The 2025 NFL Combine provided a stage for multiple freak athletes to leave decision-makers and fans in awe, shaking up the big board in the process. But which athletic marvels secured their spots in the first round of our latest 2025 NFL Mock Draft?
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1) Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
Tennessee Titans
Shedeur Sanders going No. 1 overall is far from out of the realm of possibilities. He’s arguably the most accurate passer in the class, and there’s every chance the Tennessee Titans aim for consistency over flash — especially coming off the Will Levis experiment.
MORE: 2025 NFL Draft Underclassmen Tracker
Heck, head coach Brian Callahan even compared Sanders to Joe Burrow, who he coached as the OC of the Bengals.
2) Cam Ward, QB, Miami (FL)
Cleveland Browns
Will the real QB1 stand up? The Cleveland Browns need a new face of the franchise and one who can handle the pressures that come with the label. Not only is Cam Ward built for the task, but he should thrive — on and off the field. With the confidence to rip passes all over the yard and the arm talent to back it up, a new era begins in Cleveland.
3) Travis Hunter, CB, Colorado
New York Giants
Travis Hunter has long been seen as the Shohei Ohtani of the football field, but according to the two-way superstar himself, he may be even more impressive.
Travis Hunter says him playing both sides in football is more difficult than Shohei Ohtani hitting and pitching in baseball
(via @YahooSports, @ALaboutSports) pic.twitter.com/Pw1nECifla
— Jomboy Media (@JomboyMedia) February 28, 2025
Yes, the Giants miss out on finally addressing their QB woes, but Hunter is one heck of a consolation prize at No. 3 overall.
4) Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State
New England Patriots
Abdul Carter was already set to skip drills at the Combine due to a lingering shoulder injury from the Fiesta Bowl, but midweek tests showed he had a “stress reaction in his right foot” that could require surgery.”
Carter is already prepared for the comeback, and although NFL decision-makers will do their due diligence on the injury, there’s no world in which the game-wrecking EDGE falls past Mike Vrabel’s New England Patriots on draft night.
5) Will Campbell, OT, LSU
Jacksonville Jaguars
Short arms be damned — Will Campbell has the tape and mental makeup of a franchise left tackle.
Will Campbell to people who doubt him due to his arm length:
🎥: @kdthompson5
— Savage (@SavageSports_) March 1, 2025
The Jacksonville Jaguars have done well building around Trevor Lawrence, but providing him with protection could be the key between another disappointing season and a deep playoff run.
6) Mason Graham, DT, Michigan
Las Vegas Raiders
A left heel bruise kept Mason Graham from performing anything other than the bench press a the Combine, but his tape speaks for itself. The Michigan Wolverines DT is one of the most impactful defenders in the class, able to disrupt the ground and pass attacks with his power generation and movement skills from the interior.
7) Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina
New York Jets
Derwin James … I mean Nick Emmanwori … should not be able to move the way he does at 6’3″ and 220 pounds. Just look at his Combine numbers:
- 4.38 40-yard dash
- 43″ vertical jump
- 11’6″ broad jump
Yeah, that’s top-10 worthy all day, every day. It’s not as if Emmanwori’s tape doesn’t back up his testing, either, as he snatched four picks with two defensive touchdowns in 2024.
8) Shemar Stewart, EDGE, Texas A&M Aggies
Carolina Panthers
Yet another SEC defender who blew up the Combine, Shemar Stewart has solidified his first-round status with a 10’11” broad, 40″ vertical, and 4.59 40-yard dash at 6’5″ and 281 pounds — talk about freakish!
Stewart is already an elite run defender who can control gaps, which should lead to playing time early. However, thanks to his obvious length, raw strength, and athleticism, he also has immense potential as a pass rusher — potential a team will be willing to bank on early.
9) Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
New Orleans Saints
Derek Carr + Kellen Moore could be a match made in Heaven for the Saints, but they’ll need far more weapons on the outside. Even if Chris Olave can stay healthy, New Orleans would be wise to bring Tetairoa McMillan to the Bayou.
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The 6’5″, 210-pound skywalker obviously has contested-catch appeal due to his size and length, but he is actually quite flexible as a route runner — watch McMillan’s Week 1 tape vs. New Mexico to glimpse his ceiling (10-304-4 line).
10) James Pearce Jr., EDGE, Tennessee
Chicago Bears
Did James Pearce Jr. dominate as much as he did last season for the Tennessee Volunteers? No, but it’s not like he completely fell off, either. He still generated 13 TFLs and 7.5 sacks at 6’5″ and 245 pounds!
He has all the tools to produce from Day 1, using his length (near-33″ arms) and explosiveness (4.47 40-yard dash and 10’3″ broad jump) to devastating effect.
11) Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
San Francisco 49ers
Will Johnson could’ve started in the NFL two years ago — that’s how good he is. At 6’2″ and 200 pounds, he has all the physical tools to be a shutdown corner, not to mention his easy-to-see intangibles: competitiveness, patience, and high football IQ to recognize route concepts. Injuries cut Johnson’s 2024 season short, but he’s still the CB2 in the draft.
12) Matthew Golden, WR, Texas
Dallas Cowboys
Isaiah Bond said he was going to break Xavier Worthy’s 40-yard dash record, but it was Matthew Golden who was closest.
Texas’ CFP standout Matthew Golden just ran a 4.30u 🤘
📺: #NFLCombine on @NFLNetwork
📱: Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/lHzyCUcICG— NFL (@NFL) March 1, 2025
Golden isn’t just a deep threat, though — he’s a three-level weapon with the skill set to produce from anywhere on the field. While his route-running could use some fine-tuning, he flashes the ability to manipulate tempo and create separation at the break. Just look at his performances against Georgia (8-162-0) and Arizona State (7-149-1) in the postseason.
13) Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas
Miami Dolphins
Kelvin Banks Jr. stepped off the plane in Austin and immediately shined at left tackle, particularly in pass protection. The former five-star recruit has lived up to his billing and then some, and after three straight years of linear progression, he should be a top-15 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Banks is a rare tackle prospect, standing 6’4″, 324 pounds, with nearly 35″ arms. His dense frame, leverage, and reach can disrupt opponents’ pass-rush plans with ease and should translate to the NFL level.
14) Shavon Revel, CB, East Carolina
Indianapolis Colts
Shavon Revel is coming off a torn ACL, which will likely allow whichever team selects him to do so at a “discounted” price. Revel’s size (6’1 7/8″, 194), length (32 5/7″), and aggressive mentality make him a prime candidate to become the CB1 in a man/Cover 3-heavy scheme.
Yes, Revel has room to grow technique-wise, but that should only scare offenses because of how good he already is.
15) Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas
Atlanta Falcons
While Texas’ offense drew plenty of attention — both good and bad — the defense was dominant all year, with Jahdae Barron emerging as a standout in the secondary. The 5’10 3/4” senior has excelled in multiple roles, locking down receivers out wide, in the slot, and even in the box.
MORE: 2025 NFL Combine Measurements by School
Barron’s blazing 4.39-second time, paired with a 1.5-second 10-yard split at 194 pounds, proved he has the speed to hold his own against NFL-caliber receivers, solidifying his rising draft stock.
16) Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia
Arizona Cardinals
Mykel Willaims will wait until Georgia’s Pro Day to test, but he measured in at 6’5″ and 260 pounds with 34 3/8″ arms. Despite inconsistent efficiency in college, his athleticism pops off the screen, which should translate in his testing numbers. He’ll need some time to hone his craft, especially as a pass rusher, but the tools are there.
17) Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky
Cincinnati Bengals
Maxwell Hairston tied Alabama’s Terrion Arnold for the SEC lead with five interceptions in 2024 — despite playing two fewer games — and showcased his playmaking instincts by returning two picks for touchdowns against Vanderbilt.
As a redshirt sophomore, the Kentucky corner displayed elite vision, reacting to plays before they fully developed, and his smooth athleticism made him a nightmare for opposing quarterbacks. A shoulder injury limited him to seven games, but his upside remains undeniable.
Hairston arrived at the NFL Combine with added muscle (183 pounds, up from 179 at the Senior Bowl) and turned heads with a blistering 4.28-second 40-yard dash. His 39 1/2″ vertical, 10’9″ broad jump, and fluid movement in position drills further cemented his status as one of the top CB prospects in the class.
18) Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama
Seattle Seahawks
Jihaad Campbell started his Alabama career on special teams but quickly earned a starting linebacker role as a true sophomore, using his 6’3” frame to blanket passing lanes and wrap up ball carriers with ease. His combination of length, mobility, and field awareness allows him to cover in space and explode to the ball.
idk if broadcast showed it but @AlabamaFTBL LB Jihaad Campbell did more pass rush drills after the rest of the LBs were done for the day.
This is what it looked like in real speed. Safe to say he’s got the goods. pic.twitter.com/GUd26E9hqw
— Brett Kollmann (@BrettKollmann) February 28, 2025
At the Combine, Campbell’s athleticism was on full display — his 4.52 40-yard dash ranked second among LBs, an impressive mark given his ideal NFL size at 235 pounds. He also posted a 10’7″ broad jump, further proving his explosiveness. With a well-rounded skill set and standout testing numbers, Campbell solidified himself as LB1 in the class.
19) Elic Ayomanor, WR, Stanford
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Elic Ayomanor’s talent was overshadowed by Stanford’s struggling offense, but his flashes show why he’s a name to watch in the draft.
He brings a unique blend of density (6’1″, 206), power (still has room to grow), and athleticism to the table (38 1/2″ vertical and 10’7″ broad), and his track background makes him a legitimate vertical threat (4.44 40-yard dash).
20) Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
Denver Broncos
Sean Payton and Bo Nix surprised in 2024, but to keep the momentum going, they’ll need to reload in the 2025 NFL Draft, beginning with the TE1 of the class, Tyler Warren.
MORE: Scouting Reports on the Top 100 Prospects
TEs don’t come much more dynamic than the Penn State dynamo, who has taken snaps in the wildcat, inline, in the slot, and out wide. He has the size, strength, and explosiveness to thrive in any role, similar to George Kittle.
21) Armand Membou, OT, Missouri
Pittsburgh Steelers
Missouri’s offensive line underwent a bit of a facelift with players leaving and coming in. But one constant was RT Armand Membou. He started the last five games of his true freshman campaign and maintained his level of play through all 13 contests in 2023.
Yet, with another offseason to hone his craft around his natural leverage at 6’3″, Membou turned in one of the most impressive campaigns among those in the 2025 NFL Draft, routinely exhibiting his blend of power and athleticism.
22) Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon
Los Angeles Chargers
Standing at 6’5″ and 322 pounds, Derrick Harmon brought relentless pressure for Oregon after transferring from Michigan State. On top of filling the box score (10.5 TFLs and five sacks), Harmon set the tone upfront for the former No. 1 team in the nation, even if missed tackles have plagued an otherwise flawless campaign.
Derrick Harmon is in the company of a 3x Super Bowl champ 🙌
📺: #NFLCombine on @NFLNetwork
📱: Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/DXsnCIbSQG— NFL (@NFL) February 27, 2025
Oh, and he ran two sub-five-second 40-yard dashes at the 2025 NFL Combine.
23) Landon Jackson, EDGE, Arkansas
Green Bay Packers
At 6’6″ and 264 pounds, Landon Jackson put on a show at the Combine, soaring for a 40 1/2″ vertical — the highest for a defensive lineman weighing 260+ pounds since Myles Garrett (41″) in 2017.
Anytime you’re in the same conversation as Garrett, it’s a win. But Jackson wasn’t done. He blazed through a 4.68 40-yard dash and launched for a 10’9″ broad jump, cementing himself as one of the event’s biggest athletic standouts.
24) Darien Porter, CB, Iowa State
Minnesota Vikings
At nearly 6’3” and 195 pounds, Darien Porter brings a rare blend of size and speed to the 2025 NFL Draft. A former high school track champion in the 200m, 400m, and 800m, his athleticism was on full display at the Combine.
Iowa State CB Darien Porter ran a 4.30 at 6’2″ | 195 LBS. Freak
— PFF College (@PFF_College) February 28, 2025
The one-year Iowa State starter ran a blazing 4.30-second 40-yard dash with a 1.49-second 10-yard split and posted a 10’11” broad jump. Though still refining his footwork and press technique, Porter’s length (33 1/8″ arms) and strong hands stood out in drills, particularly in the gauntlet.
25) Tyler Booker, G, Alabama
Houston Texans
Tyler Booker is still sharpening his technique as a pass blocker, but he took a big leap in HC Kalen DeBoer’s offense. The 6’5″, 350-pound blocker is a fine cut of Wagyu beef bred for destruction, and when his body is under control, SEC defenders were pinned to the ground against their will.
26) Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama
Los Angeles Rams
All the talk about Jalen Milroe is the fact that his hands somehow grew from 8 3/4″ at the Senior Bowl to 9 3/8″ at the Combine. But on the field, he has all the physical tools to be a legitimate dual-threat in the league.
Milroe has home-run speed, a dense frame built to absorb contact, and exceptional vision on designed runs. Yet, you don’t need to watch him run to know he’s a twitched-up athlete — just look at his throwing motion. Milroe launches rockets in the blink of an eye, owning one of the fastest releases I’ve seen. But that speed often leads to high variance in his accuracy.
27) Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame
Baltimore Ravens
Benjamin Morrison put his name on the map with six INTs as a true freshman in 2022. And even though coverage numbers are usually volatile year over year, he came right back and put up 10 PBUs and three picks in 2023 before injury knocked him out early in 2024.
At 6’0″ and 190 pounds, Morrison doesn’t win with brute strength or suffocating length, instead relying on his movement skills, instincts, and overall technique to lock down WRs — exactly what the Ravens need on the outside.
28) Darius Alexander, DT, Toledo
Detroit Lions
Darius Alexander stood alone atop the MAC, and his pass-rush ability made him an irreplaceable force inside. His four sacks don’t tell the whole story — his tape reveals powerful hands, a stout lower half, and a diverse arsenal of moves (club rip, arm over, etc.) that disrupt the backfield.
The Indiana native reinforced his NFL potential at the Combine, posting a 4.96-second 40-yard dash (fifth-best among DTs) with a 1.72-second 10-yard split. He also notched a 31 1/2” vertical, a 9’3” broad jump, a 7.6-second three-cone, and 28 bench reps, proving his combination of power and athleticism is ready for the next level.
29) Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
Washington Commanders
Since 2022, Malaki Starks has registered six INTs and 17 PBUs, highlighting his playmaking ability in coverage. But he’s also one of the best tacklers in the nation and revels in crashing the box and forcing negative plays for the offense.
KEEP READING: Will Helms’ 2025 NFL Draft Big Board
Versatility is king on defense, and that just so happens to be Starks’ middle name. Did he explode at the Combine? Testing-wise, no. But his on-field showcase was everything you’d expect from a first-round safety.
30) Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri
Buffalo Bills
Move over, Khalil Shakir, a real WR1 is headed to Buffalo. Luther Burden III is the definition of a natural playmaker and is one of the most impressive all-around athletes in the class. His post-catch explosiveness (4.42 40-yard dash) makes him a threat to take any touch to the house, stressing defenses vertically and horizontally.
The Deebo Samuel comps will come throughout the pre-draft process due to the similar body types and play style, but Burden could have an even higher ceiling.
31) Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
Kansas City Chiefs
Head coach Andy Reid needs to get back to basics in 2025, and doing so requires and shift in the offensive attack. Isiah Pacheco and Kareem Hunt were solid in 2024, but neither offered much in the explosives category. Enter the man, the myth, the legend: Ashton Jeanty.
Whether stringing together Marshawn Lynch-style broken tackles or breaking away with his explosive long speed, Jeanty is the complete back. He quite literally carried the Boise State Broncos to the CFP, and while the offensive line did its job, Jeanty had no issue creating his own holes.
32) Mike Green, EDGE, Marshall
Philadelphia Eagles
Mike Green shined at the Senior Bowl, but hamstring tightness held him out of Combine workouts. Nevertheless, the film is the film, and you can’t argue with 17 sacks and 22.5 tackles for loss, both of which led the FBS.
With standout production, a twitchy lower half, and the pass-rush arsenal to make nearly every OT pay, Green should hear his name called on Day 1.
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