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Justin's ideal landing spots for the top 12 rookie players in the 2025 NFL Draft class. Which teams could help unlock the potential of these top rookies?
Then, the NFL Draft continues to inch closer and closer. This is a very interesting class, with a handful of players who could be stars in the NFL and reshape fantasy football leagues going forward.
Here are the ideal landing spots for the top 12 fantasy football rookies. These picks exist in conversation with each other. For example, Cameron Ward and Shedeur Sanders would have different ideal landing spots because the same team isn't taking two quarterbacks.
Note: These 12 players are the 12 players drafted in the first round in our staff's one-QB rookie mock draft. In a two-QB or Superflex draft, Sanders would move into the top 12.
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Ashton Jeanty - RB - Boise State
Ideal Landing Spot: Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders added Raheem Mostert in free agency, but the journeyman veteran won't preclude the team from adding a rookie in the NFL Draft.
Ashton Jeanty makes so much sense, now, for the @Raiders.
— Vincent Bonsignore (@VinnyBonsignore) March 8, 2025
And if that's the case, why not add the best rookie, Ashton Jeanty? The team upgraded at quarterback already by trading for Geno Smith, setting up Vegas to have a solid passing attack. Jeanty would help take more pressure off Smith and his top weapons, Jakobi Meyers and Brock Bowers, and should easily beat Mostert out for the workhorse role.
Tetairoa McMillan - WR - Arizona
Ideal Landing Spot: Carolina Panthers
The Patriots need wide receivers, but the best thing for Tetairoa McMillan would be if New England passed on him and the Panthers grabbed him.
Bryce Young was benched early in 2024, but after an injury sidelined Andy Dalton, Young took the starting job back and looked pretty good. Maybe he won't ever live up to his pre-rookie billing, but give him a true top wide receiver to throw to, and suddenly, this Panthers offense looks a little feisty.
Since McMillan is the clear top wideout in this class, the fit just makes the most sense. While players like Xavier Legette and Jalen Coker are intriguing young wideouts, they both likely top out as good WR2 options.
Luther Burden III - WR - Missouri
Ideal Landing Spot: Los Angeles Rams
The Rams moved on from Cooper Kupp this offseason, replacing him with Davante Adams. In theory, Los Angeles probably doesn't need to use an early pick on a wide receiver now.
Luther Burden III is going to be a PROBLEM in the league.
He’s more than a gadget, and an entire NFL offense could run through him easily.
Just get him the ball. He’s Zay Flowers with DJ Moore’s size.
Back shoulder, over the top, in space, it doesn’t matter. 📈 pic.twitter.com/Uc7LDQUq5L
— Kurt Benkert (@KurtBenkert) March 24, 2025
But it sure would be fun if they did. Adding Luther Burden III as the No. 3 receiver behind Adams and Puka Nacua would be a huge luxury for the Rams, and it would really make for an easy transition to the pro game for Burden.
He'd have a lot of space to operate as the third receiver in this loaded offense, and he could grow into a larger role in the long term, as Adams probably doesn't have too much time left as an elite NFL receiver.
Cameron Ward - QB - Miami
Ideal Landing Spot: Tennessee Titans
Well, I was about to submit this article when the Giants signed Russell Wilson, and I had the Giants penciled in as the best landing spot for Cam Ward. Here's what I originally wrote
The Titans need a quarterback and hold the No. 1 pick, but Cam Ward should be hoping for one of two things. Either for the Titans to decide they can't pass on top defensive prospect Abdul Carter, or for the Giants to blow them away with an offer for the No. 1 pick.
That's because the Titans have some good pieces, but they don't have a Malik Nabers-like talent. Ward getting to throw to Nabers while also having Darius Slayton and Wan'Dale Robinson on the field would really make for an easy transition into the NFL for the Miami product.
All that would have been true, but now Ward would be sitting behind Wilson for at least half a season, if not longer, so we pivot. The Titans need a quarterback, and throwing the ball to Calvin Ridley and Chig Okonkwo is better than throwing it to no one because you're the No. 2 quarterback behind Russ.
Emeka Egbuka - WR - Ohio State
Ideal Landing Spot: Dallas Cowboys
The Cowboys desperately need someone to play next to CeeDee Lamb at wide receiver. Right now, the team looks set to enter 2025 with Jalen Tolbert and Jonathan Mingo as the No. 2 and No. 3 receivers. Simply put, if this team has playoff aspirations, that won't cut it.
No. 12 is too early for Emeka Egbuka, but what if the Cowboys traded back 10ish spots? Getting a savvy route runner who can keep this offense chugging along with a late first-round pick would be great for Dallas, and the landing spot would offer immediate playing opportunities for Egbuka.
Travis Hunter - WR/CB - Colorado
Ideal Landing Spot: Jacksonville Jaguars
With the caveat that I don't see how Travis Hunter gets past the Patriots at No. 4, if he somehow made it to Jacksonville at No. 5, he'd be a smash pick by the Jags. This spot would also increase his fantasy value over what it would have been in New England.
The Jaguars receiving unit took a major hit this offseason as the team moved on from Christian Kirk and Evan Engram, leaving Brian Thomas Jr. and then a lot of uncertainty. Signing Dyami Brown is a fine move, but is he a valid No. 2 option? Hoping Gabe Davis pans out after a poor first year in Jacksonville doesn't seem like the answer either.
That's where Hunter comes in. If somehow he made it to the Jags, he could help in a variety of ways. The team needs receiver help. It needs defensive back help. This might be the perfect spot to let Hunter show off his ability to play on both sides.
Omarion Hampton - RB - North Carolina
Ideal Landing Spot: Washington Commanders
While the duo of Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler is a fine pairing, it's probably not the long-term solution for Washington. Adding Omarion Hampton gives Washington a high-level young running back to add to an ascending offense.
North Carolina RB Omarion Hampton Since 2023:
🔵 92.3 PFF Grade (6th)
🔵 3,160 Rush Yards (2nd)
🔵 2,294 Yards AFTER Contact (2nd)
🔵 79 Explosive Runs (3rd)
🔵 140 Missed Tackles Forced (6th) pic.twitter.com/p38JxfU3nK— PFF College (@PFF_College) March 12, 2025
The hard-running Hampton basically feels like a more explosive version of Robinson, someone who could more consistently earn tough yards over the middle and hit the occasional home run.
TreVeyon Henderson - RB - Ohio State
Ideal Landing Spot: Chicago Bears
The Bears got solid production out of D'Andre Swift last season, but it's also clear he isn't the long-term solution for the team at running back.
Enter the multi-faceted TreVeyon Henderson. The Ohio State product has to improve as a receiver out of the backfield, but he has explosive speed and can break off big plays at a moment's notice. Chicago, adding his kind of lightning to this backfield, could really unlock the full potential of the Bears' offense.
Tyler Warren - TE - Penn State
Ideal Landing Spot: Indianapolis Colts
The Colts have some talent at wide receiver, but this team really needs help at tight end. Last season, the team's top tight end was Kylen Granson, who caught 14 passes for 182 yards. Yep, no Colts right end even averaged one reception per game.
Tyler Warren is the top tight end prospect in this class, a potentially elite receiving threat who can make plays after the catch. Does he need to work on his blocking? Sure, but you can teach that. You can't teach his physical build and explosiveness, and he'd have an immediate path to snaps on this Indianapolis roster.
Kaleb Johnson - RB - Iowa
Ideal Landing Spot: Denver Broncos
Honestly, I could have named every running back in the draft as the ideal player for Denver to land. The team heads to the NFL Draft with Jaleel McLaughlin, Audric Estime, Tyler Badie, and Blake Watson at the position, so there's a clear need to upgrade. Whoever lands here is in a great spot.
I picked Kaleb Johnson because he's not necessarily the most skilled guy in this class. He's a patient runner who can grind out yards, but his best path toward meaningful snaps is landing somewhere where he'll face minimal competition, not somewhere where he'll have to beat other guys out for snaps. Denver is that place.
Quinshon Judkins - RB - Ohio State
Ideal Landing Spot: Dallas Cowboys
Imagine this: Dallas trades down to get Egbuka later in the first round, then comes back in Round 2 and adds running back Quinshon Judkins into the mix. Yes, please.
Dallas added Javonte Williams and Miles Sanders this offseason to replace Rico Dowdle, but a pair of veteran cast-offs probably isn't enough to really unlock this offense.
That's why adding Judkins would be a great call. The three-down back has an ideal mix of speed and strength to carve out a solid role in the NFL, and while he has to refine some things, he'd immediately be the most talented running back in Dallas.
Colston Loveland - TE - Michigan
Ideal Landing Spot: Seattle Seahawks
After three middling seasons in Seattle, none of which saw him perform better than he did in his three seasons in Denver, it's clear that the Seahawks need to do better than Noah Fant at tight end.
Colston Loveland is excellent at getting open and finishing plays
This was one of my favorite catches on tape ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/m3u5wu2oHo
— Connor Rogers (@ConnorJRogers) March 25, 2025
Enter Michigan's Colston Loveland. While he's a little more raw than Warren, Loveland still has the physical build and speed to be a top-10 tight end in the NFL once he fixes some drop issues and improves as a blocker.
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