An SEC signal caller, Big Ten pass catchers, and other early offensive favorites for the 2025 NFL Draft
Every offseason, we find your “guys” in the upcoming draft class, players that you gravitate towards and seem to be higher on than the consensus. For the 2025 NFL Draft, there are several big time players who have already impressed at a high level. On offense, five players stand out most. Here are some of […]
Every offseason, we find your “guys” in the upcoming draft class, players that you gravitate towards and seem to be higher on than the consensus. For the 2025 NFL Draft, there are several big time players who have already impressed at a high level.
On offense, five players stand out most. Here are some of my personal favorites from Summer Scouting, who should have a lot more fanfare right now.
QB Jaxson Dart (Ole Miss) – 6020v, 217v
The 2025 quarterback class has been a volatile group so far this Summer. When it comes to opinions, evaluators seem to be all over the place. The top of the group all seem to be ranked very differently.
One potential sleeper in the group is Dart, who is liked by some NFL evaluators. There are, however, some others that have questions about how easily translatable the system is to the next level. The game-to-game consistency is another thing that decision makers on the next level want to see take a step forward.
You saw great growth from Dart in 2023, building on a very sporadic first year under Lane Kiffin. The natural tools were always there to see. Dart is an easy thrower of the football, having one of the more natural releases in the class. There is high upside as a passer.
For those who don’t know, Dart was actually recruited by several schools to play safety. This is a very good athlete who can also make things happen with his legs. There is a dual threat element to get excited about here.
RB DJ Giddens (Kansas State) – 6001v, 216v
Slightly overshadowed in a deep and talented 2025 NFL Draft class, there might not be a more natural runner manipulating second and third level defenders. Giddens has an easy feel for space, and has tremendous short area skills to work with.
Giddens quietly rushed for 1,226 and 10 touchdowns last season for Kansas State, doing so with his impressive blend of power, deception, and ability to make defenders miss. He also has some of the best receiving skills in the class, hauling for 29 receptions, 323 yards, and three more scores.
How does Tennessee pass rusher James Pearce Jr. stack up against some past NFL Draft prospects?
Tennessee pass rusher James Pearce Jr. is considered one of the top prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft. Just how does Pearce stack up against some of the top edge defenders to come out the last few cycles?
WR Kaden Prather (Maryland) – 6040v, 211v
It’s another good wide receiver class, but not as good as we have seen recently. There are, however, some underrated wide receivers who deserve a lot more preseason attention. That includes Prather, who brings a lot of upside to the table.
A former top recruit who began his career at West Virginia, Prather finally started to really unlock his upside in 2023. He ended the season with 42 receptions for 666 yards and five touchdowns, averaging 15.9 yards per reception. Prather is a height-weight-speed freak athlete who needs refinement, but the upside is immense.
WR Daniel Jackson (Minnesota) – 6000e, 200e
Hidden as a part of a terrible Golden Gopher passing attack, Jackson was quietly tremendous this past fall. He led the squad with 59 receptions for 831 yards and eight scores, which was almost 500 yards more than the next closest wide receiver on the team.
Minnesota has used Jackson all over the place, from on the outside and in the slot. On the inside, Jackson is highlighted best. It’s a loose comparison, but his game is somewhat similar to Detroit Lions star Amon-Ra St. Brown. His short area explosiveness is good but Jackson isn’t necessarily a burner. His route running, nuance and smoothness is tremendous.
OT Aireontae Ersery (Minnesota) – 6060v, 325v
Funny enough, Minnesota has a second offensive player on this list, which is pretty funny considering the Golden Gophers had a pretty stagnant offense last season. Despite that, they have a bonafide top 50 player at left tackle in Ersery.
The massive blocker is extremely powerful, and creates easy movement at the point of attack. What takes you off guard is how fluid and athletic Ersery is. He presents a similar profile as former Oregon State Taliese Fuaga, boasting surprising lateral mobility for a player his size. It can really take you off guard on first view.
