As we look ahead to the 2025 NFL Draft, it’s time to unveil the top 25 prospects of the preseason big board. These studs are set to make waves in the NFL and dynasty fantasy football leagues. My preferred method of forming a big board is to stack potential superstars at the top, regardless of perceived positional value. In the countless hours I spent watching game film, no tool or channel was more helpful than the Dynasty Nerds Film Room for scouting quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, and tight ends. Traits are more important to me than statistics, but I need both from a player to place them in the Top 25.
From dominant edge rushers to explosive skill position players, the 2025 class is shaping up to be exciting! Let’s dive into the top 25 prospects who could be game-changers at the next level.
1. James Pearce Jr. | EDGE | Tennessee | 6’5″ | 243 lbs
The undeniably best player in this year’s class is James Pearce. Unlike any in the 2024 class, he is a true blue-chip EDGE rusher who does it all for the Tennessee Volunteers’ defense. He varies his pass-rushing techniques and has showcased dominance at bull rushing, speed rushing, and even finesse moves. Pearce consistently disrupts the offense’s M.O. Additionally, I was surprised to see Pearce drop back in coverage in the Citrus Bowl against Iowa and get an interception. Because of this, he is truly a fit as an EDGE rusher in any scheme. Pearce is my preseason favorite to be the first overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
2. Mason Graham | DT | Michigan | 6’3″ | 320 lbs.
Mason Graham is the top interior defensive lineman in a class stacked with talented defensive tackles. The Michigan Wolverines were sixth in the nation against the run, only allowing 90.0 rushing yards per game. The defense overall was elite, but Graham was a big reason they consistently stuffed the run. He eats double teams for breakfast, can shake blocks, and makes plays on running backs. Graham’s vision and awareness are extremely high, and I rarely see him get fooled into play-action or option plays. He routinely tosses offensive linemen around.
Graham rushes the quarterback as well—don’t let three sacks in 2023 fool you. He had the third-best pass-rush win rate (16.4%) among defensive tackles in the country, and he finished the year with 29 total QB pressures. Graham’s high motor is evident, as he never relents in pursuing the football until the play is blown dead. Graham has the makings of a top-10 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
3. Travis Hunter | CB | WR | Colorado | 6’1″ | 185 lbs.
Travis Hunter is special – his ability to play both sides so well is unprecedented at the college level. I see his potential as a top-30 wide receiver in the NFL, but a top-10 cornerback. His size and athleticism are a rare combo at corner, and his hips are so smooth. Hunter’s ball skills are extremely elite for a defensive back. I wonder if a team will consider having him play both ways in the NFL. He shouldn’t have the stamina to play both all the time, but maybe a full-time corner with a package of 10-15 offensive plays for him to come in as a slot receiver on important 3rd-and-short situations. Regardless of the position, Hunter is a top-5 talent in this draft.
4. Luther Burden | WR | Missouri | 5’11″ | 208 lbs.
Luther Burden is the early favorite to be the 1.01 in 2025 rookie drafts. He’s an explosive receiver who is hard to get a hold of after the catch. Burden is ridiculously shifty and breaks tackles well for his size. As an offense, the Missouri Tigers actively try to get him touches through screens and other short routes, allowing Burden to make things happen.
Furthermore, he has incredible speed and gets behind the defense with ease. For that reason, Burden is almost impossible to cover. If you press him, he can blow by you on a go route for an 80-yard TD. If you play off of him, Burden can take a slant route to the house. The best receivers in the NFL can play on the outside and in the slot (whichever will put the most pressure on the defense), and he is that guy. Burden can potentially be the WR1 option on an NFL offense.
5. Ashton Jeanty | RB | Boise State | 5’9″ | 215 lbs.
Ashton Jeanty is an elite running back prospect in the Alvin Kamara-Jahmyr Gibbs mold. He played wide receiver in high school, which shows up in the passing game. He’s a tier-1 receiving back with great hands and crisp routes. Jeanty is dynamic as a runner as well. He is thick enough to run up the middle and consistently forces missed tackles. His ability to hurdle without a moment’s notice makes it seem more like a reflex than anything. You don’t have to know anything about football to be impressed by watching him. Jeanty will be an every down back in the NFL and an instant top-10 dynasty RB.
6. Quinshon Judkins | RB | Ohio State | 6’0″ | 219 lbs.
Two running backs in the Top 10? Yes! And these guys are both studs. Quinshon Judkins is slightly more of a throwback, ground-and-pound back. He’s a good enough receiver, but he will make his money carrying the football. Judkins has an extreme burst, exploding to the second level. He is seemingly impossible to tackle, nearly always bouncing off the first tackler before going down.
Originally a 3-star recruit, Judkins broke out as a freshman after amassing 1,567 yards rushing. Since then, he’s continued his success with another 1,000-yard rushing season as a sophomore before transferring to Ohio State in the offseason. Quinshon Judkins looks to join Ezekiel Elliot and Archie Griffin on the Mount Rushmore of the most-talented Buckeye running backs. Judkins will be a top-10 dynasty running back asset the moment he is drafted and will be competing with Ashton Jeanty for RB1 all season.
7. Colston Loveland | TE | Michigan | 6’5″ | 245 lbs.
Colston Loveland joins Brock Bowers and Kyle Pitts on the recent blue chip-tight end prospects list. If you could build a tight end in a lab, he would probably come out looking like Loveland. He’s massive and extremely athletic. Loveland is an excellent blocker. I wouldn’t give him the George Kittle comp of being able to pancake defensive ends quite yet, but he holds his own in one-on-ones. Michigan used him often as a pulling blocker—at which he excelled. Loveland will make his money as a receiving tight end, though. He is powerful at high-pointing the ball and has a great catch radius. Even though J.J. McCarthy’s throws weren’t always perfect, Loveland rarely dropped the ball. Loveland will be the belle of the ball in TE Premium league rookie drafts in 2025.
8. Will Johnson | CB | Michigan | 6’2″ | 202 lbs.
Will Johnson has excellent size for a cornerback to match up against bigger wide receivers on the outside. He is a willing tackler, and while he can improve in that area, he’s already above average for a cornerback. Johnson showcased prowess in coverage, both in zone and man concepts. Johnson had four picks in the 2023 season, including a pick-six against Minnesota. His most impressive interception came in man coverage against Marvin Harrison Jr. in 2023. Johnson cut Harrison off on a slant route and beat Harrison to the football. I don’t know if statistics will tell the whole story for Johnson in 2024, as many quarterbacks won’t even throw to his side of the field this season.
9. Benjamin Morrison | CB | Notre Dame | 6’0″ | 190 lbs.
Benjamin Morrison finishes off the “Big 3” of elite cornerbacks in the 2025 draft class (along with Hunter and Johnson). While Morrison is the shortest of the three, he still has average size for the cornerback position. He has nine interceptions in two college seasons so far. I was most impressed with his performance against USC. He caught Caleb Williams off guard on a DB blitz, pressuring him into an interception. Later, Morrison left his man-coverage assignment to intercept the future first-overall pick’s pass by reading Williams’ eyes. Morrison has the tools to become an impact cornerback at the NFL level.
10. Tetairoa McMillan | WR | Arizona | 6’5″ | 210 lbs.
When you flip on Tetairoa McMillan’s tape, his height immediately stands out. He exploded as a sophomore with 90 receptions and 1,402 receiving yards. He’s a massive red zone threat with 18 receiving touchdowns in his two college seasons. McMillan almost seems like Mr. Fantastic in how he can stretch and snag the ball with one hand. His most iconic was a catch in the end zone against Colorado while being guarded by none other than Travis Hunter. McMillan can run cleaner routes, but he has good separation for a receiver of his size. “Tet” McMillan is a receiver to pay attention to for 2025 rookie drafts.
11. Emeka Egbuka | WR | Ohio State | 6’1″ | 205 lbs.
In my eyes, Emeka Egbuka was one of the most surprising returners to college football in 2024. If he had declared for the draft, he would have competed with Brian Thomas Jr. for WR4 in the class. After a disappointing 2023 season that included an ankle injury, Egbuka elected to return for his senior season. No longer in Marvin Harrison Jr.’s shadow, Egbuka has every opportunity to showcase to the NFL that he can be the game-breaking receiver we saw in 2022.
My favorite receiver trait is separation, and Egbuka creates that in abundance. He’s shifty, is a nuanced route runner, has good hands, and is solid after the catch. While running after the catch will never be his calling card, Egbuka has shown he can gain some extra yards. He has the size to take a hit and bounce right back up. He can play inside and outside, with Ohio State using him primarily as a slot receiver. His outside usage may go up with Harrison’s vacancy this season. Egbuka seems primed for a big senior year, with Will Howard providing an upgrade as a quarterback. He has a firm grasp on the WR3 overall spot with a steep drop off after him.
12. Kelvin Banks Jr. | OT | Texas | 6’4″ | 320 lbs.
Kelvin Banks Jr. is my overall first offensive tackle. Slightly shorter than ideal, he otherwise has the perfect build for an offensive tackle. I love the athleticism that Banks plays with. When pulling, he explodes downhill and buries blockers. Banks showcases athleticism with passing protection and getting off the line well. From Humble, Texas, Banks seems to embody his hometown’s name. Reports show that he has worked hard since he stepped on campus. He earned the starting left tackle job as a freshman and has not let go, starting 27 out of 27 games. His clean bill of health throughout his career is certainly something that will excite NFL GMs as well. Banks will be firmly in competition for the top offensive tackle in the 2025 NFL Draft.
13. Will Campbell | OT | LSU | 6’6″ | 323 lbs.
People may come for my throat after ranking Will Campbell as anything other than OT1. First and foremost, I like Campbell. He’s massive, and he excels at being the strongest player on the field any time he steps foot on it.
I loved watching Campbell run block. He is a powerful player who holds up well when pass-blocking, but he’s not as fast as Banks getting off the line. I’m not saying Campbell’s slow by any means, but if you watch Banks and Campbell back to back, Banks is the more athletic offensive tackle. I still think Campbell is firmly in the mix to be the first overall tackle taken.
He clearly has the desired size and strength to be a starting NFL tackle. I don’t know his full measurements, but I can say confidently that nobody need question his arm length or hand size before they’re released pre-draft. SEC coaches highly regard Campbell after being voted 2023 First-Team All-SEC by the Coaches’ Poll. Will Campbell have NFL GMs very excited before the 2025 NFL Draft?
14. Abdul Carter | EDGE | Penn State | 6’3″ | 259 lbs.
I’m not saying he’s the next Micah Parsons—nobody is, but there are eery similarities between Micah Parsons and Abdul Carter. He is the same number (11), height, and roughly the same size as Parsons. They grew up two hours apart in Southeastern Pennsylvania (Philadelphia and Harrisburg, respectfully). And both played out-of-position at inside linebacker their freshman and sophomore seasons at Penn State. The key difference is that we will see a junior year from Carter playing what is seemingly his most natural position: EDGE rusher.
Carter’s relentless energy is evident on tape, running sideline to sideline. Placing Carter on a pre-season big board is challenging because of the projection as an EDGE rusher, but I have every reason to believe he will be elite and could explode up this board. It will require more sack production. I know Carter is going to be a combine warrior as a freak athlete. I want to see Carter have a massive impact terrorizing quarterbacks from off the EDGE this season.
15. Deone Walker | DT | Kentucky | 6’6″ | 345 lbs.
The first thing you notice when you put on Deone Walker tape is that he looks more like a grizzly bear than a football player. The next thing you notice is that he is nightmare fuel for offensive players. He slams anyone he can get a paw on, trying to bury guys beneath the dirt. Walker is a very effective pass rusher from the middle, racking up 7.5 sacks in 2023. His level of pass rushing production is rare from a defensive tackle who draws as many double teams as Walker does. Usually, their impact on the defense shows up in the film—not the stat sheet—but Walker’s impact is felt and seen in both places. Walker shows an ability to absolutely dominate at times, and I am confident that he will be a first-round pick in 2025.
16. Mykel Williams | EDGE | Georgia | 6’5″ | 265 lbs.
This class of EDGE rushers may be the best since 2019. It continues with a Georgia EDGE rusher, Mykel Williams, who is reminiscent of former Georgia Bulldog Travon Walker—both size and speed freak athletes. Williams’ extreme athleticism shows up on tape (and likely will show out at the combine). The other similarity between Williams and Walker is the lack of production. At Georgia, you’re not only competing against the other teams but also against your teammates for who can get to the quarterback first.
Williams only had 4.5 sacks in 2023, which we would like to see him improve upon this season. Williams certainly has the tools. When facing the South Carolina Gamecocks, Georgia required Williams to step back from the line and play QB Spy—messing up opposing QB Spencer Rattler’s reading of the defense. Not many massive edge rushers could be quick twitch enough to play sideline to sideline as Williams did in those instances. Williams found much success off stunts in 2023, coming around the block and through the hole in the O Line like a freight train through a tunnel. Williams could rise even higher this season, but I need to see more production.
17. Emery Jones | OT | LSU | 6’6″ | 315 lbs.
The other half of the best offensive tackle pairing in college football, Emery Jones is a massive right tackle. He has the ideal size for an NFL offensive tackle. He’s athletic—getting off the line quickly enough to match even the fastest EDGE rushers.
Jones is more of a pass protector than a run-block specialist. He is solid enough to hold up and create holes in the run game, but I want to see more violence in his attack. Jones has the size and speed to annihilate linebackers at the second level, but I never saw that on tape. He definitely showed pass protection as a strength, though. Jayden Daniels had plenty of time to get the ball downfield to Nabers and Thomas Jr. in 2023.
Jones was extremely impressive against stunts and twists, tracking his assignment perfectly. Sometimes, he blocked two players simultaneously—shoving the inside guy off his path and still being athletic enough to get his hands on and block the outside rushers. Jones can potentially compete for the OT1 spot in the 2025 NFL Draft, and I am confident he will be a first-round selection.
18. Sheduer Sanders | QB | Colorado | 6’2″ | 215 lbs.
Sheduer Sanders is my QB1 at the moment. He is the most accurate quarterback in this class. He reminds me of Teddy Bridgewater in that he may not have a cannon for an arm, but he can thread the needle. Sanders also has elite athleticism, which allows him to extend plays and create when a play breaks down.
However, holding onto the ball too long got him into trouble sometimes, contributing to some of his 52 sacks (Colorado’s offensive line play was also atrocious, so several were not his fault). Sanders needs to throw the ball away more, but he did take care of the football with only three interceptions in 2023. There are concerns surrounding his character after he belittled a previous teammate and taunted Arizona State’s student section. Still, Sanders has the confidence to be the leader of an NFL locker room. He has 2025 QB1 in his realm of possible outcomes.
19. Omarion Hampton | RB | UNC | 6’0″ | 220 lbs.
It isn’t often that you find a tough power back who also has breakaway speed. Omarion Hampton will run through a brick wall before exploding into a 40-meter sprint. Hampton was a track guy in high school, and it shows in how he plays. I’d guess his speed is close to a 4.4 40-yard dash, but it may even be a touch faster.
Hampton is also a powerful back, racking up an absurd 1,072 rushing yards after contact in 2023. He has the ideal size for a running back body that will withstand hundreds of hard hits. My comparison for Hampton is C.J. Spiller, and I believe he has a legitimate chance at winning the Heisman Trophy in 2024.
20. Carson Beck | QB | Georgia | 6’4″ | 220 lbs.
Carson Beck led Georgia to an undefeated regular season, throwing for 3,738 yards and 22 touchdowns to 6 interceptions. Beck is on time, accurate, and technical. He is a pro-style QB with the traditionally desired size for the position.
My knock on Beck is by no means his fault, but I don’t see him work outside of the plays that are called. His first look was wide open most of the time, and he didn’t face much pressure. This can happen when there are five-star players all over the roster. Sure, Beck can hit a wide-open Brock Bowers on an in-breaking route or a wide-open Ladd McConkey on an out route, but what happens when the play breaks down, nobody is open, and all hell breaks loose? My hope for Beck is that he faces some adversity this season. If he has another season without much stress or pressure, Beck will be a tricky evaluation for me.
21. Harold Perkins Jr. | LB | LSU | 6’1″ | 225 lbs.
Harold Perkins is the class’s best linebacker, but he is not just a linebacker. The LSU Tigers moved Perkins all over the field, lining him up at inside linebacker across from tight ends, being a QB spy, lining up at outside linebacker, covering the flat, or rushing the quarterback. Perkins doesn’t have the size to be strictly an EDGE rusher, but he has shown extreme effectiveness rushing quarterbacks in college (13 career sacks). This skill will translate to blitzing in the NFL. Perkins is a highly instinctive player who seems to sniff out what the offense is doing before they do it. I am very confident that Perkins will hold onto the LB1 spot for the 2025 NFL Draft.
22. Tacario Davis | CB | Arizona | 6’4″ | 195 lbs.
Tacario Davis is a long, lanky cornerback who can fight for the ball alongside the tallest wide receivers. His Washington tape stood out to me. Although mostly playing zone coverage, he had a few reps of 1-on-1 man coverage against first-round pick Rome Odunze. Penix targeted Odunze one time with Davis in man-to-man coverage, which resulted in a pass break up. Davis is working out daily covering one of the top receivers in the nation (see no. 10, McMillan), and I think both are in for a massive 2024 season. Davis is a cornerback to keep an eye on this season.
23. Jonah Savaiinaea | IOL | Arizona | 6’5″ | 330 lbs.
Jonah Savaiinaea is the top interior offensive lineman in the 2025 NFL Draft. He played both tackle and guard in 2023, but I believe he will be a guard (with backup tackle flexibility) in the NFL. Savaiinaea is mammoth, but he moves with a grace and smoothness that shouldn’t be possible at his size. He is a better run blocker than pass protector, but his pass protection flaws are more hidden on the interior.
Savaiineaea’s most formidable opponents are the fast EDGE rushers, as he seems overmatched by their speed. Nearly every EDGE rusher in the NFL can run a 4.5 40-yard dash, which leads me to believe that he will remain at guard. He may struggle at the combine to put up crazy numbers, but when you put on the tape, it is evident that Savaiinaea has the makings of a rookie year starting NFL guard.
24. Malaki Starks | FS | Georgia | 6’1″ | 205 lbs.
In the 2025 NFL Draft, no safety comes close to Malaki Starks. He is an absolute weapon at the backend of the Georgia Bulldog’s defense, and Starks has a sideline-to-sideline range. A track guy in high school, Starks is a burner, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he runs in the 4.35 range at the combine. His vertical will certainly be 40 inches or more based on his acrobatic pass breakups. His body control is tremendous. Some lucky NFL team will feel safe and secure with Starks roaming at the back of their defense.
25. Tyleik Williams | DT | Ohio State | 6’3″ | 330 lbs.
Tyleik Williams is the type of player whose impact on the game will not appear on the stat sheet most weeks. He had 53 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, and 3 sacks in the 2023 season. These may seem pedestrian, but much of his impact comes from eating double teams. Williams is a massive individual and often draws two offensive linemen, freeing up his teammates to make plays. Williams excels as a run-stopper by shedding his blocks at the perfect moment and plowing running backs into the ground. Williams should sneak into the backend of the 2025 NFL Draft’s first round.
