The first round of the NFL Draft gets all the fanfare, but it’s on Day 2 where elite rosters get built. In the 2025 class, the strength of the group is on the second day, where we may see a run on the receiver class and linemen group. The most prominent name left on the board is Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders, whose fall out of Round 1 was all the rage on social media. However, there are two prospects still left in the green room after Thursday: Michigan CB Will Johnson and Alabama QB Jalen Milroe. Both come with flaws, but could hear their name get called early on Day 2.
I’m back to grade the picks, so let’s get started!
33. Cleveland Browns: Carson Schwesinger, LB, UCLA
Grade: A
Love this pick by the Browns. With LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah’s future in jeopardy, Schwesinger can step in as a rangy and athletic linebacker who gives them a major defender in the middle of the field. I worry a bit about his play strength, but behind Mason Graham this should be really fun.
34. Houston Texans: Jayden Higgins, WR, Iowa State
Grade: B-
I would’ve loved for this to be an offensive linemen or Luther Burden III, but Higgins is a big fast and tall receiver who plays similar to his new teammate Nico Collins. He has to be better coming back to the ball and separating downfield, but the Texans needed receiving help with their skill position room ravaged and Higgins fills that need.
35. TRADE: Seattle Seahawks (via Tennessee Titans): Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina
Grade: A
This feels like a perfect fit for the Seahawks. Mike Macdonald has experienced with jumbo jet safeties, and Emmanwori has a case for the best athlete in the entire draft. I wish he would play a little bigger closer to the line of scrimmage, but he can be an impactful back end safety going across the field.
36. Cleveland Browns: Quinshon Judkins, RB, Ohio State
Grade: C
Judkins before teammate TreVeyon Henderson is really interesting man. Judkins is a bruising back who plays behind his pads and can be an effective pass protector, but I worry about his vision and would get caught from behind too often for someone who ran a 4.4. I’m very curious about this pick.
37. TRADE: Miami Dolphins (via Las Vegas Raiders): Jonah Savaiinaea, OG, Arizona
Grade: B+
I think the Dolphins gave up a lot to move up here, but Savaiinaea could be considered one of the best guards left on the board. He’s got long arms, moves really well in a phone booth and has the power to finish blocks. The Dolphins need some aggression up front, and Savaiinaea fits that bill.
38. New England Patriots: TreVeyon Henderson, RB, Ohio State
Grade: B+
Although I would’ve probably liked for them to address their receiver room, it seems like the receivers are falling. Henderson is a ball of lightning at the RB spot, who can be a major factor on third downs as a receiver and pass protector. If the Pats can get him downhill, they should be a much more explosive team on the ground.
39. Chicago Bears: Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri
Grade: A+
This RULES. I thought Burden was a borderline first round prospect, someone who could bring a lot of juice to an offense with the ball in his hands. Although he’s a bit more of a slot receiver, he won’t have to play outside with Rome Odunze and DJ Moore on the team. Get QB Caleb Williams all the tools he needs, and let him cook.
40. New Orleans Saints: Tyler Shough, QB, Louisville
Grade: C-
Shedeur Sanders must’ve flunked those interviews, man. Shough is a strong thrower who has no shyness attacking downfield, but he falls apart under pressure and will be 26 years old this upcoming September. Sanders would’ve made more sense here.
41. TRADE: Buffalo Bills (via Chicago Bears): TJ Sanders, DT, South Carolina
Grade: C+
The Bills needed defensive tackle help, but I feel like TJ Sanders is a copy of guys they already have on the roster. Sanders wins with quickness on the interior as a pass rusher, but isn’t really a run defender. The Bills don’t really have a run defender up the spine of their defense, but Sanders should help their pass rush.
42. New York Jets: Mason Taylor, TE, LSU
Grade: B+
I like this value for the Jets, adding a really solid pass catcher in Taylor. I worry a little bit about his blocking on the edge, but he’s going to add smoothness in the short to intermediate areas for the Jets, and a little bit of upside after the catch.
43. San Francisco 49ers: Alfred Collins, DT, Texas
Grade: A
I know that the pass rush upside is limited, but this is a perfect pick for the Niners’ biggest issues. Collins is one of the best run defenders in the class, a force at moving people in a one or two gap defense. He’s going to immediately help the Niners boost their run defense that got gashed last year.
44. Dallas Cowboys: Donovan Ezeiruaku, EDGE, Boston College
Grade: A-
I was always a massive fan of Ezeiruaku, a bendy and twitchy edge defender who has the length to be an even better run defender. Dallas’ pass rush is still a question mark with Demarcus Lawrence in Seattle and Marshawn Kneeland coming off a knee injury, so grabbing Ezeiruaku here is going to give the Cowboys two speedy pass rushers off the edge.
45. Indianapolis Colts: JT Tuimoloau, EDGE, Ohio State
Grade: B-
This is an interesting one. Tuimoloau is a quality edge defender who can win with power and knows his pass rush plan. He’s a little athletically limited, but he’s got good instincts and is a disciplined defender. He’ll help raise the floor of the Colts’ defense.
46. Los Angeles Rams: Terrance Ferguson, TE, Oregon
Grade: C-
I mean, Ferguson is really similar to Tyler Higbee…but Higbee is already on the roster. I feel like Ferguson could’ve been there a little later in the draft, but he’s a long and tall tight end who is a safe underneath option. I just wonder if they wanted to address the speed in their offense in a better way.
47. Arizona Cardinals: Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
Grade: A
If Johnson’s knee checks out, this has the potential to be a steal for the Cardinals. Johnson’s speed is good enough at cornerback, but his reactive quickness and eyes in off coverage are really good. This is a perfect fit for the Cardinals, and help elevate their defense in a big way.
48. TRADE: Houston Texans (via Las Vegas Raiders): Aireontae Ersery, OL, Minnesota
Grade: A
Ersery is a long and athletic offensive line prospect who could play guard or tackle in Houston. I thought he would go higher than this, but 48 feels about right for him. Houston needs an infusion of talent in that room, and despite some bend issues I think Ersery’s movement skills should help a lot.
49. Cincinnati Bengals: Demetrius Knight Jr, LB, South Carolina
Grade: B-
This feels kinda high for the Bengals, but they clearly had a need to stop the run and Knight does that among the best in the class. He’s fast running downhill and is a missile as a spy and blitzer. I worry about his reaction time in coverage, but with Logan Wilson next to him I can see the vision.
50. Seattle Seahawks: Elijah Arroyo, TE, Miami
Grade: B
Arroyo was 77th on my board, so this might be bit of a reach, but the Seahawks need some help in their receiving room desperately. I worry about the injuries and just not being a very good run blocker, but there might not be a faster tight end in this class and he’ll help create downfield explosives.
51. TRADE: Carolina Panthers (via Denver Broncos): Nic Scourton, EDGE, Texas A&M
Grade: A
I had Scourton as my 40th player, so the Panthers getting him at 51 is really good business. If the Panthers can keep him around the weight he was while he was at Purdue, they could get a player who is a blur off the edge with power and heavy hands. He also can defend the run really well, but has to work on finishing plays.
52. Tennessee Titans: Oluwafemi Oladejo, EDGE, UCLA
Grade: A-
This is one of my favorite players in this draft class, a high ceiling player who has the athleticism to win off the edge and is a better run defender than a former off-ball LB would have. The Titans need some juice with Harold Landry off the team, and Oladejo does that in spades. Love this pick.
53. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame
Grade: C+
Morrison is a very talented player, but coming off a hip injury and already being sorta stiff before that, I wonder why he was the pick over guys like Trey Amos or Azareye’h Thomas at this point. If the Bucs can get 2023 Morrison before his injury, this could be fun. But it’s a high risk coming off a hip injury.
54. Green Bay Packers: Anthony Belton, OL, NC State
Grade: D+
The first player that wasn’t on my top 100 to be picked, I’m stunned Belton goes this early. I think he’s more of a gap scheme lineman who is going to be a guard. I really question this pick for the Packers with a pressing need in the secondary still.
55. Los Angeles Chargers: Tre Harris, WR, Ole Miss
Grade: A
I had Harris at 57, so 55 here is good value for the Chargers. Harris is a legit outside receiver who has a lot more wiggle than his larger size would denote. He can win after the catch, but his role is going to be on the outside and winning downfield. Love this for the Chargers.
56. Chicago Bears: Ozzy Trapailo, OT, Boston College
Grade: C-
I had Trapailo at 98 on my final big board, but at 56 this feels like a massive stretch. Trapailo is a big dude who wants to finish blocks in the run game, but some stiffness is going to limit his ceiling.
57. TRADE: Detroit Lions (via Denver Broncos): Tate Ratledge, OG, Georgia
Grade: A
This is SUCH a Lions pick. Ratledge has shorter arms and is coming off an ankle injury, but he has a nasty demeanor and the power to affect the run game. He’s also a perfect fit for the culture in Detroit, and is a guy Dan Campbell probably loves.
58. Las Vegas Raiders: Jack Bech, WR, TCU
Grade: A-
Bech was at 64 on my final big board so it’s a bit of a reach, but he’s such a perfect scheme fit for the Raiders that it makes too much sense. Bech is a rugged blocker and is so good after the catch, where Chip Kelly can use him on the inside as a power slot. The Raiders are going to be hard to tackle in 2025.
59. Baltimore Ravens: Mike Green, EDGE, Marshall
Grade: B- on the field, F off the field
It’s hard to ignore what Green did off the field, with a sexual assault case that was the biggest reason he fell all the way to 59. For John Harbaugh, who after the Ray Rice case said the Ravens have “zero tolerance” for cases like Green’s, to pick Green, that statement falls very hollow.
On the field, Green is a different type of pass rusher from their normal body types. He’s got shorter arms, but his speed and burst off the ball is truly among the best in the class. If he can come in and be a valuable DPR it makes sense.
60. Denver Broncos: RJ Harvey, RB, UCF
Grade: A
Harvey was my 65th graded player, but also one of my favorite RBs in this class. A springy and bouncy runner with a low center of gravity, he’s going to make the Broncos offense much more explosive and dynamic as a runner and receiver. I love this pick for the Broncos, who need that explosiveness behind their powerful offensive line.
61. Washington Commanders: Trey Amos, CB, Ole Miss
Grade: A+
This is a phenomenal pick for the Commanders, a perfect scheme fit for Washington. Amos is a physical corner at the line of scrimmage who is better playing the ball when it’s in front of him. In Dan Quinn’s defense he could be a steal.
62. Chicago Bears: Shemar Turner, DT, Texas A&M
Grade: B-
Turner is a supremely athletic defensive tackle who can get up and down the line of scrimmage. In Dennis Allen’s one gap defense he could shore up some of their issues up the spine. If he keeps his penalties down, this could be nice value. Just wonder if better and more consistent players were on the board.
63. Kansas City Chiefs: Omarr Norman-Lott, DT, Tennessee
Grade: A
This is an awesome pick by the Chiefs, one that fits their defense really well. Norman-Lott doesn’t have the prototypical size but he’s got long arms and extremely quick crossing the face of a lineman. He’s a one gap vertical pass rusher who isn’t a run defender, but as a DPR on the inside next to Chris Jones this should be really good.
64. Philadelphia Eagles: Andrew Mukuba, S, Texas
Grade: A
I had Mukuba at 62 on my board, and the Eagles getting him at 64 is really nice value. He’s an instinctive safety who loves to mix it up close to the line of scrimmage despite his size. Coming off the roof of a defense he should be really good, and with the Eagles having enough size in front of him, he could be a playmaker next to Reed Blankenship.
