2025 NFL draft: Greatest rookie crew matches, good touchdown spots

The 2025 NFL draft offered loads of sturdy prospect-team matches throughout the 257 picks. However which gamers are finest arrange for achievement?

I wished to focus on my 15 favourite matches, factoring in traits, schemes, playcalling tendencies and training staffs across the league. Who landed in a perfect spot? I attempted to incorporate just a few first-rounders and some gamers taken later within the draft — together with one Day 3 choose.

Here is my annual listing of most closely fits, beginning with an instant-impact defensive deal with within the AFC. The prospects are listed under by draft order.

Leap to:
Spherical 1 | Rounds 2-4

Drafted: Spherical 1, No. 5

Why he matches: Graham’s capacity to generate inside disruption is a lift for the Browns’ defensive entrance, the place he’ll play as a 3-technique deal with in Jim Schwartz’s system. The foot quickness, hand utilization and short-area burst led Graham to 17.5 tackles for loss over his three seasons at Michigan.

However let’s not neglect about Schwartz’s capacity to scheme for Graham out of a number of fronts as a cross rusher, too. In Cleveland’s protection, Graham can use his motion abilities on stunts and loops, whereas additionally getting the inside one-on-one matchups. And do not be shocked to see him rush as a stand-up nostril deal with towards facilities.

Drafted: Spherical 1, No. 8

Why he matches: Underneath coach Dave Canales, McMillan will shortly turn out to be a precedence goal for quarterback Bryce Younger from a number of alignments. McMillan can play Z receiver subsequent to the tight finish, however I like him finest because the boundary X in Canales’ system. From the latter place, he can create isolation matchups for Younger downfield. And out of slot alignments, his 6-foot-4 body presents points for opposing defenses.

Plus, McMillan may be schemed on in-breaking ideas, the place he can use his protection consciousness to make himself accessible on the intermediate ranges of the sphere. Carolina wanted a matchup participant within the cross recreation, they usually get that with McMillan. He had 40 contested catches and 26 touchdowns all through his profession at Arizona.

Drafted: Spherical 1, No. 9

Why he matches: New coach Kellen Moore is following the blueprint of his Tremendous Bowl offense in Philadelphia by strengthening the sides. Moore had two unicorn bookends with the Eagles in Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailata. And now drafting Banks to pair with 2024 first-rounder Taliese Fuaga provides him foundational constructing blocks at offensive deal with with the Saints.

With Fuaga staying on the proper aspect, Banks matches right here because the left deal with for New Orleans. He is a simple and managed mover, with the foot velocity to match defenders on the sting. And he’ll deliver some capacity as a run blocker to Moore’s offense. New Orleans was twenty ninth in cross block win fee (54.0%) and nineteenth in run block win fee (71.3%) final season. It wanted upgrades.

Drafted: Spherical 1, No. 10

Why he matches: Loveland is a refined route runner with positional flex, and that upgrades new coach Ben Johnson’s offense within the cross recreation. At 6-foot-6, 248 kilos, Loveland can play in-line, bump to the slot and even transfer to the bottom of 3×1 units. He is greater than only a large seam stretcher, although; Loveland can create separation as he comes out of his breaks and has the lower-body quickness to get unfastened towards press protection. He is a three-level goal.

These traits give Johnson’s offense extra creativity from a formation perspective, as Chicago might main in two-TE units with each Loveland and Cole Kmet on the sphere. With the additions of Loveland and second-round receiver Luther Burden III, the Bears are organising quarterback Caleb Williams with a flexible group of cross catchers.

play

Why Marcus Spears likes Bears’ rebuild

Marcus Spears and Jason McCourty reward the Bears’ offseason and state that it is time for Caleb Williams to step as much as the plate.

Drafted: Spherical 1, No. 11

Why he matches: Underneath new defensive coordinator Robert Saleh, Williams matches as a three-down defender in San Francisco’s 40 entrance. Saleh can create a launch pad for Williams as a cross rusher from wide-nine alignments, which ought to put him ready to win with speed-to-power reverse Nick Bosa. Plus, I can see Saleh scheming up some inside matchups. That may enable Williams to make use of his 6-foot-5 body and quickness to assault guards in safety.

Williams is an edge setter who will compete on the level of assault, so he is additionally constructed for early-down work as a run defender. He wants extra improvement, however the bodily instruments and play model match with the 49ers’ defensive identification below Saleh.

Drafted: Spherical 1, No. 18

Why he matches: Zabel upgrades a Seahawks entrance that was talent-deficient on the guard place final season. The 6-foot-6, 312-pound North Dakota State standout can generate motion off the ball as a run blocker. Extra particularly, he has the mobility to combo block and climb within the exterior zone recreation below new Seahawks coordinator Klint Kubiak.

Zabel was the most effective participant I watched apply on the Senior Bowl. He can mirror inside rushers and drop anchor to deal with energy. I see a tone-setter, a participant who will help reset the identification of the Seahawks’ offensive line. And the general scheme match is ideal.

Drafted: Spherical 1, No. 27

Why he matches: Pairing Starks with Kyle Hamilton provides the Ravens two interchangeable safeties within the secondary, which implies the protection can disguise coverages and alter the post-snap image. Starks has the vary to trace the ball and play from depth, and he can spin all the way down to patrol the beneath zones.

Starks had six interceptions and 15 cross breakups throughout his time at Georgia, and we’ll see his versatility weaved into the Ravens’ recreation plan. It is a good match for a protection that makes use of its safeties as matchup items from quite a lot of alignments — in each base and sub packages.

Drafted: Spherical 1, No. 31

Why he matches: We all know Campbell can play off-ball as a stack linebacker. The power to suit the run recreation is there. However I additionally see the velocity and protection consciousness to get to depth and shut on the ball in a rush as a zone defender. Campbell can blitz, too. Each single a type of traits helps Vic Fangio’s protection on the second stage.

Campbell may be greater than a conventional linebacker in Philly. Like Zack Baun final season, Campbell has the bodily abilities to set an edge towards the run. He also can align as an out of doors linebacker to hurry the passer, utilizing his first-step quickness and lower-body flexibility to run the ring. Campbell has severe upside on this protection.

Drafted: Spherical 2, No. 47

Why he matches: Extra easy than sudden, Johnson performs with aggressive eyes within the secondary and has explosive traits. That works in a Cardinals protection that tends to be extra zone-heavy (61% of opponent dropbacks final season). In Cowl 3 or quarters coverages, he can use his backfield imaginative and prescient to get a soar on the throw. In Cowl 2, he can sink and break because the flat defender.

With a 6-foot-2 body, Johnson also can press and stick after the preliminary launch from the receiver. However the excessive proportion of zone protection in Arizona will put him ready to make use of his playmaking abilities on the perimeter. Johnson had 9 interceptions at Michigan over three seasons, together with three defensive touchdowns.

Drafted: Spherical 2, No. 59

Why he matches: Inexperienced may be arrange as a cross rusher in Baltimore, just like the crew’s present utilization of Kyle Van Noy. Which means schemed one-on-ones — each off the sting and on the inside — with the twist stunts that ought to enable Inexperienced to dart by means of open rush lanes. He also can drop into protection, which supplies Baltimore the power to raised disguise pressures.

Inexperienced’s 17 sacks led the FBS in 2024, and I believed he was probably the most expert cross rusher on this class. He is explosive off the ball, with a number of countermoves that can translate to Sundays.

Drafted: Spherical 2, No. 60

Why he matches: The working again place is a essential piece of Sean Payton’s offense, and Harvey has the traits to play a dual-threat position for Denver. At 5-foot-8, 205 kilos, he can run by means of contact and deal with quantity as a lead runner. His lateral quickness and straight-line velocity assist him create much more on the bottom. Harvey can even issue into the cross recreation for Payton. He’ll run mixture routes out of the backfield to emphasize the boundary protection, whereas releasing on alternative routes to uncover for sophomore quarterback Bo Nix. Add display screen ideas as an choice, too.

Regardless of making the playoffs for the primary time since 2015, the dearth of manufacturing from the Broncos’ working again room restricted this offense in key recreation conditions. Harvey can change that in 2025.

Drafted: Spherical 3, No. 68

Why he matches: Porter has all of the bodily instruments to develop right into a big-time press nook. He’s lengthy at 6-foot-4 and 195 kilos, and he can sustain with extensive receivers utilizing his 4.3 velocity. However Porter’s success will not be restricted to man protection. He can discover the ball in zone, which inserts below the core coverages of Raiders defensive coordinator Patrick Graham.

In 2024, the Raiders performed zone protection on 65.2% of opponent dropbacks (eighth-highest fee within the league). Graham notably leaned on Cowl 3 and Cowl 2, which is the place Porter can produce resulting from his area imaginative and prescient and shutting burst. He’ll shut down throwing home windows and use his ball abilities as a former receiver to complete performs. He had three interceptions final season.

Drafted: Spherical 3, No. 69

Why he matches: Williams can function as a vertical risk for quarterback Drake Maye, and he can hit the accelerator after the catch. With Josh McDaniels again as offensive coordinator in New England, Williams may be schemed to get free entry off the road to run the crossers and overs. He might additionally see some manufactured touches (screens, fly sweeps) to maximise his electrical capacity.

Final season, Williams averaged 17.1 yards per catch at Washington State, and he scored 14 touchdowns. He should climb the depth chart in New England as a rookie, however he is a big-play goal who brings extra juice to the crew’s extensive receiver room.

Drafted: Spherical 3, No. 83

Why he matches: Johnson is at his finest within the exterior zone recreation, a foundational a part of coordinator Arthur Smith’s offense. He presses the sides and is nice at discovering cutback lanes to get north-south with the ball. At 6-foot-1 and 224 kilos, he also can push by means of arm tackles for explosive performs. Johnson had 21 rushes of 20 or extra yards in 2024, which was the second most nationally behind Ashton Jeanty. He’ll share the backfield with Jaylen Warren in Pittsburgh, however he might emerge because the early-down runner. Within the cross recreation, Johnson will see targets on screens and swings.

Drafted: Spherical 4, No. 133

Why he matches: With the protection consciousness to seek out open zone voids and a aggressive play model after the catch, Royals can function in Andy Reid’s system as a midlevel goal for quarterback Patrick Mahomes. Royals is keen to work the heavy site visitors areas of the sphere, the place he could make contested catches. And he turns beneath throws into explosive performs.

As a deep-ball goal, Royals has the velocity to be schemed situationally. However I actually just like the match right here based mostly on the Chiefs’ leveled ideas, run-pass choices and three-step throws. These kinds of performs will enable him to seek out open grass and acquire much more yards after the catch.