Elite Mock Draft Results From JoeBucsFan.com Draft Guru Sean Sullivan
May 5th, 2025
JoeBucFan.com draft guru Sean Sullivan (left) alongside Sage of Tampa Bay Sports Ira Kaufman. Sullivan stunned the mock draft world with his 2025 results.
In the world of scoring mock draft results, getting seven first-round picks accurate represents a good finish. Not elite, but a very solid result.
Joe has loads of respect for NFL insider Peter Schrager of ESPN, formerly of NFL Network and FOX Sports. His 2025 mock draft (and he only releases one) saw Schrager nail seven first-round picks, and one could argue he deserves a “No. 8” because he predicted the Giants would trade up to grab quarterback Jaxson Dart.
However, Schrager did not have the Giants’ correct trade team or slot. He had New York dealing with the Rams at No. 26 to move up and select Dart. In reality, the trade was with the Texans at No. 25.
Charlie Campbell of WalterFootball.com is another strong source when it comes to mock drafts. Campbell has a successful history and has been a year-round draft guy for many years. (Joe sees Campbell at NFL events chatting it up with NFL front office types and agents.)
Campbell was a guest on WDAE radio last week saying he hit nine first-round picks in this draft. He called it a successful result but noted he’s had better.
Joe reviewed Campbell’s 2025 draft and he nailed the first 4 picks of the draft, in addition to Nos. 17, 18, 21 & 23. And Campbell awarded himself his call of the Chiefs picking offensive tackle Josh Simmons at No. 32 overall.
Kansas City traded down with the Eagles just one slot, so Philadelphia could secure inside linebacker Jihaad Campbell.
Joe is absolutely fine giving Campbell that ninth successful pick.
Joe also pays close attention to draft guru Daniel Jeremiah, the year-round draft guy for NFL Network. The former Eagles, Browns and Ravens scout is close with many team front office types. Some are his former colleagues.
This year, Jeremiah hit eight first-round picks, which included Campbell to the Eagles.
Like Schrager, Jeremiah could get an asterisk for a ninth correct pick because he predicted the Giants would trade up for an additional first-round pick and select Dart. But Jeremiah also had the wrong team; he thought the Giants and Seahawks would make that deal at No. 18 overall.
And then there’s JoeBucsFan.com draft guru Sean Sullivan, host of the Best In Class podcast. Sullivan dropped his one (and only) mock draft on the Ira Kaufman Podcast three days before this year’s draft. That’s where Sullivan detailed all his selections and nailed the first seven picks of the draft in order.
They included defensive tackle Mason Graham at No. 5, running back Ashton Jeanty at No. 6 and left tackle Armand Membou at No. 7. Seven!
Sullivan did not predict the Browns-Jaguars swap of first-rounders (Picks No. 2 and No. 5), but neither did the other draft gurus and they are taking credit for calling Travis Hunter as the No. 2 overall pick.
From there, Sullivan was on target with guard Grey Zabel landing with the Seahawks at No. 18 overall, plus receiver Matthew Golden heading to Green Bay at No. 23. Then, to close the draft, Sullivan put Jihaad Campbell to the Eagles and OT Josh Simmons to Kansas City.
Eleven picks nailed by Sullivan. Eleven! He’s got other strong draft years under his belt, which is why Joe shares Sullivan’s insights here.
Joe’s giving Sullivan a standing ovation today.
May 5th, 2025 at 10:58 am
very impressive
May 5th, 2025 at 11:11 am
Are we going to get a Best in class review of Tampa’s picks?
Yes. Later today.–Joe
May 5th, 2025 at 11:12 am
Lol, o-k.
Aside from the draft, Jason Fitzgerald over at OTC has this very interesting nugget in Jalen Ramsey’s contract for 2025 that’s not getting enough play publicly. Changes the finance side dramatically.
Per OTC…
“For a team acquiring Ramsey they would be on the hook for a virtually guaranteed $21 million for 2025. The team (Bucs) would have the option to take on all of the cap charge this year (2025) OR to maintain the option that exists in the contract with the Dolphins and take on (JUST) a $5.826 million cap charge for this season (2025). Ramsey has a $5 million injury guarantee on his NON-guaranteed 2026 salary of $21 million which would become fully guaranteed along with a small $2 million roster bonus on the 3rd day of league year in 2026.”
Forget his 2026 & 2027 existing NON-guaranteed salaries, as he could essentially be cut next off-season due to no guarantees nor dead money do to those.
So bottom line, if worst case and he gets injured….
Pay option amount only in 2025 $5.826 million. Then take remainder of his 2025 salary ($15,174,000) as dead money hit on our 2026 cap, plus 2026 injury guarantee of $5 million also on 2026 cap.
So he’s still mostly a punk, but for a one year rental of $5.826 million only in 2025…that veteran punk might be worth a real look. Hence why the Rams are salivating over their reunion with him.
Changes things.
May 5th, 2025 at 11:23 am
Am I missing something here? Who did Sean pick to go to the Bucs?
You didn’t miss anything. It’s all in the story. Sean went defense for the Bucs in Round 1.–Joe
May 5th, 2025 at 11:24 am
Great job Sean! A very tough draft year.
Joe, did anyone have the Bucs picking EE?
Joe is unaware of anyone putting EE on the Bucs. –Joe
May 5th, 2025 at 11:26 am
Coconut donuts all around!
May 5th, 2025 at 11:31 am
Wow, that is extremely impressive indeed. We all get so sick of mock drafts and it is cool to have Sean here local and to see how accurately he predicts for his one mock each year. Nice work!!!
May 5th, 2025 at 11:37 am
Did a double take of that photo. Thought I was seeing the Sage and Brad Culpepper.
May 5th, 2025 at 11:42 am
Sean Sullivan often talks about how much film he watches, and this is a clear demonstration of his skills and efforts as he continues to nail what professional NFL GMs think and do. Well done sir!
May 5th, 2025 at 11:57 am
JOSH LISKIEWITZ of PFF mocked Egbuka to the Bucs back in October. It was a 7 round mock he had them taking ILB J. Campbell in the 2nd.
Joe only is counting final mock drafts and wouldn’t consider anything that is before free agency.–Joe
May 5th, 2025 at 12:04 pm
Excellent work, Sean. Thoroughly enjoyed the mock draft podcast. Good work by all.
May 5th, 2025 at 12:11 pm
LOL. Mel Kiper got 10 and he is a joke
May 5th, 2025 at 12:13 pm
@Joe
If you could have been the GM for the day, who would you have picked at #19 and why?
I feel like defense was the priority and should have been the focus at minimum the first three rounds.
A WR could have been found in round four or five in my opinion.
Curious on your thoughts.
May 5th, 2025 at 12:17 pm
saints draft and offseason in-and-outs tell me they’re all-in on Manning. matching the panthers draft isn’t really possible with six picks, but I think we at least matched the Falcons
May 5th, 2025 at 12:20 pm
Bucky Brooks had Emeka Egbuka going to the Bucs in his first couple mocks a month or two back but then he did a couple more mocks after that and jumped on the Jihad Campbell bandwagon for both.
He should not have succumbed to peer pressure. 😜
May 5th, 2025 at 12:50 pm
He really is the best at this… seeing his success was as much fun as the draft itself. We’re kinda lucky to have a guru like that, he’s under the radar nationally… other fans have to listen to a lesser class of analysis.
The best way to grade mock drafts is to throw out any picks where the team picks someone you had going earlier that was still available now when they picked.
He would have done even better by that metric.
May 5th, 2025 at 1:09 pm
Damn That’s IMPRESSIVE!!!!! Great work Sean!!!!!!
May 5th, 2025 at 2:26 pm
Wow!!!!!! Good Job Sean Sullivan, Sean’s draft podcasts leading up the draft are the most enjoyable pod available/out there.! Easy listening and analysis.
May 5th, 2025 at 2:45 pm
No lie I really thought I was gonna read something about Tampa Bay, I love reading your articles, but I’m really disappointed at this one because I was hoping to figure out something about the team about the work out something
May 5th, 2025 at 3:22 pm
That’s pretty insane, Joe.
Kudos to Sean Sullivan and the cool relationship he has with JBF.
May 5th, 2025 at 3:24 pm
Joe: Would love to hear Sean Sullivan’s grades or opinions on all of the draft picks. Are you all doing a post draft podcast with Sean?
It’s coming.–Joe
May 5th, 2025 at 3:33 pm
Well done Sean!
Always love when you guys have him on the podcast with Ira.