Brett's Cowboys Corner

I have 14 first-round grades for the 2025 draft class. Each year, there are 32 players selected in the first round. However, NFL scouts don’t give out 32 first-round grades to maintain the value of the tag.

So the meaning of the grade might be subjective, for myself, I give the designation to players that I believe can immediately step-in and become a starter for any team. This player will also be a difference maker in their role and can elevate the talent of the position group around them.

This years class has fewer first-round grades than I typically give out, due to the questions that fill up the top of this class, though that should not take anything away from some of the talent that can fill key roster spots around the NFL.

First Round Grades – In Order

Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado

Hunter by many is considered a generational talent. The 2024 Heisman trophy winner played both sides of the ball at Colorado. He is a great athlete that plays with good instincts and uses his speed to elevate his game. As a receiver he tracks the ball downfield and makes the grab with strong hands, and picks up yards after the catch. He can still catch the ball in awkward and unbalanced positions. Incredible catch radius. As a corner, he sticks with the receiver in man coverage, operates better in press coverage. He reads the QBs eyes the entire time.

As an NFL player, Hunter likely won’t play both positions full-time. There has been a split around the NFL if teams consider him a CB or WR. I believe Hunter will be a full-time corner and have special packages where he comes in as a slot receiver.

Abdul Carter, Edge, Penn State

Carter played a mixture of edge rusher and linebacker for Penn State. I see his best ability in attacking the QB. He caused nightmares for many tackles in college football. Carter is a power rusher and just wins. He is not much of a technician, doesn’t rush with a lot of spin or creative moves. He will run through the tackle or around him. He will get into hand fights at times with tackles, but generally wins. Abdul Carter’s draft stock may take a slight hit as a foot injury lingers and could result in a surgery and 8 week recovery, this may scare a few teams away.

At the NFL level, Carter should be a full-time edge rusher, he is a plug and play guy, line him up and let him attack the QB.

Mason Graham, DT, Michigan

Graham is a physical player, he will take on double teams and has the strength to power through. He plays a 3-technique, meaning he lines up at the offensive guard’s outside shoulder. He has great instincts and awareness of where the ball is going. He will power through and blow up the play often. He gets a good amount of sacks for a defensive tackle. Michigan had him listed at 321 pounds, and he moves really good for that size.

At the NFL Combine, he officially weighed in at 296, which is a 25 pound drop. From many reports, this sudden loss isn’t scaring scouts away and may have been to increase his combine performance. I think he will put the weight back on for the season, and stay at defensive tackle.

Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State

Jeanty is one of the most electric players in this draft, and his big play ability stands out among the rest. Though many argue the value of the running back position and where you should take them. Jeanty will likely be a high pick because teams want to assure they are getting a difference maker and Jeanty will be that at the NFL level.

Jeanty has the ability to jump cut around defenders with no wasted movements, he’s not afraid to lower his shoulder and will bounce off tacklers. He was the focal point of Boise State’s offense. He is aware of blitzes and will make himself available for a quick reception and act as a receiver. A big play machine.

Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona

McMillan is the top receiver in this class. There has been some hesitation by teams because of concerns about his speed and his ability to create separation. While he may not be a shifty player, standing at 6’5″ he has the ability to make contested catches and will fight defenders after the catch. He has the ability to find holes in the defense against zone coverage, and can be effective on crossing routes. He is what I call a “bad ball catcher” meaning no matter where the ball ends up…behind him or high up in the air…McMillan always comes down with it.

There has been discussion that McMillan will fall in the draft. A lot of concerns from the combine and the fear of his ability to create separation. I think he can come in and still dominate as a physical X receiver in the NFL.

Jahdae Barron CB, Texas

Barron played all over the secondary at Texas. He possess the ability to recognize routes quickly and will look to make a play on the ball. Five interceptions last season. He mirrors the routes stride by stride in press man coverage, and makes it a challenge for the receiver to complete his route. He is a willing tackler but doesn’t always take the best angle at the ball.

Barron played outside and nickel corner at Texas, due to being on the shorter side, he will likely have to play inside as a nickel corner. His ability to stay close to the receiver will help with quick passes that a nickel cornerback deals with the most.

Cam Ward, QB, Miami (FL)

Ward has made himself the QB1 in this class in my book. His big play ability and the danger of his running ability makes him an all-around weapon. Ward has a quick release and plays with a gunslinger mentality. He is best throwing down the middle as opposed to the sideline. The ball will naturally float into the receivers the hands but sometimes will just be a little too far over the receiver heads.

Recently in the NFL, we have seen value in a QB’s ability to be able to turn a passing 3rd down situation into a QB run play and pick up crucial conversions. Watching players like Jayden Daniels, Josh Allen, and Lamar Jackson do that on a consistent basis will make NFL teams value that ability more.

Justin Simmons, OT, Ohio State

Simmons is the best tackle in this class and easily would be one of the first three players off the board. Unfortunately, he tore his patella tendon in September and there has been some unknowns after his surgery. Rumors between NFL scouts is Simmons should be ready to go around training camp. I believe a team will and should take him with a premium pick in this draft.

Simmons is a great moving athlete and will create holes for running lanes. He handles gap exchanges well and will get into hand fights and often wins. He matches great footwork with great hand movement.

Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri

Burden is a hard to tackle, shifty moving receiver. He doesn’t run complex routes and at Missouri they kept it simple and just focused on getting him the ball quickly. His best work comes after the catch. This is where he picks up all of his yards and can be a game changer. He lines up in the backfield at times, and will motion around and take jetsweeps.

At 5’11” he will likely be a slot receiver in the NFL. I think he will be most impact full in tight formations that keep him close to the ball, and can have screens and slants to get him the ball quickly.

Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas

Banks started at left tackle at Texas last season, though a late ankle injury cost him to miss the SEC championship, he came back for the Longhorns final game against Ohio State. Banks has smooth footwork and strong hands in pass protection. He has no problem using his upper body including his head to bump into the defender and rough them up. He plays with leverage, gets low but often leans into the defender a bit too much which can cause balance issues.

I believe Banks will be drafted and moved inside to a guard position at the NFL level. At 320 pounds, he is a better fighter working in the tight spaces than out on the edge as a tackle. When you are looking at offensive tackles and offensive guards. Tackles play on an island, there’s a lot of space around them and a lot more movement. Where guards wrestle in a phone booth, there’s not much moving, more focus on the guy in front of them.

Mike Green, Edge, Marshall

Green has some of the highest potential in this class. He will be 22 years old when the season starts in September. This past season he lit up the stat sheet for the Thundering Herd, leading the NCAA in sacks with 17, accompanied with 59 QB pressures. He plays with a high motor, giving great effort each play. Plays with speed but can quickly win with his hands if needed. He will knocked for one thing, competition, playing at Marshall means the level of competition will be called into question. His lowest amount of tackles in a game this season was two, when he played Ohio State, though he still amounted a sack in the game.

The twitchy pass rusher has risen up draft boards quickly in this process. He will be used for pass rusher situations primarily at the NFL level, though he isn’t as noticeable in run defense, I think he can still be on the field without making the team weaker.

Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State

Egbuka is a route technician, he excels at out routes and curls. Not a physical receiver, he gets open quickly and makes quick adjustments to the ball and secures the catch. He is slippery after the catch. Egbuka is a consistent target in big games, and shows up for those moments.

There are some questions if he can be a teams WR1 at the pro level, he has been a career WR2 at Ohio State, playing behind some great receivers, though he is currently the Buckeye’s career receiving yards leader all-time.

Malaki Starks, SAF, Georgia

Starks is a safety, a nickel corner, and even can play linebacker. He is a do it all player in the secondary and makes plays on the ball carrier. He is physical in run defense and is great at tracking the ball in pass coverage. He has plays with a high football IQ and generally is always around the ball.

At the NFL level he will fill in a hole for many teams, due to his versatility of where you play him. He reminds me of Brian Branch of the Detroit Lions and his ability to be all over the field at all times.

James Pearce Jr., Edge, Tennessee

Pearce just gets sacks. He seems to always be one step ahead of the offensive line. You will see him be the first player off the line when the ball is snapped. He uses his long arms to move tackles out of the way and often goes to the swim move. He plays with some power, but really needs to develop more as a run defender.

Pearce has taken a fall down some draft boards as some rumors of character concerns were heard around the NFL Combine. Stories about treatment of teammates going back to high school have floated around, but will that scare teams away from his great talents on the field.