The start of the 2025 NFL Draft is less than a week away. It’s one of the most exciting weeks in the offseason, as the dreams of hundreds of young men become a reality, and fans of NFL teams rally behind the new players in the hopes they’ll eventually help lead their team to a Super Bowl.

For months, fans and analysts have made their opinions known about which college players they like and which ones they don’t. And while we won’t know for years whether opinions on these players were valid or misguided, we’ll at least know what other teams think of them in just a handful of days.

But even the best teams with the strongest evaluators get it wrong. Players fail to reach their expected production, or a player taken late in the draft overperforms even the draft team’s expectations. The NFL Draft is a humble reminder that even the best scouting processes can get it wrong.

So today, we repent.

Which NFL Draft prospect did you miss on the most?

My answer: As many of you know, scouting NFL Draft prospects is not really my thing. I’ve tried to do it in the past, but it’s not my favorite part of the job, and I can openly admit it’s not my strong suit. With limited access to film, GPS data, and detailed character evaluations, I recognize I’m at a severe disadvantage compared to NFL teams, and I’m perfectly happy watching the process play out and diving into prospects once they’re drafted.

That said, there are certainly some times I’ve planted a flag for some player that didn’t end up working out. I was right there with the majority of Lions fans who wanted linebacker Aaron Curry over Matthew Stafford, but that was 16 years ago. Time to turn the page on that one and admit another mistake.

I was incredibly wrong about Kerby Joseph. When I turned on his tape, I saw a someone very new to the position who didn’t have the best instincts. I labeled it as my least favorite pick of the Lions’ 2022 draft class:

“The Lions waited too long to grab a safety, and it felt like they just grabbed the last acceptable one at 97. Joseph is athletically gifted, but he’s still incredibly raw. His early 2021 tape was rough, and although he got better and more confident, I still think he’s a year or two away—if he ever develops into a starter.”

As you now know, Joseph started 14 games in his rookie season and hasn’t relinquished that tolr since. While it did take him some time to adjust in the NFL, he also produced four interceptions his rookie season, four again in 2023, and then led the league with nine in 2024.

Of course, mistakes are great. It’s the best way to learn. And what I learned here is that you need to give some players the room to improve as they learn a new position. Of course Joseph struggled early at Illinois after switching from receiver to safety. It’s a huge transition. And given he had the physical tools to play the position in the NFL, I should have given more consideration that under the right coaching staff, he could develop. That said, you never really know how a raw player is going to progress, so I understand at least some level of skepticism here. Still, sometimes you need to just let developmental player develop.

Which NFL Draft prospects have you whiffed on? Scroll down to the comment section and share your stories.