The 2025 NFL Draft is quickly approaching, and NFL mock drafts are becoming increasingly popular as analysts, scouts, and fans speculate on the next wave of talent to enter the league.

While expert opinions dominate the conversation, artificial intelligence is now playing a role in predicting NFL Draft picks. To test this capability, USA TODAY Sports leveraged Microsoft Copilot AI to generate a first-round 2025 NFL mock draft, offering insights into potential selections and how teams might strategize their picks.

AI’s Take on the 2025 NFL Draft

Creating a full 2025 NFL mock draft proved challenging for Copilot AI. The chatbot managed to produce top-10 draft selections, but struggled beyond that, often repeating names from the 2024 NFL Draft class and losing track of the correct NFL Draft order.

To complete the first-round mock draft, Copilot was prompted to generate picks on a case-by-case basis, resulting in a full 32-pick projection with some surprising decisions.

Notable Omissions and Bold Predictions

One of the biggest shocks? The AI excluded Will Campbell from its first-round selections. Whether this was due to an oversight or concerns about his arm length – a major topic since the 2025 NFL Combine – remains unclear.

Additionally, while the early-round picks aligned with expert projections, Copilot got bolder as the mock draft progressed, delivering unexpected outcomes that may or may not hold up when the NFL Draft 2025 date arrives.

2025 NFL Mock Draft: AI-Generated First-Round Picks

Top-10 AI Picks

1. Tennessee Titans – Cam Ward, QB, Miami (FL)
   Copilot views Ward as the long-term answer at quarterback for Tennessee.
2. Cleveland Browns – Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State
   A powerful edge rusher to pair with Myles Garrett.
3. New York Giants – Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
   A major move for the Giants to address their QB situation.
4. New England Patriots – Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado
   A versatile playmaker who can excel on both sides of the ball.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars – Mason Graham, DT, Michigan
   A disruptive force on the defensive line to strengthen Jacksonville’s defense.
6. Las Vegas Raiders – Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
   A dynamic, powerful rusher for Pete Carroll’s offense.
7. New York Jets – Armand Membou, OT, Missouri
   An anchor for the Jets’ offensive line, though Will Campbell’s omission is surprising.
8. Carolina Panthers – Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
   A big-bodied target to support Carolina’s young quarterback.
9. New Orleans Saints – Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
   A versatile tight end to boost New Orleans’ passing game.
10. Chicago Bears – Jalon Walker, LB/EDGE, Georgia
    A hybrid defender to enhance the Bears’ pass rush.

AI’s Remaining First-Round Selections

11. San Francisco 49ers – Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
12. Dallas Cowboys – Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas
13. Miami Dolphins – Matthew Golden, WR, Texas
14. Indianapolis Colts – Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina
15. Atlanta Falcons – Donovan Jackson, OL, Ohio State
16. Arizona Cardinals – Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss
17. Cincinnati Bengals – Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
18. Seattle Seahawks – Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
20. Denver Broncos – James Pearce Jr., EDGE, Tennessee
21. Pittsburgh Steelers – Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama
22. Los Angeles Chargers – Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina
23. Green Bay Packers – TreVeyon Henderson, RB, Ohio State
24. Minnesota Vikings – Quinshon Judkins, RB, Ohio State
25. Houston Texans – Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri
26. Los Angeles Rams – Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan
27. Baltimore Ravens – Tyler Booker, G, Alabama
28. Detroit Lions – Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame
29. Washington Commanders – Princely Umanmielen, EDGE, Ole Miss
30. Buffalo Bills – Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon
31. Kansas City Chiefs – Josh Conerly Jr., OT, Oregon
32. Philadelphia Eagles – Alfred Collins, DT, Texas

Final Takeaways: Can AI Predict the NFL Draft?

While AI-generated NFL mock drafts can provide unique insights, they still have limitations. Copilot made some strong selections, but omitting Will Campbell and the overemphasis on running backs raises questions about its accuracy.

Ultimately, NFL Draft analysts still have an edge over AI in predicting the draft landscape. However, as AI models improve, their role in NFL draft scouting and mock draft generation will only grow.

Stay tuned as we approach the 2025 NFL Draft date, and check back for more NFL draft predictions, player rankings, and scouting reports!