Former Scout Releases 2025 NFL Draft First Round Value Board ⎯ The Pick Is In…

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Mel Kiper Jr. responding to my Shedeur Sanders Tweet on ESPN FIRST DRAFT pic.twitter.com/ty66WLDa0w

— FIRST ROUND MOCK (@firstroundmock) April 4, 2025

Being an evaluator is akin to being a private investigator.

Every play from every game is a clue. From there, it’s about identifying consistent traits, patterns, and tendencies.

It’s for this reason, I studied more game film for this draft class than I’ve studied for any draft cycle.

682

That’s how many games I studied on these top 32 prospects.

I’ve watched an additional 34 prospects who are in this draft class I did not give first-round grades to in an additional 558 games. That’s a total of 1,240 games and 66 prospects I’ve studied in this class during the past three seasons leading up to this draft.

What’s the goal?

To watch as many of the top 60-rated prospects as possible from the consensus board (nflmockdraftdatabase.com). I did this for the sake of being able to address every variable that I possibly could that was on the game film.

There are more variables when it comes to player and human behavior than picking the winning lottery numbers.

Grading mistakes are made in the draft because of a lack of information, and while I can’t get access to all the information teams have at their disposal (medicals, internal interviews, FBI background checks, etc), I do have access to a lot of the games the prospects have played in, so I dug as hard as I could into the film and then gleaned whatever information I could from credible sources.

I took two days off after the 2024 NFL Draft and have been working tirelessly since, 17-20 hours a day, six to seven days a week, to put together this first-round value board.

I take grading seriously.

Grades create expectations, and expectations define careers for better or for worse. Unmet expectations are the thing busts are made of.

Every grade I give reflects what the prospect did in college and is a projection based on what I’ve seen work and not work well in the NFL. My grading intends to put each prospect in the best possible position to succeed based on what they’ve shown. I also believe in transparency in my grading process. I have links to all of my full evaluations on this page, including links to all the games I’ve studied embedded into the evaluations, and I’ve also included a link to my ongoing handwritten scouting notes on the prospects for this draft and the past two previous drafts on Instagram for the sake of accountability.

If you’re looking for names like Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders, he didn’t make the cut.

Thank you for your interest in my work.

Daniel Kelly’s 2025 NFL Draft First Round Value Board

Top 5

Cam Ward #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/pPW1NgIdZI

— FIRST ROUND MOCK (@firstroundmock) April 9, 2025

1. Cam Ward, Quarterback, Miami

Total number of games evaluated: 29

The first two seasons at Washington State, Ward reminded me of Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts. Last season at Miami, he reminded me of Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.

Ward’s levels of aggression and confidence set him apart, as does his preparation and his process.

What are the negatives?

Unpredictable footwork, and he throws with average anticipation. Part of that is by design when he’s luring in defenders before he fires it downfield. He has a way of controlling defenses.

The big league arm helps.

2. Ashton Jeanty, Running Back, Boise State

Total number of games evaluated: 23

For the past two drafts, I tagged two prospects with pre-draft ‘Hall of Fame grades.’

• Jalen Carter
• Brock Bowers

This year, it’s Jeanty.

He’s a running back with a special mix of rare determination and phenomenal contact balance. Jeanty promises to make some lucky offense truly two-dimensional.

Any weaknesses?

Jeanty runs high, and he builds speed with momentum. A defense’s only real chance is to tackle him before he gets going.

Who’s my comp for him?

Hall of Fame running back Walter Payton. Jeanty’s defensive style of running, selflessness, and graceful star quality just reminds me so much of Sweetness.

3. Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State

Total number of games evaluated: 28

Carter is the fastest edge rusher I’ve ever seen, and I grew up watching Giants’ legend Lawrence Taylor and have written pre-draft evaluations on the Cowboys’ Micah Parsons and the Eagles’ Nolan Smith. It’s like Carter is shot out of a cannon.

Grab some popcorn 🍿

• Twitchy
• Flexible
• Quick
• Unpredictable
• Emotional
• Firey

Weaknesses?

• Struggles too often getting off blocks
• Sometimes pulls up instead of taking “kill shots” that are his to take

ELITE DIFFERENCE MAKER

4. Tyler Warren, Tight End, Penn State

Total number of games evaluated: 27

He proved to be the most versatile tight end I’ve ever evaluated. The only two offensive positions he didn’t play were offensive tackle and guard. On one play in particular against USC, he lined up at center, snapped the ball, and then ran downfield and caught a touchdown pass on the same play.

Warren:

• Glides into routes
• Instinctual
• Smooth
• Knows how to get open
• Confident hands

Any concerns?

• Average catch radius
• Defenders had success when they got physical with him at the catch point

Not really.

5. Travis Hunter, Wide Receiver, Colorado

Total number of games evaluated: 22

I graded Hunter as a generational wide receiver prospect (first-round). Look for Hunter to become the best receiver in the NFL. He makes it look easy, like the great ones do. Hunter easily achieves route leverage, he has elite athleticism, and he’s a ball magnet.

Weaknesses?

C’mon, think of something.

Playing cornerback.

6-10

6. Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia

Total number of games evaluated: 23

A mean and violent quarterback-minded bully who looked flat-out unblockable at times.

HIS HANDS ARE LIKE TWO STUN GUNS

I like the idea of this three-down defender better as a traditional defensive end in a 4-3 (four down defensive linemen and three linebackers).

A hyperactive wrecking ball who looked like a man amongst boys on game film.

Any concerns?

He can become a little too complacent at times.

7. Darius Alexander, Defensive Tackle, Toledo

Total number of games evaluated = 11

I was the first one out there to put a top-10 grade on this prospect.

Alexander is a harsh three-down defender who gave me dominant alpha DeMarcus Lawrence (Cowboys/Seahawks) and Myles Garrett (Browns) vibes.

Strengths: Powerful and athletic build, and he’s armed with quick and violent hands.

Weaknesses: Unpolished as a pass rusher and lacks instincts on running plays.

I’d like to see him go to a team that already has one great defensive tackle in place, so together they could wreck things.

8. James Pearce Jr., EDGE, Tennessee

Total number of games evaluated = 22

• Well put together
• Long arms
• Rare combination of speed and power

Pearce draws his fair share of double-team blocks.

He also has a toolbox full of pass-rushing moves, and the kind of raw power that puts grown offensive tackles on skates.

There is some complacency to his game and a “character concern,” but when the switch gets flipped, he’s unblockable and worth the risk.

9. Tyler Booker, Left Guard, Alabama

Total number of games evaluated = 26

Guards aren’t trendy, but it all starts up front. This last Super Bowl helped bring that back into focus. The one thing that’s REALLY stood out about Booker over the past two seasons is how well he works in concert with the rest of his offensive line. That, and his protective instincts, are off-the-charts.

Booker is a tough, strong-willed, and physical alpha who shows a high football IQ, and he understands the art of leverage.

Yes, sometimes his intensity level wavers, but make no mistake, Booker moves the meter.

10. Josh Simmons, Left Tackle, Ohio State

Total number of games evaluated = 19

A franchise pocket guardian and a road paver on running plays.

The only reason I didn’t watch more games on Simmons is that he was injured for part of 2024. However, he bounced back and looked to be in good shape for his Pro Day. Couple that with the fact he produced some of the cleanest tape I’ve ever evaluated earns him the spot on my board, rounding out the top-10.

Weakness?

He can get too aggressive while run blocking and lose control.

11-15

11. Walter Nolen, Defensive Tackle, Ole Miss

Total number of games evaluated = 14

VIOLENT

TENACIOUS

POCKET WRECKER

THRIVES ON PHYSICALITY

Think of former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson as a football player.

Needless to say, he draws his fair share of double-teams.

While he’s not all-out on every snap, he brings it enough of the time to make a real difference. Nolen is also serious about stopping the run.

12. Jahdae Barron, Cornerback, Texas

Total number of games evaluated = 29

Barron is a new kind of defensive back, and he’s unlike any defensive back I’ve ever evaluated.

What do I mean by that?

Everywhere they put him on defense, he excelled. Barron had a knack for keeping the game in front of him and flowing to wherever the ball was going in pass coverage. He was equally motivated to defend the run. The true litmus test is in press-man coverage (the cornerback is responsible for defending the receiver one-on-one), and he passed that test with flying colors.

He lacks that coveted short-area burst, but he makes up for it with physicality, straight-line speed, and instincts.

13. Maxwell Hairston, Cornerback, Kentucky

Total number of games evaluated = 19

It took vision to see through Kentucky’s “bend, but don’t break,” defensive coverage philosophy, but once I got past that, I saw an aggressive press-man cornerback who keeps getting better and better, oozing with confidence and 4.28 speed.

He’s also a banger in support.

The only big knock is that he tends to play the ball more than he plays the receivers.

14. Quinn Ewers, Quarterback, Texas

Total number of games evaluated = 26

The thing I love most about Ewers is his throwing instincts. He’s a bit unorthodox, but what he lacks in traditional throwing mechanics, he makes up for with a “sixth sense,” being able to locate and attack the weakest spot in the opponent’s pass coverage. Add in the fact that Ewers has the second-fastest time to throw in this draft class, there’s a lot to be excited about. If it wasn’t for his momentary lapses of judgment and his being a hot-and-cold gunslinger, he’d rank even higher.

15. Nic Scourton, EDGE, Texas A&M

Total number of games evaluated = 20

NASTY BRUTE POWER

Sounds like a good addition to any defense.

Scourton makes the pocket an uncomfortable place for quarterbacks to reside. Hence, the reason he drew so many double-team blocks. Did I mention he has a spin move that resembles a tornado?

He was everywhere on his 2024 tape, and what sold me on him was his going the extra mile in non-pass rushing situations.

Pass rushing weaknesses:

• Inconsistent first step
• Lacks natural explosiveness at the point of attack
• Can get out of control
• Stalls out if initial efforts are stopped

16-20

16. Emeka Egbuka, Wide Receiver, Ohio State

Total number of games evaluated = 32

I’ve maintained a documented first-round grade on Egbuka’s 2022, 2023, and 2024 game film.

The scary part is that every time I look at him, he looks better.

There are a couple of things that hold him back. Egbuka has an average catch radius, and defenders had some success getting physical with him at the catch points.

With that said, I like Egbuka better than any Ohio State receiver I’ve evaluated since 2021. I didn’t think I’d be able to say that after Jaxon Smith-Njigba, but here we are. Egbuka offers a lot of game planning versatility, and he’s a route architect.

Send the card in.

Run, don’t walk.

17. Shemar Stewart, EDGE, Texas A&M

Total number of games evaluated = 11

Imagine a pass rusher who causes errant passes merely by his presence alone.

That’s Stewart.

My affectionate nickname for him is “The Human Bowling Ball.”

• Athletic
• Energetic
• Stout
• Compact
• Violent
• Short-area acceleration
• Disciplined

He was also inconsistent getting off the snap, had some noticeable tightness that kept him from making quick adjustments, and he couldn’t always shed blocks on running plays.

Nobody’s perfect.

18. Donovan Jackson, Left Guard, Ohio State

Total number of games evaluated = 14

Close your eyes and picture a brick wall in cleats.

Now you’re seeing it.

He’s a high football IQ prospect with a defensive mentality on the offensive side of the ball. Can never have enough guys like that. In terms of weaknesses, he needs to stop guessing which way defenders are going when they come off the snap to rush the passer, and he gets more inconsistent hitting the target the further away he gets from the line of scrimmage.

Street Fighter

Quick Hands

Brute strength

Jackson likes to throw defenders like ragdolls or drive them to the turf and attempt to bury them alive.

That works.

19. Jalon Walker, EDGE, Georgia

Total number of games evaluated = 23

My one boom or bust prospect, who I’m hoping ends up with the right coach who can maximize his dominant traits and keep him motivated. It’s a calculated projection. If that happens, he’ll tilt toward the boom side of that equation.

Walker is an athletic, chiseled alpha who took most of the season off, but showed up down the road against Notre Dame and reminded me what he’s truly capable of. On film, he flashes a quick first step and the ability to adjust in the pocket. Plus, he’s a heavy impact tackler.

It’s in there somewhere.

20. Tetairoa McMillan, Wide Receiver, University of Arizona

Total number of games evaluated = 19

This one is tricky.

Try to make him a team’s No. 1 receiver, he could end up failing.

Put him at slot receiver, and he will dominate, and he’s capable of catching 100+ passes a year.

Why’s that?

McMillan is a long-strider with good length who has average football playing speed, and he’s so-so on contested passes. That can and does present problems as an outside No. 1 receiver.

However, he’s a mismatch inside with his size, physicality, and strong hands. He also excels at being twitchy at the breakpoints while running those underneath routes.

Plus, he’s skilled at picking up yardage after the catch.

21-25

21. Kenneth Grant, Defensive Tackle, Michigan

Total number of games evaluated = 25

Imagine a cross between Eagles’ defensive tackles Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis, and you’re seeing Grant.

Playmaker

Elite athleticism

Inconsistent effort

There were times I thought I was falling in love, and times I felt like I was falling out of love, but in the end, Grant has a lot of tangible upside, and he had his share of pass-rushing hurries and run tackles for a loss. If it wasn’t for the dreaded inconsistencies, he’d be a top-10 value.

He’s one of the prospects that excites me the most. God knows, I love me some Jalen Carter and anyone who resembles him in any way.

22. Colston Loveland, Tight End, Michigan

Total number of games evaluated = 24

Loveland made a nice college career for himself with middling quarterbacks throwing him the ball at Michigan. Imagine if he had a top-15 NFL quarterback instead.

That’s where my mind wanders off to when I consider Loveland’s “weaknesses” of an occasional drop because of a lapse of concentration, a failed contested pass, or a route he ran that “looked sloppy.”

I wonder if these things would still be a problem with better throws ⎯timing and ball location ⎯with a better quarterback.

I don’t think so.

Loveland’s overall route running looked better and more sophisticated in this past season, and he continued to show he’s a solid blocker on another year on game film. It was enough for me to raise him on my board.

23. Azareye’h Thomas, Cornerback, FSU

Total number of games evaluated = 12

Thomas has a lanky frame and long arms. He plays faster than his timed 40, and he specializes in press-man coverage. That’s all good, but the thing that intrigues me most about him is his elite football IQ, which shows up on film.

Despite looking a tad robotic, having some technique inconsistencies and attracting a couple pass interference calls, He won me over.

24. Derrick Harmon, Defensive Tackle, Oregon

Total number of games evaluated = 24

Harmon went from disappointing game film in 2023 at Michigan State to affecting games and making me one of his fans at Oregon in 2024. I do believe it’s important Harmon ends up on a “good” NFL team, to keep him “motivated,” which is why he’s slotted in this spot.

What’s his best trait?

His closing speed in the pocket.

Harmon is one of the fastest defensive tackles I’ve evaluated from point A to the quarterback.

25. Josh Conerly Jr., Left Tackle, Oregon

Total number of games evaluated = 14

Quick.

That was my first impression of him on film.

What else jumped out?

His football smarts.

Conerly is a better pass protector than a run blocker, which is perfect going into a passing league. Granted, he guesses too much in pass protection, but he proved he’s able to do enough to recover with his high-level aggression and competitiveness.

26-32

26. Jihaad Campbell, Linebacker, Alabama

Total number of games evaluated = 13

The elephant in the room is his shoulder surgery he had following the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine.

Per MSN, “Teams are projecting him as a candidate to start his rookie season on the Physically Unable to Perform list in 2025, according to SI.com’s Albert Breer.”

What does he look like on game film?

A classic run-and-hit linebacker who flies all over the field and hits like a sledgehammer.

Whoever gets him needs to scheme him so he can do his thing with his instincts, because God forbid he has to read-and-react. He bites on play action and misdirection like he hasn’t eaten in days.

Is he worth the wait?

He is the best off-the-linebacker I’ve studied since jumping back into doing evaluations in 2021.

Yeah, I’d say so.

27. Princely Umanmielen, Edge, Ole Miss

Total number of games evaluated = 27

Umanmielen is the most polished pass rusher in the 2025 NFL Draft class.

That got everybody’s attention.

• Strong
• Opportunistic
• Instinctual
• Athletic
• Energentic
• Plays with a chip on his shoulder
• Good close

Weaknesses?

• Inconsistent first step
• Slight hip tightness
• Inconsistent shedding run blocks

I’ve now looked at him in three seasons of game film, and every time, I’ve found myself liking him more and more.

28. Landon Jackson, Edge, Arkansas

Total number of games evaluated = 20

If anyone in this draft has the look on his face of a pass rusher, it’s Jackson. Despite noticeable stiffness in his movements, he’s the most consistent edge in this draft class. He plays the pass and the run with the same intensity, and his coaches will love him because he’s disciplined to a fault. He’s less heralded, but he’s a force to be reckoned with, one that I believe will remind us of former NFL pass rushers Bryce Paup and Preston Smith when it’s all said and done.

29. TreVeyon Henderson, Running Back, Ohio State

Total number of games evaluated = 22

What do I like most about him?

He shows an electric burst and acceleration.

What other things do I like about him?

• Selflessness
• Home run hitting speed
• Determination
• High energy
• Good hands out of the backfield

Per The 33rd Team, Jeanty averaged the most yards after contact in 2024 (5.25), and Henderson came in second (4.43).

Not too shabby.

He has a slight tendency to try to get too fancy after taking the handoff, and that hesitation can cost him.

30. Deone Walker, Defensive Tackle, Kentucky

Total number of games evaluated = 23

I chicken scratched in my notes 71 times that Walker got double-teamed, and four times he got triple-teamed.

Needless to say, he gets a lot of attention and rightfully so. He’s 345 pounds of athleticism and man crashing into the offensive line.

Walker plays at a high pad-level and that’s part of his charm, and he’s inconsistent shedding run blocks, but make no mistake, he’s a powerful force to be reckoned with who shows he can take over games.

31. Armand Membou, Right Tackle, Missouri

Total number of games evaluated = 12

Fast.

That’s the word on Membou.

He has the fastest recovery step I’ve ever evaluated watching a right tackle in pass protection.

He also has an aggressive nature and plays with a defensive mentality on the offensive side of the ball.

Granted, his movements are so tight that it looks like his uniform is too small, and sometimes he gives up too soon on pass and run blocks, but other than that, he’s a good pick at this valuation.

32. Quinson Judkins, Running Back, Ohio State

Total number of games evaluated = 29

• Bullish runner
• Powerful leg drive
• Explosive initial speed
• Violent cut-back runner
• Decisive
• Energetic
• Dependable

He’s got some tightness to him, and he’s inconsistent winning the edge, but there’s a reason my affectionate nickname for him is “Ashton Jeanty Jr.”

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock, and has written for Sports Illustrated (Lions, Jets, and 49ers), NFL Draft Diamonds, and Yardbarker, as well as a featured guest on ESPN Radio and Fox Sports Radio. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. Follow on Twitter @firstroundmock.