On April 24th, attention will turn to the 2025 NFL Draft, where hundreds of the finest collegiate American football players hope to realize their dreams of reaching the NFL.
As is often the case at this time of year, analysts and college football experts are ploughing the internet with mock drafts and there are several interesting names to watch out for. If you plan on getting involved in the buzz, here are some storylines to follow.
Where will Shedeur Sanders land?
Shedeur Sanders is the undisputed star of the 2025 NFL Draft.
The son of NFL Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, Sanders was the star quarterback of his dad’s team in Colorado, and where he will land is shaping up to be the draft’s greatest mystery.
Potentially in the running to be the overall number one pick for the Tennessee Titans, the Titans’ interest has reportedly cooled, and they are believed to favor rival signal caller Cam Ward.
With the Browns keeping quiet on their draft aspirations at No. 2, quarterback is a need, but with DeShaun Watson still on the roster, whether it’s as urgent as the media suggests remains to be seen.
The Giants at 3 could have been another landing spot, but the recent one-year acquisition of Russell Watson makes a move to the Big Apple unlikely.
The range where Sanders could fall is vast, if he doesn’t go in the top three, the Raiders at six could be a potential destination, but there are rumours circling that he could fall out of the top ten altogether. Where he eventually ends up will be the story of draft.
Will a team make a splash for Travis Hunter?
The 2024 Heisman Trophy winner, Travis Hunter is a unique player that can play on both offense and defence. He is without doubt the most talented player in the entire draft class. The most likely landing spot for Hunter was with the Patriots at four, but with the acquisition of Stefon Diggs, where and who Hunter will play for is now up in the air.
The Dallas Cowboys were quick to squash rumours that they might be interested in moving up the board to get hold of Hunter, but there will be plenty of big teams that will be keeping an eye on how the board plays out and whether they could make a move to land one of the most intriguing prospects in years.
Abdul Carter is likely to be a lock to be the first defensive player of the board
As often happens on draft day, the top positions are expected to be filled by quarter back needy teams, which means that one team will manage a steal and land the first defensive player off the board.
Whereas many draft picks are stabs in the dark and rely on elements of luck similarly to our favourite NZ casino games, the common consensus is that Abdul Carter is the most pro-ready prospect of the 2025 class.
A twitchy and rangy edge rusher, Carter looks destined to be a quarterback destroyer for years to come. A product out of Penn State, the similarities to former Penn State star Micah Parsons are real and analysts believe he can enjoy a career as impactful.
Carter’s presence is bad news for Shedeur Sanders. With Ward likely to go 1 to the Titans, many believe that the Browns won’t be able to pass up on Carter and the prospect of him and Myles Garrett on the same defensive line could prove to be a nightmare for opposing teams to handle.
Guaranteed to come off the board early, some believe he could even be a surprise contender to fill out the top spot on the board. Wherever he falls, someone is getting a star that could change the face of their organisation for years to come.
