Live 2025 NFL Draft Grades: Round 3

2025 NFL Draft Grades for Round 3:

65. New York Giants: Darius Alexander, DT, Toledo – A- Grade
    The Giants lead off Round 3 with a solid pick. Darius Alexander gets good pressure on the quarterback, so given the talent level at quarterback in the division, it makes sense for the Giants to bolster their front seven.
    
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66. Kansas City Chiefs: Ashton Gillotte, DE, Louisville – C Grade
    Ashton Gillotte was very productive at Louisville, but I don’t know if he’ll translate to the NFL. He has height and length issues, so the upside may not be there. Still, he improved each year in college, so perhaps he’ll defy the odds.
    
    
67. Cleveland Browns: Harold Fannin, TE, Bowling Green – C Grade
    OK, this is getting ridiculous with Shedeur Sanders. I like Harold Fannin as a nifty receiving threat at tight end who reminds me of Chris Cooley. However, the Browns need a quarterback, and Shedeur Sanders is there. Just take him already.
    
    
68. Las Vegas Raiders: Darien Porter, CB, Iowa State – B Grade
    Cornerback has been an issue for a long time. Perhaps Darien Porter will solve that issue. Porter is a big cornerback who fits this range, but there are some speed concerns with him.
    
    
69. New England Patriots: Kyle Williams, WR, Washington State – B+ Grade
    This is an obvious need. The Patriots have nothing at receiver, and that includes Stefon Diggs, who is coming off a torn ACL. Kyle Williams is a third-round prospect who could have easily gone late in the second, so I like this pick for New England.
    
    
70. Detroit Lions: Isaac TeSlaa, WR, Arkansas – MILLEN Grade
    The Lions moved up for Isaac TeSlaa!? I don’t mind the prospect, as TeSlaa is an athletic player with upside, but I had him in the fourth or fifth round. I’ve heard some evaluate him in the seventh. There was no reason to trade up for TeSlaa, who easily could have been available late in the third.
    
    
71. New Orleans Saints: Vernon Broughton, DT, Texas – C- Grade
    Vernon Broughton didn’t have the best production in school, but he has a huge frame and possesses some upside. I’m not surprised that the Saints are drafting someone with major potential, but they probably could have gotten Broughton a round later.
    
    
72. Buffalo Bills: Landon Jackson, DE/DT, Arkansas – A+ Grade
    The Bills definitely watched the Super Bowl. They’re arming themselves with as many pass rushers as possible to finally take down the Chiefs. I love this pick. Not only does it fill an obvious need, but the highly athletic Jackson easily could have gone in the second round, or perhaps even earlier.
    
    
73. New York Jets: Azareye’h Thomas, CB, Florida State – A+ Grade
    The Jets lost a starting cornerback in free agency, so they had to find a replacement. Azareye’h Thomas is a very tall cornerback who covered at a high level in school, and he has the stamp of approval from Aaron Glenn, which has to count for something. I had him in the first or second round the entire time, so I love the value.
    
    
74. Denver Broncos: Pat Bryant, WR, Illinois – MILLEN Grade
    I have to give a Millen grade to the first pick who didn’t make it into my mock draft, and that would be this one. Pat Bryant was seen as a sixth-round prospect at best, so this is a mega reach. The Broncos needed a receiver, but there were many superior wideouts available.
    
    
75. San Francisco 49ers: Nick Martin, LB, Oklahoma State – C- Grade
    Nick Martin was expected to be a value pick later in the draft because of his injury history. He’s a tackling machine when healthy, but the 49ers reached for him, as they could have taken him in the fifth round. They’re filling a need potentially, but there were better value options.
    
    
76. Dallas Cowboys: Shavon Revel, CB, East Carolina – A+ Grade
    What a steal! The Cowboys have more than made up for their first-round gaffe. Shavon Revel was getting some first-round buzz, so there’s no reason he should have fallen to the third round. There’s an injury, but not a major one. What a steal for Dallas.
    
    
77. Carolina Panthers: Princely Umanmielen, DE, Ole Miss – B+ Grade
    Princely Umanmielen was someone I had in the first round once upon a time, so I like this value. Umanmielen has some nice potential, and I like that the Panthers are continuing to address their horrible pass rush.
    
    
78. Arizona Cardinals: Jordan Burch, DE, Oregon – A Grade
    I love this value. I once had Jordan Burch in the first round, but settled on him being in the second. He is an athletic edge player who should be able to help the Cardinals rush the passer.
    
    
79. Houston Texans: Jaylin Noel, WR, Iowa State – B Grade
    Jaylin Noel was very productive at Iowa State, but came with some size and speed concerns until he ran a very fast 40 at the combine. It makes sense to take him here, as he was pegged as a third-round prospect. Houston needs to continue adding receivers to its troubled group.
    
    
80. Indianapolis Colts: Justin Walley, CB, Minnesota – B+ Grade
    The Colts have a questionable secondary, so it makes sense to draft someone like Justin Walley, whom I had in the second round consistently. He’s an instinctive cornerback who should help Indianapolis stop the pass. Solid pick.
    
    
81. Cincinnati Bengals: Dylan Fairchild, G, Georgia – B+ Grade
    Dylan Fairchild is a nasty blocker who fits right into the Bengals. Cincinnati was desperate for help at guard, so I thought it could address the position in the first round. Fairchild makes sense as a third-round prospect.
    
    
82. Tennessee Titans: Kevin Winston, S, Penn State – B+ Grade
    The Titans couldn’t stop the pass last year, so they had to find help in their secondary. Kevin Winston was projected in the third round, and I saw some second-round consideration for him despite an ACL tear. This is a pretty solid pick for Tennessee.
    
    
83. Pittsburgh Steelers: Kaleb Johnson, RB, Iowa – A+ Grade
    The Steelers addressed their backfield, but not with Shedeur Sanders. They couldn’t risk offending Aaron Rodgers here, however, so they had to go with a running back, given their need at the position. Kaleb Johnson is an excellent running back prospect who should have gone in the second round.
    
    
84. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Jacob Parrish, CB, Kansas State – B Grade
    Another cornerback makes sense for the Buccaneers, who haven’t been able to stop the pass for years. He was projected to be a third- or a fourth-round prospect, so this selection makes sense for multiple reasons.
    
    
85. Kansas City Chiefs: Nohl Williams, CB, California – B+ Grade
    Nohl Williams is a tough cornerback with nice size. He received lots of interest late in the pre-draft process, so I’m not surprised to see him go in the third round. The Chiefs needed a cornerback, so this pick makes sense.
    
    
86. Los Angeles Chargers: Jamaree Caldwell, NT, Oregon – B+ Grade
    The Chargers have struggled to stop the run at times, so they needed to address their weakness at defensive tackle. Jamaree Caldwell is a big run-stuffer who will help the Chargers right away. He makes sense here in the third round.
    
    
87. Green Bay Packers: Savion Williams, WR, TCU – B+ Grade
    The Packers got their speed receiver in the first round with Matthew Golden. Now, they get their huge possession guy in Savion Williams. The TCU product is 6-foot-5, so he’ll be a big end zone threat for “No Cookie” Jordan Love.
    
    
88. Jacksonville Jaguars: Caleb Ransaw, CB/S, Tulane – A- Grade
    The Jaguars needed a cornerback (despite the Travis Hunter pick) and a safety. They got both with Caleb Ransaw! The Tulane product can play all over the secondary, whether it’s at cornerback or safety. He makes sense in this range.
    
    
89. Jacksonville Jaguars: Wyatt Milum, G/OT, West Virginia – A Grade
    More protection for Trevor Lawrence is welcome. Wyatt Milum is very versatile, as he can play both tackle and guard. I thought he could go earlier than this. Trevor Lawrence has to be thrilled with this draft.
    
    
90. Los Angeles Rams: Josaiah Stewart, DE/OLB, Michigan – B+ Grade
    More pass rush for the Rams, who gave the Eagles more problems than any other team in the playoffs. Josaiah Stewart is a dangerous pass rusher, but he’s undersized. Still, he should be a good player in the NFL.
    
    
91. Baltimore Ravens: Emery Jones, OT, LSU – A+ Grade
    Surprise, surprise, another A+ grade for the Ravens. I had Emery Jones going in the first round once upon a time. I eventually moved him to the second frame, so I love his value in the latter half of the third round. The Ravens needed one more lineman, so Jones potentially fills a need as well.
    
    
92. Seattle Seahawks: Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama – B Grade
    Jalen Milroe over Shedeur Sanders is kind of insane. When Milroe was getting first-round buzz, I thought that would have been utterly awful. Milroe is a horrible passer right now, but he has upside and great mobility. He makes much more sense in the third round.
    
    
93. New Orleans Saints: Jonas Sanker, S, Virginia – B- Grade
    Jonas Sanker is a safety with nice size and speed, though this doesn’t really fill a need. This is about the right range to draft Sanker, but the Saints could have gone with some players who could have helped them more than Sanker.
    
    
94. Cleveland Browns: Dillon Gabriel, QB, Oregon – MILLEN TO THE MILLENTH POWER Grade
    HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. DILLON GABRIEL OVER SHEDEUR SANDERS HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. Oh man. Wow. Dillon Gabriel is a small quarterback with no NFL skill set. Holy crap, the Browns are morons.
    
    
95. New England Patriots: Jared Wilson, C, Georgia – A+ Grade
    We go from one of the dumbest picks of all time to an A+ selection. Jared Wilson is a great choice. The Patriots needed to add three offensive linemen in this class, including a center, and Jared Wilson is highly athletic with lots of upside.
    
    
96. Atlanta Falcons: Xavier Watts, S, Notre Dame – A+ Grade
    How did Xavier Watts fall to the third round? I thought he’d go in the middle of the second frame. This is a superb pick, as Watts is a dynamic play maker. This is a steal for the Falcons.
    
    
97. Houston Texans: Jaylin Smith, CB, USC – C+ Grade
    Jaylin Smith is a very versatile defensive back who can play any position in the secondary, but he’s raw and needs to get stronger for the NFL. I’m not sure the Texans needed to trade up for him.
    
    
98. Las Vegas Raiders: Caleb Rogers, G, Texas Tech – A+ Grade
    I love this pick. The Raiders are addressing their offensive line once again, which is automatically a plus. Caleb Rogers is an extremely agile offensive lineman who possesses insane upside. He was one of my favorite sleepers this year.
    
    
99. Las Vegas Raiders: Charles Grant, OT, William & Mary – B+ Grade
    I don’t like this offensive line pick as much as the Caleb Rogers selection, but I’m still a fan. Charles Grant is a quick and athletic blocker who was very consistent in school. The level of competition is a concern, but that’s why Grant lasted until the third round.
    
    
100. San Francisco 49ers: Upton Stout, CB, Western Kentucky – C- Grade
     Upton Stout is a small cornerback who projects as a slot cornerback in the NFL. He’s a gritty player, but I had him projected late in the draft, and I didn’t hear of anyone slotting him in the third round. The 49ers needed help for their secondary, but this is a reach.
     
     
101. Denver Broncos: Sai’Vion Jones, DE, LSU – A- Grade
     Sai’Vion Jones entered college with high upside with his great athleticism. He then didn’t accomplish much in college and was seen as a disappointment, but he thrived in the Senior Bowl. The Broncos didn’t really need an edge rusher, but no team can ever have enough players to rush the passer.
     
     
102. Minnesota Vikings: Tai Felton, WR, Maryland – B Grade
     Tai Felton is a tall receiver who had surprising speed during his testing drills during the pre-draft process. I had him in the fourth round, and we’re basically in the fourth round with the final pick in the third frame. The Vikings needed receiving depth, so this pick makes sense.