You've seen the screenshots. Your Twitter feed is probably a disaster zone of "A+" grades from various draft engines, usually featuring some ridiculous trade where the Raiders move down ten spots and somehow gain three future first-rounders. It’s peak draft season. We are officially in that weird, beautiful window where every fan thinks they’re basically a mix of Howie Roseman and a supercomputer.
But here is the thing: using a 2025 nfl draft sim in January 2026 is a completely different beast than it was three months ago. The regular season is over. The "real" draft order for the non-playoff teams is locked. We know the Las Vegas Raiders are sitting at No. 1 after that wild Week 18 where the Giants accidentally played themselves out of the top spot by beating Dallas.
If you aren't adjusting your simulations to account for the actual team needs we saw play out in December, you're basically just playing a video game on easy mode.
The Reality of the 2025 Draft Order
Most people are still clicking "randomize" on their sims, but the top of the board is finally set in stone. The Raiders, Jets, Cardinals, and Titans are your big four. Honestly, it’s a nightmare for anyone hoping for a simple "best player available" scenario.
Take the Raiders at No. 1. Everyone wants to slot in a quarterback, but the Cam Ward vs. Shedeur Sanders debate is polarizing front offices. If you're running a 2025 nfl draft sim, you have to ask yourself if Vegas is willing to pass on a generational talent like Travis Hunter just to grab a signal-caller. Hunter is the ultimate "unicorn" prospect—playing both ways at Colorado and proving he can actually handle the snap count.
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- Las Vegas Raiders: They need a QB, period. But passing on Hunter? Bold.
- New York Jets: Aaron Rodgers isn't getting younger, and that offensive line was a sieve.
- Arizona Cardinals: They desperately need someone to actually hit a quarterback. Mason Graham from Michigan is the name to watch here.
- Tennessee Titans: Another team in the QB blender.
It’s messy. It’s chaotic. And that’s exactly why your mock drafts are probably failing the "logic test" right now.
Why Travis Hunter Breaks Every 2025 nfl draft sim
The biggest problem with the current crop of simulators like PFF or Pro Football Network is how they value Travis Hunter. Is he a WR? Is he a CB? In most engines, he’s listed as one or the other.
In reality, an NFL team is going to draft him to be both, at least situationally. When you’re running a 2025 nfl draft sim, the AI usually sees a 185-pound corner and might slide him behind a "safer" pick like Will Johnson from Michigan. Don't let the sim fool you. In a real-world scenario, Hunter’s ball skills are so far beyond the rest of this class that he might be the easiest No. 1 pick we've seen since Trevor Lawrence, regardless of position.
Stop Making These Three Simulator Mistakes
Look, I love a good 7-round mock as much as anyone, but the "logic" in these tools can be... questionable.
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First, stop overvaluing trades. The AI in most 2025 nfl draft sim platforms is notoriously easy to fleece. No, the New Orleans Saints are not going to give you two future second-round picks to move up four spots for a defensive tackle. If your mock depends on a lopsided trade to work, it's not a real mock. It's fan fiction.
Second, pay attention to the "Senior Bowl Rise." We are just weeks away from Mobile, Alabama. Every year, some offensive lineman from a small school or a twitchy edge rusher like Abdul Carter (who has been a beast for Penn State) climbs ten spots because they looked good in shorts. If your sim hasn't updated its "Big Board" since November, you're drafting based on old news.
Lastly, the QB depth is weird this year. Aside from the big names, there is a massive drop-off. If you don't get your guy in the first 15 picks, you're better off waiting until the third round for a "project" like Quinn Ewers if he’s still hanging around. Forcing a QB at No. 20 just because the "Team Needs" bar is red is how you end up with a failing grade from the AI—and a bad roster.
The Big Names You Need to Know
- Mason Graham (DT, Michigan): A literal brick wall. If your team needs interior help, he’s the guy.
- Ashton Jeanty (RB, Boise State): Yes, people are drafting RBs in the first round again. He’s that good.
- James Pearce Jr. (EDGE, Tennessee): Pure speed. If your sim lets him fall past pick No. 10, the AI is broken.
How to Get the Most Out of Your Simulations
If you want to actually predict what’s going to happen in Green Bay this April, you have to stop drafting for your favorite team and start thinking like the GMs. The Giants at No. 5 are a great example. They are stuck in Daniel Jones purgatory. Even if the sim tells you to take a tackle, the "human" element says they have to take a swing at a QB or a game-changer like Tetairoa McMillan.
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The 2025 nfl draft sim is a tool, not a crystal ball. Use it to explore scenarios, but keep your eyes on the real-world reporting coming out of the playoffs. The teams still playing—the Lions, the Bills, the 49ers—their needs are changing every single weekend based on who gets exposed under the bright lights.
Actionable Next Steps for Your Next Mock
- Limit your trades: Only allow one trade per draft to keep the roster realistic.
- Toggle "Draft Sensibility": Most sims have a setting to make the AI more "strict" with team needs. Turn it up.
- Research the 2026 picks: Remember, some teams (like the Browns) have extra capital from previous trades that the sim might not automatically include.
- Watch the "Big Board" updates: Check the "last updated" date on the simulator. If it's more than two weeks old, wait for the post-playoff refresh.
The draft is a gamble. Your simulation shouldn't be. Stick to the tape, watch the actual draft order, and stop letting the AI convince you that a punter in the fourth round is a "steal."
Now go build that roster. Just don't blame me when your team actually picks a guard you've never heard of.