There has been a lot of talk about the 2025 NFL draft class and its wide range of positional strengths.

For instance, after five quarterbacks were drafted among the top 12 picks last year, this class is expected to take a step back. ESPN’s Scouts Inc. has only four quarterbacks ranked in the top 50. When was the last time a QB class looked like this?

Meanwhile, the running back group is expected to have a revival after only one was selected through the first two rounds last year. The 2025 group — led by Scouts Inc.’s No. 5 player and Heisman Trophy finalist Ashton Jeanty — has 11 RBs ranked in the top 100. When was the last time we saw a running back class this deep?

One way to illustrate the strengths or weaknesses of a draft’s top position groups is by comparing them to past classes. I gave a historical comp for five position groups — quarterback, wide receiver, running back, defensive tackle and edge rusher — based on the tape, combine and early evaluations. A reminder: Comps aren’t always exact and don’t necessarily suggest the class or prospect will share the same level of success (for better or worse).

The first draft I covered was in 2002, so this exercise is a bit of a walk down memory lane. And multiple positions in this year’s class are virtually exact reminders of groups from previous years. Let’s start with the QB group, which takes us back nearly a decade.

Jump to a position:
QB | RB | WR | DT | Edge

Quarterback

Comp: 2016 class

The 2025 quarterback class is living in the shadow of 2024, which could be one of the best groups ever. Miami’s Cam Ward is the top QB prospect this year, but he has the same grade that I gave last year to J.J. McCarthy, my fourth-ranked QB in 2024 and the fifth one selected. If these two were in the same class, Ward’s superior production and experience would likely give him the edge on the overall board, but he’d still rank behind the top three quarterbacks drafted in 2024 (Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye).

However, the potential for the 2025 class isn’t as bad as that of the 2022 class, when the Steelers took Kenny Pickett at No. 20 and the next three quarterbacks came off the board in the third round.

The 2016 class is the best comp for this group. That year, Jared Goff went No. 1, Carson Wentz went No. 2 and Paxton Lynch went No. 26. Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders is the second-ranked signal-caller this year and my No. 14 overall player, but he could go much earlier and reward a team for putting its faith in him. He can pick defenses apart when he gets into a rhythm, and his toughness is outstanding.

Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart has climbed during the pre-draft process and could potentially go in the first round, too. So like 2016, the 2025 group appears to only have three potential first-rounders followed by a cluster of middle round picks.

The 2016 class produced a fourth-round pick who turned into a starter in Dak Prescott, as well as a third-round pick who turned into a valuable backup in Jacoby Brissett. And looking at this year’s group, Louisville’s Tyler Shough, Alabama’s Jalen Milroe, Ohio State’s Will Howard and Texas’ Quinn Ewers all have the potential to develop into effective starters and backups from outside Round 1.

Running back

Comp: 2017 class

The idea of five first-round running backs (like in 2008) or two top-10 backs (like in 2017) seems absurd now with how teams have devalued the position. But those two classes are decent matches for the 2025 class. The position is loaded, and the chances of three RBs going in the first round this year improved after the combine. Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty, North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton and Ohio State’s TreVeyon Henderson all rank in Scouts Inc.’s top 32, marking the most RBs ranked that high since 2018.

There are also currently 11 backs in Scouts Inc.’s top 100, marking the most since 2008. But we won’t see five of them picked on Day 1, as we did in 2008. So I think the best comp for this year’s group is the outstanding 2017 class that saw Leonard Fournette drafted at No. 4 and Christian McCaffrey selected at No. 8. Yes, it’s unlikely two backs will get drafted in the top 10, but Jeanty is the No. 5 overall player and Hampton is at No. 12 in Scouts Inc.’s rankings. Only seven backs went in the top 100 in 2017, but James Conner, Samaje Perine, Jamaal Williams and Aaron Jones were among them. Those are some solid playmakers.

There are also some fun player-to-player comps between these classes. Jeanty compares favorably to Saints third-rounder Alvin Kamara. Both are average size — Jeanty weighed 211 pounds and Kamara weighed 214 at their respective combines — but they have outstanding contact balance and excel at breaking tackles. Both also showed they could be productive receivers in college. Jeanty caught 80 passes in three seasons at Boise State, and Kamara caught 74 passes in two seasons at Tennessee.

In addition, 2017 second-round pick Joe Mixon is a good comp for Hampton. Listed at 6-foot-1 and 226 pounds at Oklahoma, Mixon ran an unofficial 4.43-second 40-yard dash at his pro day. Hampton, who measured at 6-foot, 221 pounds, ran a 4.41-second 40 in Indianapolis earlier this month. That’s rare speed for that size. And that combination of power and explosiveness shows up on tape for both guys. Mixon — who was drafted by the Bengals — was more of a target in the passing game in college than the pros, but Hampton has the tools to make an even greater impact than Mixon as a pass catcher.

Finally, you can see a lot of Chiefs third-round pick Kareem Hunt‘s game in Kansas running back Devin Neal. They aren’t going to blow you away with their size and speed — Hunt weighed 216 pounds and ran a 4.62 at the combine, while Neal weighed 213 and ran a 4.58 — but both were highly productive in college. Hunt rushed for 4,945 yards and 44 touchdowns, and Neal ran for 4,343 yards and 49 touchdowns. Both also flashed as receivers, each catching more than 70 passes in college.

Wide receiver

Comp: 2016 class

Let’s start with a disclaimer: The consensus on Colorado’s Travis Hunter is that he will be a cornerback who plays receiver in certain situations. So for the sake of this class comp, I will not include him among this year’s receiver class.

Scouts Inc. currently has two receivers ranked in the top 32 — Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan and Texas’ Matthew Golden — and my colleague Jordan Reid had three going in the first round in his latest mock draft. No fewer than four have been taken in Round 1 since 2019 (when two were selected).

There are only 10 receivers in Scouts Inc.’s top 100, which would be the fewest to go in the top 100 since 2018 (also 10).

I struggled with finding a comp for this class but settled on 2016. Corey Coleman, Will Fuller V, Josh Doctson and Laquon Treadwell went on Day 1 that year. It wouldn’t surprise me if four WRs went this year, too.

After McMillan and Golden, Iowa State’s Jayden Higgins and Ohio State’s Emeka Egbuka are 34th and 36th, respectively, in Scouts Inc.’s rankings. Higgins put up big numbers over the past two seasons and is coming off an outstanding combine workout. At 6-foot-4 and 214 pounds, he ran a 4.47-second 40-yard dash, and his 1.53 10-yard split was outstanding for a receiver. Egbuka didn’t run at the combine, but he broke Ohio State’s record with 202 career catches and projects as a first-round pick in many mock drafts.

I also remember 2016 had some smaller receivers with outstanding top-end speed. Coleman, Fuller, fifth-rounder Tyreek Hill and sixth-rounder Jakeem Grant Sr. all weighed less than 200 pounds and/or measured shorter than 6-foot. But all of them also ran sub-4.4s in the 40-yard dash at either the combine or their respective pro days. Nine receivers with those size parameters ran sub-4.4s in the 40 at this year’s combine, most notably Golden, Iowa State’s Jaylin Noel and Virginia Tech’s Jaylin Lane.

Defensive tackle

Comp: 2016 class

The depth of the 2024 defensive tackle class was notable; eight went in the top 50 for the first time since 2016, and that could actually happen again this year. There are seven defensive tackles currently in Scouts Inc.’s top 50, and Texas’ Alfred Collins is sitting at 55th overall. In fact, this class could be even deeper, as 11 defensive tackles went in the top 100 last year, and there are 13 in Scouts Inc.’s top 100 this time around.

The 2025 class is stronger at the top, too. Whereas two defensive tackles went in the first round last year, Michigan’s Mason Graham and Kenneth Grant, Ole Miss’ Walter Nolen and Oregon’s Derrick Harmon are all ranked in Scouts Inc.’s top 32 and could all be off the board on Day 1.

So what’s the best comp? This is getting weird, but 2016 is once again. That’s the last time four defensive tackles got drafted in the first round, and 14 were picked in the top 100. The Chiefs selected Chris Jones early in the second round, and there should be excellent value early in Round 2 this year, too. South Carolina’s T.J. Sanders, Ohio State’s Tyleik Williams and Toledo’s Darius Alexander all rank in Scouts Inc.’s top 45 and have the talent to turn into impact players early in their pro careers.

It is worth noting, though, that the 2016 class didn’t have a top-10 pick, let alone a top-five pick. Graham is poised to join Quinnen Williams and Marcell Dareus as the only defensive tackles drafted in the top five since Ndamukong Suh and Gerald McCoy both got selected there in 2010. If this class exceeds expectations, it enters the conversation with that 2010 group for maybe the best defensive tackle classes ever.

Edge rusher

Comp: 2023 class

Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter is the No. 1 overall player on Scouts Inc.’s board, and there are seven edge defenders in the top 32. The last time an edge defender went No. 1 was Travon Walker in 2022. Aidan Hutchinson was selected one pick later and Kayvon Thibodeaux went No. 5 that year. In 2025, Georgia’s Jalon Walker (who is instead seen as an off-ball linebacker by some evaluators) could join Carter in the top five, but it’s more likely he gets drafted in the top 10.

The depth of these two classes is similar, but there may be better comps out there. Why? Body type. Georgia’s Mykel Williams and Texas A&M’s Shemar Stewart are the only projected first-round picks who weighed more than 259 pounds at this year’s combine. So I wanted to find a class comp for both the depth and the types of players available.

How about 2021? Eight edge defenders went in the first round, and four of them weighed less than 260 pounds (only two weighed more than 265 pounds). The problem is Micah Parsons was the first edge rusher off the board at No. 12. So while comparing two talented former Penn State edges in Parsons and Carter is fun, there’s an even better class comp.

Seven edge defenders went in the first round of the 2023 draft, including two in the top 10. That class also featured some top edge defenders who weighed less than 260 pounds. Will Anderson Jr. (253 pounds at the combine) went No. 3. Fellow first-round picks Will McDonald IV, Nolan Smith Jr. and Felix Anudike-Uzomah all weighed less than 260 pounds, too. Most of these prospects fit best at outside linebacker in three-man fronts on downs with run-heavy tendencies, but these lighter players still have success getting after the quarterback. Last season, Anderson was tied for 10th in the league with 11 sacks, and McDonald racked up 10½.