NFL Analysis

10/2/24

6 min read

2025 NFL Draft: 5 Prospects Shooting Up Boards This Season

By Ian Valentino

NFL/NFL Draft Analyst
Texas Longhorns wide receiver Isaiah Bond (7) scores a touchdown as the Texas Longhorns take on Mississippi State at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024.

The 2025 NFL Draft class continues to take shape as October arrives. With conference play underway, competition will ramp up for the top talents nationwide. The first five weeks of action have already led to several playmakers rising up draft boards.

Can the bright stars of September continue as the weather gets colder and the spotlight heats up? We'll see, but these five players have given themselves the chance to jump much higher than anyone projected this summer. 

>> READ MORE: Latest 2025 NFL Mock Draft

Draft Prospects Rising This Season

Each of these five stars has checked all the boxes needed thus far to be a force in the 2025 NFL Draft. They're showing major improvements on film, creating big plays, and hitting key advanced stat thresholds. 

Cam Ward, QB, Miami (FL)

There were preseason projections for guys like Quinn Ewers and Jalen Milroe to land in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft with a quality season, but Cam Ward had fewer best-case scenarios presented.

Ward was a good player with great physical traits at Washington State but consistently struggled as soon as the Cougars faced better competition. His move to Miami presented Ward with his first time on a team that was not at a talent disadvantage most weeks.

The 6-foot-2, 223-pound senior has responded quite well. He was almost flawless until facing Virginia Tech last week, showing off his beautiful throwing motion, excellent accuracy, and improved ability to play within a scheme and not over-creating. Some of his bad habits came back in the first half against Virginia Tech, but he recovered for a fantastic fourth quarter.

Ward's seen a big improvement in his non-play action attempts from previous years, including a deeper average depth of target, higher adjusted completion rate, fewer pressures taken, and fewer turnover-worthy throws. He's not holding the ball as long, and even when he does, better results are happening.

There aren't a ton of NFL teams seemingly in the market for a rookie right now, but we could see Ward benefit from sitting like Michael Penix is this season in Atlanta. The Rams, Browns, and both of the New York teams should be looking for options like Ward. 

Kaleb Johnson, RB, Iowa

Averaging 8.4 yards per carry, while tied with Ashton Jeanty for the most carries across the FBS, Kaleb Johnson is dragging Iowa to relevance in the Big Ten. While Jeanty has Johnson edged in touchdowns and missed tackles forced, Johnson has put himself in the conversation as a top-five back in the 2025 class. If it weren't for his Boise State counterpart's dominance, Johnson would be getting Heisman Trophy buzz.

225-pound players like Johnson rarely boast his downhill explosiveness and nimble feet to force defenders to whiff on direct hits. His powerful frame is daunting enough, but he was logged as the fourth-fastest running back of Week 2, so he will be a combine star as well.

It's unfair to say Johnson is the next Nick Chubb, but their games are so similar that it's easy to draw a parallel. NFL offenses can mold their entire identity around Johnson's explosiveness and punish defenses unwilling to stack the box. As offenses search to soften all of the two-high safety looks they're seeing, someone of Johnson's talent will be worth a second-round investment.

Georgia Bulldogs linebacker Jalon Walker (11) tackles Clemson Tigers quarterback Cade Klubnik (2) during the second half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports.

Jalon Walker, LB, Georgia

Expectations were for Mykel Williams to be the breakout superstar of this Georgia defense, but his ankle injury has derailed the early part of his season. Instead, hybrid linebacker and edge defender Jalon Walker is pushing his way into being LB1. Walker has already totaled 15 tackles, three tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks this year.

Walker's pass-rush ability, at 6-foot-2 and 245 pounds, is most notable. With 7.5 career sacks, Walker looks like what everyone hoped Harold Perkins would be in 2024 before he suffered a season-ending injury. The caveat is that Walker is better as an off-ball linebacker and has an NFL-ready size to bank on.

With the lack of options at linebacker and it shaping up to be a relatively weak class in terms of depth, Walker has a shot at making it into the end of the first round, with Kansas City, Philadelphia, and other top contenders looking to beef up the middle of their defense.

Harold Fannin, TE, Bowling Green

There's only one tight end in college football's top 60 leading pass-catchers right now, and it's Harold Fannin. Ranking sixth in yards, the 6-foot-4, 230-pounder is like a huge receiver posing as a tight end, but he's a mismatch at both positions. A smooth runner with strong hands and good quickness, Fannin is reminiscent of Buffalo Bills rookie Keon Coleman.

Offenses that want a big move tight end should love Fannin's ability to find space, finish through contact, and win against man coverage. Sometimes, these pseudo-tight ends struggle to fit in at the next level, but Fannin has graded positively as a blocker by PFF in each season he's played. It's unlikely he'll ever be George Kittle, but he must be functional enough to respect.

Michigan's Colston Loveland is the star of the 2025 tight end class. Still, Fannin has situated himself as No. 2. The receiving class lacks a lot of size, so Round 2 selection certainly seems plausible for Fannin if he runs as well as expected at the combine. 

Texas Longhorns wide receiver Isaiah Bond (7) reacts after a first down against the Colorado State Rams during the first half at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Aaron Meullion-USA TODAY Sports.

Isaiah Bond, WR, Texas

Speed never lies, and you sure can't teach it. After seeing Xavier Worthy land in the first round with Kansas City this past year, Isaiah Bond will almost surely join him as a Thursday night selection in 2025. The former Alabama star has seamlessly transitioned to his new situation at Texas.

ESPN's Matt Miller named Bond as someone NFL scouts are buzzing about, saying: "Bond has shown game-breaking speed, an ability to track the deep ball and a knack for creating yardage with the ball in his hands as a runner. One scout texted me after Bond's 56-yard catch-and-run touchdown against Louisiana-Monroe in Week 4: "I think [Bond] might be faster than Xavier Worthy."

Faster than Worthy seems crazy, but Bond's value goes beyond the combine time. He's smoother than Worthy as a route-runner already and is similar after the catch. With this receiver class only looking mediocre as far as depth, he should be an option for teams in the middle of the first round.

Tags: 2025 NFL Draft, NFL Draft

Ian Valentino

NFL/NFL Draft Analyst

Ian Valentino is an NFL and NFL draft contributor for The 33rd Team. He has covered all aspects of the NFL since 2013. He's previously provided scouting services to the NFL, XFL and CFL. He also has written for Bleacher Report, Complex Sports and Pro Football Network.

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