Who are the most promising 2025 NFL Draft prospects to watch early in the 2024 college football season? With the Class of 2024 becoming rookies, it’s time to focus more on the exciting talent available for next year.
The 2025 draft order is a long way from being set, but in the meantime, we can look at the top overall players who figure to be available when the Panthers, Raiders, Vikings, Giants, Cardinals, and more come calling.
At the dawn of Week 1 of the college football season, here’s a snapshot of the best players who can become available next April when all 32 teams make their selections.
Pearce is a naturally explosive and super athletic pass rusher who can become more dangerous with more polish and a wider repertoire.
Campbell is a smooth pass protector who can be a long-term rock at left tackle.
Beck is a strong-armed, accurate pocket passer with big-time winning intangibles.
Burden is a dangerously quick open-field receiver who is versatile enough to thrive outside or in the slot. He has special after-the-catch burst, too.
Johnson has the potential to be a pure shutdown corner with his great coverage ability and fluidity for his size.
Sanders can do everything as a pinpoint pocket passer and has a knack for making big plays when needed most.
Graham has powerful run-stopping qualities to go with unique disruptive skills at interior pass rusher.
He’s the unique freak of next year’s class with his mega size and athleticism that makes him a strong cover man and almost equally adept receiver when called upon.
McMillan is the classic size-speed prospect who can stretch the field well and uses his size to position himself nicely in the red zone.
Banks is another great agile pass protector in this class, just behind Campbell in that capacity.
Walker has rare athleticism for his massive frame that allows him to be uniquely devastating in the pass rush.
Morrison is a sound coverage man with good technique and high on-ball playmaking skills.
There’s nothing Starks can’t do vs. run and pass, and he has a knack for making big plays and cleaning up everything in front of and lateral to him.
Williams is a power-based inside presence who can be an absolute load vs. big blockers on the pass rush.
Scourton is a devastating pass rusher who can create mismatches with his powerful yet athletic frame.
Egbuka is another Buckeyes route-running technician with great hands and quickness to reliably make big plays.
Carter can play from the inside or out and get to the quarterback with great pass-rush results, and he also shows great range vs. the run.
Loveland has the complete look as the NFL’s next athletic, impact tight end, a la first-rounders Kyle Pitts and Dalton Kincaid.
Perkins can play in a variety of spots on a front seven, as he has the versatility to get to the quarterback outside or inside as an impactful rotational player.
Jones projects as the ideal, powerful run-blocking prospect with some pass-protection upside at right tackle.
Grant will try to form a literally massive 1-2 punch with Graham given his sturdy frame against the run and pass-rush power.
Burke was wise to return to school to become a more polished, well-rounded cover man who can handle any downfield assignment.
Ewers is right there behind Beck and Sanders in terms of pocket passing, as he’s very accurate and can make all the downfield throws with high efficiency.
Saviinaea can play either inside or outside with his natural pass-protecting agility, and he has the frame to become a much bigger asset in the running game.
Jeanty should creep into the first-round workhorse conversation with some compact pop as a power runner while packing explosive speed, too.
Tuimoloau can be special with his frame and athleticism, and he was wise to come back to college to develop more front-line consistency.
Stewart is right behind Egbuka with his quick route-running and after-the-catching playmaking upside.
Sawyer has a strong calling card as a pass-rusher, but his real strength is how he balances that with elite play against the run, too, keeping him on the field as an all-down playmaker.
Payton has some of the qualities of former teammate Jared Verse as an often-overpowering and explosive pass rusher.
Booker is known for his powerful run blocking, but he also has nimble, quick feet for his size.
Gordon has great size as a power back and also has massive burst between the tackles. He has some three-down qualities right there with Jeanty.
Williams has some big upside as a compact, quick inside pass rusher and made a good decision to return to school to round out his game.
Davis is a fluid big corner prospect who uses his wingspan and physical frame to his full advantage in coverage.
The Alabama transfer is a speedy vertical threat — a nice program follow-up to record speedster Xavier Worthy playing with Ewers.
The Ole Miss transfer will get more attention in Columbus for packing a serious power-running punch in his frame and also coming through when needed as a receiver.
Weigman has the kind of natural tools as a strong-armed, downfield passer and terrific athlete to be on the watchlist for this year’s Jayden Daniels.
He might be the king of 3-4 pass-rush prospects in this class and can be moved around well to produce in that particular scheme.
Jackson, because of his monstrous size, can be a terrific versatile defensive line asset in a 4-3 base front.
Milreo can also turn into a very appealing dual-threat QB, and that gives him a chance to shoot back up the board to join in on Weigman’s rise.
Carter has the typical do-everything range. He finishes well against the run but also stays on the field as a coverage ace.
Gilotte’s unique blend of power and strength makes him another versatile 4-3 defensive lineman to consider up along with Jackson, potentially as high as the first round.
Eresery has the tantalizing upside to put together his power and athleticism into the complete left tackle package.
Jackson projects as a nasty, mauling interior lineman made for consistently strong NFL run blocking.
Stutsman is a tackling machine and a growing asset in coverage. He can possibly pass Carter as the best linebacker in the class with more consistency and improved technique.
Nolen is a little behind an early strong class at the position because he’s a run-stopper first who’s still developing as an inside pass rusher.
Dennis-Sutton is a well-rounded defender, but there’s still room to grow as a pass rusher and be more consistent vs. the run.
Hampton helps make this a much stronger running back class early than 2024 because he also has three-down potential thanks to his power, quickness, and hands.
Muhammad can pass some of the bigger corners in this class, as his sound coverage technique gives him a high floor. His active ballhawking also sets up a high ceiling.
Delp isn’t on the level of former teammate Brock Bowers, but watch out for him shooting up boards in this class behind Loveland with his speedy and quick field-stretching receiving.
Henderson might now be a bit overshadowed by Quinshon Judkins on his own team, but he can’t be forgotten as an attractive asset in the passing game on top of solid running.
