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Todd McShay releases his new NFL Mock Draft that’s full of surprises
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Some huge shockers here. In two weeks and a handful of hours we’re going to finally be able to separate the truth from the smokescreens of the 2025 NFL Draft. Without a doubt this has been one of the most difficult drafts to project, and some wild picks in Todd McShay’s 3.0 Mock Draft at The Ringer underscores how unpredictable this board is. The major issue in projecting this 2025 class is that outside of EDGE Abdul Carter and WR/CB Travis Hunter there isn’t anyone who feels like a “safe” pick. There are at least 12-15 guys on equal talent footing, and it comes down to how teams value specific traits in adding to their teams. So let’s dive into some of the wildest picks in McShay’s mock. Jaxson Dart over Shedeur?! Yes, this is actually happening — at least in Mock Draft form. McShay has the New Orleans Saints taking Jaxson Dart with the No. 9 overall pick and letting Shedeur Sanders fall out of the Top 10. This would be one of the most stunning, stupid, incredibly bad picks imaginable — and that’s precisely why I could see it happening. Dart is not a first round talent. He might not even be a second round talent. To take him in the Top 10, ignoring his myriad issues, is tantamount to making the same mistake the Jets did with Zac Wilson and 49ers did with Trey Lance in thinking “we can fix him.” There’s a trend with upside QBs to assume every one has a shot to be Josh Allen, when in reality most are like Will Levis. The reason this could happen though is that the Saints really need a QB for the future, and it’s unclear if Deion would block his son going to New Orleans. Jalon Walker to the Jaguars This is a little surprising, but it probably shouldn’t be. Walker has been a steady riser in the process and now finds himself as a Top 5 pick. McShay’s justification is that Walker allows for maximum scheme flexibility from the Jaguars, and while an edge rusher might seem like a luxury, it allows Jacksonville to move some pieces around on the line and create some new looks. Mason Graham becomes a Top 10 steal For much of the process Mason Graham has been mocked to the Jags at No. 4, but in McShay’s mock the draft breaks in a way that causes the Michigan DT to fall to the Carolina Panthers at No. 8. The Panthers really need help on the edge, but instead they’ll double-dip in the middle. Graham and Derrick Brown would be wrecking balls on the defensive line and it fits the mold of Carolina wanting to play inside out football. The Cowboys go full Cowboys Trying the predict what Dallas will do in the draft is utterly impossible. McShay swings big here with WR Tetairoa McMillan landing on the Cowboys with the No. 12 pick. Dallas has a lot of needs, but in this scenario they take a WR to pair with CeeDee Lamb hoping this will be the thing that puts them over the top. It won’t work, and the organization still needs to work out a plan for Micah Parsons, but this is a huge swing on upside. TWO big quarterback trades McShay cites the need for both the Falcons and Vikings to get more picks as his reasoning for allowing them to trade back, and the deals are pretty amazing. The Browns back into the first round at No. 15 and finally take Shedeur Sanders. If GM Andrew Berry is able to walk away with the Colorado handcuff in this draft (assuming Travis Hunter at No. 2) then it will be an absolute masterclass. Then we have the Giants jumping back up too, this time in a deal with Minnesota for the No. 24 pick. They take Alabama QB Jalen Milroe, who has been getting a lot of first round hype in recent days. McShay believes the Rams are targeting Milroe, which necessitates the Giants moving up from the top of the second round. A WR shocker in the Top 20 Speaking of receivers, how about a guy going in the Top 20 nobody had? At No. 16 the Arizona Cardinals take Texas WR Matthew Golden — who most people having lasting into the 20s. It’s not that this is a massive jump, and more surprising that the Cardinals would go WR in back-to-back drafts. However, pairing Golden with Marvin Harrison Jr. is a fascinating one-two punch for Kyler Murray and could yield some big results.
Some huge shockers here.
In two weeks and a handful of hours we’re going to finally be able to separate the truth from the smokescreens of the 2025 NFL Draft. Without a doubt this has been one of the most difficult drafts to project, and some wild picks in Todd McShay’s 3.0 Mock Draft at The Ringer underscores how unpredictable this board is.
The major issue in projecting this 2025 class is that outside of EDGE Abdul Carter and WR/CB Travis Hunter there isn’t anyone who feels like a “safe” pick. There are at least 12-15 guys on equal talent footing, and it comes down to how teams value specific traits in adding to their teams.
So let’s dive into some of the wildest picks in McShay’s mock.
Jaxson Dart over Shedeur?!
Yes, this is actually happening — at least in Mock Draft form. McShay has the New Orleans Saints taking Jaxson Dart with the No. 9 overall pick and letting Shedeur Sanders fall out of the Top 10.
This would be one of the most stunning, stupid, incredibly bad picks imaginable — and that’s precisely why I could see it happening. Dart is not a first round talent. He might not even be a second round talent. To take him in the Top 10, ignoring his myriad issues, is tantamount to making the same mistake the Jets did with Zac Wilson and 49ers did with Trey Lance in thinking “we can fix him.”
There’s a trend with upside QBs to assume every one has a shot to be Josh Allen, when in reality most are like Will Levis. The reason this could happen though is that the Saints really need a QB for the future, and it’s unclear if Deion would block his son going to New Orleans.
Jalon Walker to the Jaguars
This is a little surprising, but it probably shouldn’t be. Walker has been a steady riser in the process and now finds himself as a Top 5 pick. McShay’s justification is that Walker allows for maximum scheme flexibility from the Jaguars, and while an edge rusher might seem like a luxury, it allows Jacksonville to move some pieces around on the line and create some new looks.
Mason Graham becomes a Top 10 steal
For much of the process Mason Graham has been mocked to the Jags at No. 4, but in McShay’s mock the draft breaks in a way that causes the Michigan DT to fall to the Carolina Panthers at No. 8.
The Panthers really need help on the edge, but instead they’ll double-dip in the middle. Graham and Derrick Brown would be wrecking balls on the defensive line and it fits the mold of Carolina wanting to play inside out football.
The Cowboys go full Cowboys
Trying the predict what Dallas will do in the draft is utterly impossible. McShay swings big here with WR Tetairoa McMillan landing on the Cowboys with the No. 12 pick.
Dallas has a lot of needs, but in this scenario they take a WR to pair with CeeDee Lamb hoping this will be the thing that puts them over the top. It won’t work, and the organization still needs to work out a plan for Micah Parsons, but this is a huge swing on upside.
TWO big quarterback trades
McShay cites the need for both the Falcons and Vikings to get more picks as his reasoning for allowing them to trade back, and the deals are pretty amazing.
The Browns back into the first round at No. 15 and finally take Shedeur Sanders. If GM Andrew Berry is able to walk away with the Colorado handcuff in this draft (assuming Travis Hunter at No. 2) then it will be an absolute masterclass.
Then we have the Giants jumping back up too, this time in a deal with Minnesota for the No. 24 pick. They take Alabama QB Jalen Milroe, who has been getting a lot of first round hype in recent days.
McShay believes the Rams are targeting Milroe, which necessitates the Giants moving up from the top of the second round.
A WR shocker in the Top 20
Speaking of receivers, how about a guy going in the Top 20 nobody had? At No. 16 the Arizona Cardinals take Texas WR Matthew Golden — who most people having lasting into the 20s.
It’s not that this is a massive jump, and more surprising that the Cardinals would go WR in back-to-back drafts. However, pairing Golden with Marvin Harrison Jr. is a fascinating one-two punch for Kyler Murray and could yield some big results.
