We are just two weeks away from the 2025 NFL Draft officially kicking off. It has been a long process, but the finishing line is very much in sight. We have spent several months obsessing over the film, team fits, and each section of the overall draft process.

In just 14 to 16 days, we will have a finished product, and teams will have more future building blocks. With so little time remaining, the public will begin getting more and more access to information about the teams and players. Character questions will come out, as well as medicals.

It feels like as good of a time as any for a quick stock checkpoint. Whose rising stock is real, and which ones are overstated? Let’s check in on some of the more controversial prospects in the class.

Jaxson Dart, QB Ole Miss

I’m still not convinced that Dart goes as high as some people believe, but anything is possible. Dart began this process as a really interesting potential Day Two (rounds 2-3) option. He has good athleticism, a nice frame, is nails in the pocket, and has shown consistent improvement over the last couple of years.

When we start talking about Dart as a first rounder is when you lose me. His arm is average for NFL standards, if not a little below average. The Ole Miss offense also isn’t overly translatable to the next level, which could make for an interesting transitional period. Add in the fact that Dart is an extremely slow processor in that system, you are really making a questionable decision investing that early.

Matthew Golden, WR Texas

This isn’t as much of a shot against Golden. He is a good football player, and is certainly in the late first round-early second round conversation based on the film he put together in 2024. The latest intel, however, is that https://atozsports.com/nfl-draft could end up being the first wide receiver taken. That would make it pretty likely that he could sneak into the top 20 overall selections.

One of the biggest reasons for Golden’s rise lately is his performance at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine, where he ran his forty-yard dash in 4.28 seconds. On film, he just doesn’t play that fast. You can love Golden for his ability as a route runner, or his body control to finish plays down the field, or even his consistency. Loving him for speed, at least on film, is more based on his performance in Indianapolis than actual evidence on the field.

Grey Zabel, IOL North Dakota State

Zabel went from an intriguing mid round option to a potential First Rounder after a dominant showing at the 2025 Reese’s Senior Bowl. That should absolutely raise his stock, but should it to that degree? Probably not. As a collective, we too regularly overhype that one week of practice.

In a lot of ways, this feels like the same situation as New England Patriots offensive guard Cole Strange when he came out of Chattanooga a few years ago. He was a solid prospect as well, but that week on Mobile made him extremely overhyped, and eventually rose to be a first rounder. While Zabel is a good player, the hype has gotten way too much. There are more limitations on film than people are admitting to themselves.

Walter Nolen, DT Ole Miss

From a pure talent perspective, Nolen is the most gifted player in this very deep defensive tackle class. Nolen also had his best year in 2024 by a landslide, finishing with 48 total tackles, 14 tackles for loss, and 6.5 sacks. The flashes are outstanding, and they were more prevalent in his one season with the Rebels.

Here’s the problem, evaluations are not strictly off of flashes, or just what you see on film. Some are ignoring motor issues on the field, but that is far from Nolen’s biggest drawback as a prospect. Why have we seen Nolen continue to fall on the expert mock drafts, and even down to the second round at times?

It’s because there are serious character question marks. It isn’t just maturity issues either. These rumblings didn’t just begin in his one year with Ole Miss. Those issues were there with him coming out of high school, and continued in his two years with Texas A&M. They center around his presence (or lack thereof) as a teammate, and dependability as a person and player.

Read the actions this time of year. A supremely gifted talent seemingly falling from the people with the best connections in the league should speak volumes, and raise some eyebrows. Have you ever heard any coaches or players praising Nolen’s character? Ask yourself why that is.

Donovan Ezeiruaku, EDGE Boston College

Are there things to like about Ezeiruaku? Of course there is. He is long, extremely productive (80 tackles, 21 TFLs, and 16.5 sacks in 2024), and has a nice pass rush plan. All of those things are a strong selling point. Unfortunately, there is more to the evaluation process than just box score scouting.

On film, Ezeiruaku isn’t the twitchiest rusher, and doesn’t bend the outside track consistently. There are some major questions about just how well Ezeiruaku's skill set is going to translate. He also is an undersized EDGE that should be limited to a stand up role. Will he be able to hold up consistently in the run game? That remains another big question.

Are we really justify drafting a pass rush specialist in the top 20 selections? This is more of a reaction to there being some serious character concerns in this year’s EDGE class. 

Jaylin Noel and Jayden Higgins are extremely different players, but that’s a big reason for Noel’s rise as a 2025 NFL Draft prospect

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