NFL Draft
2/10/25
11 min read
2025 NFL Draft: Ranking This Year's Biggest Boom-or-Bust Prospects
With Super Bowl 59 and the 2024-25 NFL season in the history books, all eyes are on the race for Super Bowl 60 next year. To get there, teams will have to make the most of this offseason. A huge part of the equation is finding great players in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Knowing when to take the right risks and which players are worth investing in is the key to building a sustainable winner. Most players who are drafted will have the physical traits to last a long time in the NFL, but their personalities, work ethic, and drive will determine whether they'll sink to their floor or rise to their ceiling.
We've identified six players who fit the bill of being boom-or-bust prospects. They make up the six biggest boom or bust-2025 NFL Draft prospects in the class because these will be early-round selections with the physical upside to define the next decade of the NFL's existence.
Who will deliver upon their upside?
Boom or Bust 2025 NFL Draft Prospects
Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss 
There was already a lot to like about Walter Nolen before he was a unanimous winner at the 2025 Senior Bowl. The former top recruit and 5-star prospect is entering the NFL after his best collegiate season. He was the main star on a loaded Ole Miss defense, tallying 48 tackles, 14 tackles for loss, and 6.5 sacks.
His quickness off the line, burst when changing directions, and overall fluidity is eye-popping for a 6-foot-3, 305-pound interior defender. With pass-rushing defensive tackles being as valuable and hard to find as ever before, there's a good argument as to why Nolen should be a top-five overall prospect and pick in April. Only Michigan's Mason Graham matches or exceeds Nolen's traits and highlight reel.
Walter Nolen (#2) doing Jalen Carter type stuff pic.twitter.com/P8VoXac3XB
— Brett Kollmann (@BrettKollmann) January 28, 2025
However, Nolen's inconsistent stretches reinforce character concerns about whether he can be a foundational building block for a defense. He ends up on the ground too often, resorting to occupying space when he's taking plays off, or he'll be shoved out of his assigned gap because his pad level remains high and he's disengaged from the action. His play has boomed or busted throughout his career.
If staff can get his motor running hot more often, they'll be rewarded with a repeated Pro Bowl producer. However, interior linemen are especially prone to poor conditioning as they age, and it's hard to predict whether someone can just light a flame under them after reaching the NFL. Nolen's range of outcomes is almost as wide as anyone else's in this class.
Player ceiling comparison: Gerald McCoy
Player floor comparison: Malik McDowell
Walter Nolen's Full Scouting Report
Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama
The case for Jalen Milroe in the 2025 NFL Draft is straightforward. With five teams among the top seven picks needing quarterbacks and only two clear first-round talents in this draft class, Milroe is likely to be valued higher than what most would consider ideal.
However, it’s hard to ignore the appeal of adding a player with physical traits reminiscent of Jalen Hurts and Lamar Jackson, especially while watching the NFL playoffs.
For several reasons, Milroe’s performance under Nick Saban in 2023 was stronger than his time with Kalen DeBoer in 2024. DeBoer’s offense struggled to establish a reliable run game to support Milroe and incorporated fewer play-action plays than in the previous year. This put Milroe in a position that required him to play like Michael Penix Jr., which doesn't align with his skill set.
Alabama QB Jalen Milroe to Freshman WR Jalen Hale, who makes a spectacular catch in the end zone! pic.twitter.com/gTeVs7YJZK
— Arye Pulli (@AryePulliNFL) September 23, 2023
Unfortunately, the Senior Bowl failed to be a launching point for Milroe to make his case to be a top-10 pick. He has sub-9" hands, and his turnover rate reflects that as he's fumble-prone. He has a rocket arm, but his small hands likely contribute to why Milroe struggles to feather the ball with touch.
The dichotomy of Milroe's physical upside and the way he could be an offensive engine with terrific running ability and his inconsistency as a passer pits teams into a familiar dilemma. Milroe needs time, reps, and a specific situation to succeed.
Player ceiling comparison: Jalen Hurts
Player floor comparison: Justin Fields
Jalen Milroe's Full Scouting Report
Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas
Some may be most surprised by the inclusion of Quinn Ewers, who is viewed as a good but not great quarterback prospect who needs a lot of hand-holding to win. He's not overly athletic, struggles to adjust post-snap with his reads, and doesn't have consistent passing mechanics. There were times he held Texas back with knuckle-headed decisions and a lack of confidence.
However, Ewers has the physical traits to be an above-average quarterback. Much like Jared Goff, Ewers' best throws are elite. He can manipulate the ball in an almost unrivaled fashion and delivers it with a variety of velocities and release points. When his feet are right, and he drives throws, it's hard to slow Ewers.
On his first TD throw, Quinn Ewers didn't even watch Gunnar Helm catch it. As soon as he released it, he either turned to the LOS marker ...or turned to say something to Michigan DT Kenneth Grant.
— Will (@WillBaizer) September 10, 2024
Great catch by @theqbschool pic.twitter.com/iw4HzR4eqz
Ewers needs to undergo a lot of mental growth and mechanical tweaks to get there, though. As with Goff, he will need a great offensive line and time to implement the adjustments needed to hit his ceiling.
Failing to accommodate Ewers' game as a franchise or any falling short on Ewers' side will overwhelm him and expose his weaknesses too much.
Player ceiling comparison: Jared Goff
Player floor comparison: Skylar Thompson
Quinn Ewers' Full Scouting Report
Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia
Mykel Williams' 2024 season didn't go as anyone had hoped. I had mocked him as early as No. 1 overall at one point in the preseason because his flashes in 788 snaps in his first two years were that impressive. However, Williams was hampered by an ankle injury throughout the year, and the bulk of his 402 snaps played this season were limited by that.
Instead of proving to be an explosive, reliable pass-rusher, Williams is the wild card of first-round locks. There's no question he has the traits of a star presence who can hit double-digit sacks. But can he stay healthy enough and play the run effectively enough to justify starting and building around?
Mykel Williams is a super high upside player that has flashed dominance, but will that be the norm for him the NFL?
— Logan Fulmer (@Fvlmer) January 24, 2025
Full Scouting report below https://t.co/qZmAvF3YA0 pic.twitter.com/yOv5gTrBPQ
With only 14 sacks and 67 tackles in a three-year career, Williams brings a bit of a mystery box appeal to him. If he's on the field, engaged, and adds more strength to his frame, Williams will have the chance to be one of the best couple players from the class. However, it's just as easy to see him washing out and being forgotten by the end of his rookie contract.
Player ceiling comparison: Aldon Smith
Player floor comparison: Will McDonald
Mykel Williams' Full Scouting Report
Nic Scourton, DL/EDGE, Texas A&M
Nic Scourton, a physical talent who transferred to Texas A&M after recording 10 sacks at Purdue in 2023, struggled to find his stride with the Aggies. He played around 275 pounds at Purdue but ballooned to nearly 290 at Texas A&M, and that additional weight proved to be a challenge. His statistics for quarterback pressures, pass rush efficiency, and overall performance declined significantly.
While the increase in competition plays a role, it doesn't tell the whole story; Scourton simply couldn’t handle that extra weight effectively. Returning for another year could have been beneficial for him, but entering the NFL also presents opportunities.
Despite college football attempting to mirror the NFL in various ways, differences in motivation, resources, and coaching standards at the pro level are notable. As with Nolen, it creates a dilemma for a larger defender who hasn't fully tapped into his potential yet.
Nic Scourton consistently does this. (EDGE1)
— Colton Edwards (@coltonedwardsFB) January 15, 2025
He showcases his length with one arm, utilizing good hand placement to extend and drive with very good lower body power, getting into his bull rush to put pressure on the QB, resulting in an errant throw. pic.twitter.com/g76VWT8DKt
Standing at 6-foot-4, Scourton has the attributes of a hybrid tackle and edge rusher, showcasing remarkable strength and agility when in optimal shape. NFL teams might question whether he can slim down and maintain his intensity, but many coaching staffs will likely be willing to take a chance on him in the second round.
His combination of physicality and three-down capability is simply too appealing to overlook. But this is a huge range of outcomes, and that should terrify everyone in the draft room before they submit his name to be selected.
Player ceiling comparison: Melvin Ingram
Player floor comparison: Dion Jordan
Nic Scourton's Full Scouting Report
Isaiah Bond, WR, Texas
Everyone loves speed, but speed isn't the only indicator of success. Texas learned that the hard way with Isaiah Bond last year, who joined the program to be their next Xavier Worthy. Instead, though, it was Matthew Golden who maximized the opportunity, while Bond simply frustrated Texas with his poor effort and inconsistent play.
Bond's run blocking was non-existent, and teams are concerned about whether he's ready to embrace a role that will require some dirty work. Running a 4.2 only buys so much goodwill for a receiver who isn't dominant on contested catches, doesn't create much after the catch, and will spend a good chunk of plays in the slot.
Bond can be a finesse player, but the rope he'll be given is limited if he can't convert big plays and doesn't add value on all three downs.
ARCH MANNING RESPONDS AFTER HIS INT 🔥
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 22, 2024
A 56-yard DIME right to the hands of Isaiah Bond 😤 pic.twitter.com/mZ1aDgpLzT
There's still tremendous upside, though. Bond's drop rate was only 4.5 percent during the last two years and has proven to be explosive regardless of where he's lined up. He spent 59 percent of his snaps in the slot at Alabama in 2023 and then was an outside receiver on 77 percent of snaps at Texas this past year. That versatility is a huge plus.
Offenses will need to cater to Bond's play style even if he engages defenders better in the run game. During his three-year career, he caught only six of 19 contested catches and forced 17 missed tackles. Those are disturbingly low numbers, so he's going to produce a lot before the ball is thrown and be reliant on separation and an accurate quarterback.
Player ceiling comparison: Tyler Lockett
Player floor comparison: Marquise Goodwin
Isaiah Bond's Full Scouting Report
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