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John's 2025 NFL Draft team needs for franchises picking late in Round 1. Picks 17-32 team needs and positional breakdowns for 16 NFL teams.
We're well into April, and as the NFL Draft creeps closer and free-agency signings and trades slow to an almost nonexistent crawl, each team's scouting departments are fully focused on the upcoming rookie selections they'll make. Many NFL teams' fates are decided in those pivotal few days.
We have a mount of evidence of this, so it's already well-known. Teams that consistently make great draft picks are typically among the best in the league, especially those that are able to find their franchise quarterback. While this year's QB class is on the weaker side, we usually see classes have uneven depth across different positions.
This inherently gives an advantage to teams whose biggest needs line up with the deeper classes. For teams in desperate need of a true WR1 or their next franchise QB, this year's draft probably won't be their favorite. But for those looking to bolster the defensive trenches or pick up another good player for their backfield, it's the perfect year to plug the holes on their rosters. So, let's dive into the biggest NFL Draft need for the teams picking at spots 17-32 for the 2025 season.
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17. Cincinnati Bengals - The Entire Defense
After spending a boatload of cash on quarterback Joe Burrow and wide receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, the Bengals were purportedly interested in trading away pass-rusher Trey Hendrickson. Even with him, the Bengals had one of the league's worst defenses in 2024, allowing 25.5 points per game. Cincy should use at least three of its first four picks on EDGE, DL, CB, safety, or LB prospects.
part 2 of the bengals defense dropping an easy game winning pick… https://t.co/6mJY7KZsB1 pic.twitter.com/2rZF6e70yw
— 🎟️ (@PlutoCooked) March 28, 2025
The defense was the reason it didn't make the playoffs.
18. Seattle Seahawks - Offensive Line
Seahawks general manager John Schneider always cheaps out on the offensive line as much as possible. The results are predictable -- it sucks every year. It's been their biggest team need for a decade now, but Schneider doesn't care. It's hard to guess who they'll take as a result.
#Seahawks QB Sam Darnold was sacked 48 times last year despite having a top 15 offensive line and top 3 play caller. Darnold needs to get rid of the ball for the Seahawks to win 8 games. pic.twitter.com/gVxSEzJg6M
— Mo the Podcaster (@Mo12thMan) April 8, 2025
New Seattle QB Sam Darnold will get pummeled behind their current offensive line if they don't.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Cornerback
Injuries decimated the Bucs secondary in 2024, and the team's best cover CB, Carlton Davis III, signed elsewhere in free agency. Tampa Bay had a high-powered offense, but teams were able to match them blow-for-blow in the passing game. They need to shore that up quickly.
A fantastic article summing up how our CB room is our Achilles heel. The largest issue for the @Buccaneershttps://t.co/vk4A9O1myO
— WellWhatAboutThis (@WellWhatAboutT) April 7, 2025
20. Denver Broncos - Running Back
The Broncos opted not to re-sign Javonte Williams. Their current backfield consists of Audric Estime and Jaleel McLaughlin. Neither of them played well enough to even get consistent snaps in 2024. Broncos head coach Sean Payton will thus be looking for a workhorse RB who can take a lion's share of the workload in the backfield in 2025. Denver is much better off at every other position, though a WR2 would be nice.
The big thing about being so “running back or bust” with the #Broncos at 20 to me is the opportunity cost
Every time you don’t take an OT, Edge, WR, CB round 1
Your odds finding one of those positions, the further you get from round one diminishes https://t.co/I9fNwZnDTJ
— Nick Kendell 🏔 (@NickKendellMHH) April 8, 2025
Look for it to spend a second- or third-rounder on an RB.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers - Quarterback
As of the time of writing this, Aaron Rodgers remains unsigned. Still, even if the Steelers sign him to a one-year deal, their biggest need is their QB of the future. Both Russell Wilson and Justin Fields left in the offseason, and perhaps their management staff is naïve enough to think that Jaxson Dart will fall to them or that they can trade up for him. Who knows.
What we know:
-Steelers love Jaxson Dart, Jalen Milroe, & Tyler Shough
-Steelers biggest need is QB
-Steelers plan on drafting a QBWhat we don’t know:
-The round they’ll draft a QBWhat I expect:
-Steelers will draft one of these guys sooner than fans are comfortable with pic.twitter.com/uBQ2lx8sc3— Devin Engle (@DevinJacobEngle) April 2, 2025
22. Los Angeles Chargers - Tight End
An elite TE can transform an offense. L.A. is doing fine along both lines, the entire defense, has its WR1, shored up its offensive line, has its franchise QB, and signed Najee Harris in the offseason. Colston Loveland is the perfect pick here. And he's an elite prospect. The Chargers TEs last year were not good.
Do people realize how big of a nightmare Colston Loveland is going to be for opposing defenses?
1. Bigger than a LB
2. Quicker than a CBA walking mismatch… https://t.co/M4udmb1Vlb pic.twitter.com/vlwcIFLpQY
— SCOUTD (@scoutdnfl) April 2, 2025
23. Green Bay Packers - EDGE
The Packers didn't generate enough pressure, or enough sacks, or win enough against opposing blockers when rushing the passer. They were bottom-10 in pass-rush win rate in 2024. That needs to change. This is a deep class at edge-rusher, as has been stated, so they'll likely choose one in Round 1 of the draft.
My only wish for this year's draft is that Nic Scourton becomes a Packer
pic.twitter.com/3WEdXInYzO— Eli Berkovits (@BookOfEli_NFL) April 4, 2025
24. Minnesota Vikings - Safety
With S Harrison Smith approaching retirement, the Vikings should select a safety (or at least a cornerback) in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. They have a great roster with very few big holes, but they'll need longer-term solutions in the secondary moving forward.
25. Houston Texans - Offensive Tackle
After shipping off LT Laremy Tunsil, one of the best pass-blockers in the league, Houston desperately needs better pass protection for quarterback C.J. Stroud. Stroud was awful in 2024 when pressured, and his sophomore slump can be attributed mainly to how bad he is with pass-rushers in his face.
The Houston Texans had statistically the 2nd worst O-Line in the NFL last year, while being one of the most expensive.
I'm loving these moves, hard reset on the O-Line is exactly what we needed.
Trust the process. pic.twitter.com/5D4Vi5kLF8
— te𝕏 🌎☄️💕® (@TexanicoYT) March 11, 2025
26. Los Angeles Rams - Cornerback
The secondary that got demolished by WR Jauan Jennings (a divisional rival) and WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba (a divisional rival) needs an upgrade. The two combined for 355 yards and five touchdowns in their two big games against L.A. The Rams are far better off at every other position than they are in the secondary.
Babe, wake up! It's mock draft Monday!
Malaki Starks is my No. 1 Rams fit in this draft. If he's there at 26, will be hard not to take him. Changes the math on defense in the secondary. pic.twitter.com/ayoWaSGScH
— Blaine Grisak 💭 (@bgrisakTST) April 7, 2025
They need a safety or corner desperately.
27. Baltimore Ravens - Wide Receiver
The Ravens would benefit immensely from a traditional "X" wide receiver like former Iowa State WR Jayden Higgins. They consistently roll out below-average pass-catcher groups, then crumble in the playoffs when they face a stiff secondary. Zay Flowers is a solid WR2, but he should not be a team's WR1, and Rashod Bateman should be the WR3.
28. Detroit Lions - EDGE
Credit to the Lions and general manager Brad Holmes for being elite drafters. They have one of the NFL's best rosters. They could use help at edge-rusher, though, and in a deep class, Holmes is likely to make the right move here. One of the NFL's best pass-rushers, Aidan Hutchinson, is recovering from a broken leg and could be rusty for much of 2025.
29. Washington Commanders - EDGE
The Commanders had serious needs at WR and OT, but they addressed those as best they could by trading for Deebo Samuel Sr. and the aforementioned Tunsil. Now, they need to generate more pressure on opposing quarterbacks. Defensive end Dante Fowler Jr., who led the team with 10.5 sacks in 2024, signed with the Dallas Cowboys.
Bobby Wagner in the 2024 season - his age-34 season:
No. 1 among NFL LBs in PFF pass-rush grade at 91.0
No. 3 among NFL LBs in PFF run-defense grade at 90.8
No. 1 on Commanders in defensive snaps at 98.98%And he did all of this while working toward an MBA at Howard.
Legend.
— Al Galdi (@AlGaldi) March 7, 2025
As mentioned, it's a deep class at pass-rusher. This is a great year to need the position. Washington should consider trading up to get someone like DE Mike Green if it can. Wagner is getting old, and Fowler is gone.
30. Buffalo Bills - Defensive Tackle
The Bills run defense somehow manages to be terrible every year, especially in the playoffs. That has to change if they want to make a run. They were bottom-10 in yards per carry allowed to opposing rushers. Part of the solution is just firing head coach Sean McDermott, but another part is bolstering the interior DL against the run.
31. Kansas City Chiefs - Offensive Tackle
Rookie LT Kingsley Suamataia wasn't good in 2024, and he was eventually replaced with LT Wanya Morris, who didn't fare particularly well, either. The Chiefs' offensive line deficiencies were laid bare in the Super Bowl, where quarterback Patrick Mahomes was under duress nearly the whole game and got blasted by the Philadelphia Eagles' pass rush.
Eagles sack Mahomes on back to back plays!
📺: #SBLIX on FOX
📱: Tubi + NFL app pic.twitter.com/Uun9bviMwL— NFL (@NFL) February 10, 2025
32. Philadelphia Eagles - EDGE
The Eagles had the most complete roster in 2024, but lost a lot of their best pass-rushers to free agency. Defensive tackle Milton Williams and defensive end Josh Sweat signed with other teams after the season, and DE Brandon Graham retired a champion. Philly needs to build depth at this position and find new starters quickly.
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