FINAL 2025 NFL Mock Draft | Full 1st Round With TRADES: Bears Move Up, Shedeur Sanders To Steelers

Summary

Podcast Summary: Fantasy Football Today – FINAL 2025 NFL Mock Draft | Full 1st Round With TRADES: Bears Move Up, Shedeur Sanders To Steelers

Episode Overview Released on April 24, 2025, the "Fantasy Football Today" podcast hosted by Adam Aizer, along with analysts Dave Richard, Jamey Eisenberg, Heath Cummings, and others from CBS Sports' Fantasy Football team, dives deep into the intricacies of the 2025 NFL Mock Draft. This episode, titled "FINAL 2025 NFL Mock Draft | Full 1st Round With TRADES: Bears Move Up, Shedeur Sanders To Steelers," provides a comprehensive breakdown of the first-round selections, highlighting potential trades, team strategies, and standout players poised to make a significant impact in the upcoming season.

Section 1: Introduction to the Mock Draft The episode kicks off with Ryan Wilson introducing the final mock draft for the 2025 NFL season. Joined by Rand Carthon, the duo sets the stage for an in-depth analysis of the first-round picks, acknowledging the dynamic nature of draft predictions influenced by last-minute trades and emerging player news.

Section 2: Breaking Down the First Round Picks

1. Pick 1: Tennessee Titans Select Cam Ward

   • Ryan Wilson emphasizes the certainty of Cam Ward being the first overall pick: “Cam Ward's going number one. There's no debate about that.” (00:00)
   • Rand Carthon confirms the selection, highlighting Tennessee GM Mike Borgonzi’s commitment: “Tennessee GM Mike Borgonzi came out yesterday and said we're taking the pick, we're going to pick.” (02:06)

2. Pick 2: Cleveland Browns Acquire Travis Hunter

   • Ryan Wilson discusses the Browns’ strategic choice: “Our number two here we have Travis Hunter going because he’s the best player in this draft class in terms of the fewest questions in my mind at least.” (02:59)
   • Rand Carthon agrees on Hunter’s fit, noting his versatility: “Travis fits both holes on offense and defense.” (03:28)

3. Pick 3: New York Giants Opt for Abdul Carter

   • Ryan Wilson questions the Giants’ choice between Abdul Carter and Shedeur Sanders: “Does it still feel like AB Abdul Carter will be the pick for the Giants?” (04:02)
   • Rand Carthon supports the selection, emphasizing the Giants’ defensive focus: “The Giants are defensively minded and want to bolster their defense immediately.” (05:06)

4. Pick 4: New England Patriots Select Will Campbell

   • The Patriots are expected to choose Will Campbell, addressing their offensive line needs: “Will Campbell is the safe, easy pick for them and it addresses a need.” (05:58)

5. Pick 5: Jacksonville Jaguars Trade Down for Ashton Genty

   • Rand Carthon reveals the Bears’ move to pick Ashton Genty, enhancing their backfield: “They are going with Ashton Genty and that will give Ben Johnson his one-two punch in the backfield.” (07:37)

6. Pick 6: Las Vegas Raiders Select Kelvin Banks

   • The Raiders address their offensive line concerns by selecting Kelvin Banks: “Kelvin Banks would be the optimum fit because Colton Miller, their starting left tackle, is soon a free agent.” (10:28)

7. Pick 7: New York Jets Choose Tyler Warren

   • Rand Carthon highlights the Jets’ decision to bolster their offensive capabilities with Tyler Warren: “He gives Justin Fields another big weapon to throw to.” (11:50)

8. Pick 8: Carolina Panthers Draft Mason Graham

   • The Panthers prioritize defense by selecting Mason Graham: “They have to consider taking Mason Graham because he provides a star-studded addition to their defense.” (12:41)

9. Pick 9: New Orleans Saints Pick Armand Menbu

   • The Saints focus on their offensive line by selecting Armand Menbu: “Armand Menbu makes the Saints' offensive line stronger for the future.” (15:20)

10. Pick 10: Jacksonville Jaguars Select Trevor Lawrence

    • The Jaguars secure Trevor Lawrence to support their quarterback, further solidifying their offense: “They get Trevor Lawrence and bolster their passing game.” (15:20)

11. Pick 11: San Francisco 49ers Choose Walter Nolan

    • Addressing their defensive needs, the 49ers select Walter Nolan: “They need defensive tackle help, and Walter Nolan fits perfectly.” (17:03)

12. Pick 12: Dallas Cowboys Draft Matthew Golden

    • Emphasizing their receiving corps, the Cowboys pick Matthew Golden: “A fantastic year for Golden makes him a valuable addition to Dallas’ wide receivers.” (17:35)

13. Pick 13: Miami Dolphins Select Jade Baron

    • The Dolphins enhance their secondary by drafting Jade Baron: “Jade Baron provides versatility and bolsters the Dolphins’ cornerback position.” (17:55)

14. Pick 14: Indianapolis Colts Choose Tyler Booker

    • Focusing on the offensive line, the Colts select Tyler Booker: “He shores up the interior of the offensive line, providing stability for young quarterbacks.” (19:22)

15. Pick 15: Atlanta Falcons Draft Jalen Walker

    • The Falcons address their edge rushing by selecting Jalen Walker: “Arthur Blank running the card to Green Bay himself with Walker is a strategic move.” (20:45)

16. Pick 16: Arizona Cardinals Choose Will Johnson

    • The Cardinals make a surprising move by drafting wide receiver Will Johnson: “Despite injury concerns, Johnson’s speed and performance make him a steal for Arizona.” (22:09)

Section 3: Mid-Round Insights and Team Strategies

As the first round progresses, Rand Carthon and Ryan Wilson delve into team-specific strategies, such as the Los Angeles Chargers focusing on defensive tackles and the Green Bay Packers enhancing their defensive backfield. Notably, the Pittsburgh Steelers secure Shedeur Sanders at pick 21, pairing him with their long-standing defensive stalwarts to maintain consistency under Coach Mike Tomlin's leadership.

Notable Discussions and Quotes

• Trade Dynamics: The analysts discuss the potential for teams like the Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers to engage in Pareto-efficient trades to secure top talent such as Shedeur Sanders.

  Ryan Wilson: “There'll be some conversations between now and then in terms of Andrew Berry's phone probably blowing up a little bit.” (04:00)

• Team Needs vs. Best Available Player: The tension between selecting the best available talent versus addressing specific team needs is a recurring theme.

  Rand Carthon: “To get a star studded player that can come in and immediately bolster your defense.” (04:42)

• Positional Prioritization: The importance of positional needs, particularly on the defensive line and offensive tackle positions, is emphasized throughout the draft analysis.

  Rand Carthon: “I think he fits from that standpoint [defensive line help].” (31:25)

Section 4: Final Picks and Strategic Wrap-Up

As the first round concludes, the analysts cover the remaining picks (25-32), discussing selections like Donovan Jackson by the Houston Texans and Malachi Starks by the Buffalo Bills. They also explore the Philadelphia Eagles' decision to draft James Pierce Jr., balancing athletic potential with the team's strong player development program.

Final Remarks and Future Outlook

In the concluding segments, Rand Carthon and Ryan Wilson reflect on the unpredictability of mock drafts and the necessity for flexibility as real-time developments can swiftly alter draft outcomes. They also tease future episodes, including a preview of the 2026 mock draft, ensuring listeners stay informed and prepared for upcoming fantasy football seasons.

Notable Closing Quotes

Rand Carthon: “You have to fix it [quarterback position].” (45:16)

Ryan Wilson: “This could end up being a steal if we were willing to accept the fact that he may not be the fastest guy on the field.” (22:09)

Conclusion

This episode of "Fantasy Football Today" offers an exhaustive and insightful analysis of the anticipated first-round picks of the 2025 NFL Draft. By dissecting team strategies, potential trades, and standout player performances, the hosts provide listeners with valuable information to navigate their fantasy football leagues successfully. Whether you're a seasoned fantasy manager or a casual enthusiast, this mock draft breakdown equips you with the knowledge to make informed decisions and dominate your league.

Transcript

[Ryan Wilson]

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[Rand Carthon]

Right. And I mean, at this point, we've been talking about this for months. We've seen this for months. And Tennessee GM Mike Borgonzi came out yesterday and said we're taking the pick, we're going to pick. So there's that. Cam's going to the Titans, moving right along.

[Ryan Wilson]

Right. There's nothing to see here. And we're on to pick number two. And pick number two is where things suddenly get very interesting because it feels like even 48 hours ago we were talking about picks one through three and maybe even four feel like they're set. But I've heard and you've heard similar things that there have been more than one team interested in trying to get to number two. Our number two here we have Travis Hunter going because it just makes he's the best player in this draft class in terms of the fewest questions in my mind at least. And the Browns need help in a lot of places and he's a two for one deal. But there's also a possibility. Would you still agree that maybe the Browns are willing to move off of this?

[Rand Carthon]

Yeah. And you always have to listen and that's the point of coming in and having these positions. And you know, Andrew Berry's always been a guy that's going to build through the draft and accumulate draft picks and they did a. They've done a really good job of that in hitting on guys and so they have to listen to these calls because like you said, what type of haul are you going to receive? Going up to 12 is just as valuable. But Travis is a great fit here. Wouldn't totally discount Abdul Carter. Maybe, however. But Travis, like you said, fits both holes on offense and defense and it.

[Ryan Wilson]

Feels like whichever team is trying to trade up and may eventually make their way to number two. That feels like a Travis Hunter situation, not Abdul Carter. Do you agree with that?

[Rand Carthon]

I would potentially say for Abdul, I would think so because I think he is the one guy that people will try to come up for, especially these teams that need edge. And this is a heavy class in the edge and we're going to see a lot of guys as we go through this list from the edge position that we have as first round picks.

[Ryan Wilson]

Do we feel comfortable even though we've locked this in as our what we think will actually happen mock draft, do we feel comfortable Cleveland Travis is going to be the eventuality?

[Rand Carthon]

I think so.

[Ryan Wilson]

Okay.

[Rand Carthon]

I think so.

[Ryan Wilson]

All right. But there'll be some conversations between now and then in terms of Andrew Berry's phone probably blowing up a little bit. Next up, the New York Giants are three. And again, this is what we've been talking about for. For at least a few days here. It feels like Abdul Carter if he's there and it feels like Travis Hunter if he's there. It does not feel like Shadur Sanders. So Cam Ward won't be there. So we don't worry about that. But does it still feel like AB Abdul Carter will be the pick for the Giants.

[Rand Carthon]

I think the Giants are in a position, whoever's there available for them, whether it's Travis or Abdul, I think they're equally happy to have both. It's for. If you're Shane Bowen, the defensive coordinator with the Giants, you're happy either way because you get a star studded player that can come in and immediately bolster your defense.

[Ryan Wilson]

So you have Brian Burns, we have Kayvon Thibodeau from a few years ago, the first round pick. You have Sexy Dexie on the inside and you have Abdul Carter. And that doesn't fix your offense or your quarterback situation. But they're in a better situation than the Giants are with Russ Wilson and Jen than some other teams that need quarterbacks, including I think the Cleveland Browns and of course the Pittsburgh Steelers, who we'll talk about in a little bit here. But a dominating defense can go a long way in helping out any quarterback. Right.

[Rand Carthon]

I mean you look at the tradition of the Giants and this is what they've been known as a defensive minded team. And the offense just had to take care of the football and score points when needed. When they had their super bowl runs back when Eli was the quarterback, they had dominant defenses and dominant defensive fronts. And so I think they probably want to get back there and they have, if they want to have, if they want to come back in and get a quarterback, they have the space to do it. Having an early second round pick.

[Ryan Wilson]

Yeah. And at the end of the show, if you want to hang around to see that, we'll talk about best players available that don't go in the top 32 that perhaps slip into round two, but could be targets for teams trading back up into round one. Because a lot of teams picking at the top of the second round have some quarterback needs. Next up, the New England Patriots. Again, this is feel like a rubber stamp situation with Will Campbell as the tackle at lsu. I think the Patriots are listening to phone calls as well. But Will Campbell, we still feel pretty good about that.

[Rand Carthon]

Yeah, you feel good about it. Now if a team that's in a market, you know, that's really coveting a player that they want to come up for. I could see them listening. Now here's where you want to where it peaks your ears. What if Abdul Carter is available at 4, you take Abdullah then I think that completely alters this rubber stamp as you said in this position. But if Will Campbell's there and Abdul is off the board, this is the easy pick for them. This is a safe, easy pick for them and it addresses a need.

[Ryan Wilson]

Right. Any consideration to a right tackle here, whether it's Kelvin Banks or someone else? Amran Menbu might be too rich for you. They signed Morgan Moses, but he's not in the long term plans. Rodarian Lowe, he's not the long term answer at left tackle. But would that be a consideration if you like Kelvin Banks a little better?

[Rand Carthon]

I would say no.

[Ryan Wilson]

Okay.

[Rand Carthon]

I would say no in terms of a right tackle because I truly believe whether they will Campbell or if it's Kelvin Banks, they're going to play left tackle, right. And you're going to have Morgan Moses as that anchor in that offensive line room, that veteran leader to be over there on the right side. So I see that it's harder to get your cornerstone left tackle than it is to find a right tackle, in my opinion.

[Ryan Wilson]

Yeah. No, fair enough. Unless you're going to make Drake Mather left handed and then the right side will be the blind side. All right, here's where things get spicy. Pick five. Forever this has been the Jacksonville Jaguars and forever we've had Mason Graham going there. There's a situation where neither actually happened. Tomorrow night at 8pm we have the Ben Johnson Chicago Bears traded from 10 to 5. Who are they taking?

[Rand Carthon]

They are going with Ashton Genty and that will give Ben Johnson his one, two punch that he likes to have in the backfield and what he's become used to in having his sonic and knuckles backfield that he's had in Detroit. And it's a really good. And everything that you're hearing right now from Chicago is that even if it's at pick 10 and Genty's there, he's not getting past them at 10. And there are some teams within this range, within this 5 to 10 range who are allegedly have interest in Genty. So why not jump up and get him and get your guy?

[Ryan Wilson]

If you're the Dallas Cowboys at 12 and Genty's there at nine, are you calling Mickey Loomis in New Orleans?

[Rand Carthon]

You have to. You have to call and see. Now this is something we talked about yesterday on air. A little fun fact about Mickey Loomis and his draft history. Mickey Loomis since being the GM in New Orleans since 2007, he's never traded back.

[Ryan Wilson]

So you got to trade it up.

[Rand Carthon]

So you're going to have to really pique his interest and give him a lot picks to make him want to do it now. I don't know. Again, this is fodder. Could be fodder, but I remember seeing something yesterday where they said that Jerry Jones kind of spoke in a tone in which he was considering going up for someone.

[Ryan Wilson]

That doesn't sound like Jerry Jones. Come on now. Any concern? I'm kidding. This sounds 100% like Jerry Jones. Any consideration to this? And I know I can hear our buddy Joe Musso, Bears fan, saying, stay at 10 and take a tackle. If you were Chicago Bears, Kelvin Banks is still there. Everyone is still there except Will Campbell. Along the offensive line is Ashton Jenny make the Bears team better in 2025 than an offensive lineman?

[Rand Carthon]

I would say no just because of where we are from a depth perspective in this running back class that you could get a not the same level of talent guy, but if you're going to use him in a way that you're going to be alternating, you can find another compliment in a later round as opposed to taking this early. And when you can solve one of your long term issues, which is your left tackle position immediately at pick 10 if you're still there.

[Ryan Wilson]

So that's the math you have to figure out in the draft room. We'll see how this actually plays out. But this is what we think is going to happen, so we got to stick to it. Even though it's funny that even in the hour since we've done this, I think we would change the picks if we had to do it over again, right?

[Rand Carthon]

Oh, yes. We could totally redo this whole list if we knew what we know now, what we're hearing now.

[Ryan Wilson]

But that's life. That ain't just mock drafts. All right, next up, Joe Musso is going to throw his television out the window because Kelvin Banks is going to go off the board to six to the Las Vegas Raiders. And that's a development because we've talked a lot about Ash and Genty, Ted McMillan here. Offensive line hasn't been a real conversation piece, but they have some needs at offensive line.

[Rand Carthon]

Yeah, they do. And I will say, and you would think that they're based off the mock draft. They're taking Kelvin Banks here because Ashton Gentie's off the board. But everything that I've been getting is that they are leaning heavy towards the offensive line right here at pick six. And so Kelvin Banks would be the optimum fitness because Colton Miller, their starting left tackle, he'll be a free agent following the season. He recently came out and said he was not coming to voluntary off season workouts, which on one hand you may not, you know, care too much because he's a veteran. He's A captain. However, he's been injured the last couple seasons and again he will be a free agent following the season and he's entering a year in which his contract features no guaranteed money. So why not have someone in the hopper that he may play right early but could be your left next year and for the future moving forward.

[Ryan Wilson]

And it's going to be fun to watch. We keep hearing that this draft class isn't very good, but the behind the scenes Game of Thrones maneuvering actually makes it interesting whether you love these players or not. And as I am guilty, I love all these players so I'm happy with where they are. Alright, next up, the jets at number seven. And again this has been a popular landing spot for Arman Mimboo. We haven't taken Tyler Warren. There's been some buzz that they like Tyler Warren. There's been some buzz like Jade Baron as well, but I don't think Jade is going to go this high. So they settle on Warren to help out their young quarterback in Justin Fields. Too high. Do you like this fit? What do you think of Tyler Warner?

[Rand Carthon]

No, I like the fit and it gives Justin Fields another big weapon to throw to a guy that can adjust on the move. A guy that has really good ball skills and it gives again, it gives Justin Fields another weapon down the middle of the field. Now they do have love for the tackle position here and I think it just will come down to in their minds, the best available player between Tyler Warren and one of the tackles.

[Ryan Wilson]

And if I understand your evaluation correctly, you think Tyler Warren's a better right tackle than Armand Menbu, is that correct?

[Rand Carthon]

Yes.

[Ryan Wilson]

Disrespect to my guy Armand, 20 years old, trying to mind his own business out here. All right, pick eight Carolina Panthers. And I love the idea, and you floated this yesterday, of Derrick Brown lined up next to Mason Graham 20 hours later. I don't know if it's going to happen, but he's sitting there at 8. Certainly you have to give serious consideration if you're Carolina to taking Mason Graham.

[Rand Carthon]

Yeah, you have to. You have to. Because they were in in the mix for Milton Williams and had a verbal deal done before he flipped and chose to go to New England. And they came off of that and signed Bobby Brown to a three year deal which is still a different level of player than what Mason Graham can be. Now as of late they are considering moving back and I know that Jalen Walker is very much still in play for them here at pick eight. But if there's a team that is sitting below them that has a need at defensive tackle in that, let's say, let's say from 8 to 13 range that's looking to come up. This could be a spot for them to come up to Carolina and get Mason Graham.

[Ryan Wilson]

Love it. So much intrigue and it's literally changing by the hour. It feels like. All right, we're going to take a quick break and when we come back, we'll look at those picks 8 through 13 teams that could potentially be interested in moving up. We'll talk about who we have them taking in our last mock draft of the 2025 draft cycle after this. Ryan Reynolds here from Mint Mobile with a message for everyone paying big wireless way too much. Please, for the love of everything good in this world, stop with Mint. You can get premium wireless for just $15 a month. Of course, if you enjoy overpaying. No judgments. But that's weird. Okay, one judgment anyway. Give it a [e-mail] Switch upfront payment of $45 for three month plan equivalent to $15 per month required Intro rate first three months only, then full price plan options available, taxes and fees extra. See full [e-mail] welcome back to with the First Pick, Rancarthon Ryan Wilson. It's our final mock draft of the 2025 draft cycle. Not to worry, Rand. Next week we'll be doing a 2026 mock draft. I am not kidding. But for now let's stay in the present moment and just enjoy this. We've got picks one through eight already. Pick nine New Orleans Saints there's been a lot of Shadour Sanders chatter probably up to the last 48 hours. This feels like offensive line and we had them taking Armand Menbu the right tackle. Ryan Ramcheck retired. Trevor Pitting has struggled. The former first round pick. So we have Mimboo headed to New Orleans and he feels like a day one starter but I want to get the pick 10 because we had the Chicago Bears trading up from 10 to 5. Had the Jacksonville Jaguars trading down from 5 to 10. Of course the Bears took Ashcin Gente and at pick 10 we have the Jacksonville Jaguars helping out Trevor Lawrence with Tedro McMillan. That feels like a best case scenario because you're getting draft capital and you're getting a dude who can be the X and play opposite Brian Thomas Jr. Yeah, absolutely.

[Rand Carthon]

And that's what they need. And I know, I'm pretty sure that that's what Trevor Lawrence wants is another viable receiver opposite of Brian Thomas. Jun so you don't have to have coverages rotated over to him so much and you have an offensive minded new head coach, so why not bolster what he does well by giving him a weapon here? And if Jacksonville isn't able to move from five or no one's interested in moving up to five, I don't think it's out of the realm for them to take Tet at pick number five.

[Ryan Wilson]

I agree. And there's been a lot of variability in terms of where media folk view Tet. When I talk to folks in the league, they generally tend to agree that he's wide receiver one. The question just is how high will he end up going?

[Rand Carthon]

And he may not get past 12.

[Ryan Wilson]

Exactly. And the Cowboys are in a curious spot because offensive line makes sense there, running back Gentee makes sense there, and of course Tevin Millen makes sense there. We'll talk about them in just a moment here. First up at 11, the San Francisco 49ers are on the clock. They need a ton of help because they moved on from a ton of guys and if I recall correctly, they have a ton of picks. So they may end up being one of those teams that uses double digit picks in this draft or maybe try to package them to move up for players they want. Pick 11, we have them taking Walter Nolan, the defensive tackle out of Ole Miss. They could also go linebacker here, maybe defensive back. We'll see. But we think Walter Nolan as of yesterday. I feel 48% good about that pick now, but that's okay. Pick 12. You talked about wide receiver for the Dallas Cowboys. We had them taking Matthew golden, who was our wide receiver too, excluding Travis Hunter. Had a fantastic year for the Texas Longhorns. Excuse me, I want to call them the Houston Texans. The Houston transfer had a really good year there. 429 40. He doesn't play 429, but like I say all the time, only Tyreek plays 429.

[Rand Carthon]

Listen, it's in his profile forever. That's right, that he ran 429.

[Ryan Wilson]

Producer Charon, this is coming from 438 over here.

[Rand Carthon]

So thank you, Charon.

[Ryan Wilson]

All right, next up at pick 13, it's Matthew Golden's teammate going to the Miami Dolphins. And let's talk quickly about this because Miami maybe is in the offensive line business. They have Patrick Paul to replace Taron Armstead at the left side right now, but we have them going with Jade Baron because they have a cornerback need as well. It sounds like Jalen Ramsey's played his last snap in Miami. How do you like this fit? Jade Baron going to the Dolphins.

[Rand Carthon]

I mean, it's a good fit for their defense. And again, you have another versatile guy that can play outside on some of the early downs and you kick him in inside in the nickel, much like they do with Jalen Ramsey. They move Jalen Ramsey all around for matchup purposes. And you could do the same with Jade.

[Ryan Wilson]

You know, I'm going to bring this up because this is my thing apparently. Do you care that a cornerback has 29 inch arms?

[Rand Carthon]

Listen, I thought we were off the arm length topic because you've taken in our previous mock draft several guys with short arms. I thought you.

[Ryan Wilson]

I'm team short arm.

[Rand Carthon]

I thought you grew and so it wouldn't be a question anymore.

[Ryan Wilson]

You know, it's funny, man. My mother in law used to call me T Rex since she thought I had short arms. Disrespectful from her too. Do you care? Is that a thing in terms of the analytics sitting in these draft meetings? Do short arms and cornerbacks, is that as big a deal as having 32 inch arms? Offensive linemen?

[Rand Carthon]

Previously I would have said no, it doesn't matter if you get being hip. But I've seen over recent years where you have guys and I won't name them where they're in hip pockets and they can go to make a play on the ball and just your lack of length won't allow you to get there. It will play a role, but he's played his whole career with these 29 inch arms and we're talking about him here at pick 13.

[Ryan Wilson]

Yeah, and that's how I feel about it. I just bring it up because I know sometimes in the analytics conversations that's one of the things that people note. That said, you see Sugon revel at Ecuador and he can tie a shoe standing up sort of thing. So that helps at 6:4 in terms of makeup, speed and the things we talk about down the field. All right, pick 14, the Indianapolis Colts. I think we agree they have their eye on a tight end as well, but we have them taking Tyler Booker, the guard out of Alabama. Is he a zone guard? Because I keep hearing that he can't do that. He's obviously a gap scheme guy the way he played at Alabama and that fits in Indianapolis. Do you think he can play in his zone scheme?

[Rand Carthon]

Maybe a tight zone? Maybe not so much as a wide zone just because of the aiming points and the tracking points that you have to get to. But we're talking about a guy that if you put him in the interior of this offensive line for Indianapolis and you having quarterback issues, you now have shored up and have the ability to set firm pockets that will give these young quarterbacks room to step up.

[Ryan Wilson]

Does that feel like a quicker solution to an Anthony Richardson growth development type thing over, say, a tight end if they went tight end here?

[Rand Carthon]

Well, I would say this and I would counter the tight end picking and I understand it. Yeah, right. Because if you want to look at history, and I was with these Colts teams when you had the three receivers and Marvin, Reggie and Stoke and then you had Dallas Clark and Edge in the backfield. However, you still have three viable receivers in Indianapolis now and you have Jonathan Taylor in the backfield. Are there enough balls to go around?

[Ryan Wilson]

That's a good point.

[Rand Carthon]

To get to this tight end versus shoring up the offensive line and giving these young quarterbacks who are competing for this job the best opportunity to show what they can do.

[Ryan Wilson]

No, I agree with that and that's a good point. Pick 15. The Atlanta Falcons are on the clock and edge rush feels like the direction they're going to go. And we give them bpa. Slash edge rush here and Jalen Walker out of Georgia. And I say slash BPA because he can play off ball as well. 6 1. 245 is 248. Does this make more sense than say a James Pierce Jr. Who we know they have interest in, who has the off field concerns?

[Rand Carthon]

I would tell you what if Jalen Walker is there at pick 15 for Atlanta, I think Arthur Blank would run the card to Green Bay himself and to get that pick in. We're talking about a Georgia boy. You're bringing him home and you're putting him in a Raheem Morris defense. Like enough said, Raheem will have plenty of ways to use this young man and get him on the field. It would be a spot. If you start to see Jalen fall, I wonder if they would be willing to go up to ensure that they would get him. But if Jalen isn't there, it's going to be an edge guy. Is going to be an edge guy and it could very well be James Pierce. It could very well be Mikel Williams or Mike Green. They came out in droves as an organization for Mike Green's pro day, so all three of those guys fit. But it will be an Edge guy there. Pick 15.

[Ryan Wilson]

Jalen Walker by all accounts had great interviews at the combine, a great teammate off the field, clean and obviously I think his arrow is pointing up when we talk about him. As a football player. And then finally, before we take another break here, pick 16, we're halfway through this thing. The Arizona Cardinals, they can go in any number of directions. They can go offensive line, defensive line, wide receiver. Fans typically don't like the idea of wide receiver in these mock drafts. So I have good news for them. We're going with Will Johnson, who? If this were a year ago and we said Will Johnson is going in the middle of the first round, you would ask us if we were smoking something. But he didn't run throughout the pre draft process. He had the turf toe injury the second half of the season at Michigan. This could end up being a steal if we were willing to accept the fact that he may not be the fastest guy on the field, but based on his 2023 tape.

[Rand Carthon]

Yeah. And if you look at what their defense needs, and they need corners, but they like tall, long guys and that fits the mold of what Jonathan Gannon wants to do on defense. So Will Johnson is a great fit. And to combat the quote, unquote, lack of speed, again, this is tapping into your resources, going to Michigan and finding out what the GPS times were and how he played in those situations.

[Ryan Wilson]

Yeah. And I agree. And if you watch several of his pick sixes, no one was running them down. So he's at least faster than everyone else chasing him on his way to the end zone. Play speed, play speed. Apparently that's important.

[Rand Carthon]

Yes.

[Ryan Wilson]

438. You hit it here first. All right, we're halfway through this mock draft. We're going to come back after the break and talk about what the Cincinnati Bengals are going to do with pick 17. Right after this.

[Rand Carthon]

McDonald's meets the Minecraft universe with one of six collectibles and your choice of a Big Mac or 10 piece McNuggets with spicy nether Flame sauce. Now available with a Minecraft movie meal.

[Ryan Wilson]

At participating McDonald's for a limited time. A Minecraft movie only in theaters. Welcome back here with the first pick, our final mock draft of the 2025 draft cycle, which means it'll be fresh for another 29 or so hours before we get the truth. I'll be honest. Like, this is what we think will actually happen. I don't feel great about the first 16 picks in the 20 hours since we actually did this to put this together, I feel a little bit better about picks 17 through 32. So let's start at the top here at 17. The Cincinnati Bengals are on the clock. Mikel Williams is still there. I think he is just scratching the surface on who he will become at the next level and whether Trent, Trey Henderson. Excuse me, is there or not. I feel like Mikel is the direction you absolutely have to go.

[Rand Carthon]

Yeah, absolutely. Because you have to continue to add people opposite of Trey Hendrickson. And so that position hadn't been settled in recent years. And so you add in defensive coordinator Al golden and the multiplicity of his defenses and Mikell Fitz that because he could play standing up or with his hand down on the edge, you can reduce him and kick him inside some. And so Al golden would love to have a player of this structure, body structure, to move around his defense.

[Ryan Wilson]

I think he was 265 during the pre draft process. Again, he's young. So if you wanted to add five pounds, maybe more, maybe that'll be something to think about in the future. And you've talked before. You got to make sure the player is comfortable with that. But I think he may have the frame to do that. Pick 18, John Snyder zigs every time he thinks Seattle's going to zag. This feels like a zig, but I love it. And I think this actually has a realistic possibility of happening. Nikki Manwari, the safety out of South Carolina, this Cam Chancellor 2.0 or something more than that?

[Rand Carthon]

No, I think it could be a little bit more than that. It could be more like in the Cal Hamilton genre, because defensive. Well, now head coach Mike McDonald's. This is the type of safety he needs. I know some people have had corner mock there because they see the corner that they just took. And Devin Witherspoon, they took him fifth overall, and people see him playing inside, but he starts outside in base. And so they need that safety in the middle that can patrol the middle and line up in various spots. And I think he fits that.

[Ryan Wilson]

Do you think he can play deep half? I do. One of our coworkers who annoys me to no end, Pete Prisco, thinks he can't play anything but coming downhill.

[Rand Carthon]

No, I think he can play. I think he can play deep half.

[Ryan Wilson]

Take that, Pete. All right, next up, 19, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. And I feel like they can go in any number of directions depending on who's available. Edge rusher, off ball, linebacker. Feels like a fit. We have Mike Green going here, the edge rusher out of Marshall. What are some other directions they might consider, depending on what they're interested in?

[Rand Carthon]

Like you said, it's a BPA pick here between outside linebacker, corner and receiver. If there's the right receiver there, I can see them going there, which who I would think would be a good fit for them, I don't see lasting that far. But if there's a receiver in that range that they like, it'll be a great compliment to that room because that room is getting a little old in Tampa.

[Ryan Wilson]

Yeah, Baker Mayfield would certainly love that at pick 20. I've heard some scuttlebutt that Sean Payton loves. Send some Astigenti, but I can't envision a situation where you're going from 20 up to 10 or higher to get a running back in Astigenti who's a great player when we can stay put here. If you're George Payton and Sean Payton and we have them taking Amarian Hampton, running back out of unc.

[Rand Carthon]

Love this kid. Love the way he runs, Love the violence, love the physicality, the balance, the lower strength. He's a really good fit for them. And I've heard the same thing about them moving up from 20 to wherever they need to get to to get Ashtigenti. Sean Payton is a gambler. He is willing to make things happen. I wouldn't put it past him.

[Ryan Wilson]

I heard, I was talking to someone today that says Sean Payton does fall in love, but I don't know if that's too rich in terms of paying for that honeymoon, if you will. All right, pick 21. Here we go. Shador Sanders is still here, and this feels like a landing spot. I don't know if he gets past 21, rand, and you can correct me if I'm wrong, but Shadur Sanders, we have him going to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

[Rand Carthon]

Yeah. Can we put the watches up?

[Ryan Wilson]

I don't have a watch for Shador. You got your watch. There we go.

[Rand Carthon]

I'll say this, and I said this on air yesterday. Shedeur is used to consistency, consistency in the head coach and the messaging. Right. Because he's only been coached by Coach prime and some people see that as a knock. And what organization is the motto of consistency in this league? And that's the Pittsburgh Steelers. Only three head coaches since 1969, and Mike Tomlin is entering his 19th season as the head coach. This is an easy pick for them. If he's there to take him at 21, I could see them considering a defensive tackle as well. But if Shador Sanders is there at 21, to me, this is an easy call.

[Ryan Wilson]

I think it makes a lot of sense for he doesn't have to play next year. Number one, whatever the quarterback situation is, he can come in in the middle of the season if you want the Other argument I want to get your thoughts on this is that it's not a good scheme fit for him. But I say all the time he's going to have a running game and a tight end for the first time in two years. Do you think it makes sense in an Arthur Smith offense can sure have success in that offense?

[Rand Carthon]

I think so. Because again, Shedeur's game is processing. It's processing getting the ball out accurately. And he can do that. And he was going to have weapons in George Pickens and DK Metcalf that all he has to do is get these guys the ball and allow them to do their thing. And he has Friarmouth, you know, so he has weapons around him. And like you said, this is a running game he's never had before. A tight end that he's never had before. Oh, and by the way, a good defense. And I'm not so sure that he goes at pick 21 and he's not the day one starter. When has Mike Tomlin ever been afraid of a challenge?

[Ryan Wilson]

That's true. Kenny Pickett can attest to that. As a Steelers fan, that was a tough watch. One last thing before we move on. If you're Andrew Barry and the Cleveland Browns, any consideration to giving up pick 33 and pick 67, I think that math works out to getting to pick 20 to get Travis at number two and then Shedeur at number 20.

[Rand Carthon]

I mean, would that not be a dream to make that happen? And you have to consider it for Cleveland. But again, I think there's a spot that. A sweet spot for Cleveland if they want to give up picks to go to that we'll talk about here in a second. However, if you're sitting there, if you're Denver, you have to consider, especially if you're considering a running back, that you're going back to 33 and you could probably still get the same guy.

[Ryan Wilson]

Maybe. Maybe.

[Rand Carthon]

And so, Andrew, I hope you're listening. Please listen to Ryan and there's an opportunity for you to do it.

[Ryan Wilson]

Don't put it on me.

[Rand Carthon]

It'll be. It'll be great for us over here.

[Ryan Wilson]

There you go. Thank you. But don't put that on me because.

[Rand Carthon]

Put it on right.

[Ryan Wilson]

I got enough. I got enough to worry about. All right, pick 22. The Los Angeles Chargers are sitting here and like we've heard that a defensive back might be a consideration here, but they need defensive tackle help. You talk about this to death here. And no surprise in that it's a Michigan man and Kenneth Grant going to reunite with Jim Harbaugh. And let's go to pick 23 with the green Bay Packers. Defensive back is an obvious need. And we've heard that maybe wide receiver, if another young man happens to be available, which we don't think he will be. How do you like the fit of Maxwell Hairston going to Green Bay? Because his comp may be a little bit J.R. alexander, at least in terms of the physical presence of when he gets off the bus.

[Rand Carthon]

Yeah. And again, we are talking about a new defense, which is a similar defense that they run in San Francisco and what Pete Carroll is going to run in Vegas, where you have the corner who is tough and physical, off the edge. And for a guy that's slight of frame, he is plenty tough and he's not afraid to stick his face in the fan and he can cover and he has speed. And so this just makes a lot of sense in Green Bay, especially the weapons that he's going to have to cover in Detroit twice a year.

[Ryan Wilson]

Absolutely. All right, pick 24 here, the Minnesota Vikings and Rand, you can talk to them possibly trading down out of this pick. But I want to mention we have Derek Harmon, the defensive lineman out of Oregon, going here. And since we actually did the mock draft 20 hours ago in preparation for the show here, we both heard that he has potential medical concerns and could see him drop a little bit. How far we'll find out together. But the fact that he played the entire year potentially hurt speaks to how tough he is and he played at a pretty high level. So we have defensive line help going to Minnesota here. That could change for a couple of reasons. And that Derek Carter may slip a little bit because of those medicals that I talked about, but also because teams might be interested in coming to 24.

[Rand Carthon]

Absolutely. And this pick for him. And I'm glad you said toughness because I personally think a safety fit so well right here at 24. But Minnesota could be looking to continue to get tougher inside, right on offensive side and defensive side. So he fits from that standpoint. But if you're Minnesota and you only have four draft picks this year, a one, a three, a five and a six, why wouldn't you consider trading back and gaining more draft capital? And this is what I was talking about earlier when I said a sweet spot for Andrew Berry going up from 23, from 33 to 24, not having to give up as much.

[Ryan Wilson]

Right.

[Rand Carthon]

And him having a prior relationship with Kwesi Adolfo Mensah, who was his VP of football operations in Cleveland prior to getting the Vikings job.

[Ryan Wilson]

And by the way, if Shador somehow gets past 21, there's going to be a run on phone calls to Kwesi at 24, it feels like. Because that could be a possibility for teams hitting that spot if Shedeur falls. And even if Shedeur doesn't fall. I'll ask you this before we take a break. Is Chador quarterback two?

[Rand Carthon]

I think so.

[Ryan Wilson]

Okay.

[Rand Carthon]

I think so. And I don't think it's. In my opinion. I don't think it's close. Okay. It just makes sense to me. And going back, even if, like you said, if Shador gets down to 24 and he makes it there, now Kwesi can charge a premium.

[Ryan Wilson]

Right.

[Rand Carthon]

And now that gives you even more draft picks for this year, where you may walk in the draft with four and leave with seven. And that's a win for Minnesota.

[Ryan Wilson]

Absolutely. All right, we're going to take another quick break here and we will hit picks 25, 32 right after this. Dominate your fantasy baseball league with fantasy baseball team today, part of the CBS Sports Podcast network. Join Scott White, Chris Towers and me, Frank Stampfl every weekday as we recap every player from every game. We'll get you the latest news, waiver wire ads and drops trades to make prospect promotions and everything else you need to take down your league. Make sure to download and follow on Apple podcasts, Spotify and anywhere else podcasts are found. All right. Down the home stretch here in our last mock draft of the 2025 draft cycle. And with the first pick here, picks 25 through 32. Rand, why are you smiling?

[Rand Carthon]

Because you just said for this last cycle.

[Ryan Wilson]

Oh, yeah.

[Rand Carthon]

Knowing what's coming, right.

[Ryan Wilson]

That's like saying this is your last push up for now and then you gotta do some more push ups to your next set. To your next set. Pick 25, the Houston Texans. I've heard that they will sprint to the podium, as we like to say, for Kelvin Banks, for Mr. Booker, Tyler Booker. And if those guys are gone and they're gone in this mock draft, Donovan Jackson, the left guard, left tackle for much of last season, would be their pick here. So we have him going 25. That feels, I don't want to call it a no brainer because we haven't heard a lot of Donovan Jackson in the first round, but that feels like a pretty smart pick.

[Rand Carthon]

Yeah. And I've heard on the other side of that that they really do have a lot of love for him.

[Ryan Wilson]

Good.

[Rand Carthon]

And what they like to do, so it makes sense. And again, they have a new offensive coordinator that's going to be coming in. So it's a newer system and I'm just curious how much of the previous system is going to carry over. So it'd be interesting to see. But I've heard that they really like Donovan Jackson there.

[Ryan Wilson]

Yeah. So keep an eye on that once draft night rolls around here tomorrow. Pick 26. The LA Rams are on the clock. Rams, former team, both in St. Louis and Los Angeles. We have them going with Jihad Campbell, the off ball linebacker from Alabama. You like that pick?

[Rand Carthon]

I love it. It just makes so much sense, you know, especially considering you trade away Ernest Jones last year and you struggle to replace him and then now you have Troy Reeder and you have Omar Spaits in there penciled in as your current starting linebackers. To me, that just shows a big hole that you have there. And Jahad Campbell is a talented and explosive and athletic linebacker that will fit that defense.

[Ryan Wilson]

Well, speaking of explosive and athletic, you don't typically use those terms for an offensive tackle, but Josh Simmons, we have him going. The next pick, 27 to the Ravens, injured in October in that Oregon game, moved around pretty well. It was pro day, just doing warm up drills. He didn't take part in the pro day because he's still recovering. This feels like a Ravens pick in that he plays with a nasty edge. But also sometimes they redshirt guys that are injured and find a way to get bargains, if you will. If Josh Simmons were healthy, he might be the first offensive tackle off the board.

[Rand Carthon]

Yeah, and that's what I was going to, that's what I was going to say. Like I would be so interested to see where he ranked with the other guys had he been healthy. One of the favorite guys, you know, that I've done this season. Just watching him, watching the athleticism, watching how easy he moves and like you said, his ability to chase the ball downfield and play through the echo of the whistle. Not to the whistle, but to the echo of the whistle. You just love the way this guy plays football and just hope that he makes a speedy recovery and he's back to 100% right.

[Ryan Wilson]

This could be one of those things where like, oh, this is such a Ravens move and they get a steal here. All right, pick 28. This guy feels like a Brad Holmes slash Dan Campbell slash. Chris Spielman Guy Gray Zabel played left tackle at North Dakota State. He'll probably kick inside to guard and maybe eventually center once. Frank, when and if Frank Ragnow moves on in a couple Years here. Gray Zabel, any concerns about the FCS stuff because he went to the Senior bowl and balled out?

[Rand Carthon]

No, I mean, that's just the level that he played on. And there have been a bunch of guys that have made their transition, particularly on the offensive line. They had a guy that came out there a couple years ago that went down to Tampa and he's been a day one starter for them there. So I like this pick for them. Like you said, it's a Dan Campbell, Brad Holmes pick. My thing I'm most looking forward to is seeing whoever they pick, seeing what type of reaction we get out of their draft room if Brad is going to break the table and hug everybody in the room. So really excited to see that part.

[Ryan Wilson]

Does defensive line, edge rush make more sense here?

[Rand Carthon]

Edge rush is a strong argument for them there and I've had them mocked at taking James Pierce Jr. There. But when you look back through Brad's history of drafting there, he's never taken anyone that had quote unquote, character concerns. And so you just wonder if they're hedging their bet on finding a guy on day two that fits their mold and their style of play.

[Ryan Wilson]

Right. And edge rush feels a little deeper on day two. Interior offensive line for sure. And maybe that's the thinking there. Pick 29. Again, we did a seven round mock draft last week and the other tight end was available at pick 29, Colson Loveland somehow. Still there, not a huge glaring need for Washington, but you have to take in BPA situation, right?

[Rand Carthon]

Absolutely. And then again, Zach Ertz is on a one year deal and likely to retire after this season. And so now you have another Zach Ertz style player in being an F tight end that you can plug and play. And he's had some injury concerns with the shoulder, but from what I've been told is he will most likely miss the off season program, but expected to be cleared for training camp, which is the perfect time to be cleared and ready to play some football.

[Ryan Wilson]

Any concern about just taking mental reps during the May and June part of OTAs?

[Rand Carthon]

Oh, you have to, you have to, you have to, you have to. And that's where that's what this offseason is for. And that's why it's so important for these young guys to be in that program to get all these reps and get as many as possible. And the way Dan Quinn runs his system and the way he goes about developing players and coaches, that he's going to have plenty of time and plenty of Mental reps to have himself ready for training camp when it comes along.

[Ryan Wilson]

Yeah, Coltson Loveland is so much fun to watch when he's healthy. Next up, pick 30. Speaking of fun to watch, Buffalo Bills Malachi Starks feels like the perfect marriage. Bills fans will tell you that they love Taylor Rapp and they drafted the Cole Bishop out of Utah last year. I feel like there's still room in the DB room for Malachi Starks.

[Rand Carthon]

Yeah. And I absolutely love Malakai Starks. And when we were Talking about pick 24 to the Vikings, I thought when I said there's a guy that would be a perfect fit, I think he is the perfect fit. He's the quintessential Sean McDermott safety that can do all that's really smart, that gets everyone aligned. Very instinctive, can play the ball. Absolute great fit. I think if he's there for Buffalo at pick 30, they take him. They never look back. He starts and plays day one.

[Ryan Wilson]

I agree with that 100%. Next up, pick 31. Kansas City Chiefs made their way to the Super Bowl. Obviously were outlasted by the Philadelphia Eagles. We have them taking Josh Connerly Jr. The left tackle out of Oregon, and he's. In terms of the last few draft classes, I've taken Wanya Morris, they took Kingsley Sue Matea last year. Neither has worked out yet. Conner Leaf feels like a short term project. He's not a long term project. Athleticism through the roof. But how many projects can you take to try to figure out the left tackle position?

[Rand Carthon]

You got to keep swinging. You got to keep swinging.

[Ryan Wilson]

You make contact.

[Rand Carthon]

We do this every year at other positions. Right. Teams are constantly taking quarterbacks, hitting and missing. So why not take a guy, Take a chance on a guy like this. This is my Armand Menbu.

[Ryan Wilson]

Okay.

[Rand Carthon]

This is you. You love Mimboo. I have a lot of love for Josh Connolly Jr. And his style of play. Although probably not quote, unquote sexy, but he gets it done. He blocks his man at a high rate.

[Ryan Wilson]

Insanely athletic. They had him lined up at wide receiver times on extra points. That's how good of an athlete Josh Connolly Jr. Was. And finally, to round out this mock draft, pick 32, James Pierce Jr. Because it feels like a Howie Roseman. This guy sitting here, he's an insane athlete sort of pick. There are some off field concerns. They've had guys come into that program the last few years who have had some maturity issues, some off field concerns, and that locker room seems to have gotten everyone on the same page. And also the Old saying winning fixes a lot probably applies as well.

[Rand Carthon]

Yeah. And the one thing, and I'll say this about the Philadelphia Eagles front office, we know that they're a talented group of people there and they've won championships and they've built a roster to show they know what they're doing. But the one thing that they do at a better rate than most front offices around the league is their player development program.

[Ryan Wilson]

Yes.

[Rand Carthon]

And it's not just on the field. They have the resources, resources in and out of the building to help these guys grow and mature. And that is a big part and a big reason why they're able to take risk. Well, take these guys that have risk. But then they get to Philadelphia and you don't hear anything about it. And so, and Howie came out earlier this week and he was speaking on how Big Dom plays a role in that. And so they do a really good job of developing those guys. And they have the people in their front office to get it done. And so kudos to them. And that's why they could take a James Pierce Jr. If he's there.

[Ryan Wilson]

Yeah. It feels like you don't want to cross Big Dom in any situation, so I get that. All right, that's the first round. We're going to take one more quick break. When we come back, we'll talk about some best players still available on day two, and we'll find out when the next quarterback goes off the board right after this.

[Rand Carthon]

The missing child is Lucia Blix, 9 years old.

[Ryan Wilson]

Please let her come back home safely.

[Rand Carthon]

Thursdays, the kidnappers plundit meticulously. If money is what it takes to.

[Ryan Wilson]

Get her back, we're gonna pay it. The secrets they hide. You can't talk about this. You can't write about it. Are the clues. The mother's hiding something. I know it.

[Rand Carthon]

To find her, tell me where she is.

[Ryan Wilson]

The stolen girl. New episodes Thursdays stream on Hulu. Welcome back to with the first pick, the mock draft is in the books. Pick 1 through 32. Little Housekeeping before we get out of here. Rand. Best player available. Some names available at pick 33. Where the Cleveland Browns find themselves. Explain to me what happens on Friday morning, the hours leading up to the start of day two and the phone calls that Andrew Berry can expect and what he might want to do with that first pick of the second round.

[Rand Carthon]

Well, the phone calls start Thursday night.

[Ryan Wilson]

Oh, okay. They'll rest for the weary.

[Rand Carthon]

Yeah, they start Thursday night because you gotta be. You gotta get in. You gotta get in. You Gotta gauge the interest and see if guys are even willing. I'll give you an example. Last year, just, you know, calling around. Had a conversation with Brandon bean at pick 33 that night after the draft, driving home and he was, hey man, we're gonna stay put. And so now you move on if you want to move up and down. So I like when I was sitting in that chair, I like to gauge the interest to know if there's someone sitting there that I want to get. I can have a range in which I have to get there. But those calls will start Thursday night and carry into Friday until you work out something.

[Ryan Wilson]

So we had the Cleveland Browns taking Travis Hunter at number two. At pick 33, Cleveland and Andrew Berry find themselves at pick 34, Joe Shane and the Giants. So it sounds like if we're doing the math and Cleveland and or the Giants want a quarterback, they're not moving unless the deal is really sweet. Is that fair to say?

[Rand Carthon]

Yeah. And I would say too, let's, let's not forget New Orleans at 40. And I couple 33, 34 and 40 as that potential space for these guys to move up. Let's just say 26 to 32. Gotcha to get in there. And these teams have multiple mid round picks that they can use to get up there without giving up a lot. Now again, it depends on which one of these GMs that you're dealing with that could charge a premium. But like we talked about in the earlier segment, you're sitting there at 24. If you're Kwesi, Adolfo Mensah and you only have four draft picks and you know teams are coming up to get a quarterback, you got leverage and so you can hedge, you can hedge your bet there and get more picks.

[Ryan Wilson]

So any way on planet earth, I'm just looking here at the best available players like Nick Scorton still out there. Shemar Stewart's still out there. If you're the Cleveland Browns, would you go Travis Hunter and Shemar Stewart at 33, would that be in the, in the cards?

[Rand Carthon]

I would have to address this quarterback position.

[Ryan Wilson]

Okay.

[Rand Carthon]

I would have to address this quarterback position because again it's, you can have Travis and I'm pretty sure they want to play him at receiver earlier. You still have to get him the ball. You still have to have someone to consistently get him.

[Ryan Wilson]

Fair enough.

[Rand Carthon]

And if you're going there and you're going defense and you're going to pass rusher, like I get all of that. But for once and all in Cleveland, you Have to settle this quarterback position. They've had, what, 30 some odd starting quarterback since the team came back in, what, 99.

[Ryan Wilson]

99.

[Rand Carthon]

You gotta fix it. Yeah, you got to fix it. I'm tired of seeing the jersey of the guy that's constantly changing out the names and the numbers on the back.

[Ryan Wilson]

No, I get that. All right. Who was the first quarterback drafted after the first round? We had Cam going one, had Shadour going 21. Whether it's 33, 34, 40 to one of these three teams, who is the next quarterback to hear their name called?

[Rand Carthon]

My money's on Dart.

[Ryan Wilson]

Jackson Dart.

[Rand Carthon]

Jackson Dart. I just. I just think it just makes too much sense. And he's had private workouts with most of these teams at quarterback needy or they were at his pro day, one or the other. And I just think one of these teams will make a move to go up and get him.

[Ryan Wilson]

And the other question is, does Jackson Dart make his way into the first round?

[Rand Carthon]

I think so. I think so. Because again, when you're trying to get these quarterbacks done, and now with what these quarterbacks are making, it's almost cheaper to take a flyer on him in the first round, knowing that you got that fifth year option, as opposed to taking a guy in the second round who can renegotiate his deal after three, and you're going to have to pay him way more before.

[Ryan Wilson]

Yeah, that makes sense. Until you're the Steelers and you take Kenny Pickett and then you got to trade them. I'm just saying there's other.

[Rand Carthon]

Well, they got off the deal.

[Ryan Wilson]

They did get off the deal. All right, one last thing before we get out of here. We got 30 seconds here. 39 and a half. That's the draft spot. 40 is where the Saints find themselves. Does Tyler schuck go above 40 or after 40?

[Rand Carthon]

I think he goes after 40.

[Ryan Wilson]

Okay. All right. Thank you. Some reasonableness in the last few seconds here. That is it for us here with the first pick. We're gonna be here Thursday night, Friday night, Saturday night. Thanks to everyone who joins us. Scan that QR code to continue to join us for the next few nights. For 2025 NFL Draft. Prepare to be entertained. Gladiator 2 is now streaming on Paramount.

[Rand Carthon]

You hear that crowd?

[Ryan Wilson]

It's ferociously entertaining.

[Rand Carthon]

I'm just here for the games.

[Ryan Wilson]

And an absolute triumph.

[Rand Carthon]

Take your father's strength. His name is Maximus.

[Ryan Wilson]

Paul Mescal Pedro Pascal. With Connie Nielsen and Denzel Washington.

[Rand Carthon]

Strength and honor. Strength and honor.

[Ryan Wilson]

Gladiator 2 directed by Ridley Scott now streaming on Paramount. Plus rated River.