2025 Top Five Positional Rankings: Pro Day Edition

Good day everyone! Ask here, giving you another installment of the Top Five Positional Rankings; ranking the five best players at their positions! Given the fact that we are getting closer to the end, consider this the semi final edition of the Top Five. Time does fly fast, doesn't it?! Now before we begin, make sure to check out the previous Rankings Below:



Senior Bowl



*** Combine is omitted for author was unavailable due to health issues ***




These written statements by the author do not reflect nor are shared opinions of members of TheSteelersFans Message Board, Staff Members and/or Site Administrator.



Quarterbacks:




1.) Cam Ward

2.) Jaxson Dart

3.) Shedeur Sanders

4.) Will Howard

5.) Jalen Milroe



Last time we dove into this crop of QBs, I had stated that I didn't see myself change this group much. A Combine later and..... much of the same. Much of what I had stated in my Senior Bowl Edition qualifies here. For those of you who were not available during that time, the simple version is this; Cam Ward has the best chance to become something from this group, Jaxson Dart is going to shock quite a bit of people, Shedeur is too overhyped for my liking, Will Howard is the dark horse and Jalen is a multi year project. Just as I did last time, there isn't much more to discuss here



Best Arm Talent: Cam Ward

Best Accuracy: Shedeur Sanders

Best Pocket Poise: Will Howard

Best Pocket Presence: Will Howard

Best Improv. Skills: Cam Ward

Best Runner: Jalen Milroe

Biggest Boom/Bust: Jalen Milroe (very scheme specific despite near immeasurable athletic tools)

Most Pro Ready: Shedeur Sanders

AQL's Favorite: Will Howard



Running Backs:


1.) Ashton Jeanty

2.) Omarion Hampton

3.) Quinshon Judkins

4.) Kaleb Johnson

5.) Dylan Sampson


I truly hate being that guy but much like the QBs, I didn't expect much change from my Senior Bowl Rankings. Combine also yeilded much of the same as well; if not vindicated my rankings from my Senior Bowl write up regarding RBs. Much like the QBs though; a quick synopsis.

1. Aston Jeanty has some of the best contact balance, body control and tackle breaking abilities I have seen since Penn State SaQuan Barkley. Not the same style of athlete but Jeanty's ability to just break tackles while maintaining excellent body control and balance through contact is pretty damn similar
   
   
   
2. Omarion is one of the better North/South runners to come out in some time. More speed than other power rushes that have come out as of late.
   
   
   
3. Quinshon Judkins would no doubt tear up the combine. Surprise, surprise eh?! I'd imagine someone is going to take a chance on him in the draft much sooner than others think. Don't be surprised if he lands within the Top 50 picks.
   
   
   
4. Kaleb Johnson is arguably the most paitient runner not just in the draft but one of the most patient runners to come out since Jahmyr Gibbs. Much like the Jeanty vs. Barkley comp, not the same level of athletic abilities but both possess tremendous patience. In addition, his Ball Carrier Vision and abilities as a Receiver are not too shabby either.
   
   
   
5. Dylan Sampson is a playmaking threat; through and through. That said, his style of play is going to have to mesh well with an Offensive System designed to maximize his explosive traits. Never mind just that, his overall colliegiate experience is very limited. A classic risk vs reward player.

Best Speed: Dylan Sampson

Best Power: Quinshon Judkins

Best Vision: Kaleb Johnson

Best BCA (Ball Carrying Ability): Kaleb Johnson

Most Versatile: Ashton Jeanty

Biggest Boom/Bust: Dylan Sampson

Most Pro Ready: Ashton Jeanty/Quinshon Judkins




AQL's Favorite: Quinshon Judkins



Wide Receivers:



1.) Luther Burden III

2.) Matthew Golden (+2)

3.) Emeka Egbuka (-1)

4.) Elic Ayomanor (-1)

5.) Tetairoa McMillan



Post Combine, my number one hasn't changed. I am not saying that LB IIIs speed is ground breaking by any means. However, a 4.41 40 time is more than enough to get the job done. Now that said, having more speed isn't a bad thing; something I knew Matthew Golden had.. but not in the vein of running in the high 4.2s!! He may have only have done the 40 but how fast would his 40 be would be a question mark given how much of a deep threat he was at Texas. He can access all areas of the field but his lack of refinement in route running, blocking in the running game, medical history and concentration drops still leave me wanting a lot more. That said, a 4.2 as a Receiver with his skillset?! That is definitely worth taking a risk in Round One; Top 15 even.

Emeka Egbuka is still the drafts best overall slot option currently. Even after a combine no show, I have more than enough evidence to allow me to know that Emeka will do just fine there. Being 6'1 also will allow him to be more than just a slot weapon but he will need refinement upon beating press despite his great speed. His overall Route Running though is still the best of the best of the 2025 NFL Draft among not just Wide Receivers but all Receiving Skill Based Players. Elic is still going to be a sleeper among the WR Class but due to the performance of Matthew Golden and Emeka's superior skillset, he does get bumped down here. Even so, Elic Ayomanor can still be a number one Receiver if he continues to build upon his overall game; namely his concentration drops which are a bit worse than Matthews.


Finally, Tet McMillan, the wonder kid. Yes, yes, I am aware of his 40 time; a 4.48 at Arizona's Pro Day. That, for him, is a great number. That said however, that didn't do much for me personally. Why?! Even with the confirmed speed, he is still very much the comp I gave him; Drake London. On paper, that sounds excellent. In practice however, not entirely. Despite being a Top 10 pick, London has yet to become a Pro Bowler; much less an All Pro. Granted, in London's defense, the Atlanta Falcons have not had the best QB situations since Matt Ryan was let go. However, given the fact that London was highly touted as a number one option, one would expect a lot more given both his time at USC along with his draft pedigree. Moreover to the present day, much like London, there is very little evidence of McMillan being able to create YAC in different ways. Breaking tackles is a good way to do so; doubly so in which T Mac does. However, physicality will only get you so far for creating YAC if that is all one can provide. Add in the fact that he is still much better suited towards being a chain mover or a redzone threat despite the fact he is a number one receiver. Again, very, very scheme specific.




Best Speed: Matthew Golden (4.29 is pretty damn fast)

Best Hands: Tetairoa McMillan

Best Route Running: Emeka Egbuka

Best Blocking: Emeka Egbuka

Best CIT (Catch In Traffic): Tetairoa McMillan

Best YAC: Luther Burden III

Biggest Boom/Bust: Tetairoa McMillan (Very Scheme Dependent)

Most Versatile: Luther Burden III

Most Pro Ready: Luther Burden III



AQL's Favorite: Luther Burden III



Tight Ends:


1.) Colston Loveland

2.) Tyler Warren

3.) Harold Fannin Jr.

4.) Mason Taylor

5.) Gunnar Helm



The more things change... the more they stay the same....


Like the QBs and RBs.... sadly, not much to speak about regarding this group I am afraid. Most will think that Tyler Warren is the best option among the five but I remind people that the very same was thought of Kyle Pitts circa 2021. Again, whatever remained of Matt Ryan is very much fair to say of the Falcons and Kirk Cousins wasn't nearly as good as others believed though he was coming off of a serious injury. Warren is nowhere near the athlete that Pitts was but does possess many of Pitt's enticing traits; namely his ability to break zone coverages apart down the MOF. Colston takes this for he is capable of doing this also but he is a better blocker than Warren overall. Blocking on its own doesn't sound like much when it comes to Tight Ends but never underestimate the importance of having a Receiving Tight End that can block well. That adds a lot more value to not just a power run team but also a pass happy one as well; another permanent weapon for opposing defenses to think about.




Best Speed: Harold Fannin Jr

Best Hands: Tyler Warren

Best Route Running: Gunnar Helm

Best Blocking: Mason Taylor

Best CIT (Catch In Traffic): Tyler Warren/Harold Fannin Jr

Best YAC: Gunnar Helm/Colston Loveland

Biggest Boom/Bust: Gunnar Helm (Immediate Separation is lacking; limiting his receiving abilities)

Most Versatile: Colston Loveland

Most Pro Ready: Colston Loveland


AQL's Favorite: Tyler Warren




Offensive Tackles:


1.) Armand Membou (+4)

2.) Kelvin Banks Jr. (-1)

3.) Josh Simmons

4.) Josh Conerly Jr. (+1)

5.) Aireontae Ersery (Newcomer)



The NFL Combine has come and pass for the 2025 NFL Offensive Tackles. Will Campbell sadly doesn't qualify for the OTs but he aided the IOLs in a massive way (more on this in a bit). Despite this, he does pave the way for a new number one; a number one that is much more versatile than others believe. Armand Membou is a multi role Offensive Lineman who is capable of playing any of the five positions. That said, it just so happens that he is best suited at Offensive Tackle. Never mind his athletic testing, something that blew me away even though I knew he was an exceptional athlete, his natural body control, excellent leverage and superb pass protection sets will endear him to just about every NFL Offense. I say just about for Armand is only 6'4; something that can cause concern for NFL Teams. Players like RaShawn Slater have had success but others like Jedrick Wills have fared poorly in comparison. As the saying goes, the NFL truly is, a crapshoot. However, Armand's great blend of size, length, power, athleticism, leverage, quickness and demeanor is much more worth to invest in as opposed to a tape measurement. Not every top flight OT is a Joe Alt y'know.


Kelvin Banks is very much still an athletic tackle. He just isn't the most athletic anymore. Despite this, he still does possess the greatest ceiling among all Offensive Tackles in the class. He is both battle tested and well decorated. His pass protection sets are also some of the best in the class as well. It is just that Banks' inconsistency in his strikes along with his hand placement is where things start to go wrong. He also has a very bad habit of lunging a bit during pass sets as well. Even so, Banks' overall talent and potential cannot be faulted. It it just that he is going to need more coaching that others to build him up.


Josh Simmons and Josh Conerly are very much the same of what I said in the Senior Bowl write up so there isn't much to unpack here. I will say that I am hopeful that Simmons' recovery will allow him to opt for a Private Workout as I do believe he is more athletic than others give him credit for. Athleticism isn't a problem for Conerly. It is the lack of polish and technique that is. Not nearly as bad as others say but not good either. The newcomer in Aireontae Ersery though?! Like Josh Conerly Jr, physical gifts are no problem with him though he did not showcase nearly as much athletic tools as Conerly did on tape. What Ersery will provide though is a punishing road grader of a tackle who can overwhelm most EDGE Players. Pass Protection is solid too; his length and sets being good. Now, in terms of leverage?! Yikes. Too upright in his stance. Coaching can help this but being 6'6 is a bit of a challenge in it of itself. Ersery still is worth a Top 50 selection but having him start out of the gate will require a good OL Coach who can get him out of his bad leverage habits quickly. If that is done, he can be a rock solid starter.


Best Pass Blocker: Kelvin Banks Jr

Best Run Blocker: Josh Simmons

Best Zone Blocker: Armand Membou (crazy athleticism mixed with crazy demeanor = match made in heaven)

Best Man Gap Blocker: Josh Simmons

Most Versatile: Armand Membou

Biggest Boom/Bust: Aireontae Ersery (Leverage)

Most Pro Ready: Armand Membou



AQL's Favorite: Armand Membou




Interior Offensive Lineman:



1.) Will Campbell Jr. (Newcomer)

2.) Donovan Jackson (-1)

3.) Wyatt Milum (-1)

4.) Tate Rattledge (-1)

5.) Jonah M. Savaiinaea (-1)



A special newcomer who has taken the number one spot and bumped another one off as a result?! You better believe it! Will Campbell Jr, as stated before, sadly didn't pass my requirements to be an OT. That said, that is okay though for Will Campbell is simply too gifted of an IOL to pass up despite the fact. The only major knock I have on him was his penchant for oversetting too much in pass protection due to the lack of length. Him moving inside though alleviates this all together; further increasing his other positive attributes. Not all is rosy with Campbell however. While the oversetting will not be a problem when he moves inside, his ability to showcase he can properly convert to the inside will be a bigger test. For the likes of Peter Skoronski, this hasn't fared as well as Tennessee would have hoped. He did play much better though last season and Campbell is more athletic than Peter was coming out of Northwestern... so there is some hope there. That said though, until I see it, Campbell will be a rock solid Rookie but how well he does is anyone's guess.


As for the rest, their stories are much of the same though there are some footnotes I'd like to add from the combine. To start out, anyone in need of an emergency OT should look no further than this years crop of IOL. If anything, this might be the best break in case of emergency IOL group I have studied on tape in a long time. Of the five players currently listed, four of them have played OT; Will Campbell, Donovan Jackson, Wyatt Milum and Jonah Savaiinaea. Of the four, Donovan Jackson might just be the one that can make the transition from a Guard to a Tackle possible. Remember that he did sub in for Josh Simmons and played pretty darn well. Now, his biggest weakness was, as in usual fashion for most IOL to OT converts, the classic case of a speed EDGE or dealing with EDGE players that can convert speed to power effortlessly. Despite this, Jackson's superb anchor and tremendous power, coupled with his solid length, will allow him to survive as a Tackle in the short term for NFL teams who are desperate enough. Jonah also classifies as this as well thanks to a great NFL Combine. However, while his overall speed of both a 4.95 40 along with a 1.72 10 Yard Split dont always translate to the field. He is more power based than he is fluid and agile; a move inside being a much more feasible option. Like Jackson though, he can survive on the outside in a pinch. Unlike Jackson though... just dont expect him to take on the more speedier EDGEs in the NFL.



Best Pass Blocker: Will Campbell Jr. (best of the best here)

Best Run Blocker: Will Campbell Jr. (see above)

Best Zone Blocker: Will Campbell Jr. (see above)

Best Man Gap Blocker: Tate Rattledge

Biggest Boom/Bust: Wyatt Milum (Insufficient Strength)

Most Versatile: Donovan Jackson

Most Pro Ready: Tate Ratledge (he might have only played one spot but he is the best of them all)


AQL's Favorite: Donovan Jackson



Interior Defensive Lineman:



1.) Kenneth Grant

2.) Mason Graham

3.) Walter Nolen

4.) Derrick Harmon (+1)

5.) Tyleik Williams (-1)


The top three for IDLs are set in stone for me. Grant, Graham and Nolen. Take your pick on who you want as an NFL DC. Grant gives you All Pro potential with a limitless upside to boot, Graham is a multi year Pro Bowler and Nolen is the best overall attacking DT in the class.


The biggest movement though stems from the bottom two. I still do like Williams more than Harmon but I cannot deny how athletic Harmon is. This isn't to say Williams isn't. However, with length and versatility like Harmons, even though his tackling consistency worries me, there is simply far too much of a skillset to work with Harmon than there is with Williams. I will say it again though; Tyleik Williams is the best pure run stuffing NT in the class. He does have his challengers; Kenneth Grant, Alfred Collins, CJ West from Indiana and even Jordan Phillips from Maryland. However, from a complete standpoint of just pure run stuffing abilities?! It doesn't get any better than Tyleik.




Best Pass Rusher: Walter Nolen

Best Run Stopper: Tyleik Williams

Best 3 Tech: Mason Graham/Walter Nolen

Best 5 Tech: Derrick Harmon

Best 0/1 Tech: Kenneth Grant/Tyleik Williams

Most Versatile: Kenneth Grant/Derrick Harmon

Biggest Boom/Bust: Derrick Harmon (Tackling Issues)

Most Pro Ready: Mason Graham


AQL Favorite: Kenneth Grant



EDGE:


1.) Abdul Carter

2.) James Pearce Jr.

3.) Mykel Williams (+2)

4.) Shemar Stewart

5.) Nic Scourton (-1)


One and two are not changing for me; doubly so after James' combine performance. I will also like to add that yes, I am fully aware of James' character issues and concerns off the field. In addition, James' lack of ability to stop the run also doesn't bode well; much less his disappointing arm length of less than 33 inches. That said, his tape simply is too difficult for me to ignore. As far as speed rushers go, he is one of the fastest I have ever scouted. We have had others like Chop Robinson, Micah Parsons, Myles Garrett, etc. James' overall speed is right up there with the NFLs best. That alone will have DCs salivating at the mouth to use him in situational passing downs while he works on his run defense.


As for our newcomer Shemar Stewart, given the fact that he was one of my draft crushes when the NCAA Season began in 2024, I was expecting him to put on a show at the NFL Combine. I wasn't expecting that performance though. Unlike other Freaks of Nautre though, one thing that I have noticed with Shemar is his effort. Much like Travon Walker (hint hint), Shemar has never quit on a play; something I personally find refreshing given the fact that this isn't always the case with other FONs from the past sans a select few. Even so, I do have to perform my due diligence and, unfortunately, much like Travon, Shemar is in dire need of a performance upgrade as far as his toolbox is concerned. Top to bottom, Shemar needs to increase his pass rush repertoire while greatly increasing the amount of counter moves at his disposal. The great news is that he is only 21; plenty of time to develop.


Due to Jalon Walkers lack of length, he is omitted from my EDGE section but he does return to the Linebacker section of the rankings. His loss turns out to be Mykel Williams gain. Like Shemar, Mykel is very young; 21 years old. Unlike Shemar, Mykel's experience as a pass rusher far exceeds Shemar's when comparing the two. Now, this isn't to say Mykel is the best overall pass rusher; that honor belongs to Abdul Carter. However, he is the draft's best run defender for EDGEs while offering great pass rush upside. Mykel's problems with a pass rush doesn't have to do with him not having one but one that is far too predictable. Power rushes, namely in the form of long arm stabs to the occasional two arm swipe. His counter moves also need a tune up but not too the level that Shemar does. Despite this, Mykel's versatility, upside and edge setting abilities against the run will allow him to be a three down player very early in his career. Biggest loser on the list is Nic Scourton. While Nic's pass rush moves and counters are arguably the best overall in the class, his lack of athleticism dings him greatly in a position that values traits along with production.



Best Speed Rusher: James Pearce Jr.

Best Power Rusher: Nic Scourton

Most Versatile Rusher: Abdul Carter

Best Run Stopping: Mykel Williams

Best Coverage: Mykel Williams (he hasn't done it often but he has showcased well enough on both sides of where he is rushing)

Best HID (Hand in Dirt): Abdul Carter

Best 3-4 OLB: James Pearce Jr.

Biggest Boom/Bust: Shemar Stewart (Great Coach required)

Most Versatile: Abdul Carter/Nic Scourton/Mykel Williams

Most Pro Ready: Abdul Carter


AQL's Favorite: James Pearce Jr.



Off-Ball Linebackers:


1.) Jihaad Campbell

2.) Carson Schwesinger

3.) Barrett Carter

4.) Jalon Walker

5.) Chris Paul Jr.


Last time, I was convinced that the likes of Jihaad Campbell and Carson Schwesinger both had a shot to be drafted in Round One. Technically they still do but Jihaad is much more likely to be picked in Round One at this point. Not because Carson isn't athletic nor smart; he is both without question. It is just that Jihaad possess far greater athletic ability while being more versatile in more defensive schemes. Carson is more suited for the WILL position in the NFL whereas Jihaad has the potential be... literally any of the three. Smart enough to be the MIKE, strong enough to be the SAM and athletic enough to be the WILL. He did suffer an injury at his Pro Day but I honestly don't expect it to be that much of an issue.


As for the rest?! Carson, Barrett and Chris all have been just as I said back during the Senior Bowl write up of them. Barrett's Pro Day 40 time of 4.64 doesn't concern me as much as others would have for his Football Acumen and Instincts more than make up for it; his explosiveness no less. Chris is a tone setter while Carson's instincts are arguably the best of all Linebackers. As for the newcomer Jalon Walker, he is by far and away the best pass rushing Linebacker in the class. His violence and strike capability also allow him to be a better run defender than others believe. Now, while he does have much to learn about the finer points of being an Off Ball Linebacker, there is simply too much potential here to not invest in what he could become.


Best Pass Coverage: Jihaad Campbell

Best Run Support: Demetrius Knight Jr.

Best Pass Rusher: Jalon Walker (an EDGE but much better served as an Off Ball LB weapon where his speed can devastate many Interior Offensive Lines)

Best Instincts: Carson Schwesinger

Best Leadership: Barrett Carter

Biggest Boom/Bust Potential: Jihaad Campbell (needs some serious coaching up)

Most Versatile: Jihaad Campbell

Most Pro Ready: Barrett Carter


AQLs Favorite: Carson Schwesinger


Cornerbacks:


1.) Travis Hunter

2.) Will Johnson

3.) Benjamin Morrison

4.) *** Jahdae Barron ***

5.) Shavon Revel Jr.


This class post NFL Combine is set in stone; disappointing to say the least. I did initially want to have Trey Amos knock off the likes of Shavon Revel Jr. due to his injury but Amos' lack of length (something I didn't expect) along with his over aggression down the field is going to get him in a lot more trouble in the NFL. Shavon Revel does this as well but his length is a bit better while having much better control of his aggression in man coverage.


Unfortunately though, as far as the top three of Hunter, Johnson and Morrison, what I had said during the Senior Bowl write up still applies here. Even Will Johnson's no show at the combine doesn't affect me in the slightest. His lack of length though is something to monitor greatly as his Private Workout nears; April 10th for those that want to know. If anything major happens by that point, I will update this list. Until then, no changes here.



Best Man Coverage: Will Johnson

Best Zone Coverage: Travis Hunter

Best Run Support: Benjamin Morrison/Jahdae Barron

Best Blitzer: Jahdae Barron

Best Speed: Travis Hunter

Best COD (Change of Direction): Will Johnson.

Best Instincts: Travis Hunter

Best Technician: Will Johnson

Best Tackler: Benjamin Morrison/Travis Hunter

Best Slot: Jahdae Barron

Biggest Boom/Bust Potential: Shavon Revel Jr (Injury and age concerns)

Most Versatile: Jahdae Barron

Most Pro Ready: Travis Hunter


AQL's Favorite: Benjamin Morrison



Safeties:


1.) Xaiver Watts (+3)

2.) Nick Emmanwori

3.) Malakai Starks (-2)

4.) *** Jahdae Barron ***

5.) Andrew Mukuba (newcomer)



Oh... how the mighty have fallen! From the top to near the bottom, Malakai Starks has truly seen better days. He still possesses great instincts and some of the best overall Football IQ among all Safeties but his lack of overall athleticism is what dings him greatly here. For that matter, due to the lack of athletic juice, this also puts a restriction on what type of Defense he can be in. Single High Safety might no longer applicable with him; STAR role or something similar though he can play Slot in a pinch. In my Combine write up, I had noticed more and more instances where his eyes would often get tricked and could get fooled more easily. To make matters worse, he is a bit more stiff than I'd thought he be; not a good quality as a potential slot option. Even so, Starks is worth placing ones bets on for he still possess the best body control among all safeties, best Football IQ among all safeties and is one of the best tackling players among all Defenders.


As for our new number one, I initially wrote that Xaiver Watts is best suited to be a Strong Safety due to his lack of athleticism. I noticed the instincts but I initially thought that the overall speed wouldn't be enough. I then decided to dive a bit deeper into his 2024 tape to see if I was missing anything. Man... glad I did. His speed still isn't on the level of Andrew Mukuba or even Jahdae Barron but he is more than fast enough to play the Single High Role. Not only that, he is quite a thumper in the run game as well. Not the punisher that Nick Emmanwori is but no slouch either. As for slot duty?! Jahdae and Malakai have him beat there but not by much for either. What Watts has done better than any Safety is being an interception threat.. no matter where he is lined up. While I do understand that he is injured at the moment, teams that take a chance on Watts could end up with one of the biggest steals in the entire draft.

Now for our newcomer Andrew Mukuba. Say hello to not just the biggest dark horse among all safeties but also one of the biggest dark horses in the entire class as a whole. I would consider only Logan Brown from Kansas, Braydn Swinson from LSU and Omar Norman-Lott (somehow still) from Tennessee more slept on than Andrew. People tend to forget that Mukuba was the ACC Freshman of the Year during his time at Clemson. Sadly, injuries have robbed him of showcasing what could have been. After a transfer to Texas, he has slowly but surely returned to form. Now, he does have some over aggression on the run and his lean frame doesn't bode well for the NFL. His injury history is also something to be noted of. Despite the risks, Mukuba's abilities as a Single High, Strong, STAR and Slot CB are way too much to both overlook and pass up. He still has that great speed to allow him to play all three; his improved instincts and coverage capabilities also being great assets to him. If put into the right system, Andrew Mukuba can outplay his draft slot and could become the best safety from the class!!


Finally, Mr. Emmanwori. My second ranked Safety. To say he impressed me with his Combine Performance is an understatement. Much like Shemar Stewart, Nick blew the doors completely off Indy while blowing off the roof. A Safety with his size, speed, explosiveness, length, physicality, demeanor and strike power?! What's not to like?! Well... a bit actually. For one, despite his impressive speed and acceleration, his reaction time isn't quite up to snuff in comparison to the likes of Xavier Watts, Andrew Mukuba or even Malakai Starks. Remember that range isn't just speed alone; a player has to act and react just as quickly as their athleticism. Nick's physical gifts are second to none but his coverage instincts as a Single High leave a lot to be desired. That said however, while he isn't the Deep Center Fielding Dream of so many, he is an absolute terror of a Strong Safety. STAR Role isn't out of the question either for his length will allow him to get away with much more agile threats; same goes for a Slot CB role as well. If anything, Nick Emmanwori might be better suited for a WILL Backer role though I'd still keep him as a Safety for now.





Best Man Coverage: Malakai Starks/Jahdae Barron

Best Zone Coverage: Malakai Starks

Best Speed: Andrew Mukuba (Nick is faster but Andrew's processing speed is greater; a must for any Safety)

Best Power: Nick Emmanwori

Best Tackler: Nick Emmanwori/Xaiver Watts

Best COD: Malakai Starks

Best Instincts: Xavier Watts (not just among Safeties but arguably in the entire class)

Best Slot: Malakai Starks/Jahdae Barron

Best Single High: Andrew Mukuba/Xavier Watts (Malakai's lack of speed really hurts here in comparison to Andrew whereas Xavier's instincts are better)

Best Pure Safety (FS or SS): Xaiver Watts (Xavier is a playmaking machine... in either spot)

Best Strong Safety: Nick Emmanwori/Xaiver Watts

Biggest Boom/Bust Potential: Andrew Mukuba (medicals)

Most Versatile: Jahdae Barron (Line him up anywhere. His combine performance is vindication that he will be just fine)


Most Pro Ready: Malakai Starks


AQL's Favorite: Malakai Starks



2025 NFL Draft Rankings By Position (PRO DAY):


1.) Interior Defensive Lineman: Much like the Senior Bowl write up; too much talent and way too much depth here. Tremendous.

2.) EDGE: Shemar Stewart, Brandyn Swinson and Landon Jackson boost this class a bit. Not enough though to topple their IDL brothers but more than enough to solidify second place. Don't be surprised if a hellacious run on EDGEs occur within the first two rounds.

3.) Cornerbacks: Same thing as the EDGE group. A strong Combine with this group allows them to stay put for the third spot... though the Running Backs overall Combine performance made this decision very difficult.

4.) Running Backs: Much more talent and depth now unlocked after the combine. Devin Neal, Dylan Sampson, TreVeyon Henderson, Bhayshal Tuten, D.J. Giddens, Donovan Edwards and even others like Brashard Smith give this group a much needed performance increase. Had it not been for the depth that Corners had for the slot option, their biggest since 2021, Running Backs would be in the top three for me.

5.) Wide Receivers: Like the Running Backs, much better after the combine. Savion Williams is going to make an OC very happy or very pissed; no in between. Matthew Golden is now firmly within the Top 20 as far as I am concerned and others like Jaylin Noel, Kyle Williams of Washington State, Dont'e Thornton Jr. and Tory Horton give this group a bit more depth in the middle to late rounds. It is just not as much though as the Running Backs.

6.) Interior Offensive Lineman (+3): Will Campbell Jr. alone boosts this grade greatly. However, it is the likes of Joshua Gray, Jared Wilson from Georgia, Greg Zabel from North Dakota State, Dylan Fairchild from Georgia and the dark horse in Logan Brown which boosts this class to a great degree. They are just outside the top 5 but this group bounced back in a major way. Reason it cannot get any higher is that after the Top 100, the talent pool drops off.

7.) Offensive Tackle Class: Like before, extremely top heavy. Charles Grant from William and Mary is a rock solid option to look out for though. After the top 75, big fall off.

8.) Safeties: Very top heavy though much more appealing mid round options than the QB Class. Malachi Moore from Alabama, Latham Ransom from Ohio State and Andrew Mukuba from Clemson far exceed the mid to late round options that the QB Class has. It is just a shame though that the best one in Xavier Watts had to fight through injury.

9.) Quarterbacks (-2): I used to say Cam Ward is the best bet for this class. I shall now retract that statement with something much more accurate; Cam Ward is the only hope. BUYER. BEWARE. This is NOT the draft to nab a QB. If, for whatever reason you do, you had BETTER have the right system for them. Otherwise, it is a wasted pick.

10.) Tight Ends: Colston Loveland and Tyler Warren hard carry this group. I really wanted to put the Tight Ends above the QBs but Cam Ward can become just far exceeds any Tight End in this class. Had Brock Bowers been apart of this class, Tight Ends would move up a spot.

11.) Off Ball Linebackers: Jihaad Campbell. That is it. That is, more or less, what this group of Off Ball Linebackers has as far as star level players go. Every one else is literally scheme dependent. Place them in any other scheme they are not supposed to be in and you will ruin the player.



With that, that will conclude the 2025 Top Five Positional Rankings; Pro Day Edition. I would like to apologize in advance on if this write up is much lesser than the Senior Bowl Edition. More often than not, when I perform these write ups, I try to obtain every once of data and analysis as I can for each prospect that are considered among the best at their position; not to mention those underrated gems. Sometimes though I will have to go back and look to see if I miss anything but such an occurrence seldom happens these days. Another apsect I would like to apologize for is the timing of this write up as well; the Combine Edition notably absent. That edition was supposed to drop two days after the Combine's conclusion but I had the flu and didn't recover until the end of the month. However, all good now!!


Before we leave, I would like to remind everyone that the Top 32 Big Board; Pro Day Edition will drop this weekend!! Please look forward to it for there is quite a bit of change in the pecking order!!


Once again, thank you all for reading and I hope you enjoyed! Until we meet again for the Top 32 Big Board; Pro Day Edition, this is AskQuestionsLater saying so long, stay safe and have an awesome day!

 

I have a few disagreements and a few props to give out for having similar takes

QB: Overall like your list. Minor change would be that I think Sanders is a better player than Dart (and more pro ready), but its nit-picking as Dart is probably #3 for me. Howard is my 4. Milroe is the one I disagree with. I think McCord, Ewers, and Shough are better prospects and would easily rank each of them ahead of Milroe pretty easily. Milroe is a day 3 flier that will get drafted day 2 because of his athleticism. Malik Willis all over again. I don't think his ceiling is as high as some think. But overall pretty good list here

RB: This is the one I probably take issue with the most. Treyveon Henderson getting snubbed for top 5 is pretty rough. He's head and shoulders ahead of Sampson and Johnson, and is probably one of the most developed RB's we've seen come out in some time. I know I get meme'd on a bit due to liking him a lot, but you're getting a guy that is electric in space, developed as a pass catcher, excellent pass protector... all on a frame that is big enough to take a beating between the tackles as well. He's going to give you Aaron Jones type production and will do it very quickly into his career. If he gets drafted onto a halfway decent offense he will excel nearly immediately. However I do like the top 3 guys (and probably like them in the same order as you). I'd have Jeanty as 1, Henderson as 2, Hampton and Judkins as 3a and 3b, and the 5 spot can be fought over between Sampson, Neal, James, and Johnson.

WR: I don't hate your list, but you're being a bit unfair to McMillan in my opinion. London is a very good receiver, and one that brought himself into the WR1 category this past season. Catching 100 balls for nearly 1300 yards and 9 TD's is no joke. If that is what you get on a yearly basis from McMillan, you would be ecstatic to have them on your team. We just signed a guy who has never produced a season like London's last year to a 150 million dollar contract.... I think the biggest thing for him will be whether or not he can be a solid deep threat in the NFL. If so, he probably lands somewhere between Drake London and Mike Evans. Guys that are big, can stretch the field, and move the chains; all while being a real threat in the red zone to score TD's. I think the upside is there, and I wouldn't focus as much on things he can't do and look to see if he can do what he excels in at a high level in the NFL. If he can, he will be an excellent pick for someone. I fell into that trap a long time ago preferring someone like Marquise Lee to Mike Evans for a lot of the EXACT reasons. I won't be making that mistake again lol

TE: No issues here

OL: TBH we shouldn't be drafting an OL high enough to get a top 5 of any OL position, so I don't have much to say here.

DL: I like the Michigan kids the best too. I would have Graham just ahead of Grant in terms of being a more developed player, but I can buy liking Grant bc of his ceiling. I like Harmon more than Nolen, but that's also nit-picking. Williams at 5 is good too. Overall pretty good here

EDGE: No issues with the list. I would maybe break it out into guys that fit 3-4 vs 4-3 better (as guys like Williams and Stewart seem more geared towards hand in the ground players), and you might see guys like Green or even Sawyer break the top 5 list for us. But overall I think you're pretty spot on with the players though.

CB: Great list. I think Revel is exciting enough to break the top 5 as a project. The rest are pretty spot on. Johnson likely is a good all around CB and less of a press man style only. Him and Morrison are similar to me, but Johnson is a bigger frame and better athlete. Any of the top 4 are worth our pick at 21 IMO.

S: Perfection. I am a massive believer in Xavier Watts, and think if we want to go S at 21... he's the guy. He's basically Cooper DeJean all over again. You can employ him as a deep safety, slot CB, big Nickel extra S, SS in the box... he's versatile, has elite closing speed and burst, and is hyper competitive in all situations. He's not the physical specimen that Emmanwori is, but he would be a PERFECT fit for what we like to do defensively. Speaking of Emmanwori, I think he's surpassed Starks (like you), but mostly because of ceiling. Starks might not possess the highest ceiling, but his floor is very high. Safe pick, probably a round 2 guy for me.


Cool list. Glad you put it all together. It very obviously took a good bit of time to do...