NFL Draft

11/26/24

11 min read

2025 NFL Draft: Biggest Early Sleeper Prospect at Each Position

By Tyler Brooke

NFL Analyst
Vanderbilt Commodores tight end Eli Stowers (9) breaks the tackle of Ball State Cardinals defensive back George Udo (10 during the second half at FirstBank Stadium.
Vanderbilt Commodores tight end Eli Stowers (9) breaks the tackle of Ball State Cardinals defensive back George Udo (10 during the second half at FirstBank Stadium. Steve Roberts-Imagn Images.

Players like Travis Hunter, Shedeur Sanders, and Ashton Jeanty are stealing headlines ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft, but there are under-the-radar players at each position who deserve more attention.

The upcoming draft class may not feature a clear-cut No. 1 quarterback, but it is loaded with promising pass rushers, defensive linemen, and running backs. It also features one of the most unique playmakers in the history of the sport in Hunter, who will be evaluated as both a wide receiver and cornerback.

Even if this isn't considered the strongest draft class, there are still hidden gems at each position whose stock could skyrocket during the pre-draft process.

The 33rd Team's Latest First-Round Mock Draft

2025 NFL Draft Hidden Gems

Quarterback

Drew Allar, Penn State Penn State Nittany Lions logo

Last year's version of Drew Allar looked like a major work in progress, with Penn State trying to hide him in big games.

That isn't the case in 2024.

Allar has ramped up his efficiency this season, seeing a 12.3 percent jump in completion percentage and a leap in yards per attempt from 6.8 last season up to 9.6. Those increases have also come with a continued emphasis on protecting the football, throwing just even interceptions in two seasons as a starter.

Scouts will quickly fall in love with Allar's physical tools as a 6-foot-5, 238-pound quarterback. He has a strong arm and the ability to throw with anticipation, but he also has the athletic ability and pocket presence to avoid pressure and take off downfield when needed.

There's a chance that Allar ends up going back to Penn State for his senior year to compete for the QB1 spot in 2026. If he doesn't, he'll still have a good chance at being an early Day 2 pick based on his physical tools and the development he showed as a passer this year.

Running Back

RJ Harvey, Central Florida UCF (Central Florida) logo

The running back class is absolutely loaded this year. Jeanty has a chance to go in the top 10, but there might be a dozen other running backs who will go in the first three rounds of the 2025 draft.

RJ Harvey is going under the radar right now, but his skill set makes him one of the most exciting prospects in the 2025 class. He's filled the stat sheet for the Golden Knights during the last two seasons, racking up over 2,800 rushing yards with 41 total touchdowns.

A compact 5-foot-9 back, Harvey's ideal combination of elusiveness and contact balance allows him to wiggle his way out of a jam, find a crease, and take off for chunk plays in Central Florida's offense.

Harvey isn't a burner, and he needs to show more willingness as a blocker in pass protection to be considered a three-down back. Still, his instincts and low center of gravity will make him an effective and efficient runner with the football at the next level.

Wide Receiver

Elijah Sarratt, Indiana Indiana logo

Speed is what will make the highlights on ESPN, but a reliable X receiver can do a lot for an offense, especially at the NFL level.

Elijah Sarratt is the furthest thing from a speedster, but he's the kind of receiver that an NFL quarterback will thrive with in the pros. Nicknamed "Waffle House" because of his ability to constantly get open, Sarratt has been a safety blanket for the Hoosiers this season, catching 41 passes for 725 yards and six touchdowns.

At 6-foot-2 and 209 pounds, Sarratt has an ideal frame for an outside WR. He has excellent body control and good play strength to win through contact, and he has good deceleration and technique in his routes to maximize his separation.

Coaches will love Sarratt's tenacity and effectiveness as a run blocker as well. He's not a top-end speedster, but he has good deep ball tracking when targeted deep. Think of Sarratt as a less explosive version of Nico Collins, who could quickly come into an NFL offense and carve out a role because of his reliability when targeted.

Tight End

Eli Stowers, Vanderbilt Vanderbilt Commadores logo

The tight end class is headlined by top names like Tyler Warren and Colston Loveland, but Eli Stowers has been a top target for Vanderbilt in a surprising season for the Commodores.

Stowers will play a very specific role in the NFL. He won't be an in-line tight end at 6-foot-4 and 225 pounds, but he can thrive in the slot and have some value as a "move" tight end.

That lighter frame shows up on film when Stowers is running routes, allowing him to fly around the field and create plenty of separation against linebackers and second-level defenders. He's made the most of his opportunities this season, averaging an impressive 2.40 yards per route run.

On top of speed, Stowers has good short-area quickness and foot speed to catch defenders whiffing on his release and snap off routes at the stem. He'll likely be a Day 3 pick, but Stowers has enough route-running juice that he could find his way onto the field as a power slot.

Offensive Line

Wyatt Milum, West Virginia West Virginia Mountaineers logo

In a top-heavy class of offensive linemen, Wyatt Milum still has a chance at being a first-round pick.

A four-year starter at West Virginia, Milum has been one of the most reliable blockers in pass protection throughout his college career. According to Pro Football Focus, he hasn't allowed a single sack as a blocker since his freshman year, with just 15 pressures allowed on more than 640 pass-blocking snaps during the last two seasons.

Milum has great length on a 6-foot-6 frame but is on the lighter end at 317 pounds. Despite that lighter frame, Milum can move bodies in the run game because of his excellent technique and pad level, winning leverage to generate push, and his competitive toughness in driving defenders into the dirt when he wins his block.

There are discussions about moving Milum inside to guard because of his adequate play speed in space. Regardless of where he ends up playing, he has tons of college playing experience and the pass protection skills to be a long-term starter in the NFL.

Defensive Line

Omarr Norman-Lott, Tennessee Tennessee Volunteers logo

The Tennessee Volunteers have a potential first-round pick on defense in James Pearce Jr., but his teammate, Omarr Norman-Lott, is one of the fastest-rising prospects in this draft class.

At first glance, Norman-Lott isn't the biggest or most physically imposing prospect, coming in at 6 feet 3 inches and 315 pounds. However, he plays with some of the best effort in this class, playing with his hair on fire. He has 24 pressures on just 120 pass-rushing snaps this season.

Thanks to explosiveness, pad level, and technique, Norman-Lott forces the issue on blockers by firing off the snap and getting extended at the point of attack. It allows him to disengage and pursue the ball carrier in the backfield, leading to huge plays for the defense.

Lower body strength will hurt Norman-Lott's ability to anchor down against double teams, and bull rush the quarterback, and blockers will use his aggressiveness against him at times to throw him off balance. However, his effort and technique are traits that coaches will love, regardless of where he's drafted.

EDGE Rusher

Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College Boston College Eagles logo

There are all different shapes and sizes at the top of the EDGE class, but few are talking enough about Donovan Ezeiruaku as a potential first-round pick.

Ezeiruaku is statistically one of the best pass rushers in college football this season. Along with 13 sacks and three forced fumbles, he's produced 46 pressures and 36 defensive stops per PFF.

A twitched-up and agile pass rusher, Ezeiruaku wins against offensive tackles with speed and bend, along with a killer inside move to catch opponents flat-footed. He has a handful of pass-rush moves in his bag, along with a swim move and good hand timing to disengage.

Although he's on the smaller end as a 6-foot-2 rusher, Ezeiruaku plays with excellent technique against the run to hold his own. Double teams still give him some trouble, but his effort and technique against the run will keep him on the field enough on top of his pass-rushing ability to develop into a three-down player.

Linebacker

Chris Paul Jr., Ole Miss Ole Miss Rebels logo

There's a real chance that Chris Paul Jr. is the best pure off-ball linebacker in this class.

On a defense with Trey Amos, Walter Nolen, and Princely Umanmielen, Paul continues to stand out because of his length and play speed, allowing him to fly all over the field. He's filled up the stat sheet this season with 80 total tackles, 44 solo tackles, four pass breakups, and 2.5 sacks.

Paul may be the best tackler in this class, coming to the point of contact with excellent technique and play strength, driving his feet through contact, and wrapping up. He rarely misses tackles, flying all over the field and staying in front of ball carriers with good control to avoid whiffing.

Discipline and overaggressiveness are issues for Paul, who can get caught biting downhill on play action and overpursuing when reading his keys.

Still, that play style and tenacity, combined with his movement skills and play strength, will make him a top-tier linebacker prospect once the draft comes around. Paul is just 151st on the consensus big board, but he should start drawing first-round or early Day 2 consideration based on the film.

Cornerback

Mansoor Delane, Virginia Tech Virginia Tech Hookies logo

Not all cornerbacks are tenacious, but that's exactly what Mansoor Delane brings to the table.

A lengthy cornerback at 6-foot-1 and 187 pounds, Delane has filled the stat sheet with a nose for the ball this season. Along with three interceptions and six pass breakups, he also has 31 solo tackles and a pair of forced fumbles.

Along with the length and movement skills to blanket receivers, Delane also shows off a great downhill trigger with instincts to react to passes underneath, leading to game-changing plays like in the clip above. On top of all of that, Delane plays with a relentless attitude and intensity that constantly shows up on film.

Delane will need to add some weight to his frame and focus on staying more in control on his drops to stay balanced. Still, the effort, physical tools, and competitive toughness will have him seeing the field earlier than other cornerbacks in the 2025 draft.

Safety

Kamari Ramsey, USC USC Tojans logo

This year's safety class has a handful of exciting playmakers, highlighted by a potential top-10 pick in Malaki Starks. However, USC's Kamari Ramsey has some of the highest upside in the next tier of prospects behind the Georgia Bulldogs star.

Despite being just a redshirt sophomore, Ramsey plays like a seasoned veteran with instincts and pre-snap recognition to snuff out plays. He has the play speed to cover sideline to sideline, but also the downhill trigger to light up ball carriers like the clip above against Wisconsin.

There's a chance that Ramsey stays in school, but he plays with such impressive football IQ and has the physical tools that he could already contribute as an NFL rookie in 2025.

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Tags: 2025 NFL Draft, Chris Paul Jr., Donovan Ezeiruaku See More

Tyler Brooke

NFL Analyst

Tyler is an experienced NFL writer who has been covering the NFL since 2012. His work has been featured on Bleacher Report, FanDuel, SB Nation, and a number of other sites. Along with more than 12 years of experience covering the NFL, Tyler also co-authored "The Science of Football" and is an assistant football coach at Carmel High School in Indiana.

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