We obviously don’t know the 2025 NFL Draft order, nor the underclassmen who are going to declare, but it’s never too early to start taking a look at the positions your team may be interested in moving forward.
As NFL teams are already prepping their scouting trips for the fall, let’s take a look at one prospect for each NFL team that matches up with their perceived weaknesses.
Which players might each team want to keep an eye on during this year’s college football season?
NFC East
Dallas Cowboys – Daniel Stutsman (LB, Oklahoma)
New defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer is known for his double A-gap blitzes, though they could miss newly retired linebacker Leighton Vander Esch. Stutsman has great size and length, at 6’4, 240 pounds (listed), and has upside as a run defender, coverage player, and as a pass rusher. Dallas could also look to reinforce their receiving corps or defensive line.
New York Giants – Travis Hunter (CB, Colorado)
The Giants are widely expected to take a long look at the 2025 quarterback class after passing on quarterback in the 2024 class despite another poor and injury-shortened year from Daniel Jones. However, it’s also possible that the 2025 quarterback class will be too weak to justify moving from Jones and the team will punt the QB decision to 2026 or beyond. In that case, the Giants could look for a cornerback to start opposite Deonte Banks if Cor’Dale Flott doesn’t work out as an outside corner.
Philadelphia Eagles – Donovan Jackson (iOL, Ohio State)
The Eagles love to draft offensive linemen high, and their line could be in flux after the retirement of Jason Kelce. Donovan Jackson is a big, mauling guard who’s already a great run blocker, improved markedly as a pass protector in 2023. It wouldn’t be a surprise for the Eagles offensive line to stabilize and be fine, but it also wouldn’t be a surprise to see them target another offensive lineman, either. Right tackle is in consideration as well, considering Lane Johnson’s age and the fact that Mekhi Becton has largely disappointed after his rookie season with the Jets.
Washington Commanders – Will Campbell (OT, LSU)
Washington is rebooting their franchise in the post-Dan Snyder era. Their roster isn’t devoid of talent, and their biggest problem has been getting out of their own way. There’s quite a few ways they could go next year and add a receiver for Jayden Daniels or an edge defender to replace Montez Sweat and Chase Young. Or they could further reinforce their offensive line, and Daniels’ former teammate is a great prospect. Campbell is built like a guard but moves like a tackle with great feet and efficient movement skills. They drafted Brandon Coleman out of TCU in the third round in 2024, but Campbell could be the top lineman in next year’s draft.
NFC South
Atlanta Falcons – Denzel Burke (CB, Ohio State)
The Falcons’ offense and defensive line should be much improved in 2024, but improving their secondary could pay dividends if opponents need to pass to keep up in 2025 and beyond. Burke has “shutdown” traits when in one-on-one coverage, and might go before the Falcons’ pick in 2025. However, next year should be a very good cornerback class, and Atlanta could look to add one of them.
Carolina Panthers – Will Johnson (CB, Michigan)
The Panthers’ roster isn’t in a great position, but the upside of that is that they can go in almost any direction and find an upgrade. They could continue to address their offensive line, get Bryce Young a receiver like Tetairoa McMillan or look to the defense. Pairing Jaycee Horn with a similarly physical, aggressive, and athletic shutdown corner like Will Johnson is certainly appealing.
New Orleans Saints – Jalen Milroe (QB, Alabama)
Derek Carr will be 34 when the 2025 season starts and New Orleans could move on from him after that season. It’s possible that Spencer Rattler could develop into a starter, but there were some concerning red flags on his play in college. Milroe improved tremendously over the course of 2023 and became a dangerous passer, as well as runner, by the National Championship game. He needs to work on his sack avoidance, and that could be a major red flag, but he also has a chance to be a playmaker in the mold of Jalen Hurts if he continues to develop under new Alabama – and former Washington – head coach Kalen Daboer.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Tre Harris (WR, Mississippi)
The Buccaneers are in good shape at receiver right now. However, they need to prepare for the eventuality of Mike Evans and Chris Godwin declining. The Bucs might look elsewhere in the first round, but a Day 2 receiver like Harris could give them a strong value for a reasonable price. Harris has good size and averaged over 18 yards per reception last year. The Buccaneers are in a pretty good position roster-wise, but they should take the opportunity to keep future-proofing their squad.
NFC West
Arizona Cardinals – James Pearce Jr. (EDGE, Tennessee)
There’s a massive range of outcomes for the Cardinals in 2024. The return of Kyler Murray and addition of Marvin Harrison Jr. could power them back to the playoffs, or things could go sideways and they could wind up back in the Top 10 of the 2025 draft. They certainly hope that they won’t be in position to draft James Pearce, who could be the first pick in the draft. However, reinforcing the line of scrimmage – either offensive or defensive – should be a priority for them. Pearce is a freak athlete off the edge and knows how to put it to use with a sky-high pressure rate and tape littered with highlight plays.
Los Angeles Rams – Quinn Ewers (QB, Texas)
The Rams paid dearly to trade for Matt Stafford, and it paid off immediately. However, he’s closing in on the end of his career as he enters his 15th season at age 36. The Rams could take the opportunity to select a potential successor for Stafford to (hopefully) ensure continuity at the most important position. Ewers is athletic, has a big arm, and has a great feel for delivering well-placed balls with touch. The Texas offense is full of quick passes and screen concepts, which could translate well to the “Spread Coast’’ offense run by Sean McVay. Whether it’s Ewers or another quarterback, it would behoove the Rams to find a successor and begin preparing him to take over.
San Francisco 49ers – Jack Sawyer (EDGE, Ohio State)
The 49ers might have the most front-to-back stacked roster in the NFL, and there’s a lot of ways they could go in the upcoming draft. They could look for a successor to aging left tackle Trent Williams, another weapon for Brock Purdy in the event that Deebo Samuel or Brandon Ayuk leave (or Christian McCaffrey declines). Or they could look to reinforce one of the best defenses in the NFL. Leonard Floyd will turn 32 this season, and the 49ers could decide that they can find an upgrade over Drake Jackson and Yetur Gross-Matos. Sawyer has the requisite size to be an edge defender in their scheme and was productive last year for OSU, with 8 sacks, 9 QB hits, and 20 hurries.
Seattle Seahawks – Barrett Carter (LB, Clemson)
The Seahawks will be switching to a “Baltimore” style of defense under new head coach Mike MacDonald. Inside linebacker Roquan Smith’s athleticism is one of the keys to the Ravens’ defensive success, and Barrett Carter brings similar traits to the field. Finding an athletic and versatile linebacker who can wear a variety of hats could be key to setting off their whole defense.
NFC North
Chicago Bears – Tyler Booker (iOL, Alabama)
The Bears hope to have the foundation of dynamic offense with Caleb Williams, Rome Odunze, Keenan Allen, DJ Moore, and D’Andre Swift. They could look to continue to build their offensive line, and it’s possible that they could be good enough that they can’t access the top of the offensive tackle class. If that comes to pass, the Bears could do much worse than a player like Tyler Booker. He’s big, moves well, is regarded as a leader, and is an excellent pass protector. Chicago has a solid defense, and it could benefit more from finishing their offensive rebuild than additional pieces on that side of the ball.
Detroit Lions – Ajani Cornelius (OT, Oregon)
The Lions could move on from Tyler Decker due to financial reasons after the 2024 or 2025 season. Cornelius transferred from Rhode Island to Oregon prior to the 2023 season, and didn’t give up a single sack despite the jump in competition. He’s a mauler in the run game and (unsurprisingly) good in pass protection as well. Cornelius plays with an obvious nasty streak and could fit in well with the Lions’ team culture.
Green Bay Packers – Mykel Williams (iDL, Georgia)
Williams has similar size as Preston Smith and Rashan Gary, and is very young at just 19 years old. He has great length, power, and linear explosiveness, and he could be due for a breakout season this year. A player like Williams could allow the Packers to keep a stout defensive rotation as Preston Smith exits the prime of his career. The Packers could also look to add another wide receiver for Jordan Love, but their roster appears to be pretty solid at the moment. So it would make sense for them to target positions like receiver, EDGE, safety, or cornerback where depth players routinely see the field.
Minnesota Vikings – Deone Walker (iDL, Kentucky)
The Vikings have the pieces for a great offense – at least if J.J. McCarthy develops as they hope. They also invested in Dallas Turner to hopefully follow the same trajectory as the 2023 Houston Texans in 2024. Walker is a behemoth at 6’6, 350 pounds and is not only predictably stout in run defense, but also led all FBS interior defensive linemen with 51 pressures in 2023, per PFF. Not only would his mass help create free runs for the Vikings’ blitzers, but he’s a threat in his own right. The Vikings’ defense flourished in the days of the Williams Wall, and rebuilding their line so they don’t have to blitz to generate pressure could help in a very competitive NFC North.