Tag: NFL draft 2025

Howard Cross III and Beaux Collins say goodbye to Notre Dame

Best of luck to you both at the next level!

It was a tale of two different Notre Dame football careers on Thursday afternoon, as two seniors said goodbye to the Irish faithful.

Defensive tackle [autotag]Howard Cross III[/autotag] spent six years in South Bend, starting in 2019, and outperformed his recruiting ranking. His best season was last year, when he was named to multiple second-team All-American teams. This fall injuries limited his production.

Cross is expected to be selected in the NFL draft, even if he is undersized for the position. I think once again, he outperforms his “ranking” and makes a team very happy with a mid-round draft selection.

His goodbye was heartfelt, and Cross will be missed.

Notre Dame star DT Howard Cross III will be out with a left ankle injury against Army.
Howard Cross III (56) of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish celebrates his sack with Rylie Mills (99) against the Texas A&M Aggies at Kyle Field on Aug. 31, 2024 in College Station, Texas. Jack Gorman/Getty Images

As for Beaux Collins, his time in the Blue and Gold was short, just this fall after transferring from Clemson as a graduate. He had a solid season with 41 catches, 490 receiving yards and 3 touchdowns.

He will always be remembered for his score against Georgia in the College Football Playoff quarterfinal. Don’t forget his two-point conversion catch against Ohio State in the championship game as well. Two pretty memorable catches for Collins in his lone year with the Irish, as it seemed in his goodbye that he enjoyed his time in South Bend.

Jan. 2, 2025; New Orleans, Louisiana; Notre Dame Fighting Irish wide receiver Beaux Collins (5) celebrates after scoring a touch down during the second quarter after the game during the first half at Caesars Superdome. Amber Searls-Imagn Images

We wish both Howard and Beaux the best of luck at the next level.

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Chiefs scouting report: Ole Miss Rebels OL Micah Pettus

Ole Miss Rebels offensive tackle Micah Pettus could be a target for the Kansas City #Chiefs in the 2025 NFL Draft.

The Kansas City Chiefs find ways to scheme around and survive shaky play from their offensive tackles. The organization needs to provide more stable starters on the outside to protect Patrick Mahomes and Kansas City’s Super Bowl window. The 2025 NFL draft is expected to feature several promising offensive tackles who may be available in the second and third rounds.

Ole Miss offensive tackle Pettus is a behemoth who is unofficially listed at 6 feet 7 inches tall and weighs 350 pounds. His proportional arm length and thick frame make him a daunting obstacle for power rushers. Despite his weight, Pettus flashes the explosive first step and movement skills to attack wide-alignment rushers and drive them around the pocket.

Pettus uses his quick hands to clamp down on defenders and counters long-arm moves with a snatch-trap. He deals with some agility limitations because of his size but is mobile enough to redirect and cover the B-gap when pass rushers counter inside.

Pettus needs to play into his size and create more havoc in the run game. He lacks a consistent mean streak but still lands some devastating blocks. Pettus collapses the defensive line on down blocks. Very few defenders have the anchor to hold their ground when Pettus latches on and drives them out of the play.

Ole Miss opens its SEC conference schedule on Saturday, Sept. 28 against Kentucky at noon.

Chiefs scouting report: Texas Longhorns DT Alfred Collins

Texas Longhorns DT Alfred Collins would be a perfect prospect to pair with Chris Jones if the #Chiefs select him in the 2025 NFL draft.

Chris Jones is one of the freakiest interior defensive linemen in the NFL. The Kansas City Chiefs don’t need to spend high-level draft capital on another defensive tackle in the 2025 NFL Draft, but they could assemble one of the league’s most athletic interior duos.

According to Senior Bowl Director Jim Nagy, Texas Longhorns defensive tackle Collins boasts some of college football’s most impressive verified measurables. The fifth-year lineman is over 6-foot-5 and weighs between 307 and 320 pounds. His arms, which are more than 35 inches long, are the most impressive part of his massive frame.

MockDraftable’s database logs NFL Scouting Combine measurements dating back to 1999. Collins’ arm length ranks in the 97th percentile among interior defensive linemen. His verified height and current listed playing weight (320 lbs.) are both 84th percentile or higher.

Collins’ performance on the field doesn’t match his measurements. He plays at the level of a fourth or fifth round prospect but has the physical tools NFL teams never let out of the top 100 selections. The Chiefs have enough draft capital to justify taking Collins anywhere outside of the top two rounds.

Collins bursts off the line with impressive quickness, which he uses to get skinny, slip through gaps and disrupt plays in the backfield. His pass rush plan features two-armed bull rushes, swipes, swims, club-swims, rips, club-rips and push-pulls. His spin move is viable yet, but there’s a path for it to become a nice weapon.

Collins uses his length and power to stack and shed blocks in the run game. His inconsistent pad level contributes to double teams moving him off the line. Collins puts himself in good positions to make plays but dives and misses tackles or lacks the agility to mirror ball carriers.

The most significant concern with Collins’ draft profile is his lack of a pass rush plan. He fails to maximize his elite arm length and allows blockers into his chest too often. Collins must create more disruption on a down-to-down basis.

The Longhorns face Louisiana-Monroe on Saturday, Sept. 21 at 8:00 p.m. Their SEC in-conference schedule begins with a matchup against Mississippi State the following week.

Chiefs scouting report: Georgia Bulldogs LB Jalon Walker

Georgia Bulldogs LB Jalon Walker should be on the Kansas City #Chiefs’ radar during the 2025 NFL draft.

The Kansas City Chiefs must come away from the 2025 NFL Draft with cost-effective linebacker play and an explosive pass rusher. Georgia Bulldogs star Jalon Walker provides both.

Georgia began cross-training Walker at linebacker in 2023 but placed a larger emphasis on developing his multi-positional versatility this past offseason.

Walker primarily contributed to the Bulldogs as a pass-rushing outside linebacker in his first two seasons before beginning to play more of an off-ball role. His instincts as a linebacker are still raw, but he possesses all of the physical tools to grow into the position.

Walker is undersized for an edge rusher, which contributed to Georgia’s decision to bump him off the line of scrimmage. However, the Bulldogs still give him plenty of snaps at outside linebacker. According to Pro Football Focus, Walker led Georgia in pressures against Kentucky in Week 3 and tied for the lead against Clemson in Week 1.

Walker explodes off the line of scrimmage and has the quick footwork to blow past offensive tackles on the outside arc or counter inside the access the B-gap. He lacks elite arm length but possesses some knockback power in his hands.

Walker’s arsenal of pass rush moves includes club-swims, cross-chops, long-arms, rips, spins, swims and several counter moves. He uses his impressive bend to turn the corner on offensive tackles and flatten his rush angle to the quarterback.

As an off-ball linebacker, Walker’s speed and effort in pursuit make him a natural quarterback spy. He has the burst and range to carry running backs downfield and handle some tough assignments. Against Missouri in 2023, Walker bailed from his spot on the line of scrimmage and stayed even with the slot receiver on a downfield route. Defensive coordinators covet that type of range and versatility.

Georgia travels to Bryant-Denny Stadium to face Alabama in an SEC showdown on Saturday, Sept. 28 at 7:30 p.m. Both programs enter Week 4 of the season as top-five teams in the Associated Press Top 25 poll.

Chiefs scouting report: USC Trojans DB Kamari Ramsey

#Chiefs fans should keep their eyes on USC safety Kamari Ramsey, who could be a target for Kansas City in the 2025 NFL draft.

The Kansas City Chiefs selected Jaden Hicks in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL draft to give themselves depth behind veteran safety Justin Reid, who is set to become an unrestricted free agent in 2025.

Given the Chiefs’ rotating cast of safeties over the past few seasons, fans should expect general manager Brett Veach to continue adding talent at the position in the event that Reid decides to sign with another team.

Despite the first-string talent that Kansas City possesses at safety, the Chiefs’ depth at the position may be a liability if Reid leaves Western Missouri.  the

Bryan Cook, Hicks, and Reid are the only true safeties on Kansas City’s roster, and while Chamarri Conner spent some time in the role during his final years in college, the Chiefs seem keen to use him mostly as a nickelback.

The 2025 NFL draft lacks depth and top-end talent at safety but, fortunately, several prospects are talented enough to warrant top 100 selections, including USC Trojans prospect Kamari Ramsey.

Ramsey explodes downhill to attack screens and short routes. His anticipation and closing speed prevent offenses from gaining yards after the catch. Despite playing limited snaps before 2024, Ramsey showcased the vision and processing to work through route combinations and key on the correct receiver.

He lacks the elite speed and range necessary to operate in single-high coverage but possesses the athletic traits needed to play man-to-man against tight ends. Ramsey successfully covered some shiftier slot receivers in off-man coverage while at UCLA in 2023. With USC, Ramsey has demonstrated that he can stay tightly connected to receiving threats at the top of the stem and that he can accelerate quickly to match their breaks.

At times, Ramsey falls for eye manipulation and gets drawn downhill by play-action. He takes some poor angles to the ball when coming downhill in run defense and hasn’t yet developed an effective block-shedding technique.

These are all correctable issues that experience and good coaching can fix.

Keep your eye on Ramsey when USC travels to Ann Arbor to play Michigan on September 21.

Chiefs scouting report: Virginia Tech Hokies CB Mansoor Delane

Virginia Tech CB Mansoor Delane would be a natural fit for the Kansas City #Chiefs in the 2025 NFL draft.

The Kansas City Chiefs stocked up on young cornerback talent over the past few years and continue receiving significant contributions from their recent draft picks. The team’s starting and rotational cornerbacks avoid hitting free agency until 2026.

The 2025 NFL draft features elite blue-chip talent at cornerback and a deep pool of second and third-round options at the position.

Virginia Tech corner Mansoor Delane is a player who could be a target for the Chiefs next April, and currently projects as a top-70 selection. Though Delane may need a year in the NFL to address some of the technical flaws in his game, he would be an attractive developmental target for Kansas City.

Delane’s size and athleticism stand out on tape. His 6-foot-1 frame is a lean 187 pounds and features long arms that should surpass NFL-worthy thresholds. He is a loose athlete who swivels his hips to mirror and match wide receivers. His speed and closing burst prevent pass catchers from separating downfield and ensure he’s never far away from the football.

Virginia Tech deploys Delane in press-man, off-man, and zone assignments. The junior’s athletic traits and arm length make him an ideal candidate for press coverage, but his inconsistent footwork and jams lead to some mistakes at the line of scrimmage.

Delane’s awareness, ability to sift through multiple routes, and range suggest his short-term outlook is best in zone concepts. The Hokies’ long-term potential will be determined by his ability to develop his technique and patience, especially when playing in man coverage.

The Chiefs use a healthy mix of concepts, providing cornerbacks like Delane opportunities to develop as rookies before taking on larger roles.

The Hokies hope to overcome a sluggish start to the season by putting together a dominant showing against Old Dominion this weekend.

Chiefs scouting report: Oregon Ducks WR Evan Stewart

The #Chiefs would be wise to keep their eyes on Oregon WR Evan Stewart during the Ducks’ matchup against Oregon State this weekend.

Four of the seven wide receivers on the Kansas City Chiefs’ active roster become unrestricted free agents after the 2024 season. The possibility of Rashee Rice facing a suspension in 2025 adds another wrinkle.

Fortunately, the Chiefs have enough picks to add impactful pass catchers during all three days of the 2025 NFL draft.

Oregon Ducks wide receiver Evan Stewart is a player who should be on Kansas City’s radar.

Stewart separates naturally against man coverage and uses his track speed to threaten defenses at every level. His football IQ and understanding of defensive assignments also make him a weapon against zone coverages.

https://twitter.com/B1Gfootball/status/1832616442082033789

Stewart stacks cornerbacks in man coverage to attack the field’s deep third. His footwork and loose frame help him execute sharp cuts to break away from defenders at the intermediate and short levels. He possesses a natural ability to manipulate defenders with exceptionally shifty route running that can win the leverage battle and create open throwing lanes.

Among Stewart’s best qualities, though, is his ball skills at the catch point. Despite his sleight stature (he stands six feet tall and weighs 175 pounds), the Oregon product attacks the football in the air and knows how to Moss defenders. Stewart lacks ideal play strength but battles through contact to secure passes. His ability to adjust to underthrown or off-target passes makes him a reliable go-to option on critical downs.

Many analysts billed Stewart as a potential first-round pick entering the 2024 season but, on his current trajectory, it seems likely that he will land outside of the top 50 selections due to nagging injuries and limited physicality.

Stewart and Oregon travel to Oregon State this weekend for a 3:30 p.m. ‘Civil War’ rivalry game in the Beaver State.

ESPN predicts two Notre Dame players selected in NFL draft’s 1st round

One not a surprise and one definitely is

The college football season is still a few months away, the NFL season almost the same, but ESPN is already looking ahead to who could be selected in the first round of the NFL draft.

Matt Miller, who compiled the list, unsurprisingly has Notre Dame cornerback [autotag]Benjamin Morrison[/autotag] getting selected with the No. 13 pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers. He believes that pairing the Irish star with Joey Porter Jr. will solidify their secondary.

The surprise was seven picks later, as Miller projects that quarterback [autotag]Riley Leonard[/autotag] will be the No. 20 pick by the New York Jets. Not many view the Duke transfer as a potential first round pick, but the talent is there.

Miller believes he makes a big jump this fall, saying that Leonard’s “accuracy, mobility and decision-making he showed in 2022 have scouts believing he’s ready to break out in a new scheme.” We would love to see that, both for Notre Dame and Leonard.

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Florida’s incumbent starter among PFF’s top QBs in 2025 NFL draft

Graham Mertz is one of PFF’s top 10 quarterbacks in the 2025 NFL draft. Of course, there is still a lot of football to play before then.

Florida football has a tough road ahead of it in 2024 but the good news is that they were able to bring back starting quarterback [autotag]Graham Mertz[/autotag]. While far from perfect, the former Wisconsin Badger has proven to be an ample bridge to the future in the QB room.

Of course, the Gator Nation is champing at the bit to see five-star freshman [autotag]DJ Lagway[/autotag] in action, but the stability that Mertz and his high-percentage accuracy bring under center cannot be understated. In fact, his leadership will be absolutely critical in the team’s efforts to snap a three-year losing record streak.

If the redshirt senior can put together another solid campaign this fall, he could very well hear his name called during the 2025 NFL draft next spring. Pro Football Focus’ Trevor Sikkema has the Gators gunslinger among his top 10 quarterbacks in the draft.

Joining Mertz in the top 10 are Connor Weigman (Texas A&M Aggies), Carson Beck (Georgia Bulldogs), Shedur Sanders (Colorado Buffaloes), Jalon Daniels (Kansas Jayhawks), Jalen Milroe (Alabama Crimson Tide), Quinn Ewers (Texas Longhorns), Jaxon Dart (Ole Miss Rebels), Donovan Smith (Houston Cougars) and Noah Fifita (Arizona Wildcats).

Florida’s 2024 season opener

Florida opens up its 2024 regular-season schedule in the Swamp against the Hurricanes on Aug. 31. Kickoff time is slated for 3:30 p.m. ET and the game will be broadcast on ABC Sports.

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