The NFL Draft has come to a close. There were some great picks and not-so-great picks. Here are the biggest winners and losers from the 2025 Draft:
Winner: RJ Harvey, Running Back, Broncos
Everyone expected 3rd-4th Round Draft Capital for Harvey, but he ended up getting taken in the 2nd. The dynamo UCF product is Sean Payton’s hand-picked back of the future, and all signs point to this pick being a smash.
Winner: Kaleb Johnson, Running Back, Steelers
Johnson is the absolute perfect fit in Arthur Smith’s zone running scheme and the expected Najee Harris replacement.
Winner: Cam Skattebo, Running Back, Giants
Skattebo didn’t run or test, so we really don’t exactly know how fast or explosive he is, but it’s not a death sentence because his tape shows good play speed, and his style doesn’t need him to be a burner. “Skatt” can be the immediate 1A to Tyrone Tracy 1B in a running back by committee.
Winner: Shedeur Sanders, Quarterback, Browns
The Sanders slide was the NFL Draft’s biggest story, but when it was all said and done, the polarizing Quarterback has a good chance of playing early on with Cleveland having a wide-open depth chart.
Winner: Mason Taylor, Tight End, Jets
Taylor isn’t the big-play guy that some of the others at his position are, but he should start immediately and become Justin Fields’ safety blanket. There isn’t a lot of target competition behind Garrett Wilson either, which bodes well for the rookie.
Winner: Jaydon Blue/Phil Mafah, Running Back, Cowboys
There’s alot of talk that Javonte Williams could never return to his pre-knee injury form and Miles Sanders isn’t really a reliable option, so both of these rookie runners the Cowboys drafted could be the future 1-2 backfield combo as early as this season.
Winner: Kyle Williams, Wide Receiver Patriots
The Patriots don’t have much behind Stefon Diggs and Demario Douglas on the depth chart, so Williams and his Davante Adams-like releases off line have a chance to earn targets sooner rather than later in New England.
Winner: Jalen Royals, Wide Receiver Chiefs
Hate to say it, but anytime the Chiefs draft a Receiver, people get all worked up hoping for the next big thing. Royals missed time with a foot injury, but it’s completely healed. Both Rashee Rice and Xavier Worthy could face suspensions this season, so Royals could be forced into duty, and he’s more than capable of handling it.
Winner: Elic Ayomanor, Wide Receiver Titans
The Titans took Chimere Dike early in the 4th Round and Ayomanor later in the round. It’s actually Ayomanor who is the more well-rounded player and someone who could step in behind Calvin Ridley for #1 Overall Pick Cam Ward to throw to.
Winner: Devin Neal, Running Back Saints
Neal is a little tight in the hips and not the most explosive, but he’s a good enough athlete and versatile. Alvin Kamara turns 30 in July, and Kendre Miller can’t seem to get out of the doghouse, so Neal has a real opportunity here to earn playing time.
Losers: Tyler Warren, Tight End Colts & Colston Loveland, Tight End Bears
Both of these first-round tight Ends are going to be great players for a long time, but unfortunately, both are in pretty crowded situations for this upcoming season.
Loser: Luther Burden III, Wide Receiver Bears
Same as with the TEs, Burden could have gone to so many other teams and been a focal point of the offense, but he’s in a situation now where he’ll be behind two elite Wide Receivers, Rome Odunze and DJ Moore.
Loser: Emeka Egbuka, Wide Receiver Bucs
Same as Burden, Egbuka will be behind two of the leagues best in Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. Jalen McMillan is also there, coming off a great rookie season and in line for targets. Egbuka is good blocker and that’s how he’ll contribute and develop for now.
Loser: Dylan Sampson, Running Back Browns
I love Sampson as a prospect he has a lot to like and will become a great player one day, but barring injury he could be buried for the foreseeable future behind Quinshon Judkins, the presumed back of the future for the Browns as well as the veteran Jerome Ford.
Loser: Harold Fannin, Tight End Browns
David Njoku is only 28 years old and one of the league’s best at his position. Tight ends are playing well into their mid-30s these days, and Njoku is a physical freak who doesn’t expect to slow down anytime soon. All this doesn’t bode well for the Bowling Green product, Fannin. He’ll have to do most of his damage in two tight-end sets when Kevin Stefanski deploys 12 personnel packages.
Loser: Damien Martinez, Running Back Seahawks
Martinez was a player who many perceived had moved up NFL draft boards, but as it turned out, he had to wait until Round 7 to hear his name called. Piling on, he ended up in one of the deeper Running back rooms in the league in Seattle behind Kenneth Walker and Zach Charbonnet.
Loser: Jalen Milroe, Quarterback, Seahawks
Sounded like Seattle sniped Cleveland taking Milroe, and the latter would have been a much better opportunity for him to play right away. As it is, Milroe will sit and learn behind vets Sam Darnold and Drew Lock.
Loser: Trevor Etienne, Running Back Panthers
I really like Etienne, he showed up in big games at Georgia and was hoping for a better landing spot then Carolina who just extended incumbent Chuba Hubbard and signed Rico Dowdle as a free agent. So, at least for the immediate future, Etienne will be third on the depth chart.
Loser: Isaiah Bond, Wide Receiver UDFA
Despite being one of the more talented Wide Receivers in a fairly weak Wide Receiver class, off-the-field issues led to Bond going undrafted. He’ll now have to stick as an UDFA.
