NFL DRAFT

Power ranking 2025 NFL Draft prospects: Travis Hunter on top, Abdul Carter rising

Here's a look at the top prospects who could enter the 2025 NFL Draft.

Share
NBC Universal, Inc.

The 2025 NFL Draft is still months away, but it's never too early to start looking at prospects.

Fans of some teams might already have their sights set on next April's event, while others are still locked in on the 2024 season. With the regular season slowly winding down, the Las Vegas Raiders (2-11) currently hold the No. 1 pick entering Week 14.

Looking at the college football landscape, it's been a thrilling season with major upsets and breakout stars. From Travis Hunter's two-way abilities to Ashton Jeanty's record-breaking rushes, there is no shortage of stars who could enter the NFL next season.

Here's a ranking of the top 10 draft prospects for 2025 entering bowl season in college football:

Travis Hunter, Colorado WR/CB

2024 stats (12 games): 92 receptions, 1,152 receiving yards, 15 touchdowns (1 rushing), 32 combined tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 4 interceptions, 11 passes defended, 1 forced fumble

NFL draft outlook: There's a lot of mystery surrounding Hunter considering he's a star on both sides of the ball. Will he specialize once he gets to the NFL? Can he be a true two-way force in a league where that just doesn't happen? Hunter's talent alone makes him a likely top-five pick, with a real chance to be the first player off the board.

New England Patriots

Find the latest New England Patriots news, highlights, analysis and more with NBC Sports Boston.

Patriots-Cardinals preview: Can Mayo's consistent approach yield better results?

A harsh reality: What's really behind Belichick's hard pivot to UNC

Shedeur Sanders, Colorado QB

2024 stats (12 games): 3,926 passing yards, 35 passing touchdowns, 8 interceptions, 74.2 completion percentage, 4 rushing touchdowns

NFL draft outlook: Only 24 Buffs have ever been picked in the first round, but Sanders and Hunter could make it 26. Sanders opted to return to school for another year under his father and head coach Deion Sanders. That's been the right call, as Colorado drastically improved from last season (9-3 after going 4-8 in 2023).

Colorado quarterback Shadeur Sanders, son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, shares the best advice he's received from his dad, the biggest misconceptions about his family and discusses his future life goals.

Abdul Carter, Penn State DE

2024 stats (13 games): 60 combined tackles, 20 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, 3 pass defended, 2 forced fumbles

NFL draft outlook: The 6-foot-3, 259-pound junior does it all for the Nittany Lions. Carter converted from an off-ball linebacker to an EDGE rusher, and he's playing better than ever in 2024. He leads the Big Ten in tackles for loss and played a key role in Penn State making the College Football Playoff.

Mason Graham, Michigan DL

2024 stats (12 games): 45 combined tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, 1 pass defended

NFL draft outlook: Graham has only improved his stock in 2024, even after starting on the national championship run. His 3.5 sacks are a career-best, and he easily surpassed his 36 tackles from a year ago. Graham is poised to potentially be the first D-linemen selected in April.

Cam Ward, Miami QB

2024 stats (12 games): 4,123 passing yards, 36 passing touchdowns, 7 interceptions, 67.4 completion percentage, 196 rushing yards, 4 rushing touchdowns

NFL draft outlook: Ward transferred to Miami for his fifth and final collegiate season, and he's absolutely made the most of it. The Hurricanes are 10-2 and could still make the College Football Playoff. The 22-year-old star has elevated himself into the conversation with Sanders to be the QB1 come April.

Will Johnson, Michigan CB

2024 stats (6 games): 14 combined tackles, 1 tackle for loss, 2 interceptions (both returned for touchdowns), 3 passes defended

NFL draft outlook: Another elite defensive back is right there with Hunter. Johnson was a standout on Michigan's title team in 2023, and he followed that up with two pick-sixes in the first four games this season before dealing with injuries. The 6-foot-2 junior has all the tools to be a shutdown corner in the NFL.

Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona WR

2024 stats (12 games): 84 receptions, 1,319 receiving yards, 8 touchdowns

NFL draft outlook: After posting 1,402 yards as a sophomore, McMillan has continued his rampage into 2024. He led the Big 12 in receiving yards in the regular season under new head coach Brent Brennan. McMillan is emerging as the top wide receiver prospect in the class (aside from Hunter), though it's still early in the process.

Ashton Jeanty, Boise State RB

2024 stats (13 games): 2,497 rushing yards, 29 rushing touchdowns, 20 receptions, 116 receiving yards, 1 receiving touchdown

NFL draft outlook: No one is rising faster than Jeanty, who has posted ridiculous numbers for the Broncos. He has 837 yards more than the next closest rusher, and he's doing it at a rate of 7.3 yards per carry. Critics will point to Boise State's competition in the Mountain West, but the 5-foot-9 junior is rocketing up draft boards and will be in the spotlight during the College Football Playoff.

While the excitement of the draft in Detroit lingers, the NFL community looks toward the horizon, eagerly anticipating the 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay.

Malaki Starks, Georgia DB

2024 stats (13 games): 73 combined tackles, 4 tackles for loss, 1 interception, 3 passes defended

NFL draft outlook: The junior safety, who was an All-American last year, has patrolled the Bulldogs' secondary throughout the season, but he's been versatile enough to also play slot corner, outside corner and linebacker. Starks is the type of player who, in the right system, could be an absolute game-wrecker.

Will Campbell, LSU OT

College highlights: 2022 Second-team All-SEC, 2023 First-team All-SEC

NFL draft outlook: Campbell, a 6-foot-6, 323-pound junior, has been a starter for the Tigers since his freshman season. He has the measurables to be an NFL tackle, and the pedigree is encouraging. Former All-Pro tackle Andrew Whitworth is from his hometown of Monroe, Louisiana. Campbell officially declared for the 2025 draft on Dec. 3.

Contact Us