After 257 picks, it’s a wrap for the 2025 NFL draft. Players landed with their new teams during a three-day run that saw surprising falls for a couple of top prospects.

Draft analysts Jordan Reid and Matt Miller have spent more than a year scouting this “meat and potatoes” class, and they each have thoughts to how things went down in Green Bay, Wisconsin. So, we asked them to break down the class in 28 categories, from best (and worst) picks to a few long-term predictions.

Who were the best value selections in each of the seven rounds? Which teams dominated and what were the best trades? Which picks surprised the most and what are the most ideal quarterback fits? And how should the Jaguars best utilize Travis Hunter? Reid and Miller tackle it all. Plus, they make Rookie of the Year predictions, standout classes, confusing slides, intriguing developmental prospects, undrafted free agents to know and big takeaways. Let’s get to it.

Jump to a section:
Big takeaway | Best pick | Future star
Travis Hunter | Best value | Best fits
Surprises | QBs | Team breakdown | Trades
Rookie of Year | Fantasy | Predictions

What was your biggest takeaway from the draft?

Miller: When scouting this class, we talked a lot about how deep this defensive line group was, and that showed through all seven rounds and 257 picks. From Abdul Carter at No. 3 to Fadil Diggs at No. 254, we saw 27 edge rushers and 30 defensive tackles come off the board. This class was praised for both its top-level talent and depth, and it proved to have exactly that.

Reid: There was a lot of discussion about the quality and depth of the running backs in this class, and NFL teams agreed. There were 25 running backs drafted. While that didn’t match the 31 rushers to which I had given a draftable grade, the frequency of backs being picked mirrored the depth that scouts talked about in the lead-up to this draft.

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What was your favorite pick of the entire draft?

Reid:Malaki Starks, S, Baltimore Ravens (No. 27 overall). Once again, the Ravens allowed the board to fall to them and simply took the best player available. Starks doesn’t play a position of immediate need, but the Ravens don’t bypass talent to reach for needs at certain positions. With the recent release of Marcus Williams, Starks could start right away at free safety and be another crucial performer for an already versatile secondary.

Miller:Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Jacksonville Jaguars (No. 2). It’s not just that Hunter was the No. 2 player on my board and even higher in Jordan’s rankings. The aggressive mentality first-year Jags GM James Gladstone showed to move up from No. 5 to land the most electric player in the draft particularly impressed me.

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Who is your guaranteed future NFL star of the class?

Miller:Abdul Carter, Edge, New York Giants (No. 3). Maybe I’m cheating by choosing the top player on my board, but I love his fit in New York thanks to his explosive ability and versatility. With defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II and edge Brian Burns also on this defensive line, Carter won’t have to deal with many double teams out of the gate.

Reid:Jahdae Barron, CB, Denver Broncos (No. 20). The Broncos’ defense was already loaded, and Barron makes it that much better. His ball skills, dependability, awareness and positional versatility will help him become the ultimate player. Barron’s instincts and ability to generate turnovers position him to be one of the best rookie defenders in this class.

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How should the Jaguars use Travis Hunter?

Reid: I believe Hunter should be a full-time cornerback, but the Jaguars will likely deploy him as a full-time receiver who is used sparingly at corner. When paired with second-year receiver Brian Thomas Jr., Hunter gives quarterback Trevor Lawrence a dynamic duo to help unlock Liam Coen’s new offense. But don’t be surprised if Hunter’s defensive snaps increase quickly, as Jacksonville intercepted only six passes in 2024.

Miller: Wide receiver. I’ve been consistent in my argument that he’s a playmaker who can score points and be an elite NFL wide receiver. This pick was made to support Lawrence; Hunter should start at receiver before getting time at cornerback.

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What was the best value pick in Round 1?

Miller:Jalon Walker, Edge, Atlanta Falcons (No. 15). Walker was my No. 5 prospect and the last blue-chip prospect in the draft, with a 94 grade on my board. Atlanta stole him when he started to slip and filled its biggest need — speed on defense.

Reid:Jihaad Campbell, LB, Philadelphia Eagles (No. 31). Howie Roseman does it again. Campbell was my No. 11 prospect, and the Eagles were able to get him after trading up one spot and surrendering a fifth-round pick. He slipped after undergoing shoulder surgery in March. Because of that, another great prospect falls into Philadelphia’s lap.

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What was the best value pick in Round 2?

Reid:Donovan Ezeiruaku, Edge, Dallas Cowboys (No. 44). The Cowboys stuck to their board and took the best defensive player available. The former Boston College edge rusher finished second in the FBS with 16.5 sacks last season and will bring a pass-rush presence to a thin edge rusher group.

Miller:Will Johnson, CB, Arizona Cardinals (No. 47). Getting Johnson at this spot represented a 40-pick value based on my predraft rankings. Johnson fills the Cardinals’ biggest need and has true All-Pro potential. That isn’t usually found in Round 2. There are long-term injury concerns but the reward on this pick could be the highest of any in this class.

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What was the best value pick in Round 3?

Miller:Azareye’h Thomas, CB, New York Jets (No. 73). Thomas was ranked No. 47 on my board but struggled in athletic testing in the predraft process. While it’s not surprising that his stock dropped, he can win at the line of scrimmage and is an elite competitor in press coverage.

Reid:Jaylin Noel, WR, Houston Texans (No. 79). I had Noel as my 68th-ranked prospect, so this was good value. He joins Iowa State teammate Jayden Higgins (Houston’s second-round pick) to give quarterback C.J. Stroud more options to throw to. Noel has dynamic ability and can fill the Tank Dell role for the Texans in 2025.

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What was the best value pick in Round 4?

Reid:CJ West, DT, San Francisco 49ers (No. 113). The 49ers continued to overhaul the defensive trenches on Day 3, adding West to first-round pick Mykel Williams and second-rounder Alfred Collins. West is a quick-footed pass rusher and firm run defender who was ranked No. 76 on my board.

Miller:Dylan Sampson, RB, Cleveland Browns (No. 126). Sampson is a home run hitter who set the Tennessee single-season rushing record last season (1,491 yards) and has proved in his outstanding ability as a slasher and outside runner. This is one of the steals of the draft, as I had Sampson as my No. 64 overall prospect.

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What was the best value pick in Round 5?

Miller:Marcus Mbow, G, New York Giants (No. 154). Mbow was graded as a late Round 2 or early Round 3 player on my board. He’s a talented developmental offensive lineman who has the athletic skills to shine in a zone-blocking scheme. He can be a starter if he adds power.

Reid:Shedeur Sanders, QB, Browns (No. 144). Sanders falling to Round 5 was arguably the story of this draft but he represents tremendous value for the Browns as my QB2 and No. 19 prospect. He was just too good to pass up. He now enters a crowded QB room that already includes Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett along with third-round pick Dillon Gabriel.

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What was the best value pick in Round 6?

Reid:Devin Neal, RB, New Orleans Saints (No. 184). Neal is an absolute steal here. Alvin Kamara is still the Saints’ lead back, but Neal can contribute as a runner and as a pass catcher. He is a smooth, efficient runner who can create explosive plays in multiple ways. He should play early in their rotation.

Miller:Kobe King, LB, Minnesota Vikings (No. 201). King is a run-and-chase linebacker who is tough for blockers to handle when he’s crashing downhill in the run game. He was graded as a fourth-rounder on my board thanks to his between-the-tackles toughness, so the Vikings received exceptional value selecting him toward the end of Round 6.

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What was the best value pick in Round 7?

Miller:Quinn Ewers, QB, Miami Dolphins (No. 231). Ewers came off the board much later than I expected. I don’t want to overhype a seventh-round pick, but the Dolphins need a reliable quarterback behind Tua Tagovailoa. Ewers has proved over the past three seasons that he can win and be a reliable point guard from under center.

Reid:Brashard Smith, RB, Kansas City Chiefs (No. 228). Getting Smith here is an absolute steal. I had a fifth-round grade on him, and he was one of my favorite backs in the class. Kansas City is a perfect spot for Smith, who is the type of gadget player that Andy Reid knows how to use.

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Who is your favorite prospect-to-team fit?

Reid:Omarion Hampton, RB, Los Angeles Chargers (No. 22). The Chargers continued to revamp their running back corps, adding Hampton with free agent signing Najee Harris. Hampton fits perfectly into Greg Roman’s offense with his physical running style, as the 6-foot, 220-pounder is a tackle breaker with receiving upside.

Miller:Malaki Starks, S, Baltimore Ravens (No. 27). Baltimore has an elite safety in Kyle Hamilton but wanted to add another versatile back end player who can lock up deep routes and play as a deep center fielder. Starks’ skill set as a deep safety and as someone who can play in the slot if needed is a perfect fit for the Ravens.

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Which pick surprised you most?

Miller:Carson Schwesinger, LB, Cleveland Browns (No. 33). The Browns needed a linebacker, but not with the first pick of Round 2. Schwesinger is a really good player, but Cleveland bypassed needs at receiver, quarterback, offensive tackle and cornerback for an off-ball linebacker.

Reid:Emeka Egbuka, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (No. 19). I didn’t foresee GM Jason Licht addressing wide receiver early in this draft because of the depth the Bucs already have at the position, with Mike Evans, Chris Godwin and Jalen McMillan leading the way. Now, Tampa’s depth chart is loaded.

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What is the best QB landing spot?

Reid:Jalen Milroe to the Seattle Seahawks. Milroe needed to go to a franchise where he wouldn’t be forced to play right away. He’ll be able to sit behind Sam Darnold and also could be used in packaged plays to get him involved in the run game. With no pressure to start immediately, he will have a chance to hone his dynamic running ability with his considerable arm strength to develop into a productive quarterback.

Miller:Jaxson Dart to the New York Giants. I didn’t love any of the quarterback fits, but Dart needed to go to a team where he could sit and learn from a proven quarterback developer. Coach Brian Daboll has that track record, and having Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston on the roster will allow Dart the time he needs to learn and grow.

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What is the most questionable QB landing spot?

Miller:Dillon Gabriel, QB, Cleveland Browns (No. 93). Drafting Gabriel toward the end of Round 3 was a head-scratcher based on value and was made even more confusing when the Browns added Shedeur Sanders in Round 5. Gabriel is a smart, experienced quarterback but he’s undersized (6-foot, 200 pounds) and enters a crowded QB room.

Reid: I agree with Matt on this one. I didn’t understand the logic behind the Gabriel selection Friday night and still don’t after having time to process it. There is a schematic fit, but the pick was premature. It seems even worse now that the Browns added Sanders, too.

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Predict the number of rookie QBs who will be starting by midseason.

Reid: One. The only QB scouts loved in this class was Cam Ward. Only two were drafted in the first round and the second (Jaxson Dart) will be behind veterans Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston. I expect Dart to sit the entire season to develop, so Ward will probably be the only rookie starter at the midpoint.

Miller: Two. The NFL didn’t think highly of this quarterback class, with only three selected in the top 40 picks. We shouldn’t expect many rookie starters, either. Ward will start in Tennessee and Tyler Shough could in New Orleans, but otherwise these quarterbacks will be developmental projects.

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Which team should have addressed — or better addressed — the QB position?

Miller:Pittsburgh Steelers. Pittsburgh waited until No. 185 in Round 6 before picking a quarterback, selecting Ohio State’s Will Howard. Despite leading the Buckeyes to the national championship last season, Howard doesn’t project as a starting-level NFL quarterback due to his limited arm strength. He has good running ability and high-end toughness, but he isn’t the starting-level quarterback the Steelers need.

Reid: I am also confused by what the Steelers did at quarterback. It was the biggest hole on their roster, as Mason Rudolph is currently projected to be their starter. While there are free agent options still out there (Aaron Rodgers), I thought the Steelers would pick a quarterback before the sixth round. Howard was graded as a mid-Day 3 pick, and I don’t think there’s much of a chance of him playing early.

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Which team produced your favorite class?

Reid:Carolina Panthers. Receiver, edge rusher and safety were their top needs entering the draft, and they addressed all of them in the first four rounds. Tetairoa McMillan was my highest-ranked receiver — he gives Bryce Young a true WR1. Princely Umanmielen and Nic Scourton provide Carolina with two young edge rushers. Lathan Ransom is a hard-hitting safety who can produce on the back end and special teams. Jimmy Horn Jr. was one of my favorite late-round receivers and could stick on the roster as a return specialist.

Miller:Philadelphia Eagles. They played the board beautifully once again in drafting highly productive players at positions of need. And one year after winning a Super Bowl with a dominant defense, they selected five defenders to start their draft. Kyle McCord is a fun add as a developmental quarterback in Round 6, too.

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Which team produced your least favorite class?

Miller:Miami Dolphins. Miami added two defensive tackles, which filled a need, but it didn’t address the secondary well enough in a draft that was set up for it to find a Jalen Ramsey successor and upgrade at safety. The Dolphins didn’t select a defensive back until Round 5 — an area of the draft that rarely produces rookie starters.

Reid:Cincinnati Bengals. The Bengals addressed needs at defensive line, linebacker and guard, but I thought they could have done better with those selections. Defensive tackle Derrick Harmon (who went at No. 21) would have been a better value pick than edge Shemar Stewart was at No. 17. Linebacker Demetrius Knight Jr. and guard Dylan Fairchild were selected a round earlier than I projected. I had Knight graded as a late third-round pick, while Fairchild was viewed as an early Day 3 prospect.

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Which team checked off the most needs?

Reid:Buffalo Bills. Defensive line and cornerback were the team’s two biggest needs, and it aggressively addressed both. First-rounder Maxwell Hairston and Day 3 picks Jordan Hancock and Dorian Strong are versatile defensive backs, while three of Buffalo’s first four picks — T.J. Sanders, Landon Jackson and Deone Walker — are defensive linemen.

Miller:New England Patriots. They started the draft checking off their needs — tackle, running back and wide receiver — in order on the first two days. Day 3 was equally solid, as they drafted defensive building blocks in safety Craig Woodson, defensive tackle Joshua Farmer and edge rusher Bradyn Swinson. These are culture-building players for new coach Mike Vrabel.

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What was your favorite in-draft trade?

Miller: The Seattle Seahawks trading up to pick No. 35 to select South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori early in Round 2. The Seahawks were aggressive in giving up pick Nos. 52 and 82, but they landed a top-20 player early in Round 2 and only surrendered a mid-third-rounder to do so. Emmanwori can be Mike Macdonald’s Kyle Hamilton.

Reid: The Los Angeles Rams adding a first-round pick in 2026 by trading down 20 picks this year. That lines up with a potential quarterback selection next year, as 37-year-old Matthew Stafford is near the end of his career. And if the Falcons have growing pains in Michael Penix Jr.’s first full season as a starter, the pick they traded away could land in the top 15.

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What was your least favorite in-draft trade?

Reid: The Detroit Lions trading up 32 spots to take receiver Isaac TeSlaa early in Round 3 was an overpay. Along with giving up their own third-round pick, Detroit also gave up an extra third-round pick in 2026. While I like TeSlaa, I don’t think he was worth the capital the organization surrendered.

Miller: The Atlanta Falcons gave up a ton — picks Nos. 46 and 242 this year plus a 2026 first-rounder — to jump back into Round 1 to draft edge rusher James Pearce Jr. at No. 26. Pearce is a good player and edge rusher was a need, but giving up a second-rounder this year and a first next year was extremely questionable.

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In five years, we’re all going to wonder why ___________ fell in the draft

Miller:Luther Burden III, WR, Chicago Bears (No. 39). I’ve pounded the table for him throughout this draft process. I think he’s a first-round talent, but the NFL disagreed and let him fall to Round 2. Now he gets to work with second-year quarterback Caleb Williams and new coach Ben Johnson in a scheme and role that’s perfect for him.

Reid:Josh Simmons, OT, Kansas City Chiefs (No. 31). Simmons might have been the first lineman off the board if it wasn’t for his torn left patellar tendon. But even with the injury, I think we’re going to wonder why more teams weren’t willing to take an early chance on him. He has a great chance to quickly overtake left tackle Jaylon Moore or right tackle Jawaan Taylor.

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Make your early call for Offensive Rookie of the Year.

Reid:Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Carolina Panthers. I’m a big believer in McMillan’s fit with Bryce Young. McMillan’s catch radius will instantly make him the go-to receiver for the Panthers. He also has the formational versatility to play multiple spots and can fill the role Mike Evans had in Dave Canales‘ offense in 2023, when Canales was the Buccaneers’ offensive coordinator.

Miller:Ashton Jeanty, RB, Las Vegas Raiders. Jeanty would have been my pick regardless of who drafted him, but I love how he fits Chip Kelly’s offense. The Raiders also lack a perimeter wide receiver who scares offenses, meaning Jeanty will be heavily featured until an outside threat emerges.

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Make your early call for Defensive Rookie of the Year.

Miller:Jahdae Barron, CB, Denver Broncos. The Defensive Rookie of the Year generally goes to a pass rusher or a cornerback who racks up stats. Barron had five picks last season at Texas and will be playing opposite Pat Surtain II, the NFL’s best corner. He should have plenty of opportunities for the picks that could lead to an award-winning season.

Reid:Abdul Carter, Edge, New York Giants. I’m going to go with Carter here because he steps into a situation where he can have a huge impact. Dexter Lawrence II, Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux will command plenty of attention, which will allow Carter to thrive.

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Predict one rookie who will win you fantasy leagues in 2024.

Reid:Ashton Jeanty, RB, Las Vegas Raiders. This was an easy choice. Jeanty will be an early pick because he steps into an offense in dire need of playmakers save tight end Brock Bowers. He will become Las Vegas’ primary rusher right away and also can be used in the passing game.

Miller:TreVeyon Henderson, RB, New England Patriots. Henderson’s ability as a receiver and pass protector offers him a unique opportunity to get onto the field early — something many rookie running backs don’t have. Henderson’s outside speed and expected receiving production make him my favorite non-Jeanty back in fantasy.

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Name one developmental pick to watch

Miller:Myles Hinton, OT, Philadelphia Eagles (No. 191). I’m a fan of Hinton’s potential and physical skills, and the former Stanford and Michigan offensive tackle will now attend “Stoutland U” under famed Eagles line coach Jeff Stoutland. He’ll sit and learn behind Lane Johnson and could be Philadelphia’s right tackle or right guard of the future.

Reid:Emery Jones Jr., G, Baltimore Ravens (No. 143). This was a regular pairing in my mock drafts, as it made too much sense. Projected as an NFL guard, Jones’ physicality and tone-setting mentality fit perfectly in Baltimore. He still needs to improve his balance and hand timing, but he has starter-level traits with proper development.

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Make one prediction about this class for five years from now

Reid: The running back class will live up to the hype and prove to be the best position group in this class. Ashton Jeanty and Omarion Hampton will emerge as instant impact prospects, but the value in this class will be talked about when players such as Quinshon Judkins (Browns) and Kaleb Johnson (Steelers) prove to be productive starters during their rookie contract.

Miller: We’ll look back on this draft as the spark that continued the Eagles’ NFC dominance. The Eagles doubled down on defense, and given the team’s track record of hitting on starters while also developing later-round picks, it’s exciting to think about what guys such as linebacker Jihaad Campbell, safety Andrew Mukuba and defensive tackle Ty Robinson can become.