The Saints selected Louisville QB Tyler Shough with the 40th pick of the 2025 NFL Draft. Shough spent seven years in college – three at Oregon, three at Texas Tech, and one at Louisville – and turns 26 in September. He’s a week older than Trevor Lawrence. And he dealt with multiple injuries in college: a broken collarbone in both 2021 and 2022 and a broken left leg in 2023. Shough’s numbers are not very impressive, either. He completed more than 63.5% of his passes in just one season and owns a career 63.0% completion rate. Shough completed 62.7% of his passes at Louisville last year but did set career highs with 3,195 passing yards, 23 passing TDs, and an 87.7 Pro Football Focus passing grade. Shough has prototypical size at 6’5, 219 pounds – and the tape grinders like him. He has an efficient release with plus arm strength and can make throws from muddy pockets. He also possesses above-average athleticism. Shough ran for just 132 yards last year but averaged 42 rushing yards per game over the previous four seasons. He registered a 9.70 Relative Athletic Score at the Combine. Shough struggles when pressured, though, and his advanced age gives him less room for growth than most rookie QBs.
The Bears selected Missouri WR Luther Burden III with the 39th pick of Round 2 in the 2025 NFL Draft. After a promising freshman season, Burden took the nation by storm in 2023 (86-1,209-9). The Missouri product ranked top-20 nationally in catches and yards. Playing a short-range role, he also averaged a huge 8.4 yards after catch per reception. There are questions off the field with allegations that Burden didn’t practice during his final season, excused by the team. He also ranked 22nd among Combine WRs in 2024 target share at 19.9%, and 21st among those WRs in PFF Receiving Grade with an 80.2. Now, his early breakout age of 18.7 shows NFL promise. And he still ranked fourth in this WR class in our predraft Rookie Model Score (7.86). His play style reminded us of former Packers WR Randall Cobb.
The Patriots selected Ohio State RB TreVeyon Henderson with the 38th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Henderson’s speed and quickness have stood out since he was a five-star recruit. He was too talented for the Buckeyes to keep off the field as a true freshman, leading the team in 2021 with 184 rushes for 1,255 yards and 15 TDs. After dealing with injuries in 2022 and 2023, Henderson stayed in school and split the backfield with transfer Quinshon Judkins last year. His receiving work increased, highlighted by his 75-yard screen TD against Texas in the College Football Playoff. Overall, he impressed with 7.0 yards per carry, 10.8 yards per catch, and 4.43 yards after contact per attempt. Henderson also proved to be one of the top pass protectors in this RB class. His momentum continued at the NFL Combine, where he assembled an 8.87 Relative Athletic Score at 202 pounds.
The Browns opened Round 2 of the NFL Draft by taking UCLA LB Carson Schwesinger. He spent just one season starting for the Bruins after arriving as a walk-on. That one season found him earning first-team All-American status with a big statistical season. That included an FBS-leading 90 solo tackles, 9 tackles for loss, 4 sacks, 2 INTs, and 3 passes defensed.
The Cleveland Browns selected Ohio State RB Quinshon Judkins with the 36th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Judkins was an early breakout with 1,565 rushing yards and 16 TDs as a true freshman at Ole Miss (2022). After another strong season in 2023 (271-1,158-15), Judkins transferred to Ohio State. Unfortunately, OL injuries and a shared backfield with TreVeyon Henderson led to career lows with 194 attempts and 1,060 rushing yards. Judkins looks the part, though, with NFL power and burst off the snap. He showed high-end athleticism at the NFL Combine, registering a 75th percentile forty time, an 89th percentile vertical, and a 98th percentile broad jump. His efforts earned him an excellent 9.87 Relative Athletic Score.
The Texans selected Iowa State WR Jayden Higgins with the 34th pick of Round 2 in the 2025 NFL Draft. At nearly 6'4, 217 pounds, Higgins’ experience (and best fit) is at X receiver. Higgins spent his first two college seasons at Eastern Kentucky, racking up 87 catches, 1,151 yards, and 13 TDs. He transferred to Iowa State in 2023 and boosted his NFL draft stock over the next two seasons. His total production (140-2,166-15) closely mirrored teammate Jaylin Noel, another incoming rookie. Higgins led the Cyclones in receiving yards in 2023; he paced the team in catches in 2024. He had a 9.63 Relative Athletic Score (RAS) based on his predraft testing. He also ranked sixth among Combine WRs in 2024 Target Share at 30.6%, and first among those WRs in PFF Receiving Grade with a 90.5. He is currently 22 years old with a Breakout Age of 19.7. He ranked eighth among WRs in our predraft Rookie Model scoring a 7.24. Our Comp for him in our Rookie Guide is Gabe Davis. If he can develop as a route runner, the 22-year-old could become an early-career starter.
Jaguars HC Liam Coen said rookie WR/CB Travis will "primarily play on offense, while learning the defensive system and practicing on the defensive side as well during this offseason program." Hunter is capable of being an impact player on both sides of the ball — and it sounds like Jacksonville has already been thinking through a plan to play Hunter on both sides. "We have to be fluid throughout this process," Coen added. "We’ve had multiple at-length conversations with athletic training, sport science, equipment, coaching, everybody involved in this process."
The Eagles moved up one spot in the first round of the NFL Draft and selected LB Jihaad Campbell. The former Alabama LB spent the past year and a half starting, spending time both in coverage and as a pass rusher. Campbell proved efficient as a rusher this past season, generating 20 pressures among just 99 pass-rushing reps, according to Pro Football Focus. He brings a 93rd-percentile score and solid size at 6'3, 235.
The Bengals selected DL Shemar Stewart in the first round of the NFL Draft. Stewart drew attention with a terrific Combine workout, led by a 95th-percentile speed score. He added a 91st-percentile 10-yard split, 96th-percentile vertical, and 98th-percentile broad jump. The problem: Stewart's college production stunk. He tallied just 1.5 sacks in each of his three seasons and topped out at 6 tackles for loss in 2024. Stewart did increase his total pressures each year. His 39 pressures in 2024 tied for 47th among FBS edge players -- a solid number considering he ranked 65th in pass-rushing opportunities.
The Giants selected Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart with the 25th pick of the 2025 NFL Draft. Dart flashed across six appearances for USC as a freshman in 2021 and then started for Ole Miss the last three years. He got better each season, culminating with a 4,279-yard, 29-TD 2024 campaign. He led FBS with 10.8 yards per attempt and 11.5 adjusted yards per attempt. An aggressive passer, Dart completed 69.3% of his passes on a huge 11.9-yard average target depth. He ranked first in the country in Pro Football Focus passing grade and fourth in Big Time Throw rate (which PFF defines as “a pass with excellent ball location and timing.”) Dart is accurate to all levels of the field with a lightning-quick release. He’ll just need to do more processing pre- and post-snap as a pro after operating Lane Kiffin’s one-read offense. Dart also ran for 1,915 yards over the last three seasons, including 648 last year. He might be the second-biggest rushing threat in this QB class, behind only Alabama’s Jalen Milroe. That certainly adds to his fantasy appeal.
The Chargers selected North Carolina RB Omarion Hampton with the 22nd pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Hampton stayed home in North Carolina after high school instead of attending a bigger program like Penn State or Florida. The decision worked out, as he took over the starting role by his second season and never looked back. Hampton carried the UNC offense for the last two years – including when Drake Maye was his QB (2023). Over that span, the 221-pounder racked up 3,164 rushing yards, 33 total TDs, and 67 catches. Hampton wins with excellent power and contact balance, and he’s largely proven durable as a college player. He hasn’t missed a game due to injury over the past two seasons.
The Packers selected Texas WR Matthew Golden with the 23rd pick of Round 1 in the 2025 NFL Draft. Golden wins with speed, stop-start ability, and savvy route running. DBs struggled to get their hands on him in press coverage. Golden made early strides at Houston, tallying 77 catches, 1,003 yards, and 13 TDs over his first two seasons. Transferring to Texas in 2024, the 6’0, 195-pounder took his game to another level. He led the Longhorns in receiving yards (987) and TDs (9) while averaging 17.0 yards per catch. Golden drew a Chris Olave comp from NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein, a skillset with plenty of fantasy potential. He also ranked 38th among Combine WRs in 2024 Target Share at 16.1%, and 29th among those WRs in PFF Receiving Grade with a 75.6. He is currently 21 years old with a Breakout Age of 20.1. He ranked fourth among WRs in our predraft Rookie Model scoring a 7.73. Our Comp for him in our Rookie Guide is Jeremy Maclin.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected Ohio State WR Emeka Egbuka with the 19th pick of Round 1 in the 2025 NFL Draft. Egbuka came to Ohio State as a highly touted five-star prospect. However, he was stuck behind future NFL stars like Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Garrett Wilson, and Chris Olave. Egbuka eventually showed NFL promise as a sophomore with 1,151 yards and 10 receiving TDs. Unfortunately, an ankle injury that required surgery cost him most of 2023, so he decided to return to the Buckeyes for his senior season. His slot skills and sure hands made him a reliable target all year. The final numbers: 81 catches, 1,011 yards, and 10 TDs across 16 healthy games. Egbuka profiles as a high-floor, moderate-ceiling fantasy asset. He had a 9.72 Relative Athletic Score (RAS) based on his predraft testing. He also ranked 16th among Combine WRs in 2024 targets share at 24.2%, and 11th among those WRs in PFF Receiving Grade with an 82.4. He ranked fifth in our predraft Rookie Model Score (7.67) and comps favorably to former Dolphin Jarvis Landry.
The Falcons spent the 15th pick of the NFL Draft on Georgia Edge Jalon Walker. He was much higher-rated in nearly all draft rankings. Our guy Shane Hallam had Walker as the fourth player overall on his big board. Walker spent just one season starting for the Bulldogs, and saw limited pass-rushing opportunities even then compared with other edge players. That's because Georgia also dropped him into coverage plenty.
The Colts selected Penn State TE Tyler Warren with the No. 14 pick of the 2025 NFL Draft. Warren is coming off a historically productive 2024 season. His 104 catches and 1,233 receiving yards were the fourth biggest tallies by a TE in NCAA history. Warren dominated the Penn State passing game, drawing a 31.6% target share and accounting for 38.5% of the team’s receiving yards. Warren ranked second among 86 qualifying TEs in Pro Football Focus receiving grade and third in yards per route. AND he ran it 26 times for 281 yards and four TDs. Warren lined up all over the formation last year: 45% in-line, 32% slot, 12% backfield, and 10% out wide. He’s at his best with the ball in his hands, averaging 6.9 yards after the catch per reception over the last two seasons. Warren is also comfortable making plays in traffic and has strong hands, dropping just 2.8% of his catchable targets last year. The knocks against him? The big 2024 came in his fifth college season. Warren totaled just 15 catches over his first three years at Penn State and then split time with very similar production as Theo Johnson in 2023. Warren hasn’t been much of a downfield threat, either. He had a career 7.5-yard average target depth, and only 6% of his targets came 20+ yards downfield over the last two seasons. Still, he projects as a unique weapon as a pro with perennial top-five fantasy upside.
The 49ers spent the 11th pick of the NFL Draft on Georgia Edge Mykel Williams. The former five-star recruit arrived with the talent and flashed it in a solid true freshman season. That included 7 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, and 28 total tackles, which wound up as a career high for his college years. And that's the problem: He never progressed. Williams dealt with an ankle injury that he tweaked multiple times in 2024, which likely limited his production. But it's disappointing that such a heralded recruit -- and a talent that clearly impressed -- leaves Georgia with no truly impressive production. The positive: Williams hasn't even turned 21 yet.
The Bears selected Michigan TE Colston Loveland with the No. 10 pick of the 2025 NFL Draft. Loveland didn’t get the same hype as Tyler Warren in the pre-draft process, but the gap between them isn’t big. Loveland broke out as a 19-year-old true sophomore in 2023, catching 45 balls for 649 yards and four TDs for the J.J. McCarthy-led Wolverines. Michigan’s passing game wasn’t nearly as productive without McCarthy last year, but Loveland still racked up 56 grabs for 582 yards and five TDs. He accounted for 38.6% of the team’s receiving yards and 45.5% of the TDs – beating Warren in both market-share categories. Loveland barely trailed Warren in Pro Football Focus receiving grade and yards per route, ranking top-five in the nation in both metrics. Loveland ran 48% of his routes from the slot over the last two seasons and projects in a similar role as a pro. He’s a fluid athlete with deft route-running skills and sticky hands. Coming from a pro-style offense, he’s a candidate to make an immediate impact. We’ll just need to keep an eye on the AC joint injury to Loveland’s right shoulder that required surgery in January. He’s expected to be cleared for training camp.
Shortly after the Giants took Edge Abdul Carter third in the draft, ESPN's Jordan Ranaan reported that the team will exercise the fifth-year option on Edge Kayvon Thibodeaux's rookie contract. That extends his deal through 2026.
The Panthers selected Arizona WR Tetairoa McMillan with the eighth pick of Round One in the 2025 NFL Draft. At 6’5, 212 pounds, he wins with elite length, reliable hands, and contested catch ability. An elite high school recruit, McMillan delivered on his promise across three seasons at Arizona. In 2022, he led all true freshmen with 702 receiving yards. From 2023-2024, he was the most productive pass catcher in all of college football (174-2,721-18). Per Pro Football Focus, 25% of his career targets were contested, while he tallied a solid 50% contested catch rate. McMillan didn’t work out before the draft and did not produce a Relative Athletic Score (RAS). He ranked second among Combine WRs in 2024 target share (32.8%) and eighth among those WRs in PFF Receiving Grade (85.8). He ranked second among WRs – behind Travis Hunter – in our predraft Rookie Model Score (8.58).
The Raiders selected Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty with the No. 6 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Jeanty is the most complete RB prospect in recent memory. The 21-year-old dominated as a 2024 junior with 374 carries, 2,601 yards, and 29 TDs. As a sophomore, he enjoyed his best receiving season, catching 43 passes for 569 yards and 5 TDs. In ‘24, Jeanty earned several accolades, including the Doak Walker Award (for best RB) and the Maxwell Award (for most outstanding player). Plus, he finished second behind WR/CB Travis Hunter in Heisman voting. At nearly 5’9, 211 pounds, Jeanty runs with a rare blend of power, contact balance, and burst. He’s also one of the best pass-catching backs in this class, raising his fantasy ceiling. While Jeanty didn’t test at the NFL Combine, we have no doubts about his overall athleticism.
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