Who do you like?
The 2025 NFL Draft is just days away, so we’re taking this opportunity to get some takes off regarding the prospect pool teams will be picking from — the New England Patriots included.
Colorado’s Travis Hunter, Penn State’s Abdul Carter and Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty are the names you know, but what about those with comparable talent? Who could end up being the steal of the draft? If there’s a trade, which players might come under consideration? How strong is this class at certain positions?
NESN is allowing me to help answer those questions, but we will also provide each player’s ranking from draft mavens like NFL Media’s Daniel Jeremiah, The Athletic’s Dane Brugler and ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr.
Let’s have some fun, folks!
Hunter is the obvious choice to top our list, but that’s because he’s the right one. We have honestly been surprised at the amount of overthinking regarding the class’ top cornerback prospect and one of its two best receiver prospects. It’s a no-brainer if you believe he can play both ways at the next level, which we very much do.
Kiper: 2
Jeremiah: 2
Brugler: 1
Carter epitomizes “value” more than any player on this list, other than our previous entry, as he’s the most versatile pass-rusher in the class. You can put him pretty much anywhere and expect production, which is more than can be said for some other guys at his position.
Kiper: 1
Jeremiah: 1
Brugler: 2
Jeanty’s ability to break one from anywhere on the field is why he’s so popular, but what makes him such a great prospect is how much he helps in the passing game and his ability to stand in and make a difference as an extra protector. Can you think of any other player in this class who could eventually be the best in the world at their position? We can’t.
Kiper: 5
Jeremiah: 3
Brugler: 3
OK, maybe we can.
Warren’s versatility could turn him into one of the best offensive weapons in the league, though the creativity of his eventual offensive coordinator might be the deciding factor there. It’s still easy to see Warren becoming one of the better mismatch players we’ve seen in recent seasons, so that ceiling brings him way up our list.
Kiper: 4
Jeremiah: 6
Brugler: 8
Walker is increasingly being tied to New England, largely due to his notorious work ethic and ability to serve as a coach on the field. Mike Vrabel certainly would appreciate that, but so would anyone else. You don’t find guys like this growing on trees, especially ones who have produced at a high level. So it shouldn’t be a surprise if he goes earlier than initially anticipated.
Kiper: 6
Jeremiah: 5
Brugler: 5
Graham is a tad undersized, but that has never stopped him before. Michigan allowed him to be uber-aggressive from the interior, which led to extremely disruptive days throughout this collegiate career. I don’t expect his production to slow too much at the next level.
Kiper: 3
Jeremiah: 4
Brugler: 4
Campbell has itty bitty arms, yes, but he also proved to be the best blindside protector in the toughest conference in college football across three seasons. It’s silly how much people are overthinking this thing.
Kiper: 19
Jeremiah: 10
Brugler: 6
Campbell plays off the ball, so he’ll fall into the back end of the first round. I think that’s a huge mistake. Alabama literally changed its defensive strategy to allow his versatility to shine through, and there’s no doubt he can step into the NFL and become one of the league’s best inside linebackers — possibly as early as 2025.
Kiper: 17
Jeremiah: 9
Brugler: 14
Membou has an athletic edge over Will Campbell, but the question of whether or not he can handle a switch to the left side is something people will have to consider. I have no doubt he’ll be a good pro, but where?
Kiper: 8
Jeremiah: 12
Brugler: 7
Green was the biggest winner to come out of the Senior Bowl, as he spent the majority of the week abusing opposing offensive linemen. How did he end up at Marshall? It’s a question that will certainly need to be answered before teams trust they can draft him, but the talent is definitely among the best in this class.
Kiper: 22
Jeremiah: 21
Brugler: 10
Golden is the best wide receiver in this class. It’s not that close, either. I’ve already made the argument, but he feels like a guy plenty of teams will regret passing up.
Kiper: 25
Jeremiah: 16
Brugler: 15
Harmon could absolutely end up having a better career than Graham, as the strength and speed combination he possesses is among the best we’ve seen in recent years. Can he keep himself under control and fill out the lower half of his frame, though?
Kiper: 23
Jeremiah: 23
Brugler: 16
Booker is an absolute behemoth and plays with the violence that you’d expect by looking at him. I don’t know if he’s already started looking for houses or not, but he feels like the exact player who could end up being selected by the Houston Texans.
Kiper: 36
Jeremiah: 20
Brugler: 24
Yes, we have Golden and Egbuka over Tetairoa McMillan.
Egbuka has done nothing but serve as a reliable offensive weapon throughout his career, as he essentially molds himself into whatever his team needs him to be. I’d love to see him end up with a team that already has outside weapons surrounding him (Baltimore, Green Bay) so he can hit the ground running. If you want a good player without having to worry about whether he’ll produce, this is the guy.
Kiper: 34
Jeremiah: 17
Brugler: 28
Ward is the best in an underwhelming quarterback class, but he’s anything but underwhelming. Incarnate Word, Washington State and Miami all reached new heights under his leadership, and there’s something to be said for that. Can he be consistent at the next level, especially when it comes to the playmaking aspect of his game?
Kiper: 7
Jeremiah: 8
Brugler: 13
Stewart looks like he’s carved out of granite and plays like he has rockets attached to his cleats. Why didn’t he produce, though? It’s because he’s so raw as a prospect that he expects to win with pure talent. The NFL won’t allow that, so his eventual success will be tied heavily to the coaching he gets.
Who wants to take that gamble?
Kiper: 20
Jeremiah: 27
Brugler: 9
We love this running back class, which would be topped by Hampton if it weren’t for Jeanty.
Kiper: 13
Jeremiah: 13
Brugler: 29
Loveland is the most polished receiver of any tight end in this group, but there are questions about his ability to contribute on all three downs. I love the floor, but not the ceiling.
Kiper: 10
Jeremiah: 7
Brugler: 11
Alexander would be among the top defensive players in this entire draft if he came out of a more prestigious program, but that’s kind of why we love his prospects moving forward. Don’t you think he’s going to get better coaching at the next level? Toledo did a fine job, but having coaches who can unlock his ability to play up and down the line will be huge for his development.
Kiper: 46
Jeremiah: 47
Brugler: N/A
Williams is similar to Stewart, who looks the part but doesn’t have the production to back it up. I think there’s less room for grace, considering how great a defense he was playing on, though.
Kiper: 9
Jeremiah: 22
Brugler: 21
Johnson is coming off an injury, which has pushed him down a ton of boards. You can’t go wrong drafting him, though, as the worst-case scenario still feels like he’ll at least be a really good boundary cornerback.
Kiper: 12
Jeremiah: 14
Brugler: 18
Freak.
Kiper: 21
Jeremiah: 15
Brugler: 17
McMillan produced in college, but history isn’t on his side. If you look at tall wide receivers, they historically either have game-breaking speed or really good weight on them. McMillan has neither.
Kiper: 15
Jeremiah: 18
Brugler: 12
Simmons would be in consideration as the first tackle off the board if not for a mid-season injury, but all signs point to him being ready for the beginning of training camp. Will Campbell and Membou have physical traits that could hold them back, but this guy doesn’t, which could lead to someone making a bold choice.
Kiper: 30
Jeremiah: 37
Brugler: 20
Did we mention how much we love this class? Kaleb Johnson is another future bell cow, who had similarly impressive explosive-run numbers Jeanty’s.
Kiper: N/A
Jeremiah: 45
Brugler: 44
Grant is only this low on the list considering the role he plays, but there isn’t a better two-gap player on this list.
Kiper: 35
Jeremiah: 30
Brugler: 25
Henderson has the ability to hit a home run whenever he touches the ball, but will also be your best pass protector on money downs or save his quarterback by way of a check down. Ohio State demonstrated exactly how to use him last season, so expect Henderson to be in consideration of a team that already has a decent running back on the roster.
Kiper: 31
Jeremiah: 34
Brugler: 46
Nolen improves every time he takes the field. This is a ridiculously deep class at defensive tackle, which might push him out of the first round, but the profile is one that somebody will fall in love with.
Kiper: 26
Jeremiah: 28
Brugler: 31
Conerly has the foundation to become an all-world left tackle, which will be enough for someone to take him early.
Kiper: 33
Jeremiah: 39
Brugler: 23
Zabel won’t be playing left tackle in the NFL, but he’ll make someone incredibly happy as a versatile interior piece.
Kiper: 41
Jeremiah: 24
Brugler: 32
Starks will be a multi-time Pro Bowler.
Kiper: 39
Jeremiah: 29
Brugler: 19
Hairston is one of the fastest cornerback prospects we’ve seen in the last decade, and he should use that speed to overcome a slight frame.
Kiper: 27
Jeremiah: 35
Brugler: 35
Ezeiruaku might never become a double-digit sack guy, but any 4-3 defense could deploy him on all three downs and feel comfortable that he’ll take care of business. Boston College coaches rave about him, as do those who have been around him on a non-football basis.
Kiper: 24
Jeremiah: 25
Brugler: 22
Do you primarily play zone defense? Take him. Do you primarily play man-to-man? Don’t take him. Brian Branch and Jalen Pitre are comparable in terms of how they fit in a defensive system.
Kiper: 11
Jeremiah: 11
Brugler: 30
Burden is a love-him-or-hate-him prospect. I, despite that notion, am very mixed.
Kiper: 47
Jeremiah: 33
Brugler: 27
Banks could be an unbelievable interior lineman at the next level, but something tells me he ends up trying his hand at tackle. Peter Skoronski had to learn the hard way for Tennessee, and likely too will Banks.
Kiper: 18
Jeremiah: 31
Brugler: 26
Sanders will need to learn how to play behind competent offensive lines, which is not a bad problem to have. Can he settle in and play in rhythm? Can he learn how to settle? Does he have the arm talent to be a plus player?
I don’t think anyone can answer those questions but him.
Kiper: 14
Jeremiah: 19
Brugler: 34
Noel is the best route-runner in this class and did a tremendous job adding to his repertoire as time passed at Iowa State. You might not see value in a slot receiver, but some teams don’t have the pleasure of being selective when it comes to adding weaponry. He moves the chains, and that’s pretty much the whole battle.
Kiper: 50
Jeremiah: N/A
Brugler: 42
Can he add nuance to his game? Arroyo has the athleticism, but he has a lot more to learn when it comes to the game.
Kiper: 40
Jeremiah: 43
Brugler: 41
Taylor is probably a bit more polished at his point, but he doesn’t have the same juice as Arroyo. It’s a matter of preference between these two guys.
Kiper: 48
Jeremiah: 32
Brugler: 33
Jackson will be great at the next level, but can he stick at tackle?
Kiper: N/A
Jeremiah: 41
Brugler: 48
I love him. I’m way too high on him because of it, but mark my words: this dude will be a … well, a dude at the next level.
Kiper: N/A
Jeremiah: N/A
Brugler: N/A
Pearce doesn’t have the frame or technical nuance you’d want out of a first-round pass-rusher, so I don’t have him as a first-round pass-rusher.
Kiper: 16
Jeremiah: 26
Brugler: 36
Scourton looks the part but needs to learn to play within a system. It’s like watching a dude with his hair on fire sometimes, but the tools are there.
Kiper: N/A
Jeremiah: 49
Brugler: N/A
Big. Mean. Athletic. Ersery will be a tremendous right tackle in the NFL.
Kiper: N/A
Jeremiah: N/A
Brugler: 37
Collins is so deeply underrated. Texas put out some great talent at his position in recent seasons, and there’s a chance this guy ends up being the best — long as he is used correctly.
Kiper: N/A
Jeremiah: N/A
Brugler: N/A
Milum hasn’t given up a sack since like 1987.
Kiper: N/A
Jeremiah: N/A
Brugler: N/A
Kennard was the SEC Defensive Player of the Year in 2024, has insanely long arms and a great feel for rushing the passer. Why aren’t people as high on him as I?
Kiper: N/A
Jeremiah: N/A
Brugler: N/A
Trapilo might not ever make the switch to left tackle, but there’s no doubt he could be a cornerstone guy on the right side.
Kiper: N/A
Jeremiah: N/A
Brugler: N/A
Shough would be much higher on this list if he wasn’t turning 26, which might sound ridiculous, but it’s the truth. Louisville got the best out of him after unsuccessful stints at both Oregon and Texas Tech. While he looked mighty impressive, the lack of proven production will force him behind Ward, Sanders and Jaxson Dart in the eyes of many.
Just not us.
Kiper: 38
Jeremiah: N/A
Brugler: 50
