QB – Taylen Green, Arkansas
Green may have the highest ceiling of any quarterback in the draft this year. His elite athletic traits are unmatched, standing at 6’5 with elite mobility and a cannon of an arm. But teams may be scared off because of how much players like Anthony Richardson and Will Levis have struggled. While I do not have a first-round grade on Green, I do have him graded as a top-five quarterback in this year’s draft. I think if he is allowed an opportunity to sit for a season and develop, he could become an elite NFL quarterback.
RB – CJ Baxter, Texas
Baxter was a five-star recruit when he committed to Texas in 2023, and he immediately made an impact in their offense. Texas has become known for its incredible running backs, and now this year, they are likely to send at least two more backs to the NFL. The biggest issue you will find with Baxter is his injury history, with a brutal knee injury that kept him out for all of 2024 and then a hamstring injury that has limited him this year. But when he is healthy, he is a top-three back in this year’s class.
WR – Eric McAlister, TCU
I have consistently graded McAlister as a top 10 reciever in this year’s draft, and recently, he has been starting to get the attention he deserves. After his 250+ yard game against TCU, fans have begun to notice how skilled McAlister is as a pass catcher and as a ball handler. His big frame and elite movement skills for someone of his size will make him a valuable outside reciever in the NFL.
TE – Benjamin Brahmer, Iowa State
Brahmer is an impressive athlete, with a massive 6’7 frame and an impressive ability to break in and out of routes. So far, Brahmer has not seen a ton of production at Iowa State, but it is clear when you turn on the film that he is capable of so much more. His big frame provides a safe target for his quarterback, and his quick feet make him a capable route runner. He has good length to be a quality blocker as well and should have a solid NFL career.
OT – PJ Williams, SMU
SMU snuck into the college football playoff last season for several reasons, but a big part of which was the dominance of their heavily underrated offensive line. Williams is the anchor of that line and has proven to be one of the best pass-protecting tackles in this year’s draft class. Williams does not have the flashy dominance that you will see from some other top tackles, but he makes his job look easy, with fluidity and consistency on the outside. I have no doubt he will be a starting tackle in the NFL.
IOL – Kam Dewberry, Alabama
I have no idea where the hype is for this kid, who is an absolute mauler on the interior of the Alabama offensive line. Dewberry is an absolute tank, who can play low to the ground and use all of his 345-pound self to push defensive tackles backwards. Teams may be concerned about a lack of quickness or mobility from Dewberry, which is a valid concern. But when I see the power he generates immediately out of his stance, I see a player who will be a headache for opposing defenses in the run game.
EDGE – Akheem Mesidor, Miami
Mesidor is flying under the radar largely because of the unbelievable performance of his counterpart in Reuben Bain. He is also on the older side, as he is now in his sixth year of college eligibility, after missing most of 2023 with a foot injury. In 2022, Mesidor went off for seven sacks, but a foot injury raised concerns for teams, and he has not been able to get his draft stock back to where it once was. This year, he looks 100% and is dominating on the outside.
Mesidor is a bit of a tweener, as teams will struggle with the idea of him as an EDGE or in the interior, but with how well he has played as a DE this season, I think it is clear he fits in a 4-3 defense and will find a lot of success. His consistency in the run and the pass game gives offensive linemen trouble and has helped open the game up for Bain on the opposite side. I expect to hear Mesidor’s name called in the top 50 this offseason.
IDL – CJ Fite, Arizona State
Fite is the type of player that every defensive coordinator wants on their team. A quick, powerful, and relentless defensive tackle who can contribute equally in the run game and the pass game. Fite may lack the length that some teams are looking for, but at 6’2/310, he can consistently get lower than offensive linemen and push them back into the play. I expect him to be a top 50 pick this offseason.
LB – Harold Perkins Jr, LSU
I have already written quite a bit about why Harold Perkins Jr is one of the most underrated players in this year’s class. I have even put together an entire player profile for him, which you can find here. His elite skillset that allows him to fulfill so many different roles on defense is unique and should make him one of, if not the best, defensive players in this year’s class. If he is picked up by the right team, you are looking at a perennial All-Pro linebacker.
CB – Christian Gray, Notre Dame
I love aggressive, physical man coverage corners, and that is exactly what you get with Christian Gray. Notre Dame runs a true multiple defense and relies on their corners to play a variety of roles, but where Gray is best is in press-man or in a hard flat zone. His versatility to play in several different schemes is unique and will make him valuable, but his physicality and athletic upside make him one of my favorite corners in this year’s draft.
S – Bray Hubbard, Alabama
Hubbard has flown under the radar his entire football career and was one of the lowest-rated recruits in Alabama’s loaded 2023 recruiting class. Hubbard got his first feel for college football last season, filling in for other injured defensive backs along the Alabama defense, and he looked solid in a variety of roles. Many people felt that he would not get much of a role this season, but so far in 2025, Hubbard has proven to be an every-down player who makes an impact in every facet of the game for the Alabama defense. Hubbard has plenty of range in zone coverage to cover a lot of ground and make plays on the ball. As a tackler, Hubbard is even better and is almost like a linebacker with the angles he takes on tackles and his ability to wrap up in space.
