With a whole day of devoted protection, soccer followers spend most of their vitality following the primary spherical of the NFL Draft. That is smart, contemplating that 32 of the perfect soccer gamers on the planet will understand their desires, however the again six rounds are sometimes the place NFL groups discover actual worth.
Prospects worthy of an early choice usually slip deep into the draft, then go on and have a greater profession than some first-round picks. In any case, it doesn’t matter what tape and measurables could recommend, drafting is essentially a dart throw.
Loads of under-the-radar and unheralded gamers shortly make a reputation for themselves. Simply have a look at present San Francisco 49ers and former Iowa State quarterback Brock Purdy, who was the 2022 NFL Draft’s Mr. Irrelevant at choose No. 262. He finally beat former first-round choose Trey Lance for the beginning job and even led the 49ers to an look within the 2024 Tremendous Bowl.
Purdy is only a current instance of an underrated prospect flourishing within the NFL, however there have been many earlier than him — and lots of to come back after. With the 2025 NFL Draft simply days away, it felt acceptable to determine some faculty soccer stars which have a superb probability to outperform their spot within the CBS Sports activities 2025 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings and their projected draft slots.
Deone Walker, DL, Kentucky
CBS Sports activities NFL Draft Prospect Rating: 47
Walker is presently projected as a late second spherical choose, which is truthful for a extra conventional nostril deal with. That being stated, he may very well be an absolute steal, with the upside to emerge as a high-tier, multi-year skilled starter. He measured in at 6-foot-7 and 331-pounds on the NFL Mix and, although he did not take part in lots of drills, his tape exhibits that he strikes extraordinarily effectively for a lineman his measurement. The truth is, he has a lot burst and athleticism that Kentucky would use him as an edge rusher in sure packages. He performed by way of the 2024 season with a stress fracture in his again, which explains the drop off in manufacturing, however he nonetheless had 37 whole tackles and 1.5 sacks.
Harold Fannin Jr., TE, Bowling Inexperienced
CBS Sports activities NFL Draft Prospect Rating: 54
At 6-foot-3, Fannin is a bit undersized. There are some questions on his means to carry up as a blocker within the NFL. However there is not any doubting his super expertise as a receiving choice. He grew to become the primary tight finish in FBS historical past to steer the nation in each yards receiving (1,555) and receptions (117). He confirmed out towards good competitors, too, with a mixed 19 catches for 282 yards and two touchdowns towards Penn State and Texas A&M. Oh, and he is solely 20 years previous with three years of expertise enjoying the tight finish place. At worst, no matter workforce selects Fannin will get an offensive weapon that would give opposing linebackers and safeties super complications in protection.
Tre Harris, WR, Ole Miss
CBS Sports activities NFL Draft Prospect Rating: 70
Harris spent a majority of the 2024 season battling by way of accidents, which can clarify why he is grow to be an “odd man out” in a comparatively weak extensive receiver class. In what amounted to 6 absolutely wholesome video games final season, he nonetheless had 60 catches for 1,030 yards and 7 touchdowns. Although Harris won’t have top-shelf velocity, he averaged a blistering 17.7 yards per catch in his two years at Ole Miss. He wins on the line of scrimmage as a rule and is an absolute menace to protect in one-on-one conditions — each very fascinating attributes for an NFL extensive receiver.
Xavier Watts, DB, Notre Dame
CBS Sports activities NFL Draft Prospect Rating: 81
Safeties have grow to be a bit undervalued within the NFL — a real security hasn’t been drafted sooner than choose No. 47 since 2022. However there’s actually no substitute for an eraser deep within the secondary, and Watts matches that invoice. He is a real ballhawk, with an FBS-leading 13 interceptions over the previous two years. He additionally has the vary and athleticism to run sideline-to-sideline and didn’t permit a single receiving landing from 2023-24. Possibly not a first-round man, however he has worth inside the prime 60 picks.
Quinshon Judkins, RB, Ohio State
CBS Sports activities NFL Draft Prospect Rating: 89
The 2025 NFL Draft is a paradise for groups that want a operating again. Though the backfield class is completely stacked, Judkins nonetheless deserves extra recognition. He is been an absolute workhorse since his 2022 freshman season at Ole Miss, when he carried the ball 274 occasions for 1,567 yards and 16 touchdowns. He totaled 1,200-plus yards and a minimum of 15 whole touchdowns in every of his three years of faculty soccer. Whereas he could not have that second gear by way of velocity, he’s a robust three-down runner with good short-area quickness that is greater than able to breaking tackles. He additionally has some upside as a receiver, with 59 catches for 442 yards and 5 touchdowns at Ole Miss and Ohio State.
Tory Horton, WR, Colorado State
CBS Sports activities NFL Draft Prospect Rating: 102
What ought to have been a spectacular fifth-year season for Horton was lower quick by a knee harm in October. He erased any lingering doubts in regards to the setback by measuring in at 6-foot-2 and operating a 4.41-second 40-yard sprint on the NFL Mix. Horton brings the dimensions and velocity entrance workplaces crave on the extensive receiver place, and he additionally has confirmed manufacturing to again the traits up. He hasn’t totaled under 600 yards receiving in a full 12-game season and he posted back-to-back 1,000-yard campaigns from 2022-23. He has the flexibility to play inside or close to the boundaries, additional boosting his profile as an impactful participant.
Anthony Belton, OL, NC State
CBS Sports activities NFL Draft Prospect Rating: 113
Belton is not a plug-and-play NFL starter. He is nonetheless very uncooked and desires extra refinement with the technical points alongside the offensive line. There’s additionally some questions surrounding his positional future. At 6-foot-6, he has the best body for an offensive deal with — he performed left deal with at NC State — however his arm size sits only a tick under 34 inches, which tends to be the benchmark for knowledgeable OT. These minor crimson flags apart, Belton is a gem. Clearly the dimensions is imposing, however he has wonderful toes and stability for an offensive linemen with the requisite power to carry up within the trenches. If he can land someplace that can take the time to develop him, it will not be lengthy earlier than he is a standout.
Tyler Shough, QB, Louisville
CBS Sports activities NFL Draft Prospect Rating: 117
There’s been loads of buzz suggesting Shough may go a lot sooner than individuals count on within the 2025 NFL Draft. He is 25 years previous, which makes him older than 9 anticipated beginning NFL quarterbacks, however that additionally comes with the upshot that he is began 32 video games at a number of high-level Energy 4 convention colleges. He is boasts expertise in pro-style methods at Texas Tech and Louisville. When absolutely wholesome in 2024 he put collectively a stable marketing campaign with 3,195 yards and 23 touchdowns passing to simply six interceptions. Shough additionally has respectable mobility, as he posted 733 yards and 11 touchdowns dashing in faculty.
Cam Skattebo, RB, Arizona State
CBS Sports activities NFL Draft Prospect Rating: 133
Once more, it is a actually good draft to want a operating again. Skattebo is, on all ranges however bodily, an absolute dawg. He did not take part in on-field drills on the NFL Mix — which elevated considerations about his athletic means — however that actually doesn’t matter. The tape exhibits a hard-nosed runner with a low middle of gravity that carries the ball like he has a private vendetta towards anybody attempting to deal with him. He also can influence the sport in so many alternative methods. Simply have a look at Arizona State’s Faculty Soccer Playoff showdown towards Texas, the place Skattebo had two touchdowns dashing, a passing landing and 99 yards receiving. That type of versatility will land him a task within the NFL, regardless of when he is drafted.
Jay Higgins, LB, Iowa
CBS Sports activities NFL Draft Prospect Rating: 235
Higgins’ draft inventory completely tanked after a tough mix efficiency, the place he ran a 4.82-second 40-yard sprint and posted a sub-9.5-foot broad bounce. Whereas his bodily traits could not bounce off the web page, there is not any denying he is an impactful participant. He had 289 whole tackles from 2023-24 and logged a career-high 4 interceptions and 5 move deflections final season. He is additionally persistently graded as top-of-the-line move protection linebackers since he emerged as a starter at Iowa, suggesting that he strikes so much higher on the sector than he does in underwear.
