NFL Draft
3/19/25
7 min read
Brooke's Bullies: Who Are the Toughest 2025 NFL Draft Prospects?
Physical and mental toughness matter when it comes to NFL Draft prospects.
That may seem like common sense, yet competitive toughness continues to be an under-discussed trait when debating prospects at every position. Combine testing, physical tools, tape, and even personality are the main talking points around draft circles, but toughness is almost implied when talking about players heading into the NFL.
While the average draft prospect is tough, there are other players who stand out among their peers in that category, coming in all shapes and sizes. Let's take a look at a handful of the toughest prospects in this year's edition of "Brooke's Bullies."
Brooke's bullies for the 2025 NFL Draft
Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State 
There are times when Tyler Warren looks like he's playing against children on the field because his size and athletic profile make him a matchup nightmare heading into the NFL.
Whether it's running through, around, or even over defenders, Warren feels almost impossible to bring down after the catch. He was such a difficult ball carrier to bring down that Penn State had no problem making him their wildcat quarterback, giving him more opportunities to touch the ball.
That toughness even shows up in the blocking game. Most productive tight end pass catchers don't focus as much on the blocking aspect of their game, but Warren takes pride in it. He latches onto defenders with strong hands while consistently trying to drive his opponents into the ground.
— James Foster (@JamesFosterNFL) December 18, 2024
In a talented tight end class, Warren is head and shoulders above the rest of the competition as TE1, and his competitive toughness is a big reason for that.
Tyler Booker, OG, Alabama
At the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Tyler Booker explained that he loves football because he can take other people's love of the game away.
"It's legal assault out there, and I love football because the brand of football that I play makes guys not love football anymore," Booker told reporters. "I do that every down by just giving it my all and letting them know I'm not gonna let up. The thing I love most about football is taking the love away from other people."
That's a bully quote, if there's ever been one.
The tape backs up Booker's words. A 6-foot-5, 321 pounds guard, the Alabama prospect plays with outstanding play strength and motor to consistently drive defenders into the dirt.
Tyler Booker is a 1st round guard pic.twitter.com/C5ctxN8TXO
— James Foster (@NoFlagsFilm) July 28, 2024
Booker's ability to finish plays through the whistle at his size is a big reason why he's being viewed as a first-round guard. In a class filled with impressive physical traits and athleticism in the trenches, Booker brings the mentality and toughness to be a first-round prospect.
Cam Skattebo, RB, Arizona State 
Everything about Cam Skattebo's path to the NFL screams physical and mental toughness.
An unheralded running back out of high school, Skattebo's college career started at Sacramento State before transferring to Arizona State two seasons later. He finally had his breakout season in 2024, generating more than 2,300 offensive yards with 24 rushing and receiving touchdowns.
Despite not looking like a peak athlete, Skattebo's athleticism stands out when the ball is in his hands. However, it's his tenacity and contact balance as a runner that are his best traits, refusing to go down regardless of how many tacklers are trying to bring him down.
skattebo, cam pic.twitter.com/D7MkZ7axIM
— Hayden Winks (@HaydenWinks) March 18, 2025
Ashton Jeanty gets the love for his contact balance, but Skattebo is right up there with his ability to stay upright through all kinds of contact. His motor and effort might be the best of any prospect at any position in this draft class, and that deservedly makes him an easy selection for this year's list of Brooke's Bullies.
Jack Bech, WR, TCU
Jack Bech makes the list not only for his on-field play but also for his mental toughness in competing in the pre-draft process through an unspeakable tragedy.
Bech scored the game-winning touchdown of the Senior Bowl after a great week down in Mobile, showing off his body control and ability to make plays through contact. That's a recurring theme on tape with him at TCU, but perhaps his best trait is his ability to run through defenders after the catch, lowering his pads and keeping his feet moving through contact.
Jack Bech (TCU WR) is so hard to bring down after the catch for DBs. pic.twitter.com/iGPJbPpZ45
— Tyler Brooke (@TylerDBrooke) February 1, 2025
Bech's game draws natural Puka Nacua comparisons, and it's easy to see that he was a former tight end at LSU before transferring to TCU. It's unclear where he will be drafted, presumably somewhere on Day 2, but whichever team gets him will be getting a relentlessly physical receiver.
Chris Paul Jr., LB, Ole Miss
Size doesn't matter when it comes to Brooke's Bullies, and Chris Paul Jr. is an embodiment of that on the field.
Measuring in at just 6-foot-1 and 222 pounds, you would think that "Pooh" would be more of a coverage linebacker designated strictly for passing downs. Instead, Paul's tape shows a relentless linebacker who can fly all over the field and strike ball carriers with legitimate stopping power and wiry strength.
#OleMiss LB Chris Paul Jr is a pleasure to watch
— Hail Mary Sports (@hailmarysportss) March 12, 2025
His high-level play is eye-popping pic.twitter.com/1dTKXRfXRM
Even the metrics back up Paul's ability as a run defender. With 86 total tackles in 2024, Paul only registered a missed tackle rate of 4.5 percent, one of the best in the country for an off-ball linebacker with his production.
Above all positions, a linebacker must be fearless and competitively tough. Paul checks those boxes on a smaller frame, but his speed to cover sideline to sideline makes him a unique defender who could end up being one of the biggest steals in this year's draft class.
Andrew Mukuba, SAF, Texas
Both defenders on this year's list of bullies are undersized for their respective positions, but both bring plenty of intensity to that side of the ball.
Andrew Mukuba weighed in at just 186 pounds at the Combine, which puts him in the bottom 20 percent historically for safeties going pro. However, he plays like a 200-pound safety with his fearlessness when flying into contact.
70% of the earth is covered by water, the rest by Andrew Mukuba.
— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) January 20, 2025
In his first year as a true safety, Mukuba posted 5 INTs, 6 PBUs, 0 TDs allowed, and just 74 yards allowed on 23 targets.
He’s also a heat seaking missile against the run, but could clean up tackling.
Day 2 pick. pic.twitter.com/vQscGmcvmN
With excellent instincts and explosiveness, Mukuba is consistently in position to make plays on the ball, whether that's coming away with interceptions or attacking receivers to break up the pass. On top of career-high numbers with five interceptions and six pass breakups, Mukuba also set career marks with 69 total tackles and 41 solo stops.
Mukuba's range as a deep safety, with the ability to trigger downhill and assist in run support, could convince a team early in Day 2 to take a chance on him despite his smaller frame.
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