An Exclusive First Look at 2025’s Top NFL Prospects
The 2025 NFL draft is still months away, but the jockeying for the top prospects has already begun. Teams and scouts are pouring over game film, analyzing measurements, and building their draft boards. While the average draft class has around 15 players who earn consensus first-round grades, the 2025 crop looks leaner than usual. After an exhaustive review, I’ve identified just 12 prospects who warrant a true Round 1 grade this year.
To earn this prestigious distinction, a player must profile as a first-round lock regardless of the draft class. In other words, these are the prospects who would be Day 1 picks in any of the past five drafts. It’s an extremely high bar that speaks to both the immense talent and NFL-readiness required to make the cut. Here’s an early peek at the elite of the elite for 2025.
Slim Pickings at Quarterback and Receiver
One of the biggest surprises is the lack of Round 1 grades at the glamour positions of quarterback and wide receiver. After seeing a record six QBs go in the first round last year, the 2025 class doesn’t have a single passer who currently earns top billing. Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders and Miami’s Cam Ward have first-round potential, but both fall short of last year’s crop headlined by Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels.
The receiver room is nearly as bare at the top. Colorado’s do-everything weapon Travis Hunter is the lone wideout to make the list thanks to his game-breaking ability as a pass-catcher and cornerback. The Heisman Trophy winner looks like a faster version of Odell Beckham Jr. and should be an instant-impact playmaker at the next level.
Tight Ends and Tackles Top the Offensive Talent
While the first-round cupboard looks relatively bare at QB and WR, the 2025 class boasts a bounty of top-flight tight ends and offensive tackles. Penn State’s Tyler Warren and Michigan’s Colston Loveland both earn Round 1 stamps and have the potential to be offensive rookie of the year candidates in the right situation. Warren’s freakish combination of size and athleticism draws lofty comparisons to a young Rob Gronkowski.
The offensive line is anchored by two plug-and-play tackles in LSU’s Will Campbell and Texas’ Kelvin Banks Jr. Though a bit undersized, Campbell is a technician with the feet and agility to stonewall pass rushers. Banks packs more power and projects as an elite run blocker from day one. Both could kick inside to guard and excel there as well.
Defensive Difference-Makers Dominate the List
While offense is the name of the game in today’s NFL, it’s defense that dominates the first-round grades for 2025. Of the 12 prospects who make the cut, seven line up on the defensive side of the ball. The headliner is Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter, who has the freakish physical tools and pass-rushing prowess to be a perennial double-digit sack artist at the next level.
“Abdul Carter is my top-rated player in the entire draft. He’s got a Micah Parsons-like skill set and the talent to be an All-Pro defender from the moment he steps on an NFL field.”
– NFC personnel director
Carter is joined by two Georgia edge defenders in Jalon Walker and Mykel Williams, both of whom flashed elite potential during the Bulldogs’ title run. In the secondary, Michigan’s Will Johnson and Texas’ Jahdae Barron look like plug-and-play starters at cornerback with the size, speed, and instincts to match up with NFL receivers from day one.
The Biggest Wild Card: Bijan Robinson
The most polarizing player in this group is undoubtedly Texas running back Bijan Robinson. On talent alone, Robinson is unquestionably one of the best pure runners to come out in years. He has an ideal blend of power, elusiveness, and speed that should make him an impact player at the next level. The question is whether any running back warrants a first-round grade in today’s pass-happy NFL.
“If Bijan Robinson isn’t a first-round player, I don’t know who is. He’s got a chance to be a top-five back in the league from day one. But positional value is a real thing, and teams just don’t prioritize RBs like they used to.”
– AFC college scouting director
Robinson ultimately cracks my list because his talent is simply too rare to ignore. He has the potential to be a Christian McCaffrey-like weapon who can take over games as a runner and receiver. While the positional value debate rages on, there’s no denying Robinson is a special prospect.
The 2025 NFL draft may lack the star power of last year’s QB-heavy class, but there is still plenty of first-round talent to be found. These 12 players have separated themselves as the cream of the crop and should hear their names called early on draft night. The challenge for NFL teams will be deciding how early to pull the trigger given the unique strengths and weaknesses of this year’s group.
The Final Verdict on 2025’s Round 1 Gems
After pouring over the tape and talking to scouts across the league, here are the 12 prospects who look like first-round locks in the 2025 NFL draft:
- Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State
- Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado
- Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
- Mason Graham, DT, Michigan
- Jalon Walker, EDGE, Georgia
- Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
- Will Campbell, OT, LSU
- Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas
- Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
- Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas
- Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
- Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia
While this list is sure to change as the draft process unfolds, these 12 players have the talent and tape to warrant first-round consideration. From game-wrecking edge rushers to shutdown corners and offensive line anchors, the 2025 class has a little bit of everything. Though it may lack the high-end quarterback talent of years past, this is a deep and intriguing group that should produce plenty of impact players at the next level.
