- NCAA. Deion Sanders Jr. becomes his father's new thief after Travis Hunter's departure and steals from his office
- NCAA. NFL makes it clear what they think of Shedeur Sanders as QB market starts heating up
The 2025 NFL Draft is fast approaching, and while speculation is running rampant, one thing seems clear-quarterbacks Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders are expected to be the first two players off the board. However, the exact order and destinations remain uncertain, as multiple teams at the top of the draft have significant needs at the position but could also opt for a defensive powerhouse instead.
The first three teams in the draft order - the Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns, and New York Giants - are all in the market for a franchise quarterback.
But unlike the past two years when Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels went No. 1 and No. 2 in 2024 and Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud did the same in 2023, there is no clear-cut hierarchy this time around. Top defensive prospects like edge rusher Abdul Carter and two-way phenom Travis Hunter are highly rated on many draft boards, creating a level of unpredictability at the top.
Giants and Raiders eye franchise quarterbacks
While the Titans and Browns currently hold the top two picks, a pair of aggressive trades could shake up the draft board early.
In the first edition of the Associated Press' 2025 mock draft, the New York Giants and Las Vegas Raiders are both projected to move up to secure their future franchise quarterbacks.
The Giants have been desperate for quarterback stability and were rumored to have targeted Jayden Daniels last year, only to see him snatched up by Washington. With veteran options like Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson uncertain, head coach Brian Daboll and general manager Joe Schoen could opt for a long-term solution in Ward.
Ward led the nation with 39 touchdown es in 2024, threw for 4,313 yards, and topped the leaderboard with 74 es of 20 or more yards. His ability to stretch the field and command an offense makes him an attractive prospect for New York, which has struggled to find a reliable er in recent years.
The trade details in this mock draft have the Giants sending the No. 3 overall pick and a second-rounder (34th overall) to Tennessee in exchange for the top selection and a fifth-round pick (168th overall). The move allows the Titans to target a top defensive prospect while accumulating more assets for their rebuild.
For the Raiders, the ideal situation would be to stay at No. 6 and hope that Sanders falls to them, but that's a gamble they may not be willing to take. Instead, they could pull the trigger on a trade to ensure they secure the Colorado quarterback.
Sanders has been mentored by Tom Brady and is no stranger to high expectations. His poise under pressure and ability to lead an offense make him an attractive option for Las Vegas, which has cycled through quarterbacks in recent years. Though Sanders has his critics, some of whom unfairly judge him based on his personality rather than his on-field ability, his talent speaks for itself.
The proposed trade scenario has the Raiders sending the No. 6 pick and two third-round selections (68th and 73rd overall) to the Browns in exchange for the No. 2 pick and a fifth-rounder (165th overall).