2025 NFL Draft: Scouting the Top 25 Seniors

The start of every draft season begins with an evaluation of the players you know will be in the upcoming class. When I was first starting in scouting, a wise evaluator told me to never “waste time” early in the season on players who may not declare for the upcoming draft, and that’s a lesson I’ve carried with me.

Now, in an era of NIL, it rings more true.

Should we expect the top redshirt sophomores and juniors to enter the draft each year? Probably not. Take quarterbacks Carson Beck, Shedeur Sanders and Quinn Ewers as prime examples. All three were draft eligible last year but opted to return to school. Defensively, players like JT Tuimoloau and Deone Walker are similar prospects.

So this year’s list starts with a lot of senior study—with a few top-tier underclassmen sprinkled in. This is not a complete list, but is based heavily on our own summer scouting AND feedback from NFL area scouts who are already working on their own lists.

Let’s get started.

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1. Luther Burden III, WR Missouri

Last year: 86 catches, 1,212 yards, 9 TD

Burden has the juice and open-field speed to be a dangerous threat at any alignment in the passing game. He’s like Deebo Samuel after the catch but with Jaylen Waddle speed and moves. He’s special.

2. Deone Walker, DT, Kentucky

Last year: 7.5 sacks, 39 pressures

Imagine if T’Vondre Sweat had better conditioning. Or if Dexter Lawrence were in college right now. That’s the vibe you get from Walker’s tape. He’s a gap-eater with awesome power and enough burst to be a pass-rush pro.

3. Abdul Carter, DE, Penn State

Last year: 4.5 sacks, 4 PBU, 1 INT

Carter makes the move from linebacker to an edge-rusher position this year, and like a former Penn State defender who also wore No. 11, he has a chance to become a breakout player in that role.