2025 NFL draft: Consultants choose superteams of high prospects

We’re two weeks away from the NFL draft, and all 32 groups will look to handle large wants throughout their rosters. However how would our draft analysts fill out a complete lineup of draftees? Mel Kiper Jr., Matt Miller, Jordan Reid and Discipline Yates performed out a 10-round, 40-pick draft to construct their greatest superteams made up solely of this yr’s class. For the total draft and a few spirited debate, try the latest version of “First Draft.”

This is how this labored: Kiper, Miller, Reid and Yates snake-drafted 40 picks to fill out beginning lineups. Every roster had particular required positions: one quarterback, one working again, two vast receivers or tight ends, one offensive deal with, one inside offensive lineman, two front-seven defenders and two defensive backs. All different roster spots had been thought of substitute degree. Our consultants had been allowed to draft positions in any order, they usually designed their items round no matter scheme they wished on both sides of the ball. (Spoiler: Kiper went old skool right here.)

The superteam draft additionally supplied a novel method of wanting on the class, bearing on positional worth, how every analyst stacks his private board and which prospects might present essentially the most influence on the subsequent degree. Which crew ended up with one of the best offense and most dominant protection? Let’s begin on the high with Yates after which go choose by choose. And you’ll even vote for the winner of our 2025 NFL draft fantasy league on the backside.

See all 40 picks of the draft so as
Rosters: Yates | Reid | Miller | Kiper
Vote on which analyst’s crew is greatest

The picks

The draft order was randomized, with Yates touchdown the primary choose. However as a result of it’s a snake format, Kiper had back-to-back picks at Nos. 4 and 5, and Yates did not choose once more after No. 1 till No. 8. And no trades had been allowed.

1. Yates: Cam Ward, QB, Miami
2. Reid: Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
3. Miller: Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado
4. Kiper: Abdul Carter, Edge, Penn State

5. Kiper: Mason Graham, DT, Michigan
6. Miller: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
7. Reid: Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
8. Yates: Will Campbell, OT, LSU

9. Yates: Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
10. Reid: Matthew Golden, WR, Texas
11. Miller: Jalon Walker, Edge/LB, Georgia
12. Kiper: Armand Membou, OT, Missouri

13. Kiper: Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina
14. Miller: Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas
15. Reid: Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
16. Yates: Will Johnson, CB, Michigan

17. Yates: Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama
18. Reid: Matthew Golden, WR, Texas
19. Miller: Jahdae Barron, CB, Texas
20. Kiper: Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan

21. Kiper: Jaxson Dart, QB, Ole Miss
22. Miller: Mike Inexperienced, Edge, Marshall
23. Reid: Mykel Williams, Edge, Georgia
24. Yates: Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri

25. Yates: Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina
26. Reid: Shavon Revel Jr., CB, East Carolina
27. Miller: Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
28. Kiper: Gray Zabel, G/C, North Dakota State

29. Kiper: Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky
30. Miller: Donovan Jackson, G, Ohio State
31. Reid: TreVeyon Henderson, RB, Ohio State
32. Yates: Shemar Stewart, Edge, Texas A&M

33. Yates: Jonah Savaiinaea, G, Arizona
34. Reid: Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State
35. Miller: Trey Amos, CB, Ole Miss
36. Kiper: Elijah Arroyo, TE, Miami

37. Kiper: Xavier Watts, S, Notre Dame
38. Miller: Tyler Shough, QB, Louisville
39. Reid: Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss
40. Yates: Quinshon Judkins, RB, Ohio State

Yates’ crew

QB: Cam Ward
RB: Quinshon Judkins
WR/TE: Luther Burden III
WR/TE: Tyler Warren
OT: Will Campbell
G/C: Jonah Savaiinaea
DL/LB: Jihaad Campbell
DL/LB: Shemar Stewart
DB: Will Johnson
DB: Nick Emmanwori

Yates on his crew: My mindset was simple getting into this draft: Seize as lots of the top-ranked gamers at their respective positions. Mission achieved. In Ward, Warren, each Campbells and Johnson, 5 of my 10 picks had been the gamers I’ve the highest grade on at their positions. Furthermore, I believed the hole between QB1 and QB2 was among the many widest in any respect positions, so having the primary choose was a determined benefit.

We additionally basically consider at Yates HQ in doing all the pieces we will to make life simpler on our younger QB, so surrounding Ward with wonderful run-after-catch gamers in Warren and Burden was large. My query to the opposite drafters is easy: Who’s taking part in for second?

Reid’s crew

QB: Shedeur Sanders
RB: TreVeyon Henderson
WR/TE: Tetairoa McMillan
WR/TE: Matthew Golden
OT: Josh Simmons
G/C: Tyler Booker
DL/LB: Mykel Williams
DL/LB: Walter Nolen
DB: Malaki Starks
DB: Shavon Revel Jr.

Reid on his crew: With an emphasis on scoring factors, I wished so as to add some offensive firepower within the early rounds after securing my franchise quarterback. McMillan and Golden present two go-to choices on the perimeter for Sanders to get the ball to constantly. In addition they complement one another; McMillan is the big-bodied outdoors X receiver, whereas Golden can work all different elements of the sector.

Defending Sanders was additionally a significant level for my crew, so I drafted my second-best guard on this class (Booker) and added a robust bookend deal with (Simmons). On protection, Williams and Nolen present an awesome combination of run assist and explosive go rush. And I even have a strong again finish with Starks at free security and Revel as a shutdown outdoors nook. From high to backside, it is fairly clear who has one of the best total roster.

Miller’s crew

QB: Tyler Shough
RB: Ashton Jeanty
WR/TE: Travis Hunter
WR/TE: Emeka Egbuka
OT: Kelvin Banks Jr.
G/C: Donovan Jackson
DL/LB: Jalon Walker
DL/LB: Mike Inexperienced
CB/S: Jahdae Barron
CB/S: Trey Amos

Miller on his crew: The main focus of this crew is pace and flexibility. I added six gamers ranked in my high 11 total whereas getting unimaginable worth at every place group. Sure, I waited on a quarterback after Ward was chosen first total, as the worth between QB2, QB3 and QB4 on this class is just not a large hole. Ready till the ultimate spherical to get Shough allowed me to construct a greater crew round him, together with Hunter and Jeanty because the cornerstones of this offense.

On protection, this crew continues to suit my philosophy with elite go rushers and big-time ball hawks within the secondary. In fact, Hunter can be within the combine on that aspect of the ball, too.

Kiper’s crew

QB: Jaxson Dart
RB: Omarion Hampton
WR/TE: Colston Loveland
WR/TE: Elijah Arroyo
OT: Armand Membou
G/C: Gray Zabel
DL/LB: Abdul Carter
DL/LB: Mason Graham
DB: Maxwell Hairston
DB: Xavier Watts

Kiper on his crew: Good luck scoring on this protection. With Carter and Graham — each top-three gamers on my Massive Board — we’ll be getting some critical strain. I wished Barron at nook however nonetheless ended up with the 4.28 pace of Hairston and the ball expertise of Watts (13 interceptions over the previous two seasons) within the secondary. I am undecided any of those different rosters are even reaching double-digit factors in opposition to this unit.

On offense, I am shifting my guys round. My greatest miss was clearly at receiver. I attempted ready till my seventh choose to get Egbuka or Burden, however I used to be too late. And slightly than attain for TCU’s Jack Bech or somebody like that somewhat additional down my board, I made a decision to double-stack my tight ends. However Loveland and Arroyo are greater than that — I can unfold them out vast, put them within the slot or bunch them in-line, searching for matchup benefits. They each have the pace to stretch the seams, and Dart has the arm to drive the ball to them. Combine within the three-down skills of Hampton behind my top-ranked deal with and guard, and we’ll be simply tremendous shifting the ball.

In all, I acquired 5 gamers in my high 11. Selecting fourth meant lacking the highest two QBs and my No. 1 total participant in Hunter, however I like what I used to be capable of do.