Category: NFL News

Insider Says 1 DT Prospect Is A ‘Destroyer’

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The 2018 NFL Draft logo is seen on a video board during the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft at AT&T Stadium on April 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas.
(Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images)

 

Walter Nolen has emerged as one of the most intriguing prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft.

The Ole Miss standout possesses tremendous potential that many analysts believe warrants a top-15 selection, yet his draft position remains uncertain due to character concerns dating back to high school.

Though currently outside most top-12 rankings, momentum appears to be building around the defensive lineman.

Recent discussions have connected Nolen to the San Francisco 49ers, who hold the No. 11 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

One ESPN draft expert made a compelling case for the selection, highlighting Nolen’s game-changing abilities.

“He is a destroyer,” Field Yates said. “He just completely overwhelms interior offensive linemen with his strength and with his explosiveness. He is a play-wrecker. He is a havoc-causer. He is an interior pass-rusher.”

Nolen’s final college season showcased his disruptive capabilities, as he accumulated 48 combined tackles, 14 tackles for loss and 6.5 sacks.

His presence anchored a formidable run defense that surrendered just 80.46 rushing yards per game while limiting opponents to a meager 2.2 yards per attempt.

This production has caught the attention of NFL talent evaluators.

Opinion remains divided, however, on Nolen’s draft value.

Supporters point to his first-round talent and game-changing potential, while skeptics raise concerns regarding his consistency and technical refinement, particularly with hand placement and leverage techniques.

Despite these questions, his combination of size, strength and explosiveness continues to generate significant interest among teams seeking help on the defensive line.

As the draft approaches, his stock appears to be trending upward, with many teams possibly viewing him as a potential cornerstone for their defensive front.

The post Insider Says 1 DT Prospect Is A ‘Destroyer’ appeared first on The Cold Wire.

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Highest-graded offensive linemen in every key category

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  • Luke Newman can be a late-round gem in the right system: Despite falling well outside the top 300 prospects on both PFF’s big board and the consensus big board, the Michigan State guard excelled on both play-action pass sets and gap-scheme runs, earning the highest grades in the class for each.

Estimated Reading Time: 7 minutes


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The 2025 NFL Draft season is well underway with the NFL Scouting Combine in the rearview. Every player brings a unique skill set to the table, in the hope of having their name called on the big stage. We’re breaking down the draft class’ best players in each and every facet, for every position, to get a more informed view of the NFL hopefuls.

These are PFF’s highest-graded 2025 offensive linemen prospects in each key grading facet. Click here for wide receivers and tight ends, and here for running backs.


PFF Pass-Blocking Grade on True Pass Sets: C Jared Wilson, Georgia (90.7)

Despite playing just one season as a starter at Georgia, Wilson showcased excellent productivity in pass protection. Athleticism and coordinated footwork allow him to mirror pass rushers, and quick hands to defenders give him early control on pass sets. He was the only player in the class to earn a perfect 100.0 pass-blocking efficiency score on true pass sets (minimum 50 snaps).


PFF Pass-Blocking Grade Without Play Action: T Wyatt Milum, West Virginia (93.5)

The Mountaineers ran play action on just 30% of passes this past season — below the average rate in the Power Four — due in part to the reliability of their protection to stand up without it. Milum led the nation in PFF pass-blocking grade without run action, having allowed just four pressures and zero sacks across 241 pass sets.

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PFF Pass-Blocking Grade with Play Action: G Luke Newman, Michigan State (91.4)

Despite not being a highly rated prospect, Newman shows up on this list more than once, highlighting what could be a late-round gem in the right situation. Newman makes good use of his play strength as a run blocker to be effective on play action, maintaining a perfect 100.0 pass-blocking efficiency rating in 2024 without losing a single rep across 124 snaps.


PFF Pass-Blocking Grade on Five- and Seven-Step Drops: T Grey Zabel, North Dakota State (92.9)

While Zabel’s length may lead to an interior shift in the NFL, he showcased excellent technique at tackle to be supremely effective on deep pass sets. He played more than 300 snaps on five-to-seven step drops while surrendering a sub-2.0% pressure rate — one of just two players in the class to accomplish the feat with that level of volume.


PFF Pass-Blocking Grade on Three-Step Drops: T Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas (85.9)

Banks, a natural athlete, possesses high-level foot speed that allows him to get to his spot before pass rushers can engage. The first-round prospect recorded a perfect 100.0 pass-blocking efficiency rating in 2024 on three-step drops, never being beaten on a single rep across 128 pass sets.


PFF Run-Blocking Grade on Zone Runs: T Charles Grant, William & Mary (93.0)

Grant dominated the FCS level with his athleticism, showing up frequently on zone runs. His light and powerful lower half and good lateral quickness allowed him to get across the face of defenders on reach blocks easily, evidenced by his fantastic 22.4% impact block rate on zone concepts. Additionally, he committed very few mistakes, with his 6.7% defeated rate ranking as the lowest in the class.

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PFF Run-Blocking Grade on Gap Runs: G Luke Newman, Michigan State (80.2)

Newman’s second appearance on this list amid a sea of highly sought-after prospects highlights his prowess on gap-scheme runs. While Michigan State may not feature gap concepts frequently in its game plan, Newman excelled regardless, recording the class’ only impact block rate above 20%.


PFF Overall Grade in Red Zone: T Charles Grant, William & Mary (91.0)

Grant again makes his way on this list as the highest-graded red-zone blocker in the class (minimum 100 snaps). The FCS standout was the draft’s only offensive lineman to earn an 87.0-plus PFF red-zone grade as both a pass protector (87.9) and a run blocker (89.9). That’s largely due to his ability to limit mistakes, as he earned just three negative grades (2.6% negatively graded play rate) and posted a positive mark on 15% of his red-zone snaps.


PFF Overall Grade on Third and Fourth Downs: T Grey Zabel, North Dakota State (89.2)

One reason an FCS standout like Zabel is being mentioned as a first-round pick is his ability to be a difference-maker on “gotta have it” downs. As a run blocker (20.4% impact block rate) and pass protector (93.1 PFF grade), Zabel will not be denied on late downs, tallying 19 positively graded plays (9.3% rate) — making him one of just two players to produce a positively graded play rate above 6.5%.


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Weakest position groups ahead of the draft

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  • The Dolphins’ offensive line lacks proven talent: Terron Armstead’s retirement sent the unit further into a spiral, leaving Miami needing to secure talent in the draft.
  • The Steelers continue to wait on Aaron Rodgers’ decision: For now, their quarterback room of Mason Rudolph and Skylar Thompson is the league’s worst.

Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes


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While a lot of draft decisions are dictated by the best players available on the board, teams also need to focus on clear roster holes. With that in mind, we’re looking at the weakest positional groups in the NFL to help decipher what some teams could do in the 2025 NFL Draft.


Pittsburgh Steelers‘ Quarterbacks

While many assume the Steelers will sign veteran Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh’s quarterback room is undoubtedly the worst in the NFL until that happens. Career backups Skylar Thompson and Mason Rudolph form the lackluster group.

Rudolph — who was with the Steelers earlier in his career — logged 473 snaps for Tennessee in 2024 and earned a 62.5 PFF overall grade, which ranked only 34th among 42 qualifying quarterbacks. For comparison, Rodgers earned a 77.8 PFF overall grade last year with the Jets, which ranked 18th in the NFL. His addition would significantly improve the Steelers’ quarterback group.


Dallas Cowboys‘ Running Backs

Running back Rico Dowdle had a solid season in 2024 and finished 22nd among running backs in PFF overall grade (73.9), but he joined the Panthers in free agency. As a result, the Cowboys’ projected starting running back is the newly signed Javonte Williams.

The former Broncos running back has earned a PFF overall grade above 70.0 just once in his career — as a rookie — and finished 50th among 59 running backs with a 61.7 PFF overall grade in 2024. His 60.5 PFF rushing grade placed him last among 43 qualifying running backs. Dallas is not projected to target a running back in Round 1, but the team will likely come away from the 2025 NFL Draft with at least one rookie rusher.

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Tennessee Titans‘ Wide Receivers

The Titans have quite a few roster holes, but perhaps none more glaring than at wide receiver. The room consists of only two players who logged more than 150 snaps last season: Van Jefferson and Calvin Ridley.

While Ridley earned a 73.1 PFF overall grade, which ranked 40th among wide receivers, and surpassed 1,000 receiving yards, he played on the 17th-biggest contract at the position by average annual value, making it a somewhat disappointing season for a No. 1 wide receiver. On the other hand, Jefferson ranked only 116th among 133 qualifying wide receivers with a 57.2 PFF overall grade. He has never earned a PFF overall grade above 70.0 in his career. 


Miami Dolphins‘ Offensive Line

The Dolphins’ offensive line has endured issues in recent years, especially due to a lack of depth after injuries. However, the situation worsened this offseason after the unit lost its best player, left tackle Terron Armstead, to retirement. Even though Armstead was often injured, his presence still elevated this offensive line to at least an average level.

The current projected starting lineup of Patrick Paul, Liam Eichenberg, Aaron Brewer, James Daniels and Austin Jackson is not very encouraging. Admittedly, Brewer has shown above-average play in recent seasons, but Daniels missed almost the entire season with the Steelers in 2024, and Eichenberg, Paul and Jackson all failed to earn a PFF overall grade above 60.0 last season.

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Jacksonville Jaguars‘ Interior Defenders

The Jaguars are essentially going through a rebuild, hiring James Gladstone as their new general manager and Liam Coen as their new head coach, so the roster was always going to have some weaker spots. However, the interior defensive line still stands out negatively.

While Jacksonville has four interior defenders under contract, none played more than 650 snaps or earned a PFF overall grade above 63.0 last season. The three players who logged at least 300 snaps — DaVon Hamilton, Tyler Lacy and Maason Smith — ranked 78th, 104th and 105th, respectively, in PFF overall grade at the position.


Las Vegas Raiders‘ Cornerbacks

Following the release of cornerback Jack Jones, the Raiders were left with very little experience at the position. In fact, none of their current cornerbacks played more than 600 snaps in 2024, with Eric Stokes leading the way (588 snaps). Stokes allowed 33 catches for 326 yards and three touchdowns in 2024, leading to just a 61.3 PFF overall grade, which ranked 74th among cornerbacks. Yet, that still makes him Las Vegas’ highest-graded cornerback.

Other players who are projected to contribute at the position are Darnay Holmes, Jakorian Bennett and Decamerion Richardson. Holmes and Richardson earned PFF coverage grades below 50.0 and ranked outside the top 100 at the position in 2024, while Bennett’s 61.0 PFF coverage grade placed him 73rd among 116 qualifiers.


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5 NFL players with the most to lose or gain

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  • Will Kenny Pickett end up the Browns’ starter? Cleveland’s interest in a quarterback in this year’s draft will ultimately determine Pickett’s role on the team.
  • The Patriots’ wide receiver room may still be a work in progress: The team’s signings of Stefon Diggs and Mack Hollins in free agency don’t preclude drafting a wide receiver, which could leave Ja’Lynn Polk searching for snaps.

Estimated Reading Time: 7 minutes


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We are now less than two weeks away from the 2025 NFL Draft. This draft has the potential to be one of the most unpredictable in recent memory, which adds to the excitement for fans around the league.

While most of draft season is spent talking about potential prospect fits with teams, the way current players in the NFL are affected is often overlooked. We’ll take a closer look at five players who have the most to lose/gain in the draft, depending on whom their teams target (particularly in the early rounds).


RB D’Andre Swift, Chicago Bears

No NFL team has done more to improve its offensive line than the Chicago Bears, which comes as no surprise with Ben Johnson now in charge after all his success in Detroit. Chicago ranked 24th in PFF’s end-of-season offensive line rankings but has created a top-10 unit heading into the draft through trades and free-agency signings.

With the offensive line becoming a strength, the question now is what the Bears will do with their running back unit. D’Andre Swift is on the books for a $7.39 million salary this season and finished 2024 with just a 65.7 PFF rushing grade, ranking 37th out of 43 qualifying running backs.

There has been speculation that Chicago may look to draft a running back early in this year’s draft. Boise State‘s Ashton Jeanty would be a dream scenario if he fell to Pick No. 10, but the team also holds two second-round picks, which makes a running back a realistic possibility on Day 2.

If the Bears choose to address other needs in the draft, Swift will open the season as the clear starter and benefit from a running back-friendly system behind one of the top offensive lines in football. As we’ve seen in the past, running back success has a lot to do with the trenches, which could certainly be the case for whoever Chicago’s lead back is in 2025.


QB Kenny Pickett, Cleveland Browns

The Browns acquired Pickett in a trade with the Eagles for Dorian Thompson-Robinson and a 2025 fifth-round pick. At the moment, Pickett is the only healthy quarterback on the team’s roster.

While all signs point to the Tennessee Titans selecting Miami quarterback Cam Ward with the first-overall pick, the draft really starts at Pick No. 2 with Cleveland. Cornerback/wide receiver Travis Hunter and edge defender Abdul Carter are the top two players on PFF’s big board and will certainly be in play. Shedeur Sanders could be in consideration, as well, if the team is looking for its next franchise quarterback, something PFF’s John Kosko predicted in a recent mock draft.

Pickett served as Jalen Hurts’ backup last year but did get some playing time at the end of the season, most notably in Week 17 against the Cowboys. In that game, he earned a 77.7 PFF overall grade and made three big-time throws on just 15 pass attempts.

It’s fair to assume Pickett will head into camp as the Browns’ starting quarterback if the team does not draft a quarterback early. For Pickett, it’s an opportunity to showcase his abilities in a starting role once again and, if he plays well, cash in for 2026 and beyond. On the other hand, he could be delegated to a backup role once again if the team drafts a quarterback early.


WR Ja’Lynn Polk, New England Patriots

The Patriots drafted Polk 37th overall in the 2024 NFL Draft, making him the 10th wide receiver taken in an incredibly deep class at the position. While other receivers in his class found immediate success at the NFL level, Polk struggled, playing just 436 snaps on a team that wasn’t deep at wide receiver. His 43.1 PFF overall grade ranked last among 133 qualifying wide receivers for the season.

The Patriots prioritized upgrading the wide receiver unit in free agency, most notably by signing former All-Pro Stefon Diggs. The team also added Mack Hollins, who will be playing for his fifth team in five years. The veteran wideout handled an important role for the Buffalo Bills last year, leading the unit with 853 snaps.

New England holds the fourth-overall pick in this year’s draft and is one of the true wildcards at the top of the order. The Patriots are in a great spot to take the best player available, depending on how the draft plays out ahead of them, or trade down. If they opt for a wide receiver early, Tetairoa McMillan (No. 3 on PFF’s big board) would make a lot of sense.

In the past, we have seen wide receivers struggle early in their careers and then develop after gaining more experience. For Polk’s sake, he would benefit if the team chose to address other positions in the draft, allowing him to work with and learn from veterans such as Diggs and Hollins. If the team does take a wideout early, he could find himself buried on the depth chart and struggling to get much playing time.


OL Liam Eichenberg, Miami Dolphins

The Dolphins traded up to select Eichenberg 42nd overall in the 2021 NFL Draft. Since then, he has averaged 912 snaps a season and has played all five offensive line positions. Unfortunately for Eichenberg (and the Dolphins), his experience hasn’t translated to much success, as he’s never graded higher than 53.1 for any season in his career.

LT LG C RG RT
969 720 673 1,207 166
Liam Eichenberg’s Career Snap Totals

It came as a surprise to some when Eichenberg, a free agent this season, re-signed with Miami on a one-year deal worth just over $2 million. The move shows that the Dolphins value his familiarity with the system and versatility.

Eichenberg was Miami’s starting right guard last season, but the team signed James Daniels in free agency to fill that void this year. Terron Armstead recently announced his retirement, and 2024 second-round pick Patrick Paul should get an opportunity to start there to begin the year. The biggest question for the Dolphins right now is left guard, a position Eichenberg played sparingly in 2023 but logged 625 snaps at in 2022.

If the season were to start today, Eichenberg would likely be the Dolphins’ starting left guard. While it’s a position they may look to address in the draft, their roster has some notable holes/depth issues at other positions that they could prioritize first. If that is the case, Eichenberg may have yet another shot to perform. And if he improves, he would set himself up for a bigger payday in 2026 as a free agent once again.


EDGE Marcus Davenport, Detroit Lions

Davenport is a former first-round pick of the Saints who enjoyed five productive years in New Orleans from 2018-2022, grading no lower than 71.8 in any of those seasons. He recorded a career-best 88.8 PFF overall grade in 2021, ranking eighth out of 110 qualifying edge defenders.

In more recent years, Davenport has struggled to stay healthy and get on the field. He appeared in four games in 2023 with the Minnesota Vikings before suffering a season-ending ankle injury. Last season, he signed a one-year deal with the Detroit Lions but was lost for the year after a triceps injury in Week 3.

The Lions re-signed Davenport last month in the hope he can return to form and complement Aidan Hutchinson on the edge. His path to playing time becomes a lot clearer if Detroit does not target an edge defender early in the draft; if the team does, he will have to fight harder to earn reps. The 28-year-old Davenport can hit free agency next year with more leverage if he secures enough playing time and can stay healthy in his second stint with the Lions.


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Analytics strengths and weaknesses for the top 2025 rookie edge defenders

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2S3HD3E MIAMI GARDENS, FL – JANUARY 09: Edge Rusher Abdul Carter #11 of the Penn State Nittany Lions reacts after a defensive stop during the Penn State Nittany Lions versus Notre Dame Fighting Irish College Football Playoff Semifinal at the Capital One Orange Bowl on January 9, 2025, at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Icon Sportswire) (Icon Sportswire via AP Images)

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Analyst Predicts QB-RB Breakdown In First Round Of Draft

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With all the parity in the 2025 NFL Draft class, the way the first round shakes out is going to be interesting.

There are many possibilities as far as where each player will end up being taken, especially when it comes to the top quarterbacks and running backs.

Analyst Benjamin Allbright recently gave his prediction on how many running backs and quarterbacks will be selected in the first round.

“I think it’s 3 RBs, 3 QBs,” Allbright, of KOA Colorado, wrote on X. “If you made me pick one over the other might guess quarterback, just for a team who was gonna take somebody in the second (round) trying to get that fifth [year contract] option at the end of the first (round).”

Cam Ward from the University of Miami and Shedeur Sanders of Colorado are the quarterbacks who almost certainly will be selected in the first round, and in the next tier there are intriguing prospects such as Jaxson Dart and Jalen Milroe.

Ashton Jeanty, the prolific running back from Boise State, is expected by many to be one of the first 10 players chosen, but there are a couple of other prospects who have star potential.

TreVeyon Henderson from Ohio State has speed, good hands and the ability and willingness to block for his teammates, and he logged 1,016 rushing yards and 10 rushing touchdowns last season.

Cam Skattebo ran for 1,711 yards and 21 touchdowns for Arizona State, adding 605 receiving yards and three touchdowns, and Quinshon Judkins combined with Henderson to give Ohio State an excellent duo.

The resurgence of running back play in the NFL in 2024 could lead teams to load up on the position in this draft.

NEXT:  University Of Houston Defensive Back To Visit With Texans



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University Of Houston Defensive Back To Visit With Texans

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The Houston Texans may have the main pieces to become Super Bowl contenders very soon, but they do need some more support to get to that status instead of merely being a playoff team.

Defensively, they had some issues last season, and while they have two outstanding pass rushers in Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter, they could use some help in their secondary.

The Texans have the No. 25 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, and with a legitimate wide receiver threat a big need, they could opt to address their defense with a local product in the later rounds.

“University of Houston defensive back A’Jani Carter (6-2, 200) participating in Texans local prospect day,” Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston wrote on X.

Carter, who is from Houston, finished his college career with nine passes defended, 2.5 sacks, four interceptions, three forced fumbles, five tackles for loss and 130 combined tackles (74 solo), including three seasons at Utah State.

In 11 games in his only season with Houston, he had three passes defended, one tackle for loss, 0.5 sacks and 22 total tackles (11 solo).

The Texans won their second straight AFC South title in 2024, but after losing in the divisional round of the playoffs to the Kansas City Chiefs, it became clear that reinforcements are needed.

They were 30th in touchdown passes allowed during the regular season and struggled to prevent opposing teams from scoring in the red zone.



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Shedeur Sanders Addresses ‘Patting The Ball’ Debate

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For quarterback Shedeur Sanders, the spotlight has recently focused on a seemingly minor habit that has sparked debate leading up to the 2025 NFL Draft.

The controversy ignited when New York Jets safety Andre Cisco questioned Sanders’ habit of tapping the football before throwing.

Cisco suggested this could be a flaw that might give defenders an early read on passes, a potentially serious concern for a quarterback.

When confronted with this criticism, Sanders responded with the confidence that has become his trademark throughout the draft process.

“Me patting the ball got me to where, I’m in the position I am now. I don’t see what’s wrong,” Shedeur said on “Up & Adams.” “For me, things can be a problem, for other people it’s not a problem. They always move the goalpost for me, so that’s why I like, mentally you gotta always be tough.”

His response reflects a mature perspective that has impressed many scouts and analysts.

Despite the social media buzz, top draft evaluators remain largely unconcerned about the ball-patting habit, with many still considering Sanders among the top quarterbacks in this class.

They point to his natural talent, mental toughness and leadership qualities as attributes that far outweigh mechanical nitpicks.

Sanders’ philosophy seems clear, that seeking external validation for every aspect of your game is a path to frustration, not improvement.

This mindset has served him well throughout his collegiate career at Jackson State and Colorado.

The real question isn’t about the tapping, but whether Sanders can deliver the ball with proper timing and rhythm within an NFL offensive scheme.

His college numbers suggest he can, as he completed an impressive 70.1 percent of his passes for 14,327 yards, with 134 touchdowns against just 27 interceptions.

His final season at Colorado showcased his development, with a 74.0 percent completion rate on 477 attempts, accumulating 4,134 yards, 37 touchdowns and only 10 interceptions.



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Following the betting odds to map the top 16 picks

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  • Ward and Hunter lead this betting-driven mock draft: Sportsbooks heavily favor Cam Ward (-20000) and Travis Hunter (-280) to go first and second overall.
  • Markets point to edge rushers and offensive linemen early: Betting odds indicate strong demand for premium positions, with Abdul Carter, Jalon Walker, and Mykel Williams all projected top-10 picks, while Will Campbell and Armand Membou headline a deep offensive tackle class.
  • PFF’s 2025 NFL Draft Guide is LIVE: This year’s guide is loaded with three-page draft profiles on hundreds of NFL draft prospects in the 2025 class.

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

With just weeks to go until the 2025 NFL Draft, sportsbooks have started to weigh in, releasing betting odds on the prospects likely to come off the board first. While mock drafts offer educated guesses and scouting analysis, the odds market adds another layer of intrigue by reflecting how oddsmakers — and bettors — expect the early picks to unfold.

In this exercise, we take the current betting favorites and project how the top half of Round 1 could play out if those odds hold true. Some selections align closely with the PFF big board and our Mock Draft Simulator, while others highlight where public perception and betting momentum may differ from traditional evaluations.

Let’s dive into a mini mock draft based on the latest draft odds.


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Draft Position Rankings


1. Tennessee Titans: QB Cameron Ward, Miami (Fl.)

As with Caleb Williams last year, it now appears all but certain that Cam Ward will be selected No. 1 overall. With odds on some sportsbooks as high as -20000, we can safely pencil Ward in as the draft’s top pick. While the Titans were reportedly engaged in trade talks earlier in the cycle, recent reports suggest they’re likely to move forward with Ward as their new franchise quarterback.


2. Cleveland Browns: WR/CB Travis Hunter, Colorado

Following Travis Hunter’s pro day last week, betting markets shifted — with sportsbooks now favoring him over Abdul Carter as the likely No. 2 overall pick. As of now, FanDuel lists Hunter at -280 to go second overall. Questions remain about whether Hunter will focus on playing wide receiver or cornerback or continue as a two-way player in the NFL, but with Cleveland holding the pick and needing help at both positions, the market movement makes sense.


3. New York Giants EDGE Abdul Carter, Penn State

If Cam Ward and Travis Hunter come off the board as expected, Abdul Carter becomes the clear favorite to go No. 3 overall. Sportsbooks currently give Carter better than a 60% chance to land with the Giants, who may opt for the best player available rather than force a pick at quarterback with Jameis Winston and Russell Wilson still on the roster. Even without an urgent need off the edge, Carter’s elite profile makes him tough to pass up.


4. New England Patriots: T Will Campbell, LSU

The market currently projects Will Campbell as the favorite to land with the Patriots at No. 4 overall, with odds hovering around -125 — implying better than a 50% chance. Adding a high-end tackle like Campbell would give New England a much-needed anchor on the offensive line to help protect franchise quarterback Drake Maye.

Click here to see PFF’s 2025 NFL Draft big board!

5. Jacksonville Jaguars: DI Mason Graham, Michigan

The market currently projects Mason Graham to be the most likely pick for Jacksonville at No. 5 overall, with odds close to -125. Given that the Jaguars’ top two interior defensive linemen ranked 78th and 105th out of 118 qualifiers in PFF grade last season, Graham — the top interior defender on the PFF big board — would fill a major need.


6. Las Vegas Raiders: RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State

Jeanty is currently a -135 favorite at FanDuel to be selected by the Raiders, a team that struggled to generate consistent production from its backfield in 2024. Known for targeting athletic, explosive prospects, Las Vegas could see Jeanty — one of the most dynamic runners in the class — as a classic Raiders-style pick.


7. New York Jets: T Armand Membou, Missouri

Armand Membou sits just outside the projected top five, with markets listing him around +115 to be selected within the first five picks. If the board falls as expected, No. 7 to the Jets appears to be his most logical destination. With New York favored at -130 to take an offensive lineman first — and Will Campbell likely off the board — the market is pointing toward Membou as the second tackle taken.


8. Carolina Panthers: Edge Jalon Walker, Georgia 

Walker is -350 to be selected before pick No. 9, and the Panthers — who need defensive reinforcements — appear to be the logical landing spot. Especially if Mason Graham is already off the board, the betting market is pointing to Walker at No. 8, with his draft position over/under set at 8.5.

9. New Orleans Saints: QB Shedeur Sanders, Colorado

We’re entering “far less certain” territory, as the betting markets grow increasingly unsure of how the back half of the top 10 will unfold. Still, in the “first position drafted” market, sportsbooks suggest the Saints are leaning quarterback — with Shedeur Sanders the most likely pick at +270.


10. Chicago Bears: TE Tyler Warren, Penn State

The Bears were among the heaviest spenders in free agency, so a trade down from this spot wouldn’t be surprising. But if they stay put — or if another team moves into this range — Tyler Warren is the name to watch, with odds of -210 to be selected in the top 10.


11. Trade: Miami Dolphins: Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas

The Dolphins are heavily favored by the market to go offensive line with their first pick, and Kelvin Banks Jr. fits the mold as the clear No. 3 tackle in the class. With Terron Armstead’s future uncertain and the 49ers also potentially eyeing a tackle, don’t be surprised if Miami looks to move up to secure their guy.


12. Dallas Cowboys: WR Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona

Desperate for help behind CeeDee Lamb, the Cowboys are favored by betting markets to address wide receiver early — and Tetairoa McMillan is the front-runner. Caesars lists McMillan at -160 to be the first wideout off the board, making him a strong candidate to land in Dallas.

Click here for Tetairoa McMillan’s 2025 NFL Draft profile!

13. San Francisco  49ers: CB Jahdae Barron, Texas

Having likely missed out on the top tackles, the 49ers could pivot to the secondary and select Jahdae Barron as Charvarius Ward’s long-term replacement. If they pass on offensive line help, cornerback is currently the betting favorite to be their first position drafted at +300 on FanDuel.


14. Indianapolis Colts: TE Colston Loveland, Michigan

The Colts are close to 50/50, per betting markets, to take a tight end with the No. 14 pick — and with Tyler Warren already off the board, Colston Loveland becomes the logical choice. Loveland is the clear No. 2 tight end in the eyes of sportsbooks, making him the most likely fit if Indianapolis stays put.


15. Atlanta Falcons: Edge Mykel Williams, Georgia

The Falcons are -170 to take a defensive player — most likely an edge rusher — with Mykel Williams emerging as the favorite. His over/under is set at 15.5 (-105), and Atlanta looks like the key landing spot. While Shemar Stewart could be in play, the betting markets give Williams the edge.


16. Arizona Cardinals: Edge Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M

If the Falcons go with Mykel Williams, look for the Cardinals to pivot to Shemar Stewart — especially with EDGE listed as the most likely position for Arizona to target at +180. Stewart is the natural fit here, holding the third-shortest odds to be the first edge rusher selected.

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Landing spots for the best available 2025 free agents

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  • Amari Cooper and Stefon Diggs are among the best remaining wideouts: The veterans’ best years may be behind them, but they can still be impact receivers in their 30s.
  • The Saints could be a good fit for two of PFF’s top free agents: Cooper and Asante Samuel Jr. would help shore up units on both sides of the ball in New Orleans.

Estimated Reading Time: 3 minutes


While the biggest names in NFL free agency have already put pen to paper, a crop of talented and intriguing options remains. We’re looking at the best available free agents and identifying teams that should sign them.


WR Amari Cooper: New Orleans Saints

The veteran wide receiver finished the 2024 NFL season with a 68.7 PFF overall grade, which ranked only 61st among 133 wide receivers. However, in the previous two seasons, Cooper placed among the top 20 players at his position in PFF overall grade.

While the Saints have Chris Olave as a true No. 1 option, he had injury concerns and no other Saints wide receiver played more than 400 snaps in 2024. Meanwhile, Cooper logged 587 snaps in 2024 despite changing teams mid-season, missing two games due to injury and resting in Week 18. The move would also have Cooper play with quarterback Derek Carr once again.

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WR Stefon Diggs: New England Patriots

Even though Diggs’ season was cut short by a torn ACL, as he played a career-low 430 snaps, he was still very productive. He finished the season with a 79.1 PFF overall grade, which ranked 21st among wide receivers.

Diggs has ranked in the top 25 in PFF overall grade in all 10 of his NFL seasons. While the Patriots have spent significantly in free agency, Mack Hollins is their only wide receiver addition. And none of the wide receivers currently on New England’s roster ranked among the top 50 in PFF overall grade last season, so Diggs, once healthy, would be an immediate upgrade for this unit.


CB Rasul Douglas: San Francisco 49ers

Whereas Douglas earned PFF coverage grades above 71.0 in three consecutive seasons between 2021 and 2023, his 2024 campaign did not go as planned, highlighted by a 51.6 PFF coverage grade.

However, Dougless will be only 30 years old when the 2025 season kicks off. His 86.1 PFF coverage grade between 2021 and 2023 ranked fifth among 32 qualifying cornerbacks, while his 14 interceptions in that span were the second most at the position. The 49ers lost Charvarius Ward in free agency, and while Deommodore Lenoir is expected to play in the slot, the team does not have any reliable, experienced options on the perimeter.


CB Asante Samuel Jr.: New Orleans Saints

Free agency came at the wrong time for Samuel, whose 2024 season was cut short due to an injury after a career-low 234 snaps. Even when he was on the field, he could not replicate his success in his previous two seasons. His 80.8 PFF coverage grade from 2022 to 2023 ranked 12th among 67 qualifying cornerbacks, but he earned only a 58.6 PFF coverage grade in 2024, which would have ranked 85th if he had played enough snaps.

The Saints lost Paulson Adebo in free agency, and Samuel relocating to the Big Easy would reunite him with Brandon Staley, making this a solid fit.

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QB Russell Wilson: Pittsburgh Steelers

Even though he was not playing at a career-best level, Wilson bounced back following two disappointing seasons in Denver and earned a 79.8 PFF overall grade in 2024 (15th among quarterbacks) — his highest mark since 2020. Wilson’s 97.3 PFF passing grade and 56.0% adjusted completion rate on 20-plus-yard passes both led the league. His PFF overall grade was also the highest earned by a Pittsburgh quarterback since Ben Roethlisberger finished in 2017 (86.7).

There are not many – if any – better options available for the Steelers than Wilson, who generally played well for the team in 2024.

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