Locked On Titans - Daily Podcast On The Tennessee Titans - NFL Mock Draft: Cam Ward, Shedeur Sanders Top-5 | Titans, Browns, Giants, Pats, Jags on the clock!

Episode Date: April 17, 2025

Who will the Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns, New York Giants, New England Patriots and Jacksonville Jaguars select in the 2025 NFL Draft? Locked On’s seven episode Mock Draft is here. Find out where Cam Ward, Shedeur Sanders and Travis Hunter land.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)

It's that time of year. It's the Locked On NFL Mock Draft Special. Our hosts decide for all 32 teams who their next Cornerstone player will be. Who will reach? Who will fall? Find out now. Welcome into the 2025 Locked On NFL Mock Draft Special, the most comprehensive mock draft you'll find is even bigger and better again this year. This seven episode series will take you through the entire first round of the NFL draft with unparalleled insight from the local experts of all 32 teams here at the Lockdown podcast network, your team every day throughout this binge worthy special. You'll get each selection and an inside look from all 32 of our local NFL shows. We'll also get team building insight from the draft dudes,

Kyle Krabs and Joe Marino of the Locked On NFL Scouting Podcast and Fantasy Insight from our Locked On Fantasy experts for some of the biggest selections in this year's draft. This year, the final episode will be an NFL squad reaction to the mock draft, providing insight and maybe insults from a group of our Locked On hosts that love to jab each other when they get the opportunity. And that'll be a loose conversation that'll be a

lot of fun in Episode seven, and local experts on all of this year's selections. And of course, we are your hosts. I am Brian Peacock, NFL analyst and the co host of the Peacock and Williams and NFL show and locked on On 49ers podcast. Here with me, a phenomenal panel, my co-host, former NFL scout, Matt Williamson. And this year, things just keep getting better. Joining Matt and I are NFL draft experts, Keith Sanchez and Damian Parson from the outstanding Locked On NFL Draft podcast. To open the conversation, Matt, Damian, and Keith, It's all about the talent in this year's draft. And some might say it's actually not that good of a draft. Are we lacking talent

this year? Dame, Keith, you guys do this every single day, all season long, even in the off season talking about the NFL draft. Dame, let's start with you. Is this just a bad draft in 2025? No, it's not a bad draft. Okay. Like this is a good draft when you have the depth of specific positions like, you know, edge rusher, interior defensive line, running back tight end, you have good offensive lineman from tackle, guard center, tackles that could play guard and center. There's versatility there, the cornerback class is good, we have an underrated safety group. The problem is we don't have the quarterback class that everybody wanted to have like we'd had

last year. If we had a quarterback class like that, if this class had last year's quarterback class, this narrative about it being a down year wouldn't exist. Keith, how do you settle from a scouting perspective? The idea of, OK, this player, I like his tape, but man, he didn't run a 40. I felt like there's less there's less boxes checked with a lot of prospects. And I think that's where a lot of people are when they're analysts and they're looking at this draft class and they're like, well, I like this guy, but he didn't even run a 40.

I like this guy. Arms might be a little short. Is this a trust the tape year? And does that mean the teams with the best scouts are going to be the teams that come away looking the best after this NFL draft? This is without a doubt a WTF moment and WTF means watch the film, right? That's what I always say. Watch the film over here. And you're going to have to heavily rely on that because you have prospects like

the Ashton Gentey, right? Who we've placed in the top 10 and we have no idea how fast he is, right? So it's definitely going to, you're going to have to rely on a film, but I'm with DP. I think this is exciting draft and I'll say this, I think just with the quarterbacks, I really like this quarterback class. I think there are NFL starters in this quarterback class. I think what we're lacking is just narrative, right? But that's why we're here. We're gonna drive the conversation and get the fans excited. Let's drive this conversation.

What is this draft about to you, Matt? And I feel like I've heard this before where it's like, ah, it's not a very good draft. And all of a sudden, here's a bunch of pro bowlers. Here's a bunch of all pros. You just gotta pick the right ones, right? Yeah, and I'm not gonna fight Damian because I mostly agree. And I really like the D line class, the tight ends, the right ones, right? Yeah. And I'm not going to fight Damian because I mostly agree. And I really liked the D line class, the tight ends, the running backs,

the depth overall day two, it looks really, really strong. I just think the first half of the first round is kind of crappy, to be honest with you, like I don't know that Mason Graham would be considered an elite prospect most years or where would Joe Alts go in draft? Second overall, you know, like there's not pure tackles. There's not first round guaranteed quarterbacks, premium premium positions and even last year like where would Quinon Mitchell or Brian Thomas if they were coming out of school go in this draft, you know those guys

from mid 20s. There's no way they get out of the top 10 in this draft, You know, those guys from mid 20s, there's no way they get out of the top 10 in this track, you know. The Tennessee Titans are on the clock with the pick number one in this locked on NFL mock draft special Tyler Rowan, the host of of locked on Titans. They're waiting to make this pick and with a lack of some blue chip talent and you know, I think there are a couple of blue chip guys in this draft. Obviously, Cam Ward is presumed to be the selection. What do you guys think about Cam Ward as a quarterback prospect? Is he good enough as a quarterback prospect?

What he could be for you and the Tennessee Titans to pass up on, say, an Abdul Carter or a Travis Hunter. Even if there's fewer blue chippers this year, there are still some blue chippers. Keith, Dame, do you guys have any really strong opinions on Cam Ward potentially being a pick here at number one? Yeah, I'll go. I'll say take him.

Titans, everything has a line, right? You need a quarterback. You're picking at number one. You didn't have to trade away a bunch of draft capital, right? You earned the number one overall pick by being really bad last year. You need a quarterback. Take Cam Ward. I think he's Caleb Williams light. And what I mean is that when you watch the pocket mobility, his ability to escape, you know, he holds on a football from time to

time, but he has an electric arm, what we seen in the pro day, right? So I think he can make all of the throws on the field. So you hand him over, you the GM, you make the selection, you hand him over to the head coach. The head coach has worked with Joe Burrow, right? So you like that situation. And I think Amort is definitely the pick for the Tennessee Titans. I would make the pick if I was the GM.

Same, I'm of that same mindset. You have to change the guard at quarterback, right? Cause if you run it back, you take Abdul, you take Travis Hunter, what is the wins over expectation? How does that shift? I don't think it shifts much if you still got Will Levis under center

and he doesn't fit this. You mean he said that when coach Callahan was high on the pod, we were like, yeah, I don't think Will Levis fits the offense that he runs. He's more of a big time shot taker and playmaker where they're then spreading the ball out, spreading the defense horizontally. I think you go with Cam Moore and he's a type of coachable guy that can come into this game with Coach Callahan, learn from him, learn how he wants this offense ran.

And I think Coach Callahan is the type of coach that will tell him, everything is not going to be on you. This is not Florida, Washington State, or incarnate word. You don't have to be our Superman. We got some guys that can help you. Keith, I don't know. Caleb Williams light, Caleb Williams, heavy to me. Can't word a little thick. God, we are underway. Pick is in Tyler Rollins, standing by the host of Locked on Titans

to make the pick at number one in the 2025 Locked on NFL mock draft special. With the first selection in the 2025 Locked on NFL mock draft, the Tennessee Titans select Camp Ward quarterback, University of Miami. There are two paths to go here, either stick and pick and take your quarterback of the future or trade down and collect more picks. Two things happened here.

Trade that made sense, never materialized and cam ward proof throughout the process. He is good enough and worthy to be the number one over all selection. Now a team that desperately needs an influx of life gets a quarterback that not only can help them on the field, but can help the Tennessee Titans off the field to have some energy and have some aura back to the franchise. Now you get a quarterback that is good enough to play from within the pocket and is precise enough and has the velocity to make all the throws.

But also a quarterback that gives you the dynamic creativity that you need to be successful at the highest levels of the NFL. The Tennessee Titans get their franchise quarterback and while there are a ton of needs still on the roster, they solidify the most important position in sports with a guy who went all the way from a zero star recruit who no one wanted to a Heisman candidate and the number one pick in the NFL draft. It's time. Cam Ward is a Tennessee Titan. There we go. It's Cam Ward. Incarnate Word going west coast, elevating, going back to the east coast, going to Miami, elevating. That's what it's all about, Matt.

And Matt, I know aside from being the co-host of the Peacock and Williamson NFL show, everybody makes sure you subscribe. You also cover the Pittsburgh Steelers on the day to day. And I know the Steelers are a team that's looking at quarterbacks. You've done a lot of work at quarterbacks. And if I'm not mistaken, I do talk football with you every single day, Matt. You've kind of gotten higher and higher and are a believer in cam war. Absolutely. My grades, not what they did as rookies, but I would have had the top three

picks from last year ahead of Ward. I was very high on all those guys, but he'd be next. I mean, I had him ahead of McCarthy and Pennex and those guys. And I think he is a franchise quarterback prospect. I don't think this is a manufactured thing because of need at all. There's a lot of draft classes, he'd go first overall. There's a lot to work with here. It's a slam dunk pick. So that brings us to pick number two and the Cleveland Browns who are now on the clock

with one quarterback off the board, another quarterback needy team. Keith, the conversation kind of becomes similar, right? Okay, it's like, well, the first quarterback's off the board. Now, do you like the second quarterback enough? Those blue chippers, Abdul Carter, Travis Hunter, still on the board. Does going from Cam Ward to potentially Shador Sanders, does that change that dynamic for you at number two?

Yeah, I think they should go Shador Sanders here. Same situation with the Cleveland Browns. You officially need to send a sign to the Browns fan base that we are turning a page on the Deshaun Watson situation, right? We have a signal caller. We have somebody we believe in. We've seen Miles Garrett ask for a trade, right?

Then got paid a lot of money, retracted that situation. So he has to have belief in the future of what the Cleveland Browns are trying to do. Shador Sanders said it. He said, hey, look, I've been in tough situations before. I've turned it around. There probably isn't a tougher situation over the past 50 years than being a Cleveland Browns quarterback, right? So he embraces challenges. I say, you know what, go ahead and draft them and let's figure this thing out. Yeah, I agree. I think this is a move that you need to make. You could go, don't get me wrong, when you have to deal with Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow in the same division, Abdul Carter feels

very enticing to try and get after those guys. But at some point you have to score points. And this was not a good offense last year. And, you know, now they brought back Jamis and stuff like that. Okay. I could maybe see you kicking the can down the road. You didn't do that. He's in New York now. You got to find a quarterback. And then owner came out and said, yeah, I could maybe see you kicking the can down the road. You didn't do that. He's in New York now. You got to find the quarterback. You and that owner came out and said, yeah, we took a big swing on the Sean. We miss, we struck out. When you make that public, that type of public statement, I think that signals that we need

to fix this situation. Matt, I'm torn here a little bit. Miles Garrett, as mentioned by Keith, you know, had a change of heart. Was that the $40 million per year, or was that the quarterback? Probably. Probably. And so, and look, when it comes to Shador Sanders,

is he in that group? You've done the work, Matt. What do you think? Did you go Shador, or are you going on one of the blue chippers? I very much understand the pick, because they don't have cap space, they don't have a lot of resources.

I just don't condone it. Just because I don't think Sanders has a high enough ceiling for me. I mean, I think if he hits 100%, which most don't, he turns into the current version of Geno Smith, which is good. You know, I mean, it's better than what the Browns have played with a lot lately, but not good enough for me to pick, to pass up a blue chip player. I think Hunter's the best player in this draft. I would not have taken a quarterback here.

Is it a quarterback back to back to start our mock draft? Let's go to Spencer German, the host of Locked On Brown, standing by with pick number two. With the second pick of the 2025 Locked On NFL Mock Draft, the Cleveland Browns select Shador Sanders, quarterback Colorado. There seems to be a lot of momentum right now suggesting the Browns won't be taking a quarterback at two and that instead they had their sights set on Abdul Carter.

And Abdul Carter is a fine player, but he's not a quarterback. The Browns had a historically bad offense at 2A24. It all started with the play at the quarterback position, which they have yet to find a solution for so far this off season. Now they have one throughout the pre-draft process, everyone from new offensive coordinator, Tommy Reese to general manager, Andrew Berry to head coach, Kevin Stefanski have all highlighted decision-making as the most important thing they're looking for in their next quarterback. That just so happens to be what sure Sanders excels at.

He was exceptionally accurate in college and what some see as brashness and arrogance, I see as confidence, which is something a quarterback trying to make it in Cleveland absolutely positively needs. If Sanders is good enough to be mocked to the giants over and over again at three, he's good enough to be selected by the Browns at number two. Throw up those watches. Shador Sanders is a Cleveland Brown legendary. It's a good point by Spencer there. If you know, it's almost like if Shador doesn't go to,

then he has to slide even past the Giants. And maybe we're getting into really interesting territory with where the second quarterback ends up going. But he does go to Cleveland here at number two. And my question when it comes to the Browns and quarterbacks is, are they just bad at drafting quarterbacks or do they roll in the quarterbacks that they draft? Damian, Keith, you guys have any thoughts on the Browns and their ability

to not end up with a good quarterback in the end? To answer your question, the answer is yes. Like it's just yes. They are just all around. Yes, they're just bad. They don't develop well. I think for them, like getting a Shador Sanders, a guy like Keith talked about kind of leading up to the pit, you need somebody that can come in and kind of thrive in that chaotic

situation. The Browns need a program stabilized mentally. And from a personality standpoint, that's what he brings. He's used to being at, you know, schools that are not winning programs. It's not like he went to Alabama, Florida state or somewhere else. He went to Jackson state and then went to a team that won what one game the year before he got there. Like they were not a playoff contender.

They weren't a contender in any pro in any conference they were in. So I think for them getting a guy like this, he brings that point guard style, style at quarterback. Jerry Judy saw his best year with Jamies Winston. They need to get a quarterback and get him the ball. Cedric Tillman and with them having picks and getting him at two. And I hear what Matt, what Matt said, right? Like he doesn't have that high ceiling. I think getting them at two, use the rest of your picks to build this roster up. I think really could help them by getting him in the elevating his ceiling. You are a Niners guy. You saw what the roster could do for Brock Purdy. Brock Purdy wasn't the most talented quarterback coming out. He actually was Mr. Irrelevant, but you go to a

good situation, you build that up around him and and you see good quarterback play. Yep, confidence, guts, it's going to be important. And he was under pressure a lot, Shadrur Sanders was in college. And so you're going to have to be able to handle pressure when you get to the Cleveland Browns. So I do like that aspect of Shadrur Sanders. Number two now to the Cleveland Browns in our 2025 Moxrass special coming up. BG, real quick, I just want to mention one thing. So two things actually, it's kind of like the Bears too. I mean, they draft quarterbacks, they never work out. Bears and Browns, after a while you have to look in the mirror

and be like, it's not you, it's me. You know, I mean, and the year I spent with the Browns on their staff, many people told me, and this is a long time ago, man, we ruined Tim Couch. We gave him no chance. And I think that's true with a lot of them since. And it's not the only reason, but the wind and weather of Cleveland and Chicago, I think, is a portion of it,

a small portion of it. And that worries me with Tridor. I mean, with my AFC North familiarity, I want a bigger, stronger power arm beast you know, beast, and I don't know that he's that. Coming up blue chip prospects, we're talking is even a wide receiver or a corner Travis Hunter, Ed Russia, Abdul Carter. They're both still on the board and someone is going to get an

impact player. The New York Giants are on the clock. Next. This episode of the Lockdown NFL mock draft special is brought to you by Game Time. There's nothing like the atmosphere of an NBA playoff game. Every bucket, every defensive stop, every moment feels huge. It's electric in the arena. And with Game Time, you can be part of it without the stress of last minute ticket hunting, even when demand is sky high, prices on the app actually go down as tip

off gets closer and their last minute deals can save you up to 60%. And I've used game time so many times for football games, baseball games, concerts, comedy shows, theater events, fantastic last minute deals save up to 60% and the all-in pricing means no surprise fees at checkout, which is my favorite feature. What you pay is what you get. So take the guesswork out of buying tickets with Game Time. Download the Game Time app, create an account and use code locked on NFL for $20 off your first purchase, terms apply.

Again, create an account and redeem code locked on NFL for $20 off. first purchase. Terms apply again, create an account and redeem code locked on NFL for $20 off download game time today. Last minute tickets lowest price guaranteed. All right, we're back with the locked on podcast network mock draft special. We've been doing this for seven years. This is awesome. I love it every year. I love the panel of guys I get to talk to here with Matt, Dame and Keith, all of the hosts. I love everybody coming together and it is now time for pick number three in this mock draft. And it is the New York giants who are on the clock.

The decision gets a lot easier cause there's no quarterback to take here. We're not going to see, I don't think we're going to see. You never know the NFL draft is nuts. I don't think we're going to see a Jaylen Milrow or Jackson Dart or Tyler Schuch going here at pick number three. So it's really an easy decision. And it is between Travis Hunter and Abdul Carter. What do you think Dame go first, Carter or Hunter? I would go Hunter, honestly. Um, I think they have edge rushers. They have a defensive line that's stabilized right now.

I would look at Hunter and it's simply because you get the best of both, right? You get the corner, you get the receiver. You know what you have in elite neighbors. You think about Russell Wilson or even Jamis or whoever's that quarterback throwing to both of those guys on the field at the same time. Or you know what you have, you brought in Deontay Banks a couple of years ago in the draft. They added some more veteran pieces in that secondary, but even putting a Travis Hunter in this secondary, you have receivers, a CD Lamb, AJ Brown, Devonta Smith, Terry McLaurin, now Deebo Samuel in Washington. You got to be able to cover

these guys. So I think that either, like I said, you get the best of both depends on where they want to play them or where they view him. I think it should be Travis Hunter. Go ahead and get that blue chip guy that can make an impact on both sides of the ball. Keith, are we, are we double counting Travis Hunter in that he's a good, not great corner and a good, not great wide receiver And we're kind of adding them together. And it's like 75 plus 75 equals 150. Or is he actually that good about it?

Yeah, well, the thing is, is that I think cornerback is a question mark somewhat, right? And coming off of his pro day, I was just at Colorado's pro day. I mean, we've watched it on TV also, right? Is that we didn't get any cornerback work, even at the combine, we didn't get any cornerback work. So if I'm an NFL talent evaluator, I'm sitting as a general manager.

I have to pick up the context clues and tell me, hey, this guy probably wants to play wide receiver. He's most comfortable wide receiver. So I'm looking at Travis Hunter as a wide receiver, which are probably making more difficult for him to play both sides of the football because just with all the different schemes and situations and adjustments, you have to make that corner to be in line with the rest of the secondary, it's going to be tough for him.

So I'm looking at Travis Hunter as a wide receiver here. And so I'm not double counting. I'm just counting them as a really, really good wide receiver. Okay. Why to see the first there? Williamson, what do you think? I would go with honor simply because I just have a higher grade on him. I think he's more special.

Now, if you were to take Carter, I think you could move Tibbido. And he's been kind of mentioned as a potential trade candidate. You get something decent in return. But to me, Hunter's too good and too enticing to pass up. The pick is in Patricia Traynus standing by with the selection for number three for the locked on Giants. And by the way, Giants fans, make sure you're tuned in to locked on Giants and Patricia's work because she's really good at this and she has good insight.

And I think she's nailed the Giants pick multiple times over the last few years. Let's find out who she's got at number three. With the third selection in the 2025 locked on NFL mock draft, the New York Giants select Abdul Carter outside linebacker Penn State with both quarterbacks Cam Ward and Shador Sanders off the board, the Giants go best available, and in Carter they get a pass rusher with elite speed and quickness who can boost a Giants pass rush that per NFL pros stats last year pressured the quarterback just 34.2% of the times, but only managed a 7.8% sack rate.

The Giants who during their last two Super Bowls were 3D that passed rusher would add another solid option to help boost the defense that was burned a little too often for most people's tastes last year by quarterbacks who were able to scramble out of trouble. So it is Abdul Carter, the edge rusher. And I can't say I don't like this pick because even if Travis Hunter is an awful corner or an awesome wide receiver, I think an awesome edge rusher still trumps both of those things. And I would rather have that. And Matt, it kind of sets up a pretty nasty front seven for the New York Giants.

Yeah, it does. And, you know, she kind of mentioned the straight hand era and get back to Giants football. And I think this team has lost its identity. I understand that. I'm sure the rest of the division is not thrilled with trying to block this front. I mean, that does not look fun at all with Dexter Lawrence.

So I understand it. I just think Hunter is special. Yeah, I think to Williamson's point, like Patricia said, like if you, if you go Abdul here, this is a potential situation where on rushing downs, he could potentially play off being your star off ball backer because he has that thing. If he played, you know, I know for me, if he stayed at off ball back, you probably would have been the first round pick either way.

Like he's just that talented of a, of a linebacker as an athlete. And when you're dealing with Jalen Hurts, you're dealing with that Prescott, Jaden Daniels in that division, like you kind of, you know, you got to figure out like, how do we contain these guys, keep them in the pocket on, especially on first and 10 is like, yeah, the play action game is there and they can break, contain, use their legs. You need a guy that can run with them and move with them and Abdul can do that. And then on third downs, you even defeat like William said, Lutu, if you don't trade Kavon, slide Kavon down as a standup guy ahead of guards, you get Brian Burns on the opposite side. You have Abdul, Dexter, Lawrence in the middle. That's a terrifying front

four. And we saw how impactful just getting to the quarterback with four can be when we watched the Superbowl this year. Yeah. You want to be able to rush with four. Bring the NASCAR package back to the New York Giants. I kind of like that. Keith, can he be as good as the guy who used to wear number 11 at Penn State? Are we scouting the helmet here? How good can Abdul Carter be in the NFL? Yeah, without a doubt, I think he could be just as good. I think Micah is a little bit bigger overall, right?

And maybe have a little bit more explosiveness and functional strength. But when it comes down to bend around the edge and getting to the quarterback, I flat out think he can. And this is the one thing DP kind of hit on it. But I've always said this is that I think that Abdul Carter is the better stacked linebacker. So I envision a front seven where maybe in first and second down, Abdul Carter is actually playing linebacker for you.

And then you can do some exotic things on third down or just imagining all of the quarterbacks that you guys just listed off. Well, how does that look now that Abdul Carter is actually the spy linebacker on Jane Daniels, right? Oh, he's the spy guy on jail and hurts in certain situations. So it, it, it's kind of compounding, um, similar, I guess, skill sets with adding another edge rusher, but I think it could potentially make you more dynamic as a defense,

which could be fun. Positions football coming to an NFL defense near you. We got corners that play wide receiver. We've got, uh, edge rushers that play off ball backer. We've got tight ends that line up in wild cat. I mean, we've got guys that can do everything in this draft. The new England Patriots are on the clock now at pick number four.

We've got a new host here on the network. Nick Cattles is gonna make the selection for the Pats here. There's a clear best player available in Travis Hunter. We've talked about him a lot. There's also phone calls happening behind the scenes because there are trades in the works in this mock draft. And I wonder if a team could potentially come up to pick number four or if not, there could be an opportunity for some other teams to move around. So stay tuned there. And I know my guy, Eric Crocker, host of Lockdown 49ers at 11, has made a few of those calls.

The right player has to fall down on the board. So we'll see what happens there. But we're talking about the Patriots here. This pick is really easy if they stick with it. Do you think guys though, that Matt will start with you? I mean, there's a blue chipper there. Maybe it doesn't fit the biggest need. It's not a wide receiver.

It's not a tackle. Do you dare go a different position go another direction? No I run to the podium for Hunter and I tell them you're a wide receiver first and on throwing downs You're gonna play some corner and you and Drake may are gonna be best friends and you're gonna learn some things from Stefan Diggs And you're gonna play a lot of offense and you're gonna be a star and I'm thrilled about it Yeah, I wouldn't I would run the card. I'm not wasting star. And I'm thrilled about it. Yeah, I wouldn't, I would run the card. I'm not wasting time.

I'm not talking about it. This is the move we're making it to Williamson and to Keith's point, especially for the pages. This is my ideology. You know, my thought process, you brought in Colton Davis through free agency. You have Alex Austin, you have Christian Gonzalez. I don't see a need that corner here.

Get Travis Hunter to be that wide receiver receiver one B with Stefan digs. You got Jalen poke. I think Javon Baker did you have the full frown last year? Give Drake made a weapons. He needs, you can get an offensive tackle around too. Can you get an offensive tackle in around two Keith? It feels like those positions dry up. And this year there's not a lot of them.

We got like everyone's just short armed out there. Like what's going on? If Drake may can't be upright, can even find any of those wide receivers. We just talked to them, right? That's why I'm going off. I will go off as a tackle here. I would go will Campbell. Listen, everybody's arguing over a quarter of an inch.

I'll tell you this when he's 330 pounds coming at you. I want to know if you worried about a quarter of an inch on the arm, right? So I go Will Campbell, I put him at left tackle, I have somebody to protect Drake May. And I think at the very worst, you're talking about a guy that can kick inside and play guard for you. Nobody's ever been mad at all pro guard.

And I also look at this, the head coach, Mike Graver, right? We've seen what his blueprint is to winning. It's running a football, it's being physical, it's being tough. Will Campbell is one of the toughest players in his entire draft. Nick Cattles ready to go with the pick at number four for the New England Patriots. He didn't run the card in. He kind of strolled it in, but it didn't take long for this pick to be made. Nick Cattles ready to go with pick number four in the Lockdown NFL mock draft special. With the fourth overall

pick in the Lockdown NFL mock draft, the Patriots select wide receiver quarterback, Travis Hunter from Colorado. If the Patriots could land Travis Hunter at four on that Thursday night, they will be doing cartwheels. Let's start with the fact that Hunter is one of only two blue chip prospects in this draft to go along with Abdul Carter. So to land one of the two best prospects in the draft

at number four is incredibly fortunate for the Patriots. Number two, the Patriots need a lead wide receiver. It's one of their top needs. You look at left tackle, you look at wide receiver. They signed Stephon Diggs just a couple of weeks ago, but of course, Stephon Diggs is now in his thirties. He's coming off ACL surgery. He's more likely a two than a one. So what better, what better than to go out, draft Travis Hunter and put him under the learning tree of Stefan Diggs. You now have Hunter as your lead receiver by the middle of the year and Diggs as your number two.

And finally, Hunter is a variable kind of guy, work ethic. He plays hard. He's selfless. He will fit in perfectly for that Patriots locker room and the culture that Mike Vrabel is trying to establish in New England. So that's the pick Travis Hunter. Number four overall Patriots are ecstatic to land him at that spot. A great point by Nick there in the analysis making the selection of Travis Hunter to the New England Patriots is the high character of the player too. And he played an unbelievable amount of snaps

in Colorado. Can he keep doing that in the NFL is my question. Matt, what do you think? Can you play like a full compliment at two positions in the NFL? Or does he have to star in one and maybe dabble in the other? And can you dabble at corner? Because we've really never seen it. It's a hard one to answer but I do think people need to realize that there's not as much hurry up, there's more snapping, you get a little bit more break between snaps at the NFL level, there's not as many snaps as total. Now I don't know how feasible it is in terms of what you know position room he goes to and all that but unless he goes to a team like New England that has a massive need on one side, as opposed to the other, I would try to feature him in like 60 percent of both.

You know, like rundowns, he's just not out there. You know, I mean, if it's third date on either side of the ball, he's always out there. You know, I mean, I would try to save him that way and try to double dip and get my cake and eat it too. That's kind of a wild thought because like Dame, he wouldn't, he wouldn't even start. Right. Sort of. I mean, he has pretty wide, maybe, you know, right. Playing the most impactful role too. It's kind of a wild thought. We've never really gone through this. No, I mean, I think, you know, I think this is a good pick. You know, I listened to, I heard the, I think I saw the quote from coach variable said, we view them as both when I think at the NFL

league meeting the other week, he said, we view them as both corner and wide receiver. And I believe he said that we're willing to let him play both. I think if you're going to do that to me, the most feasible part to that. Cause I think what Williamson was saying to test to that coach promise that after the pro day,son was saying to test to that, coach Price said that after the pro day, it was like he made those exact points. Like the game is slower, it's slower at the NFL level. It's nice in college, we're hurry up, hurry up, hurry up.

And to be honest, it's more commercial breaks because there's more money involved. So you get a lot more time to break and different things like that. But I think if he's going to play both sides of the ball, the way he kind of wants to, I think for me me it has to be, it should be starting at corner and allowing him to get that package on offense rather than, cause it's difficult to go from playing mostly receiver and then go into corner things of that nature. I think that's kind of how you want to play

it. You sort of start in corner, you go 11 personnel, three wide receivers. He's one of the three on the field. He may not start offense, but he can start on defense. Either way for me, for the new England Patriots, I kind of want to met receiver in this offense. I want to met receiver. I want Drake me to have two guys that can run routes, make plays after the catch, have ball skills. We know how electric this young man is. He could really under the tutelage of Stefan Diggs, talking about a year or so, he could be one of the better receivers in the league. Keith, is it short-sighted to play? It's sort of like the idea of drafting for need versus drafting best player. Is it also short-sighted to train your draft pick to play the needy position and not what he's best at? Yeah, I think it is short-sighted. I believe in putting every player

in the best position possible to be successful, right? Like if you have a guy that could be potential all pro, but you put him in a situation where he's just a pro bowler, then you're kind of shortchanging the young man and you're shortchanging your picks. I think it's your responsibility as a coach, as the GM drafts him, it's your responsibility to put them in the best position possible. And we've seen this across the league. Guys go from different schemes and different situations, and their play fluctuates. It's because they're not being put in the best position possible.

So I look at Travis Hunter and I say, that's the part that kind of worries me a little bit. I have to be completely honest with the playing both sides of the football. It's just that I worry that are we being able to fully invest into him at the cornerback position? And that's why I went back to the beginning is that even when you watch the film and you marry with what he's done or hasn't done in a combine and pro days, like what are we really getting as a quarterback prospect, right?

Like how fluid are his hips? Um, you know, just the certain drills we see at the combine that we use to judge that we haven't seen it at the combine and we haven't seen it at pro day. So I just want to make sure that they truly take their time to teach and develop him on both sides of the football. This year's big four are off the board. Now it's big wig time. Tony Wiggins on the clock, maybe a big man in his sights at the number five

selection, the Jaguars are up next in the 2025 locked on NFL mock draft. This episode of the lockdown NFL mock draft. This episode of the Lockdown NFL mock draft special is brought to you by LinkedIn jobs. As a small business owner, your work doesn't end when the clock hits five. Your business is always on your mind, which means when it's time to hire, you need a partner that works just as hard as you do.

That's where LinkedIn jobs comes in. When you clock out, LinkedIn clocks in. LinkedIn makes it easy to post your job for free, share it with your network, and get qualified candidates all in one place. It was just that easy for NFL teams to find the exact right candidate for all the positions they're trying to fill. And when you post your job, LinkedIn's new features can help write job descriptions, quickly get your job in front of the right people with deep candidate insights. And here's a pro tip, add the hiring frame,

the hashtag hiring frame to your profile picture to double your reach to qualified candidates. No wonder 72% of small businesses say LinkedIn helps them find high quality hires. So post your job for free at linkedin.com slash locked on NFL. That's linkedin.com slash locked on NFL to post your job for free terms and conditions apply. Both quarterbacks,

both blue chippers are now off the board for Tony Wiggins and the Jacksonville Jaguars at pick number five. And so now things get very interesting. And the draft could go a number of ways from here. The Chockey pick has been Mason Graham in this selection and it almost feels like it can't happen that way because it's too Chockey and it's been that way for too many weeks and too many months in mock drafts. How do we see this thing? Damian, what do you think about the fifth pick for the Jags here?

I think it's defense, right? You look at either corner with Will Johnson, still on the board, or defensive line. You have Josh Allen Hines, I want to make sure I say his name correctly after the change. You got Josh Allen Hines. You have Trayvon Walker. Selected Mason Smith out of LSU in the second round last year. You still, it's really a question mark of what you're going to get out of him. We have to see if he can get them back to that freshman pre injury version of himself. But I think Mason Graham, just a clean and high floor player. I think there's a lot of upside with him as a pass rusher.

But when you turn on the table, watching him at Michigan, you have big six, three, two, 340 pound, Kenneth Grant, who's his teammate and opposing offensive lines paid more attention into stopping Mason Graham. I think this is a guy that can play the run. I think you play him at three tech or even some four eye as a single gap penetrated when she wasn't able to do that at Michigan. Cause he saw so many double teams. You let them get one-on-one. I think he can deconstruct one-on-one blocks, be a menace in the run game, reset the line of scrimmage, and then also get into the backfield. I mean, can you

talk about on the podcast, can you not to the arm. Arm length is great if you know how to use it. It's all about boxing. If you know how to time your punches, you know how to land your strikes. That's who wins the match. Typically, it's the guy who can land the most punches. I think he's an advanced guy with his hands. I think he knows how to kind of overcome the lack of length with the wingspan. You know, I don't even have much of a problem with arm length for the interior guys.

Anyway, you're almost a little quicker to the punch if you got shorter arms. And that's why you play inside. Some guys look like they almost have too much length and they can't really operate in a phone booth at times. So, you know, arm length, it's important edge offensive tackles. I'm not that into it when it comes to the defensive tackles. And by the way, I feel like everybody's got an inch longer arms than whatever they were measured at at the combine anyway.

So I don't even know what to think about arm length in this year's class. Matt real quick before we get to this pick here at number five, because the pick is in any Dark Horse selections for you other than Mason Graham at number five, a sneaky one to me would be Gentie. I mean people talk about him is six too early. Well, then five's not too early. I mean, I think he's a special player as well. He'd be my last blue chip guy. I think the Will Johnson suggestion was sort of interesting. I would probably lean towards Campbell or Membo though. I just think I'd find a spot on the O-line, protect my greatest asset, try to change the

trenches on that side of the ball. There's a number of ways that Tony Wiggins can go. It turns out here and the pick is in, locked on Jaguars host, Tony Wiggins ready to go. A pick number five in the locked on NFL mock draft. With the fifth pick in the 2025 NFL draft, the Jacksonville Jaguars select Mason Graham, a defensive tackle out of the University of Michigan. Look, he's big, he's strong, he's fast, he plays hard, he has high football character a defensive tackle out of the University of Michigan. Look,

he's big, he's strong, he's fast, he plays hard, he has high football character, he checks all of the boxes, he's played at a very high level and knows how to win but this pick isn't necessarily the biggest need for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

They have Eric Armstead and Mason Smith who they picked in the second round last year but it is an important choice because it's the first pick for three first timers. First time head coach, Liam Cohen, first time GM, James Gladstone, and first time EVP, Tony Bassele. And I think they just have to hit a home run at a critical position and they have to get improvements

stopping the run and getting interior pass rush. I expect them to start, but this isn't just about 2025 and being able to line up, this is about the future and what he brings to the Jaguars organization. So it is Mason Graham defensive tackle out of Michigan to the Jacksonville Jaguars at pick number five. Keith, uh, it sounds like wig just told us this was one of those WTF picks, right? Just watch the film draft. The dude who plays like a maniac inside.

What's the scouting report on, on Mason Graham? Yeah. Uh, first step, exposing this physical hands, right? DP talked about it, right? He's a gap penetrator. Um, he's a high motor guy. He provides value in the run game. And as a pass rusher, right?

The one thing I have is this, and this is what where is mean. I'm kind of with Matt on this. I probably would have went offensive line here. And that's just because this, I don't want to get to week six, week seven of the season and say we can't protect our quarterback. Right. Because usually when you get to that point, there's no solution. You're not picking off or picking up a guy off the street to protect your quarterback that you feel good. And we have to be completely honest about the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Y'all on the brink of an epic failure. If we don't get a good year out of Trevor Lawrence, the conversation is going to be, is it time to move on? We're in, we're going into year five of this project slash situation. And just because you paid them, right, doesn't mean that the fan, the fan base is sitting there saying, Hey, we're really happy with what's going on. So I think you should pull all your investments into Trevor Lawrence. He's one of the most talented QB prospects that we've seen.

And unfortunately the Jacksonville Jaguars have not done what they need to do to be able to surround him with the accuracy pieces. All right. The top five is in, we are done with five picks now. Jacksonville Jaguars have made their selection. We're on to pick six next time. But we want to check in with the team building experts from the Lockdown NFL scouting podcast, Kyle Krabs and Joe Marino, two of my favorite analysts, not only on this network, but in the entire draft world. They've been doing phenomenal stuff for a long time.

The draft dudes, as they are sometimes known, we've got a lot of talent here on the network, guys. And I want to get their thoughts on somewhat of a chalky opening to our locked on Mottraff. Kyle, when I look through this crop of picks, the thing that really stands out to me is the Giants selecting Abdul Carter at number three. And I give them a lot of credit. I give them a lot of credit. You don't necessarily look at the Giants as a team that needs a pass rusher.

Kavon Thibodeau, Brian Burns set as our edge rushers, but they went with the best player on the board. And I respect that so much. Didn't have to reach for a quarterback, right? Maybe you don't like Shador Sanders. That's okay. You don't have to pick them. Don't pass over the blue chip talent here in Abdul Carter. And I love that they were willing to do that despite it not being a need.

I think Abdul Carter might be the best prospect in the draft. The Giants get him at pick number three. Yeah. Well, the Browns did the Giants a favor and removed that temptation for a quarterback by taking Shider Sanders with the second overall pick. So you got quarterbacks that go one and two. And for Cleveland, with where the intersection of where they're at as a football team, they've spent cash at a very high rate over the last couple of seasons. Being in a position to have a rookie quarterback contract at that

position amidst the potential and future offloading of Deshaun Watson to kind of help bring that those scales a little bit closer to balance, I think was a primary motivating factor here for a move like this getting done. And I do think it's the appropriate decision for where Cleveland is at now, whether or not shoulders Sanders ends up manifesting into the quarterback that the Browns need. That's a whole the can of worms either way, but the way that this can branch off of the direction that the Browns have been going I think gives them long term the potential to keep

more talent because they don't have to be worried about continued ramifications of that contract looming over every personnel move that they make. I love that the Patriots are able to stick and pick Travis Hunter at number four. I think that's another good side effect of two quarterbacks going in the top three. If you look at this draft as the two blue chip talents being Abdul Carter, Travis Hunter,

the Patriots need that Browns or the Giants to pick a quarterback to land one of them. It happens. And I think that's quite the quote unquote consolation for blowing their chance to have the number one pick with their week 18 win over the Bills. They probably get the player they would have drafted anyway here at number four.

Now let's get some fantasy insight with a pair of quarterbacks kicking off this draft. Marcus Mosher of Lockdown Dynasty football is here with his thoughts. And let's start with Cam Ward who goes at number one to the Tennessee Titans. This is not a fantastic landing spot for his fantasy upside because this just isn't a very good offensive line right now. They pay big money to Dan Moore in free agency. They're hoping J.C. Latham can be a star on the right side, but they've got lackluster playmakers with Calvin Ridley operating as the number one receiver. We'll see about Traylon Burks and the rest of the receivers, but

where Cam Warts fantasy upside will lie is in his rushing ability. Now, he didn't run a ton at Miami or Washington, but he's a very good athlete. Don't be surprised if Brian Callahan tries to maximize his upside and usage by using him more as a runner, kind of like what we saw with Jane Daniels and the commanders last year. Again, not a great landing spot for fantasy purposes, but expect him to go pretty high in your super flex dynasty drafts and to be somebody that you consider in the later rounds of your 2025 redraft leagues just because of that rushing upside. Now as for Chidora Sanders who goes

at number two in this mock to the Cleveland Browns, this is a good landing spot in the fact that Kevin Stefanski is one of the better offensive minds in the league, but with a bad offensive line playing in a tough division, Shador Sanders just doesn't offer the fantasy upside that we like to see from our quarterbacks. This is a good landing spot for him specifically, but in terms of what we're doing in our fantasy leagues and our dynasty leagues, he's probably somebody that we should avoid drafting at that spot.

However, the player that we should target here is Travis Hunter who goes four to the new England Patriots. This is the most ideal landing spot for Travis Hunter because the Patriots are probably the team that is the most likely to let Travis Hunter play both positions, wide receiver and cornerback. We know that Mike Frable, who had a long career playing both sides of the ball, defense linebacker and catching touchdowns, I think he'd be open to the idea of moving Travis Hunter around, allowing him to play both spots.

But with the Patriots already having Christian Gonzalez, their first round pick in the 2023 draft, they just don't have that need for another lockdown corner. What they really need is a wide receiver that will be dynamic and can create plays down the field with Drake May. So if you're hoping that Travis Hunter gets a shot to play offense full time in the NFL, landing in New England is a pretty good destination for his fantasy value and dynasty value. Let's hope that happens late April when we get to the 2025 NFL draft. Matt, when it comes to fantasy, it's really not that far off from reality when it comes to drafting a quarterback number one,

because it might be like, okay, look, this doesn't look like a fantasy juggernaut football team right now. But if you hit on that quarterback and the threat of what Ken Ward could be, not only his fantasy value, but the receivers for him, that could become a fantasy juggernaut. And you can start putting up a lot of points on offense as well. And look, if you're a bad team, your quarterback throwing from behind a lot can help your fantasy team in some ways.

As you're developing, what do you think about that aspect of these prospects at the top? Yeah, and I also like, as Marcus mentioned, they really finally invested in the offensive line. So he's landing in a good spot there. The running game should be decent enough Like you know, as Marcus mentioned, they really finally invested in the offensive line. So he's landing in a good spot there. The running game should be decent enough for a first overall pick. And you know, that early second rounder maybe turns into a wide out opposite Ridley too.

So I don't think it's a bad landing spot for Fantasy Point. Best pick so far of the first day of the draft here. Keith, Damian, is there a pick that you liked more than the others? I'm gonna go Cam Ward to the Titans. Like I said, the Titans needed it, right? You should be really excited. And I want to say this, that could they be one of the teams that could potentially go from worst to first in their division?

When you look at the Indianapolis coach, they have question marks at quarterback. The Jacksonville Jaguars just have question marks period. The Houston Texans, good football team, right? But I think they are going to have to evolve as the offense and figure out some things without Stefan Diggs. Could the Tennessee Titans injected with the youth of Cam Ward and good quarterback play be competitive in the AFC? So, Yeah, I go with cam ward as well. I think now that you have the guy that you believe in, right.

It's different coming in as a, as a head coach and the staff to a quarterback situation like last year, we'll love it. Now you draft the guy you believe in most, the guy you see, you feel like I can pencil in pencil him in to what we do. And now you use the rest of this draft to whether it's a go get one of his security blankets from Miami, maybe Elijah Royal on day two at tight end, somewhat a familiar face with them to walk into NFL training camp with B as bump mate in the NFL training camp, things of that nature that you can study with, get really comfortable in this in this scheme and this

offense. I think they have the groundwork and like you said, just kind of hitting on a couple more of these picks, you did a solid job in free agency, we could see have the groundwork. And like you said, just kind of hitting on a couple more of these picks, you did a solid job in free agency. We could see a complete turnaround from what we saw in twenty twenty four. I kind of like picks three and four myself to be able to sit back and get a truly difference making player. And you look back, it wouldn't be a shock in a few years. You look back and you're like, how did Travis Hunter,

who became the best player in this draft, how did teams let him fall to number four and the New England Patriots with what he could be at his upside? Is it going to be one of those drafts? We'll find out. We're on to pick number six in the next episode of the Lockdown NFL Mocked Draft special. It is the Las Vegas Raiders who are now on the clock and can't wait to see who they select and who the rest of the teams and our hosts select. That's it for the first episode of the Lockdown NFL Mocked Draft special sponsored by That's it for the first episode of the Lockdown NFL Mock Draft special sponsored by leaked in your team every day here on the Lockdown podcast network onto the next episode, the rest of the top 10.

And will we see a third quarterback off the board potentially tune in to find out. And don't forget, you can find the entire special on both audio and video at the Peacock and Williamson NFL show feed, locked on NFL draft and locked on NFL podcast feeds for Matt Williamson, Damien Parson, Keith Sanchez. I'm Brian Peacock. We'll see you for the rest of the top 10 in the next episode of the locked on NFL mock draft special part of the locked on podcast network, your team every day.