Every year, there is a player who surprises the NFL world when going very high than consensus. Michael Penix Jr. Yendo 8th to the Atlanta Falcons in 2024, Cole Strange going in the first round to the New England patriots in 2022, and many more surprises that threw the NFL draft on inclination. 2025 will surely have some surprises on Thursday, largely due to how much is unknown to this class.
After maybe the first two or three selections, everything is on the table. The gap between player 10 and 28 in some boards may not be as large as the conventional wisdom would imply, so on Thursday some emotion could sound. There are players here that I think they could surprise with how early they could go.
Gray Zabel, Iol, North Dakota state
Seen by many as the main interior rulers in this class, Zabel’s name could be called much higher than the general consensus. There are many rumors about teams that see Zabel as a center or guard, with their athletics of quality and movement skills. In Mobile, Zabel played Guard and Center and seemed one of the best liners there, so he has a lot of potential at the pivot point. There are rumors of legs or zabel as high axis 12 to the Dallas Cowboys, so it would be attentive to its name on day 1.
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25963894/2176998555.jpg)
Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty images
Trey Amos, CB, Ole Miss
After CBS Travis Hunter, Jahdae Barron, Will Johnson and Maxwell Hairson left the board, the next guy could be anyone. If there is a CB after the best boys that I think they will come out before the believer, it is masters. It has enough speed, but in the coverage of 2 or coverage rooms it is physical and wants to interrupt men in the scrimmage line. He also received a clean health bill and ran quickly in the harvester, two things that will work in his favor. With many teams near the end of the first round that need help in the corner, their physicalness and their ball skills underneath could be useful.
Jaylin Noel, WR, Iowa state
This kind of receiver is interesting to say at least. After Travis Hunter arrives early, Beijing’s order is a bit fluid. That gives him many opportunities for boys like Noel to jump to the first round. For teams that need the game speed of the game in the recipient’s place, Noel has an easy second march that allows you to easily access the second and third level of defenses. While it could be more a number two receiver, a team like the Rams makes a lot of sense to him.
Tyleik Williams, DT, Ohio State
:format(webp):no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/25963898/2195804352.jpg)
Photo of Steve Limenteani/Isi Photos/Getty Images
This kind of defensive rigs is deep, and if the best boys leave the relativious board early, I could see a team jumping for Williams in Round 1. One of the best glass dining rooms throughout this class, Williams is a force like Quicke’s speed that is not his game at all. Mason Graham, Derrick Harmon, Kenneth Grant and Walter Nolen, all figures will have gone at the end of the first round, and towards the background teams they could use some help to stop the race. If there is something we have learned from the victory of the Super Bowl of the Eagles, it is that turning in defensive rulers such as hockey shifts could be the way to follow. Williams could be the rock of a robust defense of the NFL Run.
Nic Scourton, Edge, Texas A&M
Scourton’s profile is an interesting case to measure the 2023 tape compared to 2024. In 2023, Scourton was smarter and a threat out of the edge for Purdue, showing speed that was quite sick for a type of size. However, after the transfer ring to Texas A&M and placing approximately 20 pounds to play in his defense, it seemed slower and the second march in Purdue was lost. In the harvester, he reached a thinning of 257 pounds and looked more like the guy he was in Purdue. If the teams are going to believe in a player who can put the advantage in the race game and win with power and violence, Scourton could sneak into the back of the first round.