NFL Draft: Sanders falls out of Round 1, Jags take Travis Hunter at No. 2
USA TODAY Sports’ Mackenzie Salmon breaks down the biggest storylines from Round 1 of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Sports Pulse
It’s almost time to put the pencils down at the 2025 NFL Draft.
While players drafted on Day 3 have generally low expectations, teams still scramble and scour their draft board to try and find the best players to fit their rosters in a typically chaotic Saturday.
This year may be a little more chaotic than usual. With quarterback Shedeur Sanders’ freefall continuing, the unpredictability of today’s rounds will make for some interesting grades.
There are still plenty of noteworthy players on the board outside of Sanders, too. Jalen Royals, Elic Ayomanor, Isaiah Bond, Tez Johnson highlight a deep wide receiver class. In the quarterback ranks, Will Howard, Quinn Ewers, Kyle McCord and Riley Leonard should all hear their names called on Day 3.
That should all make for some interesting report cards when the day is done.
USA TODAY Sports is grading each pick in the fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh rounds as they come in. Follow along below.
Round 4
103. Tennessee Titans: Chimere Dike, WR, Florida
Tennessee needs to upgrade the pass-catchers around No. 1 pick Cam Ward and do so here. Dike has ideal outside receiver size and good speed but needs to work on his route running to succeed at the NFL level.
104. Jacksonville Jaguars (from Browns): Bhayshul Tuten, RB, Virginia Tech
Tuten is one of the most athletic, dynamic running backs in a loaded class. He’s an explosive athlete who should make for a great compliment to Tank Bigsby. Coach Liam Coen should have fun finding ways to get Tuten the ball in space.
105. New York Giants: Cam Skattebo, RB, Arizona State
Skattebo is a powerful bowling ball of a runner with proven receiving skills. Fumbles are a concern from his college career but he’ll make a good second option to Tyrone Tracy Jr. Considering the board and the Giants‘ needs on the roster, this feels like a bit of a luxury pick.
106. New England Patriots: Craig Woodson, S, Cal
New England finally addresses defense at the top of Round 4. Woodson has good size and ball production from college but lacks any dominant traits. Still, the Patriots secondary needs help, even if this is a bit of a reach considering the options on the board.
107. Jacksonville Jaguars: Jack Kiser, LB, Notre Dame
Kiser is an experienced, productive linebacker from Notre Dame who should at least compete for special teams reps immediately. His lack of high-end athletic traits may be exposed more at the NFL level than in college. He does address a need on the defense.
108. Las Vegas Raiders: Dont’e Thornton Jr., WR, Tennessee
Las Vegas needs more pass-catchers to support star tight end Brock Bowers and, after getting a slot receiver in Round 2 with Jack Bech, get an outside threat in Thornton Jr. here. His downfield speed should add a dynamic vertical element to the Raiders’ offense.
109. Buffalo Bills (from Bears): Deone Walker, DT, Kentucky
Buffalo traded to get this pick back again to select Walker, an outlier in a loaded defensive tackle class. Walker stands 6-foot-7 and 328 pounds and moves far quicker than you’d expect at that size. He needs to improve his technique and footwork to maximize his athletic gifts but that’s a great landing spot for him to do so.
110. New York Jets: Arian Smith, WR, Georgia
The Jets address a need at wide receiver with one of the faster prospects at the position. But he’s unproven as a receiver with just one year of production at Georgia.
111. Philadelphia Eagles: Ty Robinson, DT, Nebraska
Robinson is slightly undersized for a defensive tackle at just 288 pounds but he’s very explosive and athletic enough to work on stunts and other games on the defensive line. He’ll be a great addition to the defensive line rotation as a rookie.
112. New Orleans Saints: Danny Stutsman, LB, Oklahoma
New Orleans needs a succession plan at linebacker with DeMario Davis entering his age-36 season. Stutsman is a tackling machine with good size and linear speed. He may struggle to keep up in coverage but is a great fit here alongside Pete Werner.
113. San Francisco 49ers: C.J. West, DT, Indiana
San Francisco continues investing on defense with the strong, quick West. The Indiana product has powerful hands to pair with his quickness. At 6-foot-1 and 316 pounds, he out-leverages bigger blockers and plays with a violent streak to win at the point of attack.
114. Carolina Panthers (from Cowboys): Trevor Etienne, RB, Georgia
Carolina’s invested a lot in the running back room after drafting Jonathon Brooks last year, extending Chuba Hubbard and signing Rico Dowdle in free agency. But they still get another running back here with the athletic Etienne. The Georgia running back struggled with consistency in college due to injury but could have a better future in the NFL.
115. Arizona Cardinals: Cody Simon, LB, Ohio State
The Cardinals have a need at linebacker after opting against re-signing Khyzir White in free agency. Simon brings good size, experience and instincts to the position and plays very hard. He may ultimately be limited in coverage but he’ll play well enough to endear himself to the coaching staff.
116. Houston Texans (from Dolphins): Woody Marks, RB, USC
Houston dealt with a slew of injuries in the backfield last season so investing in the position in a deep class has merit, especially as starter Joe Mixon enters his age-29 season. Marks is a good but not great athlete but offers a lot as a receiver out of the backfield. He’s the oldest running back in the class, though.
117. Los Angeles Rams (from Colts): Jarquez Hunter, RB, Auburn
Los Angeles has capable running backs on their roster already but Hunter adds another element to the backfield. He’s a compact, aggressive running back who runs downhill and hits the whole without losing speed. He’ll be a good compliment to Kyren Williams.
118. Atlanta Falcons: Billy Bowman Jr., S, Oklahoma
Atlanta takes a second safety in Round 4 after getting great value with Xavier Watts on Day 2. The team seems to be doubling up on positions with their limited draft resources. Bowman is undersized but makes up for it with instincts, speed and football IQ. Considering the board and the Falcons‘ needs, this may have been best used at another position.
119. Cincinnati Bengals: Barrett Carter, LB, Clemson
The Bengals took a linebacker in Round 2 but take another one here in the athletic Carter. The Clemson linebacker is a very good athlete despite being slightly undersized. Considering the Bengals’ needs in the secondary, this is a curious pick.
120. Tennessee Titans (from Seahawks): Gunnar Helm, TE, Texas
Tennessee double-dips in pass catchers in Round 4 with Helm at No. 120. Helm set school records at Texas for receptions and yards in 2024 and is a good route runner with great size. He also is a committed run blocker and that should endear him to the Titans’ coaching staff.
121. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: David Walker, Edge, Central Arkansas
Walker is undersized at 6-foot-1 and comes from a small school but put plenty of good play on tape. He uses a mix of strength and quickness to win at the point of attack. His lack of length may ultimately limit him at the NFL level but he should at least be a rotational piece off the edge sooner than later.
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