The 2025 NFL draft is officially in the books.
We saw it all. The Titans made Cam Ward the No. 1 pick. The Jaguars made an aggressive move up the board for Travis Hunter. The Giants landed Abdul Carter and still got a QB in Round 1 in Jaxson Dart. And Shedeur Sanders ended up sliding all the way to Round 5, where the Browns took him. Teams checked off needs and found value over three days. I particularly liked what the Chargers, Seahawks, Bears and 49ers did.
I’ve had a few days now to reflect on an incredible week in Green Bay, and I wanted to take a closer look at five picks I liked the most from each of the seven rounds (and six in Round 6). These aren’t necessarily the best players taken in each round, but rather the best picks. I factored in value, fit and what the player will bring to the team, among other things.
I’ll start with the blockbuster trade that altered the top of the board.
Jump to round:
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | UDFA
Round 1
Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Jacksonville Jaguars (No. 2)
I could have written this section prior to the draft, as any team acquiring Hunter would have landed one of the most unique prospects of all time. I could not have predicted the Jaguars making a bold trade up to the Browns’ No. 2 pick for him. Hunter has legitimate Pro Bowl ability on either side of the ball, and he instantly forms one of the most exciting receiver duos in the league with Brian Thomas Jr.
Warren was my top tight end in this class and the seventh player on my board. I was uncertain he would make it to Indianapolis at No. 14, but the Colts got their chance when the Bears opted for Michigan’s Colston Loveland four picks earlier. (Loveland was 11th on my board and was a close contender for the top player at the position.)
The best picks are drafting for value at a need, which certainly is the case here. Eric Ebron was the last Colts tight end to eclipse 500 receiving yards in a single season (2018). They are still sorting out their QB position, but whoever is under center will have a wrecking ball to throw to in Warren.
Grey Zabel, G, Seattle Seahawks (No. 18)
Seattle entered the draft with major needs at guard and center. Landing Zabel here is right on target with his range, as I had him No. 17 overall on my board and thought he was the best interior offensive lineman in this class. Zabel is an excellent fit with new coordinator Klint Kubiak, who needs linemen who can play in space and move their feet in his zone scheme. As an FCS standout at North Dakota State, Zabel stamped his first-round case after starring at the Senior Bowl. He’s a plug-and-play addition for Seattle.
I was bullish on Jackson during the predraft process, ranking him No. 20 overall on my board. The appeal for me was his versatility after he starred at both guard and left tackle this past season, as well as his toughness and physicality. The Vikings talked all offseason about being better in the trenches ahead of J.J. McCarthy‘s inaugural season at starting quarterback; they lived up to that promise in free agency and with this selection.
Jihaad Campbell, LB, Philadelphia Eagles (No. 31)
At one point, I thought Campbell wouldn’t make it out of the top 15 picks in this draft. But after medical considerations, including labrum surgery after the combine, he landed with the Eagles in a tiny move up (from No. 32 to No. 31). In my penultimate mock draft, I viewed Campbell as a strong fit for the Eagles because they won’t need him in Week 1. The eventual possibility of Zack Baun, Nakobe Dean and Campbell at linebacker is a frightening scene for opposing offenses.
Round 2
Jonah Savaiinaea, G, Miami Dolphins (No. 37)
The Dolphins drafted with a focus on becoming more physical and tougher in the trenches. Savaiinaea has unique positional versatility, having played both tackle spots and at guard in college (he will likely settle at guard in Miami). His excellent footwork should allow him to thrive in Mike McDaniel’s zone-heavy system, but he also has the power to bring some edge to an offense that needs more of it.
Donovan Ezeiruaku, Edge, Dallas Cowboys (No. 44)
I thought there was a chance that Ezeiruaku would sneak into the first round (he was No. 32 on my final board). He is a smooth, long, instinctive pass rusher who finished second in the FBS in sacks (16.5) and first in pressures (65) last season, completely altering games for Boston College as a one-man force. Ezeiruaku needs to add more power so he can be a better edge setter against the run, but he should boost Dallas’ pass rush and see favorable looks while Micah Parsons commands most of the attention.
Will Johnson, CB, Arizona Cardinals (No. 47)
Questions about Johnson’s health saw him fall from the top-20 conversation, as ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that a knee issue gave teams pause about the former Michigan star. Arizona stopped the slide here, with a worthwhile gamble because it needed an outside cornerback. Johnson — who has size, recognition traits and ball skills — was a consideration for the Cardinals in prior mocks of mine. This is a strong value selection even with the health risk.
Simply put, Ratledge plays like a Detroit Lion. He is extremely tough, dependable and a true competitor. After undergoing TightRope surgery last September, Ratledge returned to Georgia’s lineup and looked excellent in the Bulldogs’ regular-season finale against Texas. Detroit came into the draft with an eye on interior offensive line help, and they left it with a ready-made starter.
Jack Bech, WR, Las Vegas Raiders (No. 58)
Fans of the “First Draft” podcast know Bech has always been one of my guys. He has an outstanding ability to generate separation as one of the best route runners in the class, and he has exceptional hands. It would not surprise me if Bech competes for starting duties right out of the gate, as receiver was one of the Raiders’ top needs.
play
Jack Bech lets emotions fly after being drafted by Raiders
The Las Vegas Raiders select TCU WR Jack Bech, whose brother Tiger was killed in the New Orleans terror attack on New Year’s Day.
Round 3
Azareye’h Thomas, CB, New York Jets (No. 73)
Thomas lasted until this pick because of his lack of elite speed. Scouts at Florida State’s pro day clocked him between 4.57 and 4.59 in the 40-yard dash, which is below average for a starting cornerback in the NFL. But Thomas does more than enough to make up for that speed. He has excellent size, ball skills and physicality to get up in the face of wideouts. Like many of the picks highlighted here, the value was too great to pass up on a talented player.
Jaylin Noel, WR, Houston Texans (No. 79)
I almost included an entry on both the Noel and Jayden Higgins picks. The Texans reunited the former Iowa State receivers (they selected Higgins at No. 34), and I was a big fan of the pair leading up to the draft. Noel is the more exciting player, as his suddenness and juice led to four touchdowns of at least 50 yards in 2023. Houston needed to address receiver heavily because Tank Dell‘s 2025 status is uncertain right now and Stefon Diggs departed for the Patriots. Noel has a legitimate shot to take over as its Day 1 starter in the slot.
Kevin Winston Jr., S, Tennessee Titans (No. 82)
It’s impossible to state precisely where Winston would have been drafted if he didn’t tear an ACL in September, but it definitely would’ve been sooner than this. The 6-foot-2, 205-pound safety has undergone a fast recovery. Just six months after his ACL repair surgery, Winston ran a 4.5 in the 40-yard dash at Penn State’s pro day. He appears to be on track as an early contributor for Tennessee.
• See all 257 picks | Pick-by-pick analysis
• Kiper’s grades | Judging overreactions
• Kiper’s Day 1 winners | Day 2 winners
• Sanders to Browns | Hunter to Jaguars
• Round 1 spin | Yates’ favorite picks
Josaiah Stewart, Edge, Los Angeles Rams (No. 90)
I don’t believe there is a team more ready to adhere to the “find good football players” adage than the Rams, who are willing to give a little bit on measurables to get very good players. Stewart is undersized for a traditional edge rusher, but he just kept on producing in college: He registered at least 25 pressures in all four of his college seasons split between Coastal Carolina and Michigan with very good burst off the edge and strong hand usage.
Xavier Watts, S, Atlanta Falcons (No. 96)
In what was a defense-heavy draft for the Falcons, Watts was my favorite value of any of their selections. He was the ultimate ball magnet in this class, with an FBS-leading 13 interceptions over the past two seasons at Notre Dame. Watts has a “right place at the right time” feel to his game, playing with exceptional vision of the entire field. He shows great comfort in the defensive backfield, limiting explosive plays. Watts was No. 53 on my board.
Round 4
Cam Skattebo, RB, New York Giants (No. 105)
Skattebo was on the very short list of most enjoyable players to watch in this class. He has excellent contact balance and tenacity, which was on display every time he touched the ball last season at Arizona State. He became the first FBS player since Christian McCaffrey (2015) to register at least 1,500 rushing yards and 500 receiving yards in the same season. Skattebo will pair nicely with 2025 fifth-rounder Tyrone Tracy Jr. in the Giants’ backfield.
Cody Simon, LB, Arizona Cardinals (No. 115)
Simon was the connector of Ohio State’s defense last season, winning defensive MVP in the CFP National Championship Game. He is a forceful, downhill linebacker who makes a significant impact against the run in terms of taking on blockers and making fast reads. Simon also showed excellent timing and chase ability as a blitzer, piling up seven sacks in 2024.
Billy Bowman Jr., S, Atlanta Falcons (No. 118)
Safe to say I was a fan of the Falcons’ secondary decisions in the draft, as I thought they got a one-round value on both Watts and Bowman, who I had a third-round grade on. Bowman had 11 interceptions over the past three seasons at Oklahoma, including an FBS-high three pick-sixes in 2023. He lacks premium size at just 190 pounds and must be sturdier as a tackler, but he frequently finds the ball the way Watts does.
Elic Ayomanor, WR, Tennessee Titans (No. 136)
Tennessee added three pass catchers for No. 1 pick Cam Ward early on Day 3, but Ayomanor was my favorite pick of them all. I had a third-round grade on him because he has one of the best combinations of size and speed in this receiver class. His ability to separate at the top of routes downfield pairs well with Ward, who threw 12 touchdown passes and zero interceptions on throws of 20-plus air yards in 2024.
play
Nick Saban: Cam Ward a ‘great start’ for the Titans organization
Nick Saban has high praise for Cam Ward and breaks down how his game will translate to the NFL.
Joshua Farmer, DT, New England Patriots (No. 137)
Farmer showed up only in flashes during his final season at Florida State, but those plays were strong enough to land him a third-round grade on my final board. He has strong, explosive rush skills; he just needs to be a more consistent player. Mike Vrabel leaned on a defensive line rotation in Tennessee and has shown an ability to maximize talent with his roster, so this is a good spot for Farmer to provide interior depth.
Round 5
Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, DL, Minnesota Vikings (No. 139)
Ingram-Dawkins was part of a deeply talented Georgia defensive front, so he was infrequently asked to simply focus on the quarterback. That led to just five sacks in the past three seasons, but I like his combination of length, power and versatility. He logged 219 snaps as an edge defender in 2024, and 294 at defensive tackle. Few NFL coordinators use more creativity up front than Brian Flores, who probably believes in Ingram-Dawkins’ multiplicity as a player.
Mac McWilliams, CB, Philadelphia Eagles (No. 145)
The Eagles focused on cornerback early in the draft last year, with Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean playing a key role in their Super Bowl run. But they needed to replenish their depth after the departures of veterans Darius Slay Jr. and Avonte Maddox. McWilliams profiles as a slot corner given his size, but I love the feistiness and explosiveness with which he plays. Before transferring to UCF, he played slot corner and returned punts at UAB in 2023.
KeAndre Lambert-Smith, WR, Los Angeles Chargers (No. 158)
After four seasons at Penn State, Lambert-Smith finished at Auburn. He has 4.37 speed and is an effortless accelerator, becoming the only player in Penn State history with multiple catches of 80-plus yards. Lambert-Smith has a lankier build at just 190 pounds, but he has the vertical speed to stretch the field for the strong-armed Justin Herbert.
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Zah Frazier, CB, Chicago Bears (No. 169)
Day 3 is the time to bet on traits, so it’s easy to see why Frazier had appeal despite needing to develop after three seasons at UTSA. He has excellent size and length for a corner (6-foot-3 with 32⅞-inch arms), as well as elite speed (4.36 40-yard dash at the combine). Frazier’s speed translates to his recovery skills on deep throws, but he can also snag the ball out of the air. His six interceptions in 2024 tied for the second most in the FBS.
Jackson Hawes, TE, Buffalo Bills (No 173)
Last season, the Bills led the NFL in the number of snaps with six offensive linemen on the field. Hawes gives them the chance to do more of that, as I thought he was the best blocking tight end in this class. He is a rugged, powerful, nasty blocker who played for four seasons at Yale before his year at Georgia Tech. Though he’s not a difference-maker as a receiver, he’s an ideal third tight end behind Dawson Knox and Dalton Kincaid.
Round 6
Ollie Gordon II, RB, Miami Dolphins (No. 179)
Gordon is a good contrast to Miami’s recent draft picks (De’Von Achane and Jaylen Wright), as his outstanding power and size makes up for 4.61 speed. Gordon looked like a Day 2 back following the 2023 season at Oklahoma State (1,732 rushing yards), but he had a less impressive 2024 campaign (880). In “gotta have it” situations, the Dolphins could turn to Gordon.
Devin Neal, RB, New Orleans Saints (No. 184)
Neal had three straight 1,000-plus-yard seasons at Kansas, including 49 career rushing touchdowns. But his somewhat pedestrian speed (4.58 in the 40) and the depth of this running back class pushed him to the sixth round. I like his play style, as he weaves through defenders using very good feet and lateral quickness. New Orleans needed running back depth, and it got that with a player who could’ve gone as early as the fourth round.
Bryce Cabeldue, G, Seattle Seahawks (No. 192)
After taking Zabel in the first round, Seattle selected another interior offensive lineman. Like Zabel, Cabeldue was a tackle throughout his career at Kansas, but he projects better inside at the NFL level. He is a crunching force in the running game who plays through the whistle, and he has the footwork to become a developmental guard in Kubiak’s zone scheme.
Robert Longerbeam, CB, Baltimore Ravens (No. 212)
It is nice to have a specific trait to hang your hat on as a Day 3 pick, and Longerbeam’s is his excellent ball skills. He led the Big Ten in pass breakups in 2024 (12) after finishing second the season before for Rutgers (eight). Longerbeam has very good speed and instincts, allowing him to be a play disruptor.
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Tommy Mellott, WR, Las Vegas Raiders (No. 213)
Cam Miller, QB, Las Vegas Raiders (No. 215)
We’ll go for a two-for-one special here, as the Raiders took the winner and runner-up for the Walter Payton Award (given to the most outstanding offensive player in the FCS). Mellott was a prolific passer at Montana State, but he’s expected to switch to receiver because of his excellent running ability. Miller, who will remain at quarterback, displayed tremendous accuracy and good scrambling skills at North Dakota State. The competitive background of both players also stands out, as they faced off in the FCS National Championship last season.
Round 7
Jay Toia, DT, Dallas Cowboys (No. 217)
After adding the best run blocker in the class early in Alabama’s Tyler Booker, the Cowboys selected one of the best run defenders late in Toia. He anchored UCLA’s run defense, which gave up only 2.7 yards per attempt in 2023 (second best in the FBS). With great size, power and violent hands, Toia makes life easier for linebackers against the run. But he will be a minimal factor on passing downs.
Damien Martinez, RB, Seattle Seahawks (No. 223)
The strength of this running back class will be a theme for the next few players, as Martinez deserved to go higher based on his tape alone from Oregon State and Miami. He is rugged, powerful and showed very good stamina to hold up and affect the game late in the fourth quarter. While not a huge home run threat or pass catcher, Martinez can chew up tough yards as a depth option behind Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet.
Brashard Smith, RB, Kansas City Chiefs (No. 228)
Smith made the unorthodox decision to move from wide receiver to running back when he transferred from Miami to SMU. But he enjoyed a great season as the Mustangs’ primary back, scoring 18 touchdowns on 235 rushes with 39 catches. The Chiefs will lean into Smith’s impressive run-after-catch skills and speed (4.39 in the 40).
LeQuint Allen, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars (No. 236)
Allen was one of the best pass-catching backs in this class, joining Skattebo as the only FBS players with 1,000-plus rushing yards and 500-plus receiving yards in 2024. But Syracuse did not limit Allen to being just a dump-off target for quarterback Kyle McCord; they schemed up a ton of touches for Allen in space. He’s an average runner, yet the receiving upside gives him a chance to stick around on Jacksonville’s 53-man roster.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt, RB, Washington Commanders (No. 245)
Croskey-Merritt had a winding college path that started at Alabama State and ended at Arizona, though eligibility issues limited him to only 13 rushes for the Wildcats in 2024. He has a very intriguing combination of size, speed and overall footwork, but he must develop his instincts and vision. He’s a moldable player for the Commanders to develop.
BONUS: Favorite undrafted free agent signing
Xavier Restrepo, WR, Tennessee Titans
I had affinity for Restrepo in the predraft process, though his draft stock plummeted after a 40-yard dash of around 4.8 seconds at Miami’s pro day. But what he lacks in top-end physical tools, he makes up for in route running, consistency, play strength and clutch production. Now, he’s reuniting with his college quarterback in Tennessee. Ward helped Restrepo become Miami’s all-time leading receiver in receptions and yards this past season.
