There are 11 months to go until the 2025 NFL Draft. While that might sound like a long time, each day is one day closer to organizations having to make crucial decisions for the future of their organization.
With how high the stakes are, it’s wise for teams to make preparing for the draft a year-round process. As for analysts like myself, I use this time of year to load up on information to create early draft content for you all. There’s nothing pressing that I have to work on this time of year, anyway, so I’d much rather space out my scouting so I don’t have to stress myself out too much after the regular season.
A lot will change between now and the weekend of the 2025 NFL Draft. However, while this year’s draft was heavy on offensive prospects, the 2025 class seems to be loaded on defense. Out of my top 30 prospects, 17 of them come on defense, and 11 of them are front-seven defenders.
While defensive line value was weak in this year’s draft, that isn’t the case from what I’ve seen early in the 2025 draft. That bodes particularly well for the Bears — who have a glaring need there heading into the season — but any team in need of edge rushers or defensive tackles will be pleased with this class.
To give you all an early look at who to keep an eye on next year, I’ve decided to share my early top 50 prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft with you all.
2025 NFL Draft Top 50 Prospects
| Rank | Player | Position | School |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | Player | Position | School |
| 1 | James Pearce Jr. | EDGE | Tennessee |
| 2 | Will Johnson | CB | Michigan |
| 3 | Mason Graham | DL | Michigan |
| 4 | Luther Burden III | WR | Missouri |
| 5 | Benjamin Morrison | CB | Notre Dame |
| 6 | Will Campbell | OT | LSU |
| 7 | Deone Walker | DL | Kentucky |
| 8 | Kenneth Grant | DL | Michigan |
| 9 | Kelvin Banks Jr. | OT | Texas |
| 10 | Travis Hunter Jr. | CB | Colorado |
| 11 | Nic Scourton | EDGE | Texas A&M |
| 12 | Colston Loveland | TE | Michigan |
| 13 | Quinshon Judkins | RB | Ohio State |
| 14 | Harold Perkins Jr. | LB | LSU |
| 15 | Malaki Starks | S | Georgia |
| 16 | Emeka Egbuka | WR | Ohio State |
| 17 | Mykel Williams | EDGE | Georgia |
| 18 | Emery Jones Jr. | OT | LSU |
| 19 | Tetairoa McMillan | WR | Arizona |
| 20 | Abdul Carter | EDGE | Penn State |
| 21 | Xavier Nwankpa | S | Iowa |
| 22 | J.T. Tuimoloau | EDGE | Ohio State |
| 23 | Evan Stewart | WR | Oregon |
| 24 | Jonah Savaiinea | OT | Arizona |
| 25 | Ashton Gillotte | EDGE | Louisville |
| 26 | Denzel Burke | CB | Ohio State |
| 27 | Ollie Gordon II | RB | Oklahoma State |
| 28 | Xavier Watts | S | Notre Dame |
| 29 | Barrett Carter | LB | Clemson |
| 30 | Omarion Hampton | RB | North Carolina |
| 31 | Carson Beck | QB | Georgia |
| 32 | Tyler Booker | OG | Alabama |
| 33 | Howard Cross III | DL | Notre Dame |
| 34 | Ashton Jeanty | RB | Boise State |
| 35 | Isaiah Bond | WR | Texas |
| 36 | Jalen Milroe | QB | Alabama |
| 37 | Princely Umanmielen | EDGE | Ole Miss |
| 38 | Tacario Davis | CB | Arizona |
| 39 | Kaimon Rucker | EDGE | North Carolina |
| 40 | Shedeur Sanders | QB | Colorado |
| 41 | Kevin Winston Jr. | S | Penn State |
| 42 | Walter Nolen | DL | Ole Miss |
| 43 | Quincy Riley | CB | Louisville |
| 44 | Dani Dennis-Sutton | EDGE | Penn State |
| 45 | Patrick Payton | EDGE | Florida State |
| 46 | Jabbar Muhammad | CB | Oregon |
| 47 | Jack Sawyer | EDGE | Ohio State |
| 48 | Tyleik Williams | DL | Ohio State |
| 49 | Quinn Ewers | QB | Texas |
| 50 | Tre Harris | WR | Ole Miss |