Daniel Jeremiah's top 50

[Basbear]

https://www.nfl.com/news/daniel-jeremiah-s-top-50-2025-nfl-draft-prospect-rankings-1-0

 

Rank

1

 

Abdul Carter

Penn State · Edge · Junior

Carter is an electric edge rusher. He has average height and bulk, but he has an ELITE burst and his ability to flatten at the top of his rush is special. He gets a lot of early wins because of that speed, and he also has a nifty swipe/rip move. If tackles overset, he senses it early and crosses their face for immediate pressures/sacks. He also has a natural ability to retrace underneath when quarterbacks climb the pocket to avoid him. He can press out and control tight ends at the point of attack. He’s a blur when chasing plays down on the back side. Overall, Carter can take over and completely wreck an offensive game plan. He demands attention on every snap and that is going to free up everyone else around him.  

Rank

2

 

Travis Hunter

Colorado · WR · Junior

Hunter is a lean, athletic playmaker who starred on both sides of the ball for the Buffaloes, winning the Heisman Trophy in 2024. He has a narrow frame and is a very smooth-flowing athlete. On offense, he is creative in his release to escape press as a receiver. He is constantly changing gears to keep cornerbacks off balance and he never wastes steps at the top of his route. He drops his weight and explodes out of the break. He has elite body control and hands. He can pluck balls well outside his frame with grace and ease. After the catch, he is silky smooth and elusive. He doesn’t have elite top speed, but he’s fast enough to not get caught. On defense, he was much improved in 2024. He didn’t take as many unnecessary risks at cornerback, relying more on discipline and technique to stay in position. He can locate the ball and picked it off seven times over the past two seasons. My only concern is the question of how long he will be able to physically hold up if he continues to play on both sides of the ball full-time at the professional level. I’d prefer he prioritize offense and moonlight on defense.  

Rank

3

 

Ashton Jeanty

Boise State · RB · Junior

Jeanty is a fun player to study. He is a short, compact runner with incredible strength, balance and burst. He displays outstanding vision, tempo and feel. On inside runs, the Boise State product has a unique ability to absorb and bounce off tacklers. He has quick feet and never stops driving on contact, leading to some miraculous escapes and home runs. He is rarely -- if ever -- tackled when presented with one-on-one situations at the second level, exhibiting the capacity to run through defenders, make them miss or just burst by them. He isn’t polished as a route runner, but he has reliable hands and can create in space after the catch. He can identify, absorb and wall off in pass pro. He needs to improve his ball security, having fumbled nine times over the past two seasons. Overall, Jeanty might lack ideal size, but he’s a mixture of Dalvin Cook and J.K. Dobbins as a runner.

 

Rank

4

 

Mason Graham

Michigan · DT · Junior

Graham is a powerful defensive tackle with outstanding leverage and instincts. He’s one of the most consistent players in the draft class. Against the run, he has an impressive short-area burst to attack blockers. He excels in block destruction. He stacks, finds the ball, chucks blockers to the side and collects tackles. He has lateral range to make plays down the line, too. He is always in a leverage position and never gets uprooted. In the pass game, he has a violent club/rip move and a powerful bull rush. His effort is outstanding. Overall, it’s easy to identify Graham as a former wrestler. He always has a full gas tank and he set the tone for the entire Michigan defense.  

Rank

5

 

Tyler Warren

Penn State · TE · Senior

Warren is a massive tight end who carried the Penn State offense this past season. He lined up in-line, in the slot and as a Wildcat quarterback. His production is the result of his size, catch radius and tenacity. He doesn’t generate a lot of separation as a route runner, but he walls off defenders when on the move. Defenders simply can’t get through his body to make plays on the ball. He can track the ball over his shoulder and he can high-point the ball when needed. He isn’t a nifty option-route type of player. After the catch, defenders bounce off him or go along for a ride as he drags them for extra yardage. As a Wildcat quarterback, he creates space with his power and leg drive. He's effective in the run game and looks to finish when possible. Overall, he isn’t as dynamic as Rob Gronkowski was during his career, but Warren is a similar player in a lot of ways.

Rank

6

 

Jalon Walker

Georgia · Edge · Junior

Walker is a compact, powerful defender with length and explosiveness. He played both on and off the ball in the Georgia defensive scheme, but he’s at his best on the edge. As a pass rusher, he can win with pure speed, power and an explosive counter move. He’s also a weapon when used to spy the quarterback. He can mirror the QB’s movement before closing the space in a hurry. He dominated in the Bulldogs’ first meeting against Texas during the 2024 season. He’s a firm edge-setter against the run. When he’s stacked off the ball, he’s a touch late to key/diagnose, but he can attack and take on blocks or scrape over the top for tackles. He has outstanding change-of-direction quickness in space. Overall, Walker is a tone-setter on defense and UGA coaches rave about his makeup and leadership. 

Rank

7

 

Colston Loveland

Michigan · TE · Junior

Loveland is a long, lean tight end with outstanding awareness, quickness and big-play ability. He has aligned in-line, as a wing and in the slot. He’s urgent in his release. He has a tremendous feel for option routes and working in space. He can cleanly get in/out of breaks and he presents a big target to the quarterback. He attacks the ball in the air and is adept at finishing in crowds. After the catch, he has a smooth stride and possesses a nasty stiff-arm. He has some wiggle to make defenders miss, as well. His lack of bulk impacts his ability to stay connected as a run blocker, though. Overall, Loveland is equipped to make a lot of catches as a starting tight end in his rookie campaign. 

Rank

8

 

Will Campbell

LSU · OT · Junior

Campbell has ideal height, bulk and athleticism for his position. In pass pro, he stays square, bends well and keeps his hands in tight. He will expose his chest at times (due to his lack of ideal length) but he’s able to recover after giving up some initial ground. He can slide and redirect with ease. He flashes the upper-body strength to torque and control defenders. In the run game, he can wash defenders on down blocks and he stays attached to/through the whistle. Some teams will be more concerned than others with his lack of length, but I don’t see it as a major issue. He is just scratching the surface of his potential and should start at tackle for a decade, provided he stays healthy. 

Rank

9

 

Jahdae Barron

Texas · CB · Senior

Barron is a talented Swiss Army Knife. He aligned outside, in the slot and in the box as a dime linebacker for the Longhorns. He made impact plays in every game I studied. He’s a quicker-than-fast athlete with outstanding eyes and conviction. He’s at his best when he can play off and see through receivers to the quarterback. He reads the QB’s drop and anticipates to beat pass catchers to the ball. He doesn’t waste steps and has outstanding hands. He lacks elite top speed, but he’s always in position and he is excellent at locating/playing the football downfield. He has good timing and feel as a blitzer. He can adjust from pass to run defense to collect tackles. His batting average as a tackler in space is very high. Overall, Barron excels at taking the ball away and reminds me of Brian Branch when he was coming out of Alabama.  

Rank

10

 

Cam Ward

Miami · QB · Senior

Ward is a thick, compact quarterback with outstanding arm strength and playmaking ability. After spending two seasons apiece at Incarnate Word and Washington State, he put up monster numbers at the final stop on his college journey, becoming a Heisman Trophy finalist at Miami. He plays a very free-wheeling brand of football. He drifts in his drop, throws from a variety of arm angles and often falls away from the target upon release of the football. He can really power the ball into tight windows, but his aggressive nature can put points on both sides of the scoreboard. He has very quick hands in the RPO game and he can navigate around free rushers by dropping his arm angle. He took the free yards with his legs when voids presented themselves in Miami’s spread attack. Overall, Ward will need to be reined in, but he’s a very gifted thrower of the football. If he can learn to better manage the game, he has a very high ceiling.

 

 

 

 

 

Im starting to think DJ should retire.....

[Captain Morgan]

this is going to be a wacky draft, mainly because of the QBs.  This is all pre-combine, but I still feel like at least two teams before us will take one or both.  And someone may fall in love with Dart, who is moving up.

1.  Titans desperately need a qb, but they may go after Carter at #1.  His potential at edge is going to be tough for anyone to pass on.  They could trade back.

2.  Browns also need a qb but a LT would be a smart move, and maybe WR

3.  Giants will probably take Ward or Sanders if they are still there, but could be a bpa candidate.  They could also trade back.  Raiders apparently like Sanders, and they could trade up into the top 3.  That would be good for us.

4.  Patriots will probably want either LT or WR for Maye

5.  Jacksonville is a good candidate for bpa, which could very well be a defensive player that we would want.

6.  Raiders need a qb, but have a lot of needs, so who knows.  crazy franchise.

7.  Jets will probably take bpa left standing, may take a flyer on Dart if he shows out at the combine.

8.  We will have multiple good choices at defense, and frankly, every position on defense is a need.  I think Johnson is the safest player in the draft and would look good opposite Horn, but I'd rather get a playmaker on D.  Mykel seems to be trending down.  I think we'll be able to get Jalon here, but a DT is fine with me.

 

As always, the combine will clarify a lot.