Locked On Bengals - Daily Podcast On The Cincinnati Bengals - NFL Mock Draft: Bengals, Seahawks, Bucs, Broncos, Steelers and Chargers are on the clock!

Episode Date: April 17, 2025

Who will the Cincinnati Bengals, Seattle Seahawks, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Denver Broncos, Pittsburgh Steelers and Los Angeles Chargers select in the 2025 NFL Draft? Walter Nolen, Tyler Booker, James Pearce Jr., Omarion Hampton, Kenneth Grant, and Colston Loveland come off the board. Locked On’s seven-episode Mock Draft is here.  For every episode of the 2025 Locked On NFL Mock Draft search Locked On NFL Draft wherever you get your podcasts. Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!Amazon Fire TV Stick 4kDid you know your Fire TV is also an Xbox? Turn any TV into your gaming and entertainment hub with Fire TV Stick 4K devices — no console required. Head to Amazon.com/firetvlockedon to get started. Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription and compatible controller required. GametimeDownload the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNBA for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime. Monarch MoneyTake control of your finances with Monarch Money. Use code LOCKEDONNFL at monarchmoney.com for 50% off your first year. FanDuelRight now, new customers can get TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY DOLLARS in BONUS BETS when your first FIVE DOLLAR BET WINS! Download the app or head to FANDUEL.COM to get started. Bet with FanDuel—Official Partner of the NBA. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

It's that time of year. It's the Locked-on NFL mock draft special. Our host decide for all 32 teams who their next cornerstone player will be. Who will reach? Who will fall? Find out now. We are rolling into the back half of round one now. Pick 17 through 22 on this edition of the 2025 Locked-on NFL mock draft special.

The most comprehensive mock draft you'll find. And it's even bigger and better. again this year. It's seven episodes. We're getting through it and we'll have the entire first round and more of the NFL draft with unparalleled insight from the local experts of all 32 teams here on the Lockdown Podcast Network, your team every day. We're talking binge-worthy special here. You'll get each selection and inside look from all 32 of our NFL shows and team building insights from the draft dudes, Kyle Crabs and Joe Marino of Lockdown NFL scouting and and a fantasy insight from our locked on fantasy experts for some of the biggest selections

in this year's draft. And of course, we are your host. I'm Brian Peacock, the NFL analyst and co-host of the Peacock and Williamson NFL show and Lockedon 49ers podcast. Here with me are my co-host, former NFL scout Matt Williamson. And joining Matt and I are NFL draft experts, Keith Sanchez and Damien Parson from the outstanding Locked-on NFL draft podcast.

So to get this conversation going, You've got pick 17 and the Cincinnati Bengals. And they probably, Matt, I would think need some help on the defensive side of the ball. Got a new defensive coordinator. They've had some troubles over there. I mean, unless you just want to score 50 every game and try to outscore everybody, right? So maybe you just keep a strength of strength. I don't know.

What do you think about the Bengals at 17? The interior line still needs a lot of work, but they've drafted so poorly on defense over the last couple of years. and I think the defense coordinator lost his job because of it. They got to keep going back to that well. And any level the defense would make sense to me, but their edge guys with Hubbard retiring, maybe Hendrickson on the move, are really, really light. And they always look for bigger guys there.

And Michael Williams being still on the board, I think is something they should be attracted to for sure. Keith, was it a lack of drafting talent or maybe a development problem because they've added pieces on defense, and it seems like they've kind of missed on too many guys there. And looking at this pick 17, do you like a player for the Bengals here? Yeah, I mean,

it's been question marks, right? And I thought they've drafted decent players, or you talk about a Daxston Hill from a few years ago. This past year, I think, was injuries, right? But then I remember they drafted the edge rush out of Clemson in the first round was that two drafts ago. Miles Murphy, yeah. Miles Murphy.

And to me, that could be a development thing, because I thought Miles Murphy had much of a pass rush repertoire as any pass rusher in that draft, and he hasn't been able to turn it on. And now you're starting to see they're bumping up against it, right? Because Trey Hendrickson wants more money. They may want to get rid of them, but they can't quite, right? Because they don't have an ace in a hole as far as a pass rusher. So I look at Shamar Stewart.

I look at Mikel Williams. Exactly what Matt said as those two big-bodied guys with lack of proven production in college. but when you're where the Cincinnati Bengals are, as far as trying to turn things around, sometimes you have to swing for the fences, right? Sometimes you got to swing at the first pitch and say, you know what? I'm not going single or double.

I'm trying to hit it out the park. So I will go with either one of those guys. Let's see. The swing is being made. Jake Liscoe, not wasting any time. He's ready to go with pick 17 for locked on Bengals in the 2025, locked on NFL mock draft. With the 17th selection in the 2025,

locked on NFL mock draft, the Cincinnati Bengals select Walter Nolan, defensive tackle Ole Miss. The Cincinnati Bengals have a need for a talent infusion on the interior of their defensive line where they spent two premium picks in 2024 but are still looking for an impact three down player and that's who Walter Nolan can be for this team. He has the ability to step on the field right away as a starter who can play all three downs and he has growth left in his profile.

But he comes with explosiveness off the snap, a variety of past rush moves, the ability to, when he's really on, dominate one-on-one opportunities, and he doesn't have to be a liability in the run game either. For those reasons, he fits with what the Bengals need right now in looking for an impact player to add to a defensive front that needs to get more pressure on the quarterback in 2025 and needs to improve as a foundation of their defense. It is Walter Nolan going interior defensive line for the Cincinnati Bengals. And Dame, I know you've been pounding on the table.

for Walter Nolan. Obviously, the talent is there. Do you have any questions about Walter Nolan in his transition into the NFL and why do you like him so much as a player? I don't really have many questions. I think this is the guy that once you get him into playing the three tech, the natural position needs to play. I think you will see the natural development with him knowing how to consistently win one-on-one. And I had to deal with the double teams he dealt with that old miss. Like Jake said, first step quickness, explosiveness. We saw him at the senior bowl where you extrapolate him from that defense. You just let him get a after it. In one-on-ones, he was nearly unblockable.

And for a guy that's 6-4, 32 with some change on the arm, around 300 pounds, his ability to flip his hips and turn after cornering the interior offensive lineman, it's special stuff. And the quickest path to the quarterback, to Lamar Jackson, to whoever is in Pittsburgh. And, of course, in Cleveland, the quickest weight of that is through the interior offensive line. And Walter Nolan gives you that three-down capability because he can also stop the run, use that arm length and that wingspan to lock guys out,

peek and shed this is a home run hit for me i think some gms got to love this area the draft to be able to get a guy's talented as walter nolan still at this point you guys mentioned shamar stewart and in his ridiculous athletic ability michael williams is a really projectable you know prototype big defensive end and those types of players still available in the back half of the first round this is sort of the the strength of where we're we're starting to see the 2025 NFL drafted yeah you mentioned it damien and we talked about it with with Graham earlier in the first round, a really talented defensive line.

Who is the guy that teams are double teaming? Well, it's Graham and it's Walter Nolan for Ole Miss, too. And there are some reps where you see just his raw talent, and he's got as much of it as anybody in this class. You know, does he love it? Is he going to work to get every drop of talent out of him? It's probably the big question right now with Walter Nolan, but there's reps where he utilizes an offensive lineman

to sack the quarterback because he just pushes him all the way, back with his raw strength. It's pretty special stuff. So Walter Nolan going to the defensive line of the Cincinnati Bengals, which brings us to pick 18 now and the Seattle Seahawks, Corvin Smith, standing by with the locked on Seahawks who were on the clock at pick number 18. Keith, we'll go back to you on this one with the Seahawks. What do you like for the Seahawks? Where are they at right now? Do they need to complete some things on defense with a newer group or do you look to the offensive side of the ball with a new quarterback in? Yeah, this screams interior offensive line, right?

Just because of, I believe, the Seahawks over the past few years, especially last year, they were towards the bottom in rushing. And you wouldn't expect that, especially for a team that has spent so much draft capital on running backs, right? You're talking about they were the team that drafted Kenan Walker, right, when everybody were down on running backs. Then they went in got our guy from UCLA. I'm blinking on his name right now. Zach Sharbon. Yeah, they went to draft him.

And I want to believe they even picked up another running back later. in the draft in that same exact draft. So they spent a lot of capital on running backs and you have to believe that they want to run a football. Also, you just paid Sam Donald, right? Like, you were the team that said, we believe in you. You want him to be what he was in Minnesota. You better be able to protect them.

So I go offensive line in some capacity. I'm a big believer in drafting offensive alignment. And then in training camp, figure out what's your best five, right? Fine, move those guys around and figure out how do you put the best five on the field. So I go offence the line here from the Seahawks. Dave, is there a player that stands out to you for the Seahawks at 18? Gray Zabel on the North Dakota State, and it's simply because of the positional flexibility. He had outstanding senior bowl.

This is a guy that played tackle, he plays guard. He can play center. And for them, the interior offensive line at Guard, Center, Guard, Trio, they need to upgrade at either one of those spots. And I think Gray Zabel, especially with his movement skills, laterally, he's quick, he's strong, he can anchor. And then he also closes the door for those interior defensive linemen trying to get into the face of the quarterback. And Keith talked about it. You got to protect Sam. Sam looked really good in Minnesota when they protected him,

when he was clean in the pocket to deliver the football. If you don't protect him, things can bottom out. So I think Gray is able and or Tyler Booker. I think those are the two top two guys for me when I think about guard here or interior offensive line here for the Seahawks. Matt, we're two for two on offensive line. You go in the same direction for the Seahawks at 18? Yeah, I think it's been a weakness for a while now.

Now, I think it's noteworthy. After trading Gino and D.K. Metcalf, they have a lot of day two capital that maybe a defensive-minded head coach could get his, you know, jack-of-all trades, Hamilton-type safety and maybe do something like that and then really attack the offense, past catchers and Interior O'Line in day one or day two. But I think the interior line is the biggest need for sure. Yeah, Eman Worry-Starks, still on the board in this mock true. draft special. Let's find out what the pick is. Corbyn Smith ready to go with locked on Seahawks and pick number 18. With the 18th selection in the 2025, locked on NFL lock draft, the Seattle Seahawks select Tyler Booker guard Alabama. Booker is a mountain of a man, 325 pounds, long arms, massive hands. He's a body mover, a muller, a physical

presence, the alpha dog up front. The Seahawks badly need a player that can give them that identity in the interior of their offensive line. Some may question Booker's athletic fit. He did not test very well to combine in terms of agility, playing in a zone heavy scheme for Clint Kubiak. But on film at Alabama, he's more than capable of creating horizontal and vertical displacement, both in gap and zone schemes.

And he's one of the best past protecting guards in this draft class. Mid first round, this is great value for the Seahawks to hopefully add a Pro Bowl or all pro caliber guard to the middle of the maligned offensive line. Going with the big body, Tyler Booker at guard for the Seattle Seahawks at pick number 18. And I think a big part of this too is Sam Darnold, the one knock on him or the biggest knock on him has been dealing with pressure. So keep that pocket clean. Give him a nice little pocket to work with. And obviously, you know, Tyler Booker didn't have the greatest workout.

But if you watch him on tape, I don't think athleticism is a problem necessarily. for him and he's a high character guy. He's just, he's a building block type of a player. So I actually like the selection quite a bit of Tyler Booker. And I find it fascinating, Matt, that they, they kind of stayed in the same tier at quarterback, but have a very different quarterback situation now. And how that works out for the Seattle Seahawks is very interesting

in that team build going forward. Yeah, and it wouldn't shock me if they took a day two flyer on Milrow or someone along those lines too, because you can get out this darno contract pretty quickly. They got a wealth of picks, as I mentioned. And I do like the Booker pick. I disagree a little that he's clearly athletic enough to run this outside zone scheme, but he's a good football player.

Athletic enough. Athletic enough. I don't know what the GPS time, so they might be better. Probably shouldn't run a 40s anymore, guys. Because guys are getting hurt by him than help by him, I think more often than not at this point. It was probably why the agents are like, oh, hey, your Amy looks a little tight today. Let's not do that. Let's not work out.

Let's just let the tape speak for itself. Next up, we've got the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They're looking to add to their squad in order to stay atop the NFC South. The Bucks pick next from the 2025, Locked on NFL mock draft special. This episode of the Locked on NFL mock draft special is brought to you by game time.

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who are a fascinating team here at pick number 19. Their season didn't end quite the way that they would have wanted. They would love to be picking later in the 20s or potentially even maybe 32. How do they get there with quarterback Baker Mayfield is the question. What do they need to add to this football team? Dame Keith, do you have a player in mind? Do you have a position in mind that the Tampa Bay Buccaneers need to attack in this draft?

Linebacker edge, truthfully. I think that's probably the two defensive spots. they good on offense. They have a lot of receivers. Tighten. They got two running backs. They got their quarterback. Being able to get after the passer,

but also have us that second level guy. Levante, David, isn't getting any younger. Yeah, I look at it and I say, Duda is a sneaky pick here, one of those wide receivers, right? Could this be a Mecca, Igbuka, that we see come off of the board just because of the injuries, right? We've seen that this Tampa Bay Bucks offense,

I believe, was rolling. And then we had the gruesome injury to Chris Godwin. And then that followed up with Mike Evans being out a couple, a couple games too. And that kind of, that's why they kind of tail it off a little bit. So I want if they try to continue to inject youth. I'm not Teatore McMillan. Jail and McMillan McKillan kind of turned it on a little bit last year. But I want if they think about going wire receiver.

And if not, I agree with DP. I'll go edge here. The pick is in. James Yarko is ready to go. Locked on Bucks with the 19th selection in the 2025 NFL mock draft special. With the 19th pick in the 2025, Locked, on NFL mock draft, the Tampa Bay Buccaneer select James Pierce, Jr., edge rusher out of Tennessee. Seeing someone with Pierce's talent was too good to pass on at this stage in the game,

and the Bucks have struggled at Edge over the last few seasons. Even with the addition of Hassan Reddick, the continued growth of Yaya Diabi, the depth there still isn't very strong. Adding Pierce along with Chris Braswell, who is entering his second season, and then Anthony Nelson, who re-signed in free agency, the Bucks have the makings, of a solid stable of guys that can get to the quarterback. That's going to allow Todd Bowles to do more in the second and third levels of the defense instead of being forced to use guys like Antoine Winfield Jr. Levante David, Christian Izzy and constantly coming in on blitzes and trying to generate

that pressure that they're just not getting from the natural pass rush. The Bucks won't need Pierce to be a superstar right out of the gate. Instead, he can develop some more while still getting. game experience as the second or third guy in the rotation. An absurdly talented human being James Pierce, the edge rush route of Tennessee, going to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers here at pick number 19. Matt, what do you think about Pierce and the fit here with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers? I have no qualms with it.

I do think defense is most likely. The most chalky pick is Campbell, the linebacker from Alabama, and I think they were sprinted to the podium for him, let him learn next to Levanti David. I also thought safety here. Todd Bowles can get aggressive and creative with that position with flitzers. But any more pass rush and any more edge help. So this adds up.

Dame, I want to ask you specifically about Pierce because obviously he's fast. And the hilarious story about him at the combine. He actually ran with like his hoodie on. Now it's not a big bulky hoodie or anything like that. He still ran a 447 and somebody asked him afterwards like, man, you didn't even take off your hoodie to run your 40? And he's like, oh yeah, I didn't even think about it.

I didn't even notice. And him being kind of aloof is the, thing that is one of the big knocks on him. Like maybe he doesn't think about stuff too hard. Maybe he doesn't work that hard while the rest of his teammates are working super hard. Do you have any issues with Pearson? Does that kind of stuff show up on tape? Like, is there a lack of development for him that you would worry about at the next level?

I don't say a lack of development. I think he's still developing. You know, this past season I saw him, you know, go from just being in outside around the edge rush to working the kind of Euro step working cross-face. past tackles because when you have that type of that type of speed and explosiveness, you're going to force tackles to get deep into their sets, you know,

typically. So I think for him is just consistently getting stronger, adding more power to his frame. I think it may have been Lane Johnson who said, you can't run around us in the NFL. You kind of have to run through us at sometimes. I think that's the part of his game. I want to see more from him, but he does give you some versatility from

being able to work inside, but also on twists and stunts. Tennessee did a decent job of that with him, using him as a looper. And when you have that type of speed and explosives, that closing burst when you get a free run on the quarterback on the inside of the offensive line could be very, very effective. So I think for him, just adding more powers and strength to his frame. And then, of course, getting him into a locker room that makes sure you're going to hold him accountable, make sure he's going to work. Yeah, I'll say this, that the Tampa Bay Bucks sitting at pick 19, drafting James Pierce, right? If you're being totally

optimistic, you're saying, you know what, we have as good as chance of anybody else that picked before us to have drafted the best pure edge rusher, right? When you're talking about from a tools and skill sets perspective, because that's what Pierce has. He has the first step explosiveness. He's fluid. He's athletic, obviously, by the 4-4-7. Now it's, can you do the day-in and day-out work with him

as far as maturing him as a young man and then continue to add to him? But at Pick 19, I think if you're 10 big bucks, you're excited about it. A lot to be excited about. That's still on the board here in the 2025 mock draft special. Up next is Cody Rourke with Lod. on Broncos with the 20th selection in this draft. Matt, as you look at the Denver Broncos,

I know running back is a popular mock pick. Are they at a point with their team build where, you know, I tend to call the running backs the icing on the cake or is the cake already baked? Are they ready for icing with the Denver Broncos? I think so, especially with a really young quarterback, make his life a little bit easier. Hampton's kind of a slam dunk chalky pick here. And I would totally understand that. I know that they added Evan Ingram, but Loveland would be really attractive with Sean Payton's offensive mind. I'd love to see him devise ways to get the ball in Luther Burden's hands as well. So some sort of skill position here is attractive to me.

You guys see any best player available? Any like what could talk you out of a running back potentially for the Denver Broncos? And is the running back a little smokescreen thing? Because I know that Sean Payton had a little fun with folks and tried to throw people off the, the Bow Nick's sent in last year's draft. Yeah. Oh, go ahead, Keith. No, I was going to say, if it's not Omari and Hampton with Matt mentioned, I'm going coasting Loveland.

And we know the type of magic that Sean Payton was able to create with Jimmy Graham down in New Orleans, right, with a very similar profile, right? And athleticism. So I go Loveland here if it's not Omari and Hampton. And Quick Nugget, I think his best running back while he was in New Orleans was like a fourth round, third, fourth round pick in Alvin Kamara. I don't think he needs to draft a guy at 20. As much as I love Amari in Hampton, this is a lowly running back class. Yeah, and there's a lot of guys that can catch the football later in this draft as well. And Champaign talked about finding his joker.

Could it be Colston Loveland as well? Let's find out. Offense, defense, Cody Roark, ready to go with selection number 20, locked on Broncos. With the 20th pick and the 2025 NFL draft of Denver Broncos take Omari and Hanton running back out of North Carolina to pair alongside Bow Nix as he prepares for his second season. The Broncos going all in on offense. This is Cody Warc host of Lockdown Broncos. Amari and Hampton right here was the only choice that made sense here in round number one for what the Broncos need. They need a running back. They need a game-changing running back.

Omari and Hampton has all the tools and the traits to be just out here for Sean Payton. You get a running back who's got three-down capability, not to mention the ability to receive out of the backfield, an important element for a Sean Payton style of offense. And this immediately boost an area of the Broncos offense that was weak and has been a weak point for them in the last handful of years. They haven't had a thousand-yard rusher in quite some time. They haven't had a 100-yard rusher in over 30-plus games. Omari and Hampton gives them an instant boost in this area and could help Bo Nix and the Broncos offense transform in 2025.

One of the reasons I don't like running backs early in Omerian-Hantons as a super talented guy is because does a running back make the running game, right? Or should you be looking at other factors as to why you haven't had 1,000-yard running backs? Obviously, injury and attrition is one of those things. Just from a team building perspective, guys, Dame, Keith, what are your thoughts on round one running backs? And what is Omerian Hampton as an NFL running back? I mean, I'm found round one running backs.

I feel like if you're a team, to me, if you're a bad team, don't do it. You know what I mean? We watched the Panthers draft CMC. Don't give your, don't give a great running back wasteless carries. Like if it's not going to help you win games, the impact is minimal, right? We saw that with the Giants and Saquant. for me, I rather them go to good landing spots if you're going to go in round one.

Omari Hampton, strong, physical, downhill runner, more of a gap scheme guy on his shoulder square to the line scrimmage. You want to work in downhill. He's got the speed and explosiveness to beat you deep down the field. He's functional in the passing game as well. They do a lot more pitch stuff to him

to just truly split him out wide and throw the ball to him and things of that nature. But with his bill, it's six foot, 220, 4-4 speed, you kind of want that into the offense. I still would have probably leaned Colston Loveland here just because Evan Ingram's not much of a block. He's probably more of a slot F flex and the depth behind him is not great either. I would have went Colston Loveland, but Amaranthampton gives him that bell cow type of runner.

Keith, I know there's prototype size for Ameri Annpton, you know, 22 pound back, but the way he runs, it's like a car wreck every single time. That kind of worries me about, you know, how long he's going to last, but he's a fun player to watch. I think he'll be all right. And the thing is, is that there's already a foundation there, right? Because you've seen running backs go to bad situations and produce. You look at Lennon-Fonnet with the Jacksonville Jaguars. You look at Derek Henry with the Tennessee Titans.

But the issue is that they haven't had other foundational pieces outside of those guys, right, to continue to grow it. Well, guess what? You have Sean Payton. You have Bullnicks, right? So they can provide some balance. So I think Omari and Hampton, he may be putting some advantageous situations as far as maybe be lighter boxes, right, for him to run through. And as much as going to hurt O'Marie and Hampton with those collisions is going to hurt

the defensive players too. So I think it all even out. Hampton pick 20 to the Denver Broncos, which brings us to the Pittsburgh Steelers and pick number 21. Chris Carter, the host of Lockdown Steelers, is on the clock for this selection. Matt, you cover the Steelers in the Pittsburgh area. You know this team better than anyone. What's the conversation around the Steelers at 21?

What direction are you looking to go here? Well, everyone's going to tie them to a quarterback, and I understand that. But I really think that's going to be next year's project. I think they'll be very aggressive in the first round next year, move up, trade future picks. They got a bunch of comp picks it in the back burner for next year. And this year, I've said it eight million times on a thousand different Pittsburgh airwaves. I would be shocked if it's not the line. I mean, I really think that Grant, Harmon, or not.

Nolan will be the pick and one of them will be there. And to me, it's the biggest hole on the roster. Quarterback aside, I think they'll roll with Rudolph and Rogers or something like that for this year. And they want Cam Hayward to groom the next to Cam Hayward. So I really think defensive tackle is the pick. And they don't want to wait until the third round without a second round pick to do it. Matt, a quick follow up here with the Steelers and quarterback. Does the Kenny Pickett miss kind of scare the Steelers off?

from taking another shot at quarterback in the 20s? Sort of. I think that the mistake wasn't necessarily taking picket as much as it was aiming too low. And to me, that's my issue with Dart and Sanders, that if you're going to compete with Lamar and Burrow in the division and Allen and Mahomes and the conference when you consistently get to the playoffs

and get killed by those guys in the first round, that you need to find someone with a little bit more superhero jeans, Like I would rather take a chance on Milro, a smidge later and hope he hits or more likely next year's first than settle for what I think is a Gino Smith, Kirk Cousins prospect in Darker Sanders. You mentioned some of the names. Dane, Keith, who's the biggest baddest defensive lineman left on the board here at 21? I mentioned it for the Miami Dolphins, right? And I'm going to say it again, Kenneth Grant. I like Kenneth Grant a lot.

Like I think he's somewhat overlooked in his class. I think he's closer to me to being inside of that top 15, the top 10 prospects in this draft. And so you sit there and if the Steelers do decide to take a grant, right, you sit there and you reflect and you're like, okay, this is why the Steelers are the Steelers and then that's why the Dolphins are the Dolphins, right? Just from drafting sitting there and it's not just the Steelers, it's the Ravens, right? Those teams consistently, they just sit in their spot and then they take good football players and add them to the team. So that's why I look at it from that perspective. Keith, I'll say this, Jody Barron can rush the passer a little bit, but can Kenneth Grant cover the slot? Maybe Xavier Restrepo, right?

If it's true, Restrepo just taking strays here for no reason. Let's find out. The pick is in. Chris Carter, ready to go. Locked on Steelers with Pick 21. With the 21st selection in the 2025 Locked-on NFL mock draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers select Kenneth Grant, defensive tackle. out of Michigan. Kenneth Grant, one of our top defensive tackle prospects in this class. In fact,

second to only his former teammate, Mason Graham, of the Michigan Wolverines. Now, where Kenneth Grant fits in with the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Steelers have a dire need to replenish its defensive line, whereas Cam Hayward's still an all pro level player. He's in his mid to late 30s, and he's only getting older and you don't know how much more time you have left with him. Keanu Betton has been a good player, but with Larry Ogun Joe be gone and him not playing at a high level last year, the Steelers' defensive line got exposed, especially up the middle. And from there, other problems started to take root in the Steelers defense. That's why I think the Steelers are particularly going first round defensive tackle. If Kenneth Grant's not there, they might look at Derek Harmon out of Oregon.

They might be willing to trade back. But if Kenneth Grant is there, I think the Steelers run to the podium. They love his athleticism. They love his size. They love his effort. He can run down guys in space. He could take on double teams like a champ. And he would be a big addition to the Steelers defensive line. So it is Kenneth Grant, the big old defensive tackle out of Michigan. And Dane, what's the scouting report on Kenneth Grant? How good is he now and how good can he be? Because, man, he is huge and athleticism is probably when you're 6-3-340 and you can run running back down 15 yards down the field on the sideline.

That's kind of a freaky situation to watch unfold on tape. I think with him is you're going to get a guy that has a quick swim move when he's left one-on-one. He knows how they, because he is big, he knows the offensive. linemen love to kind of lean into him, put their weight onto him. He knows how to push pull and use their gravity against him. My concern is going to be, I think Chris talked about the double teams. He wasn't the guy that got double team. The opposing offensive lines went to the smaller guys.

And said, listen, we can't let him take over this game. And we'll leave the 340 guy one-on-one. If he's drafted to be a true nose tackle, I'm going to be interested to see how he handles being game plan for with the center guard tandem blocks, game in and game out because you know you're going to have to deal with that playing knows. Yeah, I'll say this. I think Hayward, right? I think Hayward and Matt, you can attest to this, right?

He's the locker room guy. I don't think he's going to let anybody walk in that room and be soft, right? Like that part is not happening. And then secondly, just with the Graham and Grant situation, I think that people are trying to, it's one or the other, right? Like it's either like Graham or you like Grant. Well, why can't they both be good, right? Like, I was at LSU and Justin Jefferson and Jamar Chase and everybody was like,

well, which one is better? Both of them are great, right? That gets the answer. So I just like both guys. I think both are talented. I mean, like when the Steelers drafted Herbig out of Wisconsin, he followed T.J. Watt around at training camp like a puppy. Grant, just go do what Cam's doing.

You'll be fine, you know? All right. Next up, we're going to finish up this episode with pick number 22 and the Los Angeles Chargers trying to keep up in the AFC. West, after an 11-win season in Jim Harbaugh's first year, let's find out how they help themselves in the 2025. Locked-on NFL mock draft special next. This episode of the Lockdown NFL mock draft special is brought to you by LinkedIn Jobs.

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No wonder, 72% of small businesses say LinkedIn helps them find high quality hires. So post your job for free at LinkedIn.com slash lockdown NFL. That's LinkedIn.com slash locked on NFL to post your job for free terms and conditions apply. We're on to pick 2020 in the 2025 NFL mock draft. And a popular pick here is another Michigan man for Jim Harbaugh to the Los Angeles Chargers at 2020. tied in Colston Loveland still available still on the board as we await the selection here for Daniel Wade is going to make the pick for locked on chargers and I know we talked about Colson Loveland already a few times Dame let's go to the scouting report on him first and if it is indeed

Loveland here and I know you believe he is a first round player is he uh is he uh because I know he was he played for Harbaugh so it's weird for me to say maybe he's not a fit for for harbaugh but you know harbaugh showed us last year that that he wants a big man before he wants a fast man on that football team right and he went offensive line over wide receiver could he shock the world here and skip on his michigan product and go with uh say a defensive lineman or a bigger player rather than maybe a tight end whose best asset isn't blocking i mean they do have a need of defense to tackle so you could potentially see derrick harman here and with with jim harbaugh he is always a wild card, so you never know what could happen with him at the reins.

But I do think that he looks at that situation of, I need a tight end. I need another playmaker for my quarterback. It was Ladman Kanki, and that was it against Houston in the playoffs. They need to get another guy. Quentin Johnson is coming along, but he's still dealing with the drops. They don't have a tight end. And I think the playing this offense, not just for hardball, but remember Greg Roman's the O.C., you got a block in the run game, too.

And Colston Loveland playing at Michigan, he threw the ball, probably 15 times a game with J.J. McCarthy. He knows how the run block. He knows what it takes to play in the offense that is led by Jim Harbaugh. Not only that, I'll jump in and say this, that Harbaugh has a recipe, right, to how he does this. It's run game, but also tight end is very important. If we think about his time going all the way back to Stanford when he was producing a lot of NFL talent at tight ends. And then with the 49ers, right, Vernon Davis was very important to what they did offensively. So I could see Harbaugh being one of those coaches and tight end, quote, unquote being a devalue position.

I think he has a tremendous amount of value on what the tight end position is. It's a great point, Keith. Kobe Fleener. You know, obviously with the 49ers, they had numerous tight ends, all different shapes and sizes, though. So it's important for run pass. And, you know, it's okay to give your quarterback some more weapons there. And they did last year in the second round, not the first round.

They did pass on wide receiver. So it's not something that Jim Harbaugh ignores on the offensive side of the either. Let's go to the pick. Daniel Wade, ready to go, locked on Chargers with pick number 22. With the 22nd pick of the 2025 locked on NFL mock draft, the Los Angeles Chargers select Colston Loveland, tight end, Michigan. This is a great way for the board to fall to the Chargers who end up getting not just one of the top tight ends in this draft class, but one of the top pass catching options, period, in this class. And it is huge because of the way the Chargers had their playoff embarrassment last year where they hung Justin Herbert out to dry and went into this

offseason trying to upgrade the offense around him. They made a couple of moves in free agency to improve the offensive line, which gives them the flexibility to take Colston Loveland, who this Chargers coaching staff knows very well because of his time with Jim Harbaugh and Michigan and get him someone to pair with Ladd McConkey, their young budding superstar, as a core to an offense that has a chance to be really good. Last year, it must have been really tough for Colston Loveland with the Michigan quarterback situation. But now it gets to catch passes from Justin Herbert in Los Angeles. Colston Loveland tied in out of Michigan is the pick for the Chargers at number 22.

Matt, what do you think about Colston Loveland as a prospect here and the selection for the Los Angeles Chargers? And what I don't think is a particularly strong first round to get the 10th, 11th, 12th best player this late makes a lot of sense to me. even the Michigan connections aside. BP, though, your latest mock, you had Harmon going there, and it's kind of had my wheels turning too. Just is Harbaugh done with big people or D-line help in particular,

but this one's a little too good to be true too and super chalky. So you just accept the gift and take D-Line later or whatever, you know? I'm familiar with Jim Harbaugh's game and his brand, and he's an interesting dude, but you can never count out. a big man in the physicality.

And I know he's a quarterback, but he likes big guys. And so, yeah, I did have him passing on Loveland and going with Derek Harmon in my latest mock draft. Just because if that's not done, he's going to go to the trenches. And so we'll see where they're at with their team build. But you got to help out Justin Herbert. And so I would love the selection of Colson Loveland as well. And if Harba loves Loveland, he has all the, like he knows how that guy is wire.

And so he might know whether he is or is not. someone he wants to tie himself into into the NFL level because he did pass on a lot of Stanford guys when he came to the San Francisco 49ers which kind of shocked some people and he did find someone like Delaney Walker later in the draft to be an interesting tied-in piece with 49ers so can go a lot of directions here but Colson Loveland obviously very nice fit for the the Chargers in round number one let's check in with the draft dudes Kyle Crabs and Joe Marino have locked on NFL scouting and they're here with their thoughts on the impact of these selections in episode four.

Joe, my favorite picks the last one in the block, Colston Loveland going to the L.A. Chargers, and there's obviously some familiarity with Coach Harbaugh and his coaching staff with Loveland coming from Michigan. This is a Chargers team that has spent some free agent dollars and tried to continue to get more physical and build out the complementary elements of their offense with. Najee Harris at running back and they signed Mackay Beckton at offensive guard. and they bring back a big body wide receiver, Mike Williams, but none of that really stops me from adding Colston Loveland with this pick

to be a long-term fit that you're very familiar with to kind of blur the lines between 11 and 12 personnel, and it allows you to play heavy, but it allows you to get heavy personnel on the field, but he'll run away and beat safeties and linebackers in coverage, and he's big enough that it is a really tough chore for most corners in coverage. So I love that this allows the charters to not just come out and say, hey, we're going to be bully ball and we're going to run 22 personnel.

We're going to run right down your throat. They can blur the lines here a little bit. And it's one of those personnel ads that allows them to force opposing defensive staffs to make decisions coming into the week on how they're going to try to choose to play this player. And any time you could get a player like that, even at Pick 22 at a quote unquote devalued position at tight end makes a lot of sense. And they're after the Chiefs.

The Chiefs gives up tight in production to everybody. So now you've got a real guy that can take advantage of a wart with the Chiefs and their defense. That's probably my favorite pick as well. But if I had to make a second favorite pick on this block, it'd be the Steelers getting Kenneth Grant, the defense to tackle out of Michigan. It feels like the projections and valuations are all over the place for Kenneth Grant. But I see him as one of the better players in this draft.

I think he's a top 15 talent for sure. And while it doesn't get Pittsburgh any closer to solving their quarterback, issues. I don't think a quarterback here could solve their issues. Go in on what your identity is, right? And that is that front. Like that defensive front has been such a critical part of the Steelers being able to win despite quarterback play. And now you have Kenneth Grant to go with Keanu Benton and Hayward still late stage. You got High Smith. Why so many players in that front that in that division and the style of football that's played, Kenneth Grant's going to fit right in. So I love that selection as well.

And Kate Majuk is here from the Lockdown Dynasty football podcast to give us fantasy impact of this episode's picks. The Denver Broncos get some nice value here with UNC running back, Omari and Hampton. Hampton is a day one contributor and a prototypical work course now in a very running back friendly Sean Payton offense coming off the back-to-back seasons with over 1,700 scrimmage yards and 16 plus touchdowns.

Since Sean Payton became a head coach back in 2006, there have been 14 instances of around. running back totaling 200 plus touches in his offense. So yeah, Sean Payton is a guy that is not afraid to feed his RB1 in his offense. Hampton's blend of size, athleticism, play strength, and contact balance could yield top 12 production at the position even as a rookie. Next up, let's talk about Michigan tight end Colston Leveland to the Los Angeles Chargers, a fantastic fit. I promise you will not want to let all the hype for Thailand Ward distract you from Leveland's massive upside for fantasy. Coming in at 6.5.

foot six and 249 pounds, Levin will provide his future quarterback with a massive target over the middle of the field with elite separating ability that is truly unique for his size and frame. The good news for fantasy football managers, he really is more of a big body receiver than he is a traditional tight end and his usage at Michigan backs that up. Levelin played just 32 and a half percent of his snaps last season as a traditional inline trade end running the majority of his routes out of the slot or even split out wide. He was set up to pass block on just 2.6% of his snaps on passing downs played the fourth lowest rate among all tight ends last year with 25 or more targets. Unfortunately, Loveland suffered a season ending shoulder injury that he's continuing to rehab

throughout the offseason, though he is expected to be ready for training camp. Fantasy football managers and redraft leagues might not get to enjoy his upside right away because of this. However, fantasy football managers and keeper Dynasty League should be all in on this tight end. Because once he's back to 100% from injury, Leveland has top five receiving upside at this position for the years to come, especially with Justin Herbert at quarterback, and plenty of room for a big role in a Greg Roman offense.

That does it for this episode of the Lockdown NFL mock draft special on to the Green Bay Packers who are coming up next at pick number 23. And I do happen to know that some trade wins have been blowing. And there have been some offers and some moves that were not quite consummated. so far, but I got a feeling something is coming here to end the first round in the 2025 mock draft special. And of course, you can find all of the episodes of this mock draft special on the Peacock and Williamson NFL show, Locked on NFL draft and Locked on NFL podcast feeds for Matt

Williamson, Damien Parson and Keith Sanchez. I'm Brian Peacock. We'll see you for the rest of the first round, starting with Pick 23. Next, the Lockdown NFL mock draft special part of the Lockdown podcast network, your team. every day.