PFF's Way too early 2025 NFL Draft
Now that Detroit has hosted the greatest NFL draft of all time, Green Bay will have a tough act to follow!
Fortunately for Michigan, we are likely to be well represented once again. Per PFF, the top 50 prospects include 4 Wolverines resulting in at least 2 first round draft picks. They are number 2, 4, 16 and 36.
https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2025-nfl-draft-way-too-early-top-50-big-board
2. Mason Graham
4. Will Johnson
16. Colston Loveland
36. Kenneth Grant
Of course, that team from Ohio has several top 50 players as well led by Egbuka at number 19. So, the next match in Columbus will be very challenging.
In the meantime, let's just enjoy the rest of Spring and this Summer savoring our 2024 National Championship!
April 29th, 2024 at 12:34 PM ^
Graham at 2 would be surprising. Can't remember a DT going that high very often. Guys like Suh went #2 overall, but he was the best player in all of college football that year. Only been a handful DTs in the last 20 years go in the top 5.
April 29th, 2024 at 12:40 PM ^
I remember Courtney Brown back in the early 2000s or maybe late 90s, from PSU to Cleveland, IIRC. Definitely not common!
EDIT: Per google, he was a DE...so apparently I did not RC:)
April 29th, 2024 at 12:43 PM ^
College football fans have given Suh a spiritual Heisman for that year, yeah.
While I love that Charles is still the only primarily defensive player to win the Heisman, what Suh did that year combined with who was voted ahead of him, I think, earns him the spiritual Heisman. 52 solo tackles, 85 total tackles, 20.5 TFL, 12 sacks & an interception. That's basically Kris Jenkins, Mason Graham & Kenneth Grant's stats from this past season combined.
His game in the Big 12 championship was crazy. More impact on a game than most guys have in a year.
Suh had one of the great games in Big 12 championship game history, producing a career-best 4.5 sacks among his team-high 12 tackles -- seven of which were for a loss.
April 29th, 2024 at 12:45 PM ^
Analytics by position value on defense has evolved over the past several years. Used to look like this:
- Edge
- Corner
- Safety
- DL
- LB
Now, based on the draft and FA signing dollars it's clear it looks more like this:
- Edge
- DL
- Corner
- Safety
- LB
You say that like Graham isn't one of the best players in college football..? Corners top 5 are rare too, but special is special.
From my childhood both Russell Maryland and Steve Emtman went #1. God im old
One of those guys was legit, the other was steroids. I still hate that Rose Bowl game.
I don't know about steroids--entirely possible--but Emtmann had bad luck with injuries. Blew out his left knee as a rookie, tore up his right the next year and had a neck injury the year after that.
I think the only bright spot in that particular Rose Bowl was Ty Wheatley's long TD run after the game was out of reach. Signs of what we'd see the next year.
They're not predicting Graham at #2. They're saying they think he's the 2nd-best prospect in the 2025 draft. Big Boards do not equal mock drafts.
For example, most people had MHJ ranked ahead of Daniels and Maye in this year's draft, but didn't mock him until #4 with the Cardinals.
April 29th, 2024 at 12:38 PM ^
OSuckU should have a nice NFL draft class next year assuming their well compensated players actually show up to play this season. Regardless of how many are drafted, the only thing that matters is Michigan, once again, silences the crowd in the horse shoe as the Wolverines tear apart the buckeyes for their 4 win in a row.
April 29th, 2024 at 12:45 PM ^
Wouldn't your list project at least 3 first rounders? I would also throw out there that given the draft class this year, no doubt we have at least 1-2 more whose stock will rise without an NFL player ahead of them in the depth chart.
As BlueMiddle mentions, "They're not predicting Graham at #2. They're saying they think he's the 2nd-best prospect in the 2025 draft." I should have added a disclaimer along those lines. 6 of the top 12 picks this year at QB was more evidence of that.
In reality, I think 2 of the 3 of Johnson, Graham and Grant get drafted in the 1st round. DL don't usually go in the first round, so it seems likely that one of these guys gets drafted on day 2. A good example of this is Jer'zhan Newton. PFF had him at #11 going into this year's draft. He was finally selected with the 4th pick in the 2nd round.
Meanwhile, Loveland needs a monster season which might depend a lot on our style of play this year.
So, I said at least because I'm an engineer, and we always hedge our bets, but I hope the number is at least 4.
I'm surprised Kenneth Grant is not on first round radars. I suppose he didn't start last year, but I hope/expect him to play himself into the first round this year.
PFF rates players using their grades, it does not mean that is where they will be drafted.
He is not that well known outside of Michigan circles and college football nuts. Will get more playing time and notice this year.
I'm not going to argue that OSU doesn't have lots of talent on the roster or that a UM win in Columbus next fall is likely, but the love they get in too-early drafts generally isn't commensurate with actual results.
Why is that? I think some of the writers fall back on recruiting rankings when they need tie-breakers. OSU will usually win those contests.
I live in Delaware Ohio (25 north of Columbus) and get all of the OSU news and believe it - our NC really lit a scorching fire under OSU's ass. I wouldn't even want to guess how much money they spent on those massive Portal pickups (Downs, Sayin Judkins and that KSU QB. Many forecasts are saying they'll have the most roster talent in the country
But my biggest fear next year - and I'll probably get negged for it - is what we saw happen to OSU after the loss of Urban Meyer when we took control.......the huge loss of Harbaugh whom I've said all along was one of the top 2 or 3 coaches in the country, Yes, I understand that Sherrone did a great job last year in Jim's absence, but don't kid yourselves, it was still JH behind the scenes calling the shots
Sorry - Egbuka has all the intangibles, but he's soft. We F him up every time, and he tags out. He drops catchable passes under the threat of getting crushed (and then very often we crush him).
They have plenty of weapons... i think as the season goes, folks will be more scared of the other options.
Graham at #2 is a nice thought, but I don't see it. Not because he's not amazing, but we all know that unless he is Suh level... (which I don't know that he is)... QBs and weapons rule the early picks. Also, its impossible to predict these things given the many athletes out there. He also needs to stay healthy.
Two top 5 picks would be crazy - but also... kinda speaks to the level of talent we'll be losing. Hope some guys can wait their turn and LEARN from these guys.
I predict Grant goes higher than Graham if they both declare. That size/speed combo is just too much for GMs to pass up
Alabama holds the first round record of 6 in one year, in 2021. If Edwards has a good year, and Moore declares, we may have a shot to tie it. And I would be surprised if Grant doesn't go in the first.
Edwards in the first round? I dont know what that season would have to look like but Im here for it!
He looked good in the spring game
Yea his 4 carries for 12 yards in the spring game means he’ll have an all-time season and be a 1st round pick!
Shedeur Sanders going first overall to the Giants.
Havent seen him play. Is he worthy of the first overall pick?
He’s a good player and I’m not going to hate on him, but no.