Mel Kiper's 2025 1st round Mock Draft 3/18/25

[steelbtexan]

Kiper is a poser

Kiper gained status because only Bushbaum and Kiper were doing this back in the day. Bushbaum was awesome and the father of the draftnik community. Kiper not so much. Unfortunately Bushbaum passed away. RIP Joel

 

[cland]

The recent mocks cause my head to spin. Seems like most of them have moved some of what i thought were 1st round down to 2nd. Example is Zabel 1st and then they have Tyler Booker mid 2nd. Booker is in my opinion is the best guard and is worthy of 1st rd. If Booker is slding into second I would love a trade up for him.

My concern with Booker is that his tenacity won't be enough when the opposing DL is much more athletic than he is. I'm a %90 game tape person, but his RAS score isn't just below-average it's downright terrible (3.68 out of 10).

 

[beerlover]

My concern with Booker is that his tenacity won't be enough when the opposing DL is much more athletic than he is. I'm a %90 game tape person, but his RAS score isn't just below-average it's downright terrible (3.68 out of 10).

Tenacity is not his issue, it's can he extend beyond his phone booth athletic limitations? To be fair it's probably good thing, schematically, we don't know for sure, exactly what Caley offense will look like. Not showing your hand (scheme he will roll out) keeps other teams from knowing who to jump ahead of to get specific player they covet as well. After this is all over, it will make more sense, come offseason and fall camp. Don't be in a rush to hand out draft grades, until we know how drafted prospects all fit together. Right now, Texans should get benefit of doubt, hope to say, not only in DeMeco we trust but in Caley we trust. No pressure

 

[steelbtexan]

Tenacity is not his issue, it's can he extend beyond his phone booth athletic limitations? To be fair it's probably good thing, schematically, we don't know for sure, exactly what Caley offense will look like. Not showing your hand (scheme he will roll out) keeps other teams from knowing who to jump ahead of to get specific player they covet as well. After this is all over, it will make more sense, come offseason and fall camp. Don't be in a rush to hand out draft grades, until we know how drafted prospects all fit together. Right now, Texans should get benefit of doubt, hope to say, not only in DeMeco we trust but in Caley we trust. No pressure

Agreed, truth id Ryans is going to be over the defense and Caserio has given Ryans what he needs to have a better defense next yr before the 1st draft pick is made. This draft is going to be focused on the offensive side of the ball.

The biggest question for me is Caserio going to draft a stud defensive player in rd 1 and then focus on the offense, or is he going to be all in on the offensive side of the ball. I wouldn't pass up on a really talented defensive guy like Nolan/Alexander etc... if one of Conerly/Loveland/Zabel aren't there then I'm going BPA DT/I also like Sweshinger a lot and drafting Williams at 2-58, then drafting Ratlege in the 3rd even if I ha to trade up to get him.

Nobody has said this, but Sweschinger is a stud and would be an awesome addition to this defense.

 

[TheRealJoker V2]

Nobody has said this, but Sweschinger is a stud and would be an awesome addition to this defense.

John Harris said he reminds him of Fred Warner in coverage. I’d take that! But I don’t think they take a LB until day 3 if at all.

 

[cland]

Tenacity is not his issue, it's can he extend beyond his phone booth athletic limitations? To be fair it's probably good thing, schematically, we don't know for sure, exactly what Caley offense will look like. Not showing your hand (scheme he will roll out) keeps other teams from knowing who to jump ahead of to get specific player they covet as well. After this is all over, it will make more sense, come offseason and fall camp. Don't be in a rush to hand out draft grades, until we know how drafted prospects all fit together. Right now, Texans should get benefit of doubt, hope to say, not only in DeMeco we trust but in Caley we trust. No pressure

That was the point I was trying to make and I think we're saying the same thing. Booker HAS tenacity (that let him perform well in college) but it won't do him any good if the opposing DL is (extremely) more athletic. Really the worst (unexpected) thing about his RAS score is his low bench strength. If you take a guy who can't move laterally to get angles, you'd hope he could at least use pure strength to knock over the guy directly in front of him... At 21 reps I don't see that happening. IMO opinion I pass until he's still their at the Texans second 3rd rounder.

The only plus thing about Booker is his arm length at G (34 1/2), but without the quick feet he'll be reaching more than blocking against NFL DTs.

 

[beerlover]

Yeah, gives me Kenyon Green vibes. Green 6-4 323lbs 34 1/8 arm length 10 3/8” hands low RAS score, 5.24 forty . Tyler Booker 6-5 321lbs 34 1/2” arm length 11” hands low RAS, 5.38 forty.

 

[steelbtexan]

Agreed, truth id Ryans is going to be over the defense and Caserio has given Ryans what he needs to have a better defense next yr before the 1st draft pick is made. This draft is going to be focused on the offensive side of the ball.

The biggest question for me is Caserio going to draft a stud defensive player in rd 1 and then focus on the offense, or is he going to be all in on the offensive side of the ball. I wouldn't pass up on a really talented defensive guy like Nolan/Alexander etc... if one of Conerly/Loveland/Zabel aren't there then I'm going BPA DT/I also like Sweshinger a lot and drafting Williams at 2-58, then drafting Ratlege in the 3rd even if I ha to trade up to get him.

Nobody has said this, but Sweschinger is a stud and would be an awesome addition to this defense.

Absolutely love Sweschinger. He's the missing piece to this defense. Doubt he makes it to 2-58 and I doubt that Caserio/Ryans would pick him.. If Caserio decides to trade down from 1-25 Sweschinger should be in play with one of the 2nd rd pick.