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Every year there are a handful of picks that catch fans off-guard because they're considered reaches based on where draft experts had them ranked. Here are 5 players who could be selected surprisingly early this weekend.
Kyle Williams has rocketed up draft boards over the last month, and it’s easy to understand why. He’s a great athlete who makes dynamic plays after the catch and can beat press coverage. He’s currently ranked as WR12 and 86th overall on the consensus big board, but the public perhaps hasn’t adjusted enough to how the NFL views Williams. Williams should be a lock to go on day two, and could go as early as the first few picks of the second round.
Jaydon Blue isn’t a big name because he’s never had much of a workload at Texas, but he has traits that NFL teams covet. He’s an outstanding receiver out of the backfield and can line up all over the formation. He’s also arguably the best return specialist in the draft, and with the NFL continuing to make kickoff returns more prevalent, Blue could be a valuable addition to almost any team.
Pass rusher is one of the most in-demand positions every year, so there are always a handful of players who come off the board surprisingly early. Swinson is number 66 on the consensus big board, but sneaking into the first round isn’t out of the question. He has everything needed to be an impact edge defender in the NFL. He had one of the highest PFF pass rush grades and pass rush win rates in the country in his first year as a full-time player, and has plenty of athletic tools to tap into. If he can get stronger against the run he’ll be a high-end starter.
Walley won’t blow you away with any single trait, but he doesn’t have any glaring weaknesses and could fit into a variety of schemes. Players like this often go higher than expected because any one team could have him higher on their board than the public. His lack of prototypical size is the main reason he’s 224th on the consensus big board, but he plays with an edge that defensive coaches will love.
Omarr Norman-Lott is an interesting prospect because he’s never been a full time player, but his natural pass rush ability is exceptional. He can offer an NFL team much of the speed off the ball that makes Mason Graham such a highly regarded prospect. There’s such a small sample size of run defense snaps for Norman-Lott, but they’re by no means terrible. He might never be more than a pass rush specialist, but he could be one of the best players in the league in that role. Norman-Lott is ranked at number 81 on the consensus big board but could easily hear his name called in the second round.
This article originally appeared on Raiders Wire: NFL Draft 2025: 5 prospects who could go earlier than projected
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Washington State WR Kyle Williams
Kyle Williams has rocketed up draft boards over the last month, and it’s easy to understand why. He’s a great athlete who makes dynamic plays after the catch and can beat press coverage. He’s currently ranked as WR12 and 86th overall on the consensus big board, but the public perhaps hasn’t adjusted enough to how the NFL views Williams. Williams should be a lock to go on day two, and could go as early as the first few picks of the second round.
Texas RB Jaydon Blue
Jaydon Blue isn’t a big name because he’s never had much of a workload at Texas, but he has traits that NFL teams covet. He’s an outstanding receiver out of the backfield and can line up all over the formation. He’s also arguably the best return specialist in the draft, and with the NFL continuing to make kickoff returns more prevalent, Blue could be a valuable addition to almost any team.
LSU ED Bradyn Swinson
Pass rusher is one of the most in-demand positions every year, so there are always a handful of players who come off the board surprisingly early. Swinson is number 66 on the consensus big board, but sneaking into the first round isn’t out of the question. He has everything needed to be an impact edge defender in the NFL. He had one of the highest PFF pass rush grades and pass rush win rates in the country in his first year as a full-time player, and has plenty of athletic tools to tap into. If he can get stronger against the run he’ll be a high-end starter.
Minnesota CB Justin Walley
Walley won’t blow you away with any single trait, but he doesn’t have any glaring weaknesses and could fit into a variety of schemes. Players like this often go higher than expected because any one team could have him higher on their board than the public. His lack of prototypical size is the main reason he’s 224th on the consensus big board, but he plays with an edge that defensive coaches will love.
Tennessee DL Omarr Norman-Lott
Omarr Norman-Lott is an interesting prospect because he’s never been a full time player, but his natural pass rush ability is exceptional. He can offer an NFL team much of the speed off the ball that makes Mason Graham such a highly regarded prospect. There’s such a small sample size of run defense snaps for Norman-Lott, but they’re by no means terrible. He might never be more than a pass rush specialist, but he could be one of the best players in the league in that role. Norman-Lott is ranked at number 81 on the consensus big board but could easily hear his name called in the second round.
This article originally appeared on Raiders Wire: NFL Draft 2025: 5 prospects who could go earlier than projected
Continue reading...
