2025 NFL Draft Notebook: The James Pearce Jr. overthink, divisiveness around Kevin Winston Jr., and the offensive line class
The 2025 NFL Draft is going to be here before we know it, and because of that, there is a lot of film study that needs to be done. In a new feature at A to Z Sports, I will be putting out some of my scouting notes from the week to hopefully shine the […]
The 2025 NFL Draft is going to be here before we know it, and because of that, there is a lot of film study that needs to be done. In a new feature at A to Z Sports, I will be putting out some of my scouting notes from the week to hopefully shine the light on some talented prospects in the class. It will also help to work through some of the key storylines around the group as well.
This week’s adaptation includes my thoughts on Penn State safety Kevin Winston Jr., the offensive line class, the overthink around Tennessee EDGE James Pearce Jr., and Missouri pass catcher Luther Burden. There’s a lot of varying opinions out there in regards to the 2025 group, so let’s reaffirm the trust and debunk some of the other narratives.
The divisive Kevin Winston Jr.
Heading into the 2024 college football season, Winston was viewed as a contender to be one of the first safeties selected in the 2025 class. Unfortunately for Winston, he has missed the majority of the season due to a partially torn ACL. Despite the injury, Winston still declared for the 2025 class, and looks to be ready for the draft process.
As a player, there is a lot to like about Winston. He boasts a big frame at 6-2 and 208 pounds, and brings exciting linear explosiveness to the table. Winston is also a tremendous open field tackler, and might be the best in the entire class overall. As a short zone strong safety, there’s a lot to love.
The biggest hesitation around Winston is his lack of upside in deep zone coverage. The Penn State star is very high-cut, and has extreme hip tightness out of his pedal. This affects his overall change of direction and range, not allowing him to make a ton of plays from depth. That is a limitation that will keep Winston to a very simplistic role in pass coverage, and could cause him to fall down some boards depending on the scheme.
Why the dying buzz on James Pearce Jr.?
After a slow start to the season, Pearce really caught fire during the middle of the season. While he didn’t quite make the jump that some expected, Pearce is still arguably the most gifted pass rushers in the 2025 class. He’s bendy, twitched up, and has absurd closing speed.
He’s still very skinny at 6-5 and 242 pounds, so the run game impact will still be very average for Pearce. It was, however, still considerably better than it was in 2023. Make no mistake about it though, Pearce is on the field to make a quarterback’s day harder. That skill set should still give him a chance to be selected in the top ten picks come April.
2025 offensive line notes
The 2025 offensive line class isn’t very good, but there is still a lot of value to be had. While guys like Kevin Banks Jr. (Texas) and Will Campbell (LSU) didn’t take massive jumps, some other players have. There may not be one who did so more than Ohio State left tackle Josh Simmons.
Simmons suffered a leg injury against Oregon in their first matchup, but before he got hurt, he was playing as well as any offensive tackle in college football. Talent has never been an issue for Simmons, who is in his second year with the Buckeyes after transferring over from San Diego State. He still has a lot of room to add to his frame (6045v, 297v) but has a long frame with over 34 ½” arms. There is a strong argument that he could be the best pure left tackle prospect in the class.
One of the more interesting offensive lineman in the class is Missouri’s Armand Membou. A very odd body type at 6-3 and 325 pounds, there are NFL teams who view Menbou as an offensive tackle, and others who view him as a guard. Wherever you land on that debate (I’m the latter), this is a starting caliber offensive lineman on the next level who brings a similar profile to Isaiah Wynn.
DPR you want
Pass rush is the name of the game on the NFL level. These teams can never have enough of them, whether it is as a starter or a designated pass rusher. That’s the role that Boston College EDGE Donovan Ezeiruaku will more likely play on the next level, putting together a tremendous season in 2024 with 80 total tackles, 21 tackles for loss, and 16.5 sacks.
The biggest issue with Ezeiruaku is that he boasts a very, very small frame. At only 6’2 ¼” and 236 pounds, there is very limited upside to play on a full time basis. Instead, Ezeiruaku will need to make a living on obvious passing downs. In those opportunities, his surprising length (34 ⅝” arms), first step and nuance as a pass rusher brings a nice baseline to the table.
Luther Burden is still WR1
It has been a frustrating year for Burden, whose production is way down from 2023. On the year, he hauled in 61 receptions for 676 yards and six touchdowns. Burden has also rushed the ball nine times for 115 yards, and two more scores. His body type is very reminiscent of former NFL Pro Bowler Golden Tate who is incredibly strong and dynamic after the catch.
Even with that production being down, Burden should still very much be in the WR1 conversation, and is very much worth a top 20 selection. He is also much more than a YAC weapon. Burden also has outstanding upside as a route runner, and is a lot more physical at the catch point than you would expect.