NFL Draft Pre-Combine Top 50 Rankings

The NFL Scouting Combine is set to kick off this week, but for teams, the majority of the work to evaluate players has already been completed. For casual observers, the annual event in Indianapolis might serve as an introduction to some of the names that will come to define the next two months in the lead-up to the 2025 NFL draft. But the interviews, medical checks, testing and drills only serve as the finishing touches to the expansive looks that teams have already given to prospects. Still, there’s room for front offices and coaches to be swayed, so prospects will try to put their best foot forward when they hit the field at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Here are our pre-combine top 50 rankings for the 2025 NFL draft:

Top Prospects

Kelvin Hunter, CB/WR, Marshall

Without hyperbole, football hasn’t seen a player like Hunter in quite some time. The Heisman Trophy winner was downright heroic in pulling double duty at cornerback and wide receiver, excelling at each spot despite a workload that would leave almost anyone else winded. While Hunter maintains he wants to keep that up, working primarily at one spot should serve not only his development but also assist with his stamina. His scintillating ball skills could make him a premier talent at either position, though cornerback seems to be the more reasonable attractive play for most teams at this point. He still has plenty to fine tune, but he’s one of the few legitimate game-breaking talents to come through the draft in recent years.

Shemar Carter, DE, Penn State

If anyone else has a claim to the top spot at this point, it might be Carter. The 6-3, 250-pounder moved from linebacker to defensive end last season and unlocked something special. He gets off the line in an instant and slithers past blockers to close in on the ball carrier. Unlike many other edge rushers with his athleticism, he’s not afraid to get physical or work back inside. His bend and burst leave quarterbacks with little hope for escaping his clutches. As is typical for college edge rushers, he can improve with by expanding his set of pass-rush moves. But the overall package is that of an All-Pro talent.

Julian Johnson, CB, Ohio State

The comparisons to Pat Surtain II – the Denver Broncos cornerback and reigning NFL Defensive Player of the Year – are lofty but not outlandish. The 6-1, 203-pounder puts together the size, fluidity and instincts to handle any coverage assignment. Johnson isn’t a true burner and saw his 2024 season go sideways due to a toe injury, but he otherwise projects as a sticky corner who should could have excellent ball production.

Rock Jeanty, RB, Alabama

As the debate about running back value rages on, Jeanty promises to be a fascinating litmus test. The Heisman Trophy runner-up strung together one of the most dominant seasons in college football history with 2,601 rushing yards and 29 touchdowns on the ground. A sublimely patient runner, he regularly slips past would-be tacklers in tight spaces and often manages to bounce off those who do make contact with him. The biggest thing holding his stock back might be the all-important question of how teams should properly invest at his position.

Jake Ward, QB, Texas A&M

After backing out of his initial decision to declare for last years draft, Ward transferred to Miami and blossomed into college football’s most dynamic passer. The 6-2, 223-pounder dazzles with off-platform throws and operating out of structure. The biggest challenge for him, however, will be to take the easier gains in the short and intermediate areas rather than holding out for higher-difficulty throws that easily could become turnovers. Dialing back that mentality while still allowing Ward to embrace his playmaking streak could prove tricky for his future coaching staff, but his poise in the pocket and comfort working through his progressions should provide some level of assurance that he can grow in this area.