2025 1QB Expert Dynasty Rookie Mock Draft
Somehow, it's already been two weeks since the NFL Draft concluded back in late April. Over those two weeks, dynasty degenerates like me have agonized over landing spots, and ADP has shifted dramatically. What better time for a rookie mock draft?
What follows is the full breakdown of a four-round, 1QB rookie mock draft conducted entirely with analysts from 4for4 and our dynasty sister site, Dynasty League Football. Thoughts on player values, strategies, and the draft landscape will follow each pick, including some from the drafters. The entire grid of the draft is at the bottom of the article.
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The Draft Participants
1. Justin Taylor (@jtorange)
2. Matt Jones (@Matt JonesTFR)
3. Tim Riordan (@timmymr)
4. Matt Okada (@MattOkada)
5. Stephen Hoopes (@stephenhoopes.bsky.social)
6. Justin Edwards (@Justin_Redwards)
7. Neil Dutton (@@ndutton13)
8. Patrick Martin (DLF)
9. Brandon Haye (@hayeb3)
10. Ryan McDowell (@RyanMc23)
11. Kevin White (@TheDynastyMind)
12. Lewis Wood (@ffpancake)
Round 1
| Pick | Drafter | Player | Pos. | College | May ADP* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.01 | Justin Taylor | Ashton Jeanty | RB | Boise State | 1.01 |
| 1.02 | Matt Jones | Tetairoa McMillan | WR | Arizona | 1.04 |
| 1.03 | Tim Riordan | Travis Hunter | WR | Colorado | 1.03 |
| 1.04 | Matt Okada | Omarion Hampton | RB | North Carolina | 1.02 |
| 1.05 | Stephen Hoopes | TreVeyon Henderson | RB | Ohio State | 1.05 |
| 1.06 | Justin Edwards | Quinshon Judkins | RB | Ohio State | 1.06 |
*May Average Draft Position from Dynasty League Football
1.01 - Ashton Jeanty, RB, Las Vegas Raiders
This will be the least surprising pick you see in any fantasy format all year. Ashton Jeanty is commonly touted as the best running back prospect since Saquon Barkley and went sixth overall to a Raiders offense that will revolve heavily around him and his three-down ability from the moment he steps on the field. He's already squarely in the RB1 conversation for redraft leagues, so the 21-year-old is a smash pick at the top of rookie drafts.
1.02 - Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Carolina Panthers
While Jeanty is the most obvious pick in rookie drafts, Tetairoa McMillan is arguably the most uncertain. In 1QB formats, he's commonly taken as high as this pick — the 1.02 — or as low as the 1.05, behind another WR and a run of RBs. McMillan was drafted eighth overall by the Panthers, so his capital and projected target share are exceptional, as was his draft profile. I think most of the doubt surrounding his rookie price comes from concerns about his quarterback situation, but if Bryce Young is halfway competent, McMillan should thrive in Carolina.
1.03 - Travis Hunter, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars
From one polarizing WR selection to another, two-way Heisman winner Travis Hunter earned the 1.03 in this mock. And while that pick reflects his current ADP, his draft range is similar to McMillan's, often dropping as low as the 1.05. The second overall pick by the Jaguars should play significant snaps on offense, but the possibility that he doesn't puts his rookie value into minor limbo. Still, he has arguably the highest upside in this class at wide receiver.
Tim's Thoughts: "To pick Travis Hunter, you need to have some room for risk on your roster ... He could absolutely be the best dynasty pick in this draft, but he could also be the worst."
1.04 - Omarion Hampton, RB, Los Angeles Chargers
This was an easy selection for me, as Omarion Hampton is typically the 1.02 behind Jeanty. While positional need, a longer-term outlook, or simply prospect preference could justify McMillan or Hunter over the former Tarheel, he landed in a dream spot at 22nd overall to Los Angeles and should immediately challenge Najee Harris for starter touches. He's not a locked-and-loaded 2025 RB1 like Jeanty, but Hampton will contribute this year and is already a top-five RB consideration in startup rankings.
1.05 - TreVeyon Henderson, RB, New England Patriots
TreVeyon Henderson is an explosive, three-down stud who should dominate passing-down snaps from Week 1 and outplay Rhamondre Stevenson for an increased workload sooner rather than later. While he may not have the carry-count upside that Jeanty or Hampton does, Henderson has an RB1 ceiling in any PPR format and has already cracked that range in startup drafts.
Stephen's Thoughts: "I think there's a strong tier break after the first four players ... You're justified in going one of a few directions at 1.05, but my favorite option is TreVeyon."
1.06 - Quinshon Judkins, RB, Cleveland Browns
The other half of the Ohio State duo, Quinshon Judkins, was the "Thunder" to Henderson's "Lightning" in Columbus and should see a similar role up the road in Cleveland. I've comped him to former Brown Kareem Hunt, but he's more likely to see a Nick Chubb workload with his landing spot and draft capital. The Browns took him 90 spots ahead of Dylan Sampson, who fits more of a change-of-pace mold — so Judkins will have the inside track to a bell-cow role and is the last of the rookie class to be inside the dynasty top 12 at the position already.
| Pick | Drafter | Player | Pos. | College | May ADP* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.07 | Neil Dutton | Kaleb Johnson | RB | Iowa | 1.11 |
| 1.08 | Patrick Martin | Emeka Egbuka | WR | Ohio State | 1.1 |
| 1.09 | Brandon Haye | RJ Harvey | RB | UCF | 1.07 |
| 1.1 | Ryan McDowell | Tyler Warren | TE | Penn State | 1.09 |
| 1.11 | Kevin White | Colston Loveland | TE | Michigan | 1.12 |
| 1.12 | Lewis Wood | Luther Burden III | WR | Missouri | 2.01 |
*May Average Draft Position from Dynasty League Football
1.07 - Kaleb Johnson, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Kaleb Johnson has dropped a couple spots in ADP since the NFL Draft, but he actually jumped up a couple of spots in our mock as Neil snatched him to close the mid-first-round RB run. Johnson is a plug-and-play replacement for Najee Harris in the Steel City and could replicate his annual RB2 production from day one, but questions about the Steelers offense (quarterback) and Jaylen Warren's presence keep Johnson from cracking the top four rookie RBs.
1.08 - Emeka Egbuka, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
In one of the more baffling picks of the NFL's first round, the Buccaneers snagged slot-specialist Emeka Egbuka despite extending Chris Godwin weeks prior (and having Jalen McMillan on the depth chart). Picking him here at 1.08 is less baffling, as Egbuka has the profile and capital to fight his way into fantasy relevance and could even follow a Jaxon Smith-Njigba career arc (JSN is his closest comp by far). He might be more of a for-the-future pick than he was in April, but he's still a solid first-rounder.
1.09 - RJ Harvey, RB, Denver Broncos
If this is the first time you're seeing RJ Harvey's name, don't sweat it — the UCF product was going in the rookie-draft third round a couple of months ago. Then the Broncos reached all the way to 60th overall to pick him, and Harvey's ADP has skyrocketed since. He's a dynamic runner who went to arguably the best available situation for fantasy and has a short road to starter touches behind an elite offensive line.
1.10 - Tyler Warren, TE, Indianapolis Colts
While the landing spot is a point of contention — questionable QBs, debatable target opportunity — Tyler Warren was selected 14th overall and has an elite prospect profile. He could become a (or the) top target for whoever helms the Colts offense this year and beyond, and is currently the dynasty TE4 in community consensus as a result. Brock Bowers went close to this range in 2024 rookie drafts, and Warren has that kind of potential.
1.11 - Colston Loveland, TE, Chicago Bears
You'll frequently find Warren and Colston Loveland back-to-back in rookie drafts as dynasty managers squabble over which is a better bet. Loveland has a similarly strong profile and went four picks earlier than Warren to the Bears (and new head coach Ben Johnson). His immediate fantasy impact might be tempered by all the mouths worth feeding in Chicago, but at just 21 years old, he has plenty of runway to be a perennial fantasy stud at the position.
1.12 - Luther Burden III, WR, Chicago Bears
Luther Burden III has ridden a rollercoaster in dynasty value over the past few years, continuing into his landing spot in Chicago at the start of day two. The former Mizzou Tiger is unique in his skill set — sometimes compared to Percy Harvin or Deebo Samuel — so the onus will be on Ben Johnson to scheme him successfully. He falls to the one-two turn because of the target competition in the Bears receiver room, but has 2023-DJ-Moore upside in his range of outcomes.
Lewis' Thoughts: "Luther Burden III ... could be the steal of the draft. [He's] a high ceiling, low floor prospect, but is still my favourite target at the back of the first"
Round 2
| Pick | Drafter | Player | Pos. | College | May ADP* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.01 | Justin Taylor | Tre Harris | WR | Ole Miss | 2.03 |
| 2.02 | Matt Jones | Jayden Higgins | WR | Iowa State | 2.04 |
| 2.03 | Tim Riordan | Matthew Golden | WR | Texas | 1.08 |
| 2.04 | Matt Okada | Cam Skattebo | RB | Arizona State | 2.02 |
| 2.05 | Stephen Hoopes | Bhayshul Tuten | RB | Virginia Tech | 2.07 |
| 2.06 | Justin Edwards | Cam Ward | QB | Miami | 2.05 |
*May Average Draft Position from Dynasty League Football
2.01 - Tre Harris, WR, Los Angeles Chargers
In some ways, Ole Miss wideout Tre Harris profiles as the Mike Williams to Ladd McConkey's Keenan Allen (even with the actual Mike Williams on the roster). He's a bigger-bodied, physical receiver who can dominate downfield, and he posted an absurd 5.12 yards per route run in eight games last year. One of my personal favorite picks in this range.
2.02 - Jayden Higgins, WR, Houston Texans
At 6-foot-4, 214 pounds, with an 80-inch wingspan, a 4.47 in the 40-yard dash, and a 39-inch vertical, Jayden Higgins is a physical specimen. He's been compared to new teammate Nico Collins, and has similar potential as a strong possession receiver who's dangerous downfield and near the end zone. Houston heavily restocked their WR room this offseason, but Higgins is arguably the crown jewel, as they picked him 34th overall.
2.03 - Matthew Golden, WR, Green Bay Packers
A precipitous fall for Matthew Golden ends at the 2.03, seven spots below his May ADP. Despite first-round draft capital, 4.29 speed, and excellent tape, Golden landed in a very crowded Green Bay receiver room and is less of a "sure thing" as a prospect than the other wideouts picked on day one. Still, at this value, the potential reward is easily worth the risk.
Tim's Thoughts: "At 15th overall in a 1QB draft, it’s tough to turn your back on a first-round pick with a starting job on day one."
2.04 - Cam Skattebo, RB, New York Giants
Cam Skattebo is a very tough projection (you can read more of my thoughts in my class breakdown at DLF), as drafters will have to weigh monster production against sub-par speed and day-three draft capital. He'll also have to beat out Tyrone Tracy Jr. for meaningful touches in New York. There are hurdles to fantasy success for Skattebo, but I think he'll clear them.
2.05 - Bhayshul Tuten, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars
With Travis Etienne Jr. and Tank Bigsby already creating headaches for fantasy managers, Jacksonville exacerbated the problem by adding Virginia Tech speedster Bhayshul Tuten in the fourth round. Tuten crushed the combine with a 4.32 in the 40 and a 40.5-inch vertical, but he may have a harder time jumping both Etienne and Bigsby on the depth chart (unless one is traded). Still, he's got home-run upside if he earns the opportunity.
2.06 - Cam Ward, QB, Tennessee Titans
The first quarterback selected in this 1QB mock draft, Cam Ward, does not have the fantasy upside of a Jayden Daniels, but he is an athletic gunslinger with a transcendent arm and excellent playmaking ability. I comped him to Jordan Love, and believe he has that kind of fringe QB1 dynasty potential, so this draft price feels perfect.
| Pick | Drafter | Player | Pos. | College | May ADP* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.07 | Neil Dutton | Jack Bech | WR | TCU | 2.06 |
| 2.08 | Patrick Martin | Jaxson Dart | QB | Ole Miss | 3.02 |
| 2.09 | Brandon Haye | Jaylin Noel | WR | Iowa State | 2.08 |
| 2.1 | Ryan McDowell | Dylan Sampson | RB | Tennessee | 3.04 |
| 2.11 | Kevin White | Mason Taylor | TE | LSU | 2.1 |
| 2.12 | Lewis Wood | Elijah Arroyo | TE | Miami | 3.03 |
*May Average Draft Position from Dynasty League Football
2.07 - Jack Bech, WR, Las Vegas Raiders
TCU possession receiver Jack Bech has been one of the steadiest risers of the offseason, from Horned Frog to Senior Bowl MVP, to second-round NFL draft pick, to second-round rookie draft pick and, popular dynasty sleeper. If he can overcome very poor production and analytics, Bech will have an excellent opportunity in a Vegas wide receiver room with no clear number one.
2.08 - Jaxson Dart, QB, New York Giants
Jaxson Dart is another big riser of the 2025 draft cycle and was one of the bigger ADP "reaches" of our mock. Patrick passed on several middling skill-position players with outside shots at legitimate opportunity to take the future franchise QB of the Giants. Dart has drawn comparisons to Bo Nix (including by me) and could be in a similar fringe dynasty QB1 conversation in a year.
2.09 - Jaylin Noel, WR, Houston Texans
Jaylin Noel was the short-area slot king to Jayden Higgins' big body outside in Iowa State ... and now again in Houston. They picked him up a round later, and also signed Christian Kirk in free agency, so Noel's path to relevance might be a little longer, but he has eventual PPR upside as CJ Stroud's underneath man, if he can earn the targets.
2.10 - Dylan Sampson, RB, Cleveland Browns
Earlier, I tabbed Dylan Sampson as a "change-of-pace" back, and I believe that's exactly how Cleveland saw him as well, picking him up to complement Quinshon Judkins in a new-look backfield. The issue is, Sampson has to beat out Jerome Ford for that role. He's an electric player, but might be more of a Tyjae Spears for the foreseeable future.
2.11 - Mason Taylor, TE, New York Jets
Mason Taylor got one of the better landing spots in the draft, sliding in as the prospective starting tight end for the Jets, where only Garrett Wilson poses a legitimate threat for targets. He has room to grow and may take a year or two to realize his full potential, but Taylor is another potential sleeper in this class.
2.12 - Elijah Arroyo, TE, Seattle Seahawks
Before the draft, I comped Elijah Arroyo to "Noah Fant w/ Question Marks" ... and the Seahawks drafted him in the second round to slot in behind Fant on their depth chart. He's very efficient and has great touchdown upside, so Arroyo could be a relevant fantasy tight end even without a huge target share.
Round 3
| Pick | Drafter | Player | Pos. | College | May ADP* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.01 | Justin Taylor | Terrance Ferguson | TE | Oregon | 2.12 |
| 3.02 | Matt Jones | Devin Neal | RB | Kansas | 3.05 |
| 3.03 | Tim Riordan | Kyle Williams | WR | Washington State | 2.09 |
| 3.04 | Matt Okada | Jalen Milroe | QB | Alabama | 3.1 |
| 3.05 | Stephen Hoopes | Jaydon Blue | RB | Texas | 2.11 |
| 3.06 | Justin Edwards | DJ Giddens | RB | Kansas State | 3.08 |
| 3.07 | Neil Dutton | Elic Ayomanor | WR | Stanford | 3.09 |
| 3.08 | Patrick Martin | Harold Fannin Jr. | TE | Bowling Green | 3.06 |
| 3.09 | Brandon Haye | Jalen Royals | WR | Utah State | 3.01 |
| 3.1 | Ryan McDowell | Jordan James | RB | Oregon | 4.02 |
| 3.11 | Kevin White | Woody Marks | RB | USC | 4.01 |
| 3.12 | Lewis Wood | Jarquez Hunter | RB | Auburn | 3.07 |
*May Average Draft Position from Dynasty League Football
3.01 - Terrance Ferguson, TE, Los Angeles Rams
Tyler Higbee's still on contract through this season, but after that, Terrance Ferguson should have the inside track to the starting job after going early on day two to the Rams.
3.02 - Devin Neal, RB, New Orleans Saints
Devin Neal fell considerably in the NFL draft (to the sixth round), but went right around ADP in this mock. He could be the successor to Alvin Kamara in New Orleans, but is more likely to be a productive backup.
3.03 - Kyle Williams, WR, New England Patriots
Tim got a pretty nice steal here, picking up the potential WR1 for Drake Maye and New England (pending Stefon Diggs and his health). Williams went early in the NFL third round as well, and can win with vertical speed or YAC.
3.04 - Jalen Milroe, QB, Seattle Seahawks
Jalen Milroe has inarguably the most upside of any pick in this range of rookie drafts, as he could be Jalen Hurts in a perfect world. For now, he's behind Sam Darnold and has tons of growth to undergo as a passer, so patience may be key.
3.05 - Jaydon Blue, RB, Dallas Cowboys
In a Dallas running back room with no clear leader or incumbent starter, Jaydon Blue has a chance to be fantasy relevant sooner than most rookie third-round picks (i.e. immediately). He could also find PPR value even if Javonte Williams or someone else takes the starting carries.
Stephen's Thoughts: "In the middle of the [rookie] third round, Blue has the opportunity to climb a weak RB depth chart very quickly."
3.06 - DJ Giddens, RB, Indianapolis Colts
DJ Giddens is a prototypically sized runner with excellent athleticism, but is not the most versatile prospect and slots in as a clear backup to Jonathon Taylor (and maybe Khalil Herbert) in Indy.
3.07 - Elic Ayomanor, WR, Tennessee Titans
Elic Ayomanor fell a bit in the NFL Draft and may be a bit slower to develop, as he was a late bloomer (born in Canada). However, his production metrics and landing spot in Tennessee both offer hope for a relevant fantasy future, if Cam Ward turns into a franchise starter.
3.08 - Harold Fannin Jr., TE, Cleveland Browns
Harold Fannin Jr. obliterated single-season FBS tight end records last year and is excellent in space, but he's one of the riskier picks in the draft with tons of bust potential. For now, he's the TE2 behind David Njoku, so the pick is highly speculative (with exciting upside).
3.09 - Jalen Royals, WR, Kansas City Chiefs
The Chiefs continue to compile wide receivers, and Jalen Royals will likely be fourth or fifth in the pecking order to start. He's a smooth possession receiver with solid speed, and given all the uncertainty elsewhere on the depth chart, could have a path to relevance.
3.10 - Jordan James, RB, San Francisco 49ers
Jordan James has become a popular late-round rookie sleeper with his landing spot behind Christian McCaffrey in the ever-lucrative San Francisco backfield. It may take a while, but seemingly every Kyle Shanahan back ends up having fantasy relevance at some point.
3.11 - Woody Marks, RB, Houston Texans
Joe Mixon has two years left on his contract, but will be a cut candidate next offseason if he loses a step in 2025. That makes fourth-rounder Woody Marks a change-of-pace option in year one with the potential to become the starter in the not-too-distant future.
3.12 - Jarquez Hunter, RB, Los Angeles Rams
Another fourth-round running back, Jarquez Hunter is compact and great after contact with limited burst ... kind of like Kyren Williams. He could see valuable snaps behind or in relief of Williams and then take the veteran back's place when his contract is up next season.
Lewis's Thoughts: Hunter landed with an elite offense and could at least usurp Blake Corum. With Kyren unlikely to return to the Rams for 2026, I’ve been taking Hunter everywhere at this value.
Round 4
| Pick | Drafter | Player | Pos. | College | May ADP* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4.01 | Justin Taylor | Pat Bryant | WR | Illinois | 3.11 |
| 4.02 | Matt Jones | Ollie Gordon | RB | Oklahoma State | 4.04 |
| 4.03 | Tim Riordan | Savion Williams | WR | TCU | 4.06 |
| 4.04 | Matt Okada | Trevor Etienne | RB | Georgia | 4.03 |
| 4.05 | Stephen Hoopes | Isaac TeSlaa | WR | Arkansas | 4.05 |
| 4.06 | Justin Edwards | Gunnar Helm | TE | Texas | 5.03 |
| 4.07 | Neil Dutton | Damien Martinez | RB | Miami | 4.07 |
| 4.08 | Patrick Martin | Brashard Smith | RB | SMU | 3.12 |
| 4.09 | Brandon Haye | Tai Felton | WR | Maryland | 5.05 |
| 4.1 | Ryan McDowell | Tyler Shough | QB | Louisville | 5.01 |
| 4.11 | Kevin White | Tahj Brooks | RB | Texas Tech | 4.11 |
| 4.12 | Lewis Wood | Shedeur Sanders | QB | Colorado | 4.08 |
*May Average Draft Position from Dynasty League Football
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