2025 NFL Draft Rumors: Sanders, Beck, Campbell
The 2025 NFL Draft is fast approaching as the college football season comes to an end and the pre-draft process begins. Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders has likely solidified himself as a first-round pick — even a top-five draft pick — but according to Jeff Howe of The Athletic, he isn’t currently projected to be the first quarterback off the board.
Per Howe, that honor currently belongs to Miami Hurricanes journeyman passer Cam Ward. Both had impressive seasons; Ward finished the year second in the nation with 4,123 passing yards while leading college football with 36 passing touchdowns to only seven interceptions, while Sanders was third in passing yards (3,926) and just a step behind Ward in touchdowns (35) and interceptions (8). Both received Heisman-buzz — an award Sanders’ teammate, Travis Hunter, won — but Ward was a finalist, finishing fourth in voting, while Sanders finished eighth in voting.
In order to overcome Ward as QB1 of the class, Howe posits that “Sanders will need to nail the interview process.” Both players have committed to participating in their respective bowl games, and it doesn’t appear that either will gain or lose much ground through the Scouting Combine or their respective pro days, having already had their play thoroughly evaluated throughout the season. If Sanders can establish in the interview process that he can be a stand-alone leader without his father on the coaching staff, he may be able to edge out Ward.
Here are a few other draft rumors in the aftermath of college football’s regular season:
- After Ward and Sanders, there’s a big perceived dropoff in quarterback talent in this year’s draft class with other prospects like Alabama’s Jalen Milroe, Texas’ Quinn Ewers, and Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart all being projected as Day 2 or 3 picks. While Georgia passer Carson Beck is also projected to fall past the first round, that wasn’t the case last year, per Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated. Breer claims that scouts gave him the impression that Beck had a chance to be among the six other quarterbacks who were drafted in the first round of last year’s draft. Instead, Beck stayed in Athens, in hopes of perhaps bettering his chances and draft slot. A year later, three separate three-interception performances and an otherwise disappointing redshirt senior season for Beck has plummeted his draft stock. The injury to his throwing arm in the SEC championship game has a chance to hurt that draft stock even more.
- The 2025 draft class is projected to be disappointing in its depth at left tackle with no elite options sticking out at this point in the process. LSU tackle Will Campbell has received a good amount of buzz as the class’s best prospect at the position, but according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, many believe Campbell is a bit overrated. Short arms and questions about his overall game have scouts doubting whether or not he can solidify the left tackle spot of an NFL team for the next five-plus years.
NFL Scouts Leaning CB For Colorado’s Travis Hunter
The 2024 college football season was one full of novelty, highlighted by the Heisman Trophy being awarded to a non-quarterback for the first time since 2020 (Devonta Smith) and a player who played significant snaps on the defensive side of the ball for the first time since 1997 (Charles Woodson). Colorado prospect Travis Hunter exudes novelty as a player who played nearly equal time on both offense and defense, leading NFL scouts to debate which side of the ball he’ll play on in the NFL. 
Hunter’s playing on both sides was not just a novelty, though; it was a dominant display of versatility. He played 709 snaps on offense, grading out as the team’s second-best player on that side of the ball, per Pro Football Focus (subscription required), behind only presumed top draft pick quarterback Shedeur Sanders. His 85.3 PFF grade on offense graded out as the eighth-best score for a receiver in the NCAA this year. That wasn’t his best side of the ball, though. With 713 snaps on defense, Hunter graded out as the Buffaloes’ best defensive player by a good amount and also graded as the nation’s second-best cornerback.
He leaves college football as the first player in college football history to win both the Chuck Bednarik Award for the nation’s best defensive player and the Fred Biletnikoff Award for the nation’s best wide receiver. Those, along with the Heisman, are just three of several awards crowding Hunter’s shelf from the 2024 season.
The NFL will be a different story for Hunter. In Boulder, coaches knew that, because of the heightened load of playing on both offense and defense on Saturdays, Hunter needed a lightened load in practice during the week. It was also impossible for Hunter to attend both offensive and defensive meetings (as well as broken-down meetings with individual position groups) simultaneously, so he had to budget his time between meetings.
Once he’s in the NFL, that won’t fly. The jump from college to professional football often presents a giant learning curve for rookies. Hunter will most likely have his plate full getting up to speed in practices and meetings for one position, let alone both. So, the question arises: which side will be the focus for Hunter in the NFL? In order to make that decision, scouts must confront another question: on which side of the ball does Hunter have the greatest chance to be a top-shelf player and add the most value to his team?
The resounding answer from scouts, per Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated, has been cornerback. Jay Glazer of FOX Sports spoke with 13 NFL general managers who agreed with Breer’s scouts, as 12 GMs claimed their preference was on defense. While it’s been a long time, this situation isn’t totally without precedent. Woodson, Champ Bailey, and Chris Gamble were all full-time, two-way players in college (Woodson less so), and all three became defensive backs at the next level.
Both scouts and GMs asserted that, though his primary position should be cornerback, they would certainly find packages in which to utilize his elite ball skills on offense. Likely this would be in third down and passing down situations. They could also utilize his playmaking ability on special teams in the return game, as well. A true shutdown cornerback can be harder to find and can be more impactful than a top receiver, though, so defense will likely be the early focus as Hunter adjusts to the NFL-level of play.
Now, with those questions answered, the next question of his draft stock arises. While viewed as an elite player at both positions in college, he’s likely not viewed as the top draft prospect at either position, per Breer. Players like Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan and Michigan cornerback Will Johnson have been trending ahead of Hunter at both positions in early draft board rankings.
What will this mean for Hunter’s draft stock? Does his potential to impact both sides of the ball raise his value as a draft prospect? Or do teams in need of a wide receiver or cornerback target players like McMillan or Johnson before Hunter? The Colorado athlete is likely guaranteed to hear his name on the first night of the draft, but the answers to the above questions will determine where exactly he falls in the first round and just how much money he’ll get on his rookie contract as a result.
Updated 2025 NFL Draft Order
This NFL season saw several teams slip out of contention quicker than usual, slimming wild-card races and expanding the pursuit for the No. 1 overall pick. Two teams now lead that race.
While no prospect on the Caleb Williams level is dangling for the Raiders and Giants, an interesting showdown has formed. With three weeks to go, the Giants would currently hold the top 2025 draft choice. But based on projected strength of schedule, the Raiders would win the tiebreaker if the results held. The team with the weaker overall strength of schedule would win that. The Giants still have a game against the 12-2 Eagles, while the Raiders’ upcoming matchup with the 3-11 Jaguars works in their favor.
The Giants have not held the No. 1 pick in the common draft era (1967-present), last making a choice atop a draft in 1965 (running back Tucker Frederickson). Their Eli Manning trade occurred after the Chargers had chosen the quarterback to start the 2004 draft. The Raiders have held the top pick once in the common draft era, famously choosing JaMarcus Russell to start the ’07 draft. Both teams have coaches fighting for their jobs, but each also has seen All-Pros (Dexter Lawrence, Maxx Crosby) removed from equations. Losers of 10 straight, the Raiders follow their Jaguars matchup with games against the Saints and Chargers. The Giants, who have dropped nine consecutive games, go Falcons-Colts-Eagles to close the season.
Five 3-11 teams sit behind the Raiders and Giants presently, with the NFL having nine teams who have already lost double-digit contests. If a Giants or Raiders win occurs, there are candidates to move toward pole position in what could be races for Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward. Though, a non-Giants or Raiders team finishing in the top two creates a bit more intrigue, as both those clubs are in dire need of QB help.
With an eye on teams’ projected strength of schedule based on current records, here is how the draft order looks with three games to go:
- Las Vegas Raiders (2-12)
- New York Giants (2-12)
- New England Patriots (3-11)
- Jacksonville Jaguars (3-11)
- Carolina Panthers (3-11)
- Tennessee Titans (3-11)
- Cleveland Browns (3-11)
- New York Jets (4-10)
- Chicago Bears (4-10)
- New Orleans Saints (5-9)
- Miami Dolphins (6-8)
- Indianapolis Colts (6-8)
- Cincinnati Bengals (6-8)
- Dallas Cowboys (6-8)
- San Francisco 49ers (6-8)
- Atlanta Falcons (7-7)
- Arizona Cardinals (7-7)
- Seattle Seahawks (8-6)
- Los Angeles Chargers (8-6)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8-6)
- Los Angeles Rams (8-6)
- Washington Commanders (9-5)
- Denver Broncos (9-5)
- Baltimore Ravens (9-5)
- Houston Texans (9-5)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (10-4)
- Green Bay Packers (10-4)
- Minnesota Vikings (12-2)
- Buffalo Bills (11-3)
- Philadelphia Eagles (12-2)
- Detroit Lions (12-2)
- Kansas City Chiefs (13-1)
Michigan TE Colston Loveland Declares For Draft
As a sophomore last year, tight end Colston Loveland was celebrating a national championship victory with the rest of his Wolverine teammates. A year later, after a disappointing team effort out of Ann Arbor, Loveland is looking to join a number of those former teammates in the NFL. It was on Instagram that Loveland authored a post announcing that he would forgo his senior year and leave for the 2025 NFL Draft. 
The top prospect coming out of the state of Idaho, the Gooding HS alumnus was considered a top 10 tight end as a recruit. Loveland fielded a range of offers from some of the best schools, including Alabama, Auburn, and LSU out of the SEC and Arizona, Arizona State, Oregon State, Colorado, UCLA, and Utah out of what was then the Pac-12. He also pulled obvious offers from in-state Idaho State and Boise State, but ultimately, he opted for the only Big Ten school to offer him, signing with Michigan.
As a true freshman, Loveland played second fiddle to Luke Schoonmaker as TE2. He took over TE1 duties in his sophomore year and was the second-leading receiver on the offense for the national champion Wolverines, finishing behind only Roman Wilson in receiving yards (649) and receiving touchdowns (4) while finishing third in receptions (45). This season, Loveland took over as Michigan’s top receiving option. Despite failing to reach his yardage total from 2023, Loveland led the team in receptions (56), receiving yards (582), and receiving touchdowns (5) by a wide margin.
Those numbers also aren’t near the production put up by some of the more productive tight ends in the NCAA, but that hasn’t stopped draft pundits from listing Loveland as one of the top options, if not the top option, for tight ends coming into the NFL next year. This is reflected in analytics, where Pro Football Focus (subscription required) lists Loveland as the fifth-best tight end in college football this year.
ESPN’s Mel Kiper lists Loveland as the 21st-best overall prospect and the second-best tight end, behind only Penn State’s Tyler Warren, the NCAA’s Mackey Award winner for best tight end in college football this year. Kiper’s colleagues — Jordan Reid, Matt Miller, and Field Yates — rank Loveland at first, second, and first, respectively, flip-flopping spots with Warren. Dane Brugler of The Athletic has Loveland as the 13th-best overall prospect and the top tight end, with Warren slotting in as the 26th-best overall prospect.
It’s clear that Loveland and Warren are viewed as TE1 and TE2 in whichever order for this year’s draft class. The only thing left to determine is where they will fall in the draft come April. Brugler and Kiper seem to be of the mindset that both players are deserving of a first-round pick, but as always, it will be up to general managers around the league to set the draft stock for the tight end position. If any tight ends are going on Day 1, expect to hear one or both of Loveland and Warren’s names.
Marshall Edge Rusher Mike Green Declares For Draft
With the collegiate regular season having come to an end, it’s become time for the elite at their positions to declare their intentions to enter the 2025 NFL Draft. Right on schedule, Marshall’s Mike Green, the leader of the nation in sacks this season, has announced that he will forgo his remaining eligibility and head to the NFL, per ESPN’s Jordan Reid.
Green was not the most sought-after recruit coming out of Lafayette HS (VA). As a three-star athlete, Green fielded offers from schools like Ole Miss, Kentucky, Pittsburgh, and in-state colleges Virginia and Virginia Tech. He committed to the in-state Cavaliers, a short, two-hour drive away. After minimal use in Charlottesville as a true freshman, Green hit the transfer portal and found his way to Marshall.
At 6-foot-4 and nearly 250 pounds, Green was a physical specimen as a college athlete, but he needed time to develop his skills. Through his first 20 games, Green only managed a total of 5.5 sacks and 10.0 tackles for loss. This season, Green broke out for an incredible 17.0 sacks and 22.5 tackles for loss, leading the FBS in both categories as a redshirt sophomore. Green graded out well analytically, as well. Per Pro Football Focus (subscription required), Green ranked as the top pass-rusher in college football.
Reid and ESPN’s Field Yates each ranked Green in their top eight pass rushers with Reid placing Green at seven and Yates ranking him fourth. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler slotted Green in as the eighth best edge rusher and the 37th best prospect overall.
Green obviously possesses the pass-rushing talent to be a Day 1 or 2 pick. With impressive performances at the NFL Scouting Combine and Marshall’s Pro Day, along with some strong interviews, there’s a chance that Green can convince a team to take a chance on him in the first round.
Arizona WR Tetairoa McMillan Declares For 2025 Draft
To no surprise, Tetairoa McMillan will turn pro this spring. The junior wideout has declared for the 2025 NFL draft as expected. 
McMillan enjoyed a stellar career at Arizona, and his receiving yardage total (3,423) marks the school’s all-time record. He posted 1,319 yards and eight touchdowns on 84 catches in 2024, essentially a duplication of last year’s output. His production made him a strong candidate for the Biletnikoff Award (given to the country’s top receiver), although that honor went to Colorado’s Travis Hunter.
Still, McMillan was named a first-team All-American by the American Football Coaches Association, in addition to first-team All-Conference honors. The 6-5, 212-pounder confirmed his status as one of the top receiving prospects in the country over the course of the 2024 campaign, and it comes as no surprise he has elected to turn pro at the first opportunity to do so. McMillan will not need to wait long to hear his name called.
ESPN’s Mel Kiper ranks McMillan as the No. 2 receiver prospect in this year’s class (behind only Hunter), placing him 11th overall. It remains to be seen if Hunter will be used as a wideout, a corner or both at the NFL level, but in terms of players who strictly fit the WR description McMillan could easily find himself as the top player selected. Any number of NFL teams could use an infusion of size and productivity at the position.
Missouri standout Luther Burden III has also declared for the draft as expected, and he is another Day 1 candidate at the receiver spot. His size and profile is much different to McMillan’s, and NFL teams may establish a preference of one over the other during the pre-draft process. In any case, both playmakers will face considerable expectations at the NFL level in 2025.
Penn State S Kevin Winston Jr. Declares For 2025 Draft
Kevin Winston Jr. did not have the 2024 season he hoped for, but he has elected to turn pro. The Penn State junior announced on Thursday is headed to the NFL draft.
“After much thought and prayer, I’m excited to announce that I’ll be declaring for the 2025 NFL draft,” Winston’s statement reads in part. “This has been my dream for as long as I can remember, and I’m ready to embrace this next challenge with the same dedication and heart that got me to this point.”
Winston suffered a partial ACL tear earlier this season, limiting him to only three games played. He will not be available to the Nittany Lions during their upcoming playoff games, but ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports Winston should receive full clearance by March 1. That would allow for him to participate in the NFL Combine later that month.
A former four-star recruit, Winston played sparingly during his freshman season. He took on a much larger workload last year, however, establishing himself as a full-time starter. Winston led the team in tackles with 61, adding one interception, five pass breakups and three tackles for loss along the way. That production led to All-Big Ten honorable mentions and elevated expectations for 2024.
Due to the injury, though, Winston’s attention for the past several months has been focused solely on recovery. Provided he is cleared to take part in pre-draft workouts, he will be able to help rebuild his stock. The 6-2, 201-pounder has the size to be a regular contributor on defense at the NFL level, and Scouts Inc. has him listed as this year’s third-ranked safety. Especially if everything plays out well on the health front, he should hear his name called on Day 2 of the draft.
Tom Brady To Play ‘Huge’ Role In Raiders’ Personnel Plans; Mark Davis Not Mandating QB Pick?
Since ditching their solid but unspectacular Derek Carr plan, the Raiders have delivered a rudderless two years at quarterback. They have not seen their free agency and draft plans pan out, and the organization is amid a lengthy buildup to another true search for an answer.
Although the Raiders looked into Tom Brady as a player ahead of the 2023 free agency period, the former Josh McDaniels pupil retired for a second time. That did not stop Mark Davis from aligning with the QB legend soon after. It took a bit, but Brady’s ownership stake is now official, leading to what promises to be a prominent partnership — one that will not place the 23-year veteran as a figurehead.
Brady will play a “huge” role in personnel, with Davis going as far as to confirm this (via the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Vincent Bonsignore) at the latest owners meetings Wednesday. Bonsignore reported earlier this week Brady will hold a prominent place in the Raiders’ decision-making hierarchy “over time.” This invites obvious intrigue due to Brady’s stature and how it will impact the authority of GM Tom Telseco, who controls the Raiders’ roster. This is a night-and-day turnaround from Brady’s June 2023 assessment, which pegged a “very passive” role in Las Vegas.
More specifically, Davis wants to hear an honest assessment from a qualified staffer who is not fearing for his job, according to Yahoo’s Charles Robinson. Buying a stake in the Raiders earlier this season — after more than a year of waiting — Brady has no concerns of being pushed out. The NFL has allowed him to operate dually as FOX’s top analyst, albeit with significant sanctions, and minority Raiders owner. That setup is interesting enough by itself, but with Brady set to help shape the Raiders’ long-term plan, how they will go about addressing the quarterback spot will be a central 2025 NFL storyline.
Brady does not hold personnel experience, but Davis is certainly set to lean on this century’s highest-profile player’s body of work within the game. As it stands, Brady will be perhaps the lead decision-maker when it comes to Las Vegas determining its QB answer.
As for where that player will come from, a drafted arm might not be a lock. Conflicting accounts have emerged, per Robinson, as to whether Davis will demand the Raiders draft a starter-caliber QB. Be it through the draft or a veteran acquisition, Robinson adds Davis will mandate a long-term plan to fix this issue. The Raiders also want to improve their roster before acquiring a to-be-determined long-term QB, Robinson adds, noting that in-house extensions may be on the horizon. Given the Raiders’ 2-11 record, it will be interesting to see which players become targets.
Although Ken Stabler played longer with the Raiders, Carr operated as the longest-running QB1 in team history. The Raiders erred by signing Jimmy Garoppolo, and Antonio Pierce repeatedly benched Garder Minshew despite the team having signed him to a two-year, $25MM deal in March. Since Carr was parked in Week 17 of the 2022 season due to his contract, the Raiders have started six quarterbacks. That number might balloon to seven Sunday, if Desmond Ridder is needed in place of Aidan O’Connell. Neither of those passers, however, will be expected to factor into Telesco, Davis and now Brady’s long-term plan.
With a month left in the season, the Raiders are projected to hold the No. 1 overall pick. This top-heavy season, though, has produced a host of challengers for that spot. And the 2025 draft’s QB crop is not viewed especially well. That could prompt the Raiders to look into other options — be it a true starter or another bridge plan ahead of 2026. Antonio Pierce, who pushed for a Jayden Daniels reunion, would almost definitely — if he is retained, that is — be against a second bridge plan ahead of a 2026 draft choice. But Pierce or his replacement will be answering to Brady and Telesco on this matter.
Once they learned no Daniels trade would happen, the Raiders had Michael Penix Jr. as a potential fallback option. But the team did not want to trade up for the Washington prospect, who went eighth overall to Atlanta. The Falcons choosing Penix at 8 flummoxed the Raiders, Robinson adds, as the Telesco-led front office believed he would be there at 13. With Penix going at 8, the Broncos scuttled any plans to trade down and drafted Bo Nix — who visited the Raiders — at 12. This left the Raiders in the cold at QB, though they did do well to acquire Offensive Rookie of the Year candidate Brock Bowers in a best-player-available pick.
Bowers’ historic pace should bode well for Telesco’s standing within the building, but soon he will need to provide Brady with answers at quarterback. It will be quite interesting to find out who will hold the anvil when it comes to how the franchise proceeds here in 2025, but given Davis’ comments, it should not be expected Brady will encounter significant pushback if he voices a strong opinion about a near-future path.
Michigan CB Will Johnson, DT Mason Graham Declare For Draft
Next year’s NFL draft is expected to see two Jim Harbaugh recruits land in the top 10. Both defensive tackle Mason Graham and cornerback Will Johnson have resided high in mocks for a while now, and both have now dispensed with any drama regarding their 2025 statuses
Graham is entering the draft, per ESPN.com, having hired Drew Rosenhaus as an agent. Not long after the D-tackle’s declaration, ESPN’s Jordan Reid notes Johnson will follow suit. Graham’s representation expects him to land in the top five of next year’s draft, while Mel Kiper Jr.’s latest ESPN.com big board places the Michigan standouts at second (Johnson) and fifth (Graham) overall.
A four-star recruit in 2022, Graham did not redshirt and played three seasons for the Wolverines, who benefited from the ascending prospect’s work during their 2023 national championship run. Graham, 21, combined to total 6.5 sacks and 15 tackles for loss over the past two seasons. Graham collected first-team All-Big Ten honors last season.
Also a four-star prospect back in 2022, Johnson notched a Michigan-record three pick-sixes during his time in Ann Arbor. He intercepted nine passes in his three seasons with the Big Ten program, notching two of his three pick-sixes this season despite only playing in six games.
Johnson earned first-team All-Big Ten acclaim as a sophomore in 2023 and second-team all-conference honors in 2022. He then earned a defensive MVP nod in last season’s CFP championship game. A foot issue sidelined Johnson this season, and it would surprise if the 6-foot-2 corner played in the school’s upcoming bowl game.
Harbaugh successor Sherrone Moore said he expects some of his players to pass on that non-playoff outing to prepare for the draft. Seeing as these two are Michigan’s top prospects, it should be expected neither suit up again for the university following the declarations. Johnson and Graham going in the top five would follow Aidan Hutchinson as the second of Harbaugh’s Wolverines recruits to be drafted that high.
Texas A&M’s Shemar Stewart To Enter Draft
Shemar Stewart will not take part in Texas A&M’s upcoming bowl game. The junior defensive lineman announced on Monday that he is declaring for April’s NFL draft. 
A former five-star recruit, Stewart arrived with high expectations based on his size and athleticism. He has been a key figure along the D-line throughout his three seasons with the Aggies, although his production does not stand out compared to other prospects seen as potential edge rushers at the NFL level. Stewart just recorded 1.5 sacks every year, but he set a new career high in total stops (31) and tackles for loss (six) in 2024.
Given his 6-6, 290-pound frame, Stewart certainly has the potential play on the interior upon turning pro. His ability to see time as a defensive end could add to his versatility, something which will be key in determining his draft stock. Stewart’s upside will be weighed against his limited production as teams consider him as a Day 1 option.
Both ESPN Matt Miller and The Ringer’s Danny Kelly have Stewart landing in the middle of the first-round order in their latest mock drafts. Any team making that notable of an investment would bank on his athletic upside, and Stewart’s performance at the Combine in March will be critical in establishing his range during the draft. A strong showing in that respect could increase the number of suitors interested in adding him during the spring.
A number of high-profile edge rushers figure to be available on Day 1 of this year’s draft, and the extent to which Stewart is viewed as a hybrid defender (as opposed to being strictly a five-technique) will be interesting to follow over the coming months. His stock could fluctuate considerably over the pre-draft process.