Lou Pickney's 2025 NFL Mock Draft

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Hey Lou keep up the good work. You are one of the few websites that actually lists the Cowboys as drafting a DE first them WR. A lot of other websites have Dallas still drafting a CB or DT which does not make any sense. A little off topic here but who are the big winners and losers so far in free agency. Also how do you rate this rate draft class talent wise compared to years past? I understand there is no clear cut #1 but it seems to me that here is a lot depth in this years draft.

Lou: It's still a distinct possibility that Dallas will trade down from #20 (the pick it acquired from Buffalo last year), so mocks that have a CB or DT there could be foreseeing a trade happening there. But I don't see Dallas keeping the #20 and picking a CB or DT there, as you stated.

As for taking a DE at #11 (or a DE/OLB hybrid in the case of Shawne Merriman), I think that hinges on Mike Williams and Braylon Edwards being gone by that spot. But still, Dallas takes a DE at #11, maybe trades the #20 pick, and then goes WR in round two... it makes sense, no? Though Dallas would have a steal in Williamson at #20 in my opinion.

This draft is light at the top compared with years past, but it is deep, particularly into the second round. That's why I think Dallas might want to think twice before dealing the #20 pick (unless it's just to move down a couple of spots to get a mid-round pick). Matt Leinart and D'Brickashaw Ferguson would've been likely top five picks had they come out early (and Leinart would've been the hands-down favorite to go #1 to San Francisco). So to that end, the top is weak without a Michael Vick to be a runaway consensus choice as the top selection. But at least San Francisco needs a QB and has two good QB prospects to choose from at #1.

The draft is a little weaker at DT than in years past, but DT is such a crapshoot that it really will be tough to fairly judge until 3-5 years from now. There are some great DEs in this draft, and with the 3-4 defense coming back into vogue, the hybrid DE/OLB is a valuable piece of the puzzle.

On offense the WRs are a little weaker on paper than last year, but that's simply because last year had such an amazing crop of players. But with the emergence of guys like Troy Williamson and Roddy White, there is enough depth there to make it competitive.

As for free agency, teams seem to be much more prudent as a whole than in years past, realizing the salary cap can be a burden that can cripple a team. Baltimore's acquision of Derrick Mason and Samari Rolle looks very impressive and I'd say is the biggest "splash" as a 1-2 combo. The biggest move to-date, while not a free agency maneuver, was the Oakland/Minnesota trade that sent Randy Moss to the Raiders. The wide assumption by many fans is that Oakland "won" that trade, but only time will tell on that.

The loser to-date seems to be Buffalo, which has not been able to deal Travis Henry. It's still very possible that a Henry-to-Arizona deal will happen, but if the Bills find themselves stuck with a disgruntled RB, it could mean trouble in the clubhouse.

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