NFL Draft
12/12/24
8 min read
2025 NFL Draft: Best Prospect On Every CFB Playoff Team
In the transfer portal era, it's possible to create a championship contender without a roster full of NFL talent, but every team that made the playoffs has at least a few players who will be playing Sunday football.
Let's take a look at the best 2025 NFL Draft prospects on each college football playoff team.
Best 2025 NFL Draft Prospects Playing IN CFP
Josh Conerly Jr. had a slow start but he's playing like a 1st round pick the last few weeks. Top 20 on my board atm pic.twitter.com/g8N96zzFeT
— James Foster (@NoFlagsFilm) October 14, 2024
Oregon: OT Josh Conerly Jr. 
Josh Conerly Jr. is a former five-star recruit who has improved significantly in his junior season. He has light feet and fluid lateral movement skills to mirror defenders up and down the arc. While he needs to improve his footwork and punch accuracy, he has a wide range of techniques to disrupt pass rushers’ timing.
He’s also one of the best pullers in this class, with outstanding burst off the line of scrimmage. Conerly Jr. is coming off of a stellar performance in the Big-Ten Championship game, in which he held Abdul Carter to zero pressures.
Honorable Mention: DL Derrick Harmon
— James Foster (@JamesFosterNFL) October 22, 2024
Georgia: SAF Malaki Starks
Malaki Starks has been an anchor of Georgia’s secondary since his freshman year and should be the first safety selected this April. Starks has a complete skill set for the modern NFL, with the build of a box safety and the range of a center-fielder.
He’s an excellent run defender who can shed blocks and make physical tackles at the line of scrimmage. He’s also been asked to play a lot of press-man on wide receivers this year, and while he isn’t quick enough to play nickel in the NFL, he can thrive in single coverage against tight ends.
Honorable Mention: EDGE Mykel Williams
Texas: OL Kelvin Banks Jr.
Kelvin Banks Jr. has missed Texas’s last two games with an ankle injury, but he’s the most technically polished offensive lineman in this class. As a three-year starter with more than 2500 snaps, he has an advanced pass-blocking skill set that will translate quickly to the NFL.
Banks Jr. lacks exceptional length or athletic traits, and guard might be his best position. He also has severe balance issues due to lunging into block initiation and frequently ends up on the ground.
Honorable Mention: WR Isaiah Bond
For a while I thought Travis Hunter would be my only blue-chip player in this class, but I can no longer deny the greatness of Abdul Carter. 1st year playing edge btw pic.twitter.com/eKtwBNGooG
— James Foster (@NoFlagsFilm) October 22, 2024
Penn State: EDGE Abdul Carter
Abdul Carter is the second best player in this class and one of just four blue-chip prospects. Like most Penn State edge rushers, he has an absurd blend of quickness, bend, and explosiveness, so the inevitable Micah Parsons comparisons will actually be appropriate.
Despite only playing edge for one year, Carter has an impressive pass rushing moveset, winning with a cross-chop, double swipe, inside spin, and bull rush. His diverse skill set should be featured in a hybrid role that allows him to drop into coverage and defend screens and flat routes.
Honorable Mention: TE Tyler Warren
— James Foster (@JamesFosterNFL) December 11, 2024
Notre Dame: SAF Xavier Watts
Xavier Watts has 12 interceptions since 2023, three more than any defender in college football.
He has average athletic traits, but his awareness and anticipation put him in a position to generate turnovers. He also has excellent size and physicality and would excel as a box safety in the NFL.
Honorable Mention: CB Benjamin Morrison
Ohio State OT Josh Simmons continues to play well so far this season.
— Jordan Reid (@Jordan_Reid) October 3, 2024
Very good tape vs. Michigan State. pic.twitter.com/ylvl1DawHZ
Ohio State: OT Josh Simmons
Josh Simmons tore his ACL against Oregon, so he missed out on facing better competition late in the season, but what he showed in the first seven weeks was enough to convince NFL scouts.
Simmons is a fluid mover with powerful hands and elite potential as a run blocker. While an October ACL tear is unlikely to be a major concern, the small sample size of tape makes this a more difficult evaluation. His anchor seems to have improved from last season, but seeing him face off against better pass rushers would have made me more confident in giving him a first-round grade.
Honorable Mention: WR Emeka Egbuka
James Pearce Jr. has come alive in SEC play. Leads FBS defenders with a 23.3% pressure rate this year pic.twitter.com/rv0uo4ojrA
— James Foster (@NoFlagsFilm) October 21, 2024
Tennessee: EDGE James Pearce Jr.
James Pearce Jr. is an elite athlete with long arms and rare first-step explosiveness. He has incredible upside as a designated pass rusher and two years of high-level production in the SEC. He’s recorded 52 pressures in consecutive seasons, and his 104 pressures since 2023 rank fifth among FBS defenders.
Pearce Jr. still has room to advance his pass rushing repertoire, but he wins with a swipe-rip, inside counter, and speed-to-power. While he’s been a solid run defender in college, I have concerns about his ability to hold up on early downs in the NFL.
Honorable Mention: DL Omarr Norman-Lott
Mikail Kamara (Indiana) ranks 2nd in the P4 in total pressures. Not the typical size profile for an edge but he's quick as hell pic.twitter.com/c37UY5vdwg
— James Foster (@NoFlagsFilm) October 30, 2024
Indiana: EDGE Mikail Kamara
Mikail Kamara has been one of the most productive pass rushers in college football this season, recording 59 pressures and 10 sacks after transferring from James Madison.
Kamara has a sawed-off frame and might have some of the shortest arms in this edge class, but he makes up for it with burst, tenacity, and efficient hand usage. He has the versatility to win off the edge or at three-technique and a versatile moveset to keep blockers off balance.
Honorable Mention: DL CJ West
Boise State: HB Ashton Jeanty 
Ashton Jeanty is my fourth-ranked player in this class and clearly the best draft prospect at Boise State. Jeanty has had a historically productive 2024 season despite every team selling out to stop him. He leads the FBS in rushing yards, rushing touchdowns, and yards after contact per attempt and is averaging 6.9 yards per carry against 7+ man boxes.
As a prospect, Jeanty checks every box. He has elite vision, open-field elusiveness, and contact balance. He’s a sure-handed receiver with outstanding awareness and physicality in pass protection.
Honorable Mention: EDGE Ahmed Hassanein
— James Foster (@JamesFosterNFL) December 11, 2024
SMU: HB Brashard Smith
Brashard Smith is one of many unheralded SMU prospects. After converting from receiver, the Miami transfer has broken out in his senior year, with 1576 yards from scrimmage and 18 touchdowns.
He’s an electric athlete with blazing speed and impressive vision, given his lack of experience. After Tyrone Tracy’s productive rookie season, don’t be surprised if Smith is the next player to convert to running back in his final year of eligibility and find success in the NFL.
Honorable Mention: EDGE Elijah Roberts
— James Foster (@JamesFosterNFL) December 11, 2024
Arizona State: HB Cam Skattebo
Arizona State is another running back-led playoff team. Cam Skattebo is one of the most powerful runners in college football, ranking third in the FBS in yards after contact.
He lacks speed, but after dropping 10 pounds this offseason, he’s still a chore to bring down and has a rare ability to bulldoze defenders in the open field. While Skattebo might not be selected until Day 3, he’s a much better college player than draft prospect.
Honorable Mention: WR Xavier Guillory
— James Foster (@JamesFosterNFL) December 11, 2024
Clemson: LB Barrett Carter
Barrett Carter is a rangy and versatile linebacker with three years of starting experience. He projects as a weak-side linebacker and has elite coverage upside, recording 11 pass breakups since 2022.
Carter has significantly improved as a tackler, which was a major weakness last year and likely the reason he returned to school. Despite being slightly undersized, he’s competitive when shedding blocks between the tackles.
Honorable Mention: OT Blake Miller
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