The 2025 NFL Draft Is Rich With Oustanding Skill Position Talent, Several Currently Underrated
It’s July. You know what that means, we are getting closer to the end of summer and college football will be here before we know it. When it comes to the 2025 NFL Draft, that means that a lot of players have been watched and evaluated so far during Summer scouting. While working through the […]
It’s July. You know what that means, we are getting closer to the end of summer and college football will be here before we know it. When it comes to the 2025 NFL Draft, that means that a lot of players have been watched and evaluated so far during Summer scouting.
While working through the offensive draft class, there have been several players that have impressed so far during the preseason. When comparing their buzz to the rest of the draft industry, there needs to be a lot more hype for various standouts. That includes several skill position players that bring a lot of upside to get excited about.
DJ Giddens, RB, Kansas State
It is an outstanding running back class in 2025 potentially, possessing both high-volume ball carriers and departmentalized weapons. It’s hard to find a player who qualifies as a “sleeper” in a class with so much fanfare. Somehow Giddens fits that label despite rushing for 1,226 yards and 10 touchdowns. He also hauled in 29 receptions for another 323 yards and three scores through the air.
A good-sized running back at 6’0 ⅙” and 216 pounds, Giddens brings an upright style with really impressive change of direction skills. There may not be a running back in next year’s class that makes second-level defenders look so silly in space. There is a path to being a top 100 selection next April when you consider his impact in the passing game.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt, RB, Arizona
The transfer portal has provided some talented players an opportunity to get more notoriety and test their talents against the best of the best. That is the route that Croskey-Merritt is taking this offseason, transferring to Arizona from New Mexico. That comes after rushing for 1,190 yards, 17 touchdowns, and 6.3 yards per carry.
When you pop on the film, it’s hard not to get excited about what Croskey-Merritt brings to the table. In today’s game, the increased attention to how to navigate space is really important. A slightly smaller back, he has some outstanding vision that allows him to be a killer running inside zone. His feel for space is special.
Barion Brown, WR, Kentucky
The NFL loves speed, so you can bet that they are going to love Brown. He was a back-to-back state champion in the 100 and 200-meter sprints in the state of Tennessee while at Pearl-Cohn. That includes personal best times of 10.49 and 21.37 seconds respectively, both done when he was a junior. There is reason to believe that Brown could crack the 4.3s in the forty-yard dash during the draft process, or faster.
As of now, you are betting on Brown’s upside as a pass receiver. The production has not quite matched the talent yet, recording 1,312 total yards and nine touchdowns on 109 touchdowns. Brown is also an All-American level kick returner, averaging 31.8 yards per return and four touchdowns in two years. The 6-1, 174-pound pass catcher has all the tools to be a dominant deep threat and YAC weapon if used properly.
Jalen Royals, WR, Utah State
A less talked about player that the NFL very much likes is Royals, who had some very promising spring grades this offseason. Coming off of a dominant 2023 season where Royals hauled in 71 receptions for 1,080 yards and 15 touchdowns. That is an average of 15.2 yards per catch, which illustrates the Royals' ability to win down the field. Funny enough, the talented pass catcher had just seven receptions for 92 yards in two seasons, which included a stop at Georgia Military College.
At 5 '11 ½” and 194 pounds, Royals is a sturdy built outside receiver who brings a nice level of explosiveness in short spaces. He also has underrated long speed, showing the ability to finish a lot of plays down the field. His body control and ball tracking are really impressive, as is his hand strength. That allows Royals to win a lot more contested catches than his size might suggest.
Benjamin Yurosek, TE, Georgia
Yurosek shouldn’t be a new name to most NFL Draft enthusiasts. Despite playing for an awful Stanford offense the last couple of years, Yurosek has been very productive when healthy. He hauled in 108 receptions for 1,342 and five touchdowns in 29 games, adding another 114 yards rushing on 14 carries. Yurosek was off to a fast start in 2023 before injuries set in.
In one of the more underrated offseason moves, Yurosek transferred to Georgia to fill the Brock Bowers role in their offense. While he shouldn’t be expected to be Bowers, there’s also a reality where Yurosek balls out and becomes one of the top tight ends in the 2025 NFL Draft. He has that type of athletic upside.
