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With the 2024 NFL Draft officially behind us and even though we’re roughly a year away from the 2025 NFL Draft, it’s never too early to take a look at the top players in next year’s class. For the sake of determining the 2025 draft order, we are using ESPN’s 2024 win projections.
1. Denver Broncos: DE James Pearce (Tennessee)
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James Pearce has been identified as the next great pass rusher to come out of the SEC. His first-step quickness is insanely good, and he’s got the frame to put on some good weight/strength. Pearce is a very fluid athlete when moving on the field. The sophomore was pegged as a First Team All-SEC player after notching 10.0 sacks, 14.5 tackles-for-loss, and 52 QB pressures. Denver could be tempted to keep Travis Hunter in Colorado. Taking a QB could also be in the cards — though the team took Bo Nix early in the First Round this year. As such, Pearce will become the new focal point of Denver’s defensive front.
2. Carolina Panthers: ATH Travis Hunter (Colorado)
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Don’t overthink this, Carolina. Take the best player on the board. Travis Hunter is the closest thing we’ve seen to Charles Woodson in over 20 years. There’s a real opportunity for him to play both ways in the NFL given his innate ability. Hunter may want to specialize in one spot — though even if he is only wanting to function as a corner, you still have to take him. You’re looking at a transcendent talent and one that can help the least-talented NFL franchise right away.
3. Washington Commanders: OT Will Campbell (LSU)
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Protecting Jayden Daniels should be item No. 1 on the agenda for Washington. With that in mind, why not scoop up his former college teammate from LSU? Campbell figures to be one of the country’s best offensive linemen in 2024-25. The 320-pound left tackle moves his feet exceptionally well for a guy his size. He didn’t allow a sack this past year — and that’s going up against SEC competition on a weekly basis.
4. Tennessee Titans: QB Shedeur Sanders (Colorado)
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Shedeur Sanders is an exceptionally gifted quarterback. Despite playing behind arguably the worst offensive line in college football, Sanders still threw for 3,230 yards and 27 TDs (to only 3 INTs). The signal-caller demonstrated immense poise in the face of constant pressure. He also never complained even when being peeled off the turf time and time again. Sanders has terrific touch on his throws and can spin the football to all parts of the field. He’s not a great athlete, though he’s nimble enough to move within the pocket. Based on charisma, skill set, and the buzz he’d bring, Tennessee would do well to take him here as the team’s new QB1.
5. New England Patriots: DB Will Johnson (Michigan)
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Johnson just ‘looks’ like a New England player. An elite prospect out of high school, Johnson chose to stay close to his native Detroit. He exploded this past year — earning All-Conference and All-America honors for his play at corner. The 6’2″ defensive back mauls smaller receivers. Once he gets his hands on them, Johnson routinely re-routes the pass catchers and thus throws off the timing of the play. Athletically, he’s possessing everything you’d want in a future Pro Bowl corner. Smart and disciplined, he’ll ingratiate himself with the fan base at Gillette Stadium immediately.
6. New York Giants: QB Carson Beck (Georgia)
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It would be relatively shocking if Daniel Jones continued as the Giants’ quarterback barring a fantastic 2024-25 year. Starring for Georgia, Carson Beck and his whip of a right arm would make a ton of sense here if still available. He’s not only battle-tested within SEC play, but Beck also has proven to be a winner. He should have a very good 2024 season given the talent surrounding him — not to mention the experience and confidence he gained from starting this past year.
7. Arizona Cardinals: DT Mason Graham (Michigan)
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Arizona is moving in the right direction. The rebuild around Kyler Murray is promising to the point where it might not be much longer until the Cardinals are contending for a playoff spot. Graham would be another essential piece up front in the middle of the defensive line. He started for Michigan as a true freshman and emerged nationally this past year as a sophomore. Graham can play both as a run-stuffer and as a pass-rushing threat. Being a native of Los Angeles, both UCLA and USC have to be kicking themselves for letting him leave Southern California out of high school.
8. Chicago Bears: DE Mykel Williams (Georgia)
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There’s always one Georgia defender primed for a breakout year, and in this case, it’ll be the junior defensive end Mykel Williams. This past year, Williams had only 4.5 sacks. This matched the total he had as a true freshman. However, at 6’5″ and nearly 270 pounds, he’s just scratching the surface of his immense potential. He’s young for his grade, and won’t turn 20 until this summer. There’s a world in which Williams notches double-digit sacks in 2024. Should this occur, considering his pedigree and the environment he will have come from, there’s no doubt he’ll find himself within the First Round.
9. New York Jets: QB Quinn Ewers (Texas)
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The Jets will pick their successor to Aaron Rodgers, and it’ll come in the form of Texas gunslinger Quinn Ewers. The order in which these QBs in the top ten go will be fluid. You could see Sanders or Beck here conceivably. There’s something about the thought of Rodgers playing mentor to yet another quarterback that’s somewhat appealing — especially under the bright lights of New York. Rodgers will be 41 when this pick is made. Even if he can still play at a decently high level, Ewers can take his time and sit for a couple of years watching an all-time great perform.
10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: WR Luther Burden III (Missouri)
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Dating back to high school, Luther Burden III has been one of the most explosive athletes in his class. He spurned offers from every major program in the country to stay home and play for Mizzou. The cornerstone of Eliah Drinkwitz’s offense, Burden III is utilized in several ways — lining up in the slot, on the perimeter, and even as a returner. This sort of versatility — coupled with his size, speed, and physicality — has Burden III often compared to Deebo Samuel.
11. Los Angeles Chargers: DB Benjamin Morrison (Notre Dame)
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Benjamin Morrison is seen here making a play on recent 2024 first-round draft choice Marvin Harrison Jr. Under the tutelage of Marcus Freeman, Morrison plays the game with considerable intelligence. A savvy player, Morrison is excellent at reading the receiver’s preferred route before exploding toward the football. Quick in and out of his breaks, he flips his hips well and has solid tracking speed. The Chargers under Jim Harbaugh will surely be prioritizing guys who love the game, and Morrison is one of those athletes.
12. Minnesota Vikings: OT Kelvin Banks Jr. (Texas)
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Minnesota figures to bolster its offensive line depth with new QB JJ McCarthy now in town. Banks was a highly-touted prospect out of the Lone Star State. Initially committed to Oregon, he flipped to UT and opted to stay close to home. With the Longhorns now in the SEC, Banks will get the opportunity to prove himself against a host of elite pass rushers and defenders. Banks allowed only one QB hit and one sack in 912 snaps last year as a sophomore.
13. Las Vegas Raiders: LB Harold Perkins (LSU)
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Harold Perkins plays the game like his hair is on fire. He covers a ton of ground and is highly active in attacking the line of scrimmage. Rarely do you see a true freshman become the best player on an LSU defense, but that’s exactly what Perkins did. Last year as a sophomore, he accrued 4.5 TFL and 2.0 sacks in only five games due to injury. As a freshman, he had 13.0 TFL and 7.5 sacks. Assuming he can stay healthy, he’ll be one of the first defenders off the board in this draft.
14. Jacksonville Jaguars: DE Nic Scourton (Purdue)
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Nic Scourton is a stud. Functioning as an outside linebacker/defensive end, he led the Boilermakers with 10.0 sacks and 15.0 tackles-for-loss in 2023. He’s a highly active player and plays the game with great leverage. Scourton especially excels at utilizing his hands to disengage from offensive tackles en route to getting around the edge. In the AFC, you can never have enough quality pass rushers. This is why Jacksonville makes the move here for the talented rush end.
15. Pittsburgh Steelers: WR Tetairoa McMillan (Arizona)
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Tetairoa McMillan is the best receiver you’ve probably never heard of. The Southern California native spurned USC, Oregon, and others to play in Jedd Fisch’s pass-happy offense. While Fisch left for Washington, T-Mac opted to stay put. He’s a freak of an athlete at 6’4″ — possessing immensely strong hands and legitimate leaping ability. McMillan runs like a deer in space and should put up some monster numbers in the Big 12 via passes from Noah Fifita. If you’re looking for an NFL comparison, there’s some likeness to former Cincinnati Bengals star A.J. Green.
16. New Orleans Saints: DL Kenneth Grant (Michigan)
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Mason Graham gets plenty of press clippings. However, his running mate Kenneth Grant is a very good player in his own right. The 340-pounder moves like a man half his size. The short-area quickness Grant operates with is especially evident when putting pressure on opposing quarterbacks. New Orleans could use some youth in the interior of its defense line. Grant immediately will enter 2024 as one of College Football’s top defensive tackles.
17. Indianapolis Colts: DB Malaki Starks (Georgia)
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The soon-to-be junior was a consensus All-American and a first-team All-SEC selection this past year. Being a safety, Starks has the versatility to toggle between being a coverage player and one capable of stopping the run. You can line him up pretty much anywhere and expect him to make a play. The Colts can pencil him into their secondary and watch him blossom into a very good player.
18. Los Angeles Rams: TE Colston Loveland (Michigan)
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The junior tight end originally from Idaho figures to be a favorite to win the Mackey Award in 2024. He’s coming off a year where he caught 45 passes for 649 yards and four TDs. While a very talented in-line blocker, he’s also quite athletic — boasting some real skills downfield as a receiver. Loveland will continue in the prolific line of tight ends who’ve thrived from Harbaugh’s coaching. His fit with the Rams is a terrific one, especially with Tyler Higbee coming off a bad knee injury.
19. Atlanta Falcons: DL Walter Nolen (Ole Miss)
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Walter Nolen is projected to have a breakout season for Lane Kiffin and Ole Miss. He was originally one of the top prospects in the entire country two years ago coming out of Tennessee. Nolen signed with that vaunted class at Texas A&M…until it all came crashing down with most of it leaving within two years. Now having a fresh start, Nolen can reestablish himself as a difference-maker up front. People are quite high on his potential. It’s just a matter of him becoming a more consistent performer.
20. Green Bay Packers: DL Jay Toia (UCLA)
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Jay Toia is one of the most underrated defensive linemen in the country. Laiatu Latu and the Murphy Twins garnered much of the hype last year. However, in the middle of the defense stood Toia. He’s stout at the point of attack, utilizing a squatty frame with elite lower body strength. However, Toia also has some legitimate pass-rushing skills as well. Toia entered the transfer portal briefly (even taking a visit to Texas) before deciding to stick with UCLA. At Green Bay, he’ll get to learn from another elite defensive tackle in former Bruin Kenny Clark.
21. Cleveland Browns: WR Evan Stewart (Oregon)
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Evan Stewart was another member of that ill-fated No.1-ranked Texas A&M class that blew up in the wake of Jimbo Fisher getting fired. Stewart now finds himself at Oregon — a place where he’ll get to catch passes from Dillon Gabriel in a very receiver-friendly offense. With Troy Franklin now in the NFL, there’s a real chance Stewart could become WR1 for the high-flying Ducks in 2024. Stewart is electric in the open field and has some legitimate deep-field speed vertically.
22. Seattle Seahawks: QB Jalen Milroe (Alabama)
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Jalen Milroe will come off the board here as the heir apparent to Geno Smith. Being able to work with noted offensive mind Kalen DeBoer should only help Milroe’s game. We saw a guy blessed with all of the physical traits — speed, acceleration, arm strength. Assuming he polishes his game further with more game experience, you could see Milroe launch his way up draft boards. Being a multi-year QB starter at Alabama is no joke. Milroe certainly has talent, and we’ll see if it becomes fully realized in 2024.
23. Dallas Cowboys: WR Emeka Egbuka (Ohio State)
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CeeDee Lamb could use a younger running mate, and as such the Cowboys will opt for Emeka Egbuka here. The native of Washington has long been a known commodity to NFL scouts dating back to his freshman year. Ohio State has turned into a WR factory of sorts. Egbuka might not be as electric as Harrison Jr. or Garrett Wilson, for example, he’s still a very impactful player with his route-running ability.
24. Philadelphia Eagles: OL Jonah Savaiinaea (Arizona)
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The Eagles are aging along their offensive line. Being able to control the line of scrimmage has been integral in Philadelphia’s success over the years. As such, taking the Hawaiian via the University of Arizona would seem like the prudent thing to do. Jonah Savaiinaea was one of the better offensive linemen in the Pac-12 this past year. He was a starter as a true freshman and followed that strong year up with one this past season in which he allowed only two sacks in nearly 900 snaps.
25. Cincinnati Bengals: DL Jack Sawyer (Ohio State)
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Cincinnati has seen plenty of Jack Sawyer. The junior defensive end was a prep star in the state of Ohio before signing with the Buckeyes. Last year as a junior, he notched 6.5 sacks. Ohio State is looking to compete for a National Championship this year, Sawyer figures to be the leader of the defense up front. You can envision a double-digit sack total this year for the physical defensive end. The Bengals would love to have him learn from fellow Ohio State product and current Cincinnati DE Sam Hubbard.
26. Houston Texans: LB Abdul Carter (Penn State)
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Being a former linebacker, DeMeco Ryans loves him some good play from the position. Houston is building a juggernaut in the AFC South, and adding another quality athlete like Abdul Carter to its front seven seems like a wise decision. Penn State is known for developing defenders at a very high clip. Carter was solely a linebacker earlier in his career. Reports indicate he’ll now be putting his hand in the dirt and rushing from an edge spot. Either way, the explosive nature of his game should translate swimmingly.
27. Miami Dolphins: DB Tacario Davis (Arizona)
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Miami desperately needs help on defense — especially in its secondary. Tacario Davis flashed last year for the upstart Arizona Wildcats. The Long Beach native started a few games as a true freshman. However, this past year is where Davis truly emerged as a star at the position. He has unusual height for the spot (6’4″) though that’s not a deterrent. Davis moves with ridiculously impressive fluidity and isn’t a lumbering type that is destined for a move to safety. He had a whopping 15 pass-breakups this year which speaks clearly to his ball skills.
28. Buffalo Bills: OL Earnest Greene (Georgia)
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Buffalo’s top priority each year is keeping Josh Allen upright. Getting a developmental prospect like Greene would make plenty of sense. The Southern California native opted to leave the West Coast and sign with Georgia a few years ago. Some thought he’d be a guard exclusively, though Greene has emerged for the Bulldogs at left tackle. This seems like the year where Greene cements himself as one of the nation’s best.
29. Detroit Lions: DB Kevin Winston (Penn State)
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Dan Campbell will love this guy. Tough as nails coming from Big Ten country, Kevin Winston is a safety with the ability to also play some nickel. Having this versatility is something all NFL teams look for — particularly as the game is more rooted in throwing the football. Winston figures to test well, and there’s reason to think he might not even be available at this pick a year from now.
30. Kansas City Chiefs: DL Ashton Gillotte (Louisville)
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The 6’3″ 275-pound defensive end appears to be a nice fit for the Chiefs. He dominated the ACC for Louisville last year — notching 14.5 TFL and 11.0 sacks. Ashton Gillotte approaches the game with tremendous heart. You’ll never hear people questioning his effort level. He’s quite disruptive when attacking opposing backfields, and he’s the type of guy you can even line up inside in obvious passing situations.
31. San Francisco 49ers: OL Tate Ratledge (Georgia)
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Two of Georgia’s starting offensive linemen will be selected in the first round. Tate Rutledge plays as the Bulldogs’ right guard. After two seasons in which he played sparingly, Rutledge emerged as one of the SEC’s best interior offensive linemen. He could’ve gone to the NFL this past year, though returned to school in order to develop further. San Francisco would love to get younger up front, especially with a player as talented as Rutledge.
32. Baltimore Ravens: LB Deontae Lawson (Alabama)
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Baltimore and Alabama essentially go hand-in-hand at this point. The Ravens love drafting players from this program. This is especially the case if they’re defenders. Lawson figures to be the next great linebacker to hail from Tuscaloosa. He fits the Ravens’ cultural mantras of physicality and aggressiveness. If there’s a more perfect fit than Lawson and the Ravens, we’ve yet to see it.
