Tag: 2025 NFL Draft

Way too early look at Colts’ 2025 NFL draft: PFF’s top 10 LBs

Here is a way too early look ahead to the 2025 NFL draft for the Colts with PFF’s top-10 draft-eligible linebackers.

With the 2024 college football season on the horizon now just about two months away, let’s take a brief – and way too early – look ahead to the Colts’ 2025 NFL draft with Pro Football Focus’ top draft-eligible linebackers.

PFF has recently gone through all 11 positions and picked the top 10 draft prospects from each. Here is who they chose at linebacker. For more details on each player, click here.

Harold Perkins Jr., LSU
Barrett Carter, Clemson
Danny Stutsman, Oklahoma
Jamon Dumas-Johnson, Kentucky
Smael Mondon Jr., Georgia
Jay Higgins, Iowa
Jaisahwn Barham, Michigan
Jason Henderson, Old Dominion
Collin Oliver, Oklahoma State
Jack Kiser, Notre Dame

The degree to which linebacker could be a need for the Colts next April is likely dependent on two factors. One, does EJ Speed, who is a free agent next offseason, return? Or, two, do the Colts feel confident in Jaylon Carlies as a starter next to Zaire Franklin?

If the answer to both those questions ends up as a ‘no,’ then linebacker will be a massive need.

If one of the answers is yes, and the other is no – take your pick at which one you’d like – then linebacker may not be a massive need with two starters under contract, but depth and competition will certainly be required, especially with Ronnie Harrison and Grant Stuard both free agents as well.

With both Franklin and Carlies under contract through the 2027 season, the Colts are hoping that they have their starting linebacker duo under contract already for the foreseeable future.

The two would form a very complementary combination, with Franklin’s ability to help against the run and Carlies’ experience in coverage as a safety during his time at Missouri.

“Those coaches have a good plan in place of how they’re going to utilize him and how they’re going to develop him,” said Colts area scout Tyler Hughes after the draft. “You got guys like Divine Deablo, who our defensive staff had (with the Raiders), so (Carlies has) got a lot of versatility to him and definitely the figure to see what we want at a linebacker at our level.”

Steelers land athletic defenisve tackle in new 2025 NFL mock draft

Tyleik Williams wuld be a huge upgrade int he middle of the Steelers defense.

Last year, the Pittsburgh Steelers selected defensive tackle Keeanu Benton in the third round of the 2023 NFL draft and he’s on a short list of breakout candidates for the upcoming season. Nevertheless, the Steelers seem to never have enough disruptive players in the middle so when Ian Cummings of Pro Football Network put out his latest 2025 mock draft, that’s the direction for Pittsburgh.

Cummings has the Steelers selecting Ohio State defensive tackle Tyleik Williams. Here’s what Cummings had to saw about the pick:

In the 2024 NFL Draft, the Steelers made their offensive line a force to be reckoned with. In 2025, they’ll now turn to the other front. Tyleik Williams, with his logic-defying athleticism and versatility at 6’3″, 327 pounds, would wreak havoc beside Keeanu Benton.

Williams is one of a handful of massive interior defensive linemen who could come off the board in the first round. We’ve lobbied for years for a massive run stuffer to bring back memories of Casey Hampton and while we love Benton’s game, he’s not that type of player. Williams certainly could be.

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Sooners defender considered NFL draft gem by CBS Sports

Which Oklahoma Sooners defender does CBS Sports consider a hidden gem for the 2025 NFL draft?

The Oklahoma Sooners have one of the more experienced defenses in the country heading into 2024. The Sooners rank eighth in the nation in ESPN’s returning production metric.

Much of the focus when it comes to the Sooners’ defense is on [autotag]Danny Stutsman[/autotag] and [autotag]Billy Bowman[/autotag], and deservedly so. They bring a lot of experience and talent to the table. They’ll play one more season with the Sooners and head to the NFL draft in 2025. With what they did in 2023 and what they’re capable of doing in 2024, there’s a good chance they’ll hear their names called in the top 100 of the draft.

But they aren’t the only players that will get drafted. Over at CBS Sports, Blake Brockermayer chose one hidden gem from each top 25 team ahead of 2024. For the Oklahoma Sooners, Fornelli chose defensive end [autotag]Ethan Downs[/autotag].

Downs has been a disruptive force off the edge, starting 25 games the last two seasons. He’s a high-effort player who can turn the edge and harass quarterbacks as well as hold up in the run game. – Brockermayer, CBS Sports

Downs has back-to-back seasons with 4.5 sacks and has 20 tackles for loss over the last two seasons. Projected to start at one of the defensive end spots in year three of Brent Venables’ defense, Downs could see an uptick in his production.

He’s a do-it-all defensive end who does a fantastic job playing the run and is continually improving as a pass rusher. With another year of experience, he has a chance to solidify himself as a draftable prospect next April.

Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes and opinions. You can also follow John on X @john9williams.

Bucs land stud CB in early 2025 NFL mock draft

See which top cornerback prospect the Tampa Bay Buccaneers land in this early first-round forecast for the 2025 NFL draft

It’s never too early to look ahead to the next NFL draft, and that’s exactly what our friends at Draft Wire have done this week, with a brand new first-round projection for 2025.

In this early mock for next year’s draft, the Bucs are selecting 12th overall, meaning they would miss the playoffs for the first time in five seasons, which would obviously be a disappointment.

But on the bright side, this projection has them using that pick on Notre Dame’s Benjamin Morrison, one of the top cornerback prospects in college football. Morrison has the size, length and coverage skills to be an ideal fit in Todd Bowles scheme, and a stellar 2024 campaign could easily make him a top-10 pick.

After trading away Carlton Davis III this offseason, the Bucs have tons of question marks at corner outside of Jamel Dean, who himself has even struggled to stay healthy and consistent. Spending a first-round pick on a top prospect like Morrison next year would be an ideal scenario for Tampa Bay to shore up a huge need at a premium position.

To check out Draft Wire’s full mock draft, click here.

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2025 NFL Draft first impression: Cam Ward, QB, Miami

2025 NFL Draft first impression of Miami Hurricanes QB Cam Ward, a transfer from Washington State who briefly entered the 2024 NFL Draft

Cam Ward is a familiar name for those who follow the NFL draft, even if it comes from a twist. Ward played the last two years at Washington State and the two years prior to that at FCS-level Incarnate Word, and he initially applied for entry into the 2024 NFL Draft.

Ward then changed his mind and decided to transfer to Miami, immediately taking over as the top QB for the Hurricanes in 2024. He’s certainly got the prolific passing stats to attract prominent preseason draft attention; Ward beings over 14,000 passing yards and 119 career touchdown passes to Miami to start his final season of eligibility.

Before he withdrew from the 2024 draft, the 6-foot-2 Ward was generally projected in the 75-125 overall range, though that’s tough to ascertain. Some of the uncertainty comes from how complex of a prospect Ward is as an NFL projection.

Ward comes from the high-volume, point-and-shoot shotgun spread offense. Yet he has shown traits that transcend the system. One of the first things that jumps out when watching Ward is his patience in making sure his read is right. It’s a subtlety that serves him well.

He can do that because Ward has faith in his right arm to get the ball into the window. A consistent, quick release and a strong exit velocity allow Ward to thread some needles, like this one against a good Washington defense:

While not always perfect, Ward has shown he can feather a ball with exceptional touch and accuracy, too. This throw against Oregon might be my favorite play from Ward in 2023. It’s very reminiscent of the type of play that made Andrew Luck an NFL star:

Ward escapes initial pressure very well and he consistently keeps his eyes down the field — looking to make the big throw. There might not be a more elusive QB in tight quarters in recent memory. There is definitely some college-era Russell Wilson to Ward’s game in that regard.

One big area for improvement would be better anticipation of the pressure. He often doesn’t feel it until it’s too late. Ward does have some running ability, though he too often doesn’t decide to commit to the run until it’s too late.

That leads to another area where Ward can help himself in terms of draft stock. There’s a fine line between being cautiously patient and holding the ball too long. Ward doesn’t yet have a great feel for where that line is. It will be very interesting to see how he handles that in a new, different style of offense at Miami.

The arm talent is impressive, as is the elusiveness. But there are definitely questions to answer in 2025. Ward hasn’t ever really played in anything that resembles a pro-style offense, however; he’s been in the shotgun spread system for four years in college after operating a Wing-T in high school.

Ward is definitely going to be one of the most intriguing 2025 QB prospects. How he plays in Miami in his fifth year of starting in college, at his third college no less, will hopefully clear up a lot of the mystery that shrouded his draft projection when he was still in the 2024 NFL Draft.

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Bengals tackle key area of defense in new 2025 NFL mock draft

An early mock draft has the Bengals adding to a premium spot.

The Cincinnati Bengals have a complete-looking roster heading into the 2024 season, provided a few things pan out.

Things, meaning details like Dax Hill making the switch to corner, etc.

But that won’t stop looks ahead to the 2025 NFL draft.

In a new mock from Draft Wire’s Jeff Risdon, the Bengals pick 28th and stay rather local with Louisville pass-rusher Ashton Gillotte:

Last season, the 6-foot-3, 275-pound Gilotte had nine sacks and 58 total pressures, with three tackles for loss and two forced fumbles against the run. For his size, Gilotte brings impressive speed to the pocket, and he also has an El Destructo series of techniques, from bull-rush to swim moves, that allow him to create further havoc. Gilotte also brings positional versatility to the table; two of his sacks and 13 of his pressures came when he was aligned inside the tackles.

The defensive line and pass-rush is one of those areas that could indeed need some help roughly a year from now. Not only did the front seven lose DJ Reader, Myles Murphy will have to step up big if Sam Hubbard doesn’t bounce back from a down season after playing through an injury.

Even if Murphy breaks out and things remain calm between Trey Hendrickson and the Bengals, there’s no such thing as too many good rushers on a defense — especially in a versatile front that lets coordinator Lou Anarumo get creative.

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CBS sports lists LSU WR Kyren Lacy as an underrated NFL draft prospect

CBS Sports names Kyren Lacy one of 2025’s most underrated draft prospects.

LSU wide receiver [autotag]Kyren Lacy[/autotag] continues to generate hype leading into the 2024 college football season. With [autotag]Malik Nabers[/autotag] and [autotag]Brian Thomas Jr.[/autotag] in the NFL, Lacy has a chance to be LSU’s leading receiver.

Phil Steele recently put Lacy on his preseason All-SEC First Team. If he has a year like that, he’ll shoot up NFL draft boards next spring.

CBS Sports put out a list with one underrated draft prospect on each top 25 team with Lacy getting the nod for LSU.

“Lacy is poised for a breakout season thanks to his excellent size, speed, and ball skills,” CBS Sports’ Blake Brockermeyer wrote, “He knows how to use his body to shield defenders and also has some wiggle. When he has the ball in his hands, he’s tough to tackle one-on-one and has the ability to take it the distance. Big-time talent.”

Last fall, Lacy ranked 13th nationally among qualified receivers with 18.6 yards per catch. He was good after the catch too, with 7.1 YAC per reception. He’ll have an opportunity to be explosive and consistent this fall with more targets going his way.

A true breakout year from Lacy could boost the LSU offense to the top of the SEC again.

Contact/Follow us @LSUTigersWire on Twitter, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Louisiana State news, notes, and opinions.

Alabama WR ranks as a top-5 ‘draft gem’ in college football

One of Alabama’s newest players is being respected as a top-five player in college football.

In recent seasons, the Alabama Crimson Tide football program has had plenty of success recruiting wide receiver talent out of high school and through the transfer portal. The development of that talent is also noteworthy, as numerous receivers found their way into the NFL via early rounds of the draft, and cemented themselves as high-quality players at the professional level.

While those were all under the leadership of legendary head coach Nick Saban, he is now retired, leaving former Washington Huskies head coach Kalen DeBoer to be the man at the helm of the historical program.

One of DeBoer’s biggest recruiting victories of the offseason was when he successfully obtained a commitment from junior wide receiver Germie Bernard, who played under DeBoer at Washington.

In 2023, Bernard appeared in 14 games, catching 34 passes for 419 yards and two touchdowns. His role is expected to be much larger at Alabama, being one of the leaders of the receiving corps for starting quarterback Jalen Milroe.

Recently, Bernard was tabbed as a ‘draft gem’ by CBS Sports’s Blake Brockermyer, who ranked the new Crimson Tide receiver No. 5 on the list of top prospects for the 2025 NFL draft.

“Big-bodied receiver who can attack the ball in the air, body defenders and high point in contested catches,” writes Brockermyer. “He is expected to be Jalen Milroe’s security blanket after an impressive spring.”

It will be interesting to see how Bernard performs in the new environment with a new quarterback, but the same head coach. His stats, while relatively underwhelming, don’t give fans a strong idea of his strengths and weaknesses, as the sample size is still somewhat small.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Alabama football news as the 2024 offseason progresses.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow AJ Spurr on X @SpurrFM. 

Three Alabama offensive linemen tabbed as 2025 NFL draft prospects to watch

Alabama’s offensive line in 2024 is loaded with talent that is already catching the eyes of NFL scouts.

The 2024 college football season will be interesting for a variety of reasons, one of which being a new-look Alabama Crimson Tide program without the legendary head coach Nick Saban. New head coach Kalen DeBoer inherits a talented team that is poised to be competitive in the upcoming season.

While there were numerous devastating losses at the hands of the 2024 NFL draft and the transfer portal, the Crimson Tide roster is still one of the strongest in the nation. One positional unit that Alabama fans should not be concerned about is the offensive line. Recently, Pro Football Focus ranked the Tide’s offensive line as the best OL in all of college football.

The players that make up the line for the Crimson Tide are experienced players who have a proven track record of protecting the quarterback and establishing opportunities for both the passing game and the ground game.

Recently, ESPN NFL draft experts Matt Miller and Jordan Reid ranked the top-five players at every position (subscription required) who should be considered preseason 2025 draft prospects.

At guard, two Alabama players were named. According to both Miller and Reid, Tyler Booker is the top-ranked guard in the nation. The Crimson Tide junior had a big role on the line in 2023 and even contributed in 12 games as a true freshman in 2022. He’s expected to enter the 2024 season as a player with a first-round grade and could hold onto it, or improve, with a strong showing throughout the season.

Miller also included Alabama redshirt junior Jaeden Roberts as a player outside of the top five to watch. While he is not named by either expert as a top-five guard, Miller believes he can perform well in 2024 and work his way into a respectable ranking on 2025 draft big boards.

“While we were all scouting Booker this year, his linemate is another player to keep an eye on,” writes Miller. “With eight starts last season, Roberts emerged as a solid starter at right guard thanks to his power and easy movement at 6-foot-5 and 316 pounds. And as evidenced by just three sacks allowed in 2023, he also showed potential as a pass-protector.”

Finally, new Alabama center Parker Brailsford was named by Miller as the top center in the nation heading into the upcoming season, but Reid had Brailsford ranked No. 4 on the list.

Brailsford joins the Crimson Tide via the transfer portal after beginning his collegiate career with the Washington Huskies, playing under DeBoer before he made the move to Tuscaloosa.

In his ranking, Miller mentioned that Brailsford was the most difficult player to rank among the list of top-tier centers that are eligible for the 2025 draft.

“A transfer from Washington, Brailsford anchored the best offensive line in the nation last season, as the Huskies won the Joe Moore Award for outstanding line play. Heading to Alabama to follow head coach Kalen DeBoer will allow us to see if the undersized senior (6-foot-2, 275 pounds) can handle SEC defensive linemen.”

The offense will be the key to success for DeBoer and the Crimson Tide in 2024, and it all relies on the strength of the offensive line. With such key players such as the ones mentioned above, as well as non-draft-eligible players like sophomore Kadyn Proctor, it’s reasonable to believe that the offensive line will be Alabama’s most valuable asset in the upcoming season.

Roll Tide Wire will continue to follow Alabama football news as the 2024 offseason progresses.

Contact/Follow us @RollTideWire on X, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Alabama news, notes and opinion. You can also follow AJ Spurr on X @SpurrFM. 

Packers take Ohio State CB Denzel Burke in early 2025 mock draft

In a very early 2025 mock draft from Doug Farrar of Touchdown Wire, the Green Bay Packers take Ohio State CB Denzel Burke.

In a way too early 2025 mock draft, Doug Farrar from Touchdown Wire has the Green Bay Packers selecting Ohio State cornerback Denzel Burke with the 24th overall pick.

Listed at 6-1 – 193 pounds, Burke will enter his fourth season at Ohio State in 2024, already having played 1,898 career snaps, most of which have come on the boundary.

Over his three year career, Burke has allowed a completion rate of just 52 percent on 151 targets at 12.2 yards per catch with two interceptions and 21 pass breakups. He has a career passer rating when targeted of 74.7.

In Farrar’s mock draft, he notes Burkes’ press and match coverage abilities, which have become very valuable in today’s NFL and fits very well with what new defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley wants to do in Green Bay.

For more on Burke’s game, here is a snippet of what Ian Cummings of Pro Football Network had to say in his early pre-draft scouting report:

“At 6’1″, 193 pounds, with elite explosive athleticism and a near-elite blend of speed, fluidity, and twitch, Burke passes the eye test with flying colors, and he’s also a former WR with certifiable ball skills. He’s proactive with the ball in the air and a physical, fast-flowing player in run support, too.”

The cornerback position has some question marks entering the 2025 season, although Matt LaFleur mentioned recently that he really likes the depth that they have entering training camp, with Eric Stokes fully healthy and Carrington Valentine having bulked up over the offseason.

With Jaire Alexander, Keisean Nixon, and Valentine all under contract through the 2026 season, cornerback may not be a pressing need on paper. However, depth and competition very well could be needed with Stokes and Corey Ballentine both set to be free agents next offseason–particularly if Stokes ends up elsewhere.

During Brian Gutekunst’s tenure as GM of the Packers, he has taken a cornerback in the first round twice, selecting Alexander in 2018 and Stokes in 2021. He also took Josh Jackson in the second round in 2018 as well.

This is a unit that needs more ball production this season, and the addition of Hafley as the defensive coordinator should help with some of that heavy lifting, with his vision-based and more aggressive approach on defense putting the defenders in better positions to make plays on the football.