Kozora: 2025 NFL Draft ‘My Guys’ And Sleepers
An article collection I started final 12 months, I’m bringing you my favourite prospects and prime sleepers of the 2025 NFL Draft. The 2024 version included names like Georgia WR Ladd McConkey and Oregon RB Bucky Irving, two gamers who went on to have robust rookie campaigns.
Right here’s my listing of 2025. It consists of well-known prospects I merely like greater than most and Day Three sleepers who may grow to be hidden gems within the later rounds of the draft.
Will Howard/QB Ohio State
For those who’ve adopted my draft notes and protection, you recognize I’m greater on Howard than most. His skill to make contact and layered throws from the pocket and his total accuracy is spectacular. It’s straightforward to fall in love with a top-tier athlete and people who create performs out of construction, two vital components little doubt, however most quarterback play continues to be nuts-and-bolts. Stand and ship from throughout the pocket and on-time.
Howard had early-year struggles at Ohio State however transferring to a brand new system and college is sure to create a studying curve. He performed his greatest ball when it mattered most, main the Buckeyes to a Nationwide Championship. He’s a frontrunner, a winner, and extra athletic than given credit score for. Sure, he was surrounded by gold-plated expertise at Ohio State however watch even the highlights and Howard’s receivers weren’t bailing him out with spectacular performs. He was dropping them within the bucket.
My quarterback motto is generally “go huge or go residence,” taking one within the first spherical or in no way, however Howard is an exception price making. I’d haven’t any situation choosing him within the third or fourth spherical.
Devin Neal/RB Kansas
I ranked Neal sixth in my current working again rankings. And perhaps that was even nonetheless a spot too low. His identify has gotten buried in a deep working again class. Neal was extremely productive at Kansas, leaving as the college’s all-time main rush.
He brings a mix of measurement, burst, change-of-direction with wholesome receiving manufacturing (77 profession catches) Neal merely had good and constant tape. He really led the Jayhawks’ offense as a workhorse again. His testing wasn’t stellar however he’s athletic, briefly a two-way participant at Kansas who performed outfield on the baseball staff. If Neal lasts into the fifth spherical, it’s a steal.
Andrew Armstrong/WR Arkansas
I’ve been on document noting I’m not a fan of this 12 months’s huge receiver class. It’s one of many weakest in years. However Armstrong is a possible Day Three gem. Transferring up from East Texas A&M, Armstrong put up huge numbers within the SEC. He led the convention in receptions and yards, beating out the likes of Ole Miss’ Tre Harris and Texas’ Matthew Golden, two gamers who will get drafted forward of him.
Numbers alone don’t imply every part however Armstrong has spectacular tape. With huge and powerful palms, Armstrong makes powerful catches in site visitors. Regardless of a bigger body at almost 6’4 and 202 kilos, he reveals fluidity and the flexibility to drop his hips. His 6.85 three cone is a wonderful determine that matches the tape. Armstrong should clear up his footwork and be extra environment friendly getting out of his breaks however the instruments are there. I in contrast him to Jakobi Myers.
Andrew Armstrong Scouting Report
JJ Galbreath/TE South Dakota State & Oronde Gadsden II/TE Syracuse
Galbreath is getting completely no love. You received’t even discover him on some in depth draft lists. Taking part in on the FCS stage in South Dakota no much less is a part of the rationale but it surely’s produced so many succesful tight ends in recent times, he ought to be getting extra consideration.
A clean and fluid athlete who runs like a giant receiver, Galbreath was productive when he wasn’t lacking time with a shoulder harm in 2024. He’s not an amazing blocker however moved round and was requested to do it. He ran a 4.67 40 with a 38-inch vertical and 6.82 three cone, a greater determine than than all however one tight finish in Dane Brugler’s draft information (shoutout to Rhode Island’s Tommy Smith and his 6.79, although he’s a receiver/tight finish hybrid who’s 11 kilos lighter). Galbreath ought to be drafted late.
I didn’t write the report on Gadsden however watched a ton of Syracuse tape this 12 months in my experiences on teammates like LeQuint Allen and different video games. He’s a pure receiver however does the job nicely who almost had 1,000-yards in two seasons with the Orange: 975 in 2022 and 934 in 2024, lacking most of 2023 with a Lisfranc harm. His father is Oronde Gadsden, a profitable NFL huge receiver who received a Tremendous Bowl with the Dallas Cowboys.
In a deep tight finish NFL draft class, Gadsden’s identify has gotten misplaced however presents plus worth.
Teddye Buchanan/LB California
Buchanan was my write-up in our Steelers Depot roundtable “sleeper” put up so I received’t repeat myself an excessive amount of right here. Buchanan transferred up from UC Davis and made a right away influence in his lone 12 months at Cal. All the time across the ball, he can rush the quarterback, take the ball away, and has the athletic traits to enhance in protection.
Sturdy Mix testing coupled with good tape and a chip on his shoulder as a former two-star recruit has me excited. Buchanan’s play have to be refined but when he can clear up his approach, he’ll be an NFL starter. He’s been a real riser all through the NFL Draft course of.
Teddye Buchanan Scouting Report
Maxwell Hairston/CB Kentucky
Hairston is not any form of “secret” he might have been early within the draft course of. Now attending the NFL Draft, he’s seemingly a High-32 decide and popped on the Mix with a 4.28 40. He performs with an alpha mentality with nice ball expertise, a wise and athletic cowl nook.
There’s been questions over his tackling however a 2024 shoulder harm misrepresented his skill. Totally wholesome, he received’t be a legal responsibility. Hairston can be a beginning nook and playmaker.
Maxwell Hairston Scouting Report
Malachi Moore/DB Alabama
Moore had one of many largest optimistic disparities in my scouting report, a second-round grade regardless of being considered as a fourth/fifth-round decide. A nickel/security, he’s versatile, productive, tackles reliably, and might cowl. In 2024, he did a little bit of every part to complete with 70 tackles (three for a loss), two picks, two compelled fumbles, eight cross breakups, and one sack.
A scarcity of high-end athleticism and a nagging pre-draft harm hasn’t helped him all through the method however I in contrast Moore to Micah Hyde, who had the same profile and carved out a protracted and profitable NFL profession.
Hunter Wohler/S Wisconsin
It’s straightforward to like Hunter Wohler. He’s bodily, good, hard-working, and stronger in protection than given credit score for. A lac of true foot pace is the one factor holding him again, a tick gradual in tape with a 4.57 40 to match.
Nonetheless, he could be a beginning field security with all the opposite instruments in his belt to succeed. He’s a man who will increase the ground of a defensive again room however has the potential to do extra than simply be a hair-on-fire backup. Wohler can play.
Dan Jackson/S Georgia
Jackson is Hunter Wohler gentle. Identical all-out mentality however unlikely to crack the beginning lineup. Rather less athletic with a slimmer body. Nonetheless, Jackson earned every part he acquired at Georgia. A walk-on who climbed each hung of the ladder from buried on the depth chart to starter, by no means even formally incomes a scholarship and residing off NIL cash, Jackson might need the most well liked motor on this 12 months’s class. Considered one of my favourite NFL Draft Day Three guys.
His run and chase is solely enjoyable to observe and he has the makings of a core particular teamer. A Jeremy Reaves-type who makes Professional Bowls for his skill to cowl kick and punts. Somebody will get nice worth drafting Jackson late on Day Three. He received’t be a ten-year starter however he’ll reduce his enamel on soccer’s third part for the following decade. Ebook it.
