2025 NFL Draft: My 3 favorite picks in every round
The 2025 NFL Draft is in the history books.
What a fantastic weekend it was. Draft watchers saw it all: aggressive trades, surprising slides, and exceptional value picks.
After a few days to digest all of the selections, I wanted to share the three picks I liked the most from each of the seven rounds. These are based on value and fit, so not necessarily the best players, but the best picks.
Let’s start with James Gladstone’s epic first trade of his general manager tenure.
Round 1
Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Jacksonville Jaguars (No. 2)
The Jaguars stunned everyone by jumping up to No. 2 and swinging big on perhaps the most versatile talent in the draft. Hunter is an electric playmaker on both sides of the ball, and Jacksonville seems intent on letting him continue his two-way impact, though they’ve stated he’ll be a wide receiver first. He instantly forms one of the NFL’s best wide receiver duos with Brian Thomas Jr. It’s rare to see a team bet this boldly on a unicorn, and even rarer when it makes this much sense.
Jahdae Barron, CB, Denver Broncos (No. 21)
Cornerback didn’t scream need, but the Broncos didn’t care — and that’s exactly the right mindset when you’re staring down Patrick Mahomes and Justin Herbert twice a year. Barron, the 2024 Jim Thorpe Award winner, can play outside, inside, down in the box, wherever you need him. He’s a ballhawk who wore multiple hats at Texas. On paper, this defense starts to look terrifying.
Jihaad Campbell, LB, Philadelphia Eagles (No. 31)
This pick falls in line with general manager Howie Roseman scooping up players who fall further than they should. Campbell was perceived by many as a top-15 player in the class, but after injury considerations, specifically the labrum surgery he underwent after the combine, he fell further than expected. The Eagles won’t need him in Week 1, so they felt comfortable taking the risk. The eventual pairing of him and Zack Baun will be scary.
Round 2
Donovan Ezeiruaku, Edge, Dallas Cowboys (No. 44)
I thought Ezeiruaku would go in the first round. He’s a smooth, long, instinctive pass rusher who finished second in the FBS in sacks (16.5) and first in pressures (60). Dallas needed more juice up front, and Ezeiruaku should thrive with attention drawn to Micah Parsons.
Will Johnson, CB, Arizona Cardinals (No. 47)
Concerns about Johnson’s knee knocked him out of the top-20 conversation, but this was still a blue-chip cornerback talent when healthy. He has great size, awareness, and ball skills. Arizona made a smart bet on upside at a position of need.
Trey Amos, CB, Washington Commanders (No. 61)
Amos didn’t get the same attention as some other corners in this class, but his combination of length and movement skills flashed throughout the pre-draft process. He could push for playing time right away in a Washington secondary that lacks depth.
Round 3
Darius Alexander, DT, New York Giants (No. 65)
The Giants used their first pick on Abdul Carter, the ferocious pass-rusher from Penn State who’ll pair nicely with Brian Burns. Here, they continue to bolster their defensive line even more. A riser through the pre-draft cycle, Alexander adds size, explosiveness, and interior pass-rush potential to a Giants front that needed more juice alongside Dexter Lawrence. This was a strong value in the early third.
Xavier Watts, S, Atlanta Falcons (No. 96)
Watts was my favorite value of the entire Falcons’ class. He led the FBS in interceptions (13) over the past two seasons and brings elite instincts and range on the back end. A true “ball magnet” with great vision and feel.
Charles Grant, OT, Las Vegas Raiders (No. 99)
Reports echoed that the Raiders may go offensive tackle at No. 6, but when Jeanty was there, he was the obvious choice. Grant was a top-50 player on my board due to his upside. Here, Grant is value paired with upside.
Round 4
Cam Skattebo, RB, New York Giants (No. 105)
One of the most enjoyable watches in this class, Skattebo runs like a hammer with contact balance and violent urgency. He became the first FBS player since Christian McCaffrey (2015) to surpass 1,500 rushing yards and 500 receiving yards in a season. This is a great pairing with Tyrone Tracy Jr.
Jack Kiser, LB, Jacksonville Jaguars (No. 107)
Kiser was the heart of the Notre Dame defense — a rangy linebacker with great feel and high-end special-teams potential. He should be an instant contributor in Jacksonville’s third phase and could grow into a larger role defensively.
Elic Ayomanor, WR, Tennessee Titans (No. 136)
Of the three pass catchers Tennessee added for No. 1 pick Cam Ward on Saturday, Ayomanor was my favorite. Expected to go much higher, he fell to the end of the fourth round, and the Titans got themselves a steal. He has a great combination of size and speed. With an unappealing wide receiver room, Ayomanor should see the field early.
Round 5
Shedeur Sanders, QB, Cleveland Browns (No. 144)
This shouldn’t surprise anyone. I think the entire country thought Sanders would go first or second round. There’s a real chance — if given a fair opportunity — he earns the No. 2 spot on the depth chart before Week 1 and is starting by November. The Browns have a lottery ticket in Sanders.
Bradyn Swinson, Edge, New England Patriots (No. 146)
Swinson didn’t dominate headlines, but he’s the kind of long, bendy edge rusher who usually doesn’t last this deep into Day 3. He’s a productive pass rusher who had 8.5 sacks and 13 tackles for loss last season. For a team reshaping its front seven, this is the kind of smart, forward-thinking bet that makes draft classes sing in hindsight.
Marcus Mbow, OL, New York Giants (No. 154)
Simply put, the Giants crushed it. Mbow in the fifth is an absolute steal. Giants GM Joe Schoen admitted he thought he’d have to choose between Skattebo and Mbow at pick No. 105. He ended up getting both — and that’s how you win the draft. Mbow is a nasty, heavy-handed right tackle who plays with grown-man strength and brings real starter traits. The Giants landed a player they genuinely valued a round or two earlier. That’s value, plain and simple.
Round 6
Will Howard, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers (No. 185)
With the quarterback position still in question, Pittsburgh gets an experienced college starter with a big arm and good size. Howard has shown he can handle a pro-style system and offers value as a backup with long-term upside.
Cameron Williams, OT, Philadelphia Eagles (No. 207)
Williams was once projected to be a first-round pick during the 2024 season, but his stock dropped after his inexperience showed up in Texas’ playoff run. Just a one-year starter for the Longhorns, Williams is definitely raw but enormous, with a wingspan that engulfs edge rushers. Still just 21, he’ll get to develop under Jeff Stoutland, which has been a launching pad for many late-round linemen before him.
Tommy Mellott, QB/WR, Las Vegas Raiders (No. 213)
A two-for-one special, Mellott, the dynamic former Montana State quarterback, is expected to move to wide receiver. He’s an explosive runner with real after-the-catch ability. Las Vegas might’ve found a creative offensive weapon in the late rounds.
Round 7
Jay Toia, DT, Dallas Cowboys (No. 217)
Toia is a stout, powerful interior defender who can eat double teams and muddy up run lanes. He adds early-down toughness to a Cowboys front that needed more beef inside, because Mazi Smith has been underwhelming in his first two seasons. And in a division with Saquon Barkley, finding a guy who can simply stick his feet in the dirt and not get moved off the line of scrimmage in the run game is a must.
Dan Jackson, S, Detoit Lions (No. 230)
A steady presence on the back end, Jackson brings leadership and instincts from his time at Georgia. Detroit loves these types — high IQ, no-nonsense defenders who can help on teams and spot duty right away.
Kyle Monangai, RB, Chicago Bears (No. 233)
Monangai quietly had one of the best seasons in the Big Ten, leading the conference in rushing. He’s compact, tough, and seeks out contact in pass protection. He’ll play the David Montgomery role in Ben Johnson’s offense.