NFL Draft
1/20/25
7 min read
2025 NFL Draft: Stock Up, Stock Down From College Football Playoffs
The College Football Playoff concludes with an exciting matchup between Ohio State and Notre Dame, but NFL scouts have already gotten a very good glimpse at a handful of prospects ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft.
An expanded 12-team playoff may be a controversial decision for some fans, but for NFL scouts, it means more opportunities to watch the top prospects in the draft play against elite competition.
Now that there are just two teams left in the CFP, let's take a look at which players helped themselves in the eyes of scouts and which could see their stock falling.
Stock Up, Stock down From College Football Playoff
— dubs408 (@dubsvidstouse) January 1, 2025
Stock up: Cam Skattebo, RB, Arizona State 
There might not have been another prospect who helped himself out more than Cam Skattebo.
Despite dealing with flu-like symptoms on the sideline of the Peach Bowl, Skattebo played the game of his life in the loss to Texas. Not only did he rush for 143 yards and two scores, but he also led Arizona State with 99 receiving yards and even threw a 42-yard touchdown pass.
Skattebo isn't going to overtake Ashton Jeanty as RB1, but the former Sacramento State and ASU running back has clearly defined his future NFL role. He's a bowling ball, power back at 215 pounds with terrific contact balance and pad level to consistently break tackles and generate positive yards.
Even if he isn't a fluid back or a top-end speedster, Skattebo's play style will help him find a home at the next level.
Cam Skattebo's Full Scouting Report, Pro Comp
Stock Down: Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas 
The numbers don't look terrible for Quinn Ewers in his three CFP games, but the former No. 1 recruit wasn't able to do enough to move himself into that top tier of quarterback prospects in the 2025 draft.
While Ewers is talented, some of his biggest issues continued to show up in ugly ways during the team's playoff run. His deep ball touch is impressive at times, hitting his receivers in stride, but there are times when he puts too much loft on the ball, leading to turnover-worthy plays.
Ewers also struggled mightily when it came to handling pressure. In the SEC championship and three CFP games, Ewers was sacked 15 times with an unacceptable pressure-to-sack ratio of 29.4 percent. While he made some incredible plays late against Ohio State, he also found himself stepping directly into pressure when trying to move around in the pocket.
The postseason merely magnified what issues are holding Ewers back. Instead of erasing those issues heading into the NFL, scouts will only have more questions about his ability as an immediate starter at the next level.
Quinn Ewers' Full Scouting Report, Pro Comp
Abdul Carter vs Aamil Wagner pic.twitter.com/8iItMzEQ7v
— NMD Grant (@NMDgrant) January 10, 2025
Stock Up: Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State
It didn't matter that Abdul Carter was banged up in the College Football Playoff. The top-ranked EDGE in the draft continued to make a strong case as a potential No. 1 overall pick.
Despite a significant shoulder injury he suffered during the playoff, Carter put on an absurd performance against Notre Dame in his final college game. He generated a season-high eight pressures on Riley Leonard while coming away with a sack and a pass breakup in coverage.
For a player who is in his first season as a full-time EDGE, Carter's athleticism and explosiveness have been on full display all year. However, it's the competitive toughness to play through a shoulder injury for his team that scouts will love, and it will be a big reason why he'll be one of the first players taken in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Abdul Carter's Full Scouting Report, Pro Comp
Stock Down: Ajani Cornelius, OT, Oregon
Oregon right tackle Ajani Cornelius had a chance to move up draft boards with a strong performance in the Rose Bowl against Ohio State's pass rushers. Instead, he had one of his worst games of the season.
While he only gave up one sack, Cornelius was responsible for six pressures on Dillon Gabriel on only 54 pass-blocking snaps. That was the most pressures given up by Cornelius all season.
The Oregon right tackle has impressive play strength and can latch onto defenders in the run game. However, stiffness and the ability to handle speed rushers were a bit of a concern heading into the CFP. Cornelius didn't do much to ease scouts' concerns, and that could ultimately hurt his draft stock unless he's able to recover with a strong pre-draft process.
Matthew Golden is a highlight machine.
— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) January 13, 2025
His draft stock has exploded, averaging 95 yards per game in the last 6 games.
He displays awesome burst, speed, and body control as a route runner and pass catcher. Creates easy separation.
He will likely be a day 2 pick in April. pic.twitter.com/ISsWAxtkJE
Stock Up: Matthew Golden, WR, Texas
In a wide receiver class that was lacking another top-tier prospect outside of Tetairoa McMillan, Matthew Golden could now be competing with the likes of Luther Burden III and Emeka Egbuka for the WR2 spot.
Isaiah Bond was the Texas wide receiver prospect to watch heading into 2024, but a late-year breakout from Golden has him looking like a first-round pick. His game against Arizona State was his best of the year, catching seven passes for 149 yards and a touchdown.
What makes Golden so electric is his explosiveness and route-running ability. He does a great job of mixing speeds to set up defensive backs, but he also has the physicality and body control to come away with 50-50 balls or make acrobatic catches on the sideline.
Golden's versatility as a receiver makes him a quarterback's best friend and someone who will quickly have an impact at the next level.
Matthew Golden's Full Scouting Report, Pro Comp
Stock Down: Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia
For someone who was once considered a potential No. 1 pick, Mykel Williams went quiet in his team's last game of the season.
Despite the extra rest that came with a first-round bye, Williams was unable to have any kind of impact against Notre Dame as a pass rusher. He generated zero pressures on Leonard and had just one combined tackle in the game.
Williams is projected to be a developmental prospect with legitimate upside. He's extremely powerful and has a lengthy 6-foot-5, 265-pound frame. However, there have been times in 2024 when he's been unable to have the kind of impact scouts would like to see from a potential top-tier pick.
That's going to be a tough blemish on Williams' resume, but the athletic testing and pre-draft workouts could have scouts ignoring the no-show against Notre Dame to take a chance on his long-term potential.
Mykel Williams' Full Scouting Report, Pro Comp
Xavier Watts is playing at a sublime level right now. Trusts and believes in everything he is seeing and goes. As a middle safety here, no way he should be making this play, it’s Rod Heard’s player. But Watts sees it and wrecks it. Can’t account for that as an OC. pic.twitter.com/OOKy4XR51f
— Greg Flammang (@greg2126) December 21, 2024
Stock Up: Xavier Watts, SAF, Notre Dame
Xavier Watts has established himself as the best ball-hawking safety in college football, but that's not the only reason why his stock has climbed in the CFP.
Watts leads the nation with 13 interceptions in the last two seasons, adding 12 pass breakups and a pair of forced fumbles during that span. He came away with one of those interceptions in the first round against Indiana and has allowed just three receptions and no touchdowns when targeted in the Playoff.
However, Watts' run defense has stood out during this postseason run. He's had 25 tackles in the three CFP games, with just two missed tackles recorded by PFF. He shows great downhill explosiveness and good pursuit angles to consistently bring ball carriers down.
That kind of dual-threat ability is rare in a safety prospect, and it's a big reason why he could move up into the first round, especially if he can keep that momentum going in the national championship.
Xavier Watts' Full Scouting Report, Pro Comp
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