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We're all intimately familiar with Abdul Carter at this point. Shemar Stewart is an interesting case of potential vs. production. But the first round edge rusher I want to talk about is the FBS's sack leader out of Marshall.
Mike Green won't be the first edge rusher selected at the 2025 NFL Draft. He will be the most prolific pass rusher selected in the first round. Green tallied 17 sacks and 23 tackles for loss last season as an undersized defensive end for the Thundering Herd. Most of that production came against Conference USA competition, but three sacks came (in double digit losses) against Virginia Tech and Ohio State.
That suggests he could be a disruptor in the pros — and he's worth a closer look. Let's break down Green's NFL prospects, as well as two players further down the pecking order who could be similarly destructive on Sundays. The goal of this series is to break down one stud, one sleeper and one player who may not have his name called in Green Bay and examine what they bring to the NFL table.
2025 NFL DRAFT:Tight end stud, sleeper and deep-sleeper picks.
Studs are players with first-round grades. Their inclusion here doesn't necessarily mean they're the best at their position — just that they're worth singling out for a deeper look. Sleepers are prospects slated for selection in the middle or toward the end of the 2025 NFL Draft. REM cycle stars — the deep sleepers — will likely be undrafted free agents after pick No. 257 is read. That's going to create an uphill battle to find a roster spot, but these could be bargain pickups who play key roles for playoff teams.
Let's talk about three guys who could have big NFL impacts from three very different draft positions this spring.
Green was a three-star wide receiver prospect who committed to Virginia, moved to the defensive side of the ball and then left after modest playing time as a true freshman. While he was suspended following a sexual assault accusation that bore no charges against him, he told reporters at the combine it had no bearing on his decision to head west for a fresh start in Huntington.
This was, it turned out, a remarkable career move.
Green had one season as a starter with the Herd and thrived. He was never the biggest player on the field, but won consistently with a relentless motor and a deep quiver of pass rushing arrows to bewilder opposing tackles. He's got the speed and hip flexibility to bend underneath blocks at the edge. He's violent enough with his hands to swat away outside attacks and create the space to slice inside. He utilizes leverage well to pry up blockers and shrink pockets. And he'll throw in a spin move at times just to keep you guessing.
But he's not big; 250 pounds is probably his max. He's likely going to be limited to a 3-4 alignment. His run defense is useful, but not special. Despite his production, there's plenty of risk here.
Green is a wonderful analogue to Shemar Stewart. The Texas A&M lineman had 4.5 sacks in three seasons as an Aggie. Green had 4.5 sacks against Appalachian State and Virginia Tech last season alone. But Stewart put up Myles Garrett-type testing numbers at the combine. Green had to add bulk just to convince scouts he was a viable edge rusher. Both will be first rounders, but who goes first will tip the hand of a general manager weighing potential vs. production.
Will that ultimately mean anything? Maybe! Will it be an exciting subplot? Absolutely.
2025 NFL DRAFT:Running back stud, sleeper and deep-sleeper picks in 2025.
Gillotte is a tornado unto himself but brings questions with that chaos. Can a 6-foot-2, 270-pound wrecking ball at defensive end translate his college havoc into a rounded NFL game? Or is he destined to be a modest part-time pass rusher?
You may notice those highlights are from two seasons ago. That's because Gillotte's production dipped after his All-ACC 2023 campaign (he got more coaches votes than Jared Verse, currently tearing it up as a Los Angeles Ram). His sacks fell from 11 in 14 games to 4.5 in 12, though his pressure rate remained mostly static, per Pro Football Focus. That served to dent his draft stock — and make him a potential bargain on Day 3.
Gillotte added nearly 60 pounds of mass in college and he plays like his entire mission is to utilize every pound per square inch of that newfound power. He's got hyperactive hand work that can blast opposing tackles backward or create the space for a swim move inside. This explosion isn't limited to his punch; he's got nightmare inducing closing speed and the right instincts to use it at the exact moment where a play can be won or lost. He's a perpetual motion machine who has to be an absolute headache to see every down.
But that motor can sometimes take him out of plays as he overextends himself. He lacks ideal height, and while that helps him get low and provide leverage for his strength it also means bigger tackles will be able to engage him first and nullify some of his more potent moves. That leaves him with plenty to prove at the next level, especially after his relatively frustrating 2024.
Walker is underrated here. The FCS All-American certainly has the juice to hear his name called in Green Bay early on Day 3. But I wanted to talk about him AND Gillotte, so here we are. Forgive me my indulgence, because I love watching these two guys.
Walker and Gillotte share some similarities. Both are relatively short for the position — Walker clocks in at 6-foot-1. Both are explosive off the ball. Both punch opposing tackles backward with ferocious arm strength and use the split second of chaos they create to make an instinctive decision and turn opposing pockets into a soup of splayed out bodies and broken plays.
Granted, UT-Martin isn't SEC competition, but Walker uses his strength to bull rush through a tackle and the running back designed to double him. This sends his quarterback reeling (and forces him to hang on to the ball too long), leaving Walker to disengage and make a shoestring sack. That's one of 31 sacks and 63 tackles for loss he had in three seasons.
With 4.6-second 40 speed, he's viable as an outside linebacker and has the bulk to play on the line — though a relatively short wingspan could ding him there. In college he was explosive enough to negate that disadvantage by firing first and getting into his lineman's chest before he could get trapped. That's a tougher ask on Sundays, but his pass rushing repertoire is well fleshed out. He can win inside, he can win with a speed rush and he has the power to thrive with a bull rush.
The question now is how those skills with translate with a less-than-ideal frame in the NFL.
Previously:
This article originally appeared on For The Win: 2025 NFL Draft: Stud, sleepers at EDGE, from Mike Green to a Central Arkansas star
Continue reading...
Mike Green won't be the first edge rusher selected at the 2025 NFL Draft. He will be the most prolific pass rusher selected in the first round. Green tallied 17 sacks and 23 tackles for loss last season as an undersized defensive end for the Thundering Herd. Most of that production came against Conference USA competition, but three sacks came (in double digit losses) against Virginia Tech and Ohio State.
That suggests he could be a disruptor in the pros — and he's worth a closer look. Let's break down Green's NFL prospects, as well as two players further down the pecking order who could be similarly destructive on Sundays. The goal of this series is to break down one stud, one sleeper and one player who may not have his name called in Green Bay and examine what they bring to the NFL table.
2025 NFL DRAFT:Tight end stud, sleeper and deep-sleeper picks.
Studs are players with first-round grades. Their inclusion here doesn't necessarily mean they're the best at their position — just that they're worth singling out for a deeper look. Sleepers are prospects slated for selection in the middle or toward the end of the 2025 NFL Draft. REM cycle stars — the deep sleepers — will likely be undrafted free agents after pick No. 257 is read. That's going to create an uphill battle to find a roster spot, but these could be bargain pickups who play key roles for playoff teams.
Let's talk about three guys who could have big NFL impacts from three very different draft positions this spring.
Stud: Mike Green
Green was a three-star wide receiver prospect who committed to Virginia, moved to the defensive side of the ball and then left after modest playing time as a true freshman. While he was suspended following a sexual assault accusation that bore no charges against him, he told reporters at the combine it had no bearing on his decision to head west for a fresh start in Huntington.
This was, it turned out, a remarkable career move.
Green had one season as a starter with the Herd and thrived. He was never the biggest player on the field, but won consistently with a relentless motor and a deep quiver of pass rushing arrows to bewilder opposing tackles. He's got the speed and hip flexibility to bend underneath blocks at the edge. He's violent enough with his hands to swat away outside attacks and create the space to slice inside. He utilizes leverage well to pry up blockers and shrink pockets. And he'll throw in a spin move at times just to keep you guessing.
But he's not big; 250 pounds is probably his max. He's likely going to be limited to a 3-4 alignment. His run defense is useful, but not special. Despite his production, there's plenty of risk here.
Green is a wonderful analogue to Shemar Stewart. The Texas A&M lineman had 4.5 sacks in three seasons as an Aggie. Green had 4.5 sacks against Appalachian State and Virginia Tech last season alone. But Stewart put up Myles Garrett-type testing numbers at the combine. Green had to add bulk just to convince scouts he was a viable edge rusher. Both will be first rounders, but who goes first will tip the hand of a general manager weighing potential vs. production.
Will that ultimately mean anything? Maybe! Will it be an exciting subplot? Absolutely.
2025 NFL DRAFT:Running back stud, sleeper and deep-sleeper picks in 2025.
Sleeper: Ashton Gillotte, Louisville
Gillotte is a tornado unto himself but brings questions with that chaos. Can a 6-foot-2, 270-pound wrecking ball at defensive end translate his college havoc into a rounded NFL game? Or is he destined to be a modest part-time pass rusher?
You may notice those highlights are from two seasons ago. That's because Gillotte's production dipped after his All-ACC 2023 campaign (he got more coaches votes than Jared Verse, currently tearing it up as a Los Angeles Ram). His sacks fell from 11 in 14 games to 4.5 in 12, though his pressure rate remained mostly static, per Pro Football Focus. That served to dent his draft stock — and make him a potential bargain on Day 3.
Gillotte added nearly 60 pounds of mass in college and he plays like his entire mission is to utilize every pound per square inch of that newfound power. He's got hyperactive hand work that can blast opposing tackles backward or create the space for a swim move inside. This explosion isn't limited to his punch; he's got nightmare inducing closing speed and the right instincts to use it at the exact moment where a play can be won or lost. He's a perpetual motion machine who has to be an absolute headache to see every down.
But that motor can sometimes take him out of plays as he overextends himself. He lacks ideal height, and while that helps him get low and provide leverage for his strength it also means bigger tackles will be able to engage him first and nullify some of his more potent moves. That leaves him with plenty to prove at the next level, especially after his relatively frustrating 2024.
REM cycle star: David Walker, Central Arkansas
Walker is underrated here. The FCS All-American certainly has the juice to hear his name called in Green Bay early on Day 3. But I wanted to talk about him AND Gillotte, so here we are. Forgive me my indulgence, because I love watching these two guys.
Walker and Gillotte share some similarities. Both are relatively short for the position — Walker clocks in at 6-foot-1. Both are explosive off the ball. Both punch opposing tackles backward with ferocious arm strength and use the split second of chaos they create to make an instinctive decision and turn opposing pockets into a soup of splayed out bodies and broken plays.
Granted, UT-Martin isn't SEC competition, but Walker uses his strength to bull rush through a tackle and the running back designed to double him. This sends his quarterback reeling (and forces him to hang on to the ball too long), leaving Walker to disengage and make a shoestring sack. That's one of 31 sacks and 63 tackles for loss he had in three seasons.
With 4.6-second 40 speed, he's viable as an outside linebacker and has the bulk to play on the line — though a relatively short wingspan could ding him there. In college he was explosive enough to negate that disadvantage by firing first and getting into his lineman's chest before he could get trapped. That's a tougher ask on Sundays, but his pass rushing repertoire is well fleshed out. He can win inside, he can win with a speed rush and he has the power to thrive with a bull rush.
The question now is how those skills with translate with a less-than-ideal frame in the NFL.
Previously:
- NFL Draft wide receiver stud, sleeper and deep sleeper picks in 2025 (Travis Hunter! Will Sheppard!)
- NFL Draft running back stud, sleeper and deep sleeper picks in 2025 (Omarion Hampton! DJ Giddens!)
- NFL Draft tight end stud, sleeper and deep sleeper picks in 2025 (Tyler Warren! Oronde Gadsden II!)
- NFL Draft offensive line stud, sleeper and deep sleeper picks in 2025 (Josh Simmons! William & Mary road-grader Charles Grant!)
This article originally appeared on For The Win: 2025 NFL Draft: Stud, sleepers at EDGE, from Mike Green to a Central Arkansas star
Continue reading...
