We are now about a quarter of the way through the 2024 college football season. With that, we now have a sample size to really begin to decipher. That doesn’t just go from the side of college football analysis, but now we have a much deeper understanding of the landscape for the 2025 NFL Draft class.

Over the past several days, I have spent my time talking to just about every league source I have. This feature will focus on the defensive class, including players who are rising, falling and some storylines to know. Here is that early season intel to know.

So far it appears that the saving grace of the 2025 NFL Draft class is the defense, which certainly has a ton of talent and depth to get excited about. That includes on multiple levels, and basically every position. It is absolutely the deeper side of the football compared to the offense.

Loaded defensive line class 

One player who is considered right near the top of the class, but somehow still seems underrated is Michigan defensive tackle Mason Graham. He has quietly been a force once again from the middle of the Wolverine defense. His combination of quickness, brute strength, hand play, and motor has made Graham a favorite of NFL evaluators.

From one league source, Graham goes a little under the radar at times because his play is a lot more impressive than his appearance. Even if you don’t pick him out of a lineup, you sure are between the lines of a football field. The 6-3, 318-pounder is a force from the middle of a defense.

“Most fans don’t appreciate the little things, and (Graham) does all of them. Kid is going to go very high. His strength and natural leverage is outstanding, then he luls you to sleep and hits you with his quickness. That’s a Pro Bowler if I’ve ever seen one.”

A player who has not been nearly as underrated is Tennessee pass rusher James Pearce Jr., who I have been a huge fan of since his sophomore year in 2023. Billed as a potential No. 1 overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft, there seems to be a little more hesitancy about Pearce than what some media have been hyping. It all centers around the slow start this fall, and a little issue with his frame.

Everyone knows Pearce has a sleeker frame but the 6-5, 242-pound listing might be a bit overstated. There appear to be some concerns over that frame, and more specifically, his ability to play the run on early downs. When you watch Pearce, you see the type of athlete he is, and the upside he has as a pass rusher. So far this season, his first step has looked a little less explosive. Pearce is going to have to regain that form to assert himself to near the top of the class.

One potential big riser in this class is Alabama EDGE LT Overton. After sporadic production while a member of the Texas A&M program the last couple of years, the 6-5, 283-pound defender is starting to flash a ton for the Crimson Tide. We could be looking at a first rounder this April if this ascension continues. There isn’t much of a question about the talent, just wanting to see a little bit more.

“No. 22 is a freaky dude on that Alabama defense. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see how physically gifted he is. You find him very quickly. The flashes are incredible. My biggest question is what position he ultimately plays. Is he going to be a pure EDGE in a four-man front or play in a three down? Do you want to put some more weight on him or take it off? There does need to be a clear vision for him.”

Early 2025 NFL Draft intel, the volatile quarterback class, talented skill, and what to make of the offensive line

Early 2025 NFL Draft intel for the offensive class

Middle of the field questions

The 2025 linebacker class isn’t great. In reality, it’s pretty below average. Even though the position has been somewhat undervalued in recent years, we typically see at least one linebacker drafted in the first round every year. The best guess for who that will be right now is Oklahoma star Danny Stutsman. From every source I’ve spoken to, Stutsman has a lot of fans around the league.

Obviously, it starts with his physical profile, standing at 6-4 and 240 pounds with impressive movement skills. Stutsman has steadily gotten better. He is also profiting off of an underwhelming class, which will continue to push him up the board right or wrong.

One of the easier evaluations in the 2025 class is Georgia safety Malaki Starks, who might be the best safety to come out in several years. I have yet to speak to anyone around the league who has anything negative to say about his game. Before the season started, it looked like the safety class could be one of the best groups overall.

While I do like the group, there appears to be less opinion from the NFL side. After the injury to Kevin Winston Jr. (Penn State), people are searching for the second safety in the class. Right now it is a position with impressive depth, but may also lack top end talent outside of Starks. The second safety off the board could be a list of several players, including Winston even despite coming off of an injury.