2025 NFL Draft Big Board: B/R NFL Scouting Dept.'s Initial Top 30 Players

The makeup of the 2025 class is different than what anyone has seen in recent years, and the Bleacher Report Scouting Department's initial draft board reflects that reality.

No quarterback, pass-rusher or even offensive tackle resides at the very top. In fact, there are as many tight ends and running backs as projected left tackle prospects on B/R's top 30. However, the rankings start with arguably the most intriguing hybrid that the draft process has ever seen.

After college football's first month of play, the site's scouting staff sat down to determine how next April's draft could look while overall evaluations remain ongoing. The group also provided insight into why certain prospects are rated where they are. Mainly, this draft board serves as a preliminary guideline for what's to follow.

Brandon Thorn: Brandon is the author of the Trench Warfare newsletter, which focuses exclusively on offensive and defensive line evaluation. He also contributes as an analyst for Establish the Run and serves as the scouting coordinator for OL Masterminds.

Dame Parson: Dame is the lead host of the Locked On NFL Draft podcast. He also spent nearly three years as a senior draft analyst for The Draft Network while evaluating draft prospects as the founder of The Scouting Room.

Cory Giddings: Cory has experience working at varying levels of football, both in coaching and player evaluation. In recent years, he has worked with the New York Giants and multiple collegiate programs.

Matt Holder: Matt played college football, worked in college recruiting and is a Scouting Academy graduate. He has covered the NFL draft since 2019 and also writes about the Las Vegas Raiders for SB Nation's Silver and Black Pride.

Brent Sobleski: Brent serves as an NFL analyst for Bleacher Report. He's covered the draft for multiple outlets since the 2004 class, including 11 seasons with B/R.

Grading Scale

10: Generational Talent/No. 1 Overall

9.5-9.9: Top-Five Prospect

9.0-9.4: Top-10 Prospect

8.5-8.9: Immediate Impact Prospect / 1st Round

8.0-8.4: Year 1 Starter / Late 1st-2nd Round

7.5-7.9: Potential Impact Player / 2nd Round

7.0-7.4: High-Level Backup / Potential Starter / 3rd Round

6.5-6.9: Potential Role Player / 4th Round

6.0-6.4: Developmental Prospect / 5th Round

5.5-5.9: Backup/Draftable / 6th-7th Round

5.0-5.4: Backup/UDFA with Roster Potential / UDFA

4.0-4.9: Developmental Prospect / UDFA

3.0-3.9: Training Camp Body / UDFA

Grades for each player were assigned by the following scouts:

Dame Parson: QBs, RBs, WRs and Receiving TEs

Brandon Thorn: Blocking TEs, OTs, OGs and Centers

Matt Holder: DL, Edge and LBs

Cory Giddings: CBs and Safeties

Ties in grades were broken through roundtable discussions among the four scouts.

1. CB/WR Travis Hunter, Colorado (9.2)
2. DL Mason Graham, Michigan (9.1)
3. WR Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona (9.0)
4. S Malaki Starks, Georgia (8.9)
5. CB Will Johnson, Michigan (8.8)
6. QB Cameron Ward, Miami (8.7)
7. WR Luther Burden III, Missouri (8.7)
8. RB Ashton Jeanty, Boise State (8.7)
9. Edge James Pearce Jr., Tennessee (8.6)
10. IOL Will Campbell, LSU (8.6)
11. QB Shedeur Sanders, Colorado (8.6)
12. TE Colston Loveland, Michigan (8.6)
13. QB Carson Beck, Georgia (8.5)
14. CB Benjamin Morrison, Notre Dame (8.3)
15. WR Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State (8.3)
16. TE Harold Fannin Jr., Bowling Green (8.2)
17. RB Quinshon Judkins, Ohio State (8.2)
18. Edge Nic Scourton, Texas A&M (8.1)
19. DL Deone Walker, Kentucky (8.0)
20. OT Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas (8.0)
21. Edge Abdul Carter, Penn State (7.9)
22. CB Denzel Burke, Ohio State (7.9)
23. OT Josh Simmons, Ohio State (7.9)
24. LB Jalon Walker, Georgia (7.9)
25. Edge Mykel Williams, Georgia (7.8)
26. S Malachi Moore, Alabama (7.8)
27. DL Tyleik Williams, Ohio State (7.8)
28. CB Tacario Davis, Arizona (7.8)
29. IOL Tyler Booker, Alabama (7.7)
30. CB Mansoor Delane, Virginia Tech (7.7)

Scouted by Dame Parson

1. Cameron Ward, Miami (8.7)

2. Shedeur Sanders, Colorado (8.6)

3. Carson Beck, Georgia (8.5)

Up Next: Jalen Milroe, Alabama

Explain the Grade: Cameron Ward, Miami

At this point in the process, Ward is QB1 over Colorado's Shedeur Sanders and Georgia's Carson Beck. Why? Ward is physically superior with specific raw tools, like arm strength and athleticism. He makes throws from different platforms and multiple arm angles that most quarterbacks cannot. Ward's accuracy and ball placement are on par with Sanders and Beck, but with a stronger physical skill set. As such, his ceiling should be viewed as higher.

The two-time transfer plays with a level of confidence that borders "cocky," but it factors into his teams never being out of a game. Simply put, Ward has superstar tools and abilities for the next level. His concerns are coachable, but his natural abilities are not.

Scouted by Dame Parson

1. Ashton Jeanty, Boise State (8.7)

2. Quinshon Judkins, Ohio State (8.2)

Up Next: Kaleb Johnson, Iowa

Explain the Grade: Ashton Jeanty, Boise State

Running backs DO matter, and Jeanty is here to prove as much.

The junior prospect is one of the best players in college football, regardless of position. Jeanty's skill set combines vision, patience, footwork and elite contact balance. He is rarely brought down on first contact. What he's done to start this season (through four games) has been sheer brilliance. The 20-year-old could be a top 7-10 runner in the NFL today. Obviously, he holds a high first-round grade.

Scouted by Dame Parson

1. Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona (9.0)

2. Luther Burden III, Missouri (8.7)

3. Emeka Egbuka, Ohio State (8.3)

Up Next: Tre Harris, Ole Miss

Explain the Grade: Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona

McMillan has owned the WR1 title since this summer scouting. He's not surrendered the title despite impressive performances from his counterparts. McMillan is one of the top-five prospects for the 2025 NFL draft. He provides NFL X-receiver size (6'5", 212 lbs), strength, and ball skills. McMillan is a fluid mover and route-runner who can create yards after the catch. He is an easy target with alignment versatility. McMillan remains at the top of the positional rankings.

Scouted by Dame Parson

1. Colston Loveland, Michigan (8.6)

2. Harold Fannin Jr., Bowling Green (8.2)

Up Next: Tyler Warren, Penn State

Explain the Grade: Harold Fannin Jr., Bowling Green

Entering the season, Fannin wasn't a household name. Five weeks into the season and coming off three consecutive 100-yard receiving games, he's a top tight end prospect. Fannin dominated Penn State's and Texas A&M's defenses for a combined 336 yards receiving. His speed in the open field, combined with alignment versatility, is impressive.

Fannin wins in multiple ways that translate to the NFL. He is not solely a receiving threat but also a willing and reliable run-blocker. Multiple NFL organizations should be excited to add his playmaking ability to their passing attack for the 2025 season.

Scouted by Brandon Thorn

1. Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas (8.0)

2. Josh Simmons, Ohio State (7.9)

Up Next: Aireontae Ersery, Minnesota

Explain the Grade: Kelvin Banks Jr.

Banks shows good athletic ability, impressive body control and use of hands as a pass protector with flashes of being an impactful run-blocker on combo blocks. These traits allow him to match up well with most competition off the edge, get to his spot on time and protect the corner. He is also a net positive in Texas' multiple run game by getting into proper fits on doubles and effectively tracking targets on the move.

Concerns stem from mediocre play-strength and inconsistent footwork in the run game that leads to a wide base, leaving him vulnerable to falling off blocks quickly after initial contact, especially to the push-pull technique. Despite streaky sustain skills as a run-blocker and some questions anchoring against power in pass pro, his movement skills and efficient hands make him a chore for speed-rushers and an asset intersecting second- and third-level defenders in the run game.

Scouted by Brandon Thorn

1. Will Campbell, LSU (8.6)

2. Tyler Booker, Alabama (7.7)

Up Next: Jonah Savaiinaea, Arizona

Explain the Grade: Will Campbell, LSU

Campbell is the most polished blocker in the country, regardless of position. With an uncanny ability to sync his hands and feet to strike defenders on time, with pop and having the balance to sustain, he routinely makes impact blocks, finishes defenders to the ground and rarely loses a rep on film through the first five games.

The main question is whether he can replicate his level of effectiveness and command at the NFL level at tackle due to subpar arm length and what looks like solid, not great range that can throw off his set points against widely aligned rushers with effective counters.

This line of questioning leads to a natural progression of projecting him inside to guard or center where the concerns would be largely mitigated, allowing the host of other strengths in his game to shine. There is also plenty of precedent for an outstanding collegiate left tackle with minor length/range questions kicking inside as a pro and being a Pro Bowl-caliber starter, which is a label that looks apt for Campbell.

Scouted by Matt Holder

1. Mason Graham, Michigan (9.1)

2. Deone Walker, Kentucky (8.0)

3. Tyleik Williams, Ohio State (7.8)

Up Next: Kenneth Grant, Michigan

Explain the Grade: Mason Graham, Michigan

If it weren't for his lack of top-tier length, Graham would be in the discussion with Jalen Carter for the best defensive tackle prospect to enter the draft in recent years. Graham combines strength and mass to be a strong run defender along with quickness and athleticism to be an effective pass-rusher. Also, the Michigan product has shown up in several big games over the last two seasons, suggesting he's ready for the bright lights of the NFL.

Scouted by Matt Holder

1. James Pearce Jr., Tennessee (8.6)

2. Nic Scourton, Texas A&M (8.1)

3. Abdul Carter, Penn State (7.9)

4. Mykel Williams, Georgia (7.8)

Up Next: Landon Jackson, Arkansas

Explain the Grade: James Pearce Jr., Tennessee

Pearce has a good blend of strength and athleticism to be an effective edge-rusher and the best one in this year's draft class. The problem is he's very reliant on using his natural gifts to win and lacks technique. Tennessee having so many blowouts to begin the season hasn't helped improve his draft stock, as he hasn't gotten much playing time to show enough growth to earn a top-five or top-10 grade. Also, Pearce has plenty of work to do as a run defender. At the end of the day, the Volunteer has the most potential in this year's edge class, but that remains unrealized before he enters the same category of someone like Will Anderson Jr., who was a slam-dunk top-three pick.

Scouted by Matt Holder

1. Jalon Walker, Georgia (7.9)

Up Next: Danny Stutsman, Oklahoma

Explain the Grade: Jalon Walker, Georgia

Walker's evaluation is still fluid as his best position at the next level is a question. His game is somewhat reminiscent of Haason Reddick's coming out of Temple where the Georgia product is an impressive edge-rusher with the athleticism to line up as an off-ball backer. That's basically the role the Bulldogs have been using him in this season, so it might take a creative defensive coordinator to maximize his skill set.

Scouted by Cory Giddings

1. Travis Hunter, Colorado (9.2)

2. Will Johnson, Michigan (8.8)

3. Benjamin Morrison, Notre Dame (8.3)

4. Denzel Burke, Ohio State (7.9)

5. Tacario Davis, Arizona (7.8)

6. Mansoor Delane, Virginia Tech (7.7)

Up Next: Jahdae Barron, Texas

Explain the Grade: Travis Hunter, Colorado

Each week, Hunter continues to impress on both sides of the ball. Between his highlight-reel catches on offense and outstanding awareness on defense, he continues to prove he should still be in the conversation for the No. 1 overall pick.

It still remains to be seen on which side of the ball NFL teams see his game translating best—which can and will vary from franchise to franchise.

As a college player, he's been dominant on both sides. He still has some things to clean up technically from the defensive side of the ball. However, we haven't seen a player with his potential upside.

Scouted by Cory Giddings

1. Malaki Starks, Georgia (8.9)

2. Malachi Moore, Alabama (7.8)

Up Next: Nick Emmanwori, South Carolina

Explain the Grade: Malachi Moore, Alabama

Moore may not present the same pure upside as Georgia's Malaki Starks, but he still finds himself in the first-round mix. The senior is an athletic defensive back with very good length, size (6'0", 201 lbs) and the ability to play all three levels of the defense at a high level.

Moore thrives in coverage, displaying quick twitch and the ball skills necessary to compete on the back end. Though the safety relies on his athleticism in the pass game, he shows the willingness as a run defender, using his size to play close to the box.

If Moore continues his current trajectory, he will remain among the class' elite defensive backs.