The first nine weeks of the 2024 college football season have seen some big performances from the 2025 NFL draft's top prospects. But where could those players land in April?
We asked draft analysts Mel Kiper Jr., Matt Miller, Steve Muench, Jordan Reid and Field Yates to pick the best NFL team fit for 10 intriguing 2025 prospects and then identify an under-the-radar pro team that could be a potential fit for each player. They broke down landing spots for five quarterbacks, Heisman Trophy front-runner Ashton Jeanty, Colorado dual-threat dynamo Travis Hunter and others.
To close, our analysts also emptied their notebooks with everything they have seen and heard over the past few weeks.
Jump to a prospect:
Sanders | Ward | Milroe | Beck | Ewers
Hunter | Johnson | McMillan | Jeanty | Carter
Latest draft buzz, notes
Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
Kiper's perfect fit: Las Vegas Raiders. Sanders will obviously go early, and the Raiders should be near the top of the draft. And I think about how new minority owner Tom Brady might impact the team's draft decisions. Brady was super accurate, tough and excellent in the pocket during his playing career -- which sounds a lot like the 6-foot-2, 215-pound Sanders. The senior's 73.3% completion rate is fourth in the country, and his 82.3 QBR from inside the pocket is 15th.
It seems like a really good fit for a Raiders team that needs a young starter under center. After missing out on all six first-round QBs in the 2024 class, Las Vegas has gotten mediocre play from Gardner Minshew and Aidan O'Connell this season. It's time for a long-term fix.
Kiper's sneaky fit: Cleveland Browns. Jordan picked Sanders to go to Cleveland in our latest mock a few weeks ago, so I'm not sure how sneaky I'm really being. But Deshaun Watson threw five TD passes over seven starts before rupturing an Achilles and going down for the season. In a division with Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow, Cleveland must find another answer at QB, even if there are significant salary cap consequences in doing so. Sanders could work out quite well for coach Kevin Stefanski and help get the Browns back to the playoffs.
Cam Ward, QB, Miami
Reid's perfect fit: New York Giants. With the Daniel Jones era likely ending after this season, Giants general manager Joe Schoen and coach Brian Daboll will finally get a chance to draft "their guy" at quarterback. The 6-foot-2, 223-pound Ward provides an exciting package of arm talent, poise and accuracy that the franchise has been seeking for quite some time. Daboll's scheme works best when engineered by a passer who can take advantage of intermediate and deep throws, which have been lacking in New York's offense. The playmaking and mobility of Ward would also help mask a lot of the shortcomings of the Giants' offensive line.
Pairing Ward's electrifying playmaking with young star receiver Malik Nabers would give the Giants an exciting offensive core to build around.
Reid's sneaky fit: Carolina Panthers. Hear me out. I don't necessarily think the Panthers should draft a QB in April, but if they decide to move on from Bryce Young, Ward would be an ideal replacement. He could bring life to what seems like a long-term rebuild. Ward fits well in the offense that Panthers coach Dave Canales likes to run, as his quick release and accuracy allow him to thrive in the short-to-intermediate areas. He also has the arm to execute in tight windows on deeper throws.
The Panthers will also need to bolster their receiving corps around 2024 first-rounder Xavier Legette; Diontae Johnson will be a free agent, while veteran Adam Thielen is near the end of his career. But Ward would provide an exciting quarterback option for a franchise that badly needs it.
Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama
Miller's perfect fit: Carolina Panthers. We don't know exactly what the Panthers' offense will look like in 2025, but Andy Dalton's respectable play indicates that there's a solid offensive framework in place. The offensive line has intriguing parts, Xavier Legette has shown promise as a rookie and a committee of running backs has generated solid results (and we haven't even seen Jonathon Brooks yet). Milroe's dual-threat ability could flourish in this situation. He has the arm strength to push the ball vertically to Diontae Johnson and can dial up heaters on slant routes to Legette and tight end Tommy Tremble. Unlike Bryce Young, Milroe's ability as a runner with his 6-foot-2, 225-pound frame would open up the offense and provide an immediate spark.
Miller's sneaky fit: Cleveland Browns. The Achilles injury suffered by Deshaun Watson will probably delay his start to the 2025 season. It's also possible the Browns are looking for a long-term replacement for Watson (his 23.5 QBR was the worst in the NFL entering Week 8) and not just a short-term fill-in. Cleveland's offensive line is stout, and running backs Nick Chubb and Jerome Ford are productive. The Browns also have David Njoku, who might be having the best season of any tight end, working between the seams. The wide receiver room needs to be upgraded after trading Amari Cooper, but the Browns could be a very sneaky team seeking a QB early in the '25 draft.
Carson Beck, QB, Georgia
Yates' perfect fit: Seattle Seahawks. I'll admit that I'm having a hard time finding a perfect spot for the 6-foot-4, 220-pound Beck, as his recent play has left much to be desired. The Seahawks provide an ideal situation for a young quarterback, though, as they wouldn't need him to play in 2025 with Geno Smith still under contract. They also have an excellent group of pass catchers. Beck was an excellent distributor in 2023, when he had top players to target, something Seattle could tap into.
Yates' sneaky fit: Pittsburgh Steelers. While the Steelers feel good about their top two quarterbacks right now, both Russell Wilson and Justin Fields are scheduled to be free agents in March. And while re-signing either player might prevent the Steelers from drafting a quarterback, Pittsburgh also knows the value of QB stability built through the draft. Offensive coordinator Arthur Smith wants his offense to be led by the running attack, but I believe a quarterback who can flourish in the vertical passing game is essential for playoff success.
Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas
Muench's perfect fit: San Francisco 49ers. Brock Purdy will be going into the final year of his rookie contract in 2025, and he may no longer be a lock to get an extension. He has struggled against man coverage, and the 49ers entered Week 8 with a 3-4 record. The 49ers could target the 6-foot-2, 210-pound Ewers late in the first round or even move up in the second -- they have multiple Day 2 picks -- to get him. Ewers has been inconsistent but would be arguably the most purely talented passer Kyle Shanahan has had since taking over as the 49ers' coach in 2017.
Muench's sneaky fit: Los Angeles Rams. I currently have a second-round grade on Ewers, and the Rams don't have a second-round pick after trading up for DT Braden Fiske in the 2024 draft. While there is time for Ewers to play himself back into the first round, he seems unlikely to be a top-10 pick. So the Rams might be in play for him later in the first round, perhaps via a trade back. Plus, I love the idea of Ewers backing up veteran quarterback Matthew Stafford while learning the offense and being coached by Sean McVay.
Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado
Kiper's perfect fit: New England Patriots. We're talking about the best player in the class, so the fit has to be a team likely to pick in the top five, if not earlier. The Patriots would love to have the 6-foot-1, 185-pound Hunter, regardless of what position he plays in the pros. Quarterback Drake Maye needs a legitimate WR1, and Hunter can be that guy. His hand-eye coordination, speed and ball skills are all excellent. But I could also see a world where coach Jerod Mayo puts him on defense, lining him up opposite Christian Gonzalez to form a great young cornerback duo. New England can't go wrong; Hunter has eight TD catches and two interceptions this season.
Kiper's sneaky fit: New Orleans Saints. I thought about the Titans here, too; they need help at receiver and corner, though their biggest hole might be quarterback if Will Levis can't get back on track. But the Saints are an interesting option. They have their quarterback in Derek Carr, but Carr could use another pass catcher opposite Chris Olave. At cornerback, Marshon Lattimore might not be in New Orleans' long-term plans, while Paulson Adebo will be coming off a broken femur.
While his defender pulls him to the ground, Travis Hunter still somehow hauls in the catch.
Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
Reid's perfect fit: Los Angeles Rams. The Rams are starting to find their groove after a slow start, but if they find themselves near the top of the draft, Johnson would be a perfect fit. Their secondary has struggled so far this season, and Johnson would provide an upgrade with his youth and talent. At 6-foot-2, 202 pounds, he's a true playmaker on the perimeter, as evidenced by his three career pick-sixes at Michigan (a school record).
Reid's sneaky fit: Jacksonville Jaguars. Jacksonville has considerable needs throughout its roster, but I'd like to see the Jaguars find a consistent corner to pair opposite Tyson Campbell. Johnson fits the man-coverage mold that the Jags prefer from their corners, as he can mirror and match in press coverage and already has good change-of-direction skills. Toss in his playmaking instincts, and Johnson has everything Jacksonville needs from its corners.
Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
Miller's perfect fit: Dallas Cowboys. Dallas is in desperate need of more options in the passing game, and McMillan's ability to win jump balls with his great length would work beautifully alongside CeeDee Lamb. McMillan's 6-foot-5, 212-pound frame makes him dynamic on 50-50 balls in both the red zone and the open field, and he has shown enough speed after the catch to be productive on screens and short routes where he has room to run post-catch. The Cowboys must expand their passing game, and McMillan's size and big-play production would prevent defenses from overfocusing on Lamb.
Miller's sneaky fit: Los Angeles Chargers. Jim Harbaugh might be a run-first coach, but even he knows the Chargers have to expand the passing game for quarterback Justin Herbert. The 2024 draft saw Los Angeles add Ladd McConkey, who can be great in the slot, but the offense lacks a true deep threat. McMillan's over-the-top speed and ability to win on contested passes would be a dream fit if he's still available when the Chargers are on the clock.
Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State
Yates' perfect fit: Dallas Cowboys. Most of us felt that the Cowboys should have addressed the running back position in the 2024 draft; it's a definite need in 2025. At 5-foot-9, 212 pounds, Jeanty is one of the 12 best players I've studied this season. But he has a wide range of where he could be selected, given the running back positional value in the NFL. That leads us to the Cowboys. Entering Week 8, the Cowboys ranked dead last in rushing yards per game (77.2) and had not gained more than 13 yards on a single carry. Jeanty would completely change the complexion of this offense.
Yates' sneaky fit: Las Vegas Raiders. Jeanty would be a fit for almost every team, save for those that have a top-of-market back or have made significant recent draft investments at the position (49ers, Lions, Packers, Eagles, Falcons, etc.). The Raiders are sneaky here because most people expect them to draft a quarterback in the first round in 2025 (including me). But highly drafted quarterbacks aren't a sure thing, so if the Raiders aren't in love with the first-round options, running back could be the direction they go. Coach Antonio Pierce would likely love adding Jeanty, as he has expressed a desire to have a dominant running game.
Abdul Carter, Edge, Penn State
Muench's perfect fit: New England Patriots. New England has plenty of holes on its roster, and the 6-3, 259-pound Carter has the tools to quickly develop into a difference-maker. The Patriots have the staff to unlock his awesome potential. Outside linebackers coach Matt Wilkins was the Giants' outside linebackers coach when 2022 No. 5 overall pick Kayvon Thibodeaux had 11.5 sacks in 2023, and he was the Ravens' outside linebackers coach when Matthew Judon was selected to two Pro Bowls.
Carter's talent and versatility also mirrors what inside linebackers coach and former Patriots Pro Bowl linebacker Dont'a Hightower provided during his playing days. Like Hightower, Carter can get to the quarterback from different launch points and drop into coverage when needed.
Muench's sneaky fit: New York Jets. Through eight weeks of the season, Will McDonald IV (the Jets' first-round pick in 2023) had the second-most sacks in the league, and the Jets were sixth as a team (23). And while 2022 first-round pick Jermaine Johnson is out after tearing his right Achilles tendon early in the season, he should be in good position to be ready for the start of the 2025 season. Lastly, Haason Reddick finally ended his holdout. So the Jets could have three talented edge rushers if they sign Reddick to an extension and Johnson gets healthy -- but that's a big "if."
With that in mind, drafting a talented edge rusher in the first round for the third time in four drafts isn't out of the question for New York.
What are you hearing from sources or seeing on tape this week?
Reid:
Coming into the season, the 2025 defensive line class was praised for its talent and depth. After a bit of a slow start, the D-line crop is beginning to show why it was so highly regarded. Two names in the SEC who weren't on the radar for many scouts at the beginning of the season but are being talked about now are South Carolina's Kyle Kennard and LSU's Bradyn Swinson. Kennard, a Georgia Tech transfer, has found his groove with the Gamecocks, racking up 8.5 sacks this season. He's a constant pressure generator with a 14.9% pressure rate off the edge this season (10th in FBS). Swinson, who's in a similar mold, has a knack for pressuring the QB. With five sacks over the past five games, he continues to trend upward. Both have received top-75 grades from scouts, and there are some who believe both pass rushers could enter the top-50 range by the end of the season.
Yates:
The NFL is largely cool on the 2025 QB class right now. That isn't to say the first round will be devoid of QBs -- I suspect that we could have five first-rounders if all the top QBs declare. But this class is viewed far less favorably than the 2024 group, where three blue-chippers (Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye) were atop many teams' boards. There is plenty of football left, and Sanders and Ward have stood tallest so far, but following a draft in which QBs expectedly went 1-2-3, this class is much less certain toward the top of the draft.
A debate is shaping up among evaluators over the top offensive tackle, and Kelvin Banks Jr. (Texas) and Will Campbell (LSU) are the main candidates. Scouts who have studied those programs are having a hard time finding glaring flaws in their games, as both are viewed as top-15 locks. While Banks brings more power, Campbell has elite movement skills in pass protection. Both have high NFL ceilings.
Muench:
I still like the talent at the top of the corner class, but injuries are complicating their overall rankings. Two of the top five corners on my board have sustained season-ending injuries, as Notre Dame's Benjamin Morrison underwent season-ending hip surgery earlier this month and East Carolina's Shavon Revel Jr. tore an ACL earlier this season. Meanwhile, Michigan's Will Johnson has missed two games. It's also unclear whether Travis Hunter's primary position will be corner or receiver, where he'd make more money.
Miami running back Damien Martinez might be flying under the radar, considering he's averaging fewer than 12 carries per game this season, but he has been outstanding in the Hurricanes' past two games. His power and determination are his greatest assets, but his footwork and burst through the hole have also stood out. Listed at 6-foot and 230 pounds, Martinez has the size and strength to compete in pass protection. This running back class could be loaded. And while there's a long way to go, Martinez is moving into the Day 2 conversation. He has rushed for 529 yards and eight TDs.
Kiper:
I want to highlight Georgia's Jared Wilson, my No. 1-ranked center in the class. I love his quickness and the way he fires out at the snap and gets to the second level. It's impressive for a 6-foot-3, 310-pound lineman. He's a first-year starter, but he has been a key to Georgia's blocking; he has given up just one pressure and zero sacks over 497 career snaps.
I've mentioned this before, but the H-back/fullback class is really good. Bowling Green's Harold Fannin Jr. is my top-ranked guy at the position, and his production is eye-popping. At 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds, he has 66 catches for 947 yards and six scores this season. In the Falcons' two games against ranked opponents this season (Penn State and Texas A&M), he had at least eight catches, 137 yards and a TD in each. He was a receiver and defensive back in high school, and those ball skills are evident. Fannin can stretch the deep middle, too. And then there is Vanderbilt's Eli Stowers (6-4, 225 pounds). He's a former quarterback who is explosive and dominates after the catch with his speed and strength. Don't sleep on this position group!
Harold Fannin Jr. makes the grab for 65-yard receiving touchdown
Here are two Iowa State standouts whom I love watching: cornerback Darien Porter (6-4, 200 pounds) and receiver Jaylin Noel (5-11, 200 pounds). Porter has a high school receiver/sprinter background, and his recovery speed is one of his best traits. But he's also super long, displays solid cover traits (two interceptions this season) and can chip in on special teams (four career blocked punts). Meanwhile, Noel is reliable in the slot and as a punt returner. He has really good hands and just caught eight balls for 153 yards on Oct. 19 against UCF. Porter and Noel are both early-Day 3 guys with third-round upside.
Three Day 3 sleepers to keep an eye on: Memphis receiver Roc Taylor is a power forward out there at 6-3 and 215 pounds who attacks the football. He had a drop on Saturday against Charlotte and rebounded for the game-winning TD catch. He could have a good NFL career. ... North Dakota State offensive tackle Grey Zabel has tremendous versatility at 6-6 and 305 pounds. He has starts at both tackle spots and both guard spots in his career. NFL offensive line coaches will love that flexibility, just as they will love the way Zabel gets to the second level. ... Ole Miss defensive tackle JJ Pegues is racking up tackles for loss. He has nine this season and 24.5 over 57 career games. The 6-2, 325-pounder has upside in the NFL as a rotational D-tackle with the ability to occasionally line up in the backfield on offense (he has five rushing touchdowns this season).