After six weeks, America has an idea of who will likely have a high draft pick and what they will need. This draft class is filled with talents that can turn a whole team around. Here are some of the big names of the 2025 NFL Draft class:

Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado

To see a two-way star in college football is rare, but Travis Hunter has excelled on both sides. As a wide receiver, he is an insane route runner with consistent hands and a knack for making clutch plays. His hands translate to when he plays cornerback, where his ball skills are strong. Most impressively, his tackling technique and anticipation make him capable of starting in the NFL as a cornerback right away. Hunter will likely be restricted to one position in the NFL, but whichever position he plays, he can be a building block for whichever franchise gets him.

Tetairoa McMillan (T-Mac), WR, Arizona

Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan has been an absolute force during his CFB career. The 6’5” Hawaiian made an immediate impact his freshman year and has not looked back. McMillan has been a major matchup nightmare for opposing defenses, as his large frame and insane athleticism have constantly overwhelmed everyone he has played. Young NFL quarterbacks often want a target with this sort of reliability and upside, so teams with young quarterbacks will definitely want to target McMillan in the draft.

Luther Burden, WR, Missouri

Like T-Mac, Luther Burden of Missouri has been a force for the Tigers. Burden is the deep threat of the class: his speed, acceleration, creativity after the catch, and reliable hands have blown the top off opposing defenses. Burden has had some drop issues but has nonetheless been a major catalyst for Missouri’s recent success. The Tigers have often used him as a slot receiver, leaving teams questioning whether he can be effective when aligned further away from the action as an outside receiver. But with what he is capable of, scouts will inevitably rate Burden highly enough for him to go in the top ten, develop quickly, and be the future face of a franchise.

Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado

Most fans want a quarterback who can make plays under any circumstance. Whether he’s out of the pocket and on the run or being closed down by giant defensive linemen coming straight at him, the quarterback still has to deliver. Shedeur Sanders has done just that. Sanders has delivered some highlight-reel plays for Colorado over the past couple of seasons. With amazing accuracy, ball placement, and arm power, Sanders has picked apart opposing defenses despite not having the best offensive line protection. While he could clean up parts of his game, Sheduer Sanders, the youngest of Deion Sanders’ children, is already at a point where he can be a Week 1 starter.

Mason Graham, DT, and Will Johnson, CB, Michigan

Michigan has not had the best 2024, but their memorable 2023 season still lives in the memories of Wolverine fans. Most of the key members of the national championship-winning squad are in the NFL, but two key players remain: cornerback Will Johnson and defensive tackle Mason Graham.

Johnson was by far the best coverage corner on the team. Despite being a mere sophomore, quarterbacks were already fearing the Detroit native and throwing away from him. Those who did were punished–Johnson had four interceptions, including one in the national title game. Sure, Mike Sainristil was getting all the ball production, but Johnson did his job well. At 6’2”, 202 pounds, Johnson is a mammoth of a defensive back but still is an awesome athlete. He has the sort of athletic profile that, along with his success on the field in Ann Arbor, makes him a top candidate to be the first defensive back off the board.

But while the secondary did its work, the pass rush unit often played hero for the Wolverines. The front seven brought relentless pressure, and at the center of it was Mason Graham. The 6’3” California native put up 7.5 tackles for loss and 3 sacks. His explosiveness and technique often overwhelmed opposing guards and centers in the Big Ten and beyond–Alabama had a rough time handling him in the Rose Bowl. Graham projects to be the first defensive lineman off the board. And if anything is to be learned from the success of Aaron Donald and Chris Jones, it is that linemen with talent like Graham are potential building blocks for Super Bowl winners and dynasties.

Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State

Behold, one of the all-time college football greats. Ashton Jeanty has been nothing short of spectacular in 2024. After six games, Jeanty had posted over 1,200 yards rushing and 17 touchdowns! NFL running backs today dream of putting up those sorts of numbers. No one (not even Oregon, who rose to number one after beating Boise State by a hair) has found a way to slow down the speedy, bruising Jacksonville native. He is very close to matching the 1,300 yards he posted last season and has already eclipsed his 2023 touchdowns mark (14). He is the sole reason that Boise State is vying so heavily for a College Football Playoff spot. Safe to say, Jeanty is a lock for the first round next spring and could be the man who elevates a pro offense to the next level.

Other names to watch

1. Cam Ward: Miami’s Cam Ward has shown himself to be one of college football’s best quarterbacks in 2024. However, his lack of ball security going back to his days at Washington State and Incarnate Word continues to be a concern among NFL scouts.
2. Will Campbell and Emery Jones: LSU offensive tackles Campbell and Jones have held down the fort big time over the last two years. Both possess elite All-Pro upside, but Jones is somewhat unpolished, and some question whether Campbell’s average arm length will dictate a move to guard at the NFL level.
3. Kelvin Banks and Cameron Williams: Texas offensive tackles Banks and Williams have been critical to the recent success of the Longhorns. Banks is unquestionably a sound prospect, but Williams has been subject to lots of hype over his massive frame and sky-high potential over the last month.
4. Abdul Carter: It’s easy to call a Penn State edge rusher “Micah Parsons 2.0”, but Carter literally matches that mold. He is explosive, elusive, uber-athletic, and has All-Pro upside that makes him worthy of a top-15 selection at the latest.

There are many more exciting names coming through the 2025 NFL Draft. The aforementioned group, however, are by far the headliners that everyone will know, both as college stars and NFL prospects.