2025 NFL Draft Top 50 Big Board: Surprising QB depth and edge rushers likely dominate early rounds
The NFL Draft is just five months away. The college football regular season is approaching its end already. That means it's time to look ahead to the 2025 NFL Draft with the entire team of draft analysts here at A to Z Sports.We've already been pumping out a ton of draft profiles, mock drafts, and […]
The NFL Draft is just five months away. The college football regular season is approaching its end already. That means it's time to look ahead to the 2025 NFL Draft with the entire team of draft analysts here at A to Z Sports.
We've already been pumping out a ton of draft profiles, mock drafts, and more, but today we're launching the first edition of the A to Z Sports 2025 NFL Draft Top 50 Prospects Big Board.
Our team of eight draft analysts all ranked their top players for next spring's draft at every single position. We then used those rankings to create a collaborative grading scale that fits historical positional draft premium and pick distribution. In order to help you understand this grading scale that we'll be using throughout the next six months here's a quick summary:
Early First Round: 9.01 – 10.00
Late First Round: 8.01 – 9.00
Day Two Prospect: 7.01 – 8.00
Day Three Prospect: 5.01 – 7.00
Priority UDFA Prospect: 4.01 – 5.00
We will be updating this Big Board constantly over the course of the next several months to help you familiarize yourself with all the top prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft and where they could likely be selected. Enjoy!
1. Will Johnson, CB Michigan
Grade: 9.91 (Early First Round)
Will Johnson might have missed a significant portion of the 2024 college football season, but he's still likely the best pure outside cover corner in the 2025 NFL Draft class. Nine career interceptions with multiple pick-sixes and a ridiculous 49.8 NFL passer rating when targeted throughout his three seasons at Michigan.
2. Mason Graham, DL Michigan
Grade: 9.80
Mason Graham possesses one of the most incredible mixes of explosiveness, power, and technique for a defensive line prospect that we have seen in years. You can see why some NFL team might select him extremely high based on the havoc he creates on plays like the one in A to Z Sports draft analyst Ryan Roberts' post below:
3. Cameron Ward, QB Miami
Grade: 9.72
Cam Ward has dropped back over 2500 times in his collegiate career. He brings pro level physical traits, experience, and has become one of the best–if not the absolute best–quarterback in the nation this year based on most every meaningful metric.
4. Kelvin Banks, OT Texas
Grade: 9.63
Kelvin Banks has a solid blend of size, strength, mobility, and consistency that NFL teams love. He's allowed just one sack on the season and it wasn't even his fault.
5. Abdul Carter, EDGE Penn State
Grade: 9.63
Despite just playing one full season at edge defender for Penn State he's already proven to be the highest upside pass rusher in the draft class. Abdul Carter's first step and finish are both unbelievable. If teams want him to play off-ball linebacker he can do that at an elite level too.
6. Tetairoa McMillan, WR Arizona
Grade: 9.62
Tetairoa McMillan has size, ball skills, flexibility, smarts, and leadership if you believe his teammates and coaches. He also has more receiving yards than any other power conference receiver in college football with nearly 1100 through just nine games as of this writing.
7. Shedeur Sanders, QB Colorado
Grade: 9.46
Last season Shedeur Sanders struggled with sacks and decision-making at times, but he's taken significant steps forward. He looks much more like the early 2025 NFL Draft pick people wanted him to be prior to this season now.
8. Travis Hunter, CB/WR Colorado
Grade: 9.33
Travis Hunter is a difficult player to grade because he could truly play either side of the ball at the NFL level. Regardless, he's an easy top ten pick at cornerback and wide receiver both thanks to his unreal athleticism, high motor, and ball skills.
9. James Pearce Jr., EDGE Tennessee
Grade: 9.31
There's only player in this draft class with back to back seasons of pass rush pressure and win rates over 20%. James Pearce Jr. has all the meaningful stats going for him, plus phenomenal length, bend, and burst to be a nightmare for opposing quarterbacks in the NFL.
10. Will Campbell, OT LSU
Grade: 9.25
Will Campbell has only given up two career sacks on nearly 1,500 pass blocking snaps. He's playing near perfection this season, helping give LSU the best pass protecting offensive line in all of college football. LSU's entire team has surrendered just five sacks on 396 drop backs this season thanks in huge part to Campbell.
11. Ashton Jeanty, RB Boise State
Grade: 9.20
If Boise State makes it to the College Football Playoff it's likely Ashton Jeanty breaks every single season record imaginable for running backs. He's racked up over 1,800 yards from scrimmage in just nine games and is the easy RB1 in the 2025 NFL Draft class.
12. Mykel Williams, EDGE Georgia
Grade: 9.20
Mykel Williams has not been 100% healthy for much of this season but he is still in the conversation for best edge defender in the class. He's a physical freak who measures in at 6'5", over 260 pounds, but moves much faster and fluid than his measurements suggest.
13. Luther Burden, WR Missouri
Grade: 9.17
Missouri's offense has been a dumpster fire this season largely due to an inexplicable drop in quarterback play from Brady Cook, but Luther Burden's elite first round wide receiver prospect skills did not go anywhere. He's been looking like a possible WR1 in this class for a while now who can line up and win from anywhere.
14. Malaki Starks, S Georgia
Grade: 9.10
He's been leading the Georgia defense for three years in a row on the back end of their secondary. Malaki Starks is a tackle machine who can win all over the defense as a true free safety, slot, or box defender. Over 20 passes defended on his career. Easy top safety in the class.
15. Colston Loveland, TE Michigan
Grade: 9.06
Michigan has been an absolute dumpster fire on offense this year and yet Colston Loveland just keeps dominating anyway. He has more receiving yards on the season than the entire Wolverines wide receiver group combined. If he tests well at the NFL Combine he could be an early first round pick.
16. Tyler Booker, IOL Alabama
Grade: 9.01
Tyler Booker has been a monstrous force and considered a first round lock by many since he was halfway through high school. Elite pass blocking win rates and movement skills for a mountain of a man that weighs over 320 pounds on the interior offensive line. Could play any offensive line spot at the next level.
17. Emery Jones, OT LSU
Grade: 8.87 (Late First Round)
This 2025 NFL Draft class is hurting for top tier right tackle prospects, but Emery Jones might be the closest thing to a first round pick there. It's likely this is where the "late first round" prospects begin in this big board (players graded between 8.01 and 9.0 via our A to Z Sports team of draft analysts). He's certainly been imperfect in pass protection this year, but has still given up just one sack.
18. Shavon Revel Jr., CB East Carolina
Grade: 8.74
Shavon Revel tore his ACL in practice back in September, sadly cutting short what could have been an elite season. He's given up just a 43% completion rate and boasts 15 passes defended on 65 career targets in coverage. When healthy there's a real chance he is the CB1 in this class.
19. Deone Walker, DL Kentucky
Grade: 8.74
At 6'6", 350 pounds, Deone Walker lines up and wins anywhere along the defensive front. Walker generated over 50 pass rush pressures last season alone and tallies far more tackles than expected for a player of his archetype. He's struggled at times with consistency this year because he may be playing at less than 100%, but he's going to be a problem at the next level.
20. Emeka Egbuka, WR Ohio State
Grade: 8.73
Emeka Egbuka gets overshadowed at times by his fellow first round talent teammates like Marvin Harrison Jr. (in 2022 and 2023) and true freshman phenom Jeremiah Smith, but he's definitely a top tier talent at wide receiver. Former five star recruit with NFL traits. Elite peak production metrics as a true sophomore. Versatility and consistent separation ability. He has it all.
21. Tyler Warren, TE Penn State
Grade: 8.71
Tyler Warren is the only tight end in the country who could push Colston Loveland for the TE1 spot. He's a physical force as a blocker, but also has the receiving ability to take over a game. He's on pace to tally nearly 1000 yards on the season for Penn State.
22. Nic Scourton, EDGE Texas A&M
Grade: 8.69
Nic Scourton's ferocious style of play netted him 50+ tackles and 10 sacks a year ago for Purdue. His sack totals are down this year at Texas A&M as teams have keyed in on slowing him down exclusively, but he's still the wild man at edge rusher he was before. In a deep edge defender class he still stands out.
23. Cameron Williams, OT Texas
Grade: 8.65
There aren't many bigger offensive tackles than Cameron Williams at 6'5", 335 pounds. He has all the requisite traits for a strong tackle prospect. The main question with him is experience as he's only been a starter for less than full season at Texas. That can show at times. However, he's only allowed two sacks in 400 pass blocking reps.
24. Isaiah Bond, WR Texas
Grade: 8.65
Isaiah Bond is one of the fastest, twitchy wide receivers in the nation. He hasn't had a "blow-up" productive season throughout his career, but the NFL will covet his speed, elite-route running, and toe-tapping body control that he displays with consistency.
25. Benjamin Morrison, CB Notre Dame
Grade: 8.64
He, just like Shavon Revel Jr., is missing the vast majority of this 2024 season due to injury, but Morrison should be good to go ahead of his rookie year. He's an elite perimeter cover corner surrendering a career 44.1 NFL passer rating when targeted with 20+ passes defended and a strong athletic profile.
26. Jalen Milroe, QB Alabama
Grade: 8.56
Believe it or not Jalen Milroe is much more than just a running quarterback. Some questionable decisions and underreported injuries have gotten him in trouble some this season, but he's got an incredible deep ball with poise in the pocket. Sacks can be an issue, but his athletic upside makes it worth the risk.
27. Jonah Savaiinaea, OT Arizona
Grade: 8.54
Some might want him to flip to guard (depending on his arm length) and that would be alright. He's actually logged about 1,000 snaps at both guard and tackle throughout his time at Arizona. Savaiinaea is a phenomenal pass blocker, but has some limitations in the run game that reaffirm his late (rather than early) first round grade from the team here at A to Z Sports.
28. Tate Ratledge, IOL Georgia
Grade: 8.53
Despite getting absolutely destroyed by Ole Miss' elite pass rush, his career has largely been characteristic of a fringe first round offensive guard. He brings excellent mobility, likely scheme fit versatility, length, and strength. Possible late first round pick.
29. Josh Conerly Jr., OT Oregon
Grade: 8.44
This former five star struggled a bit last year even with the quick releases from Bo Nix, but he's leaped back into first round discussion with a near perfect 2024. If he continues his 300+ pass block rep streak without a sack well into the playoffs he likely becomes a consensus first round pick.
30. Kenneth Grant, DL Michigan
Grade: 8.38
There might not be a freakier size-adjusted athlete in the 2025 NFL Draft class than Kenneth Grant. He can chase down running backs at 340 pounds with enough burst, wiggle, and strength, to win in pass rush situations. Proven production hasn't been there in large samples, but the traits are there.
31. Jalon Walker, LB Georgia
Grade: 8.36
Jalon Walker is the perfect blend of off-ball linebacker and edge defender for Georgia. He plays fast, downhill, and creates havoc consistently. There might be questions about his stiff hips in coverage, but some NFL team likely swings big early on Walker.
32. Jihaad Campbell, LB Alabama
Grade: 8.29
Jihaad Campbell has become possibly the best off-ball linebacker in the nation. And just like Jalon Walker he can get after the passer from a variety of pre-snap alignments. He just put together perhaps the best singular linebacker performance of the year against LSU with 10+ tackles, two sacks, four pressures, and -1 receiving yards allowed on three targets. He definitely looks like a possible first round pick now.
33. Quinshon Judkins, RB Ohio State
Grade: 8.25
Quinshon Judkins might not have elite stats this season, but it's because he's splitting work with fellow early round pick running back TreVeyon Henderson. Judkins offers a near perfect blend of size, speed, moves in open space, and receiving ability to be an late first or early second round pick. That's about where the best running backs in most classes go these days.
34. Tacario Davis, CB Arizona
Grade: 8.23
The playmaking hasn't been there in 2024 like it was in 2023 when he tallied over a dozen passes defended, but he's still always tight in coverage and never misses a tackle. Our A to Z Sports draft analyst team disagreed on him quite a bit, but he's very much in the mix for first round capital.
35. Danny Stutsman, LB Oklahoma
Grade: 8.22
Three straight seasons of more than 100 tackles, consistency, and leadership. It's unclear how early NFL teams will grade him out due to questionable coverage skills, but he's no question a top tier linebacker in this class.
36. Jack Sawyer, EDGE Ohio State
Grade: 8.18
Although Jack Sawyer hasn't logged as many sacks this season, his pressure rate has increased significantly as he's seemingly diversified his pass rush move arsenal. He always had first round traits, but it's all coming together now.
37. Jahdae Barron, CB Texas
Grade: 8.18
This is a much higher grade compared to consensus (possible late first round), but that won't be the case for long. He's taken his game to the next level this season allowing just over six yards per reception and an NFL passer rating around 30 when targeted. Elite coverage numbers on top of enforcer status in the run game.
38. Airoentae Ersery, OT Minnesota
Grade: 8.15
There will be those who point out issues in critical games against Michigan and Illinois this year, but his upside with size, length, and surprising strength likely have some team reaching for his potential.
39. Nick Emmanwori, S South Carolina
Grade: 8.12
Nick Emmanwori began his career as a freshman All-American and only got better from there. He's been the best safety in the nation in coverage this year, snagging four interceptions, giving up zero touchdowns. Once he tests off the charts at the NFL Combine he likely rises into the late first round in mock drafts.
40. Derrick Harmon, DL Oregon
Grade: 8.09
Derrick Harmon might be the best pass rushing defensive lineman in the class, bringing pressure nearly 17% of the time, almost triple the positional average. However, his run defense issues and missed tackles make him more of a late first, early second round player instead of top ten prospect like his pass rushing would normally suggest.
41. Carson Beck, QB Georgia
Grade: 8.04
Carson Beck's NFL Draft stock is tanking fast as he continues to struggle with interceptions and processing issues. He's a couple more bad performances away from dropping steeply, but he still flashes incredible potential a few times each game.
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42. LT Overton, EDGE Alabama
Grade: 7.98 (Early Day Two)
LT Overton begins the first true "day two" grades from the A to Z Sports, but he has room to rise. The move from Texas A&M to Alabama was a great one, as he's leveled up his entire pass rush game. There will be some questions about tackle consistency though, which may drop him into somewhere in round two or three of the 2025 NFL Draft.
43. Walter Nolen, DL Ole Miss
Grade: 7.98
Walter Nolen is one of the most versatile, selfless defensive prospects in this draft class. His key rate stats are a bit complicated thanks to his strange usage and assignments in Ole Miss' creative pass rush, but he constantly creates a mess for offenses. Nolen quite often takes out two offensive lineman from the b-gap so a teammate can take a free run at opposing quarterbacks.
44. Nicholas Singleton, RB Penn State
Grade: 7.94
There's not a running back in the class with better raw NFL traits than Nicholas Singleton. He has sprinter speed and burst at 6'1", 225+ pounds with impressive elusiveness and tackle breaking ability. He still aims for the home run play too often, but he's improving on his decision-making.
45. Princely Umanmielen, EDGE Ole Miss
Grade: 7.91
This past off-season some questioned Princely Umanmielen following his transfer from Florida. He's exploded this year with double-digit sacks, elite pressure rates, and has become the leader of Ole Miss' defense who isn't afraid to speak up on gameday.
46. Denzel Burke, CB Ohio State
Grade: 7.90
Burke has been considered a possible first round cornerback prospect for multiple years now, but his 2024 has been far too inconsistent. His game against Oregon was a colossal failure, making him look far too human. He still has the traits and one elite season in 2023 keeping him inside the Top 50 for now.
47. Tyleik Williams, DL Ohio State
Grade: 7.88
Tyleik Williams is a brute strength nightmare and pocket collapsing animal in pass rush. That doesn't always result in pressures credited to him, but he puts offensive lineman in the lap of opposing quarterbacks. He's strong in run defense and gap discipline as well.
48. Xavier Watts, S Notre Dame
Grade: 7.81
Xavier Watts now has ten interceptions in the last two seasons with excellent grades from every major charting service. Watts might be imperfect in tackling, but his fit as a pure free safety who can play the intermediate game well when called upon is likely highly coveted. He would make a great second round pick.
49. Billy Bowman Jr., S Oklahoma
Grade: 7.81
Billy Bowman could have played either side of the ball when got to Oklahoma, but the Sooners wanted to take advantage of his elite athleticism and high motor to stop opposing offenses and that's worked out for most of his career. He's far too instinctual and aggressive to drop very far in the 2025 NFL Draft.
50. Wyatt Milum, OT West Virginia
Grade: 7.80
Wyatt Milum hasn't allowed a sack in more than 1000 pass blocking snaps for West Virginia. He is one of the most underrated prospects in this draft given his blocking win rates. However, there might be questions about how he tests at the NFL Combine. that's what holds him back outside round one for now.
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We'll be back with more NFL Draft coverage here at A to Z Sports all year long! Follow me (@FF_TravisM) and A to Z Sports (@AtoZSportsNFL) on X for all the latest football news!
