With the 2025 NFL Draft in the books and fans having had time to digest the results, it’s time to take a closer look at the board. In this article, I’ll break down and rank the 10 best picks of the draft from a value standpoint—considering both talent and where each player was selected. The consensus player rankings used are an aggregate of major ranking sites, calculated here: NFL Consensus Big Board.
10. New York Giants (R5, P154): Marcus Mbow, OT/OG, Purdue
Consensus Rank: 64
Despite being projected to land in the 2nd or 3rd round, Mbow slid to the Giants 18 picks into the 5th round. Mbow’s slide was mostly due to concerns over his low weight and shorter arms, casting doubt over his ability to be an NFL tackle. Still, Mbow was a standout at Purdue, pairing his explosiveness with a refined skill set. He has the potential to be New York’s future answer at right tackle or to compete immediately to start at right guard, as he has significant experience playing both positions in college.
9. Cleveland Browns (R5, P144): Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
Consensus Rank: 22
The biggest story of this year’s draft was the dramatic slide of Shedeur Sanders. The projected 1st round quarterback fell to Cleveland in the 5th round, two rounds after they selected another quarterback in Dillon Gabriel. While Sanders has limitations in his mediocre arm strength and tendency to hold the ball too long, I still would give him a 2nd round grade, well-warranting his 5th round selection. His pinpoint accuracy alone makes the path to him being an average NFL starter at the sport’s most valuable position easy to see with some development in Cleveland.
8. Chicago Bears (R1, P10): Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan
Consensus Rank: 14
While the draft capital is high here, Loveland fits like a glove in Chicago. The Bears have been working this offseason to set up Caleb Williams and the offense for a breakout year in 2025 after an up-and-down but promising rookie season for the former 1st overall pick. This pick fits right into that theme as Loveland may be the most “QB-friendly” pass-catcher in the class. Loveland creates separation at will, running routes like a polished NFL wide receiver from the tight end position. He adds even more firepower to what should be an explosive offense next year.
7. Seattle Seahawks (R2, P35): Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina
Consensus Rank: 24
The Seahawks traded up in the 2nd round to select the Gamecocks’ safety, who drew attention at the combine after he impressed with a perfect RAS score. The 21-year-old ball hawk had plenty of production on the field too, as he reeled in 4 interceptions in 2024, 2 of which he returned for touchdowns. Emmanwori displays great versatility alongside his exceptional athleticism and instincts, able to make an impact lining up almost anywhere defensively. Under Mike Macdonald, it’s safe to assume Seattle will get the most out of Emmanwori, making this pick worth the trade-up.
6. Arizona Cardinals (R2, P47): Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
Consensus Rank: 6
Will Johnson had one of the biggest slides of this year’s draft, going from projected top 10 to pick 15 of the 2nd round. Johnson only played 6 games for the Wolverines in 2024, missing the entire second half of the season due to a turf toe injury. He also missed the combine and his pro day due to a hamstring injury, but slid in the draft primarily due to a knee issue that worried teams over his longevity. The injuries have piled up for Johnson, but he remains a top 15 talent in this draft. Johnson is elite in zone coverage and has rare ball skills, scoring more touchdowns than he allowed in his time at Michigan. If Johnson can stay healthy, he will no doubt be a steal for Arizona.
5. New England Patriots (R5, P146): Bradyn Swinson, EDGE, LSU
Consensus Rank: 73
Swinson has a combination of both standout athleticism and production. He features an explosive burst off the line coupled with high-level hand usage to win consistently. He was top 5 in pressures in all of college football in 2024 and 2nd in this class in pass rush win rate. Swinson showed tremendous development through college, and he has the potential to far surpass his 5th round price if that trend continues. The Patriots, who were 29th in pressure rate and 32nd in sack rate in 2024, add an extremely talented player to a position of need.
4. Kansas City Chiefs (R1, P32): Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State
Consensus Rank: 19
The Chiefs traded back a spot as they concluded the first round with their selection of Simmons. If not for a torn patella that cut his senior season short, Simmons may have been the first tackle off the board. He’s a complete package at left tackle, showing high-level pass protection against top-tier competition while simultaneously showing impressive power in the run game. He falls to a contender with a need for the position, fresh off trading Joe Thuney, who filled in at left tackle for the Chiefs in 2024. Simmons has the potential to be a legitimate cornerstone on the Chiefs’ offensive line for years to come.
3. Los Angeles Chargers (R2, P55): Tre Harris, WR, Ole Miss
Consensus Rank: 54
Tre Harris is the legitimate X receiver the Chargers have been looking for since they selected Quentin Johnston in 2023. He has great size at 6’3”, 210 lbs, and is elite when it comes to tracking and securing deep passes. He also shows potential as a route runner, getting in and out of breaks smoothly despite a limited route tree at Ole Miss. Harris led college football in yards per game, racking up 6 100-yard games and over 1,000 yards in just 8 appearances in 2024. The Chargers add a physical presence on the outside who should have no problem making an impact, lining up next to Ladd McConkey and catching passes from Justin Herbert.
2. Philadelphia Eagles (R1, P31): Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama
Consensus Rank: 17
The Eagles continue their yearly trend of taking a sliding blue chip prospect with their selection of Jihaad Campbell at pick 31. Campbell is an incredible athlete, scoring a 99th percentile RAS at the combine. His combination of speed and size gives him sideline-to-sideline range in coverage while remaining powerful and disciplined as a tackler. With Nakobe Dean likely to miss considerable time next season with a torn patellar tendon injury suffered in the Wild Card round, Campbell can fill in almost instantly and make an impact for the Eagles.
1. Atlanta Falcons (R1, P15): Jalon Walker, EDGE, Georgia
Consensus Rank: 11
The Falcons have needed a true threat on the edge for years, finishing 31st in pressure rate and sack rate in 2024. They now add Walker midway through the 1st round, who has legitimate all-pro potential at the position. Walker has a lethal first step off the line, featuring incredible speed and bend to disrupt quarterbacks. He has surprisingly deadly power, allowing him to win in a variety of ways. Walker can also work off the ball in zone coverage, providing Atlanta plenty of ways to use him. His versatility and explosiveness off the edge make him the perfect answer to Atlanta’s biggest positional need.
Honorable Mentions: Travis Hunter ( WR/CB, Jaguars), Donovan Ezeiruaku (EDGE, Cowboys), Malaki Starks (S, Ravens), Mike Green (EDGE, Ravens), Shavon Revel (CB, Cowboys)
M-FANS 