NFL Draft will be here before we know it and there are a few Michigan football players who have a shot to become first-round draft selections. Most not

Mel Kiper, draft expert for ESPN, has the Cleveland Browns passing on a quarterback for arguably the best player in the draft.

In his initial 2025 first-round NFL mock draft, esteemed ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. projects San Francisco to address the offensive side of the football. Kiper’s initial projection sees the 49ers scooping up talented Texas Longhorns offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. with the No. 11 pick.

ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN – AUGUST 31: Colston Loveland #18 of the Michigan Wolverines celebrates a second half touchdown with Tyler Morris #8 while playing the Fresno State Bulldogs at Michigan Stadium on August 31, 2024 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

With the college football season officially over, Mel Kiper Jr. released his first 2025 NFL mock draft. Here is where Penn State's Abdul Carter and Tyler Warren landed.

ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. unveiled his first mock draft of the 2025 cycle Wednesday, taking a different approach than most with the Cowboys’ 12th overall pick. Over the last few weeks, various draft pundits have tabbed Ashton Jeanty as Dallas’ pick in the first round.

In the latest mock from our Christian D’Andrea — a top-five mini-mock — he had the Browns taking Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders at quarterback. But in Mel Kiper Jr.’s first mock of the year for ESPN, he had Sanders’ teammate Travis Hunter going to Cleveland and Sanders going to the New York Giants at No. 3.

Let the NFL mock drafts begin. This week the godfather of mock drafting — ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. — released his first pass at the 2025 NFL mock draft. The New York Giants hold the third overall selection in the upcoming draft and are desperately searching for their next franchise quarterback.

This year has the added bonus of having two players coached by Deion Sanders, including his son, with the talent and potential to belong in any conversation about who belongs at No. 1. Mel Kiper Jr. has hit the white smoke and broke the seal on his mock drafts and his first attempt to figure out which name will be called first by Roger Goodell has him landing on a somewhat surprising answer.

Offensive line is a priority for the Dolphins, but it’s hard to argue with Mel Kiper’s solution for the massive hole in Miami’s secondary.

He believes Abdul Carter could take New England's defense to "another level." The post Mel Kiper Jr. has Patriots selecting Penn State star at No. 4 appeared first on Boston.com.