2025 NFL Draft large board: Protection-heavy class headlined by Travis Hunter and yet one more Georgia star

Week 0 of the faculty soccer season is right here. Meaning the NFL is simply two weeks away (it’s true, I checked). It additionally means the start of draft season.

As we begin the gradual ramp ahead into soccer season hyperspace, I put collectively my first top-40 large board for the 2025 NFL Draft.

Hope you want trench play!

Williams has averaged lower than one solo deal with per recreation in his school profession, and had simply 4.5 sacks in 2023. So how is he so excessive on this large board?

Nicely, like most up-to-date line of defense and edge prospects from Georgia, it’s all about seeing what Williams does when he’s on the sphere as a part of Georgia’s deep rotation up entrance. And even in a part-time position, Williams’ package deal of traits and impression play is immediately obvious. Within the run recreation, he’s continually blasting offensive linemen again along with his explosive power and twitch, and when speeding the passer he flashes an evolving transfer set with the get-off and flexible athleticism to show the nook on offensive tackles.

Though Williams aligned extra inside the offensive deal with to date in his school profession due to Georgia’s rotations and numerous scheme, he has the dimensions, athleticism, approach and competitiveness to be a real ace cross rusher from the sting who’s additionally an impression participant towards the run. He additionally has the flexibility to kick inside for snaps to create matchup benefits (which he has proven already in school). He nonetheless has to point out extra consistency and variety along with his cross rush strikes, however Williams is a powerful participant who ought to preserve including layers to his recreation with extra enjoying time, and can profit from extra snaps on the surface this season.

When a Penn State defender now will get the No. 11 jersey, he’s inevitably going to get in comparison with Micah Parsons, which is unfair and such a excessive bar to come back near.

The factor is, Carter is perhaps worthy of these comparisons. He’s a twitchy cross rusher who can bend round corners and one way or the other keep on his toes regardless of contorting his physique like Gumby. Carter remains to be including layers to his utilization of arms and studying how you can preserve blockers off-balance; extra time on the sting as an alternative of off-ball in 2024 will certainly assist that — one other Parsons comparability so as to add to the listing. However he has the package deal of size, quick-twitch athleticism, bend, power and energy stage to present him the upside of an elite ace edge defender with double-digit sack potential within the NFL, with prior expertise as an inside cross rusher in addition. Carter ought to see extra time on the road of scrimmage as an edge this season, which ought to profit his play, output and draft inventory.

Plus, he does cool things with tape on his facemask.

An extended participant with good dimension, Johnson has the construct and athleticism of a prototypical trendy NFL cornerback. Johnson makes use of that dimension to smother broad receivers, however that’s not the one method he can cease them. Whether or not it’s zone or man protection (he’ll probably get loads of snaps in man protection with new defensive coordinator Wink Martindale), Johnson continually stays within the pocket of broad receivers, even smaller ones, along with his glorious mixture of quickness, burst and physique management.

Johnson doesn’t have a obvious weak spot, has glorious traits and performs with superior approach and understanding of the place, giving him the upside of a real shutdown No. 1 cornerback on the surface. And I feel he can obtain early in his professional profession. It’s lofty reward, however he has loads of similarities to Pat Surtain II.

A clean technician who seldom will get out of place along with his toes or physique as a blocker, Campbell already exhibits off superb hand utilization and the power to recuperate towards defensive counters due to his calm and fast footwork.

LSU usually places Campbell on an island in dropback conditions that may assist his recreation translate to the following stage, and he performs with good eyes and consciousness as a run blocker and in safety, usually anticipating defensive stunts and rapidly adjusting.

Campbell doesn’t appear to have the longest arms, nevertheless it hasn’t hindered him towards longer defenders in school due to his hand placement. If Campbell can ease that concern along with his play in 2024, then he has all of the makings of a longtime blindside protector.

The human hand grenade, Graham is continually exploding off the ball and creating havoc in the course of an offense. Graham’s glorious first step, fast arms, steadiness and power will let him get within the backfield within the blink of an eye fixed, ending performs or forcing them to go off script.

Graham is just not an undersized gap-shooter who can get moved within the run recreation. He has good dimension (listed at 6-foot-3, 318 kilos) and strong size that will permit him to align at a couple of totally different spots on the subsequent stage, with that power displaying up once more as he works towards double-teams within the run recreation.

Graham is an explosive play machine. He does the soiled work as effectively to make him a lot greater than a boom-or-bust participant.

A bit extra unrefined than his LSU teammate Will Campbell, nonetheless Jones might need extra upside than his bookend companion in Baton Rouge. Jones is an excellent athlete with lengthy arms and continually obtained higher along with his approach in cross safety in 2023, particularly with how he saved his physique sq..

Like Campbell, LSU usually put Jones in one-on-one conditions and he continually held his personal, even towards harder competitors, whereas additionally being a powerful run blocker on the surface. Jones ought to climb large boards if he retains including refinement to his recreation like he did within the second half of final season. I’m going to skip a step and begin him off within the high 10.

This embedded content material is just not out there in your area.

He is a contemporary two-way security who can align all around the discipline, make performs and supply solutions for his defensive coordinator. On only one drive watching Starks, you will notice him play as a split-field security; deep within the submit; as a robber; within the field; and within the slot. (Georgia even tasked Starks with protecting Missouri star receiver Luther Burden III in man protection conditions.)

Starks is large, good, athletic, versatile, tackler and may keep sticky in protection towards receivers and tight ends. He suits each sort of scheme and each NFL protection would like to have him.

One of the dynamic gamers within the nation, Hunter is a gifted participant who performs cornerback and broad receiver in school, however I feel his finest path as an expert is on protection.

Hunter can constantly keep sticky to his protection project, displaying off the quickness and physique management to thrive in man-to-man conditions, with the superb burst to make performs on the soccer and nullify the receiver. He performs with a excessive stage of intelligence for the place, and can take calculated gambles to fall off his protection project and even bait quarterbacks into interception alternatives.

That quickness and physique management exhibits up when Hunter performs broad receiver, too, however he’s uncooked on the place, missing the refinement that he exhibits on the opposite aspect of the ball.

Banks is an skilled blindside blocker, already beginning 27 video games as he enters his true junior season in Austin. He’s broadly constructed and infrequently will get out of whack due to his mild toes, superb base, power and steadiness. He’s a aggressive and difficult participant who can transfer folks within the run recreation, and coordinators could have no qualms with working behind him.

He’s much more enjoyable to look at as a cross protector. Banks already makes use of his arms effectively, profiting from his size to strike defenders on the within of their pads, permitting him to manage and nullify them.

Banks lacks superb peak for the place (listed at 6-foot-4), however he has the size to assist compensate for that. His intelligence, two-way play, quickness and power, together with doubtlessly having 40 video games beneath his belt when he enters the NFL, offers Banks the profile of a high-quality offensive line prospect who can hit the bottom working as an expert. That path is perhaps smoothest after a transfer inside to protect (which is the place I see him finest).

A powerful and stout participant who likes to drive offensive tackles backward, Scourton took his patented spin transfer (he is perhaps the true successor to the Kerry Von Erich “Texas Tornado” moniker) to Faculty Station in 2024 after spending two seasons at Purdue.

Scourton has a thick decrease physique and is a tricky participant to unroot for offensive linemen within the run recreation due to his power and steadiness, whereas additionally being athlete who’s mild on his toes and may explode off the snap and towards the ballcarrier. Scourton’s spin transfer is a good weapon that he makes use of successfully (and sometimes). He nonetheless has to develop extra weapons to his cross rush arsenal. The superb effort and toughness that Scourton performs with on each snap is simply the cherry on high.

A monster on the surface, McMillan is a clean athlete with superb arms and ball abilities that give him true X-receiver upside. Whereas not overly explosive, McMillan constantly creates yards with the ball in his arms due to his power and steadiness. He’s additionally route runner who can sink and nonetheless has loads of burst and pace to create separation on the intermediate ranges. McMillan jogs my memory a great deal of Indianapolis Colts broad receiver Michael Pittman Jr.

The definition of a pace rusher, Pearce has glorious burst and get-off and may get his method round offensive tackles within the blink of an eye fixed. He can warmth up quarterbacks with explosiveness across the edge or use his good size to bullrush tackles into them.

He’s not as dynamic as a run defender, finest knifing inside versus taking over blockers, as he’s as a cross rusher due to his just-adequate power. However he has good size and a body that he can preserve including bulk to, which supplies optimism he’ll enhance within the space and even has good performs of dropping into protection, although his recreation will at all times be primarily constructed round getting after the passer. He jogs my memory a little bit of Leonard Floyd.

Morrison thrives in man protection and urgent broad receivers. He’s not simply making an attempt to jam them and overwhelm opponents with power. As an alternative, Morrison is a technician at cornerback. He has the steadiness and quickness to remain sticky with broad receivers, the place his tight footwork and approach are highlighted, even towards greater broad receivers, along with his pace and burst permitting him to stick with routes that work away from him.

The very fact he’s already proven the power to not solely maintain up with the powerful activity of enjoying as a person cornerback however to thrive in these conditions speaks to his expertise and the maturity with which he performs the place. His dimension, when it comes to bulk, isn’t superb, however he has an honest body and wins by way of clear play in any case.

Michigan’s inside line of defense goes to be powerful for anyone to go towards this yr. Mason Graham is sitting larger on the board, however Grant is a gifted participant in his personal proper who began to come back alongside because the 2023 season went alongside.

Grant gained’t at all times replenish the field rating along with his play, however he’s a 340-pound nostril deal with who can devour blockers along with his dimension and power, and likewise has mild toes and loads of quickness to do extra than simply push the pocket or lean into the block.

I’m a bit excessive on Grant, however I feel with much more play time this season he’s going to get higher as he learns to place collectively his traits.

A hoss (listed 6-foot-6, 348 kilos) on the line of defense, however don’t let Walker’s dimension idiot you. He has the athleticism and light-weight toes to line up throughout the defensive entrance — he strains up at defensive finish greater than defensive deal with in Kentucky’s three-down scheme— with hand quickness and cross speeding skill that make him way more than your typical XXXXL plugger.

Walker is a singular mixture of dimension and finesse that will permit him to be a three-down defender who can eat up blockers or explode for tackles for loss and sacks from totally different spots up entrance. His recreation is constructed on extra finesse than you’d suppose given the body, as he prefers to shoot gaps reasonably than bludgeon double groups. So don’t pigeonhole him as simply one other house eater and consider him extra as a 3-4 defensive finish or 4-3 defensive deal with than the following Mount Washington enjoying at nostril deal with.

Loveland is a matchup nightmare who’s a terror up the seams and the intermediate space of the sphere. He has good peak and a body that he can continue to grow into and including power to, with the pace, physique management, quickness and route-running polish to win throughout the formation, even on the surface. Loveland has good arms and catching vary and may create yards-after-the-catch due to his athleticism, however remains to be a piece in progress as an in-line blocker. Nonetheless, the spark and benefits Loveland gives as a receiver make him a powerful prospect and among the finest general cross catchers on this class.

Colston Loveland (18) is one of several members of the defending champion Michigan Wolverines near the top of Nate Tice's 2025 big board. (Photo by CFP/Getty Images)Colston Loveland (18) is one of several members of the defending champion Michigan Wolverines near the top of Nate Tice's 2025 big board. (Photo by CFP/Getty Images)

Colston Loveland (18) is one among a number of members of the defending champion Michigan Wolverines close to the highest of Nate Tice’s 2025 large board. (Photograph by CFP/Getty Pictures)

A straightforward mover in a big and lengthy body, Ersery has actual starter potential as a blindside deal with on the subsequent stage. Ersery performs with strong approach and his hand placement is a lot better and extra constant than you will notice with a majority of faculty tackles, and he is began 26 video games at left deal with in his profession. He’s an asset within the run recreation due to his athleticism and quickness, having the ability to constantly reduce off defensive lineman on the bottom of runs and likewise climb to the second stage. He shows good power in his play, too. Despite the fact that he’s long-limbed, he can convey some actual motion and pop when he connects along with his arms within the run recreation, making him a viable participant to run behind.

Ersery is at present my fourth-ranked offensive lineman, however search for him to squeeze the hole with the three above him because the season goes alongside. It’s exhausting to seek out this package deal of size, dimension and athleticism at left deal with and the prospect precise have some polish to his play as effectively.

An explosive slot broad receiver who can create first downs and touchdowns out of nothing, Burden has a strong body and is a weapon on manufactured and beneath touches. He may also win deep due to his superb pace and hand-eye coordination. Burden nonetheless has to point out extra as a route runner and whether or not he can win constantly on the surface and towards press (most of his snaps in 2023 have been within the slot or after being put in movement), however he has the power to create explosive performs that NFL groups covet, with the talents to pluck the soccer from quite a lot of angles.

Savaiinaea has , thick construct and by no means appears out of kinds as a participant. He’s capable of keep in steadiness and in management as each a run and cross blocker (though getting a tad too excessive at occasions within the run recreation). He’s a sensible participant who performs with constant hand placement and may shock cross rushers along with his quickness.

Savaiinaea performed proper deal with for the video games that I studied, however he might be finest served as a guard within the NFL (a place he has additionally performed at Arizona). He has good dimension and approach, however faster NFL edge rushers will give him points. It’s humorous how a lot of Savaiinaea’s recreation and the way I view him remind me of his former Arizona teammate (and 2024 Packers first-round choice) Jordan Morgan.

Walker performs each as an off-ball linebacker and an edge defender on the road of scrimmage in Georgia’s rush packages. He performs just a little little bit of in all places, a lot so he calls himself an “HLB” which stands for “hybrid linebacker.”

As an off-ball linebacker, Walker is a powerful tackler and good athlete who’s constantly rapidly diagnosing performs. He can run, chase and has no points taking over and shedding climbing offensive linemen, and has the athleticism to be a plus-player in protection. Walker can be a gifted and productive cross rusher, ending with 5 sacks and displaying off his bend, power and quickness. Walker can dangle as an off-ball linebacker who can keep on the sphere for all three downs and be a optimistic participant towards the run and cross, with the pass-rush skill being an enormous cherry on high.

Sawyer is a (forgive me right here) Jack-of-all-trades for the Buckeyes. He can play the run, rush the passer or drop into protection at a plus-level and fill a number of roles all through the entrance seven. Sawyer is an efficient athlete with go off the ball, and his arms are continually working and that helps him win over and over towards blockers. He may not have a singular standout trait, however Sawyer’s skill to align throughout the defensive entrance on any give down will make him an fascinating skeleton key-type participant for a inventive NFL defensive coordinator.

One other Buckeye on the listing (strap in!), Williams is a monster within the center for the Ohio State protection. He has superb dimension (322 kilos) and is a powerful run defender who seldom will get put out of place by the blocker.

Williams is a fast mover for his dimension. He’s priceless on line of defense video games and twists, and may loop across the edge and get within the backfield at a faster tempo than most gamers along with his body. That quickness additionally applies to his arms; he’s an lively cross rusher who actually works and also will get his arms up when quarterbacks look to throw rapidly. Gamers with dimension and talent on the inside like Williams will develop on each expertise evaluator.

I’m stretching a bit right here, however this yr’s quarterback class isn’t an amazing group. I’m tabbing Leonard due to his dimension, traits and pure accuracy. The Duke switch has good arm power, however wasn’t at all times requested to push the ball within the Blue Devils’ offense, which as an alternative relied closely on fast recreation ideas due to their woeful offensive line. Nonetheless, Leonard confirmed off accuracy and the power to throw his gamers open on these performs, whereas additionally displaying off strong really feel within the pocket and the power to mitigate sacks and adverse performs.

Leonard can be an awesome athlete who’s a weapon on designed runs and within the open discipline. That athleticism and pure really feel for taking part in the place is why Leonard can enhance quickly and ascend with extra reps (he had a powerful freshman season in 2022 however battled accidents in 2023), particularly in a extra favorable scenario in South Bend, with higher expertise and being in an offense that may let him drop again a bit deeper and push the ball additional. It’s flashes and glimpses with Leonard, however these may be a lot brighter beneath a much bigger highlight in 2024.

Notre Dame's Riley Leonard, a Duke transfer, is the top quarterback in Nate Tice's 2025 NFL Draft big board entering the fall. (Photo by Joseph Weiser/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)Notre Dame's Riley Leonard, a Duke transfer, is the top quarterback in Nate Tice's 2025 NFL Draft big board entering the fall. (Photo by Joseph Weiser/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Notre Dame’s Riley Leonard, a Duke switch, is the highest quarterback in Nate Tice’s 2025 NFL Draft large board coming into the autumn. (Photograph by Joseph Weiser/Icon Sportswire by way of Getty Pictures)

Beck has good dimension with polished and clear throwing mechanics. He improved all through his first yr beginning in Athens. He performs with clear eyes and understanding of the offense, constantly staying inside its timing. Beck is prepared to push the ball and drive throws over the center of the sphere. Without having essentially the most overwhelming arm power, he nonetheless has loads of juice to make the harder throws.

He additionally does job of mitigating sacks and adverse performs due to his pocket motion and strong athleticism. That athleticism exhibits up as a runner, and whereas it gained’t be the primary forte of his recreation, Beck is an environment friendly scrambler and runner. Beck can have some random misses with ball placement and nonetheless has to work on quickening his anticipation only a hair, however his ascending play and really feel in 2023 might arrange for a extra constant and spectacular 2024. I’d not be shocked if he finally ends up because the consensus QB1 when it’s all mentioned and performed.

Tuimoloau was flirting with the primary spherical if he declared after the 2023 season. He determined to return to Columbus for a final hurrah. Tuimoloau performs with superb power towards the run and cross, and loves pushing the pocket (and poor offensive tackles) again into the quarterback. He can constantly set the sting and disrupt offenses within the run recreation and preserve place due to his sturdy arms and energy. His simply satisfactory bend however his general cross speeding abilities and powerful and aggressive model make him a priceless participant on a entrance, however I see him as extra of a powerful secondary edge than a real ace.

Perkins is a few mixture of an enormous nickel security, inside linebacker and designated cross rusher. Irrespective of the position he performs, he’s at all times displaying off his pace, bend and straightforward motion skill. He is an efficient protection participant due to his unfastened hips and play recognition skill, and may rush the passer on rush appears utilizing the identical instruments. He doesn’t have a big construct and may get swallowed up by blockers, which might be why LSU most well-liked to maintain him in house most of the time. He is such athlete with versatility and high-end cross speeding traits, and he performs with consciousness that makes him a supercharged helpful participant.

Lengthy, twitchy and with a body that makes you want he wouldn’t put on No. 11, Payton is an athletic and wiry sturdy edge defender who has some similarities to former Seminole Brian Burns. Payton prefers to push the pocket and go from pace to energy as a cross rusher, utilizing his size to maintain tackles at bay. He’s a powerful tackler who additionally is an efficient defender towards the run, utilizing his size and power to constantly win. If Payton provides extra instruments and continues to fill out his body, he’s going to be a harmful defender and a high-level prospect.

Judkins is robust and runs with a incredible mixture of energy and charm. He can pull by defenders or run them over. The Ole Miss switch can rapidly get to fourth gear (perhaps not fifth) and into the secondary in a rush. He’s not a again who depends on simply his pace, constantly displaying the power to tempo his runs whereas wielding good imaginative and prescient to arrange blockers and use his glorious burst to take benefit. Judkins can be receiver with sticky arms who not often fumbles and is a viable participant to attract up performs for out of the backfield.

General, Judkins has the dimensions, explosive play skill and arms of a high-end three-down working again who can be utilized in any scenario and in any scheme. He may not have dwelling run pace, however he could be a constant doubles hitter on the bottom or via the air in any offense. The very fact he’ll be enjoying in Columbus this yr isn’t fairly honest.

It’s working again class. And selecting between Judkins and Jeanty was exhausting.

Jeanty isn’t the tallest (listed at 5-foot-8), however he has construct (217 kilos) and is a powerful runner. Jeanty has superb pace and burst, however is greater than prepared to do his work between the tackles, the place he exhibits off his contact steadiness and imaginative and prescient for working the soccer. He’s additionally glorious at tempo-ing his runs, slowing to let blocks develop after which accelerating via the opening simply because it opens, which present up on Boise State’s hole schemes that includes pulling offensive linemen.

Jeanty is explosive, powerful, well-rounded (he’s a pure catcher of the soccer and has an awesome really feel on screens), and has the dimensions, pace and imaginative and prescient to deal with any sort of run idea. Simply a superb soccer participant.

Conerly has good size however lacks superb peak and bulk. He’s mild on his toes, can actually transfer within the run recreation and has the power to recuperate constantly as a cross protector.

You’ll be able to see Conerly engaged on his hand placement and approach whereas he performs, with various outcomes. It’s encouraging that Conerly can nonetheless win on his blocks regardless of the inconsistencies, and one other yr beneath his belt (he turns 21 in November) will certainly assist him add layers to his approach. He is perhaps finest as a guard in a zone-centric run scheme that places an emphasis on motion.

For a deeper dive on my ideas on Sanders as a prospect, right here is my article from a couple of months in the past.

Weigman performed solely 4 video games and had 119 cross makes an attempt final yr, however he has an NFL arm and an actual really feel for throwing his teammates open on these restricted snaps.

Weigman additionally confirmed off superior polish and really feel within the pocket. A wholesome yr and extra consistency will see him rise rapidly.

Burke has the size and quickness to stay with receivers in protection, even a number of the faster ones. Some added bulk and power will go a protracted strategy to make him a extra constant nook who can maintain up towards bigger receivers.

Gordon is an enormous, chain-mover of a working again who has been an innings eater within the Oklahoma State offense. He has good burst for his dimension (6-foot-2) and has the arms to be a viable three-down again on the subsequent stage.

Revel has the perfect dimension and size of a beginning exterior cornerback within the NFL. He has good foot quickness and may begin and cease to maintain up with receivers.

Let’s tilt that shoulder and swing for the fences! Brown is younger and performs in a brilliant unfold offense that provides me heartburn to look at. That offense will power Brown to play overly mechanical at occasions, however if you get to see him be a soccer participant, exterior of the construction of the offense and when he doesn’t must play in such a inflexible method, you get to see the encouraging flashes.

This is perhaps a yr early, as Brown is simply a real redshirt sophomore, however he has a unfastened arm and is an efficient athlete, plus he “will get” enjoying the place, and I might see him rise.

Ayomanor has good dimension and is a clean and powerful route runner with good arms who wins constantly on the catch level. He’s not a burner by any means, however is a risk in any respect three ranges and with the ball in his arms due to his dimension and physique management.

Jackson has good dimension and loads of size with a body he can proceed to fill out as a professional. He’s not an explosive athlete, however he has sufficient pace and bend to win as a cross rusher.

Egbuka is ol’ dependable at broad receiver. He checks loads of bins as a prospect, even when none of his instruments are elite. He’s sturdy with good dimension, and is a sound and clear route runner who can play within the slot and outdoors with an awesome really feel towards zone and how you can make himself pleasant to the quarterback. Egbuka has good arms, pace and physique management to constantly create YAC with the burst to separate defenders. He may not have the very best ceiling for a prospect, however he has a really excessive flooring, with sufficient athleticism to maintain tapping into.

Horton is a strider and clean route runner with superb physique management that’s continually snatching the soccer out of the air. He has a skinnier body, however performs large due to his willingness to go over the center and broad catching vary. Horton’s skill to win as a route runner from the inside and outside, whereas additionally having the ability to create easy yards after the catch, ought to make him a slot in any offense.

Lander Barton, LB, Utah
Tyler Booker, OG, Alabama
Mitchell Evans, TE, Notre Dame
Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas
Donovan Jackson, OG, Ohio State



Check Also

RB Dalvin Chef supposedly authorizing with Dallas Cowboys’ technique team

Dalvin Chef has a brand-new home as the professional running back is authorizing an offer …

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *