Former NFL player and scout Bucky Brooks knows the ins and outs of this league, providing keen insight in his notebook. In today's installment, he sets the table for this cycle of draft discussion ...
As the 2024 NFL campaign comes to an end, draft season is upon us, with prospects displaying their talents this week at the East-West Shrine Bowl and Reese's Senior Bowl. The pre-draft process is extensive, with the NFL Scouting Combine and pro days on tap in the coming months, but now is a good time to take an initial look at some of the topics that will dominate the discourse.
Here are five of the biggest questions looming around the 2025 draft class.
Who is QB3 in the 2025 draft class?
The NFL scouting community does not view the 2025 quarterback class in the same light as last year's loaded crop, which produced a whopping six first-round picks: Caleb Williams (No. 1 overall), Jayden Daniels (No. 2), Drake Maye (No. 3), Michael Penix Jr. (No. 8), J.J. McCarthy (No. 10) and Bo Nix (No. 12). Though Colorado's Shedeur Sanders and Miami's Cam Ward are widely expected to come off the board in Round 1, the jury is still out on if there is another signal-caller worthy of first-round consideration.
Ole Miss' Jaxson Dart, Texas' Quinn Ewers, Oregon's Dillon Gabriel, Ohio State's Will Howard, Syracuse's Kyle McCord and Alabama's Jalen Milroe will vie for the QB3 spot, but it is unlikely any of them will earn true first-round grades based on their talent, production and potential. While each player boasts particular strengths, they'll all face heavy scrutiny during combine workouts and film sessions, with league evaluators attempting to determine who has the most upside and starting potential.
If I had to pick one guy to emerge as QB3, I would cast my lot with Dart, based on his natural arm talent, polished pocket-passing skills and moxie. He plays the game with the confidence of a seasoned vet. Though he has endured his fair share of ups and downs along the journey -- the Utah native spent a season at USC before transferring to Mississippi -- Dart could benefit from those experiences as he transitions to the pro game.
While I am not ready to proclaim Dart a first-round lock, he is intriguing in a draft full of wild cards at the position. From his aggressive mentality to his pinpoint passing skills on isolation routes inside and outside the numbers, Dart offers ability that could make him an intriguing developmental prospect for a team willing to wait for his game to pop.
Should Travis Hunter play WR or CB?
As a dynamic two-way playmaker, Travis Hunter will spark debates in meeting rooms over which position is best for him at the next level. Though the Heisman Trophy winner has always played on both sides of the ball throughout high school and college, it is unreasonable to expect him to be a full-time wide receiver and cornerback in the NFL. The overall wear-and-tear on the 6-foot-1,185-pounder could diminish his superpowers over a 17-game pro campaign.
While Hunter logged triple-digit snaps during most games at Colorado, NFL teams will want to have him on a standard pitch count (65-70 snaps) to keep him fresh over the entire season. Given those parameters and his overall skills, Hunter should start his career as a cornerback with a small package of plays as an offensive specialist.
By installing him as a CB, a team can take advantage of his exceptional awareness and ball skills in a league where turnovers are coveted at a premium. As a prototypical zone corner, Hunter can play with vision on the quarterback and tally interceptions on tipped/overthrown passes in his area. In addition, he relies on his instincts and diagnostic skills to make calculated guesses on route concepts that develop within his area.
As a receiver, Hunter is better described as a playmaker than a craftsman. He is a catch-and-run wideout with outstanding ball skills and hand-eye coordination. While he could develop into a high-end WR2 if he devoted his time to the position, Hunter can make an impact as a WR3/WR4, given 15-20 plays in a gadget role.
How high could RB Ashton Jeanty go?
The NFL's running back renaissance should help Ashton Jeanty climb the charts on draft day. The dominance of veteran rushers like Saquon Barkley, Derrick Henry, and Josh Jacobs -- not to mention the instant impact made by recent first-rounders Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs -- should have teams yearning to add a playmaker like the Boise State standout to the backfield.
The 5-foot-9, 215-pounder is a big play waiting to happen with the ball in his hands. He is a rare find as a rugged runner with a grind-it-out mentality and explosive skills. Jeanty's combination of balance, body control and stop-start quickness enables him to elude and evade defenders, but he is also willing to drop a shoulder to finish runs violently in traffic. With Jeanty displaying soft hands and above-average receiving skills, he is the multi-faceted back every offensive coordinator covets in an RB1. Moreover, based on his talent and potential, he is a foundational piece worthy of coming off the board within the first 20 picks.
Considering the number of teams that need a difference-making back -- including the Raiders (picking at No. 6) Cowboys (No. 12), Broncos (No. 20), Steelers (No. 21), Chargers (No. 22) and Vikings (No. 24) -- Jeanty is a first-round lock as the RB1 of a talented 2025 class at the position.
Who could be the next Micah Parsons?
Searching for a unicorn is one of the dangers of utilizing pro comparisons. Though the vast majority of NFL players are guys who must operate in the right scheme to maximize their respective strengths, there are a handful of transcendent talents with the tools to revolutionize the game.
Micah Parsons' remarkable impact as a hybrid playmaker for the Cowboys has evaluators scouring the collegiate landscape for defenders with A+ skills as off-ball linebackers/edge rushers. The two-time first-team All-Pro has amassed 52.5 sacks in four seasons while moving around Dallas' defensive front like the queen on the chess board.
Very few defenders possess Parsons' unique abilities, but Penn State's Abdul Carter, Georgia's Jalon Walker and Alabama's Jihaad Campbell have scouts scribbling notes and making bold projections about who could be the league's next hybrid star. This trio displays outstanding range and instincts as sideline-to-sideline playmakers, while also flashing the strength and pop to stonewall runners in the hole. With premier pass-rushing skills also on display, the candidates present compelling arguments in the defensive unicorn discussion.
If we are using Parsons as the standard, Carter is the one prospect with the explosiveness, polish and disruptive playmaking ability to match the perennial Pro Bowler's immediate-impact production. The 6-foot-3, 252-pounder displays elite first-step quickness and burst coming off the corner, whipping blockers with a crafty dip-and-rip maneuver. The Penn State star's athleticism and explosiveness jump off the tape, leading to natural comparisons to Parsons, a former Nittany Lion who also wore No. 11.
Though Walker should be considered the runner-up in the discussion, based on his speed and splashy playmaking skills, the Georgia product has a more slender build and needs a little more refinement before potentially dominating off the edge at the next level.
How unique a prospect is Tyler Warren?
The Penn State standout is a scout's dream as a blue-chip prospect with a decorated multi-sport background. A four-time all-region basketball player and an all-state baseball player at Atlee High School (Mechanicsville, Virginia), Tyler Warren starred at quarterback in his prep days on the gridiron, earning all-state honors twice. After converting to tight end at Penn State, he utilized all of these athletic skills to fill various roles as the designated playmaker for the Nittany Lions.
At 6-foot-6 and 261 pounds, Warren is a Swiss Army Knife with an intriguing toolbox to build around. As a traditional "Y" tight end with rugged blocking ability and soft hands, Warren can flourish in an offense that requires him to play attached to the offensive tackle. He gives off George Kittle vibes as a blocker in the running game, exhibiting nasty finishing skills on the edge, but he also displays the receiving chops to be a top priority for a passing offense designed to work the middle of the field. Having just won the John Mackey Award (given to college football's most outstanding tight end), Warren racked up 104 catches for 1,233 yards and eight touchdowns in 2024.
The Nittany Lions also expanded their playbook to showcase Warren's skills as a wildcat quarterback with power and pop. With that in mind, he could be counted on to execute a version of the "Tush Push" -- or something more extensive -- in short-yardage situations. In addition, his quarterback skills could enable creative play-callers to incorporate various gadget plays on the call sheet.
Given Warren's polished game and overall versatility as an offensive weapon, he should rank as a high-end blue-chip prospect with a chance to come off the board within the first 10 picks in the 2025 NFL Draft.
