Day 2 of the 2025 NFL Draft is over, as 70 more players were welcomed into the league. There were many surprises, but which prospects were selected by the organizations where they can best succeed?
Best Prospect Landing Spots From Day 2 of the 2025 NFL Draft
WR Luther Burden III, Chicago Bears (Round 2, Pick 39)
Despite falling in the draft, it’s hard to imagine a better spot for Luther Burden III to land. Underutilized in his final season with Missouri, new Bears head coach Ben Johnson is an offensive mastermind, as evidenced by his time as the Detroit Lions’ offensive coordinator.
While in Detroit, Johnson got the best out of WRs Amon-Ra St. Brown (a fourth-round pick), Jameson Williams (first-round) and TE Sam LaPorta (second-round) due to his elite offensive system.
Burden, a tremendous run-after-catch player, will be catching passes from 2024 No. 1 overall pick, quarterback Caleb Williams. And — no pun intended — the burden of having all the attention on him from opposing defenses, which he felt the brunt of a season ago, will be completely wiped away.
Chicago adds Burden to a pass-catching core headlined by two talented WRs in Pro Bowler D.J. Moore and 2024 No. 9 overall pick Rome Odunze. Not to mention the contributions of veteran TE Cole Kmet and the Bears’ 2025 first-round pick, TE Colston Loveland.
In the end, the draft slide cost the former Missouri star some money — but fit-wise it couldn’t be much better.
OT Aireontae Ersery, Houston Texans (Round 2, Pick 48)
It was no secret that the Texans needed reinforcements on the offensive line, and they made sure to get their guy in trading up with the Las Vegas Raiders to select Aireontae Ersery.
The former Golden Gopher started 38 games in his college career at left tackle and projects to be the future of that position for Houston after they traded away Pro Bowler Laremy Tunsil this offseason.
Ersery may not start right away, as Houston has Cam Robinson and Trent Brown slated to start at left and right tackle, respectively. However, each have struggled in recent years and could be pushed for playing time by the 6’6″, 331-pound Minnesota product.
Regardless of if he contributes in Year 1, this represents the Texans making a conscious move to prioritize the protection of franchise QB C.J. Stroud, who was under siege in the pocket last season. For Ersery, he goes to an organization that’s on the come-up and has big plans for him in the future.
WR Jack Bech, Las Vegas Raiders (Round 2, Pick 58)
One of the most emotional stories in the draft, the Raiders are getting a mentally and physically strong prospect at the end of the second round at a position of major need.
Bech broke out in 2024, catching 62 passes for 1,034 yards and nine touchdowns in establishing himself as one of the top wideouts in the nation for the Horned Frogs. The sentiment on Bech is that you know what you’re getting with him: a savvy, technically sound receiver who is strong at the point of attack.
The fit in Las Vegas is as good as it was going to be for the TCU pass-catcher, as he’ll be in the running to start opposite fellow WR Jakobi Meyers and TE Brock Bowers from Day 1.
QB Geno Smith showed an ability to spread the ball around during his time with the Seattle Seahawks, presumably providing Bech with plenty of targets early on.
CB Azareye’h Thomas, New York Jets (Round 3, Pick 73)
The Jets lost CB D.J. Reed in free agency and get a replacement here in the third round in Azareye’h Thomas.
A former Florida State Seminole, Thomas is a physical corner on the outside at 6’2″, 197 pounds. In addition to his physical nature, he’s long and athletic, possessing a high ceiling of being a shutdown corner.
New York already has a lock down cover man in Sauce Gardner — with Thomas now in the fold, the Jets will have two tall, lengthy CBs and could present nightmares for opposing offenses.
CB Jaylin Smith, Houston Texans (Round 3, Pick 97)
Though the Texans have two high-caliber starters at each of the cornerback positions in All-Pro Derek Stingley Jr. and emerging second-year man Kamari Lassiter, Smith serves as a developmental prospect and could be a long-term solution in the slot.
The former USC Trojan actually began his career inside before moving outside in 2024, ensuring his comfortability in that spot. It helps that he’s a physical tackler, amassing 75 total tackles in 2023 while playing in the slot.
KEEP READING: Top 300 Prospects — Get Your Free Printable 2025 NFL Draft Big Board
Smith wasn’t projected to go this high, but the Houston coaching staff has a track record of developing cover men — with Stingley and Lassiter as first hand examples.
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