2025 NFL Draft: Ranking all 32 rookie classes; plus, overall grades, favorite picks and Day 3 sleepers

• Round 1 (No. 24): OG Donovan Jackson, Ohio State
• Round 3 (No. 102): WR Tai Felton, Maryland
• Round 5 (No. 139): DL Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, Georgia
• Round 6 (No. 201): LB Kobe King, Penn State
• Round 6 (No. 202): TE Gavin Bartholomew, Pittsburgh

GRADE: C-

Making just five selections in the entire draft (tied for the fewest), with only one in the top 100 (the fewest), Minnesota was destined to land in this spot. But even with such limited draft currency, it was pretty shocking the Vikings didn’t come away with a single defensive back. Kwesi Adofo-Mensah completed the offseason overhaul of the interior offensive line with the first-round selection of Donovan Jackson, but cornerback and safety seemed like two of the biggest need positions on the entire roster, and Minnesota addressed neither.

FAVORITE PICK

Donovan Jackson, offensive guard. After adding right guard Will Fries and center Ryan Kelly in free agency, Minnesota used its one premium pick on a Day 1 starter at left guard. Jackson played a heroic role in Ohio State’s national title run when pressed into service as an injury replacement at left tackle, but he’ll move back to his natural LG position with the Vikings. Minnesota’s offensive line atrophied in 2024 due to LT Christian Darrisaw’s season-ending injury and some subpar play inside, but the group appears quite stout heading into 2025. This is key, with second-year pro J.J. McCarthy poised to take the reins under center.

SLEEPER

Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, defensive line. A former five-star recruit, Ingram-Dawkins was overshadowed at the talent factory that is Georgia, starting just one season. But he flashed disruptive ability and inside-outside versatility working all along the Bulldogs’ defensive line and then provided explosive testing at the NFL Scouting Combine. Jonathan Allen and Javon Hargrave were the instant-impact D-line additions in free agency, and Ingram-Dawkins is the developmental piece with traits.

• Round 1 (No. 17): Edge Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M
• Round 2 (No. 49): LB Demetrius Knight Jr., South Carolina
• Round 3 (No. 81): OG Dylan Fairchild, Georgia
• Round 4 (No. 119): LB Barrett Carter, Clemson
• Round 5 (No. 153): OT Jalen Rivers, Miami
• Round 6 (No. 193): RB Tahj Brooks, Texas Tech

GRADE: C-

Two years ago, the Bengals used their first-round pick on a raw, size-and-traits defensive end in Myles Murphy. Still waiting for that pick to click, Cincinnati went back to the SPECIMEN well in Round 1. Having provided a mind-bending running and jumping display at the combine at 6-foot-5 and 267 pounds, Shemar Stewart is even more of a physical freak than Murphy, but with far less college production (SEE: 4.5 sacks over three seasons at Texas A&M). The optimist says college quarterbacks simply get the ball out too fast for pass rushers to get home; the pessimist says Stewart can’t finish; the realist says this is a talented ball of clay that needs shaping. That last part’s my larger issue with this class: For a team that should be in win-now mode, Cincinnati didn’t draft much instant-impact talent.

FAVORITE PICK

Dylan Fairchild, offensive guard. The Bengals have high hopes for this two-year starter out of Georgia. In fact, they hope he’s plug-and-play. “Left guard is absolutely his to win,” offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher said. A second-team Associated Press All-American this past season, Fairchild was one of just seven FBS guards to allow one or fewer QB hits over the past two seasons (min. 750 pass block snaps, per Pro Football Focus). That’s a nice tidbit for Joe Burrow, fresh off a season with 48 sacks taken.

SLEEPER

Tahj Brooks, running back. Chase Brown enjoyed a nice sophomore campaign with the Bengals, falling just shy of 1,000 yards rushing, but the speedy playmaker isn’t built to be a workhorse. Brooks was a workhorse at Texas Tech, setting the school records in career rushes and rushing yards while eclipsing 1,500 yards in each of the past two seasons, but he feels like more of a committee hammer in an NFL backfield. It’s a fit.

• Round 1 (No. 9): OT Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas
• Round 2 (No. 40): QB Tyler Shough, Louisville
• Round 3 (No. 71): DL Vernon Broughton, Texas
• Round 3 (No. 93): S Jonas Sanker, Virginia
• Round 4 (No. 112): LB Danny Stutsman, Oklahoma
• Round 4 (No. 131): CB Quincy Riley, Louisville
• Round 6 (No. 184): RB Devin Neal, Kansas
• Round 7 (No. 248): TE Moliki Matavao, UCLA
• Round 7 (No. 254): Edge Fadil Diggs, Syracuse

GRADE: C

It’s pretty clear at this point that “rebuild” is a dirty word to New Orleans general manager Mickey Loomis. Despite missing the playoffs in each of the past four seasons -- spinning their wheels while trying to replace iconic coach Sean Payton over the last three -- the Saints continue to kick the salary-cap can down the road, annually restructuring contracts and spending more money than you'd expect in free agency. Bottom line: This team wants to compete now. With that in mind, the quarterback position looms large. And on that front, Derek Carr’s status is up in the air, while Spencer Rattler and Jake Haener provide more questions than answers. So, at this juncture, it feels quite possible that Tyler Shough -- the franchise’s highest QB selection since it took Archie Manning second overall in 1971 -- could open the 2025 season as the starter. Set to turn 26 in September, Shough earned fanfare in an underwhelming quarterback class as an experienced -- and purportedly pro-ready -- signal-caller. Personally, I’m skeptical of that billing … and the extensive injury history … and the happy feet.

FAVORITE PICK

Kelvin Banks Jr., offensive tackle. A mega recruit out of high school, Banks was a Day 1 starter at Texas, earned accolades in all three of his college seasons as a crucial part of the Longhorns’ return to national title contention and just turned 21 years old in March. Seemingly overthought throughout the pre-draft process, Banks ultimately landed in the premium draft slot he deserved. And now he joins last year’s first-round pick, Taliese Fuaga, to give New Orleans a promising young set of bookends.

SLEEPER

Danny Stutsman, linebacker. He certainly doesn’t lack personality, as evidenced by his viral Instagram statement: “I’m like communion … that cracker with the juice.” His game speaks loudly, too: Stutsman's a downhill thumper with instincts, experience and toughness. His long-term viability at this level will likely rely on how much growth he can make in coverage.

• Round 1 (No. 15): Edge Jalon Walker, Georgia
• Round 1 (No. 26): Edge James Pearce Jr., Tennessee
• Round 3 (No. 96): S Xavier Watts, Notre Dame
• Round 4 (No. 118): NB Billy Bowman Jr., Oklahoma
• Round 7 (No. 218): OT Jack Nelson, Wisconsin

GRADE: C

The Falcons just can’t do things normally, can they? Last year, Arthur Blank gave his front office an ultimatum to figure out the quarterback position. Atlanta proceeded to sign Kirk Cousins to a nine-figure deal and then shock everyone by drafting Michael Penix Jr. eighth overall. This year, the Falcons owner emphasized improving the defense, with everyone anticipating the eternal pass-rush problem would top the agenda. Well, it certainly did, but at what cost? When Georgia product Jalon Walker fell into the Falcons’ lap at No. 15, taking him made sense. But then Atlanta provided another Thursday-night stunner by trading back into Round 1 for James Pearce Jr., giving up next year’s first-round pick in the process. Fortune favors the bold, but is Atlanta’s process too bold?

FAVORITE PICK

Xavier Watts, safety. Ranked as NFL Network draft guru Daniel Jeremiah’s No. 63 overall prospect, Watts nearly fell into the fourth round, with Atlanta scooping up the safety at No. 96. A first-team AP All-American in each of the past two years with a whopping 13 interceptions in that span, Watts helped fuel Notre Dame’s run to the national title game this past season. And now he could jump right into the Falcons’ starting lineup next to playmaker extraordinaire Jessie Bates III.

SLEEPER

Billy Bowman Jr., nickelback. A four-year starter at Oklahoma, Bowman plays much bigger than his size (5-10, 192 pounds) and offers the kind of versatility that’s increasingly valued in modern secondaries. Falcons DC Jeff Ulbrich, who was shocked Bowman remained available midway through the fourth round, plans to start the rookie off at nickel. 

• Round 2 (No. 46): TE Terrance Ferguson, Oregon
• Round 3 (No. 90): Edge Josaiah Stewart, Michigan
• Round 4 (No. 117): RB Jarquez Hunter, Auburn
• Round 5 (No. 148): DT Ty Hamilton, Ohio State
• Round 5 (No. 172): LB Pooh Paul Jr., Mississippi
• Round 7 (No. 242): WR Konata Mumpfield, Pittsburgh

GRADE: C

Don’t fret about this grade, Rams fans. Los Angeles entered the draft with limited draft currency, then flipped the No. 26 overall pick to Atlanta for a haul that included a 2026 first-rounder. So today’s draft deficiencies could be tomorrow’s draft boon. That said, cornerback felt like a screaming need that went unaddressed. Could this portend a reunion with Jalen Ramsey, whom the Dolphins still have on the trade block? NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported over draft weekend that the Rams are interested, but for now, L.A. has one of the more underwhelming CB collections in the league.

FAVORITE PICK

Josaiah Stewart, outside linebacker. In the 2023 and ’24 drafts, Les Snead remade Los Angeles’ defensive front in inspiring fashion, assembling a four-man wrecking crew of Jared Verse, Braden Fiske, Kobie Turner and Byron Young. This time around, Snead scooped up Stewart, a potential designated pass rusher whose aggressive play style makes up for his substandard size. This young, relentless defensive line is becoming the Rams' identity.

SLEEPER

Ty Hamilton, defensive tackle. The Rams pilfered premium run-stuffer Poona Ford from the crosstown Chargers in free agency to complement the QB hunters mentioned above. Hamilton adds another rotational piece to a ground defense that was gashed at times last year, most notably in a six-point Divisional Round loss when the Eagles ran for 285 yards and three touchdowns.

• Round 1 (No. 14): TE Tyler Warren, Penn State
• Round 2 (No. 45): Edge JT Tuimoloau, Ohio State
• Round 3 (No. 80): CB Justin Walley, Minnesota
• Round 4 (No. 127): OT Jalen Travis, Iowa State
• Round 5 (No. 151): RB DJ Giddens, Kansas State
• Round 6 (No. 189): QB Riley Leonard, Notre Dame
• Round 6 (No. 190): DT Tim Smith, Alabama
• Round 7 (No. 232): LB Hunter Wohler, Wisconsin

GRADE: C+

The day after a first round that lasted three and a half hours, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell told Pat McAfee that he felt the league needed to speed up the proceedings. Don’t blame the Colts for any delay! Chris Ballard got his pick in almost immediately after Indianapolis came on the clock at No. 14 overall, confirming a notion held for months that the general manager would love to have Tyler Warren on his roster. Now it’s up to Shane Steichen to incorporate him into the offense. Penn State essentially designed its attack around the do-everything tight end last season, manufacturing touches in every way possible. Warren joins a pretty crowded group of weapons in an offense seeking starting-caliber quarterback play. Will the Colts be able to feed the tight end enough to validate his lofty draft position?

FAVORITE PICK

JT Tuimoloau, defensive end. While the Colts’ first pick oozed flashiness, their second was just plain solid. Viewed as a future NFL player from his first days in Columbus, the draft hype around Tuimoloau plateaued midway through his Ohio State career. Not that his performance suffered -- JTT earned first-team All-Big Ten honors in each of his final three seasons with the Buckeyes -- but draftniks just seemed bored with his efficient game. Then he went crazy in Ohio State’s national title run, piling up 6.5 sacks and 10 tackles for loss in four playoff games, and it felt like the draft community was like, “Oh, yeah -- this guy’s pretty good!” In the NFL, he feels like a longtime starter whose usefulness will outweigh his accolades.

SLEEPER

DJ Giddens, running back. Outside of the Giddens family, there might be no bigger fan of this prospect than our resident running back, Maurice Jones-Drew. The 15th back off the board in a loaded draft at the position, Giddens ranked fifth in MJD’s pre-draft RB rankings. His make-you-miss ability could nicely complement Jonathan Taylor’s downhill style. 

• Round 1 (No. 13): DT Kenneth Grant, Michigan
• Round 2 (No. 37): OG Jonah Savaiinaea, Arizona
• Round 5 (No. 143): DT Jordan Phillips, Maryland
• Round 5 (No. 150): CB Jason Marshall Jr., Florida
• Round 5 (No. 155): S Dante Trader Jr., Maryland
• Round 6 (No. 179): RB Ollie Gordon II, Oklahoma State
• Round 7 (No. 231): QB Quinn Ewers, Texas
• Round 7 (No. 253): DT Zeek Biggers, Georgia Tech

GRADE: C+

Everyone told the Dolphins how soft they were last season, and Chris Grier clearly took that to heart, spending his first pick on gargantuan nose tackle Kenneth Grant. The Dolphins GM was just getting started, as Grier used his next two picks on a pair of robust trench warriors, OL Jonah Savaiinaea and DT Jordan Phillips. Lastly, in a selection that humorously underscored Miami’s goal to become more imposing at the line of scrimmage, Grier closed the draft by nabbing another huge human by the name of Zeek Biggers. The Fins stocked up on BEEF; now we’ll just have to see how it cooks.

FAVORITE PICK

Jonah Savaiinaea, offensive guard. Savaiinaea started inside and outside during his three seasons at Arizona but notably was announced as an offensive guard when the pick was made early on Friday night, reflecting most projections for him throughout the pre-draft process. Grier traded up 11 spots to grab the 6-4, 324-pounder, exhibiting aggressiveness that made sense, given the incomplete state of Miami’s offensive line. Savaiinaea could start immediately at right guard.

SLEEPER

Ollie Gordon II, running back. The Dolphins’ backfield has been defined by track speed under Mike McDaniel, so this pick immediately raised an eyebrow, with Gordon being a 226-pound bruiser. After leading the nation in rushing and winning the Doak Walker Award in 2023, Gordon experienced a significant decline in production this past fall. But he could find an immediate role in Miami as a short-yardage banger. Remember: The Dolphins are looking to project might.

• Round 1 (No. 8): WR Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona
• Round 2 (No. 51): Edge Nic Scourton, Texas A&M
• Round 3 (No. 77): Edge Princely Umanmielen, Mississippi
• Round 4 (No. 114): RB Trevor Etienne, Georgia
• Round 4 (No. 122): S Lathan Ransom, Ohio State
• Round 5 (No. 140): DT Cam Jackson, Florida
• Round 5 (No. 163): TE Mitchell Evans, Notre Dame
• Round 6 (No. 208): WR Jimmy Horn Jr., Colorado

GRADE: C+

Tetairoa McMillan was one of the more polarizing prospects in the months leading up to the 2025 NFL Draft, with mock projections ranging across the first round. Meanwhile, the Panthers, fresh off a season in which they allowed the most points in NFL history, were widely predicted to add a defender at No. 8 overall, with Carolinas native Jalon Walker being the most typical mock match. So it was pretty surprising when Dan Morgan selected McMillan on draft night, giving Bryce Young a second first-round receiver in as many years. (Carolina traded into the No. 32 slot to take Xavier Legette in 2024.) Morgan immediately shifted to the defensive side of the ball for his next two picks, taking intriguing edge rushers Nic Scourton and Princely Umanmielen, but will the Panthers regret not using their top-10 pick on a high-wattage defender?

FAVORITE PICK

Nic Scourton, outside linebacker. After failing to land the plane on prized free-agent DT Milton Williams, Carolina needed to add more pass-rush juice to a defense that has totaled a league-low 59 sacks over the past two seasons. Scourton’s sack production declined after he transferred to Texas A&M and added weight this past fall, but after showing up to the combine at a more svelte 257 pounds, the power rusher appears poised to play outside linebacker for the Panthers in the more slimmed-down frame that allowed him to post double-digit sacks at Purdue in 2023.

SLEEPER

Trevor Etienne, running back. Carolina was the first team to take a running back in the 2024 draft, but Jonathon Brooks tragically tore the ACL in his right knee for the second time in as many years this past season. So, after signing Rico Dowdle to a one-year deal in free agency, the Panthers spent their first Day 3 pick on a well-rounded back. Still just 20 years old, Etienne should enter the league with plenty of tread on the tires, having shared a workload during all three of his college seasons.

• Round 1 (No. 23): WR Matthew Golden, Texas
• Round 2 (No. 54): OT Anthony Belton, N.C. State
• Round 3 (No. 87): WR Savion Williams, TCU
• Round 4 (No. 124): Edge Barryn Sorrell, Texas
• Round 5 (No. 159): Edge Collin Oliver, Oklahoma State
• Round 6 (No. 198): DT Warren Brinson, Georgia
• Round 7 (No. 237): CB Micah Robinson, Tulane
• Round 7 (No. 250): OG John Williams, Cincinnati

GRADE: C+

The draft hosts invested draft currency in a number of need areas -- including doubling down at wide receiver and edge rusher with four of their first five picks -- but the cornerback position remains a concern, with Green Bay failing to grab one until midway through the seventh round. Jaire Alexander's status on the team is still very much in question. Even if he ultimately stays with the Packers -- something QB Jordan Love stumped for prior to the draft -- the 28-year-old cover man has missed double-digit games in three of the last four seasons. In a league that’s welcoming more high-impact receivers with each passing year, a potential Achilles’ heel at corner is far from ideal. 

FAVORITE PICK

Matthew Golden, wide receiver. How could this not be my favorite pick? Green Bay spent a first-rounder on a wide receiver for the first time in 23 years, with outgoing team president Mark Murphy milking the moment in front of a raucous crowd of Packer backers and Golden immediately appearing before his adoring (new) fans. All that said, I couldn’t help but wonder two things:

1. What was the immediate expression on Aaron Rodgers' face when he saw Green Bay finally ended the WR drought?
2. Does Golden have WR1 ability, or will he join the Packers glut of WR2/3s?

SLEEPER

Barryn Sorrell, defensive end. Golden’s selection wasn’t the only fun moment for the tenants of Titletown. Not included among the draft’s official list of attendees, Sorrell was a surprise presence in the green room when the Packers called his name on Day 3, giving Saturday the kind of spectacle that’s usually reserved for Thursday night. A high-motor edge who started 40 games at Texas, Sorrell could significantly outproduce his draft slot.

• Round 1 (No. 28): DT Tyleik Williams, Ohio State
• Round 2 (No. 57): OG Tate Ratledge, Georgia
• Round 3 (No. 70): WR Isaac TeSlaa, Arkansas
• Round 5 (No. 171): OG Miles Frazier, LSU
• Round 6 (No. 196): Edge Ahmed Hassanein, Boise State
• Round 7 (No. 230): S Dan Jackson, Georgia
• Round 7 (No. 244): WR Dominic Lovett, Georgia

GRADE: B-

Brad Holmes mostly ate his vegetables over draft weekend, fortifying both lines with the kind of blue-collar bullies Dan Campbell adores. But midway through Day 2, Holmes got a hankering for something more exotic, flying up the draft board 32 slots to grab size/speed receiver Isaac TeSlaa. A Michigan native who spent his first three college campaigns at Division II Hillsdale College before logging two seasons at Arkansas, TeSlaa received a lot of late buzz in this draft cycle as an athletic freak with untapped potential. But the price Detroit paid to make the aggressive move (two 2026 third-round picks) led many Lions fans to ask a question that seems to pop up in the middle rounds of every draft: Is Brad Holmes feeling himself too much? Given the GM’s sparkling track record in Detroit, it’s probably safe to trust his impulses. But it will be interesting to see what comes of the bold decision in an otherwise-prosaic prospect haul.

FAVORITE PICK

Tate Ratledge, offensive guard. After the free agency departure of right guard Kevin Zeitler, Detroit has an opening on its program-defining offensive line. Christian Mahogany showed promise in a pair of spot starts at guard last season, but the 2024 sixth-round pick isn’t exactly a proven commodity. So, Detroit scooped up a mustachioed, mulleted mauler who started 37 games at right guard for Georgia. Seems wise.

SLEEPER

Miles Frazier, offensive guard. Ranked as Daniel Jeremiah’s No. 61 overall prospect, Frazier lasted until the 171st overall slot, allowing Detroit to throw an additional value pick at an area of need.

• Round 1 (No. 20): CB Jahdae Barron, Texas
• Round 2 (No. 60): RB RJ Harvey, UCF
• Round 3 (No. 74): WR Pat Bryant, Illinois
• Round 3 (No. 101): Edge Sai'vion Jones, LSU
• Round 4 (No. 134): Edge Que Robinson, Alabama
• Round 6 (No. 216): P Jeremy Crawshaw, Florida
• Round 7 (No. 241): TE Caleb Lohner, Utah

GRADE: B-

For months, we wondered if Sean Payton would get a “Joker.” Ultimately, he did -- for Vance Joseph’s defense. Denver’s D emerged as one of the league’s elite units last season, with shutdown corner Patrick Surtain II taking home Defensive Player of the Year. And now the Broncos have added Jahdae Barron, who just won the Jim Thorpe Award as college football’s top defensive back. Barron excelled in numerous roles as a starter for Texas over the past three seasons, displaying the kind of inside/outside versatility that’s all the rage in today’s NFL. Immediately following this first-round selection that took many by surprise -- just given Denver’s perceived needs entering the draft -- Daniel Jeremiah compared Barron to Cooper DeJean. That’ll play! Another pick that took many by surprise: Pat Bryant. The Broncos had a need at the receiver position, but they drafted Bryant far earlier than most anticipated. For what it’s worth, Payton says the Illinois product reminds him of Michael Thomas.

FAVORITE PICK

RJ Harvey, running back. Maybe my inner fantasy nerd’s getting the best of me, but in Payton’s offense, I envision big things for this compact, shifty back with 4.4 speed.

SLEEPER

Jeremy Crawshaw, punter. Punters are people, too! And Crawshaw was the only one drafted this year. Naturally, he’s Australian -- real punter pipeline they got going on over there. And with Riley Dixon departing in free agency, Crawshaw will be the man booting footballs into the mile-high air this coming fall.

• Round 1 (No. 19): WR Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State
• Round 2 (No. 53): CB Benjamin Morrison, Notre Dame
• Round 3 (No. 84): CB Jacob Parrish, Kansas State
• Round 4 (No. 121): Edge David Walker, Central Arkansas
• Round 5 (No. 157): Edge Elijah Roberts, SMU
• Round 7 (No. 235): WR Tez Johnson, Oregon

GRADE: B-

Mike Evans just posted his 11th straight 1,000-yard season, Chris Godwin signed a $66 million extension in March and Jalen McMillan finished his rookie campaign with seven touchdown catches in the final five weeks of the regular season. Clearly, Tampa Bay didn’t have a need at receiver. But when the Buccaneers came on the clock at No. 19, Jason Licht just couldn’t pass on Emeka Egbuka. "He was super-high on our board," the Bucs GM said to Rich Eisen. "You know, top-10 on our board, kind of stood out like a sore thumb." Fair enough. After satisfying his “best player available” desire, Licht spent the next four picks doubling down on two areas of need: cornerback and edge rusher.

FAVORITE PICK

Benjamin Morrison, cornerback. A starter during all three of his seasons at Notre Dame, Morrison’s a smooth operator with the pedigree to be a first-round pick. But a hip injury prematurely ended his final season with the Fighting Irish, thus explaining his draft slot in the back half of Round 2. NFL teams want corners with oily hips, not surgically repaired hips. But this gamble oozes upside for a CB-needy team. And I can’t help but root for this cover man after seeing his emotional response to being drafted by Licht and Todd Bowles, who just happens to be a former NFL teammate of Morrison’s father.

SLEEPER

Tez Johnson, wide receiver. If the draft occurred immediately following the Senior Bowl, Johnson would have been the first receiver selected. OK, that’s a gross exaggeration, but the Oregon product earned rave reviews as the most uncoverable player in Mobile, putting cornerbacks in a blender in 1-on-1 drills. Thing is, that’s the ideal environment for a receiver who weighed 154 pounds at the combine. Separation ability aside, can anyone of that size survive in the Sunday game? I’m intrigued but apprehensive.

• Round 1 (No. 21): DT Derrick Harmon, Oregon
• Round 3 (No. 83): RB Kaleb Johnson, Iowa
• Round 4 (No. 123): Edge Jack Sawyer, Ohio State
• Round 5 (No. 164): DT Yahya Black, Iowa
• Round 6 (No. 185): QB Will Howard, Ohio State
• Round 7 (No. 226): LB Carson Bruener, Washington
• Round 7 (No. 229): CB Donte Kent, Central Michigan

GRADE: B-

With the presumption of Aaron Rodgers’ eventual signing hanging over Pittsburgh’s draft, the Steelers just went about their business doing typical Steeler things -- specifically, raiding the Big Ten. I know: Calling Oregon a Big Ten team is still weird to me, too, though Derrick Harmon actually spent his first three years at Michigan State before becoming a Duck. But I digress. This first-round pick is the kind of versatile defensive lineman the Steelers always find use for, and he really took off during his lone season in Eugene. According to PFF, Harmon led all FBS interior D-linemen in pressures by a comfortable margin (55, 12 more than anyone else). With their next four picks, the Steelers went back and forth between Iowa and Ohio State. And yes, some of the selections were straight out of central casting for this franchise. Kaleb Johnson’s patient, powerful, one-cut style was made for Steeler football, especially with outside-zone connoisseur Arthur Smith calling the plays. Oh, and as you can see above, Pittsburgh snuck in one more selection from the new Big Ten in Round 7.

FAVORITE PICK

Derrick Harmon, defensive tackle. On a serious note, I can’t imagine what Harmon has been going through. Shortly after he achieved the dream of becoming a first-round pick, his mother died. Just a heart-rending story. I wish him the best in Pittsburgh -- and feel like it’s a perfect landing spot for the talented defensive linemen, with Cam Heyward in place to guide Harmon's apprenticeship.

SLEEPER

Will Howard, quarterback. Like I said above, we all remain on Aaron Rodgers watch, assuming he’ll eventually join this roster. But Howard was discussed as an option for Pittsburgh throughout the pre-draft process, so it wasn’t surprising to see Omar Khan pounce when the quarterback remained available in the sixth round. A physically imposing guy at 6-4, 236 pounds, Howard looks like a Steeler signal-caller. His actual play over four years at Kansas State and one season at Ohio State was uneven, but he certainly finished on a high note, posting sparkling numbers during the Buckeyes’ four-game playoff run to a national title.

• Round 1 (No. 22): RB Omarion Hampton, North Carolina
• Round 2 (No. 55): WR Tre Harris, Mississippi
• Round 3 (No. 86): DT Jamaree Caldwell, Oregon
• Round 4 (No. 125): Edge Kyle Kennard, South Carolina
• Round 5 (No. 158): WR KeAndre Lambert-Smith, Auburn
• Round 5 (No. 165): TE Oronde Gadsden II, Syracuse
• Round 6 (No. 199): OG Branson Taylor, Pittsburgh
• Round 6 (No. 214): S R.J. Mickens, Clemson
• Round 7 (No. 256): CB Trikweze Bridges, Florida

GRADE: B-

News flash: Jim Harbaugh likes to pound the rock. After adding hard-charging RB Najee Harris in free agency, Los Angeles doubled down on hammer time with the first-round selection of 221-pound bruiser Omarion Hampton. The Chargers also added a physical presence to the receiving corps: At 6-2 3/8 and 205 pounds, Tre Harris fits well alongside last year’s rookie star in the slot, Ladd McConkey. Meanwhile, in the wake of Poona Ford’s free agency relocation to the other Los Angeles franchise, Joe Hortiz looked to fill the run-stuffing void left by the 310-pounder with 332-pounder Jamaree Caldwell. Bottom line: Harbaugh is looking to build a bully, just like he’s done -- to great effect -- in each of his previous head-coaching stops.

FAVORITE PICK

Omarion Hampton, running back. With Ashton Jeanty soaking up all of the attention, this draft’s RB2 remains largely underappreciated. A big, tone-setting back with straight-line speed, Hampton rushed for 1,504 yards and 15 touchdowns playing alongside Drake Maye in 2023. Then, after Maye’s departure to the NFL, Hampton ran for 1,660 yards and another 15 scores. Impressive stuff. And I dig my colleague Lance Zierlein’s description of his play style: “He runs like a downhill truck whose brake lines have been cut.”

SLEEPER

Oronde Gadsden II, tight end. Any time Jim Harbaugh grabs a tight end, I’m intrigued. Frankly, the son of former NFL receiver Oronde Gadsden is more of a jumbo WR than a true TE, but he still could provide something different for this offense.

• Round 1 (No. 29): OT Josh Conerly Jr., Oregon
• Round 2 (No. 61): CB Trey Amos, Mississippi
• Round 4 (No. 128): WR Jaylin Lane, Virginia Tech
• Round 6 (No. 205): LB Kain Medrano, UCLA
• Round 7 (No. 245): RB Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Arizona

GRADE: B

Jayden Daniels just authored one of the most transcendent rookie seasons in NFL history, joining a 4-13 team and promptly guiding it to the NFC Championship Game. For a fanbase that suffered through a bunch of gloomy years during Daniel Snyder’s ownership, Jayden is a jolt of unadulterated joy, the kind of asset that MUST be protected at all costs. And that’s exactly what the Commanders are working to do this offseason. While Brandon Coleman significantly outplayed his third-round draft slot as a rookie starter at left tackle last season, the Commanders didn’t rest on their laurels on the blind side, trading for perennial Pro Bowler Laremy Tunsil. And then, with their first pick in this draft, they grabbed another tackle in Josh Conerly Jr. Oregon’s starting LT for the past two years, Conerly’s far from a finished product, but he’s an impressive athlete with exciting tools. And I just like that Adam Peters is stacking bodyguards for the reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year.

FAVORITE PICK

Trey Amos, cornerback. Earning first-team All-SEC honors in his lone season at Ole Miss, Amos entered the pre-draft process as a big corner with great ball production, though questions lingered about his long speed. But then he ran a 4.43 at the combine, creating first-round buzz in the mockosphere. Thus, Washington nabbing him near the end of Round 2 feels like a potential steal.

SLEEPER

Jacory Croskey-Merritt, running back. Croskey-Merritt's one of the biggest wild cards in this draft class, as NCAA eligibility issues limited him to one game last season for Arizona (13 carries for 106 yards and a touchdown in the season opener against New Mexico). He popped back up in the East-West Shrine Bowl, earning Offensive MVP honors after rushing for 97 yards and two touchdowns on just 11 carries. JCM's a deep sleeper as the 245th overall pick, but he's an interesting prospect to follow, nonetheless.

• Round 1 (No. 11): Edge Mykel Williams, Georgia
• Round 2 (No. 43): DT Alfred Collins, Texas
• Round 3 (No. 75): LB Nick Martin, Oklahoma State
• Round 3 (No. 100): CB Upton Stout, Western Kentucky
• Round 4 (No. 113): DT CJ West, Indiana
• Round 4 (No. 138): WR Jordan Watkins, Mississippi
• Round 5 (No. 147): RB Jordan James, Oregon
• Round 5 (No. 160): S Marques Sigle, Kansas State
• Round 7 (No. 227): QB Kurtis Rourke, Indiana
• Round 7 (No. 249): OG Connor Colby, Iowa
• Round 7 (No. 252): WR Junior Bergen, Montana

GRADE: B

Robert Saleh’s back. And in his second stint with San Francisco, the defensive coordinator’s first order of business is evident: STOP THE GODDAMN RUN! The 49ers fell apart last season, losing seven of their last eight games. In related news, they ranked 30th in rush defense during that span, allowing 145.3 rushing yards per game. Consequently, the Niners were hell-bent on fortifying their defensive front in this draft, using three of their first five picks on stout run defenders. Now, to be clear, Mykel Williams has the potential to become much more than a simple run-stuffer. Still just 20 years old, the physically imposing edge possesses tantalizing traits -- developing them is the task at hand for San Francisco D-line coach Kris Kocurek.

FAVORITE PICK

Alfred Collins, defensive tackle. With outstanding length and strength at 6-6, 332 pounds, Collins is a load to move up front, drawing praise this past season for his physical brand of play and knack for disruption. Wanna see him destroy a triple-team? Here you go!

SLEEPER

CJ West, defensive tackle. The Indiana Hoosiers made last season’s College Football Playoff. I don't think we talk about that enough. West played a huge part in IU’s magical campaign as the centerpiece of the nation’s No. 1 run defense. While Collins wins with sheer size and power, this 6-1 defensive tackle makes great use of his natural leverage and possesses an endearing mean streak.

• Round 1 (No. 2): WR/CB Travis Hunter, Colorado
• Round 3 (No. 88): CB Caleb Ransaw, Tulane
• Round 3 (No. 89): OG Wyatt Milum, West Virginia
• Round 4 (No. 104): RB Bhayshul Tuten, Virginia Tech
• Round 4 (No. 107): LB Jack Kiser, Notre Dame
• Round 6 (No. 194): LB Jalen McLeod, Auburn
• Round 6 (No. 200): S Rayuan Lane III, Navy
• Round 7 (No. 221): C Jonah Monheim, USC
• Round 7 (No. 236): RB LeQuint Allen, Syracuse

GRADE: B

What will Travis Hunter do in Jacksonville? Maybe cure cancer. At least that’s the sense you get from new Jags GM James Gladstone, who couldn’t help but wax philosophical at the two-way star’s introductory press conference: "As we sit here, Travis Hunter is a Jacksonville Jaguar. And really, what comes to mind for me, right, thinking about the sport of football, and really the power of the game itself, right, its capacity to ignite belief. Belief in ourselves, belief in others, right, belief in achieving what many may deem impossible. Travis Hunter, he embodies belief. He's a rare person, he's a rare player, but he's also a reminder that the boundaries of the game of football were built to be challenged." CAN I GET A WITNESS FROM THE CONGREGATION?!? Look, I get it. In Gladstone’s first draft as a general manager, the 34-year-old made a bodacious trade to acquire the brightest star in this draft class. Splashy stuff, immediately adding a heap of intrigue to the team in Jacksonville.

FAVORITE PICK

Travis Hunter, wide receiver/cornerback. Yes, after playfully mocking Gladstone’s excitement about this pick, I’m obnoxiously here to tell you how thrilled I am to see how Hunter is utilized. Can the reigning Heisman Trophy winner really manage a full NFL workload on both sides of the ball? Gladstone shed some light on the plan during an interview with ESPN: "His intent is on playing both sides of the ball, as is ours. Now, when it comes to his onboarding process, we'll give him a heavy dose of offense, and sprinkle in the defensive side of the ball, knowing that by the time we get to the regular season, those should be balanced out. But that's the initial onboarding plan as it stands today."

SLEEPER

Bhayshul Tuten, running back. Am I finally ready to discuss a Jags draft pick not named Travis Hunter? Yeah, sorry about that, Duval denizens -- Hunter’s pretty damn intriguing! But Tuten's compelling in his own right. The explosive athlete posted the best 40-yard dash (4.32 seconds) and vertical leap (40.5 inches) among combine running backs, and he produced at a high level over the past two seasons at Virginia Tech. The one thing he needs to work on: ball security. NFL coaches don’t take kindly to young players who put the ball on the turf.

• Round 2 (No. 34): WR Jayden Higgins, Iowa State
• Round 2 (No. 48): OT Aireontae Ersery, Minnesota
• Round 3 (No. 79): WR Jaylin Noel, Iowa State
• Round 3 (No. 97): CB Jaylin Smith, USC
• Round 4 (No. 116): RB Woody Marks, USC
• Round 6 (No. 187): S Jaylen Reed, Penn State
• Round 6 (No. 197): QB Graham Mertz, Florida
• Round 7 (No. 224): DT Kyonte Hamilton, Rutgers
• Round 7 (No. 255): TE Luke Lachey, Iowa

GRADE: B

I’m nervous about the offensive line overhaul. Aireontae Ersery was quietly one of the more polarizing prospects of this draft cycle. Just ask my colleagues. Eric Edholm had him as the No. 49 player in the class, while Daniel Jeremiah ranked him 83rd. Ersery's backers tout his monstrous size (6-6, 331), while his detractors naturally question the big man’s knee bend. I don’t have strong takes one way or another, but I’d generally like to see more certainty around C.J. Stroud. The Texans did spend two of their top three picks on wideouts for the quarterback. And in the fourth round, they snagged the most productive pass-catching back in this class: Woody Marks, who corralled an astounding 261 passes in his college career. So C.J.’s clearly on the mind. But let’s keep him off the turf.

FAVORITE PICKS

Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel, wide receiver. Some people liked Higgins over Noel. Some people liked Noel over Higgins. Houston liked ... BOTH. The Texans ordered two flavors of Iowa State receiver at the prospect store: the big-bodied X (Higgins) and the speedy slot machine (Noel). Each eclipsed 1,100 yards receiving for the Cyclones in 2024.

SLEEPER

Jaylen Reed, safety. DeMeco Ryans just keeps collecting versatile defensive backs, which makes perfect sense, given how the game is played today. Reed filled up the stat sheet on Penn State’s talented defense last season, leading the team with 98 tackles while adding three picks and 2.5 sacks.

• Round 1 (No. 30): CB Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky
• Round 2 (No. 41): DT T.J. Sanders, South Carolina
• Round 3 (No. 72): Edge Landon Jackson, Arkansas
• Round 4 (No. 109): DT Deone Walker, Kentucky
• Round 5 (No. 170): CB Jordan Hancock, Ohio State
• Round 5 (No. 173): TE Jackson Hawes, Georgia Tech
• Round 6 (No. 177): CB Dorian Strong, Virginia Tech
• Round 6 (No. 206): OT Chase Lundt, Connecticut
• Round 7 (No. 240): WR Kaden Prather, Maryland

GRADE: B

When it comes to draft critics, Brandon Beane’s on the warpath. To be fair, though, the Bills GM is well within his rights to scoff at complaints that Buffalo didn’t prioritize the receiver position in the draft. To Beane’s point, the Bills put plenty of points on the board last season. Shoot, Josh Allen was the freakin' league MVP. The aerial attack isn’t the problem, much less the offense as a whole. A far bigger concern in recent years: Buffalo’s undersized defensive front getting bullied. Beane wisely attacked this issue with three straight picks in Rounds 2-4. Deone Walker’s definitely the biggest of the bunch at 6-7 and 331 pounds, but he’s also the most unrefined, coming off a disappointing season that sent his draft stock spiraling down. Inherently, he feels like the biggest lottery ticket of the trio. The other two are enchanting: T.J. Sanders gets a lot of love for his violent hands and stoutness on the interior, while Landon Jackson brings length and strength on the edge. Is this the year Buffalo punches bullies in the face?

FAVORITE PICK

Maxwell Hairston, cornerback. Typically, Sean McDermott has a type at cornerback: big, long, instinctive and physical. He likes his CBs to be reliable in zone coverage, from a coverage and tackling perspective. Maxwell Hairston isn’t exactly that. The Kentucky product’s a sub-6-footer with electric speed, stellar ball production … and tackling issues. So, why do I like the pick? Because I think the Bills need more sticky man-coverage specialists in big spots, and Hairston can be that.

SLEEPER

Dorian Strong, cornerback. This is more of the standard-issue McDermott corner: 6-foot-1 with zone instincts and consistent tackling. Strong brings a wealth of experience, having started 44 games at Virginia Tech.

• Round 1 (No. 32): OT Josh Simmons, Ohio State
• Round 2 (No. 63): DT Omarr Norman-Lott, Tennessee
• Round 3 (No. 66): Edge Ashton Gillotte, Louisville
• Round 3 (No. 85): CB Nohl Williams, California
• Round 4 (No. 133): WR Jalen Royals, Utah State
• Round 5 (No. 156): LB Jeffrey Bassa, Oregon
• Round 7 (No. 228): RB Brashard Smith, SMU

GRADE: B

My guy Dan Parr does a fine job identifying each team’s draft needs. In fact, it almost felt like Brett Veach was using the file over draft weekend, with the way the Chiefs GM efficiently checked off boxes. The first three selections loom large, as Kansas City needed to fortify its trenches on both sides. For whatever its worth, nine-figure podcaster/10-time Pro Bowler Travis Kelce strongly approves of K.C.'s overall haul: "I love what we did in the draft. We lost some guys on the defensive line, filled those roles. Got a big 'ol tackle to protect Pat and move some bodies in the run game. And then on top of that, just add pieces left and right in the secondary and on the offensive-weapons side."

FAVORITE PICK

Josh Simmons, offensive tackle. Widely considered the most talented pure left tackle in this draft, Simmons lasted until the penultimate pick of Round 1 because he tore his patellar tendon in October. That’s a serious injury, to be sure, but if Simmons returns to full strength, this could be highway robbery at a HUGE position of need for the Chiefs. And even if Simmons isn’t immediately ready to rock in September, well, Kansas City’s season typically doesn’t start until January.

SLEEPER

Jalen Royals, wide receiver. Just a well-rounded wideout with great YAC-ability, Royals caught 21 touchdown passes in his final 19 games at Utah State. Andy Reid will enjoy scheming up ways for Patrick Mahomes to utilize this new toy.

• Round 1 (No. 27): S Malaki Starks, Georgia
• Round 2 (No. 59): Edge Mike Green, Marshall
• Round 3 (No. 91): OT Emery Jones Jr., LSU
• Round 4 (No. 129): LB Teddye Buchanan, California
• Round 5 (No. 141): OT Carson Vinson, Alabama A&M
• Round 6 (No. 178): CB Bilhal Kone, Western Michigan
• Round 6 (No. 186): K Tyler Loop, Arizona
• Round 6 (No. 203): WR LaJohntay Wester, Colorado
• Round 6 (No. 210): DT Aeneas Peebles, Virginia Tech
• Round 6 (No. 212): CB Robert Longerbeam, Rutgers
• Round 7 (No. 243): OG Garrett Dellinger, LSU

GRADE: B

With Will Johnson’s slide surprising football fans and Shedeur Sanders’ plunge shocking the world, Mike Green’s fall to the latter stretches of Round 2 didn’t receive the kind of attention such a development would typically command. From an on-field perspective, the twitchy edge was widely viewed as a strong first-rounder. But two sexual assault allegations from his past -- uncharged accusations which Green denied at the combine -- complicated the evaluation. Baltimore felt comfortable taking Green at No. 59 overall, with GM Eric DeCosta insisting the Ravens did their due diligence. The Marshall product just led the FBS with 17 sacks, offering the kind of pass-rush juice that could make this selection a steal. But the character question looms large, especially for a franchise that might have just drafted Justin Tucker’s replacement, with the veteran kicker facing 16 allegations of sexually inappropriate behavior.

FAVORITE PICK

Malaki Starks, safety. Having sung Starks’ praises for months, I was very interested to see where MY GUY would end up. And frankly, I couldn’t imagine a better landing spot. Defensive coordinator Zach Orr’s undoubtedly dreaming up all the ways he can mix and match the versatile skill sets of Starks and Kyle Hamilton. I presume the newbie will primarily play center field, allowing Hamilton to return to more of a lurking-disruptor role closer to the line of scrimmage.

SLEEPER

Robert Longerbeam, nickelback. A standout performer at the combine, both in athletic testing and positional drills, Longerbeam was beloved at Rutgers for his culture-setting attitude and play style. While he played outside corner for the Scarlet Knights, his smaller frame will likely push him inside in the NFL.

• Round 1 (No. 31): LB Jihaad Campbell, Alabama
• Round 2 (No. 64): S Andrew Mukuba, Texas
• Round 4 (No. 111): DT Ty Robinson, Nebraska
• Round 5 (No. 145): CB Mac McWilliams, UCF
• Round 5 (No. 161): LB Smael Mondon Jr., Georgia
• Round 5 (No. 168): C Drew Kendall, Boston College
• Round 6 (No. 181): QB Kyle McCord, Syracuse
• Round 6 (No. 191): OT Myles Hinton, Michigan
• Round 6 (No. 207): OT Cameron Williams, Texas
• Round 6 (No. 209): Edge Antwaun Powell-Ryland, Virginia Tech

GRADE: B+

Why did the rest of the league allow Jihaad Campbell to fall right into Philadelphia’s lap? Everyone saw it coming, and yet, nobody tried to stop it from happening. Well, I guess the Chiefs kind of did, making the Eagles trade up a spot to claim their prize. But in the end, the reigning Super Bowl champions landed Daniel Jeremiah’s No. 12 overall player with the 31st pick. Does Howie Roseman have compromising pictures of everyone? The linebacker’s recent shoulder surgery played a part, sure, but it still feels like this will ultimately be a case of the rich getting obnoxiously richer, with Campbell and Zack Baun forming a second-level duo that’s equal parts dynamic and devastating. The Eagles boast the best roster in the NFL, and it feels like they’re only increasing their talent advantage over everyone else.

FAVORITE PICK

Andrew Mukuba, safety. Mukuba plays with the ferocity of a man who has no idea that he’s 5-11, 186 pounds. It’s a style that’s thrilling to watch -- and it appears to be contagious to teammates. Philly’s gonna love this guy.

SLEEPER

Smael Mondon Jr., linebacker. While Jihaad Campbell’s at his best flying toward the line of scrimmage, Mondon’s a coverage linebacker. It’s 2025: You need both.

• Round 1 (No. 16): DT Walter Nolen, Mississippi
• Round 2 (No. 47): CB Will Johnson, Michigan
• Round 3 (No. 78): Edge Jordan Burch, Oregon
• Round 4 (No. 115): LB Cody Simon, Ohio State
• Round 5 (No. 174): CB Denzel Burke, Ohio State
• Round 6 (No. 211): OG Hayden Conner, Texas
• Round 7 (No. 225): S Kitan Crawford, Nevada

GRADE: B+

Monti Ossenfort took big swings on pedigreed talent early, and I’m here for it. Fresh off an 8-9 season with improvement across the board in Year 2 of the Jonathan Gannon era, Arizona feels like a team that could be a spicy addition or two from breaking through. Walter Nolen and Will Johnson could fit that bill. Nolen, who trumped Travis Hunter as ESPN’s No. 1 overall prospect in the recruiting class of 2022, was a polarizing player in the pre-draft process due to his unrefined technique. But nobody could deny the titillating flashes of game-wreckage, which came more often after his transfer from Texas A&M to Ole Miss last year, ultimately leading to his selection in the top half of Round 1. Meanwhile, Johnson is the most pedigreed, polished outside cornerback in this draft class, but Ian Rapoport reported during the first round that the Michigan product had a knee issue that was red-flagged for longevity concerns, thus explaining why he lasted until Pick No. 47. Again, Ossenfort swung from the heels on Thursday and Friday night, but I like the odds on these gambles.

FAVORITE PICK

Will Johnson, cornerback. Before the draft, you could have told me the Cardinals would take Johnson with their first selection at No. 16 overall and I wouldn’t have batted an eye. Not only does the decorated corner offer prototypical size and silky smoothness in coverage, but his instinctive game feels tailor-made for Arizona’s zone-heavy scheme. I’m not here to play doctor -- Johnson very well could have long-term health concerns. But in the here and now of this draft evaluation, the refined talent is quite alluring.

SLEEPER

Denzel Burke, cornerback. Despite the fact Burke earned all-Big Ten recognition in each of his four college seasons, his Ohio State career was a roller-coaster ride. On some level, though, isn’t that just life as a cornerback? Alright, that’s too neat. But with 51 starts for the Buckeyes to his name, Burke has too much high-level experience to not look attractive at the tail end of Round 5.

• Round 1 (No. 12): OG Tyler Booker, Alabama
• Round 2 (No. 44): Edge Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College
• Round 3 (No. 76): CB Shavon Revel Jr., East Carolina
• Round 5 (No. 149): RB Jaydon Blue, Texas
• Round 5 (No. 152): LB Shemar James, Florida
• Round 6 (No. 204): OT Ajani Cornelius, Oregon
• Round 7 (No. 217): DT Jay Toia, UCLA
• Round 7 (No. 239): RB Phil Mafah, Clemson
• Round 7 (No. 247): DT Tommy Akingbesote, Maryland

GRADE: B+

There were cries of “REEEEEEEEAAAACH” after Dallas took Tyler Booker at No. 12 overall, but the Cowboys have proven pretty adept at scouting offensive linemen. It’s too early to assess Tyler Guyton, the No. 29 overall pick last year, but here are the rest of Dallas’ first-round OLs in the Jerry Jones era:

• OL Tyler Smith (No. 24 overall in 2022): Two Pro Bowls.
• OG Zack Martin (No. 16 in 2014): Nine Pro Bowls, seven first-team All-Pros.
• C Travis Frederick (No. 31 in 2013): Five Pro Bowls, one first-team All-Pro.
• OT Tyron Smith (No. 11 in 2011): Eight Pro Bowls, two first-team All-Pros.

Decent list. Maybe we should give the ‘Boys the benefit of the doubt here. And hey, in Round 2, Dallas seized an edge rusher who had plenty of first-round buzz (Donovan Ezeiruaku). Failing to get CeeDee Lamb some much-needed help at receiver kept this grade out of “A” range, but maybe Dallas can try to mend fences with old friend Amari Cooper.

FAVORITE PICK

Shavon Revel Jr., cornerback. A torn ACL back in September kept this East Carolina product from becoming a household name in this draft cycle, but Dallas could be handsomely rewarded for playing the long game on a big, fast, physical corner with a pterodactyl wingspan and plus ball skills.

SLEEPER

Jaydon Blue, running back. MockDraftable is a fun resource that tracks measurements and testing from the combine, providing historical comparisons to players in a database that goes back to the 1999 draft class. And if Cowboys fans want to have fun, they should check out their new running back’s top match (De'Von Achane).

• Round 1 (No. 6): RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State
• Round 2 (No. 58): WR Jack Bech, TCU
• Round 3 (No. 68): CB Darien Porter, Iowa State
• Round 3 (No. 98): OG Caleb Rogers, Texas Tech
• Round 3 (No. 99): OT Charles Grant, William & Mary
• Round 4 (No. 108): WR Dont'e Thornton Jr., Tennessee
• Round 4 (No. 135): DT Tonka Hemingway, South Carolina
• Round 6 (No. 180): DT JJ Pegues, Mississippi
• Round 6 (No. 213): WR Tommy Mellott, Montana State
• Round 6 (No. 215): QB Cam Miller, North Dakota State
• Round 7 (No. 222): LB Cody Lindenberg, Minnesota

GRADE: A-

Did anyone have more fun with this draft than the Raiders? In the run-up to the event, Pete Carroll and Co. lavished so much praise upon Ashton Jeanty that we all started to suspect they were attempting to pump up his stock with ulterior motives in mind. But nope, they giddily snatched him up early on Thursday night. On Friday, first-time GM John Spytek traded down twice, turning two Day 2 picks into four. As part of that day’s haul, Las Vegas netted a versatile receiver (Jack Bech) who stole everyone’s heart with an inspirational performance at the Senior Bowl just one month after his brother’s tragic death and the kind of long, astonishingly-athletic corner (Darien Porter) that Carroll lives to coach. On Saturday, the Raiders fully let their freak flag fly, picking up a 6-5 receiver with 4.30 speed (Dont'e Thornton Jr.), a 309-pound defensive tackle who ran for seven touchdowns last season (JJ Pegues) and an FCS star who’s transitioning from quarterback to receiver (Tommy Mellott). Are you not entertained?!?

FAVORITE PICK

Ashton Jeanty, running back. The Boise State back offers a bevy of endearing traits, but his most undeniably elite one is contact balance. He put it on display throughout a transcendent 2024 campaign, including during his final outing against Penn State. Yeah, about that narrative that the Nittany Lions exposed him: It's utter nonsense. Penn State stacked the box and completely sold out to stop the Heisman runner-up, and he still cleared the century mark. Dwell on the 3.5 yards per carry if you’d like, but Jeanty was a tackle-breaking warrior, getting every last inch out of each touch. Rant: OVER. I can’t wait to watch him more on Sundays.

SLEEPER

Tommy Mellott, WR, Montana State. After quarterbacking the Bobcats to the FCS national championship game and winning the Walter Payton Award as the most outstanding offensive player in that subdivision of football, Mellott decided to train for the draft as a wide receiver. Then he ran a reported 4.39 40 and jumped 41 inches, and here we are.

• Round 1 (No. 3): Edge Abdul Carter, Penn State
• Round 1 (No. 25): QB Jaxson Dart, Mississippi
• Round 3 (No. 65): DT Darius Alexander, Toledo
• Round 4 (No. 105): RB Cam Skattebo, Arizona State
• Round 5 (No. 154): OL Marcus Mbow, Purdue
• Round 7 (No. 219): TE Thomas Fidone II, Nebraska
• Round 7 (No. 246): CB Korie Black, Oklahoma State

GRADE: A-

Once it became apparent Cam Ward was going No. 1 to the Titans, the Giants had the easiest pick in the draft: Whoever’s left between Travis Hunter and Abdul Carter. Carter it was, giving New York another terrifying pass rusher on a defensive front that already features Dexter Lawrence, Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux. Love it. The next move was more polarizing. I don’t have headline-grabbing takes on Jaxson Dart, but will say I have a tendency to question quarterback prospects coming from Lane Kiffin’s scheme-show offense. Regardless, let’s leave Dart out of it for a second. If I told you, in a vacuum, that a QB-needy team gave up two third-rounders for the opportunity to make the second quarterback selection of a draft, you’d find that reasonable. So, I can appreciate the general strategy. And with the next three picks, Joe Schoen netted two draft-sicko darlings (DT Darius Alexander and OL Marcus Mbow) and a crowd-pleasing hammer to complement RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. (Cam Skattebo).

FAVORITE PICK

Abdul Carter, outside linebacker. Having spent his first two college seasons as a star off-ball linebacker for Penn State, Carter shifted to the edge this past fall and almost immediately locked himself into the top few picks of this draft. His burst is evident to football laymen, and his bend is awe-inspiring to football lifers. This is a game-wrecking edge in the mold of Von Miller.

SLEEPER

Marcus Mbow, offensive lineman. Honestly, I don’t know why this versatile offensive lineman lasted until midway through Round 5. He was comfortably a top-100 player for all three of our resident prospect rankers: Daniel Jeremiah, Eric Edholm and Lance Zierlein.

• Round 1 (No. 5): DT Mason Graham, Michigan
• Round 2 (No. 33): LB Carson Schwesinger, UCLA
• Round 2 (No. 36): RB Quinshon Judkins, Ohio State
• Round 3 (No. 67): TE Harold Fannin Jr., Bowling Green
• Round 3 (No. 94): QB Dillon Gabriel, Oregon
• Round 4 (No. 126): RB Dylan Sampson, Tennessee
• Round 5 (No. 144): QB Shedeur Sanders, Colorado

GRADE: A-

Like it or not, the 2025 NFL Draft will always be remembered for Shedeur Sanders’ slide, so we might as well discuss Cleveland’s last pick first. Frankly, I don’t really know what’s going on with Cleveland’s overcrowded quarterback room, especially considering the Browns drafted Sanders two rounds after taking Dillon Gabriel. But if Cleveland can prevent this situation from becoming a deleterious distraction, then the value proposition of taking a stab at Sanders in Round 5 makes sense. With that out of the way, let’s get back to the beginning of this team's draft adventure, when Cleveland traded down from No. 2 to No. 5. Will the Browns regret passing on Travis Hunter? Perhaps, but they got a bunch of draft currency in return, including Jacksonville’s 2026 first-rounder. While some questioned the selection of Mason Graham at 5, I like the thought of this interior disruptor lining up inside of Myles Garrett. Will the Browns regret passing on Ashton Jeanty? Perhaps, but they got a pair of enticing backs in Quinshon Judkins and Dylan Sampson. Andrew Berry made bold moves in this draft, and whether or not I would have made them myself, I understand them. And I appreciate his conviction.

FAVORITE PICK

Harold Fannin Jr., tight end. Did you know that a tight end just comfortably led the FBS in receptions (117) and receiving yards (1,555)? And before you skeptically point at the Bowling Green star’s MAC competition, know that he caught a combined 19 passes for 282 yards in back-to-back games against Penn State and Texas A&M. With David Njoku in place to do traditional tight end stuff, the Browns can use Fannin like the rival Ravens use Isaiah Likely.

SLEEPER

Dylan Sampson, running back. With Nick Chubb currently on the open market, Cleveland took a pair of running backs with skill sets that nicely complement each other. Judkins has the look of a traditional RB1 in terms of his frame and bruising play style; Sampson is a smaller, more compact back with elusiveness and big-play ability. I like Lance Zierlein’s comp for Sampson: Brian Westbrook.

• Round 1 (No. 1): QB Cam Ward, Miami 
• Round 2 (No. 52): Edge Oluwafemi Oladejo, UCLA
• Round 3 (No. 82): S Kevin Winston Jr., Penn State
• Round 4 (No. 103): WR Chimere Dike, Florida
• Round 4 (No. 120): TE Gunnar Helm, Texas
• Round 4 (No. 136): WR Elic Ayomanor, Stanford
• Round 5 (No. 167): OG Jackson Slater, Sacramento State
• Round 6 (No. 183): CB Marcus Harris, California
• Round 6 (No. 188): RB Kalel Mullings, Michigan

GRADE: A-

A zero-star recruit out of high school as a Wing-T quarterback, Cam Ward went to Incarnate Ward and shredded the FCS with a 71:14 TD-to-INT ratio over two seasons. He leveled up to the FBS and earned honorable mention All-Pac-12 in both campaigns at Washington State. Then, after briefly throwing his name into the 2024 draft pool, he pulled out and transferred to Miami, ultimately becoming a first-team AP All-American and Heisman Trophy finalist while leading the Hurricanes to just their second 10-win season in the past two decades. So, will Cam’s remarkable assent continue in the NFL? I don’t know. But I can confidently say Tennessee was right to draft the quarterback at No. 1 overall, given the franchise’s need at the position and Ward’s separation from the rest of this QB prospect pool. And while Day 3 picks are inherently unpredictable assets, I appreciated the fourth-round splurge on toys for the new field general, with the Titans targeting a downfield burner (Chimere Dike), a big-bodied ball-winner (Elic Ayomanor) and a quarterback-friendly tight end (Gunnar Helm). The undrafted free-agent signing of Xavier Restrepo -- who made sweet music last season with Ward before tanking his draft stock with a shockingly sluggish 40-yard dash at Miami’s pro day -- was a nice cherry on top.

FAVORITE PICK

Kevin Winston, safety. I can’t factually state that Winston’s partially torn ACL in early September is the only thing that kept him from coming off the board on Thursday night, but I think it’s a fair thing to consider. He has the size, speed and physicality of a first-round safety. And given that he ran a 4.50 40 at Penn State’s pro day, less than six months after knee surgery, it would appear his recovery’s coming along swimmingly.

SLEEPER

Elic Ayomanor, wide receiver. A former hockey player from Medicine Hat, Alberta, Ayomanor is still refining his game on the gridiron. But the big, traitsy wideout has put some impressive film on tape. Look no further than Stanford’s 2023 game at Colorado, when Ayomanor cooked Travis Hunter and the Buffaloes to the tune of 13 catches for 294 yards and three touchdowns.

• Round 1 (No. 7): OT Armand Membou, Missouri
• Round 2 (No. 42): TE Mason Taylor, LSU
• Round 3 (No. 73): CB Azareye'h Thomas, Florida State
• Round 4 (No. 110): WR Arian Smith, Georgia
• Round 4 (No. 130): S Malachi Moore, Alabama
• Round 5 (No. 162): LB Francisco Mauigoa, Miami
• Round 5 (No. 176): Edge Tyler Baron, Miami

GRADE: A

Full disclosure: I like digging for Day 3 gold as much as the next draftnik, but if you simply nail the premium picks, I’ll give you a sparkling grade. And I absolutely loved what the Jets did with the first three selections of the Aaron Glenn/Darren Mougey era. Interestingly, the new regime’s first step was finishing the job started by the previous general manager. Joe Douglas nicely renovated the offensive line via the draft (LT Olu Fashanu, C Joe Tippmann, RG Alijah Vera-Tucker) and free agency (LG John Simpson), leaving one spot open for improvement: right tackle. Insert Armand Membou, a three-year starter at the position in the SEC. In Round 2, New York filled another need with Mason Taylor. While Colston Loveland and Tyler Warren dominated all discussions of this year’s tight end crop, Taylor is a well-rounded prospect with plenty of NFL potential at age 20. I mean, the guy’s dad (Jason Taylor) and uncle (Zach Thomas) are Pro Football Hall of Famers -- that has to count for something, right? In Round 3, the Jets stopped the slide of Azareye'h Thomas, a cornerback who had some first-round buzz before running a substandard 40 at Florida State’s pro day. Speed questions aside, the long, physical CB excels in press-man -- the coverage scheme Glenn deploys more than just about anyone.

FAVORITE PICK

Armand Membou, offensive tackle. One year after New York opted to take an offensive tackle (Olu Fashanu) over a tight end (Brock Bowers), many mocks thought the Jets could flip the script and draft TE Tayler Warren at No. 7 overall. But no. Different regime, same approach. Gang Green grabbed Membou -- the top-rated tackle prospect on many big boards, including those of Daniel Jeremiah, Lance Zierlein and Eric Edholm -- and then took tight end Mason Taylor in the second round. I feel confident saying that OT-TE combo is better than whatever the Jets would have landed had they gone TE-OT.

SLEEPER

Malachi Moore, safety. New York traded up 15 slots to target Moore, who offers high-level experience (46 starts at Alabama), leadership (two-time team captain for the Crimson Tide) and positional versatility (extensive snaps at all safety roles, as well as nickel). 

• Round 1 (No. 10): TE Colston Loveland, Michigan
• Round 2 (No. 39): WR Luther Burden III, Missouri
• Round 2 (No. 56): OT Ozzy Trapilo, Boston College
• Round 2 (No. 62): DT Shemar Turner, Texas A&M
• Round 4 (No. 132): LB Ruben Hyppolite II, Maryland
• Round 5 (No. 169): CB Zah Frazier, UTSA
• Round 6 (No. 195): OG Luke Newman, Michigan State
• Round 7 (No. 233): RB Kyle Monangai, Rutgers

GRADE: A

Caleb Williams is enjoying a fine 2025. First, the Bears landed the hottest name of this head-coaching cycle in offensive guru Ben Johnson. Then Ryan Poles aggressively overhauled the interior offensive line via trade/free agency. And in the draft, Chicago spent its first two picks on a mismatch tight end (Colston Loveland) and a YAC receiver (Luther Burden III). Adding those two playmakers to a pass-catching group that already includes DJ Moore, Rome Odunze and Cole Kmet, the Bears have given their second-year quarterback a cache of weapons he can grow with. Oh, and for good measure, Chicago scooped up a towering tackle with NFL bloodlines (Ozzy Trapilo) for depth and development up front. Now, new defensive coordinator Dennis Allen might feel like he got the short end of the stick, but I do think the Bears got a quality DT at No. 62 (Shemar Turner) and took a worthwhile late-round chance on a size/speed corner (Zah Frazier).

FAVORITE PICK

Colston Loveland, tight end. Despite the fact that Tyler Warren topped Loveland on most analysts' boards and mock drafts, I stubbornly stuck to the opinion that the Michigan product would come off the board first, presuming some teams would value his route artistry over Warren’s throwback game. So, yes, this is my favorite pick because it made me feel smart. But also because it’s easy to envision Johnson deploying Loveland in a similar manner to how he utilized Sam LaPorta in Detroit.

SLEEPER

Kyle Monangai, running back. Remember when the Chiefs struck seventh-round gold on a Rutgers back who ran hard as hell? I’m not going to say Monangai's Isiah Pacheco, but I won’t immediately scoff if you’d like to.

• Round 1 (No. 18): OG Grey Zabel, North Dakota State
• Round 2 (No. 35): S Nick Emmanwori, South Carolina
• Round 2 (No. 50): TE Elijah Arroyo, Miami
• Round 3 (No. 92): QB Jalen Milroe, Alabama
• Round 5 (No. 142): DL Rylie Mills, Notre Dame
• Round 5 (No. 166): WR Tory Horton, Colorado State
• Round 5 (No. 175): FB Robbie Ouzts, Alabama
• Round 6 (No. 192): OG Bryce Cabeldue, Kansas
• Round 7 (No. 223): RB Damien Martinez, Miami
• Round 7 (No. 234): OT Mason Richman, Iowa
• Round 7 (No. 238): WR Ricky White III, UNLV

GRADE: A

No one collected a more impressive group of pure athletes from this talent pool than John Schneider, particularly in the first two days of the draft. Grey Zabel was everyone’s favorite small-school prospect in this draft cycle, but he proved he was much more than just an inspiring underdog with a dominant performance at the Senior Bowl and an impressive workout at the combine. Offering potential five-position flexibility, Zabel can immediately provide much-needed help on the interior of Seattle’s offensive line. Nick Emmanwori was arguably the biggest freak show in Indianapolis -- blazing a 4.38 40 and jumping 43 inches at 6-3, 220 pounds -- but he’s not just an Underwear Olympian, having started all three of his seasons at South Carolina and earned first-team AP All-America honors this past fall. Kyle Hamilton earned first-team All-Pro honors under Mike Macdonald in Baltimore, so it will be interesting to see what the coach does with his new mutant safety in Seattle. Elijah Arroyo’s a modern pass-catching tight end with plenty of juice and mismatch potential -- he just needs to stay healthy. And then there’s Jalen Milroe, who earned a max-99 athleticism score from my colleagues over at Next Gen Stats.

FAVORITE PICK

Jalen Milroe, quarterback. In an underwhelming QB class with mixed opinions beyond No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward, it felt like the smartest approach could be placing a bet on Milroe’s raw traits at some point on Day 2. That’s exactly what the Seahawks did, waiting until late Friday night to nab the Alabama product with the pick they acquired in the Geno Smith trade. Milroe already has a trump card: his electric running ability. While arm strength isn’t an issue, accuracy is -- he needs ample time to work on the finer points of quarterbacking. But this is a long-term gamble on upside that I support. And in the meantime, Ian Rapoport told us to expect a Milroe package to supplement Sam Darnold’s conventional quarterbacking. Yes, please!

SLEEPER

Tory Horton, wide receiver. Daniel Jeremiah’s No. 73 overall prospect didn’t come off the board until No. 166. Had Horton not been limited to six games this past season due to injury, the bursty baller would’ve been drafted long before the latter stretches of Round 5.

• Round 1 (No. 4): OT Will Campbell, LSU
• Round 2 (No. 38): RB TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State
• Round 3 (No. 69): WR Kyle Williams, Washington State
• Round 3 (No. 95): C Jared Wilson, Georgia
• Round 4 (No. 106): S Craig Woodson, California
• Round 4 (No. 137): DT Joshua Farmer, Florida State
• Round 5 (No. 146): Edge Bradyn Swinson, LSU
• Round 6 (No. 182): K Andres Borregales, Miami
• Round 7 (No. 220): OT Marcus Bryant, Missouri
• Round 7 (No. 251): LS Julian Ashby, Vanderbilt
• Round 7 (No. 257): CB Kobee Minor, Memphis

GRADE: A

The most impressive aspect of Drake Maye’s rookie season was his ability to inspire hope in an uninspiring environment. Flanked by arguably the worst offensive line and worst skill-player group in the entire league, the quarterback still flashed enough promise to make you believe he could be a star with better surrounding talent. So, naturally, the Patriots aimed to supply that with their first four selections. Some people question whether No. 4 overall pick Will Campbell’s arms are long enough for him to play left tackle in the NFL, but Mike Vrabel doesn’t care, having personally put him through a workout that’s already become legend in New England. And when Campbell was asked about manning Maye’s blind side on draft night, the 21-year-old went primal: “I’m gonna fight and die to protect him with everything I’ve got.” Well alright! On Day 2 of the draft, New England added a pair of potent playmakers (TreVeyon Henderson and Kyle Williams) before grabbing the best pure center in this draft class (Jared Wilson). Maye doesn’t turn 23 until August, but the Pats showered him with presents early.

FAVORITE PICK

Kyle Williams, wide receiver. A home-run hitter with 14 receiving touchdowns last year at Washington State, Williams gained more and more fans as the pre-draft process played out. New England’s receiving corps has lacked dynamism for years; this could be the wideout who changes that.

SLEEPER

Bradyn Swinson, outside linebacker. New England ranked dead last with just 28 sacks in 2024. Swinson led LSU in sacks (8.5) and paced the entire SEC in pressures (60, per PFF) last season. The athletic edge could eventually get into the rotation as a designated pass rusher.