early thread on the 2025 draft

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2025 NFL Draft: Strongest, weakest position groups in the class

https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2025-nfl-draft-strongest-weakest-position-groups

• It’s a good year to target defensive backs and interior defenders: Star-studded cornerback and safety classes lead the way in the 2025 NFL Draft, while the defensive tackle group is flooded with depth players and potential NFL starters.

• Michigan’s Colston Loveland tops a strong tight end class: He and Penn State’s Tyler Warren have a chance to be first-round picks.

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The 2025 NFL Draft is only nearing, and the stars of each position group are breaking away from the pack. We’ll briefly dive into the depth and talent available at each position with just less than six months until showtime.

The scale: great, good, average, below average, scarce

QUARTERBACK: BELOW AVERAGE
The high-profile quarterback class in 2024 is giving way to a 2025 group with less hype, though we know the NFL’s need for the position will still be strong.

Miami’s Cam Ward is racing up Heisman boards with his Hurricanes at the top of the ACC. His improved big-time throw and turnover-worthy play rates make him an intriguing bet at the top, but it is no guarantee due to his up-and-down play style.

Shedeur Sanders, Jalen Milroe and Garrett Nussmeier offer intrigue of their own, but again, not to the level we saw last year, which could mean an NFL team may be able to draft a top quarterback in a lower slot, even outside of the first round.

RUNNING BACK: GOOD
Running back draft classes seem to be at least average every year. The 2025 class is once again a deep group that can litter the league with starters and committee backs.

Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty, who boasts a 96.8 PFF rushing grade through Week 10, is on a record-breaking pace this season and will surely be the top running back taken. The only question now is whether he can crack the top 10. Omarion Hampton, Kaleb Johnson and Quinshon Judkins could be considered as late first- or early second-round picks, while Ollie Gordon, DJ Giddens, Jonah Coleman and TreVeyon Henderson could hear their names called early on Day 2.

WIDE RECEIVER: GOOD
Every year is a good year for the wide receiver class, but it doesn’t feel as star-studded at the top compared to 2024. Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan will be coveted by every team in the top 10, as will two-way phenom Travis Hunter. After them, Luther Burden III, Isaiah Bond and Emeka Egbuka all possess first-round talent. It’s not quite the top-10-rich class we’ve seen in years past, but it is a good one nonetheless.

TIGHT END: GREAT
I really like this tight end class. Michigan’s Colston Loveland remains a first-round type of talent as a receiving tight end despite the Wolverines’ quarterback struggles this season. Penn State’s Tyler Warren has also come on as a complete in-line player whom every NFL team will love. Both have a chance to be first-round picks.

Then there are players like Eli Stowers, Mason Taylor, Gunnar Helm and Harold Fannin Jr., all of whom I would feel comfortable drafting on Day 2. That kind of first-round potential and depth doesn’t come around often with tight end classes.

OFFENSIVE TACKLE: GOOD
The 2024 NFL Draft featured a high-profile offensive tackle class that yielded eight first-rounders, with four going in the top 15 and two in the top 10. This year’s class doesn’t appear to be as strong at the top, but it is deep enough that five or six names could land in the top 40.

Texas’ Kelvin Banks Jr. and LSU’s Will Campbell have top-10 potential. Banks’ 91.4 PFF pass-blocking grade ranks first among FBS tackles and Campbell is on track for his third straight 70.0-plus season-long PFF overall grade, but neither is at 2024 prospect Joe Alt‘s level.

While Cameron Williams, Wyatt Milum, Aireontae Ersery and Josh Simmons could each hear their name called in Round 1, too, this group doesn’t feel as polished as 2024’s batch.

INTERIOR OFFENSIVE LINE: SCARCE
The 2025 class may churn out some starting NFL interior offensive linemen, but it is a tougher group to find players you are confident in.

At least one center has been selected in the top 50 in every draft since 2017, but there is a good chance that streak ends in 2025.

As for guards, Tyler Booker, Tate Ratledge and Donovan Jackson seem to be getting the most hype. However, it’s currently a long shot that we see any of them drafted in the first round. For that reason, look for NFL teams to hit free agency hard at center and guard in March.

INTERIOR DEFENDER: GREAT
Michigan’s Mason Graham, who would have been the first defensive tackle off the board in the 2024 class, leads this year’s strong interior defender group. After that, Omarr Norman-Lott, Kenneth Grant and Tyleik Williams are first-round talents, and Walter Nolen, T.J. Sanders, Dontay Corleone and Deone Walker are all firmly in the top-50 conversation. Oregon’s Derrick Harmon is a big riser, too.

It feels like one of the deeper defensive tackle groups over the past five years. It’s a good year for NFL teams with a need for the position.

EDGE DEFENDER: GOOD
This is a tricky position group to label because its star power isn’t a lock despite the class’ potential.

There are years when we talk about edge rushers in the top five and even No. 1 overall. But although 2025 doesn’t include a Jadeveon Clowney, a Myles Garrett — or even a Will Anderson Jr. or an Aidan Hutchinson in terms of pre-draft dominance — there are plenty of names to know.

First-round chatter often includes Nic Scourton, Abdul Carter, James Pearce Jr. and Mykel Williams, but even they are currently expected to be selected between Pick Nos. 10-20. Then there are Landon Jackson, LT Overton, Shemar Stewart and Princely Umanmielen, all of whom could be late first- or early second-round options.

LINEBACKER: SCARCE
It will be hard for NFL teams to find a linebacker they love in this class.

LSU’s Harold Perkins Jr. possesses intriguing athleticism, but he is undersized and is now coming off an ACL tear. Oklahoma’s Danny Stutsman is a thumper who checks the size boxes but isn’t coveted at a first-round level. Alabama’s Jihaad Campbell is a high-ceiling player, but a young one who is still growing.

Deontae Lawson, Lander Barton and Jack Kiser are likely mid-to-late Day 2 selections at best right now, although they can be contributing NFL players.

Reliable starting linebackers could be at a premium in the 2025 NFL Draft.

CORNERBACK: GREAT
Headlining a star-studded cornerback class are Colorado’s Travis Hunter and Michigan’s Will Johnson — currently top-10 prospects. Notre Dame’s Benjamin Morrison and East Carolina’s Shavon Revel were also showing first-round-worthy play before going down with injuries.

Jahdae Barron and Sebastian Castro have shown reliable coverage ability in the slot, and Barron has even played strong on the outside. Tacario Davis brings unique size at 6-foot-4. A handful of names could go off the board in the top 50 this year, and plenty should be drafted on Day 2.

It’s a good year to need a secondary player. Though Georgia’s Malaki Starks is having a bit of a down season, his freshman and sophomore campaigns were elite, making him worthy of a first-round pick.

Penn State’s Kevin Winston Jr. showcases NFL-level ability but was injured early this season. Oklahoma’s Billy Bowman Jr. and Notre Dame’s Xavier Watts have been talked about in the top 60, and South Carolina’s Nick Emmanwori has been a massive riser, as well. Throw in Lathan Ransom, Kamari Ramsey and Keon Sabb, and you’ve got a bigger buffet of safety choices than we typically see in one draft class.

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Early position grades for the 2025 NFL Draft: Down year for QBs, WRs stand out, No. 1 contenders at EDGE, CB
The run on QBs in 2024 suggests teams know the 2025 class isn’t as good

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/news/early-position-grades-for-the-2025-nfl-draft-down-year-for-qbs-wrs-stand-out-no-1-contenders-at-edge-cb/

The 2024 NFL Draft is in the books. In many ways it was historic, with six quarterbacks going off the board in the first 12 picks — the fastest we’ve ever seen.

Watching the run on quarterbacks made me think NFL teams had already done their due diligence on the 2025 class of draft-eligible quarterbacks, which is not as good. And that gave me the idea to project way-too-early positional grades for the 2025 NFL Draft.

As a devourer of college football film (I ranked my top 100 players two weeks ago for CBSSports.com), I absolutely love putting my name on early projections a year out. This complements my way-too-early mock draft.

Quarterback: C+
There’s no Caleb Williams or even Bryce Young in this class. It’s a pretty deep group, but we’ll have to see this fall if any player emerges as a top-end, franchise-level quarterback. Fourteen quarterbacks made my ranking of the top 100 players in college football and I have fifteen others on my watch list. The overall consensus is Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, Texas’ Quinn Ewers and Georgia’s Carson Beck are likely to be the first three off the board but all of them have lots of questions to be answered this season. I’m not sleeping on Alabama’s Jalen Milroe, either, and actually have him as the second quarterback selected in 2025. His skillset as a runner gives him the potential for a Jayden Daniels-type leap this fall, plus he’ll be coached up by Kalen DeBoer, who turned Michael Penix Jr. from damaged goods to top-10 pick.

Nobody would have had Bo Nix as a Round 1 pick a year ago, which means there’s a huge opportunity this fall for guys like Miami’s Cameron Ward, LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier and Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart to crash the conversation.

Running Back: A-
Solid year for some top-end backs who could find their way into the first round. I’ve got 12 backs on my top 100; three of them won’t be draft-eligible in 2025. Ohio State’s Quinshon Judkins has a really good shot of going in the first round. Oklahoma State’s Ollie Gordon and Ohio State’s TreVeyon Henderson are expected to go high as well. Cal’s Jaydn Ott is a sleeper who scouts will fall in love with. Lots of quality backs round out the class. It’s a much better group of running backs than the 2024 draft class, but there’s not a Bijan Robinson or Jahmyr Gibbs here.

Wide Receiver: A
This position is loaded with talent every year. The 2025 draft won’t be any different. If you’re looking for a game-breaking, future No. 1 guy, you are in luck. There are 17 receivers in my top 100 and 15 are draft-eligible. Missouri’s Luther Burden, Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan, Texas’ Isaiah Bond, Oregon’s Evan Stewart and Ole Miss’ Tre Harris headline the class.

Tight End: B
You don’t just grow Brock Bowerses on trees, you know. There may not be any first rounders in this group, but a few profile as really good Day 2 picks. I’ve got five guys in my top 100 headlined by Michigan’s Colston Loveland, LSU’s Mason Taylor, Ole Miss’ Caden Prieskorn and Iowa’s Luke Lachey.

Offensive Line: B
Big drop off-in talent from the 2024 NFL class to next year’s group but still some gems. I’ve got 10 offensive linemen in my top 100, only one underclassmen, headlined by LSU’S Will Campbell and Texas’ Kelvin Banks. They’ll be top-15 picks next year. Oregon’s Josh Connerly Jr and LSU’s Emery Jones are two other guys to keep an eye on as well. Alabama’s Tyler Booker will be the highest-rated interior lineman.

EDGE: A
The edge class has the potential to be a really strong group and could possibly have the No. 1 pick in Tennessee’s James Pearce Jr., depending on how the top quarterbacks perform.

I have 17 edge players in my top 100 and expect to see some movement once the season gets going on who can separate and dominate. There are likely two or three of these guys who will eventually become interior players at the next level. Penn State’s Abdul Carter, FSU’s Patrick Payton, Ohio State’s Jack Sawyer and Texas A&M’s Nic Scourton headline the edge class and I could see up to four edge players go in the first round.

Texas A&M’s Cashius Howell is one of the most unique prospects I’ve watched with ridiculous twitch and get off.K eep an eye on him early on to see if he can translate at the next level of competition.

Defensive Tackle: A
This is a strong group overall and one of the better defensive tackle classes I’ve seen in years. I’ve got 11 in my top 100, one underclassman. Expect to see multiple first-rounders including Michigan’s Mason Graham, Ole Miss’ Walter Nolen and Oregon’s Jamaree Caldwell as the early favorites followed by Kentucky’s Deone Walker and Michigan’s Kenneth Grant. The latter two are large bodies that can stuff the line of scrimmage and play ball.

I love this group and feel bad leaving somebody out, because it’s a terrific year.

Box Linebacker: C
Not the strongest group of box linebackers, so you’ll have to take one early if you need one. There are four dudes worth watching: Clemson’s Barrett Carter, Iowa’s Jay Higgins and Oklahoma’s Danny Stutsman. LSU’s Harold Perkins could be the best of the bunch but I’ll wait to pass judgment until I see if he has embraced his role in the box. If not, then Perkins would join a strong edge class. Those four ‘backers all made the top 100 and are expected to be impact players this season.

Cornerback: A-
Only six corners made the top 100 but some serious quality over quantity led by Colorado’s Travis Hunter, my No. 1 player in the country. Hunter is someone who could be in the mix for the first pick in the draft in 2025. Maybe the Panthers get the first pick again and turn Hunter into their next Chris Gamble — but actually let him play receiver some, too.

Michigan’s Will Johnson, Notre Dame’s Benjamin Morrison and Wisconsin’s Ricardo Hallman would be headliners in any other class. They are ballhawks with high ceilings.

Safety: C-
Meh. Four safeties made my top 100 list of the best players in college football, including one underclassman. Georgia’s Malaki Starks, Alabama’s Malachi Moore and Notre Dame’s Xavier Watts round out the draftable center fielders. Starks may be the only one worth taking in the first round. The 2026 draft will be better as Ohio State’s Caleb Downs profiles as a top-10 pick.

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