My Favorite Prospects From The 2025 NFL Draft
These are the players I'd stand on the table for in this year's class.
Welcome to the fifth edition of the All-Hollywood Team!
Of all the articles I write each year, this is my favorite. It’s a celebration of what makes covering the draft one of the best niches in the football content industry. For the uninitiated, the All-Hollywood Team is a list of my favorite draft prospects from each cycle.
This is not a list of the best players at each position — instead, it’s a list of the players I had the most fun watching. These are the players with unique skill sets, explosive tape, and physical natures.
The only rule is that I’m not allowed to pick consensus first-rounders. The only exception to that rule was if a player made the Summer All-Hollywood Team and became a first-round prospect during the season.
Since I couldn’t create the team this summer, that doesn’t apply this year. One player who made this year’s team is a borderline consensus first-rounder, but the judge (me) decided to allow it.
So, here are my favorite prospects from the 2025 NFL Draft:
Quarterback
Jalen Milroe, Alabama
Height/Weight: 6’1, 217
2024 Stats: 2,844 passing yards, 16 TDs, 11 INTs, 726 rushing yards, 20 rushing TDs
If I were completely transparent, I would say I don't love a single quarterback in this class. However, this is supposed to be a list of players who were the most fun to watch.
And Milroe was by far the most fun quarterback tape I watched this cycle. He has the tools to be a dominant threat at the NFL level but just hasn’t figured out how to use them properly yet.
Milroe might be the fastest straight-line quarterback I’ve ever scouted. He’s not as shifty as Lamar Jackson and not as quick as Kyler Murray, but Milroe’s top speed and explosiveness clear both of those guys.
He can smash pursuit angles at the second and third level like a running back, which could help keep an offense afloat as he rounds out the rest of his game.
The tricky part with Milroe’s projection is how much you’re willing to believe in his ability as a passer. Milroe was terrible down the stretch of Alabama’s season, turning in UDFA-level performances against Michigan and Oklahoma.
Milroe has a cannon and is a fairly accurate deep ball thrower, but he’s got zero consistency. He misses layups and has a long way to go with developing his ability to go through progressions and problem-solve with his arm.
He showed some strides in his ability to target the middle of the field and go through progressions earlier in the season, so there’s at least some proof of concept.
Milroe is probably my least favorite of the players on this list. Still, in a quarterback class filled with middling skill sets, it was impossible not to enjoy his rollercoaster ride tape.
Best Trait: Athletic Ability, Arm Strength
Pro Comp: Jetpack Jalen Hurts?
Big Board Rank: 77
Position Rank: QB3
Round Grade: 3rd
Running Back
Kyle Monangai, Rutgers
Height/Weight: 5’9, 209
2024 Stats: 1,279 rushing yards, 13 TDs, 14 catches, 75 yards
Okay, now we’re getting into the good stuff. Unlike the quarterback class, I had difficulty narrowing this spot down. There are so many good running backs in this class, and several of them were a blast to watch on film.
That said, I went with Monangai, whose power and contact balance in a compact 5-foo-9, 211-pound frame won me over. Besides Ashton Jeanty, Monangai might be the best tackle-breaker in the class.
Monangai forced 66 missed tackles and racked up 862 yards after contact this past season, which ranked in the top 20 among all college runners. This is not a player who relies on speed and quickness to make defenders miss, either.
Most of his missed tackles forced are plays where he wants it more than the opponent. The clip above against Washington was his best run of the season, but there are many similar plays throughout his film.
Besides his toughness standing out for a smaller player, Monangai endeared himself to me with his reliability. During the past three seasons, Monangai had 607 carries and did not fumble a single time. That’s incredibly impressive for a player who takes as much contact as he does.
As much as I love Monangai’s tape, projecting him to the NFL is tough. He’s small, slow, and role limited. He doesn’t offer much as a receiver out of the backfield, and his long speed will prevent him from snapping off big runs.
Best Trait: Contact Balance
Pro Comp: Thomas Rawls
Big Board Rank: 169
Position Rank: RB19
Round Grade: 6th
Wide Receiver
Savion Williams, WR, TCU
Height/Weight: 6’5, 225
2024 Stats: 60 catches, 611 yards, 6 receiving TDs, 51 carries, 322 rushing yards, 6 TDs
What’s more fun than a 6-foot-5, 225-pound receiver with an above-average athletic profile who also lined up at three different spots last season?
Savion Williams is one of the most interesting players in this entire class. His receiving profile oozes potential, as he gets in and out of breaks way better than someone of his stature should. He’s also got plenty of long speed to win down the field and an impressive catch radius to haul in contested passes.
Williams also took snaps at running back and wildcat quarterback this past season, proving he’s a terror with the ball in his hands, too. He’s got excellent vision, contact balance, and explosiveness to navigate blocks and punish bad angles downfield.
Williams' tape has a little of everything, and his athletic profile jumps off the screen.
While that profile makes him a sinch for this list, it leads to questions about his projection to an NFL offense.
Williams is incredibly raw as a route runner, and he’s given a lot of easy-touch opportunities in the TCU offense. That comes in the form of carries, jet passes, screens, and simple short-area routes. Williams won’t plug into a defined role as a rookie and thrive — he’ll need a curated role in a creative offense to maximize his skill set while he develops.
He is one of the biggest boom-or-bust players in this class, but boy, is his film a blast.
Best Trait: Athletic Ability
Pro Comp: Cordarrelle Patterson
Big Board Rank: 67
Position Rank: WR9
Round Grade: 3rd
Slot Receiver
Jaylin Noel, Iowa State
Height/Weight: 5'11, 200
2024 Stats: 80 catches, 1,194 yards, 8 TDs
Noel was the first player I added to the team when I wrote his preliminary scouting report in November. I fell in love with Noel’s ball tracking, vertical speed, and toughness before everyone else caught up.
Some raised questions about his speed, but he smashed those concerns at the combine, running a 4.39 40-yard dash. Thanks to his route-running prowess and long speed, Noel projects as an ideal modern slot receiver.
He can win in the short area of the field through separation quickness and the toughness to make difficult catches through contact. Downfield, he showed an uncanny ability to track down poorly thrown passes and attack defensive back’s blindspots.
Noel played second fiddle to his teammate, Jayden Higgins, in Iowa State’s offense, but I have them ranked in the same bucket of receivers.
Noel won’t fit every team since he should be limited to a primary slot role at the next level. He’s not a winner vs. press on tape, and his catch radius is pretty limited. Still, he’s one of the better route technicians in the class and is a potent playmaker with the ball in his hands.
Best Trait: Route Running
Pro Comp: Christian Kirk
Big Board Rank: 51
Position Rank: WR6
Round Grade: Late 2nd- Early 3rd
Tight End
Jackson Hawes, Georgia Tech
Height/Weight: 6’5, 260
2024 Stats: 16 catches, 195 yards, 0 touchdowns
Through the years, I’ve gained more appreciation for tight ends who can block.
I’d like to tell you it’s because I’ve grown as an evaluator, but I think it’s a product of watching Durham Smythe steal money from the Miami Dolphins as their blocking tight end.
In any event, it’s led me to appreciate a player like Georgia Tech’s Jackson Hawes. The former Yellow Jacket tight end is one of this class's best blocking tight ends. His massive frame (6-foot-5, 260) is paired with an incredibly aggressive mentality.
Hawes is an absolute mauler at tight end, attempting to finish every block to the ground and through the whistle. He can block from an in-line spot or on the move as an H-back on split-flow action.
Any team needing a legitimate in-line option to help in the running game should be in on Hawes. Obviously, he doesn’t offer a ton as a receiver. He’s super stiff in the hips and lacks the explosiveness to challenge defensive backs vertically.
He’s a limited player, and there’s a chance he goes much later than where I have him slotted, but he can be an incredibly valuable force multiplier for the right team.
Best Trait: Blocking
Pro Comp: Luke Stocker
Big Board Rank: 117
Position Rank: TE7
Round Grade: 4th
Interior Offensive Line
Grey Zabel, North Dakota State
Height/Weight: 6’6, 305
Zabel is the player I mentioned at the top who is likely to go in the first round. However, I don’t know that it’s 100 percent certain, and I make the rules here, so we’re rolling with it.
The North Dakota State product was the first offensive lineman I watched this cycle because he accepted his invite to the Senior Bowl pretty early, and he did not disappoint. Zabel is an athletic mauler in the running game who is capable of pulling into space and creating havoc.
He’s just as good in a phone booth, too. He can turn defenders out of gaps with little issue, and he keeps his lower half engaged to drive linemen off the line of scrimmage.
Zabel also showed a lot of improvement as a pass protector in 2024 and continued that momentum through a dominant Senior Bowl week. Zabel played tackle for NDSU last season, but he profiles much better on the interior.
I like him as a guard, but some people I spoke with on the field in Mobile had him at center. He lined up and dominated in all three spots that week, so I’m not too worried.
There are still some concerns with his pass protection technique, as he can get a tad overaggressive and overwhelmed by speed. However, a move inside to guard should protect him a lot better, and he’s already proven he can take coaching and improve.
Zabel is probably the best player on this list, and he’s been one of my favorites for quite a while.
Best Trait: Power
Big Board Rank: 37
Position Rank: IOL2
Round Grade: 2nd
Offensive Tackle
Anthony Belton, North Carolina State
Height/Weight: 6’6, 336
This is a strange tackle class. It seems like almost every prospect has some analysts who believe they’re better off at guard, and that’s true of Anthony Belton from NC State.
Belton has the size and traits to be a tackle in the NFL, so he gets the nod in this spot. He first stood out to me at the Senior Bowl, as I hadn’t watched his tape before flying down to Alabama.
He had an excellent week, winning with size, speed, and power against some of the nation’s top pass rushers. When I flipped on the tape, it was easy to see why some believed he’d be a top-100 pick.
This is a massive tackle prospect with a ton of power in his lower half. He’s an aggressive run blocker who loves to finish his assignments through the whistle. He’s also got enough movement skills to operate as a puller or on outside zone looks.
His pass-protection work is a little sloppy. He doesn’t always gain enough ground off his kick slide, and he struggles with hand placement and strike timing. However, when everything is synced up, he’s incredibly hard for edge rushers to beat.
Belton is a bit of a project, but he’s got all the tools and movement skills to be an effective NFL tackle. He’d be a perfectly fine guard, too.
Best Trait: Power
Big Board Rank: 84
Position Rank: OT7
Round Grade: 3rd
Defensive Tackle
Aeneas Peebles, Virginia Tech
Height/Weight: 6’0, 282
2024 Stats: 10 solo tackles, 3 sacks, 37 pressures
Peebles gets the honor of being my favorite prospect at my favorite position to scout. The Virginia Tech product is a unique blend of speed and pass-rush technique that makes it impossible not to smile while watching his tape.
He’s capable of blowing past interior offensive linemen with speed, but he’s also got one of the most developed pass-rush plans in the class. He’s got a myriad of pass-rush moves and hand counters he can get to if his speed doesn’t win.
Peebles was a terror in the ACC this past season, spinning and swimming through offensive linemen. He’s got a non-stop motor and infectious energy, which showed up throughout Senior Bowl practices.
His profile starts to get a little problematic when considering his run defense. He’s super undersized for the position (height and weight) and can really struggle to anchor. Right now, he’s limited to being a gap penetrator.
That playstyle is losing some of its luster across the league as teams return to heavier personnel formations and running the ball. Because of that, Peebles is most likely limited to a pass-rush specialist role in today’s NFL.
Best Trait: Pass Rush Counters
Pro Comp: Somewhere between Michael Hall and Calijah Kancy
Big Board Rank: 133
Position Rank: IDL16
Round Grade: Late 4th- Early 5th
Nose Tackle
Jordan Phillips, Maryland
Height/Weight: 6’2, 312
2024 Stats: 26 solo tackles, 16 pressures
Phillips is one of the few true underclassmen to declare in this year’s class. He’s a redshirt sophomore who had a much better season than his numbers would suggest.
He’s a nose tackle, so much of his production doesn’t show up in the box score. Phillips is incredibly strong at the point of attack and can consistently stack and shed blocks. His surprising flashes of pass-rush ability sold me on him making this list.
Although he didn’t have any sacks this past season, his 16 pressures show a player with considerable athletic ability to develop. He’s quick off the line and can work pass-rush counters in a phone booth.
Like the entire Maryland team, Phillips was much more potent earlier in the season. Still, it’s clear that a few years of development could make him into one of the league’s more dynamic nose tackles. He’s still young and has all the natural tools you could ask for.
At worst, he’s a stout presence in the middle of the line who can anchor a unit and help keep a team’s linebackers clean. Most nose tackles aren’t flashy, but Phillips has enough juice to be one of the few that is.
Best Trait: Run Defense
Pro Comp: Malik Collins
Big Board Rank: 74
Position Rank: IDL10
Round Grade: 3rd
EDGE Rusher
Josaiah Stewart, Michigan
Height/Weight: 6’0, 248
2024 Stats: 22 total tackles, 37 pressures, 8.5 sacks
Stewart is one of the oddest EDGE evaluations I’ve done in a minute. I don’t have a pro comparison listed below because it’s hard to come up with a player at his height/weight with his skill set.
Most undersized EDGE players are much taller than Stewart, and several of them don’t have his level of natural thump on contact. Stewart’s profile might make him a tough sell for NFL teams, but his tape is a joy to watch.
There’s so much to like about Stewart’s pass-rush profile. His speed off the edge is impressive, and he’s got active hands to swipe and rip the offensive lineman’s hands away at the top of the rush. He can dip his shoulder under the punch and turn a nice corner to the quarterback.
Despite lacking length, he’s capable of turning speed to power and getting into the chest of offensive linemen. It’s not his strongest move, but he can win with power occasionally. He has the quickness to work across offensive tackle’s faces if they overset to contend with his speed.
Stewart can be a valuable rotational player. His pass-rush profile is one of the better ones in the class, but his lack of physical traits (size, height, length) and modest, at best, run defense will push him down some boards. That said, it’s hard not to like the tenacity he plays with and the speed off the edge.
Best Trait: First Step
Big Board Rank: 97
Position Rank: EDGE16
Round Grade: Late 3rd - Early 4th
Linebacker
Demetrius Knight Jr., South Carolina
Heigh/Weight: 6’2, 235
2024 Stats: 57 solo tackles, 2 sacks, 3 forced fumbles, 1 INT, 6 TFLs, 12 pressures
Sometimes, players make this list because of their on-field and off-field backgrounds. Knight Jr.’s third school was South Carolina, as he had started at Georgia Tech and transferred to Charlotte before playing his final season in the SEC.
Through that, Knight Jr. became a DoorDash worker to support his family while continuing to improve on the football field. It’s incredibly cliche, but that kind of hard work and dedication is a huge plus on a scouting report.
Knight’s on-the-field profile shows similar dedication and effort, too.
He’s a well-traveled, experienced player with impressive range, length, and physicality. Teams that want their linebackers to play downhill and take on offensive linemen should be chomping at the bit to add Knight.
He’s one of the more explosive players I’ve watched this cycle. Watching him close the gap on Jalen Milroe in the Alabama game got me out of my chair. He can get sideline to sideline in a hurry, and he got better at processing as the season progressed.
His length also makes him an incredibly annoying player to deal with. He can take on blocks like a defensive lineman and make tackles from weird angles, even if he’s still working through contact. This makes him a challenging block for running backs trying to block him on blitzes.
He also has extensive experience on special teams, so regardless of how his game develops, he should be able to play on all 32 NFL rosters.
Knight needs to take some strides in how he plays in coverage and triggers against the run, but I felt he already improved in those areas last season. The other concern is that he’s a sixth-year player.
I imagine some teams will be worried that he was dominating because he was so much older than most of his competition.
Best Trait: Range
Pro Comp: Germaine Pratt
Big Board Rank: 64
Position Rank: LB4
Round Grade: 3rd
Cornerback
Zah Frazier, UTSA
Height/Weight: 6’2, 189
2024 Stats: 20 solo tackles, 6 INTs, 9 PBUs, 1 forced fumble
I have a weakness for tall, long cornerbacks who run incredibly fast, and Zah Frazier easily checks all three boxes. His 4.36 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine was wildly impressive at his size, and that speed shows up plenty on tape.
The broad appeal for Frazier is that he moves a lot better than someone of his size should. He’s just under 6 foot 3, but he’s capable of smoothly transitioning through breaks, and his straight-line speed and explosiveness are well above average. He does a great job breaking downhill on passes from Cover 3 zone and baiting QBs into poor throws.
Frazier made some of the most impressive plays on the ball in this entire class. He has unreal speed and will hunt for turnovers by taking calculated risks in zone coverage. He understands how route concepts will develop and is willing to peel off his man to make a play on the ball.
He ran down a few passes in coverage that shocked me beyond belief.
From a pure skills perspective, Frazier has the length to be an effective press coverage player, but his punch accuracy and timing are wildly inconsistent. A team must build him from scratch in that facet, but the natural talent is present.
Like Knight, Frazier is an older player who didn’t break out until his final season, so there will likely be some question marks around that. In the right system, Frazier profiles like a solid starter.
Best Trait: Ball Skills
Pro Comp: Darius Rush
Big Board Rank: 90
Position Rank: CB12
Round Grade: Late 3rd - Early 4th
Slot Cornerback
Jacob Parrish, Kansas State
Height/Weight: 5’9, 196
2024 Stats: 40 solo tackles, 1 INT, 7 PBUs
One of the best compliments you can give a cornerback is calling them a pest, and that’s exactly what Jacob Parrish is for opposing receivers.
The Kansas State product is a physical, athletic cornerback who can match all types of receivers in man coverage at all three areas of the field. Despite being undersized, Parrish is excellent in press coverage and does a solid job defending the run.
Parrish will beat the hell out of receivers at the line of scrimmage, and he plays the ball through the whistle, allowing him to knock passes that would otherwise be completed loose.
Although Parrish mainly played outside, I think he’d better served in the slot. His instincts, run defense, and overall physicality could be a real asset closer to the line of scrimmage. Additionally, his speed (4.35 40-yard time) would allow him to match with many of the league’s speedy slot receivers.
That said, I would not be surprised to see a team try Parrish outside in 2025. The Commanders used Mike Sainristil (5’9, 182) outside to varying degrees of success this past season.
Saying Parrish would be better in the slot is not an insult. Slot cornerbacks are starters for most teams and vital parts of a secondary either way. Parrish’s tape is a treat, and so many of his best traits should immediately translate.
Best Trait: Physicality
Pro Comp: Mike Sainristil
Big Board Rank: 50
Position Rank: CB9
Round Grade: Late 2nd - Early 3rd
Strong Safety
Jonas Sanker, Virginia
Height/Weight: 6’0, 206
2024 Stats: 66 solo tackles, 1 INT, 4 PBUs, 7 pressures, 2 sacks
There’s nothing flashy about Sanker’s tape. He plays a role in Virginia's defense and does it well. He has some nice ball production and made his fair share of tackles, but nothing jumps off the screen when watching his tape.
However, when you put Sanker’s profile together, you have a high-floor player with long-term starting upside in several NFL schemes.
Sanker’s run defense is probably what stands out the most on tape. He’s a wildly physical player with tremendous open-field tackling ability, and he’s explosive coming from depth, allowing him to run the ally and make impact plays near the line of scrimmage.
In coverage, he’s fast enough to survive in a half-field role. He’s got enough range to make plays on the ball in those spots, but he thrives in shorter zones near the line. If a team likes to use their safety as a robber, Sanker should be high on their board.
Sanker was a three-year starter at Virginia and lined up just about everywhere. He won’t be that versatile in the NFL, but it’s still good to see a safety prospect handle a myriad of responsibilities well — the mental side of the position is half the battle sometimes.
Physical safeties with good tackling ability and sufficient range tend to have a high floor in the NFL. At worst, they’re competent box players with special teams flexibility. Sanker can be more than that, but every team should have a spot for him somewhere.
Best Trait: Tackling
Pro Comp: Bryan Cook
Big Board Rank: 81
Position Rank: SAF7
Round Grade: Late 3rd
Free Safety
Xavier Watts, Notre Dame
Height/Weight: 6’0, 203
2024 Stats: 53 solo tackles, 6 INTs, 9 PBUs, 1 forced fumble, 7 pressures
Watts is the highest-ranked player on my board to make this list. Although he’s a top-20 player for me, I can’t remember the last time I saw him in the first round of a mock draft.
That’s not too surprising. Safety is not an overly high-value position across the league, and Watts’ size will cause some teams to move him down the board. However, Watts’ natural instincts and ball skills for the position are truly special.
He’s a solid but not elite athlete, so his ability to read and react to routes is a huge part of his projection. Thankfully, that’s his best trait, as he consistently does an excellent job baiting quarterbacks and closing down zone windows to make a play on the ball.
He’s a former receiver, which shows in how he attacks route concepts downhill and the ball in the air. This is a player with the most INTs in college football during the last two seasons combined, and few of them are flukes — Watts created most of those turnovers.
Thanks to his size, Watts is not a stalwart run defender. Still, he plays physically and is not afraid to make plays near the line of scrimmage. He’s not a bad tackler per se, just one that's slightly limited by strength and length.
There are very few safeties in this class I would trust to play in deep zones for most of their snaps and still significantly impact the game — Watts is one of them.
Best Trait: Ball Skills
Pro Comp: Eddie Jackson
Big Board Rank: 16
Position Rank: SAF2
Round Grade: High 2nd