Early 2025 NFL Draft Big Board – Top 15 Prospects

January 22, 2025

Mike Fanelli does an early look and ranks the top 15 prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft. These players could have a chance of being selected in the first round.

The 2025 NFL Draft is less than 100 days away. While four teams are still fighting for the right to be called Super Bowl champions, 28 NFL teams have turned their attention to the offseason.

Much will change between today and the 2025 NFL Draft at the end of April. However, most of the draft class is set, meaning it’s time to dive into the NFL’s main offseason event.

Let’s look at an early 2025 NFL Draft big board, breaking down the top 15 prospects in the class.

15) James Pearce Jr, EDGE, Tennessee

Pearce was considered one of the top edge rushers in the SEC entering the 2024 season. He had a conference-high and career-high 10 sacks in 2023. While the Tennessee star saw his sack total drop by 25% in 2024 (7.5), Pearce remained one of the top edge rushers in college football.

14) Cam Ward, QB, Miami

After starting his career at Washington State, Ward transferred to Miami for the 2024 season. He finished fourth in the Heisman Trophy race after completing 67.2% of his pass attempts for 4,313 yards and 39 touchdowns this year, leading the ACC in passing scores. Many have Ward as their top quarterback in the NFL Draft class.

13) Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado

While Travis Hunter was the face of Colorado football this season, Sanders had an outstanding year. The star quarterback finished eighth in the Heisman Trophy race after leading the Big 12 in several passing quarterbacks. He led the conference in pass completions (353), attempts (477), completion rate (74%), yards (4,134), and touchdowns (37). Sanders could be the first pick in the NFL Draft.

Shedeur Sanders ➡️ LaJohntay Wester 🙌 TD@ShedeurSanders x @LA_Wester

📺: ABC pic.twitter.com/LpL4iSMgeg

— Colorado Buffaloes Football (@CUBuffsFootball) November 29, 2024

12) Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri

Burden didn’t have the most impressive numbers in college football this season. He finished with 61 receptions for 676 receiving yards and six touchdowns in the passing game, adding nine rushing attempts for 115 yards and two touchdowns on the ground in 2024. The dynamic wide receiver could become a top-10 pick with a strong pre-draft process.

11) Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia

Every year, Georgia’s defense is full of future NFL Draft talent. Williams didn’t have massive numbers in college, totaling five or fewer sacks every year at Georgia. However, he was dominant against top competition, totaling two sacks in both the regular season and SEC Title Game matchups against Texas.

10) Malaki Starks, S, Georgia

We kick off the top 10 with another Bulldog. Starks was one of the top defensive backs in college football last season, totaling 77 tackles and three passes defended. More importantly, he is elite in man and zone coverage. While safeties rarely get drafted with a top-10 pick, don’t be surprised if Starks is an early first-round selection.

Malaki Starks is a blue chip prospect.

Starks is effective in both man and zone coverage and has unbelievable ball skills and instincts.

He’s even better against the run, missing just 6.9% of his tackle attempts and posting an 85.6 PFF grade.

Top 10 player for the 2025 Draft. pic.twitter.com/48XwvJ660x

— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) January 19, 2025

9) Will Campbell, OL, LSU

Campbell has been one of the top offensive tackles in college football over the past few years. He had 1,593 pass block snaps in three seasons at LSU, surrendering only four sacks and 13 quarterback hits. However, some NFL evaluators believe Campbell needs to slide inside in the pros. Yet, he should be a top-10 lock.

8) Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona

Many believe McMillan is the clear-cut No. 1 wide receiver in the NFL Draft and the 1.02 in dynasty rookie drafts this year. The Arizona superstar had at least 84 receiving for 1,300 receiving yards and eight touchdowns in back-to-back seasons despite not playing with an elite quarterback. He led the Big 12 in receiving yards this year with 1,319.

7) Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State

While Penn State managed to keep Drew Allar and both star running backs from declaring for the NFL Draft, losing Warren will hurt their offense in 2025. The do-it-all tight end was the heart and soul of the passing attack, leading the team in receptions (104), receiving yards (1,233), and touchdowns (eight) while ranking first in the Big 10 in receptions. Warren can also be a weapon in the run game.

Tyler Warren: TE1 in the 2025 Rookie Class

➖104 Receptions
➖1,233 Yards
➖8 TD’s

Notable Information:

➖2.8% Drop Rate (135 Targets)
➖61.9% Contested Catch Rate (21 Targets)

Dude has absurd hands, excels as a blocker, dominates in contested catches, and he’s 6’6, 257 lbs.. pic.twitter.com/NOFjQbAuIB

— Austin Abbott (@AustinAbbottFF) January 15, 2025

6) Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State

The 2024 Heisman Trophy race was closer than many expected. Jeanty finished with only 214 fewer points than Travis Hunter despite having 243 fewer first-place votes. The superstar running back didn’t break Barry Sanders’ rushing record. However, he had one of the best seasons for a running back in college football history, totaling 374 rushing attempts for 2,601 yards and 29 touchdowns.

5) Will Johnson, CB, Michigan

Unfortunately, Johnson struggled to stay healthy this past season, playing in only six out of 13 contests. However, the elite cornerback should be a top-five pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. Despite having only two interceptions this year, Johnson had 128 yards off those picks, returning both for a touchdown. He returned a third of his career interceptions for a touchdown at Michigan.

4) Mason Graham, DL, Michigan

We continue the top five with back-to-back Wolverines. Graham has dominated opposing offensive lines since stepping foot on campus as a freshman. While he doesn’t have eye-popping numbers, Graham had 3.5 sacks this season despite consistently facing double teams. Many NFL Draft experts believe he will be the first Michigan player off the board this year.

Graham with the SACK

The @UMichFootball defense is on a roll in the first half 🔒 pic.twitter.com/IYSRiADV8X

— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) September 28, 2024

3) Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas

While Texas’ offensive struggled for most of the second half this season, Banks was outstanding. He won the 2024 Lombardi Award and the Outland Trophy while being a finalist for the Joe Moore Award. The Longhorn star isn’t the biggest offensive tackle prospect in the draft class. However, many believe Banks is the safest overall prospect and a potential pro bowler as a rookie.

2) Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State

Carter was far and away the top defensive player in the Big 10 and one of the top guys in all of college football in 2024. The elite edge rusher had 24 tackles for a loss, the most in FBS this year. His 12 sacks were a career-high despite consistently seeing double teams. Carter is in the mix to be the first overall pick in the NFL Draft.

1) Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado

The Heisman Trophy winner was outstanding at Colorado, playing full-time as a cornerback and wide receiver. While fantasy players would love to see Hunter get drafted as a wide receiver, most NFL teams believe he is a superstar cornerback who can take some snaps on offense. Hunter could join Gary Glick in 1956 as the only defensive back to get drafted first overall.

My scouting report will have write-ups of Travis Hunter as both a wide receiver and cornerback but there is a current 3-1 count of NFL teams I've surveyed who have Hunter graded as a full-time cornerback who can take some snaps at WR.

— Lance Zierlein (@LanceZierlein) January 15, 2025

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