2025 NFL draft: Ranking depth of positions, best to worst
In the 2024 NFL draft, quarterbacks and receivers were the headliners. But for the 2025 NFL draft, it's the running backs' turn. This class is far deeper than any of the five previous classes and could enter the conversation with that outstanding 2008 running back class as the best ever.
The tight ends and defensive tackles also stand out in 2025. Two tight ends could be drafted in the top 10 for the first time since 1973. Last year's defensive tackle group was the deepest I've seen scouted in years, but this class is even deeper with Michigan's Mason Graham leading the way. Graham, Scouts Inc.'s No. 3 prospect, could be the first D-tackle drafted in the top five since the New York Jets took Quinnen Williams at No. 3 overall in 2019.
I ranked every position group of the 2025 class based on the top-to-bottom depth and overall quality, using the Scouts Inc. rankings as a guide. Sure, teams can find difference-makers early on Day 1, but is there quality to be found in Rounds 2 and 3 at each position? That's how I based my stacking of all 12 positions, from best to worst. I also picked my favorite team/round fits for prospects and my favorite late-round sleepers.
Let's start with the No. 1 position in this class:
Jump to a position:
QB | WR | RB | TE
C | G | OT | LB
DT | EDGE | S | CB
1. Running Back
Players with first-round grades: 2
Players in the Scouts Inc. top 100: 11
How the position stacks up: Bijan Robinson was the only running back Scouts Inc. graded as a first-rounder over the previous three drafts, and the last time Scouts Inc. gave two backs first-round grades was in 2021. Boise State's Ashton Jeanty and North Carolina's Omarion Hampton have ended that drought, as both have received first-round grades this year.
There are 11 backs in the top 100 for 2025, more than double the five-year average of 5.4 backs in the top 100. Don't be surprised if there's a run on backs on Day 2, and expect to see a few more talented runners available on Day 3.
Team/round fit: Kaleb Johnson to the Chicago Bears in the second round. Johnson might fall because he is underwhelmed at the combine, but Scouts Inc. has a second-round grade for him because of his tape. He'd be a perfect fit for new Bears coach Ben Johnson's zone-heavy scheme. Johnson is an instinctive zone runner with a great feel for when to stick his foot in the ground and get downhill. He's big at 6-foot-1, 224 pounds with the power to deliver the blow on contact and break tackles.
Late-round sleeper: Tahj Brooks, Texas Tech. Brooks is the Red Raiders' all-time leading rusher (4,560 yards over five seasons), and the third Big 12 player in history to rush for more than 1,500 yards in consecutive seasons (2023 and 2024). He is a patient, between-the-tackles runner with quick feet for his 5-9, 214-pound size and has the strength to break tackles. He's not a burner on tape, but he tested well at the combine and has a chance to develop into a No. 2 back in time.
2. Tight End
Players with first-round grades: 2
Players in the Scouts Inc. top 100: 7
How the position stacks up: The last time Scouts Inc. gave two tight ends first-round grades was 2023. But neither of those players -- Dalton Kincaid and Michael Mayer -- were ranked in the top 10. This year, Penn State's Tyler Warren (No. 4) and Michigan's Colston Loveland (No.10) rank near the top.
The seven tight ends ranked in the top 100 are well above the five-year average of 4.4. Plus, my colleague Matt Miller has Miami's Elijah Arroyo and LSU's Mason Taylor projected to be drafted in the second round in his latest mock draft.
Team/round fit: Arroyo to the New York Jets in the second round. The Jets need to get new offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand and quarterback Justin Fields, a playmaker at tight end. Arroyo runs well, makes plays downfield and is a threat after the catch -- he averaged 16.9 yards per catch in 2024. He's not a great blocker, but he's tough and battles. Engstrand was passing game coordinator with the Detroit Lions 2023-24, and he helped 2023 second-rounder Sam LaPorta reach a record-setting rookie performance. He could get the most out of Arroyo.
Late-round sleeper: Jalin Conyers, Texas Tech. Conyers is another Texas Tech player flying under the radar. The Arizona State transfer had five touchdown catches and two rushing scores last season (and threw for one more). At 6-3, 260 pounds, he had the quickest short shuttle (4.27 seconds) for a tight end at the combine and tested well overall. He runs and tracks the ball well and makes contested catches downfield. He was used in college as a wildcat quarterback, which speaks to his ability to make plays with the ball in his hands.
3. Defensive Tackle
Players with first-round grades: 1
Players in the Scouts Inc. top 100: 12
How the position stacks up: Scouts Inc. had assigned two first-round grades to defensive tackles in each of the past three drafts. However, Michigan's Mason Graham is the only one in this year's class with a first-round grade. He's followed by Ole Miss' Walter Nolen and Oregon's Derrick Harmon, who have high second-round grades.
The strength of this class is its depth. There are 12 tackles in Scouts Inc.'s top 100. That's well above the five-year average of 7.2 and more than any of the previous five classes.
Team/round fit: Jared Harrison-Hunte to the Buffalo Bills in the fourth round. Buffalo signed Larry Ogunjobi this offseason, but he's facing a six-game suspension to start the 2025 season after violating the NFL's policy against performance-enhancing drugs. Buffalo needs to improve its pass rush, and Harrison-Hunte had 4.5 sacks in his final four games at SMU. He is quick, has active hands and chases with great effort.
One of the reasons he could be available late in the fourth is because he is on the lighter side (290 pounds) for a tackle, and he gives up ground at times in the run game. But Harrison-Hunte stacks blockers and gets off blocks when his technique is sound.
Late-round sleeper: Jahvaree Ritzie, North Carolina. Ritzie is another lighter tackle prospect at 294 pounds. He can get stuck on blocks and give ground, but he has the tools to develop into a rotational three-technique player in a base four-man front. He stacks blockers, tracks the quarterback and closes well for his size rushing the passer.
4. Edge
Players with first-round grades: 4
Players in the Scouts Inc. top 100: 16
How the position stacks up: This edge class isn't special, but it compares well with the previous five classes. Scouts Inc. has given an average of four first-round grades to edge rushers the past five years, with an average of 14 in the top 100.
One name worth mentioning here is Georgia's Jalon Walker. He is the second-best edge and No. 6 overall player on the board. He played more snaps at linebacker than edge last season, so he'll likely play a hybrid role in the NFL. The reason he grades so high is his ability to get after the quarterback, so Scouts Inc. identifies him as an edge while others see him as an inside linebacker. Moving Walker to linebacker would strengthen that class and weaken the edge class.
Team/round fit: Jordan Burch to the Miami Dolphins in the third round. Burch would be a perfect fit for defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver's scheme. He can play anywhere along the defensive line, including over the inside shoulder of the offensive tackle where he is an effective run defender. He has upside as an interior pass rusher. Scouts Inc. has a second-round grade on him, but my colleague Matt Miller made Burch the first pick of the fourth round in his recent seven-round mock draft. If the Dolphins can get Burch late in the third, that'd be a home run pick.
Late-round sleeper: Fadil Diggs, Syracuse. Diggs is a Texas A&M transfer who led the Orange in sacks (7.5) in 2024. His tape isn't as good as the production or the talent, but he flashes the ability to win with his hands, and he can stack tight ends defending the run. He ran the third-fastest 40-yard dash (4.57 seconds) for the defensive ends at the combine. A team that takes him late will be betting on his traits and intangibles.
5. Guard
Players with first-round grades: 0
Players in the Scouts Inc. top 100: 5
How the position stacks up: Three of the top five guards on Scouts Inc.'s board -- North Dakota State's Grey Zabel, Arizona's Jonah Savaiinaea and Purdue's Marcus Mbow -- played offensive tackle last season but project to play guard in the NFL. No guard has a first-round grade this year, which isn't abnormal as Scouts Inc. has only given one first-round grade to one guard over the previous five seasons. There are five guards in the top 100 which is slightly better than the five-year average (3.8).
It's important to mention LSU's Will Campbell here. His arm length is the most talked-about measurement in this year's draft cycle. His arms measured 32 5/8 inches at the combine and 33 inches at his pro day; 34 inches or longer is generally considered the preferred length among NFL teams. That means some teams project Campbell as a guard. I think his best fit is at tackle, and he's the No. 19 overall player on Scouts Inc.'s board. If -- and it's a big if -- he is a guard then this class gets the first-round grade which will make it that much deeper.
Team/round fit: Savaiinaea to the Indianapolis Colts in the second round. The Colts need a starting right guard, and they could find one in Savaiinaea. He started at right and left tackle last season, but he played 948 snaps at right guard from 2022 to '23. He walls off defenders and gets movement in the run game. He is quick and long enough to hold up in pass protection.
Late-round sleeper: Luke Kandra, Cincinnati. Kandra is a two-year starter who gets vertical once in position and masks average foot speed by taking sound angles, climbing to the second level in the run game. He has a powerful punch and big hands to latch onto defenders in pass protection.
6. Cornerback
Players with first-round grades: 3
Players in the Scouts Inc. top 100: 10
How the position stacks up: Scouts Inc. has given first-round grades to three corners for the fourth consecutive year. Eleven in the top 100 was the fewest it had over the past five years, and there are 10 this year. Kansas State's Jacob Parrish and Western Kentucky's Upton Stout sit at 103 and 109, respectively, so there is depth here.
Colorado's Travis Hunter is ranked No.1 overall for his dominance at both wide receiver and corner, and he greatly strengthens this class. The group likely could have graded higher if Michigan's Will Johnson, Kentucky's Maxwell Hairston, Notre Dame's Benjamin Morrison and East Carolina's Shavon Revel Jr. hadn't missed substantial time with injuries in 2024.
Team/round fit: Quincy Riley to the Seattle Seahawks in the third round. Riq Woolen is entering the final year of his rookie contract, and the Seahawks need to add depth at cornerback. Riley is a playmaker who had 34 passes defended and 15 interceptions in college. He is versatile enough to play over the slot and can compete for the No. 3 role. He primarily played outside at Louisville, and he could be a potential replacement for Seattle if Woolen doesn't return in 2026.
Late-round sleeper: Robert Longerbeam, Rutgers. He is an instinctive corner who ran a 4.39-second 40-yard dash at the combine and intercepted five passes and defended 33 for the Scarlet Knights. He'll likely have to move to the slot in the NFL after primarily playing on the outside, but he has the toughness and tools to make that transition.
7. Safety
Players with first-round grades: 0
Players in the Scouts Inc. top 100: 7
How the position stacks up: South Carolina's Nick Emmanwori is one of four players 6-foot-3 or taller to have topped 40 inches in the vertical jump and run a sub-4.4 time in the 40-yard dash since 2003, according to ESPN Research. He is the top safety on the board, and he'll likely get drafted in the first round even though he has received an early second-round grade from Scouts Inc. (This isn't unusual because Scouts Inc. hasn't given a safety a first-round grade since 2022.)
Scouts Inc. has had an average of seven safeties in the top 100 over the previous five drafts, and this class barely hits that mark. Virginia's Jonas Sanker is the seventh-ranked safety and the No. 100 overall prospect.
Team/round fit: Emmanwori to the Miami Dolphins in the first round. Jevon Holland signing with the Giants left a void in the Dolphins' secondary. They've added a couple of safeties to one-year deals but should still address the position in the draft. Emmanwori is a versatile playmaker with a high ceiling. He is tall for a safety and No. 13 overall is early for a safety to get drafted, but that shouldn't concern Miami. Defensive coordinator Anthony Weaver was with the Baltimore Ravens when they drafted 6-foot-4 Kyle Hamilton with the No. 14 overall pick in 2022.
Late-round sleeper: Dan Jackson, Georgia. He wasn't invited to the combine, but he ran well at his pro day. He's tight and misses some tackles, but he closes well as a run defender and plays the ball well in coverage. He should push for immediate playing time on special teams.
8. Offensive Tackle
Players with first-round grades: 3
Players in the Scouts Inc. top 100: 10
How the position stacks up: This class falls just short of Scouts Inc.'s five-year averages of 3.8 first-round grades and 11 in the top 100. This class is also not nearly as strong as last year's -- which had five first-round grades and 13 in the top 100.
As mentioned above, there is some speculation that Campbell fits best at guard because of his arm length, but it's worth noting that Mel Kiper Jr. and Field Yates also project Campbell at tackle. There are only two starting left tackles with shorter than 33-inch arms in the NFL, so his length is a concern, but teams could bet on his ability to overcome it with technique, mobility, strength and toughness.
Texas' Cameron Williams and William and Mary's Charles Grant are the only tackles in the top 100 with longer than 34-inch arms at the combine.
Team/round fit: Ozzy Trapilo to the New England Patriots in the third round. New England signed right tackle Morgan Moses in free agency, but they still have a glaring need at left tackle. Although Trapilo played right tackle the past two seasons, he started 10 games at left tackle in 2022. He grew on me during his evaluation, and he rarely loses even though he is on the taller side (6-8) with short arms (33 inches). It'd also be hard to believe anyone has a better feel for Trapilo's skill set and intangibles than the Patriots, considering he played in their backyard at Boston College and Mike Vrabel's relationship with Eagles' coach Bill O'Brien. If New England doesn't fill this need earlier in the draft, it would do well to get Trapilo in Round 3.
Late-round sleeper: Carson Vinson, Alabama A&M. Vinson is a four-year starter with long arms (34.5 inches) and good size (6-7, 314 pounds). He gets some push and blocks to the whistle in the run game. His technique is inconsistent, but he has the tools to develop into an effective pass blocker. Vinson competed well enough at the Senior Bowl to ease the concerns his Auburn game tape raised about the level of competition he faced in college.
9. Center
Players with first-round grades: 0
Players in the Scouts Inc. top 100: 2
How the position stacks up: There are no first-round grades and only two in the top 100, making this a down year at the position. There are two players with intriguing upside to keep an eye on, however. Georgia's Jared Wilson needs to get stronger, but he had an outstanding combine and grades as a second-round pick based on the tape. Then, Grey Zabel is mentioned above at guard, but he has the tools to develop into a starting center.
Team/round fit: Wilson to the New Orleans Saints in the second round. The Saints need a guard, and center Erik McCoy missed most of the 2024 season with injuries. Wilson is a perfect fit for offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak's zone-heavy ground game. He can compete for the starting left guard job and provide depth behind McCoy.
Late-round sleeper: Willie Lampkin, North Carolina. His 5-10, 270-pound frame might scare some teams away, as he may fit best at center in the NFL because of his frame. He primarily lined up at right and left guard in college, but he started at center in 2022 when he was at Coastal Carolina. If a team is willing to take a chance, it could find an excellent backup center late in the draft.
10. Quarterback
Players with first-round grades: 2
Players in the Scouts Inc. top 100: 6
How the position stacks up: Scouts Inc. has put an average of 6.4 quarterbacks in the top 100 the previous five years, and this class is competitive in that regard, but the two first-round grades are below the average of 3.8.
The last time Scouts Inc. had two quarterbacks with two first grades and six quarterbacks in the top 100 was in 2022. Malik Willis and Kenny Pickett were ranked 21st and 22nd overall, respectively. Miami's Cam Ward and Colorado's Shedeur Sanders are ranked seventh and 14th overall this year, so this class isn't as thin as 2022.
Team/round fit: Jalen Milroe to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the second round (after a trade up). Milroe's accuracy needs to improve, but he's a dangerous runner and an effective downfield thrower who could help Pittsburgh take advantage of DK Metcalf's ability to take the top off the coverage. Pittsburgh gave up its second-round pick in the Metcalf trade and while Milroe has a third-round grade, there's a good chance he doesn't get out of the second round. General manager Omar Khan would need to find a way to trade up to get Milroe.
Late-round sleeper: Riley Leonard, Notre Dame. Leonard is a better runner than a passer, and he doesn't have a cannon for an arm. However, he has the mobility, frame and toughness to develop into an effective backup. He is an outstanding competitor who led Notre Dame to the national championship game and showed up at the Senior Bowl the next week.
11. Linebacker
Players with first-round grades: 1
Players in the Scouts Inc. top 100: 3
How the position stacks up: On the plus side, Alabama's Jihaad Campbell grades out as a first-round pick, and Scouts Inc. hasn't given a first-round grade to an inside linebacker since 2022. Several linebackers grade out as early Day 3 picks, but only three make the top 100 and Scouts Inc.'s five-year average is seven.
UCLA's Carson Schwesinger, who is Scouts Inc.'s No. 57 prospect, is on the shortlist for players who improved their stock. He walked on for the Bruins and quickly turned into an excellent special teams player in his first three seasons. He led the FBS with 90 solo tackles in 2024.
Team/round fit: Cody Simon to the Washington Commanders in the fourth round. Washington did well to re-sign Bobby Wagner in free agency, but it's a one-year deal and he turns 35 in June. Simon had an outstanding 2024, leading Ohio State with 112 tackles. He's instinctive, takes sound angles and has an excellent motor. He could provide depth while making immediate contributions on special teams and potentially develop into Wagner's replacement.
Late-round sleeper: Nick Martin, Oklahoma State. He is an undersized (5-11, 221 pounds) linebacker who missed most of the 2024 season with a knee injury. But he had the fourth-quickest 10-yard split (1.54 seconds) and fifth-fastest 40-yard dash (4.53 seconds) for the linebackers at the combine. He is relentless in pursuit, and those numbers reflect how well he closes. He flashes as a pass rusher and had six sacks in 2023.
12. Wide Receiver
Players with first-round grades: 2
Players in the Scouts Inc. top 100: 13
How the position stacks up: I included Travis Hunter in both the corner and receiver sections because teams may view him as either based on needs and evaluations. Hunter and Arizona's Tetairoa McMillan are the only receivers with a first-round grade this year. Scouts Inc. has assigned an average of four first-round grades to receivers over the previous five drafts.
Texas's Matthew Golden and Iowa State's Jayden Higgins are in the top 32 overall but received early second-round grades. This year's 13 receivers in the top 100 are also below Scouts Inc.'s five-year average of 16.6.
Team/round fit: Higgins to the Tennessee Titans in the second round. Treylon Burks, Tennessee's 2022 first-round pick, is coming off a season-ending knee injury, and his production hasn't come close to matching where he got drafted, so it's unlikely the Titans exercise his fifth-year option. With that in mind, Tennessee needs a playmaker to complement Calvin Ridley, and Higgins fits the bill. His tape, production and combine numbers are all excellent. He has all the tools to quickly develop into a productive No. 2 receiver.
Late-round sleeper: Ricky White III, UNLV. He's lean and didn't run well at the combine, but he had a solid pro day performance. He's also an elusive open-field runner who makes defenders miss after the catch. White blocked four punts and was named Mountain West Special Teams Player of the Year in 2024.