Who are the next crop of future NFL studs to look out for in the 2025 draft?
As we hit the "empty" part of the NFL offseason, the truly committed (or truly bored) of us draft nerds have already begun the look ahead to the next crop of talented youngsters set to enter the NFL. While a full year of college football is yet to be completed for all these young men, based on their tape so far and projections, here is my subjective Top 10 of my board:
Honorable Mentions:
Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia
Tacario Davis, CB, Arizona
Carson Beck, QB, Georgia
#10: Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas
My only QB cracking the top 10 so far, Ewers showed the world a lot last year when he led the Longhorns to the College Football Playoff last year. While he is by no means a finished product, his big-time arm talent and natural creativity from the pocket give him the highest upside in the class at QB. While Beck and him are very close to level in my book, what separates Ewers is his calmness under pressure, as well as the way he led the Texas offense in big games, toppling Nick Saban's immensely strong Alabama defense to the tune of 350 yards and 3 scores (ESPN), and nearly overcoming Washington to put his school into the national championship. While consistency and footwork are concerns, Ewers is still young at just over 21, and working with QB mastermind Steve Sarkisian should show even more development in these areas. In short, Ewers has all the tools to become a great QB, and many teams could be looking at him next year in hopes he becomes just that.
Projection: Top 15 franchise QB leaguewide
#10B: Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
All right, all right... I know I said top 10 at the top, but I simply couldn't leave either of these two players off my list! Now, Will Johnson is a SPECIAL player as well. He's got excellent ball skills and impressive agility, plus the uber-fluid hips to be successful in primarily man or zone coverage concepts. His 4 picks and 4 pass deflections last year (NFLdraftbuzz) earned him All-American honors as well, likely also inspiring defensive coordinators leaguewide to bang the table for him as an addition to their team. He did get torched somewhat by Marvin Harrison Jr. last season, but didn't everybody? (minus my man further down this ranking) He was a little grabby at the catch point sometimes, but wasn't everybody? In terms of a two-high, more zone oriented defense, Johnson is hands down the best corner in the draft. However, as of right now, I just haven't seen the true ability to shut down the opponent's #1 receiver in the big games the Wolverines had last year. But with the leadership in the UMich secondary and NFL bloodlines this stud possesses? I expect nothing less than Johnson proving me completely wrong and displaying elite play as his next season progresses.
Projection: Pro Bowl CB
#9: Mason Graham, DT, Michigan
Another year covering the NFL Draft always seems to come with watching more of Jim Harbaugh's proteges dominate the league. 3 years after the selections of Aidan Hutchinson and Daxton Hill in the first round, Graham and Will Johnson (above) are here, with the potential to possibly one-up both the senior defensive standouts. Coming out of Servite High school, Graham grew up fast on the strong Michigan D-line, posting 24 tackles, 24 QB pressures, and 4 sacks last year. And that's not even where Graham makes his money's worth! In the run game, Graham's understanding of technique combined with his elite strength make him downright unblockable at times, causing more plays with him IN the backfield than not. Add that in with the versatility and never-ending energy his wrestling background gives him, and he would've been easily the best defensive tackle had he been eligible for the 24 draft, in addition to having all it takes to be a Quinnen Williams-type disruptor in time. I have no doubts about him as the best run defender in the class, but he has a little more to prove to make him a top-5 player in my eyes. If he can improve his pass rush technique and add a couple sacks because of it, the sky really is the limit for a player of his caliber.
Projection: Multiple Pro Bowl DT
#8: Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri
As the era of dominant WRs in the NFL reaches its apex, with top names such as Amon-Ra St.Brown, Jaylen Waddle, and Justin Jefferson receiving big-money extensions this offseason, having at least one Pro Bowl WR on a contending team feels absolutely necessary. With the sheer explosiveness and YAC ability that Burden possesses in abundance, he figures to be next in the line of top receivers who don't necessarily play the big-body, contested catch X role (Chris Olave and Malik Nabers come to mind). With that said, Burden could honestly play that way if he wanted to, with his tantalizing combo of great hands (only 4 drops from 94 catchable balls last season) along with astounding body control make him a threat to beat DBs on all three levels of the field. Questions about his height will abound among some scouts, and his affinity for the slot gives me some concern about his ability against press coverage at the next level. All things considered though, prospects with this unique of a skillset rarely fall too far in the draft, and Burden landing with the right offensive coaches in the league could result in a Deebo Samuel- type career, doing anything and everything to take an offense to the next level.
Projection: Pro Bowl WR
#7: Will Campbell, OT, LSU
Football players and ballerinas usually don't mix well as far as I've seen, but if I had to pick one player to bridge that gap, it might just be Will Campbell. Coming out of Neville High School in Louisiana, his elite balance and fluid footwork at the LT position have been on constant display at LSU, allowing no sacks in 2023 (NFLDraftBuzz) and being named First Team All-SEC. He is at his best pass-blocking in my opinion, but he additionally shows very solid effort in the run game, creating lanes and moving to the second level at a consistently high level. Campbell is plenty young at just 20 years of age currently, but that comes with slight lapses in hand technique at times when going up against top rushers in the college game. My only real concern with Campbell is his average arm length, which really sucks considering he has a great overall build at 6'6 and 320 pounds. A move inside might be in play for the NFL, but I wouldn't love that for him since it lessens the impact of the movement skills that made him so special in the first place. In the end, Campbell seems to have nothing but a bright future ahead of him in the league, but it might take a creative offensive mind to find the best spot for his talents at the highest level.
Projection: Long-term high end starter
#6: James Pearce Jr., EDGE, Tennessee
The consensus #1 player in the draft at the time of writing, Pearce Jr. definitely fits the bill as far as athleticism is concerned. His 10 sacks plus 52 QB pressures (PFF) for the Vols in '23 were no fluke, as Pearce Jr. has the speed-to-power traits to consistently displace offensive linemen and the quick agility to cover any escape lanes an unlucky QB might have. Throw in one of the cleanest spin moves I've ever seen on an defensive lineman, and it's tough to see why he isn't No.1 on EVERYONE's boards at the moment. Comparing him to prospects of last year, Pearce already has the top shelf traits of a Dallas Turner-like player, but I want to see a few additions to his pass-rush arsenal before declaring him a defensive difference-maker, in the mold of someone like Laiatu Latu. While his pass rush is pretty perfect as is, he still needs to incorporate his power better against the run game to become a truly complete player. Right now, Pearce Jr. would slot in between recent draftees Will Anderson and Dallas Turner as a prospect, with one being elite and the other being more "pretty great". If Pearce Jr. can continue his impressive trajectory to contribute more to stopping the run game while still maintaining his trajectory as a pass rusher? He would then deserve a similarly high draft selection as the former, and reward the lucky team with a truly franchise-changing career.
Projection: Multiple Pro Bowl EDGE
#5: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
Last year Arizona had a couple different QBs star for them, but no matter who was under center, there was an easy option for yards whenever they were under pressure, scrambling, or just plain bored; Throw the ball to Tetairoa. Given his massive 6'5 frame and brilliant hands (lowest FBS drop rate in 2023 at 2%), it's hard to miss the big man- and even harder when he starts plucking footballs from the sky like they're fruits. The contested catch ability is all well and good, but what separates McMillan from the rest of the class is his route-running for his size, showcasing excellent change-of-direction and impressive head fakes to beat you in multiple ways every snap. McMillan and Luther Burden (above) are truly polar opposites in that the one negative on McMillan is not being great after the catch, which is precisely Burden's strength but also something to be expected when your build resembles a basketball player over a football guy. Arizona's high-powered offense had McMillan put up 1400 yards last year even with another great wideout in Jacob Cowing manning the opposite side and grabbing targets. With Cowing off to the NFL and McMillan's high school pal throwing him passes in Noah Fifita, the stage is set for McMillan to use his skillset to explode in production once again, cementing his spot as the top wideout for the 25 class.
Projection: Long-term high-end starting WR
#4: Abdul Carter, LB/EDGE, Penn State
I still remember the exact play that made me an Abdul Carter believer for life. Penn State was up against Indiana, and an ordinary run play was sent in. The center snapped the football and moved to the second level to block Carter, setting his stance, widening his eyes, flexing his muscles...
and looked into the backfield to see Carter already there, making one of his numerous tackles for loss on the season. I don't often make player comparisons, but Carter has the sheer athletic prowess to become a player on par with another Nittany Lion who is currently wreaking havoc in the NFL while sporting the very same #11. Watching Chop Robinson last year, Carter stood out pretty much every play, simply for the fact that he was using his 4.48 40 time to move faster than anyone else on the field. He flashes absolutely insane range at times, and enough instincts to rarely get caught away from the football while moving downhill versus the run. Penn State appears to be moving him to EDGE for the upcoming season to replace the loss of Robinson plus Adisa Isaac to the NFL, where I expect Carter to thrive considering he was able to put up 8 sacks as a true freshman while still playing more of an LB role. While Carter may take some time to acclimate to his position switch this season, he has used his do-everything skills to become the engine of a powerful Nittany Lion defense. Carter landing with the right team in the league (Dan Quinn's Commanders come to mind), his sheer playmaking ability and heavy hitting should make him one of the next great terrors a defense is built around.
Projection: Possible DPOY candidate
#3: Deone Walker, DT, Kentucky
If there was a poll for SEC QBs on the one person they feared the most, I have little doubt the #1 answer would be this freak of nature sitting at #3 on my board. Walker profiles overall as a natural nose tackle, possessing the natural high-energy play style and huge build at 6'6 and 350 pounds to naturally slot into a defensive line and free up fellow rushers by drawing double-teams. The problem is that when trying to block Deone, a triple team is likely necessary, since his elite speed of the line combined with excellent power helped him blow up the stat sheet with 7.5 sacks in 2023, an almost unimaginable number for a nose tackle. Obviously, considering his youth, technically he could use some polish as far as getting off blocks and improving hand technique to excel at the next level. But if I would trust anyone in this class to get over that hump of good to elite in their final year, it would be Walker, a team captain who took steps as a leader on the Wildcats defense as well. Projecting his skillset to the NFL, Derrick Brown, fresh off a new 96m contract with the Panthers, comes to mind. I think Walker could have a similar impact as a natural black hole in the run game while still disrupting throwing windows in the pass game.
Projection: All-Pro DT
#2: Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame
After checking the stat sheet of the game last season where my Buckeyes barely edged Morrison's Fighting Irish squad, I had one question;
"What happened to Marvin Harrison Jr.?"
As you might have guessed, the WR1 job was on someone else that day, as MHJ was too busy being locked up by this absolute WARDEN of a CB, fulfilling anything and everything you could possibly want in a top cover man. Is he a ballhawk? Check- he had 6 picks his freshman year,(2022) before most QBS intelligently stopped testing him. You want speed? Morrison ran a 4.39 40 (NFLDraftBuzz), enough to turn and run with top receivers at any level. It's not easy to beat a CB when you can't separate from them, and Morrison's bloodhound-level reaction skills help him stay in great position no matter what offenses throw at him. If all that wasn't enough, Morrison's ELITE footwork and agility had him sticking the best CFP receivers to the wall week in and week out. As far as concerns, the Notre Dame stud gave up a couple extra big plays last year than normal, displaying a bit of trouble in contested-catch situations. However, when you factor in Morrison being just over 20 years of age and his pure fluidity in everything he does, the upside is clearly too high to ignore. There are many good to great CBs in the NFL, but the rare elite are the ones who ruin your fantasy football day by stifling the best of the best with little support. Morrison seems well on his way to joining those ranks, in a conversation along with the likes of Sauce Gardner and Jaylon Johnson, as the rare talents you can press up against Justin Jefferson one-on-one and live to tell the tale. That sort of shutdown ability can elevate any defense to the next level.
Projection: Multiple All-Pro CB
And #1... Kelvin Banks Jr. OT, Texas
Atop a star-studded Top 10 list for the 2025 draft, Banks Jr. plays with a different level of "dawg" than other OTs in the class. Banks uses his excellent agility to glide to the second level on run-blocking snaps, flashing a nonstop motor to power through any unfortunate linebackers in his path. While Banks is a little on the shorter side at 6'4, this allows him to set a strong base on pass-blocking reps, using elite hand placement combined with the intelligence to recognize stunts to win rep after rep against top CFP defenders such as Dallas Turner, Chris Braswell, or Bralen Trice, all successfully off to the NFL. Banks was one of the "invisible" contributors to Texas' success in 2023, only allowing 6 hurries and 1 sack all through the year.(PFF) While Banks could still improve on consistency in his pass-blocking reps, I think he has shown enough that he can be trusted to take on any caliber of talent against him and come out standing. As he continues to mature and fix tiny issues in his game, Banks has proven his case for a Top 5 draft slot in 2025, and I expect the lucky team to draft him to end up with a decade-long starting LT, much in the mold of Trent Williams of the 49ers.
Projection: Multiple All-Pro LT
Outlook:
While the Pac-12 may not be around for the upcoming season of college football, that has certainly not come with a decrease in the amount of NFL-ready talent set to enter the 2025 cycle. As all these prospects, including my listed set of 10, mature and improve their abilities to prepare for the next level, I couldn't be more excited just to get the chance to watch the wild journey that's coming and enjoy it for all it's worth. Thanks for reading, and I hope you're as ready as I am to see the legacies these prospects are going to leave on the NFL in time! LET'S GOOOOOOO!