FBG Mock Draft '25 - 32 GMs - 1.19 Derrick Harmon DT, Oregon (15 Viewers)

[travdogg]

So, the Bears have been very active this offseason. They started by adding maybe the biggest prize of the offseason, in Ben Johnson. He alone could be worth more than any other addition by any NFL team. I'm strongly of the belief that the Bears are not and have not been as much talent deficient as coaching deficient particularly on offense.

Then the Bears used FA to greatly improve their OL, adding Joe Thuney, Jonah Jackson, and then arguably the best young C in the NFC in Drew Dalman. The Bears suddenly may have a top 3 OL in the NFL. They then added Dayo Adeyingbo to the DL, which was possibly an overpay (Jonah Jackson probably was too) but a useful addition.

This draft in my eyes, has 2 elite players in it, Abdul Carter and Travis Hunter. After them, I think the next group doesn't differ much. I honestly think the dropoff from #2 to #3 as big than the dropoff from #3 to #40. In my eyes the Bears need that "Stud" that they haven't had much in the 2000s. Pretty much just briefly Khalil Mack and Brandon Marshall, otherwise you probably have to go back to Brian Urlacher. To me trying to find some decent upgrades with 3 picks in the top-41, holds less value than adding a elite gamechanger.

Which brings me to the pick itself. Abdul Carter probably fills a bigger need, and would be a Will Anderson like addition to me, and allow Adeyingbo to work back and forth between DE/DT. There is certainly some strong logic to it, and if I was unable to acquire pick #2, I was willing to make a similar offer for pick #3 if he was still there. Having said that:

With the 2nd pick of the 2025 NFL Draft the Chicago Bears select Travis Hunter CB/WR Colorado.

I think Hunter is arguably the best non-QB to come out in a decade. Personally, I think he's best as a CB who maybe plays some WR just like his college HC. I think adding Hunter could give the Bears the best secondary in the NFL, and new DC Dennis Allen has shown the ability to get a lot out of less. What he could do with Hunter, Jaylon Johnson, Kyler Gordon, Jaquan Brisker, and Kevin Byard could be special.

I think Hunter has a HOF ceiling. I don't think a Champ Bailey comp is unfair or unrealistic. He will not be beat deep, and he has elite ball skills, and obviously work ethic given his 2-way status. The only knock on his game is I don't think he's a particularly strong player, so maybe don't match him up 1-1 against the Mike Evans types, but I think he holds his own in run defense, and obviously is a game changing playmaker. This also has the benefit of pushing Tyrique Stevenson into the Dime, which is an excellent depth piece.

I think Travis Hunter could be the best CB in the NFL by the end of the 2025 season. He's that amazing.

Ah, it's the Jalen Carter debacle all over again.

What do you mean?

Come on. Unless you are absolutely convinced Abdul Carter misses a significant part of year one, there is no reason not to take him.
Hunter is a guy without a clear position. At CB, I'd just stay at 1.10 and get Will Johnson, who I'm not convinced isn't a better CB anyway. At WR, yeah, he might be the best one in a weak class, but he doesn't even want to play there constantly. Just stay at 10 and go McMillan (I am not a fan of going WR though).

I think Hunter is a better prospect than Carter. The "lack of clear position" is a positive not a negative. He's been this amazing playing 2, he'll improve at either if he plays just 1. I also don't think Will Johnson is anywhere near the CB Hunter is. I don't even think Johnson is better than Barron, and I'm a Michigan fan. Johnson wouldn't be on my radar at #10.

I do like Carter, but I think his upside is being somewhat overrated. Its less Myles Garrett and more Will Anderson. Still my #2 overall in the class though and would also be worth what I paid in my opinion.

If I'd stayed at #10, McMillan would have been the pick, with the idea of moving DJ Moore to the slot, and daring defenses to either play zone giving Moore/Kmet free reign in the middle or play man and open themselves up to 1-1 vertical matchups with 2 big time contested catch winners.

ETA: I'm curious what will be there at 39/41, and I'll be fully honest about who I'd have taken there when weighing if the trade up was the right decision.

 

[Ministry of Pain]

Good Evening Everyone,
I will do my best this evening to keep up but I am working in the mixing lab with the Mrs on Technics 1200s and a Xone 96, I'll be an infrequent visitor

I am fully understanding of folks who signed up and have weekend obligations with their families, sincerely I understand, this time with the Mrs is the same thing
When you get a chance please check in and let us know what's going on

My inbox is open if you need to leave a pick to be posted in your absence or pick anyone you trust

I just opened a bottle of red wine to relax and take my mind of the financial sector
Cheers Everybody!

 

[Ministry of Pain]

At #20, the Denver Broncos select:

Grey Zabel - C/G - North Dakota State

Anyone who watched tape of the Senior Bowl knows what this guy is capable of. He's got O-tackle skills, and his strong athleticism and quickness will fit S. Payton's zone concepts perfectly. Zabel should be a big upgrade over either C Wattenberg or RG Powers and help take an already good O-line to the next level.

Obviously the consensus pick here was RB Hampton, but we all know this draft is deep in RB's. IMO Zabel will make the greater marginal impact

I wondered just how far he was going to make it, I wanted to trade back to #20, you know that
Perfect spot, he might not go this high in a few weeks but he's worth it
Best Dual threat at OG/OT in the Draft and I even like that he's from NDSU based on other OL that have previously been drafted
I wanted him for the Miami Dolphins and sincerely hope they have an opp to select him at the right spot

I literally just saw this pick, congrats
One of the best picks in the Draft
Check the 2nd post with the selections

 

[efactor]

Good Evening Everyone,
I will do my best this evening to keep up but I am working in the mixing lab with the Mrs on Technics 1200s and a Xone 96, I'll be an infrequent visitor

I am fully understanding of folks who signed up and have weekend obligations with their families, sincerely I understand, this time with the Mrs is the same thing
When you get a chance please check in and let us know what's going on

My inbox is open if you need to leave a pick to be posted in your absence or pick anyone you trust

I just opened a bottle of red wine to relax and take my mind of the financial sector
Cheers Everybody!

Enjoy that "warm" vinyl sound

You might want to open 3-4 bottles to take your mind off the market

 

[Ministry of Pain]

Good Evening Everyone,
I will do my best this evening to keep up but I am working in the mixing lab with the Mrs on Technics 1200s and a Xone 96, I'll be an infrequent visitor

I am fully understanding of folks who signed up and have weekend obligations with their families, sincerely I understand, this time with the Mrs is the same thing
When you get a chance please check in and let us know what's going on

My inbox is open if you need to leave a pick to be posted in your absence or pick anyone you trust

I just opened a bottle of red wine to relax and take my mind of the financial sector
Cheers Everybody!

Enjoy that "warm" vinyl sound

You might want to open 3-4 bottles to take your mind off the market

 

[Crippler]

With the 23rd pick the Packers select WR Matthew Golden Texas

We looked at LT, CB and Edge also. . Might have taken Williams to help pass rush but gone

Really need some speed to pen things up with Watson hurt.

 

[menobrown]

Might have taken Williams to help pass rush but gone

If you would have, and I think it would have been a good pick, that would make 3 straight picks were the team/person got sniped with the pick right before them.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

3.24 - Minnesota Vikings select...Shavon Revel Jr., CB East Carolina

A lock 1st rounder (and possibly top 10) prior to his ACL injury in September. He should be good to go by the time Training Camp rolls around.

He's a lengthy corner with the speed to keep up with the best of them. He's physical and has a high ceiling.

In searching for defensive backfield help the Vikings have been turning over rocks and finding...what you find under rocks. Rumors of a possible Mike Hilton signing notwithstanding, the Vikings still need to upgrade their corners. And corners are harder to find than safeties (which is certainly the expected pick here).

 

[Buckna]

I think the thing I can most say with confidence is that I don't expect the Texans to stay put at 25. GM Caserio loves to move up and down, they are outside the target range for the top OT's and while I had Zabel queued up here he obviously didn't last in this mock. Likely a good chance Houston targets a specific guy or two and makes a move up to grab them as they have an extra 3rd this year and an extra 2nd next year from the Tunsil trade. I considered trying to move up for a Tyler Warren or another Tackle but waited to see what may "fall" as Houston does have other holes to fill outside of multiple O'line spots. I think they target a guy to move up into the 'teens and if gone early they move down and take a shotgun approach in the 2nd & 3rd with OT, OG, DL, or WR. Obviously IOL is also an option here so I think HOU goes upside here based on what i know of the remaining available linemen. Given this mock:

With the 25th pick Houston takes OT Josh Simmons - Ohio State.

Many have said he'd be a top 10 selection if healthy and the best of the OT's. Houston loves guys that can play multiple positions on the line and Simmons has played both right and left. If Simmons is not quite healthy to start the season, Houston has Blake Fisher drafted in the 2nd last year or short-term fill-ins like Cam Robinson from FA to fill in at LT and can keep Tytus Howard at RT. If Simmons is ready to play, they can kick Howard to Guard (not ideal but better than what they currently have penciled in at G) once again and have some mix of Fisher, Robinson and Simmons fill the two bookend spots and swing tackle spots.

 

[travdogg]

I think the thing I can most say with confidence is that I don't expect the Texans to stay put at 25. GM Caserio loves to move up and down, they are outside the target range for the top OT's and while I had Zabel queued up here he obviously didn't last in this mock. Likely a good chance Houston targets a specific guy or two and makes a move up to grab them as they have an extra 3rd this year and an extra 2nd next year from the Tunsil trade. I considered trying to move up for a Tyler Warren or another Tackle but waited to see what may "fall" as Houston does have other holes to fill outside of multiple O'line spots. I think they target a guy to move up into the 'teens and if gone early they move down and take a shotgun approach in the 2nd & 3rd with OT, OG, DL, or WR. Obviously IOL is also an option here so I think HOU goes upside here based on what i know of the remaining available linemen. Given this mock:

With the 25th pick Houston takes OT Josh Simmons - Ohio State.

Many have said he'd be a top 10 selection if healthy and the best of the OT's. Houston loves guys that can play multiple positions on the line and Simmons has played both right and left. If Simmons is not quite healthy to start the season, Houston has Blake Fisher drafted in the 2nd last year or short-term fill-ins like Cam Robinson from FA to fill in at LT and can keep Tytus Howard at RT. If Simmons is ready to play, they can kick Howard to Guard (not ideal but better than what they currently have penciled in at G) once again and have some mix of Fisher, Robinson and Simmons fill the two bookend spots and swing tackle spots.

Love this pick. If not for the knee injury, I think Simmons goes between Campbell and Membou. Like you said, the Texans have options if he's not ready for week 1. Even with the injury, I like him more than Banks or any of the interior guys. I think Howard moving to G is a solid option to get your best 5 out there once Simmons is ready.

 

[dkp993]

3.26 - Maxwell Hairston CB Kentucky

The run on cornerbacks has officially begun. With it being our biggest position of need and having the core of a young up-and-coming D, now is the time. Really was a coin flip between Hairston and Amos as both have strong upsides but very different profiles. Ultimately Hairston’s aggressive play style, threat to take it to the house if he picks one and his ability to keep the top on the defense had him winning the toss up. Let’s go Rams!