2025 NFL Draft Stock Up
Cam Ward, QB, Miami
Ward came through and carried his team to a win when the Hurricanes were being challenged by a quality opponent. In the fourth quarter, Ward led the Hurricanes to game-winning scores to top Louisville and stay undefeated. Ward finished completing 21-of-32 passes for 319 yards and four touchdowns. For the NFL, Ward looks like a potential starting quarterback. He has enough arm strength to stretch defenses vertically and can ad-lib his team into big plays. Ward has some running ability to buy time and hurt defenses with his ability to pick up yards on the ground. Like all college players, Ward has some things to work on for the NFL. He needs to get the ball out faster, as he has the habit of holding the ball too long. Ward puts a lot of pressure on his line by holding it for so long. Ward needs to speed up the process of reading defenses. Expanding his knowledge of coverages and fronts will help him to read faster. With the way Ward is playing this season, he has a real shot to be a first-round pick next April.
Jalon Walker, OLB, Georgia
In the first half against Texas, Walker was superb. Early in the second quarter, Walker got upfield with a bull rush against Banks and eventually got close enough to trip up Ewers for a sack. Shorty later, Walker worked his way off a few blocks and then took down Ewers when he stepped up in the pocket. Just before halftime, Walker was spying quarterback Arch Manning and chased him down for a sack. The very next play, Manning was strip-sacked, and Walker recovered the fumble. In the second half, Walker was rotated more as he was dealing with an injury. This was another tape that shows that Walker is an early-round talent for the 2025 NFL Draft.
Mykel Williams, DE, Georgia
Midway through the game, Williams had a tackle for a loss when he went unblocked, and early in the fourth quarter he had a huge play went he used a speed rush with strong hands to get a blindside strip-sack of Ewers. He had other pressures and hits on the quarterback. This tape showed that Williams has a top-20 skill set with size, speed, power, and athleticism. He is a dangerous base end with the ability to get after the quarterback.
Micah Morris, G, Georgia
The 6-foot-4, 330-pound Morris would be a starter at most schools, but at Georgia, he has been a backup for Tate Ratledge. With Ratledge injured, Morris has been impressive as the replacement. Morris is a tough run blocker at the point of attack and athletic in pass protection. Against Texas on Saturday night, the Bulldogs had a lot of success running behind Morris. He has the skill set to start in the NFL with good size, strength, quickness, and athleticism.
2025 NFL Draft Stock Down
Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama
Versus Tennessee, Milroe finished completing 25-of-45 passes for 239 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. As a passer, what Milroe does best is throw the deep ball. He is very accurate going deep and has superb ball placement when throwing vertically. The Volunteers took those plays away, and also kept Milroe from breaking off any long runs. When Milroe can’t use his legs or use his powerful arm, Milroe showed that he still needs improvement to thrive as a passer in the short to intermediate part of the field. Milroe needs to improve his accuracy, timing, and anticipation as a rhythm passer in the short to intermediate part of the field. This tape will hurt his draft grade.
Graham Mertz, QB, Florida
Mertz college career ended with a torn ACL. Mertz has a quality skill set as a rhythm passer that can work the short to intermediate part of the field well. However, Mertz did not impress in his limited time this season. Along with the ACL, he had a concussion to open the season. Mertz entered 2024 with late-round potential, but now Mertz looks like an undrafted free agent.
Shavon Revel, CB, East Carolina
Revel was superb in 2023 and had many NFL evaluators excited to watch him this season. After three games, Revel was off to a great start, but a torn ACL in practice ended his season. That injury denies Revel a chance to rise at the Senior Bowl or NFL Scouting Combine, and it also probably pushed Revel out of first-round consideration and made him more of a day-two pick for the 2025 NFL Draft.
Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri
Missouri was almost upset by Auburn last Saturday, and a big play that helped Auburn build a lead was a muffed punt by Burden. Along with the muffed punt, Burden was stifled by the Tigers defense. This season, a few opponents have been able to limit Burden and keep him from getting in a rhythm as a receiver. These tapes could cause some teams to view him as more of a No. 2 receiver for the NFL rather than a true No. 1.
