2025 NFL DRAFT: Top Skill Position Players still available
QUARTERBACK:
SHEDEUR SANDERS
By John Mesenbrink @JohnMesenbrink
Colorado (SR), QB
Perhaps the most polarizing player in the 2025 draft — because of his lineage and the fact that he sat out the combine — we could see an Aaron Rodgers-esque draft night where the former Buff could go top five or drop to anywhere from the bottom of the top 10 (Saints at nine) to the middle stages (Steelers trade up) of round one. In any event, Sanders just wins. His confidence, coupled with his accuracy (74% completion rate in 2024), especially the deep ball, makes him an intriguing draft prospect with some prognosticators having him as their №1 QB on the board. Starting all 13 games in 2024, he finished the season with 4,134 yards, 37 pass TDs — vs. 10 INTs–and four rushing TDs. A traditional pocket passer, Sanders possesses good pocket awareness, buying himself time to move and adjust to make plays downfield through the air. We see him as a top 10 draft pick, and if drafted by a team that is QB needy, he could be starting year one.
Pluses:
• Confidence
• Accuracy
• Processing Speed
• Pocket Presence
• Winner Wherever He Goes
Concerns:
• Ability Against Complex Defensive Packages
• Took Too Many Sacks/Negative Plays in College
• Overconfidence?
QUINN EWERS, TEXAS (r-JR), 6’2”, 214lbs
The nation’s top-ranked recruit coming out of high school had a brief stint at Ohio State before transferring to Texas, where he played three seasons for the Longhorns. As he entered his final season, many projected him as a first-round pick. However, inconsistent play and questionable decision-making became his downfall. Ewers has good size and solid footwork, but he lacks mobility and struggles to read through his progressions, often locking onto his first read. It’s possible that some of these traits can be improved if he receives time to develop under the guidance of coaching and a seasoned veteran presence.
WILL HOWARD, OHIO STATE (SR), 6’4”, 236 lbs
If you only watched him play in Ohio State’s national championship game, you might wonder why he isn’t more highly regarded. While he performed well in that game, it doesn’t reflect his entire collegiate career. Howard struggled during his first four seasons at Kansas State before transferring to Ohio State. However, things started to click for him with the Buckeyes, where he passed for 4,010 yards and 35 touchdowns. He possesses NFL size and has a solid throwing delivery, but he also has some sloppy lower body mechanics, which often lead to issues with ball placement. In the right system, it’s possible that he will continue to build on this progression.
RUNNING BACK:
CAM SKATTEBO
Arizona State (SR), RB
Skattebo began his collegiate career at Sacramento State before transferring to Arizona State after his freshman year. In his final season with the Sun Devils, he established himself as one of the top running backs in his class. He rushed for 1,711 yards and scored 21 touchdowns, while also making 46 receptions for 605 yards and three additional touchdowns. His outstanding performance earned him a spot as a Heisman Trophy finalist. Skattebo is a powerful running back with excellent contact balance, and underrated speed and burst. He has the skill set to be a three-down back at the next level and is expected to be selected in the second round of this year’s NFL Draft.
Pluses:
• Big bodied hammer back
• Efficient runner with great contact balance
• Solid pass catcher
• Good burst and acceleration
Concerns:
• Lacks long speed
• Pass Blocking
DYLAN SAMPSON
Tennessee (JR), RB
A three-star recruit with a track background, he spent his first two seasons with the Volunteers waiting for his opportunity. He finally got his chance to be the lead back in his junior year, where he made the most of it by turning 258 carries into 1,491 rushing yards and an impressive 22 touchdowns. Although he wasn’t heavily utilized in the passing game, he still recorded 20 catches for an additional 143 yards. Standing at 5’8” and weighing 200 lbs, he possesses a solid frame and is an efficient runner with excellent contact balance. Whenever the team needed tough yards, he was almost guaranteed to deliver, converting 33-of-36 short-yardage opportunities. Heading into the NFL Draft, I have him ranked as my RB7 in this class, but he could go higher if a team falls in love with his skill set.
Pluses:
• Short yardage specialist
• Speed (4.42 40-Yard Dash)
• Contact balance
• Efficient runner with good vision
Concerns:
• Pass Pro
• Limited receiving usage
• Long speed?
• Size to withstand a heavy workload?
DAMIEN MARTINEZ
Miami (JR), RB
Martinez, a three-star recruit, began his college career at Oregon State, where he had two highly successful seasons, culminating in a semifinalist spot for the Doak Walker Award during his sophomore year. He then transferred to Miami for his junior year, starting all 13 games and surpassing the 1,000-yard mark once again before declaring for the NFL Draft. He is a physical runner with good vision and burst, though he lacks receiving skills.
Pluses:
• Bruiser/Mauler
• Speed
• Fluid runner/Shifty
• Vision
Concerns:
• Pass Pro
• Receiving
• Lacks long speed
• Upright running style/High pad level
DEVIN NEAL
Kansas (SR), RB
Neal was a highly regarded four-star recruit who set Jayhawk records for career rushing yards, rushing touchdowns, and 100-yard games. He is a versatile running back with quick feet, good vision, and strong receiving skills. Although he is projected to be a change-of-pace back at the next level, his four years as a starter at Kansas demonstrate his durability and ability to handle a heavy workload. Following his impressive career at Kansas, he continued to build momentum with a solid performance at the Senior Bowl and a strong showing at the combine. While Neal may not be receiving as much attention as some other running backs in this draft class, I believe he has a good chance to be one of the standout selections this year’s NFL Draft.
Pluses:
• Good contact balance/hard to tackle
• Pass-catching abilities
• Quick feet with sneaky change of direction
• Vision
Concerns:
• Pass Pro
• Room to improve route running
• Questionable power for short yardage
OTHERS OF NOTE:
D.J. Giddens, RB, Kansas State
Brashard Smith, RB, SMU
Bhayshul Tuten, RB, Virginia Tech
Ollie Gordon II, RB, Oklahoma State
Trevor Etienne, RB, Georgia
Jaydon Blue, RB, Texas
LeQuint Allen, RB, Syracuse
Jarquez Hunter, RB, Auburn
WIDE RECEIVER:
JALEN ROYALS
By Brandon Lane
Utah State (SR), WR
A multisport athlete in high school, Royals excelled in high jumping and basketball. He began his collegiate career at Georgia Military College before transferring to Utah State. A late bloomer, it was not until his junior season that his game started to click, recording 71 receptions for 1,080 yards and 15 touchdowns. Royals was on a similar trajectory in his senior year before suffering a season-ending foot injury in Week 8, finishing with 55 receptions, 834 yards, and six touchdowns.
As a shifty and elusive receiver with quick acceleration, he utilizes his speed and route-running skills to win downfield, combining his basketball skill set to excel at the catch point. Despite rehabilitating from his injury, Royals participated in the Senior Bowl, and even at 85% capacity, he was still able to perform effectively against defenders. It was reported that Royals ran a 4.32-second 40-yard dash during his audition at Utah State, although he recorded a 4.42-second time at the NFL Combine, which may be attributed to his recovery process. Nevertheless, Royals possess the speed to succeed at the next level.
Pluses:
• Speed/Acceleration
• Body control
• Illusive after the catch
• Trajectory to improve with experience
Concerns:
• Late bloomer with only two full years as a full-time player
• Played against lesser competition
• Can struggle vs press
OTHERS OF NOTE:
Elic Ayomanor, WR, Stanford
Tez Johnson, WR, Oregon
Isaiah Bond, WR, Texas
Dont’e Thornton Jr., WR, Tennessee
Xavier Restrepo, WR, Miami
Arian Smith, WR, Georgia
Jaylin Lane, WR, Virginia Tech
