With the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine in the rearview and pro days in full swing, here's my updated ranking of the top five prospects at each major position in the 2025 NFL Draft class.
One thing you'll notice in this edition of these rankings is that I've added a new position group: nickelback. In today's NFL, this is essentially a starting job on defense, so it's well worth assessing the top prospects for the role.
NOTE: Up/down arrows below reflect movement from my pre-combine rankings.
QUARTERBACKS
The 2025 quarterback class lacks the pizzazz of last year's group, but a few prospects could pop as stars at the next level. Shedeur Sanders displayed blockbuster potential as a pocket passer in college, transforming Jackson State and Colorado into winners. Though his tendency to hold on to the ball leads to sacks, few quarterbacks can match his superb timing, touch and anticipation as a rhythm thrower. Cam Ward is a talented signal-caller with the tools to develop into a Pro Bowl-caliber playmaker in the NFL. As a gunslinger with supreme confidence and limitless range, the former Miami/Washington State/Incarnate Word standout expands the offensive playbook with his skills. Jaxson Dart is a dart-throwing wizard built for a vertical passing game. The Ole Miss product possesses the arm talent and athleticism to play in an offense that features traditional dropback passes, as well as movement-based concepts that enable him to work inside and outside of the pocket. Jalen Milroe is an explosive dual-threat playmaker with electric running skills and natural arm talent. Though his inconsistent accuracy and ball placement are concerns, he displays tantalizing big-play potential as a boom-or-bust prospect. Kyle McCord is an underrated rhythm passer with a "catch, rock and throw" game that meshes with the ball-control offenses featured in the pros. After rewriting the record book at Syracuse as a one-and-done transfer from Ohio State, the former ballyhooed recruit should garner some attention as a developmental prospect with starting potential.
RUNNING BACKS
The NFL's running back renaissance should continue with a 2025 draft class that features several blue-chip players at the position who offer workhorse potential. Ashton Jeanty is an A-1 playmaker with the instincts, contact balance, strength and speed to ignite an offense as a feature back. A big-play machine with impact potential as a runner and receiver, the Boise State standout is the go-to guy every offensive coordinator covets in the backfield. Omarion Hampton flew under the radar for most of last season, but the NFL scouting community is excited about his potential as a bell-cow back. A power runner with the balance, body control and vision to slither between cracks on downhill runs, the North Carolina product is built to play in an old-school scheme that features dirty runs between the tackles. TreVeyon Henderson is a home run hitter with the potential to score from anywhere on the field. The Ohio State star is a rare find as a dynamic rusher who can excel on the edges or between the tackles. With Henderson also displaying soft hands as a pass catcher, he could thrive as a triple threat in the NFL. Quinshon Judkins is a big-bodied runner with speed to burn as a big-play specialist. Despite sharing the load at Ohio State with Henderson, Judkins exhibits the traits (power, toughness and burst) offensive play-callers covet in an RB1. Dylan Sampson is the prototypical scatback that NFL teams love to have in the running back rotation. The Tennessee product is dangerous out of the backfield as a runner and receiver, exhibiting outstanding balance, body control and stop-start quickness.
DROPPED OUT: Kaleb Johnson, Iowa (previously No. 3).
WIDE RECEIVERS
The 2025 wide receiver class does not feature a can't-miss prospect at the top of the board, but teams will be able to find key contributors in the early rounds. Tetairoa McMillan is a jump-ball specialist with exceptional hand-eye coordination and athleticism. The big-bodied wideout routinely wins 50-50 balls down the field while displaying open-field savvy on catch-and-run routes between the numbers. As a natural WR1 with playmaking ability, the Arizona product should excel as a primary target from Day 1. Matthew Golden's speed, explosiveness and wiggle make him a difficult wideout to defend in space. The Texas standout can blow past defenders on vertical routes or utilize his crafty route-running skills to separate on various crossers. Emeka Egbuka is the next Ohio State wideout poised to take the league by storm. He can create space and separate from defenders between the hashes as a natural pass catcher with soft hands and polished receiving skills. Luther Burden III is a dynamic playmaker with explosive skills as a catch-and-run specialist. The Missouri standout can create explosive gains from the outside or slot on various quick-rhythm plays (and sweeps) that enable him to showcase his outstanding balance, body control and burst as a runner in the open field. Isaiah Bond is a chain mover with a polished game that fits any scheme. The Texas/Alabama product can win with speed or skill as a dynamic route runner with soft hands and explosive short-area burst.
DROPPED OUT: Trey Harris, Mississippi (previously No. 4).
TIGHT ENDS
The 2025 tight end crop is loaded with talented prospects: some block like offensive tackles, others run routes like wide receivers and a select few do both. The versatile athletes within this class will make it easy for some teams to transition to multi-TE sets next season. Tyler Warren is the headliner of the class as a big-bodied playmaker with positional flexibility. A former high school quarterback with outstanding running skills and versatility, the Penn State star is a non-traditional "Y" tight end with big-play potential. Colston Loveland is a natural flex tight end with outstanding skills in the passing game. As a jumbo wide receiver in a tight end body, the Michigan product is a potential 100-catch target in an offense that features the TE as a mismatch option. Mason Taylor's NFL bloodlines (SEE: his father, Pro Football Hall of Famer Jason Taylor) and polished game could make him a late riser up the charts. The LSU product is a natural "Y" with the receiving skills and blocking ability to be a designated chain mover in a ball-control offense that features the tight end as a centerpiece. Harold Fannin Jr. is a pass-catching specialist with a unique game that tests the coverage skills of linebackers and safeties in space. Despite his Group of Five pedigree, the Bowling Green product's proven success against big-school competition could translate to solid production early in his pro career. Elijah Arroyo is a pass-catching freak with polished route-running skills and sticky hands. The Miami product moves like a wideout between the hashes, displaying superb stop-start quickness as he blows past defenders in space.
DROPPED OUT: Gunnar Helm, Texas (previously No. 4).
OFFENSIVE TACKLES
This OT group features several intriguing prospects with Day 1 starting potential. Will Campbell is the crown jewel of the class to me, with a game that suits any scheme. I'm not as concerned about his arm length as some draft analysts seem to be. The LSU standout is an unfinished product, but he should quickly smooth out the rough edges to become a quality starter. Armand Membou is a rare find as a super-sized blocker with quick feet, elite burst and violent hands. The Missouri product overwhelms defenders at the point of attack and on the second level, displaying running back-like movement skills in space. Josh Simmons' talent, tools and tenacity could make him a perennial Pro Bowler early in his career. The Ohio State/San Diego State product possesses the length and agility to stymie defenders in pass protection while also displaying the explosion to uproot run stoppers at the point of attack. Kelvin Banks Jr. is a dancing bear on the edge with outstanding balance, body control and agility. He can win with force or finesse on the perimeter, displaying the physicality and toughness coaches covet in offensive tackles. Josh Conerly Jr. has surged up the charts as evaluators are increasingly smitten with his size and athleticism. The Oregon standout is a work in progress, but his upside eventually could make him a Pro Bowl-caliber player at the next level.
INTERIOR OFFENSIVE LINEMEN
Teams looking for bullies at the point of attack will be intrigued by this IOL group. Tyler Booker is a menacing presence at the line of scrimmage with a rugged game built for a power running squad. The Alabama standout possesses the size and tools evaluators crave in an interior blocker. Donovan Jackson mauls defenders with a violent style that meshes with a power-based offensive attack. As a large blocker with nimble feet, the Ohio State product is a Day 1 starter with Pro Bowl-caliber tools. Grey Zabel will be the next small-school standout to successfully transition from outside to inside as a pro. Though the North Dakota product dominated FCS competition on the edges, he displays the strength, power and agility to thrive as a swing player in the lineup. Jared Wilson is an impressive snap-and-stuff blocker at the pivot. The sizable Georgia standout consistently owns the point of attack, relying on his first-step quickness and leverage to stalemate defenders at the line. As a rock-solid interior blocker with heavy hands and a wide base, Tate Ratledge controls defenders utilizing a "maul and mash" brand of ball that wears down opponents over time.
DROPPED OUT: Ajani Cornelius, Oregon (previously No. 5).
DEFENSIVE TACKLES
With the talent and depth on offer in the defensive tackle class, teams seeking disruptive interior defenders should be able to address their needs. Mason Graham is the top dog in this group, due to his rugged skills as a point-of-attack weapon. A relentless pursuer with heavy hands and exceptional lower-body strength, the Michigan product is the kind of disruptor every defense seeks on the interior. Walter Nolen is a destructive force at the point of attack with outstanding agility, quickness and power. The Ole Miss standout can win with finesse or power as a scheme-diverse disruptor with violent hands. Kenneth Grant is a monstrous interior defender with the athleticism and aggressive mentality to dominate opponents at the line of scrimmage. Though he is built like a jumbo run-stuffer, his crafty pass-rushing skills make him more than just a pocket pusher in a traditional defense. Derrick Harmon flashes havoc-wreaking skills as an interior defender who can make an impact against the run and pass. As an athletic big man with a versatile game, the Oregon standout could develop into a difference-maker early in his pro career. Darius Alexander is a rare find as a hefty defender with nimble feet and heavy hands. The Toledo product whips blockers with a combination of "shake and bake" and violence, making him a potential double-digit sack artist from the interior.
DROPPED OUT: T.J. Sanders, South Carolina (previously No. 5).
DEFENSIVE ENDS
This group is loaded with potential difference-makers. Shemar Stewart is a boom-or-bust prospect with wildly tantalizing tools as an edge defender. Though his superior traits did not produce big numbers at Texas A&M, the freak athlete could develop into a game wrecker as a pro. Nic Scourton is a disruptive force off the edge as an energetic pass rusher. The Texas A&M/Purdue product plays like a bull in a china shop, exhibiting a combination of strength and power that overwhelms blockers at the line. Jack Sawyer is a no-nonsense defender with a polished game that could make him an annual double-digit sack producer. The Ohio State product outworks and outlasts blockers on the edges, utilizing superb hand skills and a nonstop motor to stack wins in one-on-one matchups. Landon Jackson continues to rise up the charts as evaluators gain a greater appreciation of his game as a rugged pass rusher with exceptional length and a nonstop motor. Princely Umanmielen is a long, rangy pass rusher with a crafty style that creates problems off the edge. Though he lacks elite explosion, the Ole Miss standout's length and unorthodox approach make him a challenging matchup for heavy-legged blockers in space.
OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS
This year's crop of outside linebackers/designated pass rushers features several explosive sack artists with sky-high potential. Abdul Carter is the gold standard as an agile athlete with exceptional first-step quickness and closing burst. A speed-rushing phenom with outstanding balance and body control, the Penn State star has the potential to single-handedly transform a defense as a disruptive force. James Pearce Jr. is a freakish pass rusher with explosive quickness and active hands. The Tennessee standout overwhelms offensive tackles with his cat-like quickness and "shake and bake" pass-rush maneuvers. Mike Green is a productive sack artist with a polished pass-rushing plan that enables him to win utilizing various speed-rushing techniques. Whether using his quick arm-over or slick dip-and-rip maneuver to win off the edge, the Marshall product wreaks havoc on opposing blockers unable to handle his explosiveness and nonstop motor. Mykel Williams is a rugged hybrid defender with heavy hands and a power-based game. He overwhelms blockers with his violent hand-to-hand combat maneuvers on the way to chasing down quarterbacks and ball-carriers in the backfield. Donovan Ezeiruaku is an underrated pass-rushing force with outstanding quickness and burst, as well as elite production this past season. As a relentless pursuer, the Boston College star is a quarterback's biggest nightmare.
LINEBACKERS
The evolution of the off-ball linebacker has prompted defensive coordinators to covet versatile defenders with pass-rush potential. Jalon Walker is a potential game-changer as a natural edge defender with "MIKE" linebacker skills. The Georgia standout flourishes as a designated playmaker with a versatile game that forces opponents to play "Where's Waldo?" when facing the 6-foot-1, 243-pounder. Jihaad Campbell is an active defender with effective pass-rushing skills from the line or depth. The Alabama product has a knack for creating splash plays as a "see ball, get ball" monster in an aggressive defense. Barrett Carter earns high marks as a Swiss Army Knife defender with playmaking potential from various spots. A pass-rushing "MIKE" linebacker, the Clemson standout can impact the game from the line of scrimmage or second level as a designated playmaker in a multiple scheme. Danny Stutsman is a dynamic tackling machine with a strong nose for the ball. As a sideline-to-sideline pursuer with exceptional instincts and underrated athleticism, the Oklahoma product routinely runs down ball-carriers. Carson Schwesinger might scare some evaluators away as a potential one-year wonder, but astute scouts will rave about his production and disruption as a tackling machine. After earning a scholarship as a special teams standout, the former walk-on opened eyes in 2024 as an instinctive playmaker on the second level.
CORNERBACKS
The 2025 cornerback class is loaded with ballhawks and playmakers on the perimeter. Travis Hunter was a dynamic two-way player at wide receiver and cornerback in college, though I previously explained why I think he should start his pro career as a CB with a small package of plays as an offensive specialist. The Heisman Trophy winner is effective in man coverage, boasting natural instincts as a cover corner on the island, but I believe he is a ballhawk who could truly thrive in a "see ball, get ball" scheme that allows him to play with vision on the quarterback. Will Johnson is a polished cover corner with a loaded toolbox that enables him to shine in any system. As an experienced man-to-man corner with effective bump-and-run and shadow skills, the Michigan standout is a Day 1 starter with the potential to develop into an elite pro. Despite suffering a season-ending knee injury last September, Shavon Revel Jr. intrigues evaluators looking for a ballhawking corner with size and length. The ECU product is a ball magnet on the perimeter with the skills to shrink passing windows for quarterbacks attempting to make throws outside the numbers. As a battle-tested cover corner, Benjamin Morrison is a bump-and-run specialist with lockdown potential. The Notre Dame product overwhelms wideouts with his size, strength and skills as a nose-to-nose defender on the perimeter. Trey Amos is a tantalizing prospect due to his size, athleticism and scheme versatility. The Ole Miss star is an explosive playmaker with the skills to lock up in man-to-man and the instincts to make splash plays in zone coverage.
NOW RANKED AMONG NICKELBACKS: Jahdae Barron, Texas (previously No. 5 at CB).
NICKELBACKS
The 2025 draft class features a collection of explosive cover corners with the skills to smoothly transition to the slot. Jahdae Barron won the Jim Thorpe Award, given to the top defensive back in college football, after exhibiting stellar coverage skills all over the field. As an instinctive ballhawk with outstanding vision and ball skills, he has a knack for making plays in crucial moments. Maxwell Hairston excels as a "vision and break" corner with superb instincts and awareness. The Kentucky standout flashes outstanding diagnostic skills and short-area quickness, jumping short and intermediate routes within his area. Jacob Parrish's aggressive bump-and-run technique and sound cover skills should make the move to the slot an easy transition. The Kansas State standout possesses the speed, quickness and agility to mirror dynamic pass catchers out wide or between the hashes in one-on-one matchups. Quincy Riley is a versatile player with the ability to excel inside or outside in coverage. As a twitchy athlete with outstanding anticipation, he can hold his own in one-on-one matchups, utilizing shadowboxing techniques or traditional back-pedaling methods to force tight-window throws within his area. Alijah Huzzie is a natural slot corner with sticky man-to-man skills and solid instincts. The North Carolina product specializes in mugging wideouts at the line with a polished mirror-and-match technique that showcases his superior quickness, balance and body control.
SAFETIES
The 2025 safety class features several high-IQ defenders with superb instincts, ball skills and tackling ability. Nick Emmanwori is a five-star talent with a rare combination of tools, toughness and technical skills. The South Carolina star dazzles as an athlete while also displaying a refined game that should make him a star in a scheme that enables him to roam freely between the hashes. Malaki Starks is a throwback safety with an enforcer's mentality and cornerback skills. The Georgia standout displays exceptional range and awareness roaming the middle of the field as a designated playmaker with box and deep-middle responsibilities. Xavier Watts is a smart defender with superb instincts and awareness. He can thump with the best in the business, but also displays the range and anticipation to excel in coverage. Jaylen Reed is a crafty slot defender with superb instincts, awareness and diagnostic skills. The Penn State product makes plays within the box as a read-and-react defender with spectacular blitz skills. Sebastian Castro is a talented technician with flawless fundamentals. As an instinctive defender with a nose for the ball, the Iowa product could swiftly become a quality NFL starter.
DROPPED OUT: Kevin Winston Jr., Penn State (previously No. 5).
