Former NFL player and scout Bucky Brooks knows the ins and outs of this league, providing keen insight in his notebook. In today's installment, he cuts through the noise surrounding seven talented draft prospects ...
With less than a month to go before the 2025 NFL Draft, we are reaching the point of prospect fatigue. Spending countless hours studying tape, writing detailed notes on how college players project into the NFL and exhaustively debating among each other in meeting rooms, scouts must avoid overthinking their researched opinions.
As a young scout, I was advised to put the finishing touches on my scouting reports BEFORE the NFL Scouting Combine and pro days to avoid being overly influenced by workouts conducted in T-shirts and shorts. Though positional drills and athletic testing can be helpful pieces of the pre-draft process, the film reveals a player's true football DNA, providing the clearest indication of how he'll perform at the game's highest level.
With that in mind, I'm here today to spotlight seven players in this draft class whose tape should be trusted. These prospects might face questions about size, speed or other characteristics, but their respective games speak for themselves.
Graham is a destructive force at the point of attack with powerful run-stopping ability and pass-rushing skills. A crucial part of Michigan's national title run in 2023 and a first-team All-American this past fall, he boasts heavy hands and an array of combat maneuvers that enable him to routinely whip blockers in one-on-one matchups. As a relentless competitor with a non-stop motor and a wrestling background, Graham outworks and outlasts blockers at the line of scrimmage to create splash plays. He utilizes a quick arm-over and a devastating push-and-pull maneuver to rack up sacks and tackles for loss in the backfield. Though some question whether he will be able to wreak havoc as a pro due to his lack of length (32-inch arms), he has been too disruptive against elite competition to dismiss his chances of being a star in the NFL.
The most polarizing prospect in the 2025 class exhibits many qualities coaches covet in a QB1, which is why I have him as the top signal-caller in this draft. A four-year starter at Jackson State/Colorado, Sanders spent his final couple seasons in a pro-style system directed by former NFL head coach Pat Shurmur, showcasing his ability as a timing-and-anticipation thrower who excels from within the pocket. Despite athletic limitations, Sanders terrorizes opponents as a quick-rhythm passer with a sniper's precision. His accuracy, ball placement and touch enable him to flourish without possessing some of the powers of his quarterbacking peers. While skeptics grouse about his lack of mobility and elite arm talent, the NFL game tends to reward accurate passers. Given his high IQ and superb precision, Sanders will thrive in a league that has seen passers like Kirk Cousins, Geno Smith and Andy Dalton enjoy plenty of individual and team success without possessing superhero traits.
While the scouting community anxiously awaits a Johnson workout to confirm his speed and athleticism, the tape already reveals a plug-and-play pro with a scheme-diverse game. The 6-foot-1 3/4, 194-pounder possesses every tool needed to emerge as a perennial Pro Bowler. From his quick feet and flawless shadowboxing in press to his exceptional instincts, awareness and technique in off/zone coverage, Johnson can go deep into his bag to stymie elite pass catchers on the perimeter. Moreover, he can tweak his game weekly to put himself in the best position to make splash plays. Though critics worry about his long speed, explosive quickness and injury history, Johnson arrived at Michigan as a ballyhooed recruit and proceeded to play like a blue-chipper whenever he stepped on the field. Given his stellar performance and production as a starter for two-plus years in Ann Arbor, Johnson has the pedigree and game to be a CB1 in any system.
Perhaps Banks' lack of sizzle hurts him in a class that is loaded with athletic freaks. The Texas standout is a classic blind-side protector with the balance, body control and agility to shadowbox QB hunters off the edge. In addition, Banks is an effective box-out blocker in the run game who shields and stalemates defenders at the point of attack. With the 6-5 1/8, 315-pounder nimble enough to skip-pull and scoot to the second level, Banks is the prototypical left tackle who has flourished in the league for decades. Though others might look better in drills, few can match his production and performance in pads.
Few players have better catch-and-run tools than this Missouri product. A former five-star recruit, Burden dazzles with the ball in his hands, exhibiting outstanding speed, burst and body control while eluding defenders on the perimeter. As a dynamic receiver/runner/returner with a stout frame (6-foot, 206 pounds) and good speed (4.41-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Scouting Combine), he reminds me of Deebo Samuel with the ball in his hands. Though he is a more polished route runner and playmaker than Deebo was at this stage of his career, Burden has failed to generate the pre-draft buzz that usually surrounds do-it-all weapons with big-play potential. While the football world is seemingly sleeping on his talents, Burden should be an instant-impact playmaker wherever he lands.
The Georgia product is a football savant with the instincts, awareness and skills to make an impact from Day 1 in the pros. While others might run faster or jump higher, Starks plays the game with rare courage and conviction to trust his instincts in crucial moments. He not only displays the football IQ of a seasoned pro but moves like a cornerback and hits like a linebacker. Possessing ability as a versatile box defender while also boasting center fielder range, the 6-0 7/8, 197-pounder is the combo safety defensive coordinators covet in the back end these days. Given his dynamic skills and natural playmaking ability, Starks can hit the ground running in the NFL as a middle-of-the-field defender for a defense that employs multiple coverages.
Skattebo is a violent runner with a rugged game that forces defenders to make business decisions in the hole. The 5-9 1/2, 219-pounder displays outstanding balance and body control while running through arm tackles in traffic. Skattebo pinballs off defenders, displaying exceptional strength, power and agility with the ball in his hands. A first-team All-American this past season at Arizona State and a former Big Sky Offensive Player of the Year at Sacramento State, Skattebo is a three-down player with the running skills and pass-catching ability to handle the entire workload as a lead back. Though concerns about his long speed could depress his draft stock, Skattebo's production (2,316 scrimmage yards and 25 total touchdowns last season alone) and explosiveness (SEE: 39.5-inch vertical leap at the combine) make him a wise bet as a potential RB1.
