2025 NFL Draft Second-Day Values: Defense

In the recent weeks there have been a lot of questions about who are my value picks in the 2025 NFL Draft class. A value or sleeper prospect is basically a player that gets drafted after the first round and proves to be a steal. The second day of the draft is where the men are separated from the boys among NFL general managers. All the players have strengths and flaws, but the top evaluators find future starters and team building blocks on day two. Every year I pick my favorite day two values. In case the player I picked goes in the first round, I started picking two or three players in case one or two ends up being a first-round pick. If a player goes in the first round, I should not get credit calling him a day two value pick if he pans out. Here is my track record starting in 2008 going back to my time with Pewter Report.

This year, my top day-two values are J.T. Tuimoloau, Omarr Norman-Lott, and TreVeyon Henderson. It would not shock me if anyone of those three is a first-round pick, as they have a lot of fans with team sources.

Overall, this list is very strong, with a few exceptions, like the pairs in 2015 and 2016. I definitely hit on Sam LaPorta a couple of years ago, as he was one of the best tight ends in the NFL as a rookie. In other years, there were good selections like Brandon Flowers, Mike Wallace, Justin Houston, Derek Wolfe, Larry Warford, Jaylon Smith, Ronald Darby, and Deebo Samuel. Here is a breakdown of a top day-two value prospect at each position for the 2025 draft class. All the players will be prospects that are likely going on the second day of the draft. If a player is a possible late first-round pick, I generally don’t include them as an option.

Defensive Linemen

Omarr Norman-Lott, DT, Tennessee

Norman-Lott could be the most dynamic and talented interior pass rusher in the 2025 NFL Draft class. Norman-Lott has serious rush ability with speed at the point of attack to fire his gap and get penetration into the backfield. Norman-Lott would be a consensus first-round pick if he were stronger and more stout against the run. In 2024, his run defense was improved, so I believe he can become a three-down starter with continued development. A year ago, similar concerns were present with Braden Fiske, and he got his career off to an excellent start with the Rams. I think Norman-Lott could be a dynamite interior pass rusher who is a very valuable player in the passing-driven NFL. He is one of my top day-two values in the 2025 NFL Draft.

J.T. Tuimoloau, DE, Ohio State

Tuimoloau could sneak into the end of the first round, according to multiple team evaluators. They feel he is a day-two pick, but the possibility is real that he could be a surprise first-rounder. The 6-foot-4, 265-pounder Tuimoloau has an excellent bull rush with powerful hands to shed blockers and toss them to the side. Tuimoloau plays with very good leverage not standing up too high and using power and speed as he works way upfield. Tuimoloau can win with power or speed, and also is strong to set the edge in the ground game. In 2024, Tuimoloau had 12.5 sacks, 61 tackles, two forced fumbles, and three passes batted to help Ohio State win the National Championship. He has upside, and I think he could turn into a very good starting end in the NFL.

Tyleik Williams, DT, Ohio State

Williams jumped out to me in the 2023 season when he had some very impressive plays getting the better of future top-five pick Joe Alt. Williams showed interior pass rush in collge including a five sack season in 2021, and 5.5 sacks coming in the next few years as a rotational player. A good skill set can be seen with Williams being able to win with power or speed. He also is a strong and stout run defender. To top it off, sources say Williams is a great kid and high character individual that will be an asset in the locker room. As long as he can keep his weight and conditioning under control, I think Williams is going to be a day-two steal.

Linebacker

Danny Stutsman, LB, Oklahoma

Stutsman is an instinctive defender that is very smart, loves football, and could be an overachiever. As a run defender, Stutsman is a tackling machine, and he is very good at snuffing out runs in the tackle box and going to the perimeter. Stutsman is an instinctive linebacker who reads his keys quickly and uses that intelligence to put him in a position to make tackles. It definitely comes across on the tape that Stutsman is an intelligent linebacker who studies and is a student of the game. Stutsman has good speed and is fast in a straight line to chase down backs. Along with being quick, Stutsman is a quality athlete, showing the ability to maneuver through trash and hunt down the ball carrier. Stutsman lacks ideal strength and physicality for taking on and shedding blocks, but he has the capacity to improve at that for the NFL. I think quickly in his career, Stutsman is going to develop into a quality three down starter.

Cornerbacks

Trey Amos, CB, Ole Miss

The 6-foot-1, 195-pound Amos has good size, showed speed at the combine, and has excellent tape from his final season with the Rebels and previous year at Alabama. With his skill set, Amos definitely has the physical tools to play in the NFL. Amos has quality size with good length to match up against big receivers. Along with having size, Amos has good instincts and plays with good technique. Amos has a burst to close when playing in zone, and he is capable of playing press or off-man coverage. Between his awareness, athleticism, height, and length, Amos has nice recoverability to make up ground if he gives up some separation. Amos has quality route recognition and is smooth to run in coverage to prevent separation.

With big cornerbacks, a natural issue is stiffness, but Amos is an excellent athlete with smooth twitch. He is fluid and loose to flip his hips to run with receivers. His athleticism can be seen by allowing him to redirect and break on the ball over the 2024 season. In his senior season, Amos showed impressive ball skills to make interceptions and slap passes away. His ball skills are a nice cherry on top for an athletic corner who could be very good in zone or man coverage as a pro. Amos could sneak into the first round, but if he gets to day two he will be a steal for someone.

Safety

Xavier Watts, S, Notre Dame

Watts has 13 interceptions the past two seasons and that is no accident. The trait that really stands out the most about Watts is his superb instincts. Watts seems to be a step ahead of the offense on many plays, with excellent anticipation and route recognition. Watts is a true ballhawk with his ability to undercut passing lanes and pick the ball off. He has soft hands and is a dangerous defender to test in coverage. Watts is superb in zone coverage as the deep free safety or playing in the intermediate part of the field. Watts is a true ballhawk who could produce significant interception totals on a consistent basis. For the NFL, Watts is a versatile safety who can play free or strong safety. He is a willing tackler in run support, as he will come downhill. Watts is inconsistent in his tackling, and that could stand to improve that for the next level. Watts could be an excellent value pick on day two.