By Tanner Ostrowski
January 25th, 2025
This is an assessment of some of the QBs that are projected to be drafted this year, whether that would be in the 1st Round, or even undrafted. The QBs were assessed based on relevant stats and video clips and then were analyzed to assess their positives and negatives. This would include athletic traits, production, effort, amongst other things. Stats would also be looked at to see how much production the players had in college. Finally, a projection would be given to the player to see where they should be drafted.
*Note: Dillon Gabriel from Oregon is not on here as there are not any recent video clips of him playing. The latest is from a month ago, which is a while ago. He will be in the updated rankings later this draft season.
Ward can throw the football from a multitude of angles, whether that would be the typical throwing motion, the side-arm motion, amongst other interesting angles. He is able to both loft and zip the ball deep down the field. Despite his throwing motions (and even throwing off his backfoot), he is accurate the majority of the time. However, this may result in dangerous passes at times that may be intercepted. Ward can make plays happen out of nowhere, as he is elusive in the pocket and can avoid getting sacked, resulting in giving his receivers more time due to his athletic abilities. He can also stand in the pocket and throw it, even with milliseconds of getting hit. He can also make plays with his legs, whether that would be running for the 1st down or for as much yardage as he can. Additionally, he makes smart business decisions by sliding or running out of bounds.He does prefer to make plays with his arm than his legs. He is also great at executing play fakes, as he can trick the defense (and the viewers) pretty easily. Overall, he is a very toolsy prospect that comes with a lot of upside and experience.
Projection: Top 9 in 1st Round
The best attribute to have at QB is the ability to throw the ball, but that is not the case here. Milroe has crazy athleticism that allows him to do a lot on the field. He can run away from the defense for big gains using his extraordinary speed and can break tackles in the process with his strength and toughness. It is nearly impossible to stop him in the open field due to his size, along with the aforementioned attributes above. These abilities can also help him improvise to throw his guy open or he can just take off and run with the ball. He can throw the ball well, but not great however. He needs to throw the ball better so he does not exit the league sooner than expected due to taking hits while running, as that can take a toll on a player. Overall, he has unbelievable athletic abilities that can make him dangerous everywhere, and is reminiscent of a bigger Lamar Jackson coming out of college. Right now, he needs to focus on throwing the ball better, as that is one of the most important attributes for a QB. He is a very high-risk, high-reward prospect.
Projection: Bottom of 1st Round to Top of 2nd Round
Howard can throw the ball to all parts of the field and is an efficient threat to run the ball, though not dynamic. He has a big arm and has good placement all over the field. He has above-average athleticism and the toughness to survive. He does slide at times once converting the 1st down, which are smart business decisions. He also runs it into the end zone, and some of the plays that helped him score a TD were designed specifically for Howard. However, he can underthrow the ball at times, which can result in bad things from time to time. This is shown in the stats, as he threw 10 interceptions in 2024. Howard has a very high ceiling but also has a very low floor. Howard is similar to Josh Allen, as he has the arm, the toughness, the ability to run the ball and the physique. Unfortunately, they are also comparable in terms of being turnover machines.
Projection: Bottom of 1st Round to Top of 2nd Round
Some positives are that he can throw the ball accurately at times and the football has a wonderful spiral each time he throws the ball. Sanders also has nice touch passes. He also can buy time by being elusive, despite having a lack of athletic ability. His elusiveness also helps him avoid a few pass rushers, but Sanders is a much better pocket passer. However, Sanders can underthrow the ball at times, forcing his receivers to adjust so they can catch the ball. He also cannot throw the ball deep and every pass is lofted, with no zip on the ball, which is concerning. QBs need at least some speed on their throws and as mentioned, Sanders does not. While Sanders is a pocket passer, which may extend his NFL career as he does not depend on his athletic ability, there are not any “wow” attributes. The tight spiral on the pass he throws is his best ability. Shedeur Sanders may not live up to the hype.
Projection: Bottom of 1st Round to Middle of 2nd Round
Dart can throw the ball excellently, as he has great touch and zip on his deep passes. The deep passes are a thing of beauty. He can tight rope the football when there are close windows between the receiver and defender(s), but this does result in risky passes. Dart surprisingly only threw 6 interceptions in 2024 according to the ESPN. He can throw 50-50 balls and underthrow passes. Dart can also throw on the run when the pocket is collapsing. He also has the ability to run the ball, as he has the speed to get away from defenders. He is not afraid to take the hit either. He can break tackles and even truck the defender down to the ground, which is crazy to think of. He does play a lot from shotgun. Dart is a speed demon and not afraid to get hit by defenders, and has the ability to throw wonderful passes. However, he does throw scary passes at times, which can cause turnovers. If that tendency continues, he will throw way more than 6 interceptions per year than he did in college.
Projection: Top of 3rd Round to Top of 4th Round
Ewers is mobile and can throw the football on the run. He can tight rope the ball to the right spot for his receiver to catch it at times. He can also do some side-arm throws. But Ewers is inconsistent, as he does not look the part of an NFL player at times. He threw 12 interceptions on the year as stated by ESPN and his good passes were mostly to wide-open receivers. Since his difficulties mostly occurred when trying to give his receiver a chance, it is concerning, as not many receivers are that wide open in the NFL compared to college when he was able to make those easy layups. There will not be a ton of busted coverages at the next level, so Ewers needs to learn how to read the coverages. He is a very risky prospect.
Projection: Middle of 4th Round to Bottom of 5th Round
Rourke throws a fantastic ball and has great touch to it. He can throw the ball to all parts of the field. What is more impressive is that he played on a torn ACL the entire season according to Jake Trotter's report from ESPN. He was more mobile than expected with that type of injury. The injury hindered his game a lot, as he played a lot of shotgun and not under center. This also shows his toughness, as there are not many people that would play through that type of injury, albeit a whole season. He is aware of when the pocket collapses, so he runs out of it and improvises to lead his receiver into an open spot where Rourke can throw it to him. He also plays well in a quick passing game. He did play smart though, as he never (if rarely) ran past the line of scrimmage this season. However, he does have medical concerns that will likely scare some teams off. He tore his ACL this year and decided to play through it, but he also tore the same ACL in 2022 as stated by Trotter's report. This will only increase the risk of reinjury, and considering he tore it twice already, it will be easier to tear one of his ACLs (the one he tore twice and even the one he never tore). He would be higher up in the rankings if not for the injury concerns, as he is a good player. Overall, it is an unfortunate situation.
Projection: Middle of 6th Round to Top of 7th Round
Leonard likes to run the ball a lot and take the game into his own hands, as he does not throw the ball very often. His running ability does help him find open receivers as the defenses focus on him due to how much he scrambles. The extra attention that Leonard receives does make his job easier, as it also allows him to extend the play and lets his receivers have a better chance of finding the soft spot/becoming open. He does play smart though, as he will at times, slide once he is past the 1st down marker. He does not have the greatest arm, but can make the throws when needed to. Overall, he is a runner and can be tough, but is not an above average athlete. He also does not have that great of an arm. He has a very low ceiling and floor.
Projection: Bottom of 7th Round to Undrafted
By Tanner Ostrowski
February 3rd, 2025
Some of the RB prospects for this year’s draft cycle were assessed based on factors that were relevant, such as their athleticism, how much they produced, effort, along with many other parts that shape this player. College stats would also be looked into to see how much production the players had in college. At last, a projection would be given to the player to see where they should be drafted.
*Note: The analysis occurred during Senior Bowl week and was completed during the event. The rankings will be updated after the NFL combine.
Jeanty is considered to be a once-in-a-generation talent due to many of the things he can do on the field. He has an impressive burst to get through the hole, and an excellent spin move along with a great juke move. He also can change direction at ease. He also has an adequate stiff arm. He also has good receiving skills. Not only that, but he has the ability to hurdle the opposing players. Defenders cannot tackle Jeanty easily, as he bounces off of them and has the leg power to keep on going when the defenders are getting him down to the ground. Defenders also slip off of him. Even when the defense is tackling him, Jeanty can break free and take it the distance with his electric speed and his strength. The stamina that it takes to get out of those situations and take it to the house is outstanding. All of these traits show his unbelievable athleticism, which makes him one of the top prospects this year.
Projection: Top 10 Prospect - Early 1st Round
Hampton’s vision is great and he waits patiently to run through an opening at the line of scrimmage. Once he sees the opening, he quickly bursts through it. Great short yardage back, as his leg strength allows him to convert TDs that are near 1-2 yards away from the end zone. The defense has a difficult time bringing Hampton down, as he is tough and breaks plenty of tackles while running. He can catch the football too, and has the surprising ability to hurdle once in a while. However, he is not the fastest guy and when he runs towards the end zone from far distances, he tends to slow down, which makes it easier for defenders to tackle him as he gets tired.
Projection: Early 2nd Round to the Middle of the 2nd Round
Gordon has the tackle breaking ability to make it tough on the defense to bring him down. He also follows his blockers and finds the hole with ease. He has the ability to make defenders miss him, despite him not being the quickest or fastest player on the field. When he is on the field, he is a natural receiver and can surprisingly make plays after catching the ball. Due to his size, he can be a short yardage back, but also has the ability to be a 3-down back.
Projection: Early 2nd Round to Late 3rd Round
Skattebo is not the quickest or fastest guy, and those traits might actually be below-average at the NFL level. However, he makes up for that with amazing strength and pure power. He bulldozes defenders and bounces off of them to keep on running. He can churn his legs for more yards when he is about to get tackled. He can move the pile and somehow manages to escape the pile like a magician. He does not take it to the distance because of his speed, but because of the traits previously mentioned. He also follows his blockers to get where he needs to be. He can stiff arm defenders as if they are feathers and pummels through them. It takes multiple people to bring Skattebo down to the ground. He also has the ability of a natural receiver. He ran routes out of the backfield and where the WR would usually be. Think of him as a Kyle Juszczyk type player.
Projection: Early 3rd Round to Late 3rd Round
Harvey is beyond fast and has spectacular footwork. He can run a plentiful of yards down the field. He is also very agile. He has a nice juke move, and can shockingly stiff arm people considering his stature. What he does is use his agility and footwork to get out of the backfield and then relies on his speed for the rest of the play. Due to these traits, the defense sometimes does not get a good grip on him. He has the ability to hurdle diving tacklers too. Harvey has a natural receiving ability, as he can be used as a deep threat at times running out of the backfield. He is also a check down option if necessary.
Projection: Early 3rd Round to Late 3rd Round
Sampson is very quick and has above-average to elite speed. He also has an excellent spin move. His agility is spectacular and he has great acceleration. Due to all of these attributes/traits, it is very difficult to bring him down, which is shocking, as he is on the smaller side. Surprisingly, he can also be a goal-line back because of how quick he is and how fast he can get through the hole.
Projection: Early 4th Round to Late 4th Round
Etienne is electric as he gets through the hole with fast acceleration and quickness. He also has good balance and is too fast for almost everyone on the field. He also has excellent footwork. He can also catch passes out of the backfield. However, due to his smaller stature, he gets tackled very easily. He barely has any power or strength. But his speed does allow Etienne to break tackles, but not many. Overall, he is a good player but can be taken down at ease. But if he were to get into the weight room and build up muscle, he would be a steal in this draft.
Projection: Early 4th Round to Late 4th Round
Henderson is a very good improviser, as sometimes he may be caught behind the line of scrimmage, but gets out of it and gains positive yardage. He has excellent burst up the field and can run away from defenders. Additionally, he can hurdle and juke players. His quickness can make defenders slip off of him and make them fall to the ground while trying to tackle him. This does slow down Henderson, but he is still powerful, as he can stiff arm players and it takes multiple defenders to tackle him from time to time. On top of that, his football IQ is great.
Projection: Early 4th Round to Early 5th Round
He has great speed for his size and has an excellent stutter step to avoid the first defender. He is more quick than fast, but can run the distance at times. He has a very good change of direction. He can keep his legs churning to get more yards, and is willing to truck people if necessary. Therefore, he is tough to bring down. Surprisingly, he can catch passes out of the backfield and line up as a WR. Not only that, but he runs good routes. As he catches the pass (which are from screen passes mostly), he keeps the ability to break a couple of tackles, primarily with his stiff arm and aforementioned stutter step. He can be both a short yardage and 3-down back.
Projection: Middle of 4th Round to Early 6th Round
Croskey-Merritt has good acceleration and runs through holes for a TD. He can do this from far distances too. He does this on a consistent basis, as once he breaks through, not many players will be able to catch up to him. He is a dangerous runner from almost anywhere on the field. He also has good vision as he finds the hole that his offensive line created easily. He also has good footwork. He is also strong, as he can break tackles and keep his legs moving when stuck in a pile of players, eventually breaking free from it. He can bounce to the outside when there is nowhere for him to go. He also has a good spin and juke move. It may take multiple players to bring him down at times. He usually does not get taken down on first contact. Croskey-Merritt has flashed the ability to catch the ball, as he did catch a deep ball (along with many other catches that happened out of improvisation from his QB). Otherwise, he is a very low risk player if drafted where his projection is as of now.
Projection: Early 6th Round to Middle of 7th Round
By Tanner Ostrowski
February 8th, 2025
Some WRs in this year’s NFL Draft were assessed to determine where they should be drafted at. The prospects were assessed by the use of video clips and were analyzed to see their positives and negatives. This list contains things, such as athletic traits, production, how much effort they put into their game, along with many other aspects. Stats were also looked into to see how well they did in college. Projections would then be handed out to each prospect to show what round(s) they should be drafted in.
*Note: As of now, Travis Hunter is projected as both a WR and CB, but this analysis will solely focus on his skills as a WR.
Hunter is a very fluid athlete, and is super fast, quick and agile. He has great footwork and has some nice moves to avoid defenders so he can get as many yards as possible. His best move is a pretty spin move. He tracks the deep ball with ease. He also high points the ball and can make contested catches with multiple defenders around him while staying inbounds when in the end zone. Not only that, but he makes circus-like catches with the ability to adjust his body in order to make the catch. He is a good route runner with the ability to find the open spot on the field to buy his QB time. His best route is the slant route. When he is in trouble, he runs side-to-side to get out of tough situations, which usually occurs in the backfield. Hunter is not necessarily the strongest, but has game-changing abilities to get his team the win.
Projection: Top 10 pick in Early 1st Round (if he is drafted as a WR)
Despite Burden III not being the strongest person on the field, he has good balance to keep himself inbounds and makes defenders slip off of him. Surprisingly, he has the ability to break some tackles, especially at his size. He has very good footwork, which helps him greatly with his spin and juke moves. He is also fast enough to get to the end zone, but is quicker than fast. He runs plenty of excellent routes, as he can turn his back quickly to catch the ball and run routes out of the backfield. Burden III comes off as a utility-like player that could evolve into more.
Projection: Late 1st Round to Early 2nd Round
Golden is beyond fast and runs at that speed with ease. He runs great routes and has a knack for getting open because of his good footwork. The hitch route is his best route to run, and he has a great release. He also runs a good TD fade route, but uses his speed instead of his body. He has the agility to make defenders fall off of him thanks to his brilliant spin move and great stiff arm, despite his weight. Because of the aforementioned abilities above, defenders have a tough time bringing him down. He can adjust his body while making the catch and staying inbounds, whether that would be the deep ball and/or TD catch. He can high point the ball too. He is a major deep threat, but is also utilized on all parts of the field, except in the backfield. He can also catch the ball outside his body. Golden can make the contested catch, even with defenders draped all over him. He knows where the 1st down marker is at almost all times. One negative is that he can get easily tripped up at times.
Projection: Late 1st Round to Early 2nd Round
McMillan obviously has great size for the position and can reach for the ball because of his stature. He makes 50-50 balls look like 90-10 balls. He shows off some nice footwork and has a good spin move to avoid tacklers and makes them slip off of him. His footwork also gives him the ability to do some good jukes and has a nice change of direction. His size and footwork make it tough to tackle him and to defend him, despite the defenders being draped all over him. He played the slot position at Arizona as a “big slot guy.” There is a con though, as McMillan does not run very fast, as he has average speed.
Projection: Early 2nd Round to Middle of 2nd Round
Egbuka is fast enough to get past the defensive backs and is a good deep threat. He is a decent enough route runner and uses his speed when he has the ball. Egbuka’s route running also makes catching the ball look easy. However, he can be tackled from behind when running to the house. He can avoid getting out of bounds while catching the ball and stays inbounds to complete the catching process.
Projection: Late 2nd Round
Otherworldly speed and quickness. He can adjust his body to the ball and high point it if necessary. He has great footwork and balance to keep on going. He is too quick, agile, and fast compared to many other players on the football field with him. Royals turns short screen catches into big gains as he follows his blockers and uses his speed and easy acceleration. He shakes the defender and breaks his ankles due to his agility and quickness. Defenders slip off of him as they try to make the tackle on Royals. He makes unbelievable catches, including one-handers. He splits the defenders and has good route running. He can catch the ball despite the defender being all over him, and surprisingly powers his way through leg tackles at times.
Projection: Late 2nd Round
Bech has above-average speed and has decent route running skills. He has a great stop and go and cannot be brought down easily. He can make the contested catch in tight spaces while between defenders. He adjusts to the ball well, especially when it comes to the jump ball and contested catches. After the catch, he runs away and bounces off defenders if needed. He also has a nice stiff arm.
Projection: Late 2nd Round to Early 3rd Round
Restrepo is a slot WR who makes his QB’s job easier. He has the ability to find the soft spot on the field when the QB has no choice but to run and go off-script. Restrepo can be a safety valve for his QB. He is also a primary target of screen plays and is shockingly tough to bring down despite his size. His route running lets him be open almost every play, as he breaks out of his route very well due to his good footwork, but he is quicker than fast. He does have a decent spin move. Restrepo is good at short to intermediate routes, but has average speed. He can track the ball well. He can make the tough, contested catch despite his stature. He refuses to go down and takes plenty of contact before he is finally tackled after multiple attempts.
Projection: Middle of 4th Round to Early 5th Round
Chism III plays at a lower level than the rest of these prospects, but dominates when he is on the field. He is quick, has great footwork, and can hurdle defenders. He turns a short pass and uses his quickness to gain a big amount of yards. He does have a decent juke move. He is also tough to bring down, though this might be different at the NFL level, as his stiff arm is only okay. He will be able to do good things with the ball at short to intermediate levels of the field and maybe deep. He is seemingly open almost every single play due to his abilities. Chism III also has a good change of direction. Not only that, but he can snatch the ball out of midair, and can do that even with one hand.
Projection: Early 5th Round to Late 5th Round
Bond is a fast and fluid athlete. He is good at route running and that allows him to be open often. He can take a short catch and turn it into a huge gain of yards. He weaves through the defense and is a deep threat too. He can jump for the ball somewhat due to his height. He can also adjust his body and catch the ball. He is somewhat slippery and has an adequate stiff arm. He can be physical yet can be tackled easily.
Projection: Early 5th Round to Late 5th Round
By Tanner Ostrowski
February 11th, 2025
This list features some of the TEs that were assessed. These TEs can be drafted from the 1st Round, all the way down to 5th Round. These prospects were evaluated using video clips that were then assessed to show their positives and negatives. This list consists of athletic traits, how much they have produced, the effort, along with many other factors. Stats would be looked into from time to time to see how much they produced in college. Lastly, projections would be given to each player to show which round(s) they should be drafted in.
Warren has amazing athleticism for his size. He runs with easy acceleration, is fast, and can hurdle over players. He surprisingly has the ability to run away from defenders and has great burst. He has a spectacular juke move and a good spin move too. Warren completes the contested catch and it looks easy at times. Not only that, but he keeps his feet inbounds when he is near the sideline. He has great balance. Warren makes sure-handed catches as he snatches it with ease. He can even make these grabs with one hand at times, when he is in midair. Additionally, these catches are caught when the defender(s) are draped all over him. He is a decent route runner, but his best route is running up the seam. Warren is additionally used in other situations though, such as running in motion pre-snap and is utilized on screen plays. Obviously, Warren plays up to his size and is physical. He has an amazing stiff arm and is not afraid to take contact, even if that means trucking someone. He even drags defenders along with him before finally being taken down. However, he does get taken down occasionally, which is shocking considering his size and how tough of a player he is. That is one con but he has many other positives. He is a great player to draft.
Projection: Middle of 1st Round
Loveland uses his stature as he seeks out contact and can take on multiple tacklers. He keeps his legs churning and is difficult to tackle. Additionally, he has a great stiff arm. He can complete the catch for the 50-50 ball. However, Loveland does not use his size as spectators would expect. He has great footwork and is very quick. He is also alignment versatile, as he is used as a TE, in the slot, and on the perimeter. He did these things at Michigan and was also used in motion there. He can find the soft spot on the field for his QB when he is trying to find someone to throw it to. Other than that, he loses his balance from time to time and is just an average route runner, but is still a good prospect to invest on.
Projection: End of 1st Round to Middle of 2nd Round
Fannin Jr. is beyond quick, fast and has the amazing ability to hurdle over defenders. He uses his excellent footwork and great juke moves to get away from defenders. He is an excellent route runner and follows his blockers down the field using the aforementioned attributes mentioned above. He is another alignment versatile TE, as he is used in the slot, on the perimeter, and in motion. Not only that, but he is utilized in the backfield and is used on sweeps. He can adjust his body to the ball and keep his feet inbounds after making the catch and/or scoring the TD near the sideline. He can reach up to high point the ball, though he does have difficulty at times. Despite Fannin Jr.'s size, he is tough to take down, as leg tackles will not work against him. He has a decent stiff arm too and is willing to lower his head to get through tacklers. He has the abilities that people would expect him to with his stature, but plays tough like a bigger TE too.
Projection: Early 2nd Round to End of 2nd Round
Helm is definitely more of a physical TE. He goes towards contact, and trucks players. He is tough to bring down, even on short passes and has a great stiff arm too. He has some athleticism, with his jumping ability being most impressive attribute. He catches the 50-50 ball due to how he jumps. He focuses on catching the ball with ease, even if the ball is tipped in the air by a defensive player. Helm knows how to avoid tackles, as he uses his pivot foot, some decent footwork, and a surprisingly nice juke move. He can find himself open at times and plays on the perimeter, but has average speed.
Projection: Middle of 2nd Round to End of 2nd Round
Ferguson has great speed and follows blockers to go down the field. He has some brilliant footwork and runs good routes. Sometimes he will block a defensive player for a bit before he leaks out and receives the pass. He can adjust to the throw when the ball is inaccurate. He is not only an inline TE, but is used in some formations that require him to be in the backfield. Ferguson’s athleticism lets him be open a lot of the time. He improvises when his QB needs him to so he can get rid of the ball as quickly as possible. He can hold off defenders with a stiff arm, which is not the best but still gets the job done. He is also not brought down easily on first contact at times, as he invites it.
Projection: Middle of 2nd Round to Early 3rd Round
Arroyo is a dynamic athlete, as he displays his footwork and speed. He uses his speed to take it the distance. In addition, his speed lets him be a deep threat, as the ball is thrown to him 20+ yards down the field at points throughout the game. He is used on screens and in motion. Arroyo plays in the slot and on the perimeter. He runs routes well and has a nice spin move. He occasionally adjusts his body to the ball if necessary. He is not the greatest at catching passes though. Arroyo also is not physical for his size, as he can be slammed to the ground very easily. His stiff arm is only average and falls down after the attempted stiff arm. He gets tripped up often. He does try to be physical though, as he lowers his head at times. At least it shows that he is trying to improve his game. At this point, he is a prospect that will get drafted due to his athletic abilities, not his physicality.
Projection: End of 2nd Round to Early 3rd Round
Conyers is a TE who plays a Taysom Hill-type role, as he has the ability to play wildcat. Conyers is super fast for the frame he has. He takes on first contact and keeps on moving down the field. He has the ability to hurdle or dive to gain more yards and/or to score a TD. In addition to this, Conyers can play out wide, and use his size to catch contested balls that will typically go in his favor. He can score a TD while getting the so-called 50-50 ball before going out of bounds. He adjusts his body while trying to complete the catch. However, he has an average stiff arm and his routes are not the greatest. As discussed, Conyers hurdles players but cannot keep his balance at times. He sometimes does have concentration drops, which will not work out well in the NFL for him if he does not improve on this issue.
Projection: Middle of 4th Round to Middle of 5th Round
Briningstool is a fluid athlete with above-average speed for the position, despite being smaller than a typical TE. Briningstool can catch the ball and take it to the distance when he is behind the third level. He has a nice spin move too. He is a decent route runner and can play on the perimeter. Briningstool is at his best when it comes to contested balls. He consistently snatches the ball out of the air and even does it with one-hand once in a while. He reaches outside his body to make the catch. He is hard to tackle as defenders slide off of him and can hurdle players from time to time. He keeps his balance with the ball in his hands while players try to tackle him. It should be noted that he is in the backfield, but is rarely used out of it.
Projection: Middle of 4th Round to Middle of 5th
By Tanner Ostrowski
February 17th, 2025
NFL teams are always looking at how to improve their roster. Most of that research goes into how to upgrade their offensive line. The offensive line is such an important part of the game. They give time for the QB to throw the ball, create holes for the runner, and obviously, block, whether that would be at the line of scrimmage or out in space. These positions are essential when facing top-tier teams, for example, when facing off against the Philadelphia Eagles, who recently beat the Kansas City Chiefs in the Super Bowl 40-22 due to their vaunted defensive line.
This analysis contains offensive linemen prospects who were studied by using video clips and looking at their pros and cons. The analysis looks into things like athleticism, what they did on the field, amongst other things. Finally, projections will be given out to each of the 15 prospects after being delved into.
*Note: Many of the players that were initially going to be looked into were not due to the fact that video clips were either not recent or were made before the 2024 season started. Therefore, they were not included. This will be updated after the NFL Combine.
Simmons is a good athlete and has a quick get off when the ball is snapped. He gets to the second level. He can contain pass rushers. He has a very strong base. Simmons can set the edge with no trouble. He deals with two pass rushers at times and succeeds while doing it. He is a bully as he can pancake defenders and push them to the ground like they are nothing.
Projection: Top 10-15 pick in the Early to the Middle of 1st Round
Campbell holds off blockers with power and he does not get pushed around by the defensive line. In fact, he punishes them, pancaking them flat to the ground. He gets set and uses his feet well, which allows him to deal with both power and speed rushers. Not only that, but his leverage is good. He has the quickness to go from one pass rusher to another all in the same play. Campbell can grab onto the defender long enough to let the play develop. Campbell also traps the defender. Campbell has very good movement skills. He sets the edge for the runner. He blocks out in space and pushes players into the second level. Campbell is a more dominant pass protector than a run blocker at this point but his run blocking is great too.
Projection: Top 10-15 pick in the Early to the Middle of 1st Round
He is super athletic and strong enough to take on two defensive linemen at once. He is good in the run game and blocks brilliantly in space as Zabel stymies them. It is impossible to get through him. He plays like a bully, shoving defenders into the ground. He can somewhat use leverage and can also be pushed around once in a while, especially when run blocking. He is much more dominant pass protecting and has plenty of potential to unlock.
Projection: Middle to Late 1st Round
Banks Jr. has brilliant athleticism and great movement skills. He can block out in space and get into the second level. He opens up holes for ball carriers. He battles against interior linemen. Even though Banks Jr. can bully players to the ground, he is not the best at pass protection, especially against power pass rushers. It should be mentioned though that he can hold his own at times
Projection: Middle of 1st Round to Early 2nd Round
Williams is extraordinarily quick for his stature and sets his feet well. He can also block into the second level. Additionally, he moves and changes directions with ease, which is quite surprising due to his build. He plays up to his size and plows through defenders. He can be put on an island against other defenders. Not only that, but he has the capability to deal with multiple defenders. However, he may need help from his teammates, supporting him through double teams. Another problem is that he is such a raw prospect that he allows an absurd amount of sacks. As this is being stated, he has not been polished as a football player but has great potential with sky-high upside.
Projection: Late 1st Round to Middle of 2nd Round
Jackson’s game is more about his power and sturdiness than anything. He does not allow the defense to stop the running play. He has good leverage and pancakes whoever he is facing into the ground. He can stymie defenders. He makes holes at the line of scrimmage for the runner. It is tough to push Jackson to the ground. He does have decent athleticism, as he switches from one defender to another in a hurry, all in the same play. He also blocks out in space decently. He can handle both speed and power pass rushers. Despite his average athleticism, he is a jack of all trades, as he is good at both the run and pass game. He is most likely to play Guard due to his experience there in college, but he can play Tackle in a pinch if needed.
Projection: Early 2nd Round to Middle of 3rd Round
Ercery’s game is not about his athleticism, but rather, his strength and length. He is so powerful that even a slight push against his opponent will make the defensive lineman fall to the ground. He is a mauler in pass protection and is too long and powerful for pass rushers to get through him. He can be on an island, dealing with a pass rusher and easily accomplishes the job. There are not many pass rush moves to get through him, especially a player’s spin move, which has no effect whatsoever. He is good in the run game when at the line of scrimmage, but is not the greatest blocking in space. He does have decent footwork, but is slower than a typical offensive lineman. That is expected though due to his size. Because of this, speed rushers may give him trouble once in a while.
Projection: Middle of 2nd Round to Middle of 3rd Round
Membou played exclusively RT in college, but has the potential to play Guard at the next level. He has many decent qualities, like his athleticism and strength, but they do not strikingly stick out as being at an elite level. He can somewhat block out in space too. It should be known that he does have good balance. Despite this, he can hold off pass rushers and move players at times. He pancakes defenders and deals with finesse pass rushers the best. He is better off at guard due to being a little shorter and since power is his best ability.
Projection: Early to Middle of 3rd Round
Booker’s game is all about strength since he is a very powerful mauler and pancakes defensive linemen with almost no effort due to his stature. He handles the big guys on the defensive line and stops them from getting to the QB because Booker has a very strong base. Not many players can get past Booker when trying to get to the QB or ball carrier. Along with that, he packs a violent punch against the defender. He also assists his teammates if they need help blocking someone. He also creates holes for whoever is running the ball, whether that would be in space, the second level, or at the line of scrimmage. He mirrors his opponent well since he is quick. Despite this, he has less than average athleticism for the position.
Projection: Early to Late 3rd Round
Mbow oozes athleticism that will attract NFL teams into drafting him. He has great footwork and mirrors pass rushers step by step. He pushes defenders into the second level and in space because of his excellent mobility. He possesses great balance. Mbow does have some strength though because he keeps pass rushers at bay and pushes them to the ground. He utilizes great hand placement and a good punch. He can block the defensive player so the ball carrier would not get tackled. He is good at both run blocking and pass protecting but he is better at pass protecting as of right now.
Projection: Early 3rd Round to Early 4th Round Pick
Milum has an edge and toughness to his playing style. He refuses to let the defensive player get past him, both in the run and pass game. Milum is just that strong, and does have some good leverage. He bullies the opponent from time to time, but he may need help from a teammate to hold off pass rushers. He can block in space, but his athleticism is in question since it is difficult to tell on the video clips. This will be confirmed at this month’s NFL Combine.
Projection: Middle of 3rd Round to Early 4th Round
Conerly Jr. has some athleticism that allows him to block in space and get to the second level. Additionally, he runs to the other side of the line of scrimmage to make the block and open the hole for the ball carrier. He retains quick feet. However, Conerly Jr. gets in trouble when dealing with speed rushers. He is in a better situation when blocking power rushers, as he can forcefully keep the pass rusher in his grip. He has at times pushed defenders down like they are weightless, but also can be pushed around as well. He can also take on two defenders in one play. He can stymie run defenders, and as of now, does a better job blocking for the ball carrier than protecting the QB.
Projection: Middle of 3rd Round to Middle of 4th Round
Wilson’s playing style is all about brute strength and above average athleticism. He has a sturdy frame, as he can push the defender back and open a hole for the ball carrier during running plays. He deals with power rushers very well and keeps them at bay. He does make use of his good leverage. Wilson is good athletically, as he can block in space. Wilson is good at getting into the second level and pushing the defensive lineman further down the field. He is able to do this not only because of his athleticism, but because of his power and frame.
Projection: Early 4th Round to Late 4th Round
Monheim is one of the more athletic offensive linemen, as he has great footwork and is quick enough to switch from one pass rusher to another in one play. Furthermore, he is great at blocking in space due to his speed. He uses good leverage too. Monheim is somewhat strong, but not for his frame. However, he can still redirect pass rushers and hold his own. The problem is that he can be pushed back at times, but it should be noted that he does not lose balance completely. He may need help from teammates to block somebody. Therefore, Monheim is better facing off against speed rushers than powerful ones due to the issues addressed above.
Projection: Early 4th Round to Late 4th Round
Saviinaea is versatile, as he can play both Tackle and Guard. He can take on two defenders in one play and hold off pass rushers, especially at Guard. He uses a big punch. He is more athletic when it comes to speed and quickness compared to how powerful he is when considering his frame. He runs to one side of the field and makes the key block to advance the ball carrier. He has a very quick get-off, but is faster than quick. Saviinaea is much better at run blocking than pass protection. He does have some struggles with both power rushers and quick, twitchy pass rushers. However, he can hold them off for just long enough. Overall, he can play both Tackle and Guard, but based on what is mentioned above, he is more suited to be a Guard in the NFL.
Projection: Middle of 4th Round to Early 5th Round
By Tanner Ostrowski
February 25th, 2025
The defensive line is one of the most essential parts for any NFL team to become a contender. Games are won in the trenches because a great defensive line should stop the run and be able to pressure the QB to help out their teammates by creating turnovers. The Philadelphia Eagles are an excellent example, as they have won many games due to their top tier defensive linemen, which resulted in winning this year’s Super Bowl. Other NFL franchises are going to follow that example and try to replicate the Eagles’ success. Expect a lot of defensive linemen to be taken this year.
These evaluations were based on viewed video clips and looking at what the prospects bring to the table, both positive and negative, whether that would be athletic traits, effort, or anything else they have done on the field. Lastly, projections will be given out to each of the 15 players included on this list.
Carter is extremely athletic as he is super fast and has an excellent change of direction. Not only that, but he has great bend when getting to the QB. He is utilized in space and he can even play off the ball. When he plays off the ball, he has the ability to blow up screen plays and he can even intercept the ball. Carter’s strength is unbelievable as he can get past offensive linemen with brute force also. Carter’s excellent speed and fortitude can create turnovers. He can get to the scrambling QB. Carter can shed the offensive lineman’s blocks quite easily. He can also set the edge due to his strength. He seemingly gets sacks non-stop and he is a constant disruptor in the backfield and out in space.
Projection: Top 5-10 pick in the Early 1st Round
Williams has the stature and abilities that every NFL team loves to have from an edge rusher. He has super long arms, which helps him with plenty of the things required on a football team. He obliterates the offensive line with his unbelievable athletic and physical traits, such as his speed, quickness and strength. He can bull rush the offensive lineman, ultimately leading Williams to the QB. His speed and quickness also play an important part in getting the sack. He knows a few pass rush moves, which help him even more. He has the physical and athletic attributes to take on double teams and attack the QB. He can play with his hand in the dirt or standing up depending on the defensive scheme. Williams’s traits also help him with the run, as he gets to the runner rather fast and sometimes stops him for a loss of yards, including out in space. He does not fall for fakes often and is able to get the QB on a designed QB run. It almost seems that Williams knows which play the offense is about to play, and this is because of his football IQ.
Projection: Top 10-15 pick in the Early to the Middle of the 1st Round
Graham has the power to bull rush through offensive linemen to stop the QB or the ball carrier in the backfield. He can also shed blocks. His best ability is to stop the run and he has a little twitch and some speed in him to get the ball carrier. He also has a nice swim move. He gives a consistent effort to stop the play. He can change direction fairly quickly too. He deals with double teams but it does not matter. He is also too strong for some offensive linemen. Power is the name of his game and creates disruption.
Projection: Top 10-15 pick in the Early to the Middle of the 1st Round
Nolen has the force to push away offensive linemen and make them fall like they just dealt with a heavyweight boxer. He can also go through multiple offensive linemen to get the sack. He can shed blocks to stop the run. He is very athletic and can cause chaos in the backfield to get the sack. His athleticism is fantastic, as he is very fast for his size to track down the ball carrier, despite how many offensive linemen are in Nolen’s way. He has great movement skills and decent quickness to add on to his athletic abilities. All of the aforementioned qualities allow him to be nearly unstoppable, allowing him to get the QB and ball carrier depending on the play. Nolen also never gives up on a play, showing plenty of effort on his part. He has a great bend and has above average moves such as getting skinny and bull rushing.
Projection: Middle of the 1st Round to Late 1st Round
Pearce Jr. has crazy athleticism which allows him to have outstanding speed and great movement skills. When he is pass rushing, he converts his speed into power to get the QB, despite the huge difference in weight between him and the offensive lineman. He demonstrates the ability to quickly burst through the offensive line. It is easy for him to create pressure due to these athletic attributes. He plays out in space and tackles the ball carrier for a loss of yards, whether it was a screen pass or run. Pearce Jr. has the ability to create turnovers and stop the run at ease. He never gives up on a play, chasing down the QB from behind.
Projection: Middle of the 1st Round to Early 2nd Round
Green is immensely talented with amazing quickness and twitch. In addition, he is super fast. His speed allows him to create negative plays for the opposing offense. He has good bend when trying to get to the QB. He has a fantastic spin move and a brilliant swim move. He shows great effort, as he can blow up running plays and he can get to the QB plenty of times. He can also get through double teams. Not only that, but he can be grabbed by the offensive lineman and still make plays despite the offensive lineman’s action. However, it can be difficult for Green to tackle some players and can be pushed around due to his weight.
Projection: Middle of the 1st Round to Early 2nd Round
Stewart has otherworldly athleticism and the power to do whatever he wants to do when on the field. He can take on double teams and take down players at times. He is too fast and powerful for the offensive linemen, which allows him to get whoever has the ball in the backfield. Not only that, but Stewart’s bend when trying to get the QB is unbelievable for someone his size. These attributes also help him become a great run defender where he can negate the play. Despite these traits, he is not good at sacking the QB, as he has 4.5 sacks over three seasons at Texas A&M per ESPN. He knows almost no pass rush moves, but if he were to develop them, he could become one of the most dangerous defensive linemen of this generation. He already knows how to stop the run, he just needs to figure out how to finish off the play by sacking the QB.
Projection: Middle of the 1st Round to Early 2nd Round
Collins is super powerful and pushes everyone around like a lightweight. He has good hand placement and is able to sack the QB. He knows a variety of pass rush moves, including a nifty spin move and a good swim move. He has very long arms and creates turnovers due to his otherworldly athleticism for someone of his size. Due to these traits, he creates a lot of chaos at the line of scrimmage and backfield. Collins stops both the run and pass up to a very high level.
Projection: Early 2nd Round to Late 2nd Round
Ezeiruake has great movement skills and a good change of direction. He has decent bend, good feet, and an excellent spin move when getting to the QB. He is fast around the edge and can create turnovers. He also has excellent strength, which is impressive for his size. This shows up on plays where he is pass rushing, as he converts speed into power. Ezeriruake can take multiple offensive linemen at once. He does not give up on a play.
Projection: Middle of the 2nd Round to Late 2nd Round
Grant is greater at stopping the run than pass rushing the QB. He creates chaos for his opponents who have to deal with him, as he is freakishly powerful to take on the middle of the offensive line and even double teams. Despite the offense trying their best to stop him, he can be the first one to contact the RB and immediately end the play from the start. He can hunt down the ball carrier to the outside the numbers due to his motor. Grant has the power to shrug blockers off of him to get the stop. He is consistent with disrupting the offense and pushing the offensive linemen back into the pocket. It is too much of a threat for the offense to put one of their guys on an island against Grant. Not only that, but Grant’s quickness makes the QB feel like the pocket is collapsing. He has the ability to sniff out screen plays when his teammates cannot get there. While he is not fast enough to get to the QB, the issue can be resolved if he learns more pass rush moves, as it would elevate his game to another level.
Projection: Middle of the 2nd Round to Early 3rd Round
Harmon has decent bend on his way to the QB and he becomes fast after he breaks free from the offensive line. He also has a nice spin move to get loose and cause chaos. However, Harmon’s best attribute is his power, as it allows him to go through the offensive line and penetrate it because of his power. He sheds blocks and it ultimately lets him get the ball carrier. Harmon has plenty of strength as he can push piles of players to get the ball carrier. He can create turnovers too. He is a good run defender because of his force.
Projection: Late 2nd Round to Early 3rd Round
Jackson is very powerful and equipped with absurdly long arms. He pushes offensive linemen off of him, stopping the run in the process. He also has surprising quickness to go around the edge. In addition, he has a decent bend and good movement skills for someone of his stature. Not only is he able to stop the run near the line of scrimmage, but these attributes can help him stop plays out in space. This includes making stops outside the numbers and playing in zone coverage. He can also create a loss of yards for many of these plays. Jackson will get double teamed at times, but it does not matter as he still finishes the play off. Offensive linemen could also not get a good grip on him because of the physical and athletic traits. He can also create turnovers.
Projection: Late 2nd Round to Early 3rd Round
Scourton runs hot, as he gets to the QB at times and causes turnovers. He never gives up on plays and tries to sack the QB, no matter what it takes. Scourton has a ridiculous spin move that he uses on a regular basis to get to the QB. While he does create pressure, he does not finish off the sack at times. He is great at stopping the run and he can shed blocks too in order to get to the ball carrier. While Scourton played as a 4-3 defensive end at Texas A&M, he was a much better pass rusher at Purdue, where he played in a 3-4 defense. Playing at Purdue allowed him to show off his athleticism much more compared to when he was at Texas A&M, as he got a combined 12 sacks in two seasons at Purdue (he had 10 sacks his final year at Purdue), while getting 5 sacks at Texas A&M per the ESPN. Many think that he is better suited in a 4-3 defensive scheme, but he should play in a 3-4 system like he did earlier in his college career, where he thrived.
Projection: Late 2nd Round to Middle of the 3rd Round
Burch is a versatile player, as he can play on the edge and on the defensive line. He depends more on his quickness and speed than anything else. His speed and quickness allows him to blow past offensive linemen and destroy the player with the ball in the backfield. He also has the ability to tackle the scrambling QB. At times, the offensive linemen cannot even get their hands on Burch, as he is that quick and fast. He can also get “skinny” or sidestep the offensive line to create a negative play for the offense. It should be noted that he is strong, as the strength allows him to push an offensive lineman into the ground, which results in a turnover or a sack.
Projection: Early 3rd Round to Early 4th Round
Stewart’s athleticism is off the charts. He is very fast for an edge rusher. His movement skills are brilliant, which allows him to avoid the offensive linemen to get the sack. He is too quick for TEs and he can shed their blocks rather quickly. He turns the corner like the speed of light and causes the offensive linemen to lose leverage. He is surprisingly strong for an undersized edge rusher. Even though Stewart is undersized, he is a good run defender. The offensive linemen cannot get a grip on him due to these attributes, therefore, tackling the runner almost immediately.
Projection: Early 3rd Round to Late 4th Round
By Tanner Ostrowski
March 3rd, 2025
Linebackers are important for a football team. This position deals with both covering the pass and run. They can even blitz or rush the QB from the edge at times.
The following evaluations show the strengths and weaknesses of each of the linebackers that were looked into. What was done was that video clips were watched and an analysis was based on their athletic traits, effort, physicality, and football IQ. Finally, projections were handed out to the top 10 prospects that were evaluated out of 15 players.
*Note: These assessments were based solely on game tape, not the NFL Combine. The updated analyses will come out at a later time before the NFL Draft. However, official heights and weights from the NFL Combine were included on these evaluations.
Campbell possesses fantastic instincts in zone coverage. His great speed and strength allows him to create negative plays for the offense, making them lose yards on the play. When watching the clips, it seems as if Campbell knows which play is about to happen. He is able to stand up and rush the passer, with a nice bend to get to the QB. He also blitzes and waits for the hole to open up to proceed to pounce on the ball carrier with a full head of steam. He delivers big-time hits and even covers WRs. Not only that, but Campbell can create turnovers too. In addition, he gets through offensive linemen by using the amount of force he carries and blows up runs and passes. He is able to find the ball carrier through traffic.
Projection: Middle of the 1st Round
Paul Jr. boasts considerable power to get through the interior of the offensive line and the speed to chase down scrambling QBs or ball carriers to the outside the numbers. He finishes off the play a lot of the time. He can play on the edge and has good instincts. He is excellent at pressuring the QB and stopping the run. He is very good at blitzing. He is a sure tackler, as he sheds blocks and in addition, intercepts the pass. Paul Jr. maintains great athleticism.
Projection: Middle of the 2nd Round
Walker sheds blocks and can rush from the edge while standing up, which allows him to get to the ball carrier. He powers through offensive linemen in order to do this. He has a little bit of bend when rushing the QB helps him even more. He chases down the scrambling QB too. He plays off the ball too, and does very similar things when he is on the edge. He has good agility but is only average in coverage.
Projection: Middle of the 2nd Round to the Late 2nd Round
Knight Jr. is athletic and tackles in space, even if the player he is chasing down is an elite athlete. He comes out flying like a loose cannon and causes turnovers. He is good in zone coverage and is able to cover in space. He also has the ability to cover in man and runs down the player from behind. He is not the best run stuffer, but he is better against the passing game. However, it should be noted that he can contribute to special teams and is a physical, tough player that is somewhat speedy.
Projection: Early 3rd Round to the Middle of the 3rd Round
Schwesinger is fast getting to the ball carrier from the off the ball linebacker spot. He shows off his elite burst, and this is despite the opposition trying to disrupt his momentum. He also has adequate bend. Schwesinger bulldozes blockers at times and is satisfactory in zone coverage. He is super athletic and has good strength. He has excellent hustle and not only that, but he can also play on special teams.
Projection: Early 3rd Round to the Late 3rd Round
Carter has exceptional speed and goes through traffic to stop plays. He can read the QB’s eyes and plays well in space. He plays on the edge too. Carter also plays man-to-man coverage. He flashes decent instincts and is a great run stuffer. Finally, Carter finishes off the plays that his teammates cannot.
Projection: Early 4th Round to the Late 4th Round
Stutsman is very speedy and a great tackler. He stops the run and is fantastic at blitzing. He also has the capability to make the opposing offense lose yards as he can stop them behind the line of scrimmage. What Stutsman does is preach patience and waits till the hole opens up at the line of scrimmage. Then, he quickly bursts through it. Stutsman is talented when asked to rush on the edge and is surprisingly more agile than expected with special movement skills. His broad strength allows him to shed blocks.
Projection: Early 4th Round to the Early 5th Round
Lindenberg is faster than expected and chases down the ball carrier, never giving up on the play. He sniffs out plays, which includes screens also. This is even with him not being the strongest, and he even sheds blocks to get to the ball carrier. Lindenberg is good at stopping the run but can also pass rush the QB at the line of scrimmage.
Projection: Middle of the 5th Round to Early 6th Round
Kiser is not the most athletic specimen on the field but is a very good football player. His great instincts let him stay on his assigned player for the play well. He has the will to never give up on a play, even if he flat out falls on to the ground, and gets right back up and finishes off the play. He can shed blocks from time to time and stuffs the run well. Kiser is surprisingly an impressive blitzer and can pass rush from the outside. He has the skill to create turnovers.
Projection: Early 6th Round to Undrafted
Mondon Jr. is above average in man coverage. He is also great in space and makes the offense lose yards on plays, as he is quite speedy. He is a big hitter and a competent blitzer, but is pushed around a bit. He can find his way through traffic to get to the ball carrier. In addition, he makes plays on the ball.
Projection: Middle of the 6th Round to Undrafted
By Tanner Ostrowski
March 8th, 2025
Cornerbacks are one of the most essential positions. They face off against WRs and their goal is to make the QB’s job harder. The position requires many things, such as athletic traits, physical traits, amongst other things. This list provides the top 10 CB prospects out of 20 CBs that were evaluated and mentions their pros and cons. Video clips were watched to decide which prospects would make the list and which order they would be placed in.
*Notes: This analysis was based only on game tape and not the testing at the NFL Combine. Updated rankings will be provided before the NFL Draft. It should be noted though that measurements of the players at the Combine were included since those are official. Also, Travis Hunter is on the list, but focuses only on what he does as a CB.
Johnson displays elite speed that he uses in the open field, which makes him very dangerous and he is elusive too. He uses that speed to make tackles behind the line of scrimmage look easy. He blows up plays and is extraordinarily quick to the receiver to stop the play. He has some nice interceptions as he anticipates the play and jumps the route. He consistently makes plays on the football.
Projection: Top 10 pick in the Early 1st Round
Hunter has the amazing ability to contort his body and makes difficult interceptions to give the ball back to his team. He anticipates the play excellently. He is elusive and has an arsenal of moves to avoid contact, as he has elite movement skills. He also demonstrates his speed to create negative plays for the offense, especially when it comes to screens. He makes sure-handed picks. He is willing to make a big hit on the ball carrier.
Projection: Top 10 pick in the Early 1st Round
In addition to being a CB, Barron plays as a slot corner and safety. He can blitz when the defense requires him to do so. When he is in the open field, he shows off his ridiculous speed. He uses that speed to stop the run and to get to the scrambling QB. He is quick to tackle the receiver and finishes off plays when his teammates cannot. He jumps the route and has the skills to make the challenging interception and complete the catching process.
Projection: Top 15-20 pick in the Middle of 1st Round
Morrison stays attached to the receivers everywhere they go. He covers them like sticky glue. He is great in man coverage. He has above-average speed and he exhibits the talent to break up plenty of passes and has great awareness of where the ball is being thrown to, which makes picking off passes easier for him. He has a knack for the ball. Based on the tape, he has a very good vertical and can limit plays for a short number of yards due to how quick he is. Morrison primarily plays on the perimeter, but can cover the slot if needed. He is utilized as a blitzer too.
Projection: Middle to Late 1st Round
The best part about Thomas’s game is his fantastic quickness, which helps him with tackling the ball carrier. It also helps him to be good in run support and lets him break up passes easily. He can make plays on the ball and jumps the route to break up many passes. Thomas is almost guaranteed to make the tackle too.
Projection: Late 1st Round
Hairston is super fast in the open field and is also a fluid athlete. Because of these attributes, he is able to stay with the receiver step-by-step and provides him the opportunities to break up passes. He plays stronger than his stature indicates and plays on special teams too.
Projection: Late 1st Round
Revel Jr. has a great vertical and flaunts his high-end speed. It allows him to stay stride-by-stride with the receiver and to get to the ball carrier in the backfield rather fast. He is strong enough to shed blocks and shows great awareness on the football field. He is able to make plays on the ball, even when the receiver has the football in his hands. It seems as if picking off passes is challenging for him, despite getting his hands on it. He also plays on special teams. However, he tore his ACL last season (as reported by Pete Thamal of ESPN), so teams may be lower on him due to his major injury.
Projection: Late 1st Round to Early 2nd Round
Parrish is fast to the ball carrier and proficiently makes the tackle. He is very competitive against receivers and breaks up passes. The previous statements stand true, despite his smaller stature. He is great in zone and man coverage. Not only that, but stays with the receiver and can keep up with him. Additionally, Parrish has the elite speed to blow up plays. He also covers the slot and perimeter.
Projection: Middle of the 2nd Round
Riley is a very fluid and fast CB who can play on special teams as a punt returner. He is quick to make the tackle on the pass catcher and to break up passes. He is able to mirror the receiver very well too. He tracks the ball very well when in zone. It seems as if he knows where the ball is at all times. He also has a very good vertical. However, Riley is not able to pick off the pass as many would hope. He is somewhat a physical corner and can immediately stop plays from gaining positive yardage with his cat-like reactions.
Projection: Middle of the 2nd Round to the Middle of the 3rd Round
Walley constantly fights for the ball, whether that would be trying to cause a fumble or when the receiver is trying to catch the football. He anticipates screen plays and is quick to tackle the receiver. Not only that, but he limits yardage on the type of plays mentioned above. He is also great in zone coverage and he can track the ball very well thanks to his speediness. He is always looking to make a big play and is a turnover machine. Walley also has the ability to play on special teams too.
Projection: Middle to Late 3rd Round
By Tanner Ostrowski
March 13th, 2025
While some players are strictly Safeties, they play one of the most versatile positions on the football field. They can play slot, Linebacker, and CB. They also help CBs double cover the top WRs in the league. While some players are strictly safeties, other players can play a variety of roles on a defense. Safeties need a variety of traits, such as athletic abilities, physical traits, and awareness, along with many other things. This list also provides some pros and cons to show what the Safeties are capable or incapable of doing. There were 15 Safeties examined using video clips and the top 10 were chosen to be on this list. Then, they were put in order from best to worst.
*Note: This analysis was completed without looking at the athletic testing at the NFL Combine and was focused solely on game tape. The rankings will be updated before the NFL Draft. It should be mentioned that the measurements from the Combine were included since they are official measurements.
Emmanwori is a freaky athlete, as he is super fast and fluid for his size. He is also very quick to the ball. He stays attached to the receiver. Sometimes, he high points and snags the ball in front of the receiver. He makes sure-handed interceptions. He is a very powerful tackler. Not only that, but Emmanwori is versatile as he can play multiple positions, including the slot, Linebacker, and even CB.
Projection: Middle of the 1st Round
Starks is a strong tackler and even blitzes. He is a quick tackler and is good at limiting screens. He finishes off tackles when his teammates cannot. He has a great vertical and can pick off passes while covering the receiver 1-on-1 at times. He sticks like glue to the receiver and because of the skills mentioned above, some QBs avoid throwing it in his direction at all. He weaves through traffic and sheds blocks to stop the run. Starks has above-average speed and covers slot receivers occasionally.
Projection: Late 1st Round to Early 2nd Round
Watts makes a play on the ball when running in front of the receiver. He also intercepts the ball while trying to get the ball. He is very opportunistic when the ball is in his vicinity. He also has great instincts. Overall, Watts has a nose for the football, as he looks to create as many turnovers as he can. He has good speed and is somewhat elusive. He tracks the ball very well.
Projection: Late 2nd Round to Early 3rd Round
Mukuba delivers big hits despite his size. He is good at stopping short passes and runs from going beyond the line of scrimmage. He is quick to tackle and can break up passes. Mukuba is very aggressive with the ball in his area, jumping in front of the receiver to break up the pass or even pick it off. He has a satisfactory vertical too.
Projection: Middle to Late 3rd Round
Sanker has outstanding speed and because of it, he delivers big hits. He has the ability to stop running and short passing plays behind the line of scrimmage. He is quick to the receiver to tackle them and swift to break up passes. Sanker contributes to special teams too.
Projection: Late 3rd Round to Early 4th Round
Crawford is very athletic because of his excellent speed and quickness. He is used as a blitzer because of his speediness. In fact, he is so fast, he can run down from the third level of the defense to the line of scrimmage. He is also quick enough to get to the receiver and jump routes. Crawford also has experience on special teams.
Projection: Early to Middle of the 4th Round
Due to Ransaw’s speed and quickness, he is able to stop plays behind the line of scrimmage. His superb speed allows him to tackle the receiver or to cause an incompletion. Ransaw is patient and waits to see what happens after the snap to make a decision about what to do during the play.
Projection: Late 4th Round to Early 5th Round
Castro is able to shed blocks created by the TE and inflicts a huge tackle. He hits the ball carrier so hard that they can create turnovers. He has adequate speed to cause negative plays for the offense on screen plays and stops most short passes from going anywhere. Castro can be used as a blitzer too. He also plays on special teams. One con for Castro though is that he can be out of position to make the initial tackle once in a while.
Projection: Late 5th Round
Bowman Jr. anticipates the play very well. He is a little faster than average and is a good tackler. He finishes off plays behind the line of scrimmage and is a great run stopper due to him being able to shed blocks. Bowman Jr. makes the best of his opportunities when the ball is near him.
Projection: Late 5th Round to Early 6th Round
Ransom has some speed and can tackle the opponent forcefully. He can end plays behind the line of scrimmage and is also used as a blitzer. He sheds blocks wonderfully and can race down the field to the line of scrimmage to finish off the play.
Projection: Middle of the 6th Round to the Late 7th Round