2025 NFL draft: Latest buzz, prospect rumors, pro day risers

We're barreling toward the start of the 2025 NFL draft on April 24 and more top prospects are working out at pro days across the country. Amid a ton of buzz about early picks and the quarterback class, we asked NFL draft analysts Matt Miller, Jordan Reid and Field Yates to break down the latest intel from around the league.

Is Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart now a lock to go in the first round? How did prospects rise or fall in the class after their pro days? What are the New York Giants' latest plans for the No. 3 pick after signing Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston? And which prospects are our experts higher on compared with the league consensus? We get into all that and then let Miller, Reid and Yates predict first-round over/unders for interesting position groups. How many pass catchers, defensive backs and offensive linemen could we see get picked on Day 1?

Finally, our experts empty their scouting notebooks with what they're hearing, seeing and thinking ahead of April. Let's start with Dart's current status -- and potential team fits for the intriguing QB.

What percentage chance would you put on Jaxson Dart going in Round 1, and which team makes the most sense?

Reid: 75%. Dart's stock has continued to rise since the Senior Bowl. He's the third-best QB on my board, and with Miami's Cam Ward and Colorado's Shedeur Sanders likely going in the first six picks, there will be plenty of Day 1 landing spots for Dart. I've heard he's actually the second-best QB on some teams' boards. That bodes well for his first-round potential. Pairing Dart with Rams coach Sean McVay and allowing him to sit and develop behind Matthew Stafford for multiple seasons in L.A. would be the best-case scenario for him.

Yates: 90%. My mindset remains that two of the first three picks are likely to be quarterbacks, with the Titans zeroed in on Ward and the Giants still needing a young signal-caller -- most likely Sanders. Dart could start right away with a team such as the Steelers (No. 21), and the Saints (No. 9) or Rams (No. 26) might view him as an eventual starter. Additionally, we could see a team such as the Browns trade up from early Round 2 into late Round 1, securing Dart and the fifth-year option that comes with all first-round contracts.

Miller: 95%. I'm with Jordan and Field. I think it's really likely Dart goes in Round 1. In my talks with scouts this past week, the expectation is that his predraft process has been too successful for him to get past the first 32 picks. The three teams Field mentioned -- the Steelers, Saints and Rams -- are all obvious fits for his services. The only thing that would prevent him from getting picked in Round 1 is if Sanders fell to Pittsburgh at pick No. 21 overall, which in turn could push Dart down the board. But I really don't see that happening.

Which pro day performance has had the biggest impact on a prospect's stock?

Miller: When I think about strong pro day workouts in this cycle, my mind immediately goes to Jalen Milroe. The Alabama quarterback once again had a hand measurement of 9½ inches -- matching his combine measurement but up from 8¾ inches at the Senior Bowl (which fell below the NFL's 9-inch average for quarterbacks). Milroe also wowed with his 4.4 in the 40-yard dash, a time verified by NFL scouts in the building. One scout at the workout told me Milroe looked comfortable and poised while throwing to future first-rounder Ryan Williams, who was amazing as a freshman in 2024. Milroe's draft range is still pretty wide -- I had him going in Round 3 in my latest mock draft -- but he made a statement at his pro day.

Yates: I'm not going to give up hope entirely on Miami receiver Xavier Restrepo, as he still has a lot to offer within his skill set. He's tough, runs impressive routes, finds openings in the defense and plays with some power from the slot. But his 40-yard dash of around 4.8 seconds at Miami's pro day will undoubtedly influence his value in a negative way. Restrepo's game has never been predicated upon speed, so the time wasn't fully detrimental to his on-field outlook. Still, the history of the draft tells us this 40 time by a wideout doesn't often equate to being drafted earlier than Day 3.

Reid: One of the most impressive pro days I've seen so far was from LSU tight end Mason Taylor. After participating in only positional drills at the combine, he had a lot weighing on his pro day. At 6-foot-5 and 246 pounds, Taylor ran a 4.64 40 (a time shared by a scout to me) and had 28 reps on the bench press. Both of those numbers would've been the second best among tight ends at the combine. Taylor is ranked No. 41 on my board with a mid-second-round grade, so it won't be surprising if he is selected in first 50 picks. The Jets at No. 42 and the Colts at No. 45 are landing spots that make a ton of sense.

What are you hearing around the league on what the Giants will do at No. 3?

Miller: I'm hearing quarterback, even after signing Russell Wilson to a one-year deal. A scout told me, "New York loving Shedeur is the worst-kept secret in the league right now." According to that scout, the Giants had a presence at every Colorado home game this season. The Wilson and Jameis Winston deals shouldn't prevent the Giants from drafting a quarterback at No. 3 if one of the top two passers is available. But should Ward and Sanders both be off the board, the Giants will be a premier destination for Colorado's Travis Hunter, given the team's needs at wide receiver and cornerback.

Reid: Yeah, based on what I'm hearing from sources, finding a young QB is still at the top of the priority list for the Giants. Wilson and Winston help the team cover its bases if Ward and Sanders are not on the board, but signing them doesn't necessarily keep New York from drafting a QB.

As Matt pointed out, the team could pivot to Hunter or Penn State's Abdul Carter with its pick. General manager Joe Schoen was aggressive in addressing the team's secondary issues by signing cornerback Paulson Adebo and safety Jevon Holland in free agency. Hunter could get into the mix, while also pairing well with wide receiver Malik Nabers for a dynamic duo on the perimeter on offense.

Yates: I think we're all in agreement, though the Giants taking a QB is much less certain now than it was a few days ago. Does the team believe that it has done enough to address its need at quarterback long term? It's just really hard to imagine that's the case given the one-year length of Wilson's deal.

Which prospect are you higher on than consensus?

Yates: Donovan Jackson, G, Ohio State. I'm enamored by pretty much everything Jackson brings to the table, as he showed off incredible versatility in 2024 by moving from left guard to left tackle midseason to help Ohio State replace Josh Simmons (torn patellar tendon). Jackson is powerful, fleet-footed and reliable, and I think he has enough skill to fit in any blocking scheme in the pros. This is the year of unpredictability, so I wouldn't be stunned if he cracked the top 20 selections. He's No. 19 on my board.

Reid: Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss. In previous years, we've seen interior defenders with similar explosiveness go in the top 20 and have an immediate impact. Teams are starved for defensive tackles who can knock offenses off schedule with consistent disruption, and Nolen is the type of defender who can play immediately because of his juice as a pass rusher. He needs to become more consistent against the run, but the name of his game is moving forward and penetrating the first level. He's the No. 11 player on my board.

Miller: Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri. Mel Kiper Jr. teases me by saying I might as well be Burden's agent, but I'll gladly pound the table for him. The Mizzou offense was clearly out of sync last season, and his numbers (61 catches for 676 yards and six TDs) and impact suffered because of it. During my conversations with coaches at Missouri's pro day last week, I heard nothing but positives surrounding his work ethic and ability. Burden is No. 13 on my board.

Call it now: How many first-round pass catchers will we see?

Yates: Six will go in Round 1, with eight names as possible options. I feel strongly about receivers Travis Hunter (Colorado), Tetairoa McMillan (Arizona) and Matthew Golden (Texas) getting picked, while tight ends Tyler Warren (Penn State) and Colston Loveland (Michigan) also seem like locks. The three other considerations for the sixth spot are receivers Emeka Egbuka (Ohio State), Jayden Higgins (Iowa State) and Luther Burden III (Missouri).

How about the number of first-round defensive backs?

Miller: Eight -- if you count Hunter as a cornerback. There are a few locks, including Hunter, Will Johnson (Michigan), Jahdae Barron (Texas) and Nick Emmanwori (South Carolina). I'll add Malaki Starks (Georgia) and Maxwell Hairston (Kentucky) as very likely picks. Then it gets interesting. I think Azareye'h Thomas (Florida State) and Trey Amos (Ole Miss) will also come off the board as teams decide they need long, press-coverage cornerbacks.

And what's the over/under on first-round offensive tackles this year?

Reid: Depending on where teams classify Will Campbell (LSU), I feel strongly about four offensive tackles being selected in Round 1. Campbell, Armand Membou (Missouri), Kelvin Banks Jr. (Texas) and Josh Simmons (Ohio State) would be the first-rounders. I wouldn't be surprised to see Josh Conerly Jr. (Oregon) or Aireontae Ersery (Minnesota) go toward the end of the first night, though. Teams such as Houston (No. 25 overall) and Kansas City (No. 31) need tackle depth.

What else did you hear and see this week?

Miller's notes:

• If you've been tracking measurements for prospects this draft cycle, you've no doubt seen the discrepancies from the all-star games, combine and now pro days. LSU's Will Campbell is perhaps the most watched player when it comes to those numbers. Campbell was measured by NFL scouts with 32⅝-inch arm length and a 77⅜-inch wingspan at the combine. At his pro day, Campbell's arm length was a clean 33 inches, while his wingspan was down to 77¼ inches. Does an eighth of an inch ultimately matter? Maybe not, but scouts need consistency and reliable numbers. We didn't get that this offseason.

Reid's notes:

• After not participating in any testing or positional drills at the combine, Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka ran a 4.48-second 40-yard dash at his pro day. He also jumped 38 inches in the vertical. With quickness being a main factor in his upfield burst, his 40 time was solid. As a late-first-round or early-second-round pick, Egbuka is one of the cleanest projections in this year's receiver class. He's a diverse route runner, and his sure hands made him a reliable target throughout his career with the Buckeyes. He projects as a high-end No. 2 receiver and would fit well with the Texans (No. 25) or Rams (No. 26) in Round 1.

Yates' notes:

• My two-round mock draft drops next week, and I'll likely have Marshall edge rusher Mike Green in the first half of the opening round. Green took part in Marshall's pro day this past week and did positional drills at defensive line and linebacker, showing off great movement skills and elite suddenness. Among those in attendance was a Falcons contingent that included coach Raheem Morris. Atlanta finished second-to-last in the NFL in sacks this past season and needs more help at that spot even after signing Leonard Floyd (and with the healthy return of 2024 third-rounder Bralen Trice).
• Scouts have pondered who will be the second pure center off the board. Georgia's Jared Wilson has been viewed as the top player at the position, and I have a third-round grade on him. The next center will almost surely get picked on Day 3, and it might take some time. Options for the class' No. 2 center include Jake Majors (Texas), Drew Kendall (Boston College) and Seth McLaughlin (Ohio State). McLaughlin is still rehabbing from an Achilles tear in November.