2025 NFL draft: Pro comparisons for Travis Hunter, Abdul Carter and other top 10 players
We're just two weeks away from the NFL scouting combine and learning more about the top prospects in the 2025 NFL draft. That's the first major milestone of the offseason and marks two months until the draft in April.
This class lacks a lot of the top-end talent seen last season, especially on offense and at quarterback. The latest consensus top 50 players leans defense-heavy at the top with just eight full-time offensive players in the top 20 prospects.
As the collective focus turns from the playoffs to the offseason and the draft, we're here to get you up to speed on the top players you need to know. Using that consensus big board, we picked out the top 10 players by average ranking.
Here are their strengths, weaknesses and comparisons to past or current NFL players.
2025 NFL draft: Pro comparisons for top 10 prospects
1. Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado
The 2024 Heisman Trophy winner truly is a unicorn of a prospect. We've never seen a two-way player as consistently productive on both sides of the ball as Hunter in the modern era. He has a very legitimate case as the best wide receiver and the best cornerback prospect in this class.
He's a playmaker on offense and defense. As a wide receiver, his rare movement skills make him an impressive player on offense who can be used in a variety of ways. His football instincts consistently put him in position to win and has the frame to be a ball-winner.
That frame, elite athleticism and instincts make him a good man coverage corner and an excellent zone corner. His skills at wide receiver translate very well to defense as a ballhawking playmaker. Despite a somewhat lean frame at 6-foot-1 and 185 lbs., he's a willing tackler in run defense. He could use some improvement in footwork and technique at cornerback but those are very small blemishes for the top player in the class.
Pro comparison: Champ Bailey
It's a lot to compare a prospect to a Hall of Famer but Bailey's the only one whose come close to doing what Hunter did on both defense and offense in college.
2. Abdul Carter, Edge, Penn State
Carter's gaining attention as potentially the No. 1 overall pick in the class. Few will argue that Carter is a better prospect at this point than Hunter but the Penn State product plays a more valuable position.
That's not to take away from Carter as a prospect. He is a rare athlete off the edge who is still learning the position after playing off-ball linebacker for the Nittany Lions for the last two seasons. His athleticism and background at off-ball linebacker make him a movable piece on the defense. He's comfortable dropping into coverage or rushing the passer.
Because he's relatively new to edge, he still needs to improve in run defense and block recognition. He stands 6-foot-3 and close to 260 lbs. so play strength could be a concern against NFL tackles early on.
Pro comparison: Shades of Von Miller, Will Anderson Jr.
Carter has comparable athleticism and bend to Miller and versatility like Anderson Jr.
3. Mason Graham, DT, Michigan
Graham may be one of the safest prospects in the top 10. He has a very high floor as a run defender who uses his wrestling background to out-leverage blockers. At 6-foot-3 and 320 lbs., he's a mountain of strength and violent hands in the middle. He's instinctual right off the ball and has the twitchy athleticism to be a top-tier NFL interior defender.
Graham needs to improve in multiple areas to reach his ceiling, though. He has the tools to be a better pass rusher but hasn't put that on tape yet. He can struggle against double teams and he lacks the length of elite defensive tackles like Jalen Carter or Dexter Lawrence.
Pro comparison: Christian Wilkins
Graham's low pad level, leverage and run defense floor is reminiscent of Wilkins.
4. Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
Jeanty put together one of the best seasons by a running back in college football this past fall for the Broncos. He headlines what is one of the best running back classes in years and is absolutely one of the top five talents in the class as a whole, regardless of position.
Jeanty's calling cards are elite contact balance and vision the likes of which we haven't seen from a prospect in years. Standing 5-foot-9 and 215 lbs., he's a bowling ball who defenders just bounce off of. He would have led the country in rushing in 2024 if you only counted his yards after contact. He's patient when hitting gaps and can easily fit into multiple running schemes.
He's fast but lacks the breakaway speed seen at the position in the NFL. Boise State didn't ask him to do much as a receiver so he's unproven in that area. Ball security can also be a concern after two alone in the Broncos' loss to Penn State in the Fiesta Bowl.
Pro comparison: Shades of DeAngelo Williams, Doug Martin, LaDainian Tomlinson's contact balance
That's a wide range but he has a bit of each. He's a similar size to Williams but can run more explosively like Martin with the rare contact balance Tomlinson had for years.
5. Will Campbell, OL, LSU
Campbell's the top offensive lineman prospect in the class but it's still uncertain where he will line up in the NFL. His background is stellar at tackle for the Tigers but there are some size questions that could see teams move him inside to guard.
Campbell's athleticism is impressive. On a 2023 team featuring Jayden Daniels, Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr., Campbell was awarded the Number 7 patch given every year to LSU's top playmaker. He was the first offensive lineman to earn that award and he kept it in 2024 as the incumbent left tackle.
His athleticism pairs well with good hand usage, footwork, play strength and body control. He was a team leader as well and considered a high-character prospect.
Campbell stands 6-foot-6 and around 320 lbs. but can struggle against wide-9 style edge rushers, especially elite athletes who can use speed to power. Campbell struggled in LSU's games against Texas A&M and South Carolina this past season. His arm length may ultimately be the reason he moves inside. If his arms are on the shorter side, teams will be concerned about how he could handle NFL speed at edge.
Pro comparison: Peter Skoronski, David DeCastro
Both Skoronski and DeCastro were athletic offensive line prospects who ended up on the interior due to arm length concerns.
6. Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
Starks is one of many Bulldogs who will hear their names called in the first round. Like Jeanty, he may have to wait longer than others in the top 10 because he plays an undervalued position.
Starks started as a true freshman for Georgia's championship-winning 2022 team for good reason and has only improved from there. He combines elite athleticism, length and football IQ to be a movable piece in the secondary. At 6-foot-1 and 205 lbs., he has the size and attitude to hit in the running game as well. He thrives in zone coverage and run support with a physical play style.
He has struggled at times in man coverage situations, specifically with positioning, something that could be improved with proper coaching. His biggest weakness is against faster receivers in the slot.
Pro comparison: Kevin Byard, Jessie Bates III
Starks is built like Bates III with similar versatility and plays the run like Byard did from the safety position as a prospect.
7. Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
Johnson was a key piece of the Wolverines' 2023 national championship team. He missed time with injury in 2024 but should still hear his name called early in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft.
Johnson combines ideal size (6-foot-2, 200 lbs.) at boundary corner with great athleticism and good ball skills. In 32 college games, he has nine interceptions (including three pick-sixes) and 10 passes defensed. He's a physical and willing tackler in run defense and uses his play recognition and football IQ to read and react quickly to plays.
Johnson had a season-ending injury after an up-and-down first six games in 2024 that may see him slide. He is far less effective in the slot than outside. His bigger frame may limit him in transitions in off-coverage in the NFL.
Pro comparison: Jaycee Horn, James Bradberry
Johnson's frame and eye discipline is very similar to Horn with the ball skills Bradberry entered the league with (at a similar size as well).
8. Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
McMillan is the consensus top wide receiver-only in the class and that means he'll likely be a top-10 player.
McMillan pairs productivity with promise at the next level. In the last two seasons combined, he led college football in catches of 20-plus yards (42), receiving yards (2,721) and first downs (112). At 6-foot-5 and 215 lbs., his massive catch radius is a plus at the next level even before considering his abilities at the catch point. His route running and fluid athleticism make him a threat in the short and intermediate passing game, too.
His frame is a bit lean for his height. He held up against college cornerbacks but will face more physicality at the NFL level. He's neither a burner nor a twitchy athlete. He needs to improve his releases against press coverage as well.
Pro comparison: Drake London, Tee Higgins
London and Higgins don't blow you away with athleticism but both are fluid route runners who can dominate at the catch point, much like McMillan.
9. Mykel Williams, Edge, Georgia
Williams played the 2024 college football season with an ankle injury but put up impressive tape at times, especially against Texas and their two future NFL linemen. If he checks out medically, NFL teams could view him as one of the top edge rushers in the class behind Carter.
Williams has impressive athleticism for one of the bigger edges in the class at 6-foot-5 and 265 lbs. He's twitchy off the line and has absurd length to keep in front of offensive linemen. He's a powerful edge rusher, too, with the strength to be a plus run defender early on in the NFL. His body control makes him a good fit for the kinds of stunts and twists often used by NFL defenses.
This ankle injury follows a foot injury in spring 2023, giving some durability concerns. He needs to improve his pass rush plan in the NFL; his athletic traits alone won't make him a double-digit sack player. His hand usage needs improvement, too, to keep offensive linemen from getting into his body on pass rush snaps.
Pro comparison: Aldon Smith, Greg Rousseau
Williams' comically long frame is reminiscent of Smith and Rousseau. He has similar areas to improve on as Rousseau did as a prospect, specifically with hand usage.
10. Jalon Walker, LB/Edge, Georgia
Walker is one of the more fascinating talents in the 2025 NFL draft. He has the tape to project as an effective player at edge or off-ball linebacker and can be a movable piece for NFL teams.
Despite standing 6-foot-2 and 245 lbs., Walker has the length to be effective off the edge against both the run and pass. He's yet another twitchy, impressive athlete from Georgia's defense. He can cover running backs or tight ends in man or zone assignments and can win with speed and bend off the edge.
Because he's a hybrid player, Walker has a high ceiling but a low floor. He's inexperienced off the edge and that shows up at times when he takes on blocks. If he stays at edge full-time in the NFL, he will likely need to bulk up a bit and improve his hand usage.
Pro comparison: Nolan Smith, Kyle Van Noy
Smith faced questions at edge coming out of college, as does Walker, and both are impressive athletes. Van Noy showcased similar versatility at multiple positions.