The NFL Draft 2025 is scheduled to begin on April 24 and end on April 26. There are many top college prospects that are looking to be drafted in the first two rounds. The first round will kick off with the Tennessee Titans having the first pick. Here is a breakdown of the players to watch as they enter the 2025 draft:
1.Cam Ward, QB
It is no surprise that Ward is at the top of this list, as he is projected to go first in the majority of mock drafts. This season, he had over 4,000 passing yards for the Miami Hurricanes and 39 touchdown passes. He is a playmaker, is skilled in the area of pocket mobility and can make solid passes under pressure. He averaged a 67.2 percent completion rate in the 2024-2025 season. With continued improvements in accuracy, we can expect to see Ward as a solid starting quarterback for his respected team. It is believed that he will be the first overall pick as the Titans are in need of a quarterback.
2. Shedure Sanders, QB
From the University of Colorado, Sanders has had quite a college career. His stats from this season consisted of 4,137 yards, 37 touchdowns and a 74 percent completion rate. His accolades include the 2021 Jerry Rice Award, 2022 Deacon Jones Trophy and 2024 Johnny Unitas Award. He has solid accuracy and is able to anticipate the defense, making him a great playmaker for getting the ball down the field. One area of weakness that has been noted by various sources is his arm strength. Overall, Sanders is a solid quarterback and is projected to be taken early in the first round. There is a great chance he could be picked by the Browns or the Giants, as both of those teams are in need of a quarterback and have one of the top ten picks.
3. Abdul Carter, DE
Objectively, Carter is the best defensive player in this draft. He can maneuver effortlessly over almost any offensive line, as he had 12 sacks this season. In lieu of the draft, the NFL gives him a production score of 95 and an athleticism score of 83. He has been named a first team All-American in his time at Penn State and will be entering the draft as a Junior. He has continued the legacy of number eleven for the Nittany Lions; it is easy to compare him to players such as LaVar Arrington, Brandon Bell and Micah Parsons. It is projected that he could land on the Browns, who have the second overall pick and have already met with him. However, their need for a quarterback may have him fall to the Patriots or Panthers. Nonetheless, he will be going as a top ten pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
4.Travis Hunter, CB, WR
As a player who can play both ways, Travis Hunter is an exciting prospect for this upcoming draft. As a receiver, Hunter had 1, 258 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns for the Buffalos. In his time as a corner, he has been extremely productive with great coverage leading to four interceptions. His technique is exquisite, and he has incredible route running skills, as well as the ability to anticipate the offensive plays well. Because of this, he scores a 99 percent on efficiency. One area of improvement would be athleticism. He is a great athlete, however, his mobility and speed can slow him down at times. It is possible that we see him in Jacksonville. However, he could drop from the fifth pick as the draft class is quite competitive this year.
5. Mason Graham, DT
The quarterbacks and receivers are fun to watch, but there is a lot of talent within the linemen in the 2025 Draft. Defensive tackle Mason Graham is no exception. In his career at Michigan, Graham had 108 total tackles and nine sacks. His greatest strength is his speed and ability to be explosive when necessary. As a former wrestler, he has great understanding and knowledge of the physical aspect on the line. This gives him the ability to make outstanding decisions when needed. One area to improve would be his sack productivity. Graham can easily be seen as a starter by his third year at the latest. Most likely he will be the fifth pick of the draft and end up in Jacksonville; however, it is very possible that he could drop to the end of the top ten picks.
Honorable Mention:
- Tyler Warren, TE (Penn State)
- Ashton Jeanty, RB (Boise State)
- Matthew Golden, WR (Texas)
- Will Johnson, CB (Michigan)
As the draft class is extremely talented, this event will be a must-watch for any NFL fan. Hundreds of mock drafts have been created, some showing similar outcomes and some drastically different from the rest. In the end, it is up to the teams of the National Football League to strategically prepare for the 2025-2026 season.
