The 2025 NFL Draft begins Thursday, and the selections could alter the course of several franchises.
While every team and fan base want to pick a great player, perhaps just as important is drafting someone who is a great fit for an organization. Patrick Mahomes’ path to stardom was helped by his going to Kansas City to play for an offensive genius, Andy Reid. But Baker Mayfield didn’t have the infrastructure he needed to maximize his potential when taken first overall by Cleveland, and it took him several stops to find that ideal fit in Tampa.
Here’s a look at the prospects and teams who are best suited for each other.
No. 2 Cleveland Browns and WR/CB Travis Hunter
Last year, the Browns went 3-14 thanks to massive struggles on both sides of the ball. They became the first team since the 1955 Steelers to both throw the most interceptions (23) and pick off the fewest passes (four). Wouldn’t it be perfect if there was someone who could help the passing games on both offense and defense? Enter the Heisman-winning two-way player Travis Hunter.In 2024, Hunter led the Big 12 in receptions, ranked second in both receiving yards and passes defensed, and ranked third in interceptions. One can debate how effective Hunter will potentially be in a two-way role, but that ability provides a bonus to whichever team gets him. That’s because Hunter being in a depth chart at both receiver and cornerback essentially opens an extra roster spot for a team, so there’s a hidden value in drafting him, in addition to his obvious talents.
No. 6 Las Vegas Raiders and RB Ashton Jeanty
The Raiders let Josh Jacobs walk in free agency last offseason, and while he went on to a 1,300-yard Pro Bowl season with Green Bay, Vegas finished dead last in rushing. The Raiders had both the fewest rushing yards and worst yards per carry in 2024, and no Raider placed in the top 50 in rushing yards. Their 3.6 yards per carry was the fourth-lowest in the 65-year history of the franchise, and since the team upgraded the quarterback position by trading for Geno Smith, now it’s time to fortify the backfield.Ashton Jeanty’s 2,601 rushing yards at Boise State was the second most in a single season in Division I history, and he also finished runner-up in Heisman voting. He simply refuses to go down on the first hit; his 1,970 rushing yards after contact was more than any other college player had in total rushing yards. Jeanty also led the nation in forced missed tackles, showing elusiveness along with that power. The top six NFL teams in terms of rushing yards last year made the playoffs—which is a first in NFL history—so it appears the pendulum is swinging back toward the ground game, which benefits someone like Jeanty.
No. 11 San Francisco 49ers and DL Mason Graham
The Niners lost three starting defensive linemen from last year’s squad, leaving only Nick Bosa still in San Fran. While the team was middle-of-the-pack in run defense, ranking 18th, just five teams pressured the QB less often than San Francisco. The Niners could use a pass rusher but also someone with the ability to play inside, since they have to replace both defensive tackles. Mason Graham of Michigan fits the bill. The DT anchored the Wolverines’ No. 4 run defense a year ago and accumulated the most pressures among defensive tackles over the last two FBS seasons.No. 23 Green Bay Packers and WR Emeka Egbuka
After last season, Packers running back Josh Jacobs infamously said about the team’s receiving room, “We need a guy that’s proven to be a No. 1.” The team has since added only Mecole Hardman, which means the Pack is still on the lookout for a top wideout. Green Bay could look toward the wide receiver factory of Ohio State for Jordan Love’s next go-to guy.Garrett Wilson, Chris Olave, Marvin Harrison Jr. and Jaxon Smith-Njigba are just some of the recent wideouts from OSU drafted recently, and none have disappointed. Of all those recent Buckeyes—and the ones before them such as Cris Carter and Joey Galloway—none of them caught more passes than Emeka Egbuka’s 205. The Packers have selected just three wide receivers in the first round over the last 51 years, but two of them—Sterling Sharpe and James Lofton—are Hall of Famers, and the other—Javon Walker—was a Pro Bowler.
No. 31 Kansas City Chiefs and OT Josh Conerly Jr.
Anyone who watched the Super Bowl—or any Chiefs game last year—knows that Kansas City struggled to protect Mahomes. For the year, he suffered the most hits (70), was the fourth-most pressured QB (170), and his 2.3-second average pocket time tied for the fifth lowest in the league. The team used eight different starting linemen, so they could use some stability.
OT Josh Simmons is an option, but he’s coming off a season-ending knee injury, and the Chiefs had enough O-linemen injuries a year ago to give them worry about taking Simmons. Conerly could be a better fit—he allowed just two sacks across 1,000-plus snaps at Oregon. Conerly could go from protecting Dillon Gabriel, who has the most passing touchdowns in FBS history, to protecting Mahomes, who could very well end up with the most passing TDs in NFL history.
