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And that is a wrap on the 2025 NFL Draft. Like most drafts, it’s really hard not to like what almost all of the teams did. Because as long as those teams filled their biggest needs and didn’t grossly overreach to do so, it’s difficult — and silly — to announce one group as obvious losers without any of the 257 players drafted having yet stepped foot on a field during an NFL game.
Knowing that, I used three categories to break down the team-by-team drafts: “Drafts I Loved,” “Drafts I Liked” and “Drafts That Left Me Wanting More” Within those categories I also assigned team grades (but no grade was lower than a “C” because, again, unless you’re repeatedly selecting long snappers in Rounds 1-7, it’s hard to flunk the draft).
Basically: I would advise you not to get hung up on the labels or grades, but to focus on which picks stood out, which provided the best value and which were most surprising.
Drafts I Loved
1. Buffalo Bills: A+
RoundPickPlayer130Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky (CB3)241T.J. Sanders, DL, South Carolina (DL6)272Landon Jackson, EDGE, Arkansas (EDGE12)4109Deone Walker, DL, Kentucky (DL13)5170Jordan Hancock, CB, Ohio State (S13)5173Jackson Hawes, TE, Georgia Tech (TE10)6177Dorian Strong, CB, Virginia Tech (CB21)6206Chase Lundt, OT, UCONN (OT18)7240Kaden Prather, WR, Maryland (WR28)
Favorite pick: Maxwell Hairston reminds me of Devon Witherspoon in that he may be undersized, but he plays much bigger than that. He battled a shoulder injury last season, but when he’s healthy he’s as close as you’ll get to a lockdown corner in today’s NFL. Hairston, who ran a 4.28-second (!!) 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine, will have a chance to win the Day 1 starting job.
Best value: Ten months ago, we were talking about Deone Walker as a first-round pick, and possibly top-15 talent. He battled a back injury in 2024 and his play suffered. But you’re not going to find a 6-foot-7, 330-pound athletic defensive lineman just walking around looking for work. If Walker is healthy and locked in, we could end up looking back at this being one of the best players in this class.
Most surprising pick: On the surface, you might wonder why the Bills need another tight end, but Jackson Hawes was the best blocking tight end in the class. I had a fifth-round grade on him, so to get him in Round 6 provides some value, too.
2. Tennessee Titans: A+
RoundPickPlayer11Cam Ward, QB, Miami (QB1)252Oluwafemi Oladejo, EDGE, UCLA (EDGE9)382Kevin Winston Jr., S, Penn State (S4)4103Chimere Dike, WR, Florida (WR15)4120Gunnar Helm, TE, Texas (TE7)5136Elic Ayomanor, WR, Stanford (WR20)5167Jackson Slater, IOL, Sacramento State (OG9)6183Marcus Harris, S, California (CB23)6188Kalel Mullings, RB, Michigan (RB18)
Favorite pick: Cam Ward is an obvious choice, but I’m going with Femi Oladejo. I talked to him at the Senior Bowl and his personality matches his tape. He loves football and is going to be a great locker-room guy. He has confidence for days, even though he just moved to edge rusher in 2024. Prior to that he played off-ball linebacker at both UCLA and Cal. For an idea of what you’ll see in Tennessee, watch Oladejo against the Penn State right tackle, who had one of the longest days of his football life during that matchup.
Best value: I had Elic Ayomanor as a Day 2 pick, so to get him early on Day 3 provides some value, but I love the idea of getting Ward a reliable, big-bodied, sure-handed possession receiver alongside fourth-rounder Chimere Dike, a big slot with 4.3 speed who can stretch the field.
Most surprising pick: It’s not a shock that the Titans grabbed Gunnar Helm; just that he was available on Day 3, and was the seventh tight end taken in this draft. He was my TE3, and I wouldn’t have been shocked if he heard his name called in Round 2. What he lacks in flash he makes up for in consistency.
3. Las Vegas Raiders: A+
RoundPickPlayer16Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State (RB1)258Jack Bech, WR, TCU (WR8)368Darien Porter, CB, Iowa State (CB7)398Caleb Rogers, OT, Texas Tech (OT10)399Charles Grant, OT, William & Mary (OT11)4108Dont’e Thornton Jr., WR, Tennessee (WR16)4135Tonka Hemingway, DL, South Carolina (DL16)6180JJ Pegues, DL, Ole Miss (DL24)6213Tommy Mellott, QB, Montana State6215Cam Miller, QB, North Dakota State (QB11)7222Cody Lindenberg, LB, Minnesota (LB19)
Favorite pick: I’ve been talking up Jack Bech since January, and all he did was ball out in the Senior Bowl and solidify my thoughts that he was a second-round pick. The Raiders traded down 10 spots, grabbed Bech at No. 58 and used the additional third-rounder to get the most athletic offensive tackle in this class, William & Mary’s Charles Grant. Bech is going to eat in the slot, in part because he’s a big wideout, great route runner and has a huge catch radius, but also because defenses have to concern themselves with Brock Bowers and first-rounder Ashton Jeanty.
Best value: I thought JJ Pegues could’ve gone late Day 2/early Day 3. The Raiders got him in the sixth, and here’s all you need to know about him: he’s a converted tight end who scored seven (SEVEN!) offensive TDs last season for Ole Miss and added four sacks and 28 hurries along the defensive line.
Most surprising pick: This is one of my favorite drafts (duh), and perhaps the most surprising thing is that all 11 selections have a chance to make the final roster; Darien Porter is a former WR-turned-CB and has obvious ball skills; Dont’e Thornton Jr. is a legit 4.3-40 guy who at 6-foot-4 and 200 pounds can stack defensive backs all day long. Tonka Hemingway is an immediate contributor, and expect Tommy Mellott to be Geno Smith’s Julian Edelman in Vegas.
4. Atlanta Falcons: A+
RoundPickPlayer115Jalon Walker, EDGE, Georgia (EDGE3)126James Pearce Jr., EDGE, Tennessee (EDGE5)396Xavier Watts, S, Notre Dame (S6)4118Billy Bowman Jr., S, Oklahoma (S8)7218Jack Nelson, OT, Wisconsin (OT20)
Favorite pick: Jalon Walker is low-hanging fruit, but he’s special, both as a player and a person. He may be undersized by traditional NFL edge-rush standards, but he’s a chess piece for head coach Raheem Morris in that he can line up anywhere.
Best value: Xavier Watts could have gone 30 picks sooner; either way, he’s a tone-setter from deep, both coming downhill vs. the run and making plays on the ball. The converted wide receiver had 13 interceptions the last two seasons for the Fighting Irish.
Most surprising pick: James Pearce Jr. Not so much that the Falcons took him — I’d heard he was on their radar at No. 15 — but that they took him after they drafted Walker, and that they were willing to give up a 2026 first-rounder for him. If you’re OK with the off-field concerns, Pearce is worth future draft picks because on the field he’s a top-10 talent.
5. San Francisco 49ers: A+
RoundPickPlayer111Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia (EDGE2)243Alfred Collins, DL, Texas (DL7)375Nick Martin, LB, Oklahoma State (LB4)3100Upton Stout, CB, Western Kentucky (CB15)4113CJ West, DL, Indiana (DL15)4138Jordan Watkins, WR, Ole Miss (WR21)5147Jordan James, RB, Oregon (RB13)5160Marques Sigle, S, Kansas State (S12)7227Kurtis Rourke, QB, Indiana (QB12)7249Connor Colby, IOL, Iowa (OG15)7252Junior Bergen, WR, Montana (WR31)
Favorite pick: Good luck finding someone who knocks down more passes at the line of scrimmage than Alfred Collins. He’s twitchy for his size and can shoot gaps with a quick first step and great hand usage. He can also win with power, is hard to move off the spot and is a high-motor player who will run sideline-to-sideline to get to the ball.
Best value: CJ West is as juiced-up a defensive lineman as there is in this class. He slipped to the fourth round because he’s just 6-foot-1 and has 31.5-inch arms, but as former Titans general manager Ran Carthon, my co-host on “With the First Pick,” pointed out, West is a carbon copy of DJ Jones.
Most surprising pick: It’s never really a surprise when the 49ers take a flier on a quarterback, and Kurtis Rourke certainly fits the mold of what Kyle Shanahan might be looking for. But they took the Indiana signal-caller in the seventh round, four picks before the Dolphins selected Quinn Ewers.
6. Jacksonville Jaguars: A
RoundPickPlayer12Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado (WR/CB1)388Caleb Ransaw, CB, Tulane (CB13)389Wyatt Milum, OT, West Virginia (OG6)4104Bhayshul Tuten, RB, Virginia Tech (RB7)4107Jack Kiser, LB, Notre Dame (LB5)6194Jalen McLeod, LB, Auburn (LB17)6200Rayuan Lane III, S, Navy (S15)7221Jonah Monheim, IOL, USC (OC3)7236LeQuint Allen, RB, Syracuse (RB23)
Favorite pick: Travis Hunter is the obvious one because he’s a legit two-for-one player who very well may end up being well worth the future first-rounder the Jags gave up to get him.
Best value: I loved LeQuint Allen’s tape and would’ve considered him in the third round. He didn’t run during the pre-draft process, which is usually an indication that you’re slow. But Allen played fast, is only 20 years old and was targeted 83 times last season as a receiver.
Most surprising pick: Linebackers Jack Kiser and Jalen McLeod, but only because Jacksonville feels like Linebacker U in recent years. That said, the new regime will likely move on from the previously drafted linebackers, so expect Kiser and McLeod to get plenty of run early in their careers.
7. Dallas Cowboys: A
RoundPickPlayer112Tyler Booker, IOL, Alabama (OG1)244Donovan Ezeiruaku, EDGE, Boston College (EDGE6)376Shavon Revel Jr., CB, East Carolina (CB9)5149Jaydon Blue, RB, Texas (RB14)5152Shemar James, LB, Florida (LB11)6204Ajani Cornelius, IOL, Oregon (OT17)7217Jay Toia, DL, UCLA (DL28)7239Phil Mafah, RB, Clemson (RB24)7247Tommy Akingbesote, DL, Maryland (DL29)
Favorite pick: Tyler Booker is a tone-setter. I never cared about his 40-yard dash time because unless he’s returning a fumble, he won’t be asked to run 40 yards in a straight line very often. He’s the best guard in this class and one of the best football players.
Best value: Shavon Revel Jr. is long, fast, physical and has ball skills. He suffered an ACL tear last September that robbed him of his season, but he’s a first-round talent.
Most surprising pick: Donovan Ezeiruaku — not the player, but that he was on the board at pick No. 44. Ezeiruaku had first-round buzz, and while I thought he struggled against the run early last season for Boston College, he improved down the stretch. He’s a hair-on-fire designated pass rusher from Day 1.
8. New York Giants: A
RoundPickPlayer13Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State (EDGE1)125Jaxson Dart, QB, Ole Miss (QB2)365Darius Alexander, DL, Toledo (DL10)4105Cam Skattebo, RB, Arizona State (RB8)5154Marcus Mbow, OT, Purdue (OT14)7219Thomas Fidone II, TE, Nebraska (TE13)7246Korie Black, CB, Oklahoma State (CB27)
Favorite pick: Cam Skattebo’s playing style might only be conducive to 2-3 years in the league, but they’re going to be two or three of the most exciting years we’ve seen from a running back. He was the toughest person in college football, and I don’t think there was a close second.
Best value: I would’ve taken Fidone early on Day 3 — he’s a really good athlete and long-strider who can get on linebackers’ toes in a hurry, get out of breaks with urgency and has a big catch radius (he only had one drop on 51 targets). He’ll make contested catches look easy, absorb big hits and still get YAC.
Most surprising pick: Darius Alexander, but only because he was still available in Round 3. He might almost be 25 years old, but he was dominant at Toledo and proved he could dominate Power 4 competition at the Senior Bowl in January.
9. Baltimore Ravens: A
RoundPickPlayer127Malaki Starks, S, Georgia (S1)259Mike Green, EDGE, Marshall (EDGE10)391Emery Jones Jr., IOL, LSU (OG7)4129Teddye Buchanan, LB, Cal (LB9)5141Carson Vinson, OT, Alabama A&M (OT13)6178Bilhal Kone, CB, Western Michigan (CB22)6186Tyler Loop, K, Arizona (K2)6203LaJohntay Wester, WR, Colorado (WR24)6210Aeneas Peebles, DL, Virginia Tech (DL27)6212Robert Longerbeam, CB, Rutgers (CB24)7243Garrett Dellinger, IOL, LSU (OG14)
Favorite pick: Landing Malaki Starks feels unfair for a defense that already has Kyle Hamilton. Good luck to the rest of the AFC North.
Best value: My comp for Mike Green was Will Anderson Jr. He did have some off-field issues, and that’s why he dropped to the bottom of the second round, but good luck finding someone who plays harder for 60 snaps a game than Green.
Most surprising pick: Teddye Buchanan transferred from UC Davis to play his final season at Cal. He’s an undersized LB who can stride out in space, especially coming downhill. He will get engulfed by offensive linemen a lot and doesn’t offer much in coverage. I had a mid-Day 3 grade on him, but the Ravens could envision him as a safety/linebacker hybrid who has a chance to excel with the aforementioned Hamilton and Starks behind him.
10. Kansas City Chiefs: A
RoundPickPlayer132 Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State (OT5)263Omarr Norman-Lott, DL, Tennessee (DL9)366Ashton Gillotte, EDGE, Louisville (EDGE11)385Nohl Williams, CB, California (CB12)4133Jalen Royals, WR, Utah State (WR19)5156Jeffrey Bassa, LB, Oregon (LB12)7228 Brashard Smith, RB, SMU (RB21)
Favorite pick: Jalen Royals was a second-round pick for me all day long. He was injured last October and missed the rest of the season, but he’s a playmaker with the ball in his hands. Now imagine him catching passes not from the Utah State quarterback but from Patrick Mahomes.
Best value: I’ve been talking about Brashard Smith for five months now, and I loved him in Round 3. He’s still learning the running back position after playing wide receiver for three seasons at Miami before transferring. He’s electric in both small spaces and the open field, and he’s the best receiving back in the class.
Most surprising pick: I was surprised that Josh Simmons was still on the board, because if he’s healthy, he’s probably a top-10 pick. The Chiefs have to figure out their tackle situation, and Simmons could finally be the guy to do it.
11. Carolina Panthers: A
RoundPickPlayer18Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona (WR2)251Nic Scourton, EDGE, Texas A&M (EDGE8)377Princely Umanmielen, EDGE, Ole Miss (EDGE13)4114Trevor Etienne, RB, Georgia (RB9)4122Lathan Ransom, S, Ohio State (S9)5140Cam Jackson, DL, Florida (DL19)5163Mitchell Evans, TE, Notre Dame (TE8)6208Jimmy Horn Jr., WR, Colorado (WR25)
Favorite pick: Tet McMillan is all about surrounding Bryce Young with dudes. Last year it was Xavier Legette and Ja’Tavion Sanders, and now it’s another big, physical, playmaking WR.
Best value: I had Latham Ransom as a late Day 2 player, and he went around that range, but I think when it’s all said and done, he could end up being way better than that. He might be the smartest player in the 2025 draft class, and he got better each week for Ohio State.
Most surprising pick: It’s hard to believe that Nic Scourton was still available at No. 51; I know he wasn’t that productive in 2024 at Texas A&M, but he was exactly who we thought he was in 2023 for Purdue. Oh, and he’s only 20 years old.
12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: A
RoundPickPlayer119Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State (WR3)253Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame (CB5)384Jacob Parrish, CB, Kansas State (CB11)4121David Walker, EDGE, Central Arkansas (EDGE17)5157Elijah Roberts, EDGE, SMU (EDGE23)7235Tez Johnson, WR, Oregon (WR26)
Favorite pick: Emeka Egbuka, professional receiver. Those four words might be the best scouting report you’ll read, because it basically encapsulates who he is — from a great route runner who catches everything thrown in his direction to a willing blocker who’ll be an asset in the run game.
Best value: Elijah Roberts was dominant for SMU and could’ve gone a couple rounds higher than he did. At 285 pounds, he can line up anywhere along the defensive line, and the 4.78 40 gives you a hint at his athleticism. He’ll consistently win with power, and while he can play a little stiff at times, he’s a steal in Round 3.
Most surprising pick: Tez Johnson weighs 155 pounds, but how was he still on the board in Round 7? He dominated the Senior Bowl because no one could cover him, and if you get him a free release off the line of scrimmage in the NFL, he’ll remain impossible to cover.
13. Houston Texans: A
RoundPickPlayer234Jayden Higgins, WR, Iowa State (WR5)248Aireontae Ersery, OT, Minnesota (OT7)379Jaylin Noel, WR, Iowa State (WR12)397Jaylin Smith, CB, USC (CB14)6116Woody Marks, RB, USC (RB10)6187Jaylen Reed, S, Penn State (S14)6197Graham Mertz, QB, Florida (QB10)7224Kyonte Hamilton, DL, Rutgers (OT22)7255Luke Lachey, TE, Iowa (TE16)
Favorite pick: I know the Texans gave up a 2026 third-rounder to move up and take Woody Marks, but he stops on a dime better than anyone in this class, plays with good vision behind the line of scrimmage, runs with a low center of gravity and was a big part of the passing game as a receiver out of the backfield. And he also has return ability.
Best value: Jaylen Reed reminded me of Bryan Cook coming out of Cincinnati. Reed is better coming downhill than in coverage, but he is consistently all over the field making plays. And his 4.49 40 time matches his play speed.
Most surprising pick: Graham Mertz. And not because the Texans don’t need to develop a young quarterback, but because Mertz missed the last half of the season with an ACL injury and because they took him ahead of Quinn Ewers.
14. New England Patriots: A
RoundPickPlayer14Will Campbell, OT, LSU (OT1)238TreVeyon Henderson, RB, Ohio State (RB4)369Kyle Williams, WR, Washington State (WR9)395Jared Wilson, IOL, Georgia (OC1)4106Craig Woodson, S, Cal (S7)5137Joshua Farmer, DL, Florida State (DL17)5146Bradyn Swinson, EDGE, LSU (EDGE22)6182Andres Borregales, K, Miami (K1)7220Marcus Bryant, OT, Missouri (OT21)7251Julian Ashby, LS, Vanderbilt (LS1)
7257Kobee Minor, CB, Memphis (CB29)
Favorite pick: Man, TreVeyon Henderson is going to be a lot of fun. There was some buzz that he could sneak into the first round, and the Patriots are doing their part to surround Drake Maye with an improved O-line and some big-play weapons.
Best value: I had a third-round grade on Bradyn Swinson, a hair-on-fire pass rusher who reminded me of Chris Braswell coming out of Alabama.
Most surprising pick: The least surprising development is that the Pats took a long snapper. Surprising for me, however, was taking 5-foot-10 Kyle Williams, who played primarily outside at Washington State. And this is less about Williams and more about getting Maye bigger downfield targets in much the way the Texans have done (and did last weekend) for C.J. Stroud with Nico Collins and 2025 second-rounder Jayden Higgins.
Prisco’s NFL Draft 2025 grades for every team, including best and worst picks for all 32 franchises
Drafts I Liked
15. Washington Commanders: A
RoundPickPlayer129Josh Conerly Jr., OT, Oregon (OT4)261Trey Amos, CB, Ole Miss (CB6)4128Jaylin Lane, WR, Virginia (WR18)6205Kain Medrano, LB, UCLA (LB18)7245Jacory Croskey-Merritt, RB, Arizona (RB25)
Favorite pick: I didn’t have Conerly as a first-round pick, but that was mostly because I thought he was a few years away from being a starter. That said, he’s one of the best athletes in this class and if he develops, he could be special. The fact that he’s going to a great organization and doesn’t need to be rushed on the field makes this even better.
Best value: Jaxson Dart told me at the combine that the best cornerback he faced in the SEC was Trey Amos, who is big, physical and has ball skills.
Most surprising pick: Jacory Croskey-Merritt only played one game last season for Arizona, but as former Titans general manager Ran Carthon told me on the “With the First Pick” podcast, several teams were going to try to sign him as an UDFA and hoped he would fly under the radar during draft weekend. He’s a twitched-up runner with low miles who’ll have a legit chance to make this team.
16. Arizona Cardinals: A
RoundPickPlayer116Walter Nolen, DL, Ole Miss (DL3)247Will Johnson, CB, Michigan (CB4)378Jordan Burch, DL, Oregon (EDGE14)4115Cody Simon, LB, Ohio State (LB7) 5174Denzel Burke, CB, Ohio State (CB20)6211Hayden Conner, IOL, Texas (OG13)7225Kitan Crawford, S, Nevada (S17)
Favorite pick: I gave general manager Monti Ossenfort an A+ for last year’s draft, and he gets an A this time around because the Cards continue to crush it on draft weekend. Walter Nolen is a twitched-up defensive lineman who can be as disruptive between the tackles as an elite pass rusher can be coming off the edge.
Best value: Jordan Burch fits the mold of what Arizona looks for in its edge rushers, and as he continues to develop he could end up being really special.
Most surprising pick: Denzel Burke had a really good 2023 campaign but was plagued by inconsistencies in 2024. If he can return to form, the Cards could end up with two top-50 talents at cornerback in this class alongside Will Johnson.
17. Seattle Seahawks: A
RoundPickPlayer118Grey Zabel, IOL, North Dakota State (OG12)235Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina (S2)250Elijah Arroyo, TE, Miami (TE5)392Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama (QB4)5142Rylie Mills, DL, Notre Dame (DL20)5166Tory Horton, WR, Colorado State (WR23)5175Robbie Ouzts, TE, Alabama (TE11)6192Bryce Cabeldue, OT, Kansas (OT15)7223Damien Martinez, RB, Miami (RB20)7234Mason Richman, OT, Iowa (OT23)7238Ricky White III, WR, UNLV (WR27)
Favorite pick: Nick Emmanwori. Or as Ran likes to call him, “Nick Emmanwilson” because I won’t quit talking about him. Kam Chancellor is the obvious comp, but head coach Mike McDonald is getting his Pacific Northwest version of Kyle Hamilton.
Best value: Ricky White III was targeted 135 times last season and had more than 100 yards receiving five times, but he’ll make his money in the NFL as a special teams demon. He had four blocked punts last season and has a nose for making plays on teams.
Most surprising pick: Jalen Milroe, but only because I wasn’t sure where he’d end up and how a team might plan to use him. But I love the idea of bringing him along slowly in Seattle while having a package of plays for him that will create a huge headache for opposing defensive coordinators.
18. Miami Dolphins: A
RoundPickPlayer113Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan (DL2)237Jonah Savaiinaea, OT, Arizona (OT6)5143Jordan Phillips, DL, Maryland (DL21)5150Jason Marshall Jr., CB, Florida (CB18)5155Dante Trader Jr., S, Maryland (S11)6179Ollie Gordon II, RB, Oklahoma State (RB16)7231Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas (QB13)7253Zeek Biggers, DL, Georgia Tech (DL30)
Favorite pick: I know the Dolphins gave up a third-rounder to move up 10 spots to take Savaiinaea, but he’s a Day 1 starter at guard. And I think he’s good enough to play right tackle in the NFL, should the need arise in Miami.
Best value: Ollie Gordon II doesn’t fit the mold of a Mike McDaniel speed back — in my notes I described him as a “Straight-line high-knee runner who welcomes contact and is near impossible to arm tackle low … a long-strider in open field who is tough to catch once he gets going” — but he plays much (much, much) faster than the 4.61 he ran at the combine.
Most surprising pick: It has to be Quinn Ewers, who two years ago was considered a first-round talent. Then injuries and inconsistent play saw his draft stock plummet. That said, he plays with touch and timing, and if there was ever an offense that made sense for his long-term chances in the NFL, it’s this one.
19. Los Angeles Chargers: A
RoundPickPlayer122Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina (RB2)255Tre Harris, WR, Ole Miss (WR7)386Jamaree Caldwell, DL, Oregon (DL13)4125Kyle Kennard, EDGE, South Carolina (EDGE 20)4158KeAndre Lambert-Smith, WR, Auburn (WR22)5165Oronde Gadsden II, TE, Syracuse (TE9)6199Branson Taylor, OT, Pittsburgh (OT16)6214R.J. Mickens, S, Clemson (S16)7256Trikweze Bridges, CB, Florida (CB28)
Favorite pick: Jamaree Caldwell might not look like former teammates Jordan Burch or Derrick Harmon, but he was the most twitched-up defensive linemen of the trio. He fills a big need in LA, and after a dominant Senior Bowl, he went from Day 3 possibility to Day 2 reality.
Best value: Oronde Gadsden II flew under the radar at Syracuse, but he’s an athletic move tight end who could end up doing for Justin Herbert what he did for Kyle McCord.
Most surprising pick: Omarion Hampton was something of a surprise, but mostly because it felt like he would be off the board to the Broncos at pick No. 20, and because the Chargers would be more likely to target defensive line or safety. Hampton is going to thrive in this offense.
20. Indianapolis Colts: A
RoundPickPlayer114Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State (TE2)245JT Tuimoloau, EDGE, Ohio State (EDGE7)380Justin Walley, CB, Minnesota (CB10)4127Jalen Travis, OT, Iowa State (OT12)5151DJ Giddens, RB, Kansas State (RB15)6189Riley Leonard, QB, Notre Dame (QB9)6190Tim Smith, DL, Alabama (DL25)7232Hunter Wohler, S, Wisconsin (S19)
Favorite pick: JT Tuimoloau was one of the most disruptive players in college football over the last month of the season, and the way he wins translates to the next level.
Best value: I was a big fan of Jalen Travis during the pre-draft process. He has an enormous frame, a thick lower half and anchors really well in passpro. He’s also a solid, reliable run blocker, and my comp for him was … Matt Goncalves.
Most surprising pick: On the surface, it’s Riley Leonard. But after someone pointed out that his game is equal parts Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones, the pick makes all the sense in the world.
21. Philadelphia Eagles: A-
RoundPickPlayer131Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama (LB1)264Andrew Mukuba, S, Texas (S3)4111Ty Robinson, DL, Nebraska (DL14)5145Mac McWilliams, CB, UCF (CB17)5161Smael Mondon Jr., LB, Georgia (LB13)5168Drew Kendall, IOL, Boston College (OC2)6181Kyle McCord, QB, Syracuse (QB7)6191Myles Hinton, IOL, Michigan (OG11)6207Cameron Williams, OT, Texas (OT19)6209Antwaun Powell-Ryland, EDGE, Virginia Tech (EDGE27)
Favorite pick: The fact that the Eagles got Jihaad Campbell at No. 31 should be against the law. He’s just 21 years old and could end up being one of the best off-ball linebackers in the league in 3-4 years.
Best value: Cameron Williams played right tackle opposite No. 9 overall pick Kelvin Banks Jr. He’s an athletic developmental prospect who probably could’ve used another year in school, but he landed in the exact right place to hasten his development now that he’s in the NFL.
Most surprising pick: Kyle McCord, who I thought would go 2-3 rounds higher. Jalen Hurts is the man, of course, the team traded for Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Tanner McKee is also on the roster. McCord is coming off an amazing season at Syracuse, and I won’t be surprised when he balls out in the preseason and the Eagles flip him for a third-round pick.
22. New Orleans Saints: A-
RoundPickPlayer19Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas (OT3)240Tyler Shough, QB, Louisville (QB3)371Vernon Broughton, DL, Texas (DL11)393Jonas Sanker, S, Virginia (S5)4112Danny Stutsman, LB, Oklahoma (LB6) 4131Quincy Riley, CB, Louisville (CB17)6184Devin Neal, RB, Kansas (RB17)7248Moliki Matavao, TE, UCLA (TE15)7254Fadil Diggs, EDGE, Syracuse (EDGE28)
Favorite pick: Stutsman is a smart player who consistently reads keys in the run game and understands route concepts in zone drops. Consistency and a non-stop motor are his hallmarks, and what he lacks in high-end athleticism he makes up for in football IQ.
Best value: I had a fifth-round grade on Fadil Diggs, who is 6-foot-4, 257 pounds, has 33 ⅜-inch arms and ran a 4.57 40. And those measurables match his tape. He’ll be a designated pass rusher early in his career. My comp for him was Kingsley Enagbare.
Most surprising pick: I get that Tyler Shough has “traits” teams covet. But he’s also a one-year starter (despite playing seven college seasons), has an injury history and will be 26 years old this fall. I’m not going to ding the Saints for trying to find a quarterback, but those taken in the second round rarely hit.
23. Chicago Bears: B+
RoundPickPlayer110Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan (TE1)239Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri (WR5)256Ozzy Trapilo, OT, Boston College (OT9)362Shemar Turner, DL, Texas A&M (DL8)4132Ruben Hyppolite II, LB, Maryland (LB10)5169Zah Frazier, CB, UTSA (CB19)6195Luke Newman, IOL, Michigan State (OG12)7233Kyle Monangai, RB, Rutgers (RB22)
Favorite pick: Luther Burden III wasn’t nearly as productive in 2024 because his quarterback was banged up for most of the season. Go back and watch him in 2023 to get a glimpse of what 2025 might look like in Chicago.
Best value: I had a Day 2 grade on Zah Frazier because he’s long, physical and has ball skills (he had six interceptions and 10 pass breakups). His body type reminds me of Tyrique Stevenson, and you can never have enough long, physical cornerbacks in the NFL.
Most surprising pick: Ruben Hyppolite II didn’t play in the Shrine nor Senior Bowl (he did get an invite to the Hula Bowl), wasn’t invited to the combine and ended up going in the fourth round, in part because he ran a 4.43 and a sub-7-second 3-cone at his pro day. He’ll also be a special teamer from Day 1.
24. Detroit Lions: B+
RoundPickPlayer128Tyleik Williams, DL, Ohio State (DL5)257Tate Ratledge, IOL, Georgia (OG4)370Isaac TeSlaa, WR, Arkansas (WR10)5171Miles Frazier, IOL, LSU (OG10)6196Ahmed Hassanein, EDGE, Boise State (EDGE26)7230Dan Jackson, S, Georgia (S18)7244Dominic Lovett, WR, Georgia (WR30)
Favorite pick: Yes, the Lions gave up TWO third-round picks to move up for Isaac Teslaa, but I think he’s going to be a lot of fun in this Lions offense alongside Amon-Ra St. Brown, Jameson Williams, Sam LaPorta and Jahmyr Gibbs.
Best value: I had a Day 2 grade on Miles Frazier, who I described in my notes as a “tone-setter in the run game. … He will absolutely blow your ass up on counters.”
Most surprising pick: The surprise was that Dan Jackson didn’t go a tad sooner. He was a combine snub who was a heat-seeking missile in Georgia’s secondary who tested really well during the pre-draft process.
25. Pittsburgh Steelers: B
RoundPickPlayer121Derrick Harmon, DL, Oregon (DL4)383Kaleb Johnson, RB, Iowa (RB6)4123Jack Sawyer, EDGE, Ohio State (EDGE18)5164Yahya Black, DL, Iowa (DL23)6185Will Howard, QB, Ohio State (QB8)7226Carson Bruener, LB, Washington (LB20)7229Donte Kent, CB, Central Michigan (CB25)
Favorite pick: Jack Sawyer may not be a high-end athlete, but no one has a higher motor. He feels like a Steelers edge rusher, and I love him in a rotation with T. J. Watt, Alex Highsmith and Nate Herbig.
Best value: Some teams had late Day 2 grades on Will Howard, so to get him in the sixth round was a pretty easy call to make. The Steelers liked him, too; they took Howard out to dinner the night before his pro day.
Most surprising pick: I wasn’t a huge fan of Yahya Black’s tape, and I thought he struggled during Senior Bowl week, but he also fits the profile for what the Steelers look for in their defensive linemen.
26. New York Jets: B
RoundPickPlayer17Armand Membou, OT, Missouri (OT2)242Mason Taylor, TE, LSU (TE3)373Azareye’h Thomas, CB, Florida State (CB8)4110Arian Smith, WR, Georgia (WR17)4130Malachi Moore, S, Alabama (S10)5162Francisco Mauigoa, LB, Miami (LB14)5176Tyler Baron, EDGE, Miami (EDGE25)
Favorite pick: Armand Membou is one of my favorite players in the class and he’s a Day 1 starter alongside Alijah Vera-Tucker, Joe Tippmann and Olu Fashanu — all of whom are recent high draft picks.
Best value: Azareye’h Thomas is a big, physical corner who ran in the high 4.5s. But his playing speed is closer to 4.4, and to get him in the third round is great value for a player who had top-50 buzz in recent weeks.
Most surprising pick: Arian Smith is the fastest player in this class, but he also had 10 drops on 79 targets last fall at Georgia.
27. Minnesota Vikings: B
RoundPickPlayer124Donovan Jackson, IOL, Ohio State (OG3)3102Tai Felton, WR, Maryland (WR14)5139Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, DL, Georgia (DL18)6201Kobe King, LB, Penn State (LB17)6202Gavin Bartholomew, TE, Pittsburgh (TE12)
Favorite pick: Donovan Jackson is a tone-setter who proved he can play either guard or tackle. At guard, he’s a Day 1 starter for the Vikings.
Best value: Kobe King is a new-school linebacker in an old-school linebacker’s body. He will punch you in the mouth coming downhill, and I think he has the ability to play in space as well.
Most surprising pick: Good luck finding a more productive wide receiver than Tai Felton, but he’s only 185 pounds and played mostly outside at Maryland.
28. Denver Broncos: B-
RoundPickPlayer120Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas (CB2)260RJ Harvey, RB, UCF (RB5)374Pat Bryant, WR, Illinois (WR11)3101Sai’vion Jones, EDGE, LSU (EDGE16)4134Que Robinson, EDGE, Alabama (EDGE21)6216Jeremy Crawshaw, P, Florida (P1)7241Caleb Lohner, TE, Utah (TE14)
Favorite pick: Jahdae Barron reminds me of Brian Branch but with 4.39 speed. He has a chance to be special, and he won’t have to do it by himself in a secondary that includes Patrick Surtain II, Riley Moss and now Talanoa Hufanga.
Best value: Que Robinson was probably destined for Day 3 because he’s a situational pass rusher at this point, but he was one of the most explosive players I watched last fall. As he continues to develop, he could outgrow that original fourth-round pick.
Most surprising pick: Pat Bryant ran a 4.61 at the combine, and that’s the speed he plays at, too. That’s not a knock on him; he’s just not dynamic down the field but more of a possession receiver.
29. Green Bay Packers: B-
RoundPickPlayer123Matthew Golden, WR, Texas (WR3)254Anthony Belton, OT, NC State (OT8)387Savion Williams, WR, TCU (WR13)4124Barryn Sorrell, EDGE, Texas (EDGE19)5159Collin Oliver, EDGE, Oklahoma State (EDGE24)6198Warren Brinson, DL, Georgia (DL26)7237Micah Robinson, CB, Tulane (CB26)7250John Williams, OT, Cincinnati (OT24)
Favorite pick: Matthew Golden ran a 4.29 at the combine. And while only Tyreek Hill actually plays at “4.29 speed” during NFL games, Golden is a legit burner. He reminds me of Jordan Addison, who also went around this range when he was drafted.
Best value: Man, I love me some Collin Oliver, who battled injuries as an undersized edge, but I love him playing more off-ball if that’s the plan in Green Bay. The juice and athleticism of him and Edgerrin Cooper playing together could be a lot of fun.
Most surprising pick: Savion Williams in Round 3 felt rich. I get the versatility of both a wide receiver and running back — and Cordarrelle Patterson was a former first-rounder who did similar things — but I’m curious how Matt LaFleur will use Williams in Green Bay.
30. Los Angeles Rams: B-
RoundPickPlayer246Terrance Ferguson, TE, Oregon (TE4)390Josaiah Stewart, EDGE, Michigan (EDGE15)4117Jarquez Hunter, RB, Auburn (RB11)5148Ty Hamilton, DL, Ohio State (DL22)5172Chris Paul Jr., LB, Ole Miss (LB15)7242Konata Mumpfield, WR, Pittsburgh (WR29)
Favorite pick: Chris Paul Jr. could’ve gone in Round 3 or 4. He’s undersized, for sure, but he’s one of the few off-ball linebackers in this class who consistently took on and shed offensive line run blocks.
Best value: If Konata Mumpfield had run a 4.5 flat, he may have been an early Day 3 selection. But the Rams have a knack for getting the most out of “slow-by-conventional-metrics” wideouts.
Most surprising pick: This wasn’t surprising at all because Les Snead literally wore a T-shirt that said “F them picks,” but I just want to note that LA was able to get Atlanta’s 2026 first-rounder for trading down 20 spots to 46.
Drafts That Left Me Wanting More
31. Cleveland Browns: C+
RoundPickPlayer15Mason Graham, DL, Michigan (DL1)233Carson Schwesinger, LB, UCLA (LB2)236Quinshon Judkins, RB, Ohio State (RB3)367Harold Fannin Jr., TE, Bowling Green (TE6)394Dillon Gabriel, QB, Oregon (QB5)4126Dylan Sampson, RB, Tennessee (RB12)5144Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado (QB6)
Favorite pick: All Harold Fannin Jr. does is make plays. He’s a sneaky good route runner, a threat to all three levels and a contested-catch machine who plays with great contact balance.
Best value: Shedeur Sanders, who was the No. 24 player on my big board. I’d imagine that if Sanders could get his hands on a time machine, he’d approach the pre-draft process much, much differently.
Most surprising pick: Dillon Gabriel in Round 3. He is the guy you want in your locker room and leading your offense in the huddle, but he’s only 5-foot-10 and has a good-but-not-great arm.
32. Cincinnati Bengals: C
RoundPickPlayer117Shemar Stewart, EDGE, Texas A&M (EDGE4)249Demetrius Knight Jr., LB, South Carolina (LB3)381Dylan Fairchild, IOL, Georgia (OG5)4119Barrett Carter, LB, Clemson (LB8)5153Jalen Rivers, IOL, Miami (OG8)6193Tahj Brooks, RB, Texas Tech (RB19)
Favorite pick: Dylan Fairchild has a chance to be a Day 1 starter. I had a third-round grade on him and my comp was David DeCastro. I also love that his nickname is “Pickle.”
Best value: Tahj Brooks could’ve come off the board a few rounds higher. He’s a workhorse back who rushed for more than 100 yards in all 11 games in 2024.
Most surprising pick: It was a little weird and somewhat confusing that they took two linebackers, neither of whom could see the field regularly as rookies. That said, I like both Knight and Carter; it was just unclear what the Bengals’ vision was heading into the draft.
