With the NFL Scouting Combine in the books, teams have a ton of information to sort through before the 2025 NFL Draft. It’s not just what you see on television, but also what goes on behind the scenes through the interview and medical process. All of these factors play a pivotal role as they begin to stack their team boards, just as those in the NFL draft media do.
Here are five players that I thought helped themselves throughout the week in Indianapolis.
Starting with a player that didn’t even test in Indy? You bet. What Milroe accomplished in interviews behind closed doors was a win. His hand size miraculously going from 8 ¾” at the Senior Bowl to 9 ⅜” at the Combine was also an important marker to pass (laugh about it if you want, scouting departments care about thresholds).
Both he and NFL teams understand he is a developmental quarterback, but his incredibly high football character makes him a project worth betting on. Coaches and evaluators know he will give them 120% and lead when called upon. His teammate Tyler Booker told me he’d get to the facility at 5 a.m. and not leave until around 8 p.m.
Milroe should hear his name called on Day 2 of the draft and will have the opportunity to sit and learn behind a veteran.
Porter is one of the most interesting prospect profiles in the entire draft. He’s nearly 6-foot-3 with 33 ⅛” arms and lightning 4.3 speed. It’s not just straight line speed either as he clocked a 6.71 three cone (88th percentile) and 4.04 shuttle (80th percentile), excellent agility numbers for his size.
Yet, with that unique combination of size and athleticism, he wasn’t a starter on Iowa State’s defense until 2024, his sixth season with the program (he was a wide receiver from 2019-2022). To his credit, he was a tremendous special teams player before that, blocking four punts and a field goal during his college career.
His teammate Jaylin Noel told me practicing against Porter “made it easier” on Saturdays and that he made the entire offense better. His best football is ahead of him and he should be taken in the top 75 of this draft.
It wasn’t a pretty showing for the portion of the tight end class that opted to test at the NFL Combine, but Ferguson was a rare bright spot. He ran a 4.63 forty (82nd percentile) and jumped through the roof with a 39-inch vertical at 247 pounds.
He’s started for Oregon since 2021 and has topped 40 catches each of the last two seasons. I love his effort as a blocker on the move, especially when he can get to the second level of the field against smaller defenders. He might get lost in a class with a lot of talent at the top, but he’ll be a value pick at tight end early on Day 3. I think he’s a future starter at the NFL level.
It’s kind of a mystery why it took this long for Higgins to blow up, but the secret is out. He’s got the college production, posting 2,166 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns the last two seasons.
Throughout Senior Bowl practices, he consistently stood out with above average tracking and the ability to maximize his catch radius. Then at the NFL Combine, after measuring above 6-4 and right at 214 pounds, he ran a 4.47 forty yard dash and jumped 39 inches in the vertical.
Higgins told me if he could train with any NFL wide receiver it would be Keenan Allen due to his releases, movement skills at his size and ability to separate. Much like Allen, Higgins thrives both inside as a bigger slot but also on the perimeter.
He looks locked into the top 50 of the NFL draft.
Higgins calls himself ‘a mismatch’ at WR
Iowa State WR Jayden Higgins joins Connor Rogers to discuss his evolution as a wide receiver from college to the NFL, how his game continues to develop, his Senior Bowl experience, and which receivers he looks up to.
Wilson was only a one-year starter on Georgia’s offensive line, but in a center class lacking big names he stole the show in Indy. At 310 pounds, he ran a 4.84 forty (98th percentile for the position, per Mockdraftable.com), 1.72 10-yard split (93rd percentile), a 4.56 shuttle (80th percentile for interior offensive linemen), and displayed a 32-inch vertical (88th percentile).
You can see those numbers translate to on-field quickness for Wilson in Georgia’s run game, featuring a heavy dose of inside zone. I wouldn’t be shocked if a zone-heavy team took him in the third round.
The Fantasy Football Happy Hour crew analyze Connor Rogers’ top quarterback prospects, debating whether Miami’s Cam Ward or Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders should be the first QB taken in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Jalen Milroe details his growth, physically and mentally, at Alabama and what he’s learned from the process of preparing for the 2025 NFL Draft.
Ohio State quarterback Will Howard sits down with Connor Rogers to discuss winning a championship with the Buckeyes, what he learned from offensive coordinator Chip Kelly and more.
The Fantasy Football Happy Hour crew examine Connor Rogers’ top running back prospects, analyzing why Boise State running back Ashton Jeanty is at the top of the list.
Ohio State’s running back Quinshon Judkins sits down with Connor Rogers about his partnership with RB TreVeyon Henderson, favorite run combos and getting to meet other football players outside of the game environment.
Rutgers running back Kyle Monangai chats with Connor Rogers about his consistency, Greg Schiano’s coaching mindset and why he admires Frank Gore.
Dylan Sampson learned patience at Tennessee until the opportunity to “take the reins” rose in his junior year, and he shares how he is “embracing every moment” at the combine with hopes to make his mark in the NFL.
Iowa RB Kaleb Johnson has enjoyed building relationships at the NFL Scouting Combine, and he shares his aspirations of being a versatile back at the pro level and how he fell in love with the game.
Texas wide receiver Isaiah Bond tells Connor Rogers about his approach to NFL draft preparation, what he’ll bring to teams and more.
Iowa State wide receiver Jaylin Noel sits down with Connor Rogers to discuss playing on both the inside and outside, his role as a leader with the Cyclones what he’s working on ahead of the NFL draft and more.
Ole Miss wide receiver Tre Harris chats with Connor Rogers about his experience in the transfer portal, his relationship with Jaxson Dart and more.
Miami wideout Xavier Restrepo talks about his experience catching passes from Cam Ward and how he’s shown scouts that he can produce in every facet of offense and special teams.
Elic Ayomanor chats with Connor Rogers about his matchup against Travis Hunter, his experience playing hockey and his admissions process getting into Stanford.
Connor Rogers chats with top 2025 NFL Draft tight end prospect Tyler Warren to discuss his passion for blocking in the run game, why he models his game after Jeremy Shockey and the talent environment at Penn State.
Miami tight end Elijah Arroyo talks to Connor Rogers about his youth football roots in Mexico and his impressions of former teammate and potential No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward.
Notre Dame tight end Mitchell Evans sits down with Connor Rogers to discuss how the Fighting Irish prepared him for the NFL, his “rewarding” final season in South Bend and why he would love to train with George Kittle.
Ohio State quarterback Will Howard sits down with Connor Rogers to discuss winning a championship with the Buckeyes, what he learned from offensive coordinator Chip Kelly and more.
Alabama guard Tyler Booker joins Connor Rogers to talk about playing with Jalen Milroe in college, looking up to Larry Allen, improving his technique prior to the draft, being ‘a program guy,’ loving Legos and more.
Oregon’s Josh Conerly Jr. joins Connor Rogers at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine to discuss how he ‘embraced’ switching from a running back to an offensive lineman in his high school years despite his athleticism.
Offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. talks with Connor Rogers about how he had a target on his back at Texas, why gap scheme runs are his favorite and what mental challenges players in his position face every game.
LSU offensive lineman Will Campbell sits down with Connor Rogers at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine to discuss the mental warfare of playing on the offensive line and how he will protect quarterbacks at the next level.
DE Nic Scourton sits down with Connor Rogers to discuss his development throughout his time at Texas A&M, his love for the game of football, and how his college teammates prepared him for the pro level.
Ole Miss defensive end Princely Umanmielen sits down with Connor Rogers to discuss his mindset as a pass rusher, his size and how MMA helped him with football.
Connor Rogers sits down with Toledo DT Darius Alexander, where he shares what it was like to compete at the Senior Bowl, what he wants NFL teams to learn most about him, and why he’d love to train with Chris Jones.
Texas A&M defensive tackle Shemar Turner chats with Connor Rogers about his favorite move as a pass rusher, how he uses his size to his advantage and more.
Ole Miss defensive tackle Walter Nolen sits down with Connor Rogers to talk about the pressure of being a top recruit, playing in an all-star environment with the Rebels and more.
South Carolina defensive tackle T.J. Sanders sits down with Connor Rogers to discuss his experience at the Senior Bowl, his keys to being a great pass rusher and more.
Texas safety Andrew Mukuba chats with Connor Rogers about his transfer from Clemson, his game-sealing play against Arizona State in the Peach Bowl and how the Longhorns got him ready ahead of the NFL draft.
Sebastian Castro sits down with Connor Rogers to discuss his diverse role on the “scrappy” Iowa defense, how his six years with the Hawkeyes shaped him into the player he is today and what he brings to the NFL.
East Carolina CB Shavon Revel Jr. sits down with Connor Rogers to discuss what he learned from his injury this past season and what it would mean to be the first ESU player selected in the first round since 2008.
Ole Miss cornerback Trey Amos joins Connor Rogers to discuss his impressive college career, what he wants scouts to learn about him at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine and why he admires star cornerback Patrick Surtain II.
Florida State cornerback Azareye’h Thomas sits down with Connor Rogers to talk about the physicality he brings, a “promise” to shut down his side of the field and learning from his brother Juanyeh Thomas.
