Draft thread

[skinsinparadise]

2025 NFL draft news: Intel on top picks, prospects, sleepers
Multiple teams said they could see Michigan's Colston Loveland as the first tight end taken -- ahead of Warren. "Because of athleticism and upside," an AFC executive said. Both players have a chance to go pretty high, though.

...That means you could hear names such as Jalon Walker (Georgia), Mykel Williams (Georgia), Walter Nolen (Ole Miss), Kenneth Grant (Michigan), Derrick Harmon (Oregon), James Pearce Jr. (Tennessee), Mike Green (Marshall) and Shemar Stewart (Texas A&M) called early. That would make life interesting for the Falcons, who are sitting at No. 15 and desperate for defensive help in this draft. Could they try to trade up if the top defensive linemen start flying off the board?

Teams have some injury concerns with cornerback Will Johnson. He did not run a predraft 40-yard dash. While some franchises are wondering whether he'll be available in the back half of the first round, one AFC executive finds that hard to believe because of Johnson's strong body of work on the field.

Kentucky corner Maxwell Hairston is considered a riser as the draft approaches. "He's a first-round-graded player, easy," a veteran NFL defensive coach said. He has the speed (4.28-second 40 time) and instincts. And while his size (5-foot-11, 183 pounds) has been a slight concern for some evaluators, it shouldn't affect his stock much.

Several teams are anticipating a run on RBs at some point. North Carolina's Omarion Hampton could go earlier than expected. An executive said he believes Denver (No. 20) could be a pivot point for running backs. "I think [Hampton is] the best back, and I think that's who Denver is targeting," the exec said. Ohio State's TreVeyon Henderson could also go earlier than most think. Enough teams have him very high on their RB board, meaning late Round 1 isn't totally out of the question. Contenders such as the Texans, Chiefs and Commanders are looking to improve their ground games. The Chiefs conducted a virtual call with Henderson on Tuesday, and coach Andy Reid was part of the call.

It's always fun to ask teams for their sleeper first-rounders -- names that would be a mild surprise to the common fan but not necessarily to those in the draft rooms. Here are a few I've heard: South Carolina defensive lineman T.J. Sanders, Minnesota offensive tackle Aireontae Ersery, Ohio State guard Donovan Jackson and East Carolina corner Shavon Revel Jr. (Kansas State corner Jacob Parrish and Texas A&M defensive lineman Shemar Turner are deeper sleepers mentioned for Day 2.)


https://www.espn.com/nfl/draft2025/insi ... ers-trades

[GoingCommando]

Pete Schrager has Tyler Booker going #12 to Dallas in his mock today. That would be disappointing, but I could see it happening. He's the kind of OL they do really well with.

Just wanted to reiterate how good Booker's run blocking is, and that I think the knocks on his range are overblown. There were multiple plays in those games where he's pulling and trapping the likes of Bradyn Swinson, Jalon Walker, and James Pearce. Caught those dudes before they could make any kind of play on the edge and you can tell they were just stymied and not really interested in dealing with him. Especially Swinson, but Walker and Pearce were super cautious when they saw him coming at them too.

Speaking of Swinson, I wasn't super impressed with him after watching the OL/DL battle in that LSU v Alabama game. I didn't really see anything about him that suggested top 60 pick. I like Gilotte and the Ohio State edges a lot more than him.

[Warhead36]

Booker fits the Dallas power blocking system and they draft and develop OL as well as anyone. For them he'd be a great pick but he doesn't really fit what we try to do. He'd be useless in pulling and in the screen game etc.

Also wouldn't shock me if Denver took Henderson before Hampton. He fits the Sean Payton pass catching back a lot more (see Reggie Bush, Alvin Kamara). Hampton I could see going to Pittsburgh or Minnesota something like that.

[Warhead36]

To me you write off both because....
#1 With Green, suspension risk and losing all value is there. Tyreek Hill has been lucky he's played a down in this league, and this has been known for a decade. The risk of a guy who can't get his ---- together at 18-20, continuing to suffer the same problem into their mid 20's is high. STRAIGHT PASS. Now if the stories aren't true period, then keep him on your board. That's where you have people digging into their background full bore like some of the teams did on Blackmon (who was caught drunk all over the place by some cross checker types from at least one team and probably more)

#2: Mental Make up is Mental Make up. If a Pearce is really that bad, you have to pass.

It's pretty simple.

Where it gets weird is like the Penn State kid Parsons, who had a lot of negative stuff spreading, that apparently wasn't true? Whereas with RGIII, it sounds like the stuff that was discounted was kind of true (prima donna, not a leader etc).

Anyway, I have my background guys check both these guys out and if the stories are true, you pull them off your board, period.

Yeah that's why you have to really trust your scouts who are doing the dirty work talking to people etc.

Reg. Parsons, his only issue was that he and some teammates hazed a teammate. Which is kinda just whatever. Even Peyton Manning pulled crap like that. He also got into a fight in HS because some racist dropped the N word. He was never the problem child anyone thought he was.

Adam Peters himself said in his PC yesterday that you have to be careful because there is a lotta misinformation and some situations are just misunderstood and talked about how they drafted a guy in San Fran who apparently had character problems and has been a model citizen (I'm curious who he's referring to).

The Green stuff is scary because he has been accused of sexual assault twice in two different places. One time might be a misunderstanding, girl trying to frame him, etc. But TWICE? That's a pattern. You have to really really trust your scouts on that one.

Pearce is off my board completely. Just too much chatter out there about him being a complete disaster of a teammate, not coachable etc. If we take him its because we really trust guys like Luvu and Wagner etc. to keep him in line. Maybe our culture just turns him into a winner.

Egbuka is probably the safest bet at 29. I still want more WR talent and his floor is really high. He'll never be an A1 hot sauce WR but he'll have a solid 7-10 year career consistently putting up ~800 yards and ~5 TDs with maybe the occasional 1000/7. Think Tyler Lockett. Would you take a WR at 29 if you were guaranteed Tyler Lockett's career?

I like Ezeiraku too but he's basically a situational pass rusher. Too small to be a full time Edge unless we're gonna run some kinda hybrid 3-4 type front. But he fits the mold of a DQ Edge. Donovan Jackson is a more traditional DE and he has incredible size and length and would resolve our setting the edge against the run issues but he's not likely to ever be a double digit sack guy(probably ceiling of like 8 ish sacks).

The main reason I wouldn't draft Egbuka is pretty simple. I just have zero belief he's ever going to be special, and I also know that a guy with his likely production #'s and ability will simply be let go after his contract wraps and be a reasonably cheap FA addition. Gallup can produce similar #'s to Egbuka, and we got him for peanuts. I just have no interest in that because I think what he can do can be signed in FA for Gallup like deals, and acquired in most non-horror show drafts with low 2nd rounders to low 3rd rounders. I'm not saying he sucks, I think Egbuka would typically sit in the 6th-10th range of any average to good WR class, its just that he is 100% floor bet, and no ceiling. He's gonna get you 55-70 for 800-1050, and he'll do his job, but teams are not going to worry about him ever. If the best we can do with our first is Egbuka, I just would rather trade the pick for a '25 3rd and a '26 first or something like that. Just trade the pick for futures and a day 2 or day 3 pick. I just don't see the value. He's fine, he's not gonna bust, but he's also not gonna matter much either.

To me, if the corner is there, or the edge is there, probably take them, unless a similarly tiered corner or edge can be found 10-15 picks later in which case move down. The only other reason I stay at slot is if Hampton or Jeanty were there and I don't expect them to be.

so my #1: Trade out.

My #2: Draft the best Edge/CB available or Hampton if he falls which he wont.

My #3: Trade the first for a '26 first, and a day 2 pick.

No interest in Egbuka, and I would hate it if we stay at slot and just draft whats there unless it's something special in terms of value.

I will be really shocked if we don't do at least one trade down.

We all wanna trade down first but there has to be someone worth moving up for.

I'm with you that Egbuka doesn't project to be special, but how many guys at 29 do? This is already a weak draft class as it is especially in terms of high end talent.

Lets say: Egbuka has a 5% chance of being an All Pro but an 80% chance of being a quality productive WR(with a 15% bust chance). On the flip side, one of the Edges has a 20% chance of being an All Pro but also has an 70% chance of being a bust (with a 10% chance of just being pretty decent). Which way do you go? Do you take a low percentage swing or take the guy you know who can help you? Those are the kind of options you typically have at pick #29.

[GoingCommando]

Booker fits the Dallas power blocking system and they draft and develop OL as well as anyone. For them he'd be a great pick but he doesn't really fit what we try to do. He'd be useless in pulling and in the screen game etc.

I disagree. I think Booker is a really strong puller and he's got the accuracy and coordination to be a very versatile run blocker. He would probably be the best run blocker on our line as a rookie, and strengthen our ability to run left, which is probably going to be mediocre with Tunsil.

You could also be sure that the pass protection on the left side would be rock solid because Booker is very clean in that area too. Between adding Tunsil and potentially drafting Booker, that could give us the best OL in the NFL when Cosmi returns.

[Conn]

Here’s Allbright’s one and only mock. He’s one of the more plugged in guys and usually nails positional trends, although the exact picks are tough bc he doesn’t project trades.

He does believe there will be a trade up for a QB in the final 12 picks of the 1st round

He’s mainly a Broncos beat guy even though he nails breaking news from around the league…so him having them take Henderson over Hampton carries some weight imo

Link:
https://koacolorado.iheart.com/featured ... ock-draft/

1. Titans QB Cam Ward
2. Browns WR/DB Travis Hunter
3. Giants Edge Abdul Carter
4. Patriots OL Will Campbell
5. Jaguars RB Ashton Jeanty
6. Raiders OL Armand Membou
7. Jets TE Tyler Warren
8. Panthers Edge Jalon Walker
9. Saints Edge Mykel Williams
10. Bears OL Kelvin Banks Jr
11. Niners DT Mason Graham
12. Cowboys WR Matthew Golden
13. Dolphins DB Jaddae Barron
14. Colts TE Colston Loveland
15. Falcons Edge Mike Green
16. Cardinals OL Josh Simmons
17. Bengals DL Walter Nolen
18. Seahawks OL Grey Zabel
19. Bucs LB Jihaad Campbell
20. Broncos RB TreVeyon Henderson
21. Steelers QB Shedeur Sanders
22. Chargers DT Kenneth Grant
23. Packers WR Tetairoa McMillan
24. Vikings DB Nick Emmanwori
25. Texans WR Emeka Egbuka
26. Rams DB Maxwell Hairston
27. Ravens OL Tyler Booker
28. Lions Edge James Pearce Jr
29. Commanders RB Omarion Hampton
30. Bills DB Malaki Starks
31. Chiefs OL Josh Conerly
32. Eagles DL Shemar Stewart

[The Consigliere]

On Loveland vs Warren, I definitely trust the write ups on him, everyone seems to love the guy, but I just can't get into drafting a TE that old over Loveland whose two years younger. The age piece matters to me. Warren will be 23 in late May. That is not young. Loveland won't even turn 22 until a year from now in April of '26. Give me Loveland (admittedly, I want neither of them, I want to figure out what Sinnott is).

[The Consigliere]

Yeah that's why you have to really trust your scouts who are doing the dirty work talking to people etc.

Reg. Parsons, his only issue was that he and some teammates hazed a teammate. Which is kinda just whatever. Even Peyton Manning pulled crap like that. He also got into a fight in HS because some racist dropped the N word. He was never the problem child anyone thought he was.

Adam Peters himself said in his PC yesterday that you have to be careful because there is a lotta misinformation and some situations are just misunderstood and talked about how they drafted a guy in San Fran who apparently had character problems and has been a model citizen (I'm curious who he's referring to).

The Green stuff is scary because he has been accused of sexual assault twice in two different places. One time might be a misunderstanding, girl trying to frame him, etc. But TWICE? That's a pattern. You have to really really trust your scouts on that one.

Pearce is off my board completely. Just too much chatter out there about him being a complete disaster of a teammate, not coachable etc. If we take him its because we really trust guys like Luvu and Wagner etc. to keep him in line. Maybe our culture just turns him into a winner.

Egbuka is probably the safest bet at 29. I still want more WR talent and his floor is really high. He'll never be an A1 hot sauce WR but he'll have a solid 7-10 year career consistently putting up ~800 yards and ~5 TDs with maybe the occasional 1000/7. Think Tyler Lockett. Would you take a WR at 29 if you were guaranteed Tyler Lockett's career?

I like Ezeiraku too but he's basically a situational pass rusher. Too small to be a full time Edge unless we're gonna run some kinda hybrid 3-4 type front. But he fits the mold of a DQ Edge. Donovan Jackson is a more traditional DE and he has incredible size and length and would resolve our setting the edge against the run issues but he's not likely to ever be a double digit sack guy(probably ceiling of like 8 ish sacks).

The main reason I wouldn't draft Egbuka is pretty simple. I just have zero belief he's ever going to be special, and I also know that a guy with his likely production #'s and ability will simply be let go after his contract wraps and be a reasonably cheap FA addition. Gallup can produce similar #'s to Egbuka, and we got him for peanuts. I just have no interest in that because I think what he can do can be signed in FA for Gallup like deals, and acquired in most non-horror show drafts with low 2nd rounders to low 3rd rounders. I'm not saying he sucks, I think Egbuka would typically sit in the 6th-10th range of any average to good WR class, its just that he is 100% floor bet, and no ceiling. He's gonna get you 55-70 for 800-1050, and he'll do his job, but teams are not going to worry about him ever. If the best we can do with our first is Egbuka, I just would rather trade the pick for a '25 3rd and a '26 first or something like that. Just trade the pick for futures and a day 2 or day 3 pick. I just don't see the value. He's fine, he's not gonna bust, but he's also not gonna matter much either.

To me, if the corner is there, or the edge is there, probably take them, unless a similarly tiered corner or edge can be found 10-15 picks later in which case move down. The only other reason I stay at slot is if Hampton or Jeanty were there and I don't expect them to be.

so my #1: Trade out.

My #2: Draft the best Edge/CB available or Hampton if he falls which he wont.

My #3: Trade the first for a '26 first, and a day 2 pick.

No interest in Egbuka, and I would hate it if we stay at slot and just draft whats there unless it's something special in terms of value.

I will be really shocked if we don't do at least one trade down.

We all wanna trade down first but there has to be someone worth moving up for.

I'm with you that Egbuka doesn't project to be special, but how many guys at 29 do? This is already a weak draft class as it is especially in terms of high end talent.

Lets say: Egbuka has a 5% chance of being an All Pro but an 80% chance of being a quality productive WR(with a 15% bust chance). On the flip side, one of the Edges has a 20% chance of being an All Pro but also has an 70% chance of being a bust (with a 10% chance of just being pretty decent). Which way do you go? Do you take a low percentage swing or take the guy you know who can help you? Those are the kind of options you typically have at pick #29.

In '17 Godwin could be had in round 3, and I targeted him early in drafts back then.

In '18 Sutton and Kirk cost a 2nd, Gallup cost a 3rd. I liked and drafted all 3.

In '19 AJ Brown and DK Metcalf were known mega studs and only cost a 2nd, Deebo only cost a 2nd. Diontae, a 3rd rounder, was hugely productive as a chain mover and gave Pittsburg four great year before becoming a problem elsewhere.

In '20 Tee Higgins and Pittman were both steals in round 2.

In '21 Nico Collins was a 3rd round steal, I loved Elijah Moore but he's fallen off as a 2nd rounder since his rookie year.

In '22 George Pickens, one of the top WR's from his recruiting class, was a steal in round 2 (and I nabbed him everywhere in Dynasty.

In '23 it was Jayden Reed and Rashee Rice in round 2, and Marvin Mims and Josh Downs in round 3. I still am a Marvin Mims believer round 3, along with Tre Tucker and Michael Wilson in Arizona.

Since WR's are key in Dynasty, I just mentioned the guys I remember from '17-'23 in round 2 and 3, most of whom I really liked, though not all. Generally there is valuable talent you can acquire at the position far more cheaply that can provide cover just like Ekuban. However, this class has been regarded as pretty trash for WR's for a long time for a reason, which is why I think the team chose to buy the contract of Deebo for a day 3 mid rounder, and buy Gallup for 1 year on a cheap deal. I don't expect them to draft a WR, this isn't the class to do so, probably not next year either, but I definitely wouldn't in round 1 or 2. The talent isn't worth the capital cost. As you can see from that list you could find equivalent or better talent in every single draft in round 2 or 3, going back to '17, I didn't bother looking further (though I know '16 was a pretty crappy class much like this one).

[skinsinparadise]

Judging by Keim's latest podcast, feels like he might be talking about Mike Green here. They seem Ok i gather with what they found out when they probed about him. Conversely, it seems to not to be the case with Pearce.

Keim has made it clear that they'd likely pounce on Green if he fell but it seems like almost no chance he does to 29.

Green vs Pearce is crazy. Teams would rather have the two time sexual assaulter in Green because by all counts on the field and in the practice facility/locker room he's an absolute stud and extremely hard worker, coachable, etc. Off the field he might be an absolute piece of garbage though. On the flip side, Pearce may not be a bad kid but apparently his teammates and coaches despise him, he takes plays off, lacks competitive fire etc.

I could absolutely see a scenario where our FO and many others would much rather have Green and just kinda hope he stops being a rapist.

Accused doesn't mean guilty. We don't know he's a rapist. If we did know for sure, he'd be in jail. I'll trust the teams to probe into it. I don't think teams would sign a dude who they felt raped women. Now, maybe their probe into all of this is dead wrong. Will see.

This is the same team that lacked a legit kicker all season because they bought the sexual harrassment accusation about their recently signed FA kicker and let that kicker go. So clearly, its not like there is no line they won't cross on that matter.

Yeah in theory, if they heard a guy from a number of sources is a good dude and they think the accusations are false. Juxtposed with Pearce whose various narratives included having anger issues, not showing up to practice, being a bad teammate, not coachable, doesn't love football. And people who interated with him don't have good things to say about him. It doesn't sound nuts to me that teams are likely to roll the dice on Green and not Pearce.

I think zero chance this team which is obsessed with culture genuinely thinks there is merit to the accusations relating to Green. Now whether their research on this issue is way off the mark -- you got me.

[skinsinparadise]

Here’s Allbright’s one and only mock. He’s one of the more plugged in guys and usually nails positional trends, although the exact picks are tough bc he doesn’t project trades.

He does believe there will be a trade up for a QB in the final 12 picks of the 1st round

He’s mainly a Broncos beat guy even though he nails breaking news from around the league…so him having them take Henderson over Hampton carries some weight imo

Link:
https://koacolorado.iheart.com/featured ... ock-draft/

1. Titans QB Cam Ward
2. Browns WR/DB Travis Hunter
3. Giants Edge Abdul Carter
4. Patriots OL Will Campbell
5. Jaguars RB Ashton Jeanty
6. Raiders OL Armand Membou
7. Jets TE Tyler Warren
8. Panthers Edge Jalon Walker
9. Saints Edge Mykel Williams
10. Bears OL Kelvin Banks Jr
11. Niners DT Mason Graham
12. Cowboys WR Matthew Golden
13. Dolphins DB Jaddae Barron
14. Colts TE Colston Loveland
15. Falcons Edge Mike Green
16. Cardinals OL Josh Simmons
17. Bengals DL Walter Nolen
18. Seahawks OL Grey Zabel
19. Bucs LB Jihaad Campbell
20. Broncos RB TreVeyon Henderson
21. Steelers QB Shedeur Sanders
22. Chargers DT Kenneth Grant
23. Packers WR Tetairoa McMillan
24. Vikings DB Nick Emmanwori
25. Texans WR Emeka Egbuka
26. Rams DB Maxwell Hairston
27. Ravens OL Tyler Booker
28. Lions Edge James Pearce Jr
29. Commanders RB Omarion Hampton
30. Bills DB Malaki Starks
31. Chiefs OL Josh Conerly
32. Eagles DL Shemar Stewart

So both he and Schrager who are plugged in expect Ezeiruaku to drop to the 2nd round.