coverage, you can hear in-depth analysis twice a week on "With the First Pick" -- our year-round NFL Draft podcast with analyst Ryan Wilson. You can find "With the First Pick" wherever you get your podcasts: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, etc. Listen to the latest episode below!

NFL Mock Draft

Round 1

Mock Trade from Tennessee Titans Round 1 - Pick 1 Shedeur Sanders QB Colorado • Soph • 6'2" / 212 lbs Projected Team Las Vegas PROSPECT RNK 24th POSITION RNK 2nd PAYDS 4134 RUYDS -50 INTS 10 TDS 41 The Raiders get aggressive to be positive they get their guy during the first draft of the Tom Brady era. Sanders can be a point guard in Chip Kelly's system.

Round 1 - Pick 2 Travis Hunter CB Colorado • Soph • 6'1" / 185 lbs Projected Team Cleveland PROSPECT RNK 1st POSITION RNK 1st Colorado prospects go 1-2 with Hunter landing with the Browns to play ... wide receiver. And some cornerback if needed.

Round 1 - Pick 3 Abdul Carter EDGE Penn State • Soph • 6'3" / 252 lbs Projected Team N.Y. Giants PROSPECT RNK 2nd POSITION RNK 1st Still armed with the No. 3 overall pick, the Giants get a running mate for Brian Burns on the edge with the dynamic Carter.

Round 1 - Pick 4 Will Campbell OT LSU • Soph • 6'6" / 319 lbs Projected Team New England PROSPECT RNK 7th POSITION RNK 1st Drake Maye's offensive line needs to be better. Campbell is the cleanest offensive tackle in the class.

Round 1 - Pick 5 Mason Graham DL Michigan • Soph • 6'4" / 315 lbs Projected Team Jacksonville PROSPECT RNK 3rd POSITION RNK 1st The Jaguars get a serious upfield rusher with nose tackle size who's a tremendous run defender in Graham.

Mock Trade from Las Vegas Raiders Round 1 - Pick 6 Tyler Warren TE Penn State • Soph • 6'6" / 256 lbs Projected Team Tennessee PROSPECT RNK 19th POSITION RNK 2nd REC 104 REYDS 1233 YDS/REC 11.9 TDS 12 The Titans get Aaron Rodgers the premier pass-catching tight end in this class. They also get the Raiders 2025 second-round pick (No. 37 overall) along with one of their 2025 third-round picks (No. 68) and a 2026 second-round pick in this slide down the board.

Round 1 - Pick 7 Cam Ward QB Miami (FL) • Soph • 6'2" / 219 lbs Projected Team N.Y. Jets PROSPECT RNK 8th POSITION RNK 1st PAYDS 4313 RUYDS 204 INTS 7 TDS 43 Ward "slips" slightly to the Jets and the new front office and coaching staff does not hesitate to select him at No. 7 overall.

Round 1 - Pick 8 Jalon Walker EDGE Georgia • Soph • 6'2" / 245 lbs Projected Team Carolina PROSPECT RNK 9th POSITION RNK 2nd For as much as the Panthers need to address the offense around Bryce Young, the defense needs considerable help.

Round 1 - Pick 9 Tetairoa McMillan WR Arizona • Soph • 6'5" / 212 lbs Projected Team New Orleans PROSPECT RNK 7th POSITION RNK 1st REC 84 REYDS 1319 YDS/REC 15.7 TDS 8 The Saints have to replenish the receiver group, and there's plenty of Drake London to McMillan's game.

Round 1 - Pick 10 Armand Membou OT Missouri • Soph • 6'4" / 332 lbs Projected Team Chicago PROSPECT RNK 14th POSITION RNK 3rd With three offensive linemen as free agents, the Bears add a nasty offensive tackle who can play guard if needed.

Round 1 - Pick 11 Mike Green EDGE Marshall • Soph • 6'3" / 250 lbs Projected Team San Francisco PROSPECT RNK 71st POSITION RNK 12th The 49ers get a Leonard Floyd type in Green who plays with speed and bend around the corner as a rusher. He was ridiculously productive at Marshall and looks incredibly explosive on film.

Round 1 - Pick 12 Ashton Jeanty RB Boise State • Soph • 5'8" / 208 lbs Projected Team Dallas PROSPECT RNK 10th POSITION RNK 1st RUYDS 2601 YDS/ATT 7 REYDS 138 TDS 30 I maintain that if Jeanty is available when Jerry Jones goes on the clock, the Boise State back will be the pick.

Round 1 - Pick 13 Kelvin Banks Jr. OT Texas • Soph • 6'5" / 315 lbs Projected Team Miami PROSPECT RNK 8th POSITION RNK 2nd The Dolphins pick Banks to play left tackle under the impression Terron Armstead is going to call it quits.

Round 1 - Pick 14 Will Johnson CB Michigan • Soph • 6'2" / 200 lbs Projected Team Indianapolis PROSPECT RNK 2nd POSITION RNK 1st Johnson is the ideal cornerback prototype to match up with Nico Collins on the perimeter in the AFC South. Big, long, athletic.

Round 1 - Pick 15 James Pearce Jr. EDGE Tennessee • Soph • 6'5" / 242 lbs Projected Team Atlanta PROSPECT RNK 10th POSITION RNK 3rd The Falcons snag much-needed help on the edge of their pass-rushing unit.

Round 1 - Pick 16 Kenneth Grant DL Michigan • Soph • 6'3" / 335 lbs Projected Team Arizona PROSPECT RNK 24th POSITION RNK 3rd Grant is bound to be one of those supremely athletic big men who awe at the combine and go much earlier in the draft than people think.

Round 1 - Pick 17 Walter Nolen DL Ole Miss • Soph • 6'4" / 300 lbs Projected Team Cincinnati PROSPECT RNK 20th POSITION RNK 2nd Nolen is a freaky mover with long arms and supreme power at the point of attack. He's precisely what the Bengals need on their defensive interior.

Round 1 - Pick 18 Nick Emmanwori S South Carolina • Soph • 6'3" / 220 lbs Projected Team Seattle PROSPECT RNK 26th POSITION RNK 2nd Mike Macdonald rekindles some Kyle Hamilton vibes with Emmanwori here.

Round 1 - Pick 19 Jihaad Campbell LB Alabama • Soph • 6'3" / 235 lbs Projected Team Tampa Bay PROSPECT RNK 21st POSITION RNK 1st Campbell is the ideal physical freak at linebacker to be the heir apparent to Buccaneers legend Lavonte David.

Round 1 - Pick 20 Colston Loveland TE Michigan • Soph • 6'6" / 241 lbs Projected Team Denver PROSPECT RNK 21st POSITION RNK 2nd REC 56 REYDS 582 YDS/REC 10.4 TDS 5 Sean Payton gets a talented receiving tight end to work the seam for Bo Nix.

Round 1 - Pick 21 Jahdae Barron CB Texas • Soph • 5'11" / 200 lbs Projected Team Pittsburgh PROSPECT RNK 35th POSITION RNK 4th The Steelers could use someone with Barron's versatility in their secondary.

Round 1 - Pick 22 Emeka Egbuka WR Ohio State • Soph • 6'1" / 205 lbs Projected Team L.A. Chargers PROSPECT RNK 28th POSITION RNK 3rd RUYDS 1158 YDS/ATT 6.3 REYDS 79 TDS 17 Jim Harbaugh picks the Ohio State prospect who'll give the Chargers more juice downfield and get after it as a blocker.

Round 1 - Pick 23 Azareye'h Thomas CB Florida State • Soph • 6'1" / 197 lbs Projected Team Green Bay PROSPECT RNK 39th POSITION RNK 6th The Packers have to retool the secondary, and Thomas has the measureables -- and presumably a big combine ahead -- to go this high at corner.

Round 1 - Pick 24 Donovan Jackson IOL Ohio State • Soph • 6'4" / 324 lbs Projected Team Minnesota PROSPECT RNK 41st POSITION RNK 2nd Jackson's size and movement skills make him an ideal fit for the Vikings stretch-run based offense.

Round 1 - Pick 25 Tyler Booker IOL Alabama • Soph • 6'5" / 330 lbs Projected Team Houston PROSPECT RNK 25th POSITION RNK 1st The Texans get a rock-solid guard prospect with requisite size, balance and power.

Round 1 - Pick 26 Josh Simmons OT Ohio State • Soph • 6'5" / 310 lbs Projected Team L.A. Rams PROSPECT RNK 20th POSITION RNK 4th The Rams are ecstatic to land a left tackle with Day 1 starter traits in Simmons.

Round 1 - Pick 27 Aireontae Ersery OT Minnesota • Soph • 6'6" / 330 lbs Projected Team Baltimore PROSPECT RNK 41st POSITION RNK 6th The tackle-guard flexibility will draw the Ravens toward Ersery, and he had clean quality film at tackle over the past few seasons at Minnesota.

Round 1 - Pick 28 Shemar Stewart DL Texas A&M • Soph • 6'5" / 267 lbs Projected Team Detroit PROSPECT RNK 33rd POSITION RNK 5th The Lions go with a specimen with supreme upside to pair alongside Aidan Hutchinson on the edge. He doesn't have to be the No. 1 rusher right away.

Round 1 - Pick 29 Mykel Williams EDGE Georgia • Soph • 6'5" / 267 lbs Projected Team Washington PROSPECT RNK 13th POSITION RNK 3rd The Commanders make this selection hoping Dan Quinn and Co. can get the most out of the ridiculous frame and athletic profile of Williams.

Round 1 - Pick 30 Matthew Golden WR Texas • Soph • 5'11" / 191 lbs Projected Team Buffalo PROSPECT RNK 34th POSITION RNK 4th REC 58 REYDS 987 YDS/REC 17 TDS 9 The Bills get an outside speed element for Josh Allen in Golden, who's not only fast but excels tracking the football near the sideline.

Round 1 - Pick 31 Luther Burden III WR Missouri • Soph • 6'0" / 210 lbs Projected Team Kansas City PROSPECT RNK 13th POSITION RNK 2nd Burden is a fun, YAC type who'd excel in Andy Reid and Patrick Mahomes' offense.

Round 1 - Pick 32 Malaki Starks S Georgia • Soph • 6'1" / 205 lbs Projected Team Philadelphia PROSPECT RNK 12th POSITION RNK 1st Another Georgia prospect ... come on down, or I guess north to Philadelphia. Starks can upgrade the safety spot for Philadelphia as Chauncey Gardner-Johnson enters the final year of his deal.