DeMarcus Ware says Cowboys should take a running back in the first round
Former Cowboys linebacker DeMarcus Ware explains why Dallas should choose to improve their run game with their first-round pick in the NFL Draft.
Sports Seriously
If Ryan Poles, the Chicago Bears‘ general manager is right, the 2025 NFL draft could get “a little wild.” Thus these wild times call for boldness. We have your boldness.
The draft is just hours away and while no one knows what surprises await on Thursday in Green Bay, Wisconsin, these are some of our best guesses at what shakeups await.
Here are five of our bold predictions for the 2025 NFL draft:
Jaxson Dart doesn’t go in the first round
As the draft nears, many have been forecasting that several teams could scramble to make a move for a quarterback in the late first round. But what if they just…don’t?
The Cleveland Browns, New York Giants and New Orleans Saints all have early second-round picks, which could create pressure for one to jump up to Day 1 in order to land its signal-caller of choice. But if Shedeur Sanders makes it past the Pittsburgh Steelers at No. 21 and there’s a glut of options available, it could cement that this quarterback class will go down as analogous to the 2022 group, which produced just one first-round passer.
The Giants stand out as a sensible landing spot for Dart, and there should be several teams – including the Minnesota Vikings, Los Angeles Rams and Washington Commanders – who would be attracted to the possibility of moving back to the early second round. But don’t rule out the possibility that teams simply stand down. – Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz
Over 20 running backs will be drafted
The running back position isn’t devalued anymore – especially after Saquon Barkley and Derrick Henry ran roughshod over the NFL last season. I predict more than 20 running backs will be selected in this year’s draft.
Running back is the deepest position group on offense, and one of the strongest overall positions in the 2025 draft. I project Ashton Jeanty and Omarion Hampton will be selected in the first round. TreVeyon Henderson, Quinshon Judkins and Kaleb Johnson should all hear their names called within the first two days of the draft. Devin Neal, Cam Skattebo, Damien Martinez and Dylan Sampson I believe get selected on the second day as well. While several other running backs get drafted on Day 3.
In the last five NFL drafts, 2022 was the only time more than 20 running backs were selected. Expect 20+ this year. – Tyler Dragon
Bears trade with Patriots and draft Ashton Jeanty
Yeah, yeah, I’ve read and heard everything you have, too: New England, picking fourth overall, and head coach Mike Vrabel have fallen in love with Will Campbell (and his undersized arms) and plan on making him the centerpiece of a revamped offensive line charged with protecting quarterback Drake Maye for years to come.
But the Patriots have been considered among the league’s worst rosters for quite some time, dating back to the final years of the Bill Belichick era. Stockpiling picks, especially in a draft that’s been labeled as “starters not stars” by NFL Media draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah, is the savviest (and analytically reliable) way out of that hole.
It also makes the Bears an ideal trading partner. In addition to the 10th overall pick, Chicago owns two selections in the first part of the second round – No. 39 and No. 41 overall. No. 10 and one of those two picks – a sweetener may be necessary – could be enough to entice Patriots executive vice president of player personnel Eliot Wolf to move back.
Bears GM Ryan Poles would be wise to make the call. He retooled the offensive line via trades (acquiring Jonah Jackson and Joe Thuney) and free agency (center Drew Dalman). Jeanty, the Heisman runner-up, is a surefire top-five talent in this draft and well worth the maneuver. Adding a dynamic piece in the backfield ahead of Caleb Williams’ second season and the first year of head coach Ben Johnson’s tenure that much more manageable.
As far as prospects and teams go in the 2025 draft, there are few better fits than Jeanty and the Bears. But the Jacksonville Jaguars (fifth) and Las Vegas Raiders (sixth) pose real threats to draft Jeanty before the Bears can, should they remain idle.
Poles, therefore, has to be aggressive and jump the line to bring Jeanty to Chicago. – Chris Bumbaca
Draft could go sideways (and stay there) at Pick No. 5
Look at any mock draft right now, and it seems Thursday night will be fairly chalky through four picks. But what happens starting at No. 5, a selection currently owned by the Jacksonville Jaguars? (And let me start by saying I’m taking credit for all this Ashton Jeanty to the Jags momentum since I’ve had him at No. 5 in all three of my mocks, but moving on …)
These are the facts: The Jaguars have a tight-lipped rookie GM (James Gladstone) and head coach (Liam Coen) – not to mention Hall of Famer Tony Boselli, who recently became the team’s EVP of football operations. The Las Vegas Raiders, who select sixth, have a rookie general manager, too, in John Spytek. At No. 7 are the New York Jets…with rookie HC Aaron Glenn and GM Darren Mougey treating their operation like security clearances are required to enter Florham Park. The Carolina Panthers, who have the eighth pick Thursday, are old hats at this having been around the block … once, with second-year GM Dan Morgan and HC Dave Canales.
What does this all mean? There are a lot of unknowns here, in terms of personnel track records, player preferences and nascent philosophies being practically applied to team building (with the exception of newly hired Raiders coach Pete Carroll). Despite the groupthink that sets in this time of year, anything could happen (and often does) after any draft settles in after the first few picks – so expect some chaos. Or, to quote one of former NFL head coach Jim Mora’s less appreciated rants to reporters, “You really don’t know. You think you know, but you don’t know – and you never will.” – Nate Davis
Shedeur Sanders will continue to wear Black and Gold.
Is that a Pittsburgh Steelers uniform? Or a New Orleans Saints outfit? Yes, I’m padding my answer here. But I think Sanders–who sparkled in the black-and-gold color scheme for the Colorado Buffaloes–would land in a great spot with Mike Tomlin or Kellen Moore in charge.
Of course, Tomlin’s been at it for a while, but it’s been rough since Big Ben retired. Moore, meanwhile, is a new coach who would probably love the idea of starting from scratch in grooming his field general. What gives? The Steelers have the 21st pick in the first round, the Saints are situated with the ninth pick. Never mind the Shedeur Smear Campaign.
If Sanders is clearly a target for Pittsburgh, it could mean trading up, and way up, using much draft capital, to get into the top 10, ahead of New Orleans. If the Steelers stay put at 21 and Sanders falls as many project, I’m thinking that’s his floor. Still, it’s also a bit stunning to me that some other QB-needy teams with high picks — that’s you, Cleveland Browns (2nd overall) and New York Giants (3rd overall) — are projected to pass on Sanders. – Jarrett Bell
