The 2025 NFL draft is both only eight months and still an eternity away.
The former description is literal, as the countdown to Round 1 -- April 24 in Green Bay, Wisconsin -- is on. The latter is a reference to the fact the 2024 college football season, which is getting into full swing with Week 1 action, can alter so much. To that end, keep in mind the following rankings will be subject to change and will be updated throughout the season. And players will continue to rise and fall during the pre-draft process, which includes all-star events, the combine and pro days.
But for now, here are my top 25 prospects for the 2025 class -- the best draft-eligible players whom I have studied so far. We get started with three defensive standouts. (Underclassmen are marked with an asterisk.)
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Yates' preseason mock draft
1. James Pearce Jr., Edge, Tennessee*
Height: 6-foot-5 | Weight: 243 pounds
The class is loaded with defensive line talent, but no prospect at the position has as much upside as Pearce. His first-step quickness makes him borderline unblockable. And while he will make his money as a pass rusher in the NFL, his fluidity to drop into coverage on occasion also stands out. Pearce posted 10 sacks, 47 pressures and two forced fumbles in 2023 to go along with a highlight-reel 52-yard interception return for a touchdown.
2. Mykel Williams, Edge, Georgia*
Height: 6-5 | Weight: 265
Williams joins Pearce at the top of the heap, as the fellow true junior blends rare power and length. Williams' ability to set the edge and lock out offensive tackles helps reduce the field width for the Georgia defense, and he can fire out of his stance as a pass rusher to cause havoc. Given Georgia's depth and scheme, he has not been asked as frequently to pin his ears back and just rush, so his nine career sacks through two seasons isn't too surprising.
3. Will Johnson, CB, Michigan*
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 202
Johnson is basically a human blanket, as the Michigan standout checks every box you are looking for in a pro cornerback. He has an elite frame for the position with outstanding reaction traits that allow him to mirror receivers of all sizes and speeds. Plus, I see great ball skills that help him win at the catch point (seven interceptions over two seasons). Given the depth of talent on the Michigan roster in 2023, it was hard for teams to avoid throwing in a specific direction, but with multiple secondary players off to the NFL, Johnson could be avoided frequently this season. He's special.
4. Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas*
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 320
The race for OT1 in this class should be a fun one, but I have Banks holding the spot right now after he closed the 2023 season with some dominant tape for the Longhorns. There is a lot to like about Banks, including his can't-miss size and power. Banks is 320 pounds, yet has the body control and footwork to hold up in pass protection. He allowed just two sacks over the past two seasons, which included 27 starts. (As an aside: Banks' projected tackle mate Cameron Williams is a breakout candidate.)
5. Carson Beck, QB, Georgia*
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 220
Beck shined in his debut season as the Bulldogs' starting QB, finishing third in FBS in passing yards (3,941) and fourth in completion percentage (72.4%) while helping guide Georgia to a 13-0 start to the season. Beck is a long and smooth passer from the pocket who has laser accuracy and great touch to all levels of the field. He is controlled and balanced, and he plays with good anticipation as a thrower. Over 26 college games, he has 30 TD passes to eight interceptions.
6. Mason Graham, DT, Michigan*
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 320
Graham is a disruptive force for Michigan, and his impact should not be solely viewed through the lens of the stats (three sacks last season). He has incredible quickness off the ball and the ability to live behind the line of scrimmage. Plus, Graham has very good size and was at his best in key moments for the Wolverines in 2023.
7. Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 215
Sanders is one of the purest throwers of the football that you will study in this class, as he is surgical passing from the pocket with a cannon arm and incredible accuracy (69.3% completion rate last season). He is capable of completing throws that many other quarterbacks wouldn't even attempt, and he threw just three interceptions in 2023. The evaluation on Sanders behind the Colorado offensive line has been tricky (tied for the FBS-high with 52 sacks taken last season), but with time and space to throw, he'll pick any defensive look apart.
8. Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona*
Height: 6-5 | Weight: 210
While the 2025 class of wide receivers is not likely to stand as tall as the 2024 group, it still has some serious high-end talent. McMillan is the most complete I have seen at the position so far, as he has elite hands, runs precise routes, plays with great feel and is powerful after the catch. Despite his massive frame, he also shows the versatility to operate out of the slot when needed. After registering 1,402 yards and 10 scores last season, he's a difference-maker.
9. Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado*
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 185
There isn't a more natural playmaker in college football than Hunter, as the dual threat for Colorado makes difficult things look easy from both his wide receiver and cornerback alignments. He has such amazing hands and instincts, allowing him to thrive on either side of the ball, along with tremendous endurance to hold up over four quarters with snap counts north of 100 in most games. He caught five TDs last season on offense and picked off three passes on defense.
Travis Hunter puts a ridiculous spin move on his defender en route to the touchdown.
10. Will Campbell, OT, LSU*
Height: 6-6 | Weight: 320
Campbell has had a lot of responsibility thrown on him from Day 1 of his college career, as he has started for LSU since the season-opening game of his true freshman career and held down Jayden Daniels' blind side for two seasons. Campbell has great size and is a very well-proportioned player for the left tackle spot. He needs to be more consistent, but his high-upside tools are obvious.
11. Nic Scourton, Edge, Texas A&M*
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 285
Scourton spent his first two college seasons at Purdue, which included leading the Big Ten in sacks in 2023 (10). He is unbelievably powerful, with jaw-dropping raw strength and dimensions. He matches his power with a lightning-quick get off and pursuit skills. Scourton is only 19 years old, so I think he has a chance to rise even further up these rankings with a good season.
12. Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame*
Height: 6-0 | Weight: 190
If you're searching for a cornerback who is up for the challenge of meeting an opposing No. 1 wideout head-on, Morrison is the pick. He is a great man coverage player, combining speed, fluidity, ball skills and timing at the catch point to disrupt a ton of passes (13 pass breakups in 2023). Morrison's fearless nature shows up a lot on tape.
13. Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri*
Height: 5-11 | Weight: 208
My best way to describe Burden is he is inevitable. He isn't the biggest or fastest wide receiver, but he just finds space and makes things happen with the football in his hands. He's a powerful route runner who generates separation and plays with force after the catch. And Burden can do damage at all levels of the passing tree, shown by his 1,212 receiving yards and nine TDs last season.
14. Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 205
Starks is a unique safety in that he can do it all, showing the versatility to patrol the deep middle of the field, hover over the slot, hold up in man coverage or even play physically in the box. He plays with great vision and diagnosis skills, allowing him to cover extensive ground on each and every snap. Starks has 114 tackles and five picks over two seasons.
15. JT Tuimoloau, Edge, Ohio State
Height: 6-5 | Weight: 269
There was a feeling Tuimoloau could have been a first-round pick in 2024 if he had declared for this year's draft, but Ohio State got a huge boost when he decided to return for another season. JTT fires out of his stance with a real ability to bend the edge and get underneath opposing offensive tackles, playing with a relentless rush approach. He has excellent instincts, too, as was evidenced by his two interceptions back in 2022.
16. Abdul Carter, Edge, Penn State
Height: 6-3 | Weight: 259
Carter is in some ways still a projection. While he has already put together good tape as an inside linebacker, he will be featured on the edge this season for the Nittany Lions -- who saw both Chop Robinson and Adisa Isaac get drafted this past April. He's quick and sudden, with the pursuit skills to be a force behind the line of scrimmage (22 pressures and 4.5 sacks last season at LB).
17. Emery Jones Jr., OT, LSU*
Height: 6-6 | Weight: 322
The Tigers have a real shot to see both of their starting offensive tackles taken in the first round. Jones -- who plays right tackle and has more than 1,500 career snaps there -- is further along as a run blocker than pass protector right now, but that run blocking really stands out on tape. He is a body-mover who plays with a serious mean streak.
18. Harold Perkins Jr., LB, LSU*
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 220
Perkins is expected to move back to inside linebacker this season after playing more of an edge role in 2023, a move that should help his pro stock. Perkins has sideline-to-sideline range, the ability to be a coverage player in both man and zone, the tenacity to be an on-ball playmaker (seven forced fumbles in two seasons) and the explosion to be a pass rusher when needed (13 career sacks).
19. Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas*
Height: 6-2 | Weight: 210
Ewers can carve a defense from the pocket, and he finished the 2023 season with 3,479 passing yards, 22 TD throws and six interceptions. He doesn't have top-notch arm strength, but he processes well and fits the football into tight windows in the intermediate passing game at a very high level. Ewers can find his way around the pocket and throw from a variety of different arm angles, too. He has a ton of experience (22 starts) and has shown a lot of growth in his career already.
20. Jonah Savaiinaea, G/OT, Arizona
Height: 6-5 | Weight: 330
There are physically imposing offensive linemen, and then there is Savaiinaea, who dominates at the point of attack with his massive frame. He has played at both right guard and right tackle at the collegiate level and projects to play capably at either spot in the NFL. The second Savaiinaea gets his hands on a defender, it's over. He has allowed just two sacks over 25 starts.
21. Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan*
Height: 6-5 | Weight: 245
In what projects to be a deeper class of tight ends compared to 2024, Loveland is the early favorite to be taken first at the position. He's silky smooth as a route runner with superb hands and the ability to do his damage from several different alignments. I expect him to have an even larger role in Michigan's offense this season following the departure of several offensive playmakers to the NFL. Loveland caught 45 balls for 649 yards and four scores in 2023.
J.J. McCarthy hits Colston Loveland for a 22-yard touchdown as Michigan extends their lead over Michigan State.
22. Denzel Burke, CB, Ohio State
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 193
Burke was on my radar to declare for the 2024 draft, but he ultimately joined several other high-profile players in opting to return to a loaded Ohio State squad. Burke has this electric ability to trigger out of his back pedal and drive on the football, making him a threat for a pass breakup any time the football is thrown his way -- hence the 24 pass breakups over three years. He can really run, and you can see his confidence pop off the tape.
23. Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State
Height: 6-1 | Weight: 205
A massive season is ahead for Egbuka, who now has his best chance yet to shine as a featured receiver for the Buckeyes after playing alongside megastars for the first three seasons of his career. He had a 74-catch, 10-touchdown season in 2022, and a similar workload could be in store in 2024 after injuries derailed his 2023 campaign. He's a dynamic route runner who is so good after the catch and can be Mr. Reliable for Ohio State in terms of catching everything that comes his way and making clutch plays.
24. Deone Walker, DT, Kentucky*
Height: 6-6 | Weight: 345
Walker is a really fun player to study. He is huge but still a nimble mover, consistently wreaking havoc with his quickness. He had a dominant 2023 season with 7.5 sacks, 39 pressures and 11.5 tackles for loss. His sheer size and agility combination makes him a tantalizing pro, and he's also one of the most respected people in the Kentucky program.
25. Tacario Davis, CB, Arizona*
Height: 6-4 | Weight: 195
I can't seem to watch enough of Davis. He's one of the most unique cornerbacks in college football, standing 6-foot-4 (rare for the position) and showing smooth movement traits. Davis is instinctive with precise timing and technique to be a ball disruptor when it is thrown in his direction, too. He had a breakthrough season in 2023, recording 14 pass breakups, tied for fourth most among all FBS players.