Who are the most promising 2025 NFL Draft prospects to watch early in the 2024 college football season? With the Class of 2024 becoming rookies, it's time to focus more on the exciting talent available for next year.
The 2025 draft order is a long way from being set, but in the meantime, we can look at the top overall players who figure to be available when the Panthers, Raiders, Vikings, Giants, Cardinals, and more come calling.
At the dawn of Week 1 of the college football season, here's a snapshot of the best players who can become available next April when all 32 teams make their selections.
NFL Draft 2025: Big board of top 50 players overall
1. James Pearce Jr., EDGE, Tennessee (6-5, 243 pounds)
Pearce is a naturally explosive and super athletic pass rusher who can become more dangerous with more polish and a wider repertoire.
2. Will Campbell, OT, LSU (6-6, 323 pounds)
Campbell is a smooth pass protector who can be a long-term rock at left tackle.
3. Carson Beck, QB, Georgia (6-4, 220 pounds)
Beck is a strong-armed, accurate pocket passer with big-time winning intangibles.
4. Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri (5-11, 208 pounds)
Burden is a dangerously quick open-field receiver who is versatile enough to thrive outside or in the slot. He has special after-the-catch burst, too.
5. Will Johnson, CB, Michigan (6-2, 202 pounds)
Johnson has the potential to be a pure shutdown corner with his great coverage ability and fluidity for his size.
6. Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado (6-2, 215 pounds)
Sanders can do everything as a pinpoint pocket passer and has a knack for making big plays when needed most.
7. Mason Graham, DT, Michigan (6-3, 318 pounds)
Graham has powerful run-stopping qualities to go with unique disruptive skills at interior pass rusher.
8. Travis Hunter, CB, Colorado (6-1, 185 pounds)
He's the unique freak of next year's class with his mega size and athleticism that makes him a strong cover man and almost equally adept receiver when called upon.
9. Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona (6-5, 210 pounds)
McMillan is the classic size-speed prospect who can stretch the field well and uses his size to position himself nicely in the red zone.
10. Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas (6-4, 324 pounds)
Banks is another great agile pass protector in this class, just behind Campbell in that capacity.
11. Deone Walker, DT, Kentucky (6-6, 345 pounds)
Walker has rare athleticism for his massive frame that allows him to be uniquely devastating in the pass rush.
12. Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame (6-0, 190 pounds)
Morrison is a sound coverage man with good technique and high on-ball playmaking skills.
13. Malaki Starks, S, Georgia (6-1, 205 pounds)
There's nothing Starks can't do vs. run and pass, and he has a knack for making big plays and cleaning up everything in front of and lateral to him.
14. Mykel Williams, DT, Georgia (6-5, 265 pounds)
Williams is a power-based inside presence who can be an absolute load vs. big blockers on the pass rush.
15. Nic Scourton, EDGE, Texas A&M (6-4, 285 pounds)
Scourton is a devastating pass rusher who can create mismatches with his powerful yet athletic frame.
16. Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State (6-1, 205 pounds)
Egbuka is another Buckeyes route-running technician with great hands and quickness to reliably make big plays.
17. Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State (6-3, 250 pounds)
Carter can play from the inside or out and get to the quarterback with great pass-rush results, and he also shows great range vs. the run.
18. Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan (6-5, 245 pounds)
Loveland has the complete look as the NFL's next athletic, impact tight end, a la first-rounders Kyle Pitts and Dalton Kincaid.
19. Harold Perkins Jr., EDGE, LSU (6-1, 235 pounds)
Perkins can play in a variety of spots on a front seven, as he has the versatility to get to the quarterback outside or inside as an impactful rotational player.
20. Emery Jones Jr., OT, LSU (6-3, 315 pounds)
Jones projects as the ideal, powerful run-blocking prospect with some pass-protection upside at right tackle.
21. Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan (6-3, 339 pounds)
Grant will try to form a literally massive 1-2 punch with Graham given his sturdy frame against the run and pass-rush power.
22. Denzel Burke, CB, Ohio State (6-1, 190 pounds)
Burke was wise to return to school to become a more polished, well-rounded cover man who can handle any downfield assignment.
23. Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas (6-2, 204 pounds)
Ewers is right there behind Beck and Sanders in terms of pocket passing, as he's very accurate and can make all the downfield throws with high efficiency.
24. Jonah Savaiinaea, G, Arizona (6-5, 330 pounds)
Saviinaea can play either inside or outside with his natural pass-protecting agility, and he has the frame to become a much bigger asset in the running game.
25. Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State (5-9, 215 pounds)
Jeanty should creep into the first-round workhorse conversation with some compact pop as a power runner while packing explosive speed, too.
26. J.T. Tuimoloau, EDGE, Ohio State (6-4, 270 pounds)
Tuimoloau can be special with his frame and athleticism, and he was wise to come back to college to develop more front-line consistency.
27. Evan Stewart, WR, Oregon (6-0, 175 pounds)
Stewart is right behind Egbuka with his quick route-running and after-the-catching playmaking upside.
28. Jack Sawyer, EDGE, Ohio State (6-5, 260 pounds)
Sawyer has a strong calling card as a pass-rusher, but his real strength is how he balances that with elite play against the run, too, keeping him on the field as an all-down playmaker.
29. Patrick Payton, EDGE, Florida State (6-5, 254 pounds)
Payton has some of the qualities of former teammate Jared Verse as an often-overpowering and explosive pass rusher.
30. Tyler Booker, G, Alabama (6-5, 352 pounds)
Booker is known for his powerful run blocking, but he also has nimble, quick feet for his size.
31. Ollie Gordon II, RB, Oklahoma State (6-2, 225 pounds)
Gordon has great size as a power back and also has massive burst between the tackles. He has some three-down qualities right there with Jeanty.
32. Tyleik Williams, DT, Ohio State (6-2, 290 pounds)
Williams has some big upside as a compact, quick inside pass rusher and made a good decision to return to school to round out his game.
33. Tacario Davis, CB, Arizona (6-4, 195 pounds)
Davis is a fluid big corner prospect who uses his wingspan and physical frame to his full advantage in coverage.
34. Isaiah Bond, WR, Texas (5-11, 190 pounds)
The Alabama transfer is a speedy vertical threat — a nice program follow-up to record speedster Xavier Worthy playing with Ewers.
35. Quinshon Judkins, RB, Ohio State (5-11, 210 pounds)
The Ole Miss transfer will get more attention in Columbus for packing a serious power-running punch in his frame and also coming through when needed as a receiver.
36. Conner Weigman, QB, Texas A&M (6-3, 220 pounds)
Weigman has the kind of natural tools as a strong-armed, downfield passer and terrific athlete to be on the watchlist for this year's Jayden Daniels.
37. Princely Umanmielen, EDGE, Ole Miss (6-5, 255 pounds)
He might be the king of 3-4 pass-rush prospects in this class and can be moved around well to produce in that particular scheme.
38. Landon Jackson, EDGE, Arkansas (6-7, 281 pounds)
Jackson, because of his monstrous size, can be a terrific versatile defensive line asset in a 4-3 base front.
39. Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama (6-2, 220 pounds)
Milreo can also turn into a very appealing dual-threat QB, and that gives him a chance to shoot back up the board to join in on Weigman's rise.
40. Barrett Carter, LB, Clemson (6-1, 225 pounds)
Carter has the typical do-everything range. He finishes well against the run but also stays on the field as a coverage ace.
41. Ashton Gillotte, EDGE, Louisville (6-3, 275 pounds)
Gilotte's unique blend of power and strength makes him another versatile 4-3 defensive lineman to consider up along with Jackson, potentially as high as the first round.
42. Aireonty Ersery, OT, Minnesota (6-6, 330 pounds)
Eresery has the tantalizing upside to put together his power and athleticism into the complete left tackle package.
43. Donovan Jackson, G, Ohio State (6-4, 320 pounds)
Jackson projects as a nasty, mauling interior lineman made for consistently strong NFL run blocking.
44. Danny Stutsman, LB, Oklahoma (6-4, 236 pounds)
Stutsman is a tackling machine and a growing asset in coverage. He can possibly pass Carter as the best linebacker in the class with more consistency and improved technique.
45. Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss (6-4, 290 pounds)
Nolen is a little behind an early strong class at the position because he's a run-stopper first who's still developing as an inside pass rusher.
46. Dani Dennis-Sutton, EDGE, Penn State (6-5, 270 pounds)
Dennis-Sutton is a well-rounded defender, but there's still room to grow as a pass rusher and be more consistent vs. the run.
47. Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina (6-1, 220 pounds)
Hampton helps make this a much stronger running back class early than 2024 because he also has three-down potential thanks to his power, quickness, and hands.
48. Jabbar Muhammad, CB, Oregon (5-10, 183 pounds)
Muhammad can pass some of the bigger corners in this class, as his sound coverage technique gives him a high floor. His active ballhawking also sets up a high ceiling.
49. Oscar Delp, TE, Georgia (6-5, 245 pounds)
Delp isn't on the level of former teammate Brock Bowers, but watch out for him shooting up boards in this class behind Loveland with his speedy and quick field-stretching receiving.
50. TreyVeon Henderson, RB, Ohio State (5-10, 214 pounds)
Henderson might now be a bit overshadowed by Quinshon Judkins on his own team, but he can't be forgotten as an attractive asset in the passing game on top of solid running.
NFL Draft 2025 prospect rankings by position
Quarterbacks
- Carson Beck, Georgia
- Shedeur Sanders, Colorado
- Quinn Ewers, Texas
- Conner Weigman, Texas A&M
- Jalen Milroe, Alabama
- Cameron Ward, Miami
- Drew Allar, Penn State
Running backs
- Ashton Jeanty, Boise State
- Ollie Gordon II, Oklahoma State
- Quinshon Judkins, Ohio State
- Omarion Hampton, North Carolina
- TreyVeon Henderson, Ohio State
- Donovan Edwards, Michigan
Wide receivers
- Luther Burden III, Missouri
- Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona
- Emeka Ebuka, Ohio State
- Evan Stewart, Oregon
- Isaiah Bond, Texas
- Tory Horton, Colorado State
- Tre Harris, Ole Miss
Tight ends
- Colston Loveland, Michigan
- Oscar Delp, Georgia
- Mitchell Evans, Notre Dame
- Luke Lachey, Iowa
Offensive linemen
- Will Campbell, OT, LSU
- Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas
- Emery Jones, OT, LSU
- Jonah Savaiinaea, G, Arizona
- Tyler Booker, G, Alabama
- Aireonty Ersery, OT, Minnesota
- Donovan Jackson, G, Ohio State
- Josh Conerly Jr., OT, Oregon
- Blake Miller, OT, Clemson
- Earnest Green III, OT, Georgia
Edge rushers
- James Pearce, Tennessee
- Nic Scourton, Texas A&M
- Abdul Carter, Penn State
- Harold Perkins Jr., LSU
- J.T. Tuimoloau, Ohio State
- Jack Sawyer, Ohio State
- Patrick Payton, Florida State
- Princely Umanmielen, Ole Miss
- Landon Jackson, Arkansas
- Ashton Gillotte, Louisville
- Dani Dennis-Sutton, Penn State
Defensive tackles
- Mason Graham, Michigan
- Deone Walker, Kentucky
- Mykel Williams, Georgia
- Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan
- Tyleik Williams, DT, Ohio State
- Walter Nolen, Ole Miss
- Howard Cross III, Notre Dame
- Dontay Corleone, Cincinnati
Linebackers
- Barrett Carter, Clemson
- Danny Stutsman, Oklahoma
- Sonny Styles, Ohio State
- Jalon Walker, Georgia
Cornerbacks
- Will Johnson, Michigan
- Travis Hunter, Colorado
- Benjamin Morris, Notre Dame
- Denzel Burke, Ohio State
- Tacario Davis, Arizona
- Jabbar Muhammad, Oregon
Safeties
- Malaki Starks, Georgia
- Kevin Winston Jr., Penn State
- Xavier Nwakpa, Iowa
