The NFL has long held a rule requiring college football players to be three years removed from the date of their high school graduation to be eligible for its annual first-year player draft.
But, in the age of on-going changes to the college football landscape, including the rise of NIL and the NCAA Transfer Portal, what if that rule no longer applied?
FOX Sports‘ NFL Draft analyst Rob Rang embraced that hypothetical and came up an interesting mock up of how the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft could play out if all college players, including underclassmen, were draft eligible. And he started with a bang, projecting rising redshirt sophomore Texas QB Arch Manninggoing No. 1 overall to the Tennessee Titans, followed closely behind by Ohio State superstar freshman WR Jeremiah Smith landing with the Cleveland Browns at No. 2 overall.
1. Tennessee Titans: Arch Manning, QB, Texas (R-Fr.)
As mentioned, FOX Sports started its hypothetical mock draft with arguably the most famous quarterback surname in football: Manning. The rising Longhorns sophomore will finally be taking the reins of the Texas offense after two years behind Quinn Ewers beginning this Spring, and is already being billed as a future No. 1 overall pick like his two famous uncles: Peyton and Eli Manning.
Rang: “In this all-available scenario, any franchise lacking a long-term lock at quarterback would be canvassing the country for the top prospect. While the sample size is undeniably tiny, Manning has already demonstrated the requisite size, arm strength, accuracy and athleticism to project as a future NFL star, like his famous uncles and grandfather.”
2. Cleveland Browns: Jeremiah Smith, WR, Ohio State (Fr.)
Jeremiah Smith certainly lived up to the hype as the top receiver in the 2024 recruiting class, rewriting many of the Buckeyes freshman receiving records in spectacular fashion. Smith wasted little time establishing himself as Ohio State’s No. 1 playmaker during the Buckeyes’ National Championship season, finishing with 76 receptions for a Big Ten-best 1,315 yards and 15 touchdowns.
Rang: “I can’t imagine Cleveland bypassing a ridiculous talent like Smith. … The 6-foot-3, 215-pound Smith is just different than any other non-NFL receiver, boasting exceptional physical traits and impressing scouts already with his commitment to improvement.”
3. New York Giants: Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado(Jr.)*
Given the underclassmen talent that’s now available, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner slides to No. 3, where the Giants race to select the two-way talent. Hunter is a generational talent after racking up 96 receptions for 1,258 yards and 15 touchdowns on offense and four interceptions, 11 passes defended and 36 total tackles on defense in 2024.
Rang: “Hunter is just too special to let fall further. Can you imagine his versatility and Heisman flair on Broadway? He could be the receiver to help challenge and protect Malik Nabers, as well as the lockdown corner that turns a good defense into a great one. “
4. New England Patriots: Mason Graham, DT, Michigan (Jr.)*
FOX Sports slots arguably the draft’s top defensive player to the Patriots, with the powerful 6-foot-3, 320-pound Graham finding a home in New England after tallying 52 tackles, 26 pressures, 7.5 tackles for loss, and 3.5 sacks for Michigan in 2024, including two sacks vs. Minnesota.
Rang: “I believe Mike Vrabel is going to be a terrific coach for the Patriots, and I’m equally excited about Graham’s fit in the middle of New England’s defense. Paired with blossoming star Keion White, the Patriots could have the makings of a dominant defensive line.”
5. Jacksonville Jaguars: Malaki Starks, S, Georgia(Jr.)*
FOX Sports gives the Jaguars, who had the NFL’s worst pass defense in 2024, a superstar safety that has been the heart and soul of Georgia’s secondary since landing in Athens as a five-star freshman in 2022. Starks has ranked among the Bulldogs’ Top 4 tacklers all three seasons at Georgia, including leading the team with 77 stops in 2024.
Rang: “The Jaguars’ toothless 29:6 touchdown passes allowed:interception ratio begs for reinforcements. … Starks is a superstar, blending size, speed, physicality and ball skills. He could be the spark plug on defense that Brian Thomas Jr. provided on offense this past season.”
6. Las Vegas Raiders: Caleb Downs, S, Ohio State (So.)
The Raiders don’t overthink it and follow the Jaguars’ lead by selecting Downs, who has a case as college football’s top safety each of the last two seasons. The former five-star 2023 prospect led Alabama with an eye-popping 107 tackles as a freshman and was Ohio State’s third-ranked tackler with 82 stops following an offseason transfer.
Rang: “Downs is a dominant defender. He was the SEC Freshman of the Year at Alabama in 2023 before helping the Buckeyes become national champions this year as a consensus All-American, despite less-than-imposing statistics. That’s because opponents wisely avoided him — as will NFL teams.”
7. New York Jets: Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State(Jr.)*
FOX Sports’ Top 10 run on superstar defenders continues as the Jets nab a player that is already being considered at No. 1 overall alongside Hunter, so long as QBs don’t fly off the board early. Carter was dominant off the edge for Penn State, racking up 12 sacks, 61 pressures, a NCAA-best 23.5 tackles for loss and 68 total tackles in 2024.
Rang: “A former linebacker with exceptional speed, the 6-foot-3, 245-pound Carter is going to wow in workouts and might ultimately wind up as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 draft. But in this exercise, he falls a bit to the Jets, a franchise needing some good fortune after back-to-back seasons of massive disappointment.”
8. Carolina Panthers: Dylan Stewart, EDGE, South Carolina (Fr.)
Another fit that seems almost too perfect for both parties, FOX Sports slots South Carolina’s superstar pass rusher in Stewart to stay home with the Panthers. The 6-foot-5, 250-pound former five-star recruit was a revelation for the Gamecocks as a freshman, ranking second on the team with 23 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss, and 6.5 sacks in 2024.
Rang: “Stewart has only completed one year at South Carolina, but he’s already earning some comparisons to (Panthers DE Jadeveon) Clowney, a former Gamecock and the 2014 No. 1 overall pick. Long-armed, powerful and surprisingly polished, Stewart has a bright future.”
9. New Orleans Saints: Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State (R-Sr.)*
The 6-foot-6 Warren shined as the Nittany Lions’ do-it-all offensive playmaker this past season, drawing strong comparisons to fellow QB-turned-TE Taysom Hill. So it makes too much sense for the Saints to take Hill’s heir apparent in Warren, who was Penn State’s leading receiver with 104 catches for 1,233 yards and eight touchdowns in 2024.
Rang: “With Taysom Hill (34) aging … and Juwan Johnson set to hit free agency, the Saints will be looking at tight ends anyway. Even in a strong class for tight ends, Warren is worthy of an early first-round selection, showing a Travis Kelce-like combination of size, body control and sticky hands.”
10. Chicago Bears: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State(Jr.)*
FOX Sports hands new Bears head coach Ben Johnson Chicago’s next great running back in Jeanty, who came within less than 30 yards of eclipsing Barry Sanders‘ NCAA single-season rushing record with 2,601 yards and 29 touchdowns as the Heisman runner-up in 2024.
Rang: “With Ben Johnson now the head coach, there could be fireworks in store for the Chicago offense. Inserting the playmaking Jeanty into a scheme that already boasts Caleb Williams, D.J. Moore and Rome Odunze (as well as Cole Kmet), and the Bears could look Lion-like very quickly.”
FOX Sports’ 2025 NFL Mock Draft picks No. 11-32
11. San Francisco 49ers: Will Campbell, OL, LSU (Jr.)*
12. Dallas Cowboys: Ryan Williams, WR, Alabama (Fr.)
13. Miami Dolphins: Colin Simmons, OLB, Texas (Fr.)
14. Indianapolis Colts: Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan (Jr.)*
15. Atlanta Falcons: Will Johnson, CB, Michigan (Jr.)*
16. Arizona Cardinals: Kelvin Banks Jr., OL, Texas (Jr.)*
17. Cincinnati Bengals: T.J. Parker, EDGE, Clemson (So.)
18. Seattle Seahawks: Tyleik Williams, DT, Ohio State (Sr.)*
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas (R-Sr.)*
20. Denver Broncos: Josh Conerly Jr., OT, Oregon (Jr.)*
21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Cam Ward, QB, Miami (R-Sr.)*
22. Los Angeles Chargers: Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan (Jr.)*
23. Green Bay Packers: Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame (Jr.)*
24. Minnesota Vikings: Jeremiyah Love, RB, Notre Dame (So.)
25. Houston Texans: Tyler Booker, OG, Alabama (Jr.)*
26. Los Angeles Rams: Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado (Sr.)*
27. Baltimore Ravens: Nic Scourton, DE, Texas A&M (Jr.)*
28. Detroit Lions: Jack Sawyer, DE, Ohio State (Sr.)*
29. Washington Commanders:Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State(Sr.)*
30. Buffalo Bills: Jalon Walker, LB, Georgia (Jr.)*
31. Philadelpia Eagles: JT Tuimoloau, EDGE, Ohio State (Sr.)*
32. Kansas City Chiefs: Derrick Harmon, DL, Oregon (R-Jr.)*