NFL mock draft 2025: Titans take Carson Beck No. 1; Giants select Shedeur Sanders in top 10

Even before the 2023 college football season kicked off, there was a fairly clear pecking order among quarterback prospects.

Southern California's Caleb Williams was the presumptive QB1 and likely first overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft and North Carolina's Drake Maye was considered the most likely challenger to Williams.

There was one big riser from the QB class in LSU's Jayden Daniels, who went from potential Day 2 selection to Heisman Trophy winner to No. 2 overall pick.

As we look toward the 2024 college football season and the 2025 NFL draft, the depth of the talent pool looks deep ( thanks, NIL ) and unlike this season there should be plenty of defensive players in the first round.

The quarterback pecking order is not so clear. Colorado's Shedeur Sanders, Georgia's Carson Beck and Texas' Quinn Ewers enter the season with the most buzz.

That makes trying to project a way-too-early mock draft even more challenging because as this past week showed when a record six quarterbacks were selected in the first 12 picks, it's all about the quarterbacks on draft day.

But here goes, with draft order taken from BET MGM's projected NFL win totals.

Teams bail on first-round quarterbacks quicker than ever, but let's give Bryce Young the benefit of the doubt with the Panthers and pencil in the Titans to make a move up for Beck, who emerges as QB1 in his second season as a starter at Georgia.

The previous time teammates went 1-2 in the draft was in 2000 — Penn State did it (Courtney Brown and LaVar Arrington). Williams is the breakout star of another dominant Georgia defense.

Freshman starter to first-round draft pick in three seasons.

The competition for CB1 should be excellent with Morrison, Michigan’s Will Johnson and Colorado's Travis Hunter all vying to be top-10 picks.

Long, explosive pass rusher.

Coach Deion Sanders’ son needs some better protection this season but he becomes Daniel Jones' replacement in New York.

This should be a top-notch class of defensive tackles and the former five-star recruit could be the best of the bunch.

In his third season as a starter, Ewers has a chance to reach the ceiling of his recruiting hype.

Johnson was the defensive MVP of the national title game for the Wolverines.

Spectacular athlete and two-way player for the Buffaloes, but corner is probably his pro home.

One of several Buckeyes who passed on the 2024 draft to chase a national title.

Another freshman starter to first-round draft pick tackle.

Saints finally draft a replacement for Drew Brees.

Can there be a first-round of the NFL draft without a Crimson Tide offensive tackle?

Not quite Brock Bowers, but Loveland is a fluid athlete at 6-foot-5 and one of Jim Harbaugh's Michigan guys.

Perkins flashed superstar qualities as a freshman, stagnated last season but with consistency has top-10 potential.

Burden is a yards-after-catch machine and maybe a steal this low.

He's not quite Micah Parsons, but Carter will draw some comparisons to the former Nittany Lion and current Cowboys linebacker.

At 339 pounds, Grant has a high ceiling and rare quickness.

Allar has a lot of work to do to get here, but he has all the traits and the Jets are once again looking for their quarterback of the future.

Graham is the steadier of Michigan's two monsters in the middle.

Did we mention this draft could be loaded with defensive tackles?

One of two Buckeyes cornerbacks who could go in Round 1.

Yes, the Ohio State defense is absolutely loaded.

The Pac-12’s second-leading receiver (90 catches for 1,402 yards) as a sophomore last season.

Purdue transfer has a chance to be a force in the SEC.

Cowboys grab a Cowboy to fill a need at running back.

Next up for the Seminoles after recent first-round pass rushers Jermaine Johnson and Jarden Verse.

Another 6-foot-1 Ohio State cornerback.

Massive run stuffer.

Trent Williams can’t play forever. Probably.

Texas A&M transfer busts out with the Ducks.

Follow Ralph D. Russo at https://twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP and listen at http://www.appodcasts.com

AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://twitter.com/ap_top25

FILE - Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers (3) warms up before the Sugar Bowl CFP NCAA semifinal college football game against Washington, Monday, Jan. 1, 2024, in New Orleans. The quarterback pecking order for the 2025 NFL draft still seems fluid going into this college football season, with Ewers, Georgia's Carson Beck, and Colorado's Shedeur Sanders getting the most preseason buzz. (AP Photo/Jacob Kupferman, File)

FILE - Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders, center, carries the ball during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Washington State, Friday, Nov. 17, 2023, in Pullman, Wash. The quarterback pecking order for the 2025 NFL draft still seems fluid going into this college football season, with Sanders, Georgia's Carson Beck, and Texas' Quinn Ewers getting the most preseason buzz. (AP Photo/Young Kwak, File)

FILE - Georgia quarterback Carson Beck (15) during the first half of Orange Bowl NCAA college football game against Florida State, Saturday, Dec. 30, 2023, in Miami Gardens, Fla. The quarterback pecking order for the 2025 NFL draft still seems fluid going into this college football season, with Beck, Colorado's Shedeur Sanders and Texas' Quinn Ewers getting the most preseason buzz. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File)

Home Depot's sales continued to soften in the first quarter as the nation's largest home improvement retailer was not only constrained by high mortgage rates and higher inflation for its customers, but it also had to deal with a delayed start to spring.

Sales slipped 2.3% to $36.42 billion for the period ended April 28, just shy of the $36.65 billion that analysts polled by Zacks Investment Research expected. It was the third consecutive quarter of declining sales for the retailers, which saw sales skyrocket during the pandemic.

Customer transactions dipped 1% in the quarter, with shoppers also spending a bit less, averaging $90.68 per receipt compared with $91.92 a year earlier.

Sales at store open at least a year, a key gauge of a retailer's health, declined 2.8% globally, and 3.2% in the U.S.

Shares fell slightly before the market open on Tuesday.

Last week the average rate on a 30-year mortgage fell for the first time in a month, a slight relief for home shoppers already facing the challenges of rising housing prices and a shortage of homes for sale.

The modest pullback followed a five-week string of increases that pushed the average rate to its highest level since November 30. When mortgage rates rise, they can add hundreds of dollars a month in costs for borrowers, limiting how much homebuyers can afford.

For the first quarter, Home Depot Inc. earned $3.6 billion, or $3.63 per share, down from the $3.87 billion, or $3.82 per share, it earned in the same period last year.

But that was better than the $3.61 per share that Wall Street expected.

The Atlanta company maintained its fiscal full-year forecast for total sales growth of about 1%, which includes a 53rd week. It still anticipates same-store sales falling approximately 1% for the 52-week period.

A construction workers cuts wood at a residential building site in Mount Prospect, Ill., Monday, March 18, 2024. On Tuesday, April 30, 2024, the Labor Department reports on wages and benefits for U.S. workers during the first quarter of 2024. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)