2025 NFL Draft Mailbag: Drafting for the Bengals, Commanders, Saints, Day Two pass catchers, and “my guys” in the class
It’s finally here, and happy draft week to all that celebrate. The 2025 NFL Draft will begin on Thursday, and 257 of the best players in the class will hear their name called during the three days, and seven rounds to 32 respective franchises. It’s going to be a wild and chaotic few days of […]
It’s finally here, and happy draft week to all that celebrate. The 2025 NFL Draft will begin on Thursday, and 257 of the best players in the class will hear their name called during the three days, and seven rounds to 32 respective franchises. It’s going to be a wild and chaotic few days of action.
There is nothing better to get everyone ready and energized, than a good ole’ fashioned 2025 NFL Draft mailbag. Shoutout as always to those who submitted questions this week. Some of the questions included drafting for the Cincinnati Bengals, New Orleans Saints, and Washington Commanders. We also get to talk about a sleeper wide receiver, as well as some of “my guys” in the class.
For the final time, let’s answer some questions about the 2025 class.
Sleeper wide receiver
Daniel Jackson from Minnesota is my guy this year outside of that range. I honestly don’t understand what I’m missing with him, but he has next to no buzz heading toward draft day. Jackson isn’t the biggest wide receiver, but he has a track and field background, is very nuanced, and I believe he will be a starting wide receiver in the NFL. He has become one of the best kept secrets in this wide receiver class.
“My Guys” in the 2025 class
There are probably several ways to answer this question. To have a little bit of fun, I decided to select a player within every projected round that can quality as one of “my guys.” That way, I can boast a little about every one of them.
Round One: Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State – It feels like some have tried to underrate Warren a bit late. He is a massive tight end with impressive physicality, movement skills, and versatility.
Round Two: Demetrius Knight, LB, South Carolina – Knight looks like a throwback MIKE linebacker but moves like a modern second level defender. He is super physical, but brings range you wouldn’t expect.
Round Three: David Walker, EDGE, Central Arkansas – viewed as an outlier, there isn’t a more tactical or slippery pass rusher in this class than Walker. He will add immediate help to a pass rush.
Round Four: Chris Paul Jr., LB, Ole Miss – Paul could go on the back end of Day Two, but there are some who are dropping him down due to his size. While Paul might be a smaller linebacker, he plays with impressive range, instincts, and doesn’t miss many tackles.
Round Five: Justin Walley, CB, Minnesota – Don’t be surprised if Walley ends up going considerably higher than this. He isn’t a big cornerback but he plays more physically than you’d expect, has really impressive mirror and match skills, and is extremely smart.
Round Six: Joshua Gray, IOL, Oregon State – Oregon State did Gray a disservice early in his career by making him play a lot of left tackle. He played inside at guard this year and his athleticism popped. There is also some upside potentially at center long term.
Round Seven: Daniel Jackson, WR, Minnesota – See answer above. Jackson is good.
Priority for the Bengals
If you are the Bengals, you have to prioritize defense. That unit is desperate for talent right now. There are several players to keep a close eye on, but I’m really intrigued by the possibility of adding Oregon defensive tackle Derrick Harmon. His penetration upside, and alignment versatility is very intriguing.
Cincinnati Bengals and Notre Dame
Between cornerback Benjamin Morrison, safety Xavier Watts, and linebacker Jack Kiser, I’d be surprised if the Bengals don’t draft a former Notre Dame player during the three days. Defense is a top priority, and they could be very beneficial for Coach Golden to continue implementing his system.
Drafting for the Commanders
I think the Commanders are in the perfect spot to just sit back, and let value fall to them. While it isn’t a top heavy draft inside the top ten selections, there is tremendous value to be had later in the first round. Washington is a team that is in a spot to let value fall to them at a couple of very important positions. You mentioned Simmons as a great value play, but there’s a chance a wide receiver like Luther Burden (Missouri) or Emeka Egbuka (Ohio State) could be there. Putting another talented pass catcher around quarterback Jayden Daniels should always be a priority.
Cornerback is another big need for the Commanders, and the board at No. 29 should be very strong. There’s a chance that a Shavon Revel Jr. (ECU), Maxwell Hairston (Kentucky), or Azareye’h Thomas (Florida State) could all be there. Let the runs and falls happen, and pick the best football player available. That’s the winning formula.
Day Two upside
This is a fascinating question. If ECU cornerback Shavon Revel falls to the second round, he would be my easy pick. If fully healthy, I think there is a reality where Revel may have gone in the top 15 selections. From a height-weight-speed perspective, Revel has everything you would want at the position. He’s an outstanding athlete.
Drafting to the Saints
I’m still standing strong that the Saints go defense in the first round. I know a lot has been made of the quarterback position with the injury to Derek Carr, but I’m just not fully buying it, at least in Round One. That feels like more of insurance the team could search for in the second round.
At No. 9 overall, I’d prefer the team select the best pass rusher available. It’s a bit unpopular but I would be very okay with the team taking the gamble on Shemar Stewart (Texas A&M) to learn from Cam Jordan. The tools are obviously there to be a tremendous player. He just needs to develop and learn.
Michigan cornerback Will Johnson would also be a tremendous selection. He has become one of the most overthought prospects in this class. He has a chance to be an outstanding cornerback in this class.
Will Howard vs Riley Leonard… again
This is a fascinating question because the perspective on each is in a very different place. There is some legitimate hype about Howard, and his potential to be a developmental starter. While I think that upside is pretty overstated, it does appear more favorable for opportunity compared to Leonard, who most view as a Day Three dart throw with athletic traits. The path to success for each is much different.
If I had to pick, I’d probably go with Howard. I honestly don’t feel great about it, however. The situation each lands in is going to determine how right, or wrong I am in the end.
Drew Allar, the QB prospect
I didn’t have being asked about Jim Sorgi on my bingo card this week, and probably ever. Sorgi stuck around in the NFL for six years as a backup, but here’s the thing, he wasn’t very good. Sorgi ended his career with just six touchdowns passes. I’m not a Allar fan right now, at least not as much as some, but he will be overdrafted to someone to be their future starting quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft. The odds are he’s substantially better than Sorgi.
Former Louisville QB Tyler Shough hotly debated as potential early round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, but does he deserve it?
The 2025 NFL Draft quarterback debate continues with less than a week to go until draft day. Cam Ward is going first overall, but after that it seems everyone has a different second favorite option. Tyler Shough continues to rise as a potential first round pick who could join passers like Colorado's Shedeur Sanders and […]
