NFL Draft 2025: Grades for Every Second- and Third-Round Pick

Rounds 2-3 Mock Draft | Day 2 Best Available | Round 1 Grades | Round 1 Winners and Losers

The first round of the 2025 NFL draft is in the books. That was the easy part for NFL teams. Rounds 2 through 7 is where the legitimate contenders separate themselves from the pretenders. 

The first-round prospects dominated the headlines and talk shows in the months leading up to the draft, but there’s often plenty of talent that comes from Day 2. Last year, Cooper DeJean, Ladd McConkey, Braden Fiske, Edgerrin Cooper and T’Vondre Sweat were all taken in the second round. DeJean went from daydreaming about intercepting a Patrick Mahomes pass to actually doing it in the Super Bowl for a memorable pick-six. 

Who are the next stars from Rounds 2 and 3? We’ll do our best to assess that with our instant grades for each pick Friday night, ranging from Nos. 33–102.

Let’s get to it.

ROUND 2

33. Cleveland Browns

Carson Schwesinger, LB, UCLA

Schwesinger went from a walk-on special teams contributor to becoming UCLA’s starting middle linebacker last season. He will now make plays for the Browns next to Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah. 

Considered by many as the second-best pure off-ball linebacker in this class—behind the Philadelphia Eagles’ Jihaad Campbell—Schwesinger flourished with his nose for the ball and sideline-to-sideline speed. The fast processor and reactor racked up 136 tackles, four sacks and two interceptions in his breakout season for the Bruins. —GM

Scouting report: Schwesinger’s meteoric three-year rise from walk-on to first-team All-American was spearheaded by an impressive mix of athleticism, instincts and size. At 6' 2½" and 243 pounds, Schwesinger has the speed, fluidity and footwork to cover significant ground in zone coverage and make plays laterally against the run. He’s smart, processes quickly and fills gaps well when playing the run. Schwesinger’s pure take-on ability against blockers isn’t advanced, and he needs to get stronger at the next level. But his blend of range, instincts, tackling and special teams background should get him drafted early on Day 2. —Daniel Flick

Grade: A

34. Houston Texans

Jayden Higgins, WR, Iowa State

Higgins has all the size anybody could ask for at 6' 4"and 214 pounds, while also running a 4.47 40-time. At Iowa State, Higgins caught 53 passes for 983 yards after transferring from Eastern Kentucky prior to the 2023 season. Last year, Higgins registered 87 receptions for 1,183 yards and nine touchdowns. —MV

Scouting report: Higgins is a big-bodied receiver with long strides, suddenness and elusiveness after the catch. He is a physically imposing receiver with 33⅛-inch arms, creating a friendly window for quarterbacks. He’s quick, fluid and clean entering and exiting breaks, and while he’s not a burner, his stride length helps him accelerate past corners downfield. Higgins is strong and competitive at the catch point, and he’s an above average wideout in contested-catch situations. Higgins has the size, physicality, hands and nuance to be a quality starting receiver early at the next level.

Grade: B

35. Seattle Seahawks

Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina

Nobody tested better at the combine than Emmanwori, who is a physical freak in every capacity. Measuring at 6' 3" and 220 pounds, the South Carolina safety ran a 4.38 40-time with a 43" vertical jump and a 11' 6" long jump. Emmanwori was first-team All-SEC and first-team All-American in 2024 with 88 tackles, four interceptions and a pair of touchdowns. —MV

Scouting report: Emmanwori had one of the greatest NFL combine performances of all time relative to his position. He’s explosive and eats up space, which helps him make plays sideline to sideline when roaming the box and in pursuit. Emmanwori’s ability to take on blocks in run support runs hot and cold. In man coverage, his transitional quickness and route recognition are only average, which creates clear passing windows when receivers exit breaks. Emmanwori has experience as a single-high safety, but he’s best suited to roam the box, cover tight ends and make plays working laterally. —DF

Grade: A

36. Cleveland Browns

Quinshon Judkins, RB, Ohio State

Judkins is a physical freak, standing 6' 0" and 221 pounds while running a 4.48 40-time. Before transferring to Ohio State, Judkins starred for two seasons with Ole Miss, rushing for 2,725 yards and 31 touchdowns. Then, for the Buckeyes in 2024, he split time with TreVeyon Henderson and ran for 1,060 yards and 14 scores. He has all the makings of a star back. —MV

Scouting report: Judkins eclipsed 1,000 rushing yards in each of his three collegiate campaigns. He’s a decisive runner who hits his top gear quickly and can collect yards inside and outside, though he lacks breakaway speed and elusiveness in space. Judkins is a power-oriented runner who’s adept at lowering his shoulder, running through arm tackles and falling forward after contact. While not a high-end pass catcher, he’s functional out of the backfield and a physical, willing blocker. —DF

Grade: A-

37. Miami Dolphins

Jonah Savaiinaea, G, Arizona

The Dolphins finally added offensive line help. The 6' 4", 342-pound Savaiinaea displayed versatility and durability in three seasons with the Wildcats. 

Savaiinaea, who started in all 36 games he appeared in, played left tackle, right tackle and right guard. He’s a physical blocker who plays with balance in passing sets. It wouldn’t be surprising if he’s competing for a starting job as a rookie. —GM

Scouting report: Savaiinaea primarily played right tackle at Arizona, but is better suited to play guard at the next level. He has plenty of length with 33⅞-inch arms, and his reach allows him to win the punch when he times it right. Savaiinaea has adequate lateral range in pass sets, but inside speed counters are tough for him to counteract. As a run blocker, he struggles to keep his legs moving, though he displaces defenders on down blocks. The wide-bodied Savaiinaea has a chance to start inside as a pro.

Grade: B

38. New England Patriots

TreVeyon Henderson, RB, Ohio State

Henderson is the best pass-protecting back in the draft, and has plenty of speed, showcased by a 4.43 40-time. The big concern is durability; Henderson missed eight games across his sophomore and junior seasons. Still, he played in all 16 games for the national champions last year while rushing for 1,016 yards and 10 touchdowns on a Big Ten-best 7.1 yards per carry. —MV

Scouting report: Toting a compact frame at 5' 10" and 202 pounds, Henderson has a balanced skill set. He has quality vision, quick feet, tremendous acceleration and a willingness to finish runs. Henderson is difficult to bring down once he reaches the second level, has natural hands as a pass catcher and is a strong, fundamentally sound blocker. A four-year starter and team captain in 2024, Henderson is reliable and consistent on and off the field, and his ability to win with quickness, power and instincts make him a safe bet to be a productive professional. —DF

Grade: A-

39. Chicago Bears (from Carolina)

Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri

Burden may prove one of the exceptional values of the draft. At 6' 0" and 206 pounds, the Missouri product ran a 4.41 40-yard dash at the combine, a speed that consistently shows up on tape. One of the elite run-after-catch prospects in this draft, Burden was named first-team All-SEC each of the past two seasons for the Tigers, notching 147 catches, 1,888 yards and 15 touchdowns over that span. —MV

Scouting report: Burden requires some projection, as he spent his final season at Missouri used largely as a slot receiver and gadget player. He’s not an overly nuanced route-runner and didn’t do himself many favors in finding open spots against zone coverage, but Burden is a sudden athlete with strong hands and a physical demeanor after the catch. A former five-star recruit, he’s a playmaker—but how he gets the ball, be it as a pure wideout or motion player, is a question. —DF

Grade: A+

40. New Orleans Saints

Tyler Shough, QB, Louisville

The Saints gave themselves another QB option amid the drama with Derek Carr. There’s nothing wrong with flexibility at the most important position, but New Orleans might regret passing on Shedeur Sanders in favor of Shough.. 

Most draft pundits were in agreement that Shough is a pro-ready signal-caller. But they also agreed that his ceiling wasn’t as high as the other top QB prospects.

It finally came together for Shough in his lone season at Louisville after being Justin Herbert’s backup at Oregon—way back in 2018 and ’19—and before battling injuries during three seasons at Texas Tech. Shough, who will be 26 in his rookie year, flashed arm strength and produced many off-script plays. Perhaps he can be the next Brock Purdy or a reliable backup for many years to come. —GM

Scouting report: Shough played seven collegiate seasons, and his last at Louisville was the first in which he exceeded eight appearances. Age and injuries aside, Shough is a fluid, talented passer with impressive velocity, and he can make every throw. He can hit vertical shots and can extend plays when the pocket breaks down. Shough needs to hasten his processing quickness and tighten his threshold for acceptable throwing windows, but he enters the NFL with a good blend of physical and intangible tools. —DF

Grade: C+

41. Buffalo Bills (from Chicago)

T.J. Sanders, DT, South Carolina

Sanders goes to the Bills after Buffalo traded up in the second round, adding an interior presence to play alongside Ed Oliver. With the Gamecocks, Sanders registered 8.5 sacks and 17 tackles for loss over the past two seasons, showcasing a blend of athleticism and power. He projects to be an immediate starter for the defending AFC East champs. —MV

Scouting report: There’s a lot to like about the 6' 4", 297-pound Sanders, who’s quick, athletic and powerful. He can side-stop and work across the face of blockers, and his active hands feature an effective swipe move to knock away blockers’ hands. Sanders also flashes a grab-and-pull, bull rush and swim move as a pass rusher. He can play in both odd and even fronts, though he may be best used as a 3-technique. Sanders struggles holding ground against double teams and down blocks, and he has too many pass-rush snaps with little impact. But his effort, athleticism and heavy hands create an intriguing long-term profile, and his 33 pressures in 2024 offer hope that he’s capable of making an early impact. —DF

Grade: B-

42. New York Jets

Mason Taylor, TE, LSU

The Jets added a new weapon for Justin Fields a day after giving him a new offensive tackle. Taylor made a name for himself as a versatile playmaker for LSU. He’s a smooth route runner with reliable hands, but he’s more than that as a standout blocker capable of playing every snap.  

Taylor could be the next NFL star from his family. He’s the son of Jason Taylor and nephew of Zach Thomas—former Dolphins teammates enshrined in the Hall of Fame. In 37 career starts at LSU, Taylor recorded a combined 129 receptions for 1,308 yards and six touchdowns. —GM

Scouting report: An athletic tight end who’s made big plays under bright lights since he was a freshman, Taylor has soft hands and moves well linearly. He struggles finishing through contact in contested-catch situations, has room to grow with his fundamentals as a blocker and isn’t a high-level separator as a route-runner. But for offenses that want their tight ends to be reliable underneath targets with the speed to generate yards after catch and occasionally help create explosive plays over the middle, Taylor is a strong candidate. —DF

Grade: B+

43. San Francisco 49ers

Alfred Collins, DT, Texas

Collins is a run-stuffing defensive tackle at 332 pounds. With the Longhorns, Collins played 65 games over five years while posting 141 tackles and seven sacks. In 2024, Collins was a second-team All-American while starting each of Texas’s 16 games. —MV

Scouting report: There aren’t many bigger or more experienced players in the class than Collins, who has 34⅝-inch arms and appeared in 64 games across five seasons at Texas. He’s strong at the point of attack, holds up against double-teams and has the pop in his hands to displace offensive linemen and finish against ballcarriers. As a pass rusher, Collins has active, powerful hands and blends a spin move, but he doesn’t consistently generate pressure. Collins can play inside and outside on the defensive line, and he’s a ready-made run defender with upside on passing downs. —DF

Grade: B

44. Dallas Cowboys

Donovan Ezeiruaku, edge, Boston College

Ezeiruaku is a talented kid who needs to find an elite pass-rushing skill. A technician who shows promise with a variety of moves, Ezeiruaku starred with the Eagles, totaling 16.5 sacks and 20.5 tackles for loss, both metrics ranking in the top three nationally. At 6' 2" and 248 pounds, he should see significant snaps immediately. —MV

Scouting report: Ezeiruaku has a quick first step, loose hips and a fluid lower half to flatten corners at the top of his rush. He’s creative in his timing, tempo and stride length, packs a strong punch and proved capable of making plays down the line of scrimmage against the run. Ezeiruaku is slight but proportionally long with 34-inch arms. He gets overzealous in run defense at times and loses the edge, and powerful tackles capitalize on his bendy rush angles to put him on the turf. Ezeiruaku’s production, suddenness and feel for pass rushing warrant an early choice. —DF

Grade: B+

45. Indianapolis Colts

JT Tuimoloau, edge, Ohio State

Tuimoloau could be one of the most underrated edge rushers in this class. He might not have an elite trait, but he’s a well-rounded playmaker who seems to always be in the right place at the right time. That was easy to see during his many clutch plays in the lead-up to the Buckeyes winning the national championship. 

A three-year starter, Tuimoloau had a team-high 12 sacks and recorded 61 tackles last season. —GM

Scouting report: The 6' 4", 265-pounder is a strong, physical defender with heavy, effective hands to displace blockers in both the run and pass game. Tuimoloau, who had 6.5 sacks in Ohio State’s College Football Playoff run, went from an adequate pass rusher to a game-changer in his final month of college. He’s a power-oriented pass rusher with a budding tool box to work around the edges of tackles, but his average athletic traits limit his pathways to creating pressure. Tuimoloau earned first-team All-Big Ten honors three times, and he’ll enter the NFL with a high floor as an impact player on rushing downs. —DF

Grade: B

46. Los Angeles Rams

Terrance Ferguson, TE, Oregon

The Rams took a risk here, taking Ferguson instead of Miami tight end Elijah Arroyo. But Ferguson proved to be a versatile tight end in four years as a starter at Oregon. 

Ferguson was a reliable pass catcher, recording at least 40 catches and 400 receiving yards the past two seasons. Last season, Ferguson delivered 43 receptions for 591 yards and three touchdowns. Perhaps Rams coach Sean McVay is a fan of Ferguson’s blocking capabilities. McVay prefers for his tight ends to stay on the field at all times playing in his 11 personnel. —GM

Scouting report: An athletic tight end who notched a 4.63 40-yard dash and 39-inch vertical jump at the combine, Ferguson played in 53 games across four seasons at Oregon. He finished his career as the Ducks’ all-time leader in catches (134) and touchdowns (16) by a tight end due to his athleticism, ball skills and intelligence. Ferguson is a loose mover during routes, can separate with physicality and breaks tackles after the catch due to his strong lower half. The 6' 5", 247-pounder runs hot and cold with his commitment to blocking, and needs to tighten his hands and feet to grow into a serviceable blocker in the NFL. —DF

Grade: C+

47. Arizona Cardinals

Will Johnson, CB, Michigan

Johnson is the top boundary corner in this class. The former Wolverine was a dominant force in the Big Ten for the past three years, being named a freshman All-American in 2022 before earning first-team All-Big Ten in ’23 before being limited to six games as a junior due to a foot issue. Provided he’s healthy, Johnson projects as a star. —MV

Scouting report: With nine interceptions and a program-record three pick-sixes, Johnson’s ball production and playmaking jumps off the stat sheet. At 6' 2" and 194 pounds, he’s a fluid mover with efficient feet and quality instincts. Johnson can play both man and zone, though he spent much of 2024 in zone. He’s capable in press coverage, though with his discipline, range and feel for route concepts, Johnson is at his best in off alignment. He’s not overly active against the run, and he’s an inconsistent tackler in space, but Johnson’s size, athleticism, cover skills and ball skills make him an intriguing prospect.

Grade: A-

48. Houston Texans (from Raiders)

Aireontae Ersery, OT, Minnesota

Ersery is on the cusp of being a top-five tackle in this class, depending on which evaluator you speak with. At 6' 6" and 331 pounds, Ersery made second-team All-Big Ten before earning first-team honors this past season. At Minnesota, Ersery started 38 games at left tackle over the past three years, and projects as a long-term starter. —MV

Scouting report: Ersery is quick out of his stance, strong at the punch and scheme-versatile. He allowed only 13 pressures, one quarterback hit and one sack in 2024, his third year as a starter. Ersery has the foot quickness to mirror speed rushers and he generates adequate movement off the line of scrimmage as a run blocker. A three-year starter at left tackle, Ersery may be better suited to play on the right side as a pro—he lacks high-level bend and has limited margin for error due to below average recovery skills.

Grade: B+

49. Cincinnati Bengals

Demetrius Knight Jr., LB, South Carolina

This was a surprise pick by the Bengals, who took Knight as the third Gamecocks defender off the board through 49 picks. He’ll join the second level with the Bengals who already have Logan Wilson and Germaine Pratt, and will likely be more of a first- and second-down player as he struggles in coverage. Knight is a very experienced player, having spent six years in college with Georgia Tech, Charlotte and South Carolina. 

Scouting report: Knight runs fast, hits hard and lets the offense hear him afterward. At 6' 2" and 235 pounds, he clocked a 4.58 40-yard dash at the combine, and makes plays in pursuit. The 25-year-old is more evasive than physical against blockers, but if offensive linemen get a hand on him, he struggles disengaging. If he’s kept clean and allowed to roam from sideline to sideline, Knight has the coverage fluidity and straight-line speed to be a defensive starter. —DF

Grade: C-

50. Seattle Seahawks

Elijah Arroyo, TE, Miami (FL)

Arroyo is a fascinating talent. With the Hurricanes, Arroyo missed most of his sophomore and junior years while battling back from a torn ACL. As a senior, he was Cam Ward’s top target with 35 catches, 590 yards and seven touchdowns. At 6' 5" and 250 pounds, Arroyo has perfect size. His athleticism is also fantastic, showing his explosiveness and smoothness in his route-running. —MV

Scouting report: A prototypical move tight end, Arroyo is an athletic player with above-average suddenness and fluidity to his routes, and can win as a big slot, H-back and in-line tight end. He has soft hands, good concentration and a wide catch radius, allowing him to make catches from a variety of angles. Arroyo is a willing blocker but needs to get stronger and more refined to be a viable option in the trenches at the next level. He sustained a torn ACL in 2022 that also impacted his ’23 season, limiting him to 11 games across two years. When he’s healthy, Arroyo has the tools to be an impactful pass catcher. —DF

Grade: A-