| Cody Benjamin (NFC) and Jeff Kerr (AFC) of CBSSports.com offer 10 teams they feel really need a good draft in 2025: With that in mind, which NFC clubs could use the most reinforcements come draft weekend? Here are five who are under the most pressure to ace the draft, considering both the resources at their disposal and the holes they’re looking to fill going into the 2025 campaign: Carolina PanthersTop pick: No. 8 overall | Total picks: 9Bryce Young appeared to turn a corner as the quarterback of the present and future late in 2024, but the Panthers still have a plethora of needs under coach Dave Canales. For one, Young is still lacking a dynamic go-to receiver. And every level of the defense is ripe for some fresh prospects. The addition of free agents like Bobby Brown III, Tershawn Wharton and Tre’von Moehrig should help, but doubling down on defensive investments feels necessary if they intend to challenge for the NFC South anytime soon. Dallas CowboysTop pick: No. 12 overall | Total picks: 10The Cowboys used to justify the “America’s Team” label with colorful, if ill-fated, roster movement. Lately, Jerry Jones has gone the other way, not only waiting until the last minute to secure homegrown stars but showing an aversion to blockbuster acquisitions. So unless guys like Javonte Williams or Miles Sanders or Solomon Thomas suddenly roar back to life, they’re going to need to make good use of their 10 picks, hopefully outfitting Dak Prescott with legitimate support on both sides of the ball. New Orleans SaintsTop pick: No. 9 overall | Total picks: 9After years of kicking a rebuild down the road, the Saints finally signaled they’re ready for real change by replacing a placeholder coach (Dennis Allen) with a first-time hire (Kellen Moore). As they climb out of perennial salary cap woes, with a veteran quarterback in Derek Carr who’s destined to exit sooner rather than later, this is a prime time to rebuild the foundation. It’s possible their first pick could go toward a signal-caller of the future, but the front seven could also stand to get quite a bit younger. New York GiantsTop pick: No. 3 overall | Total picks: 8It doesn’t matter who’s running the coaching staff or front office or quarterback room; the Giants are perpetually rebuilding. Current leaders Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen, meanwhile, could use both more instant playmakers in the mold of Malik Nabers, and a sturdy longer-term arm to succeed veteran stopgaps Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston. And that’s not even mentioning the offensive front, which has frequently been undermanned and overpowered. Basically, they need a little of everything. San Francisco 49ersTop pick: No. 11 overall | Total picks: 11Among the listed NFC teams, the 49ers are easily the most accomplished. Despite their injury-plagued 2024 season, they’re just two years removed from taking the Kansas City Chiefs to the wire in the Super Bowl. They took some serious cost-cutting lumps this offseason, however, in preparation of a big payday for quarterback Brock Purdy. Tied for the most total picks in the draft, they have an urgent need to get younger after losing so many veteran cogs (e.g. Deebo Samuel, Dre Greenlaw, Charvarius Ward). Kerr and the AFC: There are many teams in the AFC vying to take down the Kansas City Chiefs and can improve their chances with a good draft class. Others are trying to get their franchises back in contention and out of their losing ways. These are five teams that need to ace the draft in the AFC this year. 1. Cincinnati Bengals (6 picks)The Bengals tied their salary cap into retaining Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins (who they drafted), signing the two wide receivers to massive long-term extensions this offseason. Joe Burrow is one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in football, another reason why there is little margin for error in getting draft picks right and improving other areas of the roster. Then there’s the future of pass rusher Trey Hendrickson, who Cincinnati still hasn’t come to terms with on an extension. The Bengals need significant help on defense at edge rusher (even with Hendrickson), cornerback and linebacker as new defensive coordinator Al Golden needs to revamp the unit. They also need to improve an offensive line that allowed a sack rate of 6.9% last season (19th in NFL). If the Bengals can ace the draft with their top selections (they have No. 17 and No. 49), they’ll be AFC contenders once again. 2. New England Patriots (9 picks)The Patriots have a franchise quarterback in Drake Maye, but New England had one of the worst rosters in the NFL last season. One of the benefits of having a top-five pick is getting a premium player in this year’s draft class, and two of the top three picks could be quarterbacks. That could shape New England up to get either wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter or pass rusher Abdul Carter. Regardless of whether the Patriots land one of those players or not, New England must improve an offense that was last in the league in pass yards per game (176.2), 29th in net yards per attempt (5.7), and 30th in offensive points per game (16.5). The Patriots added Stefon Diggs at wide receiver, but need to find another pass catcher who can immediately boost this offense at No. 38 overall or No. 69 overall. They also need to improve an offensive line that was 29th in sack rate (9.0%) last season, even with free agent signings Morgan Moses and Garrett Bradbury. New England just needs to take the best player available at No. 4, and fill out the roster from there. 3. Tennessee Titans (8 picks)Having the No. 1 pick in the draft is already critical for a franchise to get the selection right, especially in a class that doesn’t appear to be deep at quarterback. The Titans appear to be locked in on Cam Ward at No. 1 overall, but have to make sure they have the quarterback right and the offensive line to protect him in Year 1 (27th in sack rate allowed last season at 8.9%). What if Travis Hunter or Abdul Carter become generational players? Does that mean Tennessee made a mistake if Ward is just a “good” quarterback? This is the dilemma with a team that needs a franchise quarterback in a winnable division like the AFC South. Tennessee also has the No. 35 pick and two picks in the fourth round (No. 103 and No. 120), but the No. 1 pick is going to be the selection that jump-starts the rebuild. Getting this pick right could change the outcome of the franchise. 4. Kansas City Chiefs (8 picks)The Chiefs are still the team to beat in the AFC, but it’s clear they need to make a few tweaks to the roster in order to win another Super Bowl. Their offensive line was manhandled in the Super Bowl by the Eagles’ pass rush, one of the main reasons why Patrick Mahomes struggled throughout the game. Kansas City has to address the left tackle position, which resulted in Joe Thuney taking over after Kingsley Suamataia and Wanya Morris couldn’t win the job last year. They also traded Thuney, so the entire left side of the offensive line has to be revamped. The Chiefs also could use depth at defensive tackle and could also use a long-term replacement for Travis Kelce. The Super Bowl window is always open for Patrick Mahomes, but the Chiefs can immediately improve their roster by hitting on their top four picks (No. 31, No. 63, No. 66, No. 95) — all in the first three rounds. If the left side of the offensive line can be addressed with quality starters, teams will have a hard time pouncing on Kansas City in the AFC. 5. Buffalo Bills (10 picks)The Bills were right on the verge of beating the Chiefs in the AFC Championship game but came up three points short of going to their first Super Bowl since the 1993 season. This was with a roster that wasn’t as strong as in previous years. So how can the Bills finally get past the Chiefs? Finding a wide receiver to complement Khalil Shakir and Keon Coleman is paramount, as Josh Allen could use all the skill-position players he can get. Buffalo will also have to address the departures of Rasul Douglas and Kaiir Elam, finding a starting cornerback in this draft. The Bills have talent on the roster, but how can Buffalo get over the hump? Finding more pass rushers to expose the Chiefs weakness on the offensive line would also significantly help. Buffalo has the No. 30, No. 56 and No. 62 picks in this draft, a huge opportunity to find starting-caliber players who can contribute immediately and fill out the top end of the roster. The Bills typically draft well under general manager Brandon Beane. They can’t mess this one up. |
| AFC NORTH |
| BALTIMOREEven as number 8 became the greatest scorer in hockey history, Ravens QB LAMAR JACKSON was getting into a dispute with Dale Earnhardt, Jr. about the number. The Athletic asks who is the greatest 8 ever (we are partial to baseball’s Joe Morgan): It’s a fight over the number eight. On Wednesday, Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson challenged NASCAR star Dale Earnhardt Jr. over Earnhardt’s pending trademark of a stylized No. 8 used for his JR Motorsports race team. On Friday, Earnhardt said on social media that he had secured the rights to the classic No. 8 style he raced in the early 2000s and planned to retire the other No. 8 font (the one under protest from Jackson). In July of 2024, Jackson challenged retired quarterback Troy Aikman over Aikman’s attempt to trademark “EIGHT” for his brand. Jackson has a brand featuring the number called “Era 8.” We’re not qualified to weigh in on the nuances of copyright law. But we are qualified to debate who’s the greatest No. 8 of all time. We asked seven Athletic writers across sports to make their case: Who’s the GNEOAT to top all GNEOATs? MLB: Yogi BerraIt’s tough to make cross-sport comparisons, but hear me out, because baseball would like a word. Perhaps you’ve heard of Carl Yastrzemski, who wore No. 8 for 23 years in Boston. In eighteen of those 23 years, he was an All-Star. And from 1967 until 2012, he was the only hitter to win the Triple Crown (leading home runs, batting average and RBIs). Then there’s Cal Ripken Jr., who broke Lou Gehrig’s unbreakable streak of 2,130 consecutive games without a day off — and then extended his lead by three full seasons, finishing at 2,632, all with the Orioles. And we can’t leave out Joe Morgan, who won two MVPs and helped the Reds to two championships. His 100.6 bWAR leads all other No. 8s in the sport. But maybe the biggest cultural icon of the bunch was Yankees catcher Yogi Berra, whose “Yogi-isms” defined the sport in unique and often surreal ways as he helped the Yankees to 10 World Series championships. As a manager, he took both the Yankees (1964) and Mets (1973) to the World Series. Given his contributions to the sport on and off the field, I think he’s my pick (but if you wanna talk me into Yaz, I’m listening). — Levi Weaver, staff writer NBA: Kobe BryantOnly a handful of players have retired jerseys. How many do you know with two retired jerseys? Kobe Bryant wore No. 8 from 1996-2006, then switched to No. 24 until he retired in 2016, but his time wearing No. 8 has more iconic moments than most athletes have in their entire careers. That was back when Kobe threw the iconic lob to Shaquille O’Neal to help complete a fourth-quarter comeback in Game 7 of the 2000 Western Conference finals, which led to the first of Bryant’s five championships. No. 8 Bryant won three titles. That Bryant also scored 81 points in a 2006 game against Toronto — second only to Wilt Chamberlain’s 100 in 1962 — and also won a slam dunk contest, becoming the youngest player to do so at 18, all while wearing No. 8, only helps strengthen his case. Bryant won two more championships, a regular-season MVP and two NBA Finals MVPs wearing No. 24, but his impact was so great wearing No. 8 that the Lakers retired both, making him the only Laker with two numbers retired. He went from youthful enthusiasm to superstardom. Few impacted sports and culture like Bryant did for the Lakers. — Jason Jones, staff editor NASCAR: Dale Earnhardt Jr.Dale Earnhardt Jr.’s autobiography about his rookie season in NASCAR is called “Driver #8.” Since its publication in 2001, the passage of time has only made that nameless association stronger. Yes, Earnhardt stopped driving the No. 8 car after 2007 and switched to the No. 88. No, he never won a NASCAR Cup Series championship. But there has never been a more popular driver in NASCAR history, no one who had the ability to be the “home team” for millions of fans like Earnhardt did while transcending the racing world. He was featured on “MTV Cribs,” presented at the VMAs during the award show’s prime and was profiled in “Rolling Stone” and “Playboy” in the golden age of magazines. Even if he’s not the highest profile No. 8 for mainstream sports fans, he might have the most passionate group of followers. There’s likely no fan base that has inked more No. 8 tattoos in an athlete’s honor than the denizens of “Junior Nation.” — Jeff Gluck, senior writer Soccer: Andrés IniestaIn soccer, Spanish midfielder Andrés Iniesta wasn’t just a great player — he fundamentally redefined what it meant to be a midfielder. Before Iniesta burst into stardom at Barcelona, the middle of the park was for bruisers, with only a handful of players bothering to do the work with brains, not brawn. Iniesta was a different player entirely. He was the ultimate metronome, toying with the pace of the game at will. Along with fellow Barcelona legend Xavi, Iniesta relied on his guile, his vision and his inch-perfect distribution more than any particular physical characteristic. His understanding of the game rivaled that of a previous Barcelona legend, Johan Cruyff, and Iniesta possessed some traits that surpassed him. Iniesta won every trophy imaginable with Barcelona — four Champions League titles to go along with nine La Liga titles. More than anything, though, he’ll be remembered for what he did while representing Spain — particularly the extra time goal that gave La Furia Roja their first-ever World Cup championship in 2010. Iniesta was never a prolific goalscorer, but in many ways, the last-gasp strike was vintage Iniesta: calm, composed, perfectly placed. The goal made Iniesta a national hero in Spain. Across the entire footballing world, it solidified his place as the game’s greatest ever No. 8. — Pablo Maurer, staff writer NFL: Lamar JacksonThe NFL is king. We are reminded of that annually when television ratings come out. And Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson isn’t just one of the faces of the NFL. With his unique style, he’s redefined how we view quarterbacks, the most glamorous and integral position in professional sports. Jackson, in just seven seasons, has already done things that we’ve never seen before. The accolades and records — the two MVPs and what easily could have been a third, the unprecedented 4,000-plus passing yards and 800-plus rushing yards in one season — are impressive. But it’s how he’s done it that elevates him into another stratosphere. This is an athlete who has constantly been told what he isn’t or what he can’t be. Most teams didn’t believe he had the goods to be an NFL franchise quarterback ahead of the 2018 Draft. When there was an opportunity to potentially sign him two offseasons ago, 31 other teams stayed away. Yet Jackson has never wavered, never changed to try to be someone else or acquiesced to criticism. He is unapologetically who he is, and that’s one of the most captivating and interesting personalities in professional sports. — Jeff Zrebiec, senior writer College football: Lamar JacksonCollege football has three players vying for the top spot as Mr. 8, and Jackson is in the running on this one, too. In three seasons at Louisville, Jackson passed for 9,043 yards and 69 touchdowns while rushing for 4,132 yards and 50 scores. Few players could match Jackson’s on-field theatrics, which is pretty much what we could say about his NFL impact nearly a decade later. Jackson won the 2016 Heisman Trophy and finished third in 2017. Former Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota is right there with Jackson. While his NFL career never reached the heights many projected, Mariota was unreal in college. In 2014, Mariota threw for 42 touchdowns and only four interceptions while completing 68.3 percent of his passes. He also rushed for 770 yards and 15 scores to win the Heisman. Mariota led the Ducks to a runner-up finish in the inaugural College Football Playoff. Observers cannot overlook TCU quarterback Davey O’Brien, who won the 1938 Heisman Trophy. O’Brien was perhaps overshadowed historically by predecessor Sammy Baugh, but O’Brien guided the Horned Frogs to an unbeaten season and the national title. He was the first player to win the Heisman, Walter Camp and Maxwell trophies in the same season. These days, college football’s top quarterback is annually given the Davey O’Brien Award. So, who is college football’s top No. 8? It’s Jackson. If someone began a list of college football’s most explosive players, it starts with him. — Scott Dochterman, staff writer NHL: Alex OvechkinI feel like I need to defend myself preemptively. I’m not trying to be a prisoner of the moment, and I don’t think I’m a hockey provincialist. That being said, Alex Ovechkin isn’t just the best NHL player to ever wear his number — he’s the best athlete to wear it, period. This isn’t a knock on NFL’s Jackson. By the time his career is over, he might take the belt. As it stands, though, Ovechkin has the same number of MVPs, and a Stanley Cup championship and, depending on when you read this, more goals than anyone in the history of the NHL (as of publication, Ovechkin is three away from breaking Wayne Gretzky’s record). That’s kind of the whole point of the sport. Now, if Jackson lands as the all-time leader in touchdowns or yards from scrimmage as a QB, we can talk. Until then, though, Ovechkin has him beat. The rest of the competition is flawed in one way or another, too. Berra is an American icon and, perhaps, the best catcher of all time — but he’s not in the overall GOAT conversation. Ovechkin is. Bryant would have a claim if he didn’t switch numbers after just 10 seasons. Ovechkin did no such thing. The battle for silver is interesting. First place, though, is locked up. — Sean Gentille, senior writer In his NFL analysis – Baltimore based Jeff Zrebiec doesn’t even bother to mention any other NFL contenders to Jackson, but besides Aikman there was Steve Young. And Morten Andersen, Kirk Cousins, Larry Wilson and Archie Manning. |
| THIS AND THAT |
| QB LANDING SPOTSBen Zolak of ESPN.com places 12 draft QBs with teams that make sense: It’s NFL draft season, which means fans across the country want one thing and one thing only: mock drafts. Well, two things: quarterbacks and mock drafts. Quarterbacks who will save their franchises, and mock drafts to tell them which one they’re going to get. Today, I have a little of both. I projected a landing spot — team, round and pick — for just about every draftable quarterback in this 2025 class, from No. 1 down to late Day 3. I even threw in a few interesting undrafted free agents at the end for good measure. In all, I found fits for 12 passers, including nine draft picks. These fits are at the intersection of a rather complex Venn diagram. To find each quarterback’s home, I considered where he is expected to go in the draft, what schemes and systems work best for each passer, which teams have urgent or long-term developmental timelines and who has visited whom — and then sprinkled some draft scuttlebutt over the top. (I also included each passer’s Scouts Inc. ranking and 2024 stats.) Save for the No. 1 pick, I likely won’t get a single pairing right — the draft is chaos! — but it’s worth investigating how each team could approach their QB needs, and how different prospects can fit into that construction. Here are my predicted landing spots for these 12 quarterbacks Round 1, No. 1: Tennessee TitansCam Ward, MiamiHeight: 6-foot-2 | Weight: 219 | Scouts Inc. ranking: QB12024 stats: 67.2% completion rate, 4,313 yards, 39 TDs, 7 INTs (4 rushing TDs)Ward is a good fit for the Titans in the sense that he’s clearly the lone quarterback in this class worth an early first-round pick, and the Titans are the lucky team with that first selection. Ward oozes talent. He has a live arm that accesses all three levels of the field with easy velocity, and there is little to no accuracy drain when he unlocks difficult throws far down the field or deep to the far sideline. Ward has a whippy, nearly sidearm release that allows him to drive tight throws between defenders, but his best balls are the touch passes that drop perfectly between layers of zone coverage. Ward has feel — that innate sense of space and time all great quarterbacks have. It cannot be taught or manufactured. It has to be drafted, usually with a premium pick. Watch Ward layer this ball into the seam, delivering it above the linebackers but before the safeties can arrive. It’s placed such that tight end Elijah Arroyo isn’t pulled into a big hit when he makes the catch. Delightful stuff. Ward also has some knuckleheaded tendencies that will need to be ironed out. He often dillydallies in the pocket, allowing his feet to drift into an unnecessarily poor throwing platform. A big-play hunter, Ward will also predetermine his reads (especially on late downs) to go for all the marbles, and smart defensive coaches can bait him into bad pre-snap decisions accordingly. But that’s a typical wart on a young college passer, and expected maturation in the NFL will smooth over some of those wrinkles. Ward is not analogous to Joe Burrow, the quarterback with whom current Titans coach Brian Callahan made his hay in Cincinnati as offensive coordinator. He isn’t nearly that precise, and he isn’t a supercomputer before the snap. Callahan will need to include more run-pass options in his Titans offense, taking advantage of Ward’s quick release while simplifying his pre-snap reads. But some aspects of the Burrow offense can port over — the spread formations, the heavy reliance on shotgun and option routes — which should assuage some of the natural growing pains between rookie quarterback and playcaller. Ward is not the slam-dunk first pick that past drafts have enjoyed, but previous “slam dunks” (Trevor Lawrence, Caleb Williams) are still rattling around the rim. The draft is never a sure thing, but Ward is talented and more than deserves this spot. He has the ceiling of a fringe top-10 quarterback and should settle in as a plus starter. Round 1, No. 3: New York GiantsShedeur Sanders, ColoradoHeight: 6-2 | Weight: 212 | Scouts Inc. ranking: QB22024 stats: 74.0% completion rate, 4,134 yards, 37 TDs, 10 INTs (4 rushing TDs)The Giants have met with exactly two quarterbacks this offseason: Ward and Sanders. That, plus the signings of Jameis Winston and Russell Wilson, indicate to me that the Giants are going to do one of two things: take a quarterback extremely early or not take one at all. It makes sense. Would a third-round pick really beat out Wilson in camp? Is a second-round pick going to save coach Brian Daboll’s and GM Joe Schoen’s respective jobs? With a rather unspectacular offensive roster, only a stellar rookie season from a lightning rod like Sanders could keep Daboll and Schoen in New York for 2026 and beyond. Why draft Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter to just help out the next guy? Why trade back for the future capital that will never be theirs to use? Push the chips to the middle. Sanders is just that: a big risk for a lot of chips. He’s a pocket passer who likes to extend plays and scramble, but he doesn’t have the physical tools to be as successful with that play style in the NFL as in college. His 8.1% sack rate isn’t going to suddenly improve against pro pass rushers. Yes, the accuracy is impressive, but 34% of Sanders’ pass attempts were behind the line of scrimmage, and 35% were to wide-open receivers last season (with at least 5 yards of separation). Those are near nation-leading rates. His peak plays are impressive, but his asks were often easier than those levied on other college quarterbacks. And while he was under pressure quite a lot (over 40% of his dropbacks, well above the national average), his average time to pressure was also remarkably above average at 3.14 seconds. That indicates he created a lot of his own pressure by holding on to the football, and the film backs up that conclusion. In New York, Sanders would find a familiar offense. Daboll’s system takes much of the decision-making out of the hands of the QB, as he likes to get his playmakers the ball near the line of scrimmage. And while there are plenty of holes to poke in Sanders’ game, there’s no doubt he would bring a level of moxie and playmaking to the position that was sorely lacking in the Daniel Jones era. The dream outcome for Sanders is he has a Jayden Daniels- or Burrow-esque effect on a franchise in need of reinvigorating. The more likely outcome is average play that leaves the Giants stuck in neutral for a few more years — but hey, now’s the time to be hopeful. Round 2, No. 33: Cleveland BrownsJaxson Dart, Ole MissHeight: 6-2 | Weight: 223 | Scouts Inc. ranking: QB32024 stats: 69.3% completion rate, 4,279 yards, 29 TDs, 6 INTs (3 rushing TDs)The Browns’ current quarterback room includes Deshaun Watson, who tore his right Achilles (again) in January, and Kenny Pickett, who is probably not a starting-caliber signal-caller in this league. They need to add somebody. They were reportedly interested in adding Kirk Cousins earlier this offseason, which is a dire, dire sentence in the year 2025. If Cousins isn’t traded before the draft — and I don’t think he will be — then the Browns have to select a passer. Any name, at any stage of the draft, would be justifiable. It seems they’re interested in going non-QB in the first round, which I like directionally and absolutely love if Colorado receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter is the selection. After securing a generational talent like him, adding a potential starting quarterback becomes the next priority. And that player is Dart. Dart may require a trade up into the end of the first round, which the Browns are well-equipped to execute; they have nine picks beyond Round 1 to use as trade fodder. But if he lingers until Day 2, he should be the Browns’ pick at No. 33. (Cleveland met with Dart this week.) Dart is a twitchy, creative thrower who loves to push the football down the field. I’m impressed by his ability to throw on the move and under pressure, as he doesn’t need ideal throwing platforms or arm angles to generate velocity or accuracy. Ole Miss’ offense allowed Dart to regularly take deep isolation shots, and his growth as a processor has been stunted as a result; he is not good at moving defenders with his eyes or dissecting coverages. But the Browns should take any level of creativity, aggressiveness and arm talent, no matter the processing errors, if it means they’d get some semblance of a future at QB. Dart’s ceiling as an NFL starter is likely limited. He doesn’t have elite size, arm talent or movement skills; he’s acceptable but not thrilling in all three categories. He reminds me a little of J.J. McCarthy in that way, and McCarthy was the 11th overall pick, albeit with much more collegiate success. So Dart at No. 33 is a worthy swing for a desperate team. Schematically, expect coach Kevin Stefanski to brush off parts of the old Baker Mayfield playbook for Dart. Dart can be good on the movement series and has the deep touch to hit play-action shots off heavy sets. He excelled throwing the back-shoulder ball in college, although Cleveland doesn’t have a great isolation receiver right now. (Even if it takes Hunter at No. 2, it wouldn’t want to use a player with his skill set as a back-shoulder specialist.) Maybe that’s another draft target, or maybe that’s the role for Cedric Tillman to grow into in his third season. Round 2, No. 52: Seattle SeahawksTyler Shough, LouisvilleHeight: 6-5 | Weight: 219 | Scouts Inc. ranking: QB42024 stats: 62.7% completion rate, 3,195 yards, 23 TDs, 6 INTs (1 rushing TD)As the dust settles on Seattle’s tumultuous offseason, clarity has come regarding Sam Darnold’s contract with the Seahawks. Seattle rarely guarantees money outside the first year of a deal, but it seemingly did here. Darnold’s $15 million roster bonus for 2026 is already fully guaranteed, signaling this is likely a two-year commitment. That big of a commitment may preclude the Seahawks from taking a developmental QB on Day 2, but they spent one of their 30 precious pre-draft meetings with Shough, indicating there’s at least some interest. General manager John Schneider was running the show back in 2012, when the Seahawks signed Matt Flynn to a three-year deal … then drafted Russell Wilson in the third round in the same offseason. The world is a little different now than it was then — Shough would likely cost a second-rounder, not a third; Darnold got two years worth of guarantees, not one — but the theory is still the same. Darnold is a possible yet uncertain starter for the Seahawks. And two dart throws at quarterback are better than one. Shough is a great fit in Klint Kubiak’s Shanahan-inspired system. He ran a ton of play-action at Louisville and is comfortable going under center, taking deep dropbacks and hitting big throws into the windows created by those fakes. Shough is a surprisingly good thrower on the move and can shine in a series of bootlegs and half rolls, which Kubiak deployed frequently last season when in New Orleans. Shough, 25, is somehow only two years younger than Darnold and has a long injury history, so he’s far from a perfect prospect. He will worry some teams, but Seattle is in a good position to take the risk. If Darnold misses time or regresses back to the level of his pre-2024 play, Shough would have a chance to win the starting job. Round 3, No. 83: Pittsburgh SteelersJalen Milroe, AlabamaHeight: 6-2 | Weight: 217 | Scouts Inc. ranking: QB52024 stats: 64.3% completion rate, 2,844 yards, 16 TDs, 11 INTs (20 rushing TDs)First things first: The NFL invited Milroe to the draft in Green Bay, and he accepted. Typically, that sort of invite goes only to first-round picks. I’m leaving him on Day 2, where I think he makes sense as a developmental prospect with high-tier athletic traits. Milroe as a draft attendee reminds me of Malik Willis as a draft attendee. Yes, the traits might be first-round caliber, but the play isn’t there just yet. Pittsburgh’s brass met with Milroe before his pro day. On the one hand, the Steelers took a stab at a dual-threat quarterback with Justin Fields last season, so trying again with Milroe is intuitive. And if Aaron Rodgers is their stopgap starter for 2025, Milroe would have time to develop. On the other hand, Pittsburgh showed little interest in building an offense around Fields, as it only marginally included designed QB runs. Any team drafting Milroe — who ran a 4.4 at his pro day — needs to major in such a scheme. That’s how Milroe can keep an offense on track while his passing traits catch up. Milroe is a good enough runner that I could see him being a dangerous starter as early as Year 1, just for how electric he is as a scrambler and short-yardage player. But in order to have a rounded profile as a quarterback, he has to operate dramatically faster in the pocket. Thirty-seven percent of Milroe’s pass attempts were out in under 2.5 seconds last season, lowest of the major quarterbacks in this class. Milroe struggles to get to full-field reads in the pocket and will invite pressure so that he can break contain and get to an improvisational state, in which he is more comfortable. I’m not convinced the Steelers are the best schematic fit for Milroe, but in the construct of quarterback development, we tend to overweigh the scheme and underweigh the rest of the offensive roster. The Steelers have two good receivers in DK Metcalf and George Pickens, as well as a young and ascending offensive line. If the running game doesn’t take a step back without Najee Harris, Milroe would have the necessary infrastructure to develop whenever the reps come in Pittsburgh. Round 4, No. 131: New Orleans SaintsKyle McCord, SyracuseHeight: 6-3 | Weight: 218 | Scouts Inc. ranking: QB82024 stats: 66.0% completion rate, 4,779 yards, 34 TDs, 12 INTs (3 rushing TDs)The Saints have done their homework on the top quarterbacks in this class, and fans are likely hoping for a splashier quarterback move than this. There are two problems, however, with projecting that. The first is the Saints have so many draft needs. They could use a starter at cornerback following the departures of Marshon Lattimore and Paulson Adebo. They also need a starter at left guard, with free agent signee Dillon Radunz holding the spot right now. Wide receiver is far from secure, with Rashid Shaheed returning from knee surgery and Chris Olave now suffering four concussions since he was drafted in 2022. Neither is currently signed beyond the 2025 season. The second issue is the Derek Carr deal. Carr’s contract was restructured this offseason for 2025 cap relief. He now represents a cap hit of $69.2 million in 2026; if cut, he’d count for over $59 million in dead cap space. The average team would cut Carr next year before his $40 million in base salary hits the books, take the 2026 dead cap hit and be clear in 2027. But predicting the Saints’ salary cap management is a fool’s errand, and I have failed at it one too many times to try and do so again. So could the Saints pick a quarterback with the ninth pick? Sure. They could also wait this long, and I wouldn’t be all that surprised. McCord worked out with the Saints late in March, and he fits the model of quarterbacks with whom new coach Kellen Moore has worked in the past, like Justin Herbert and Dak Prescott. McCord has good size, he’s highly comfortable operating in the pocket and he’ll work through progressions and hit backside reads. An uber-aggressive passer, McCord regularly bites off throws he just can’t chew with only average arm strength, but that aggressiveness could serve him well at the NFL level. He’s always willing to give his receivers a chance. McCord won’t create much out of structure and will look disastrous during his cold streaks. But if he can ride the ups and downs while making big plays with his arm and eyes, he’ll find a longtime career as a plucky NFL backup. The Saints can only hope he has so much dip on his chip that he enjoys a Brock Purdy-esque elevation to starting-caliber play. Round 6, No. 187: Minnesota VikingsWill Howard, Ohio StateHeight: 6-4 | Weight: 236 | Scouts Inc. ranking: QB62024 stats: 73.0% completion rate, 4,010 yards, 35 TDs, 10 INTs (7 rushing TDs)A few weeks ago, the NFL world was abuzz with the potential of Aaron Rodgers joining the Vikings and fighting J.J. McCarthy for the QB1 job. That probably won’t happen, and probably was never going to happen, but the Vikings do need another QB in the building. Minnesota lost last year’s QB1 (Sam Darnold) and QB3 (Nick Mullens) in free agency. Only Brett Rypien is rostered behind McCarthy, who is far from a sure thing himself. (McCarthy still hasn’t played an NFL snap following last year’s meniscus injury.) I love Rypien as much as the next guy. (No, really.) But that’s not enough. Ideally, the Vikings go QB earlier in this draft — but Howard in Round 6 is a pretty square deal. He had 43 starts over four seasons at Kansas State and a national championship campaign with Ohio State. With the Buckeyes, he looked the part of a poised and trustworthy veteran. I like Howard’s mobility, but he isn’t a one-read-and-scramble escape artist in the pocket. He’ll sit in there, bounce through progressions and look for the correct throw. He can break a tackle or two as well; he’s big and doesn’t shy away from contact. Howard can access all the levels of the field and is generally safe with the football, but he doesn’t see it fast and will get hoodwinked by coverage rotations at the snap. He needs an offense like the one Kevin O’Connell runs, as it protects the quarterback from high processing demands. At Ohio State, Howard picked his poison on isolation routes with elite college receivers in Jeremiah Smith and Emeka Egbuka. In Minnesota, he could do the same with Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. If he hits, I could see Howard having a Jacoby Brissett-like career in the NFL. He might even get the designated sneaker role in Minnesota behind McCarthy! Round 6, No. 190: Los Angeles RamsRiley Leonard, Notre DameHeight: 6-4 | Weight: 216 | Scouts Inc. ranking: QB122024 stats: 66.7% completion rate, 2,861 yards, 21 TDs, 8 INTs (17 rushing TDs)Just three picks after his national championship opponent leaves the board, here comes Leonard. Like Howard, Leonard is experienced with 37 starts over three years at Duke and one season with the Fighting Irish. Like Howard, Leonard has good mobility — in fact, he’s a better runner than Howard, and his best NFL usage would almost certainly involve some designed QB runs. Leonard also has good size, though he’s a bit gangly at 6-4 and would do well to add some bulk. His biggest issue is shot selection. He’s solid before the snap and can open throwing lanes with his eyes, but he doesn’t like to hang in the pocket looking for downfield throws; he’d rather tuck and run. In a class with guys like Milroe and Ward, it’s actually Leonard’s 10.6% scramble rate that leads the pack. There’s nothing too bad about that — he’s great on the hoof — but he can rob his offense of deep shots in the process. Only 11% of Leonard’s pass attempts this season went 20-plus air yards, which ranked 125th among 158 qualifying passers. When pressured, he’s quick to his checkdown, but not in a good way; he’s simply too cautious and unwilling to test downfield coverage unless the window is clearly open. With time in Los Angeles’ offense, Leonard could be coaxed into ripping more throws to the intermediate level of the field, where he has plenty of arm talent to reach. The Rams aren’t in need of a starter in 2025 after Matthew Stafford agreed to a restructured deal. But if the Rams continually update Stafford’s deal on a year-to-year basis, they must invest in a developmental quarterback behind Stafford and veteran backup Jimmy Garoppolo. Leonard represents a low-cost swing that does not preclude the Rams from investing more seriously in the position in the 2026 draft. I also wouldn’t be surprised to see the Rams take an earlier swing on a passer than this. Unfortunately, this just isn’t the draft for developmental QBs, especially when your second-round pick belongs to the Panthers as a result of last year’s trade up for Braden Fiske. Round 6, No. 211: Dallas CowboysQuinn Ewers, TexasHeight: 6-2 | Weight: 214 | Scouts Inc. ranking: QB72024 stats: 65.8% completion rate, 3,472 yards, 31 TDs, 12 INTs (2 rushing TDs)Dallas just made a splash (relative term) by trading for 2024 sixth-round pick Joe Milton III, who captured hearts across America with a dominant Week 18 performance in the Patriots’ win over the Bills in his NFL debut last season. It was actually a good game — he went 22-for-29 for 241 yards with a passing touchdown and a rushing TD — but it shouldn’t move the needle much. One good game against mostly backups does not suddenly turn a sixth-round flier into a viable QB2. Cowboys longtime backup Cooper Rush found a new home in Baltimore this offseason, so the job is up for grabs. Will Grier, who has bounced on and off practice squads for much of the past two seasons, is Milton’s only competition. The Cowboys have plenty of space on their roster for another quarterback to compete in camp. So why not take another sixth-round flier in Ewers? The No. 1 quarterback in his 2021 recruiting class, Ewers spent one season at Ohio State before transferring to Texas, his home state, to play for the Longhorns. The recruiting ranking was a product of Ewers’ live arm. He can generate velocity from a variety of arm angles, and he has a wicked quick release when throwing in rhythm. The issue is that nothing else crystallized for Ewers over his time in college. He has worrisome sprays of poor accuracy to all three levels of the field, he struggles to throw receivers open against tight coverage and he often doesn’t seem to understand what defenses are doing to him. He’ll climb up into pressure when he should feel it and escape the pocket, and he’ll throw right into coverage traps when he should get his eyes to the back side. So Ewers remains a developmental prospect in that he has the physical tools of an NFL quarterback but lacks many of the necessary skills to reliably play the position well. Like most former five-star recruits, Ewers will almost certainly get drafted. It doesn’t matter how poorly you played in college when you have better traits than most Day 3 picks. Dallas will feel like home to Ewers, and he could stick on the roster as a QB3 and fight for the backup job. Three intriguing undrafted free agent fits Miami Dolphins: Hunter Dekkers, Iowa WesternDekkers started for Iowa State in 2022 but left the program in 2023 after pleading guilty to a charge of underage gambling. He enters the NFL after playing for juco school Iowa Western in 2024. Dekkers isn’t the tallest quarterback at 6-2, but he has a big arm and good movement skills. A left-handed passer with a gambling mark against him won’t be on every board, but I’d love him on the Dolphins, where he could back up another lefty in Tua Tagovailoa. Washington Commanders: Dillon Gabriel, OregonGabriel leaves college as one of the most productive passers in NCAA history, but he does not project as an NFL passer. He’s 5-11 and does not have the movement traits or arm talent of Bryce Young or Kyler Murray. Gabriel has a quick release and fast eyes, so he could work in college-inspired offenses like those in Washington (Kliff Kingsbury) or potentially Las Vegas (Chip Kelly). Detroit Lions: Kurtis Rourke, IndianaRourke throws with good rhythm, knows when to take shots and has enough arm to hit the windows between zone coverage. He has unspectacular physical traits and an injury history, but he could keep a functional NFL offense on schedule as a pocket passer. The West Coast offenses that like timely, one-read-and-out quarterbacks — like the Lions and Cowboys — will like Rourke. |
| WILL HOWARDIs Jon Gruden blowing smoke or does he really believe that Ohio State QB WILL HOWARD is a “young Josh Allen”? Michael David Smith of ProFootballTalk.com: Ohio State quarterback Will Howard is viewed by many as a mid-round draft pick, but Jon Gruden thinks Howard has MVP potential. Gruden, who is sitting down with quarterback prospects the way he used to do as a staple of ESPN’s pre-draft coverage, has released the first episode of his 2025 series, and it’s with Howard, who led Ohio State to the national championship last season. And Gruden compared Howard to the reigning NFL MVP, Bills quarterback Josh Allen. “You’re a big, dual-threat quarterback, aren’t you?” Gruden said to Howard. “That’s the MVP of the league. He’s a real big dual threat.” Gruden said that Howard, who measured at 6-foot-4 and 236 pounds at the Scouting Combine and had 26 rushing touchdowns in his college career, has Allen’s size and running ability. “How the hell do people not like you as the No. 1 quarterback in the draft?” Gruden said to Howard. “You’re like a young Josh Allen.” Allen was the seventh overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft. No one thinks Howard is going that high. But Gruden thinks the team that drafts Howard is landing a quarterback with elite potential. We found this comparison in a story by Evan Massey of SI.com: Due to the impressive run that he led Ohio State to, Howard has started receiving more recognition. With that in mind, many are starting to view him as a potential legitimate NFL talent. He’s being given a chance to end up developing into a starter down the line. Kurt Benkert, a former NFL quarterback, took some time to look at Howard’s game. He offered a very intriguing comparison for the Buckeyes standout and is clearly a fan of what he sees in Howard’s game. “I found my Will Howard comp: Joe Flacco,” Benkert wrote. “He can make any throw on the field, he’s athletic enough to move the chains on third downs, and he’s willing to stand and deliver with pressure in his face.” He continued on, adding more to his breakdown of Howard’s game. Additionally, he suggested the Pittsburgh Steelers as a potential fit for Howard in the draft. “He gets a little antsy from time to time and to be honest some of the throws that he misses are because he’s trying to throw it earlier than he needs to. This isn’t a bad thing and it’s easy to fix, but he’s definitely a true pro style quarterback. He’s got some moxie to him as well, which was cool to see come out on film. I actually could see him being a mid round draft pick to somewhere like Pittsburgh.” Those are words of high praise. Howard has clearly turned heads and drawn eyes to his ability. Bleacher Report’s Dame Parson has a less lofty comparison, one that rings a little truer to the DB: Will Howard is a physically talented quarterback with dual-threat playmaking abilities. Howard is a plus-level athlete with good size and stature. He has the athleticism for designed quarterback runs. In the low red zone, Howard’s rushing ability forces defenses to play them honestly and factor him into their run defense. He navigates the pocket fairly well, sliding from pressure, and will break the pocket if defensive pressure flushes him out. Howard’s big frame increases effectiveness near the goal; he will lower his shoulder to force his way into the end zone. Regarding the passing game, Howard operates well within the short and intermediate parts of the field. He flashes good velocity from zero to 15 yards down the field. Designed and isolated quick-passing concepts work well for Howard as they provide easy ways to attack the defense and get into a rhythm. He attacks the seam routes well, throwing with the right amount of velocity and touch based on the defensive coverage. Howard throws down the field with good touch and ball placement, landing over the receiver’s shoulders. Howard’s lower body mechanics in the pocket are inconsistent, resulting in off-target passes. His footwork gets off schedule, and he is skittish in the pocket. After hitting the top of the drop, when he attempts to climb or hitch forward in the pocket, Howard can be heel-clicky. This results in a decrease in accuracy. Howard must find stability and consistency with his base inside the pocket to enhance his accuracy and ball placement. He must refrain from putting the football in harm’s way. Howard tends to lock onto his initial read or pre-determine his read based on the pre-snap defensive alignment. This creates vulnerability when the defense changes its pre-snap look post-snap. Howard tests windows with a gunslinger mentality, trusting his arm more than he should. He had multiple dropped interceptions this season alone. Howard does not utilize eye manipulation on a consistent basis to hold second and third level defenders. This can open up more space inside throwing lanes but keeping defenders from entering the picture. Overall, Will Howard has the tools and abilities teams look for in a developmental prospect. He offers an NFL skill set but projects as a backup behind a veteran. Howard’s flashes of passing upside, along with his rushing ability, will be enticing to an NFL franchise later in the draft. GRADE: 7.4 (High-Level Backup/Potential Starter— Third Round) OVERALL RANK: 72 POSITION RANK: QB4 PRO COMPARISON: Mason Rudolph |
| 2025 DRAFTToday’s Mock Draft is from Nick Baumgardner of The Athletic. It is three rounds deep, we got to #34 below, the full thing is here: The NFL Draft features 32 first-round picks. It does not, however, necessarily feature 32 prospects with a first-round grade. Most drafts don’t sniff that number. And though the 2025 NFL Draft definitely features depth of talent at several positions, the number of players in this class with a consensus first-round grade is likely in the low teens. That’s especially important when discussing the top two quarterbacks, Miami’s Cam Ward and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders. Both are very good prospects, but I’m not sure we can objectively call either “elite.” A first-round grade means the player has almost no scouting holes, no serious questions about whether or not he’ll be able to handle a starting workload for an NFL team (likely a bad one) tomorrow. A year ago, there were three quarterbacks who fit that bill: Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye. This year, quite frankly, there are zero. It’s still possible Ward and Sanders land in the top 10. But it’s also possible one of those players — more likely Sanders — takes a tumble. 1. Tennessee Titans: Cam Ward, QB, MiamiTo be clear, I would not do this. Same time, there’s too much smoke to ignore that first-year GM Mike Borgonzi’s priority is a quarterback, and if you’re going to take one this high, it’s absolutely Ward. I do not think he’d have gone higher than Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels or Drake Maye last season, but it’s possible — given the QB desperation league wide — he’d have been a top-10 pick in 2024. 2. Cleveland Browns: Travis Hunter, CB/WR, ColoradoThe best football player in this draft class and one of the most unique talents we’ve seen in years, Hunter will make an impact wherever he goes — and wherever he lines up — immediately next year. If he sticks at CB he’ll arguably have the best ball skills of any DB in the NFL. He’s that good. This could also be Shedeur Sanders, though I’m decidedly less sure about him than I am Ward. 3. New York Giants: Mason Graham, DT, MichiganThe Giants have spent the entire offseason trying to find veteran quarterbacks in the face of this rookie class, so this, too, could be a Sanders landing spot. But I have zero questions about Graham’s ability to help the Giants immediately. 4. New England Patriots: Abdul Carter, edge, Penn StateCarter’s foot situation certainly complicates matters, though I wouldn’t rule him out as a top-three selection here. If he’s healthy, Carter has a chance to be the best pro in this class. Foot injuries are very scary, however. 5. Jacksonville Jaguars: Will Campbell, OT, LSUCampbell’s arms are a bit short — if he wasn’t so good with his hands and feet, that might be an issue. But Campbell, one of the hardest workers in this draft class, is a terrific athlete. Like when the Chargers drafted Rashawn Slater, nobody should overthink this. 6. Las Vegas Raiders: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise StateJeanty is the NFL Draft’s best running back prospect since at least Bijan Robinson/Jahmyr Gibbs. He might be the best we’ve seen since Saquon Barkley. Regardless of where he fits in that tier, though, he absolutely should be a top-10 pick. 7. New York Jets: Armand Membou, OT, MissouriAt the very least, the Jets have a bridge QB in Justin Fields. It’s also possible Fields turns a corner and becomes the team’s long-term starter. Either way, New York’s new regime is not in position to roll the dice on a QB. Aaron Glenn should remember when Detroit passed on QB talent in 2021 to draft Penei Sewell. Start your rebuild there. 8. Carolina Panthers: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, ArizonaThe tape tells the story with McMillan — and part of that story is that his less-than-stellar 40 time isn’t that big a deal. McMillan was a man among children at times in college and has the ability to help Bryce Young and this young Panthers offense immediately. 9. New Orleans Saints: Tyler Warren, TE, Penn StateThe 2025 draft class features another great tight end group, and Warren — a true three-down player with the potential to be a dominant run blocker — is leader of the pack. The tight end position has evolved so much in the last 10 years, and Warren has the talent worthy of a top-10 pick. 10. Chicago Bears: Shemar Stewart, edge, Texas A&MThe No. 2 edge in this class is a tough call, especially if we’re lumping Jihaad Campbell and/or Jalon Walker in with that group. A case certainly could be made for Georgia’s Mykel Williams here. But Stewart (6-5, 267) is actually bigger than Williams, and nearly as long (34 1/8 arms). He’s the most athletic edge in this class not named Abdul Carter. 11. San Francisco 49ers: Jihaad Campbell, LB, AlabamaIt’s hard to compare people to Micah Parsons. Campbell isn’t as fast as the Cowboys’ dynamic superstar, but he’s not that far off — and he’s probably at least as explosive. As was the case with Parsons when he came out of college, Campbell hasn’t scratched the surface with regard to all the things he can do on a football field. 12. Dallas Cowboys: Will Johnson, CB, MichiganIt’s not nothing that Johnson has avoided athletic testing at all costs this offseason. It’s also not nothing he more or less sat the 2024 season out after getting dinged up early. But the tape doesn’t lie — Johnson’s confidence is off-the-charts good, as is his football IQ. He definitely could tumble, but he’s a worthy top-15 prospect. 13. Miami Dolphins: Nick Emmanwori, S, South CarolinaThe most complete athlete in this draft, Emmanwori has versatility that knows nearly no limit — he’s 6-foot-3, 220 pounds with a 4.38-second 40 time, 43-inch vertical and 11 foot, 6 inch broad jump. He’s still learning how to be consistent, but Emmanwori has the potential to be a defensive coordinator’s best friend. 14. Indianapolis Colts: Colston Loveland, TE, MichiganThere are days when I think Loveland might be right there with Warren as a legit top-10 prospect. An outstanding receiver who terrorized linebackers and has the ability to beat safeties (and some corners), Loveland is also a better blocker than people realize and one of the most dependable talents on the board. He’d be a perfect fit in Indianapolis. 15. Atlanta Falcons: Mykel Williams, edge, GeorgiaWilliams’ scouting profile almost could be used to explain most of this class: He’s a terrific athlete (at 6-5, 260) and has limitless potential as a do-it-all edge with interior rush potential, but he’s also really never put everything together. Though it could take a minute for him to develop, he has true star potential at an incredibly valuable position. 16. Arizona Cardinals: Derrick Harmon, DT, OregonIt wouldn’t be a shock if Harmon winds up going higher than this. At 6-4, 313, he’s bigger than Graham and probably comes with more versatility — he’s already proven he can walk outside and handle himself as a big edge. 17. Cincinnati Bengals: Mike Green, edge, MarshallLike Carter, Campbell and Walker, Green is a phenomenal athlete who gives off Parsons-like vibes in terms of versatility. There also are serious off-field questions here teams will have to investigate before making a decision. 18. Seattle Seahawks: Tyler Booker, G, AlabamaBooker’s not a perfect prospect. Scouts wanted to see more consistency from him as a junior, but they also understand that Booker’s been one of the SEC’s most physically impressive offensive linemen since the first game of his true freshman season. It feels like Seattle has been looking for a prospect like this for at least five years. 19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jalon Walker, edge, GeorgiaThis might be the floor for Walker, whose testing may have caused him to slip behind Campbell and Green on some boards. Still, he’s a legit playmaker anywhere he lines up — a hell-on-wheels front-seven defender who’d be perfect for Todd Bowles. 20. Denver Broncos: Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio StateOne of my favorite players in this class, Egbuka is this year’s version of Amon-Ra St. Brown — a fearless competitor who was a difference-maker from Day 1 inside one of the country’s best programs. As far as I’m concerned, he’d qualify as the “Joker” weapon Sean Payton wants. 21. Pittsburgh Steelers: Shedeur Sanders, QB, ColoradoEven if Pittsburgh signs Aaron Rodgers, and even if Rodgers has some gas left in the tank we simply haven’t seen over the past three years, the Steelers have to devise a long-term plan for the most important position on the field. I cannot get there on Sanders as a top-10 pick, and I don’t think he’s ready to help fix a truly bad team. He’ll be a much better fit if he lands somewhere that can give him a supporting cast. 22. Los Angeles Chargers: Omarion Hampton, RB, North CarolinaJim Harbaugh’s backfield needs thunder and lightning. And Hampton, a 221-pound hammer with speed and wiggle, can be both at the same time. Not only did he rush for more than 3,000 combined yards the last two years, but also he had more than 60 catches. 23. Green Bay Packers: Jahdae Barron, CB, TexasA tough, smart, dependable competitor, Barron reminds me of a bigger version of Washington’s Mike Sainristil. He can play anywhere in the defensive backfield, and you’re going to get everything he has on every snap. He’d be perfect for the physical and talented NFC North. 24. Minnesota Vikings: Grey Zabel, G/C, North Dakota StateZabel was a true five-tool offensive lineman in college. He’s not long enough to be an every-day tackle in the NFL, but his ability to make things happen inside is undeniable. Zabel is a powerful, explosive, flexible athlete with elite football IQ. 25. Houston Texans: Joshua Simmons, OT, Ohio StateAfter suffering a knee injury early during the 2024 season, Simmons expects to be ready for the start of his rookie year. If he hadn’t suffered that injury, it’s fair to wonder if Simmons might have been OT1 in 2025. And the Texans have to find people who can keep C.J. Stroud off the ground. 26. Los Angeles Rams: Josh Conerly Jr., OT, OregonConsistency is lacking, but Conerly is a young prospect with elite athletic traits and equally exciting flashes. His potential fit inside an offense that needs run blockers capable of being dangerous on the move and in space could be terrific. 27. Baltimore Ravens: Donovan Ezeiruaku, edge, Boston CollegeIt’s possible Ezeiruaku is long gone by the late 20s, as the depth of his pass-rush arsenal and his attention to detail are arguably better than any other rusher in this class. He’s also one of the most agile (sub-7-second three-cone at the combine). 28. Detroit Lions: Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, TexasThe Lions’ biggest need is edge, and it also wouldn’t shock me should Brad Holmes try to get younger at receiver — Jameson Williams’ long-term future on the roster is anything but certain. But Detroit also has uncertainty at guard. Banks, a college tackle, should translate well to a guard spot in the NFL and could potentially be a long-term answer opposite Sewell. 29. Washington Commanders: Matthew Golden, WR, TexasOf all the draft-eligible offensive talent at Texas last season, Golden might’ve made the biggest leap. He displayed true difference-making speed and has an ability to win in any area of the field. He flashed WR1 ability, to go along with his 4.29 speed. 30. Buffalo Bills: Kenneth Grant, DT, MichiganGrant’s talent (at 6-4, 331) is undeniable, but almost nothing about his game is consistent. He also did not test anywhere near where scouts anticipated he would. Still, he’s an explosive, powerful presence with high-end potential as a nose and/or a big 3-tech. There’s enough raw ability here to bet on. 31. Kansas City Chiefs: Donovan Jackson, G/OT, Ohio StateA balanced, explosive athlete with very good length, Jackson spent most of his Ohio State career at guard before moving out to tackle in the wake of Simmons’ injury — a critical move during Ohio State’s title run. Jackson can be inconsistent with his hands but has the look of a possible long-term starter at guard or tackle. 32. Philadelphia Eagles: Malaki Starks, S, GeorgiaOne of the smartest football players in this draft, Starks feels a lot like this year’s version of Brian Branch. He’s probably not fast enough to hold up as an outside corner, but he can play either safety spot or be a capable NFL nickel. He and Cooper DeJean together would be a lot of fun. Round 2 33. Cleveland Browns: Tyler Shough, QB, LouisvilleThis, to me, makes much more sense for the Browns than reaching for a QB at No. 2. It’s possible Cleveland will have to trade back into the bottom of the first round for either Shough or Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart, but this would give the Browns a young quarterback and a premium talent at the top of the second. 34. New York Giants: Jaxson Dart, QB, Ole MissPersonally, I prefer Shough to Dart but it’s very close. Dart’s biggest challenge will be proving he wasn’t simply a product of a very college-y offense the way ex-Ole Miss QB Matt Corral was. However, Dart’s a better prospect in just about every area. To me: Shough and Dart are closer to Sanders on the board than Sanders is to Ward. |
