2025 NFL combine: Six players to watch who could improve draft stock
INDIANAPOLIS – Most of college football’s top 2025 NFL prospects will take the field at Lucas Oil Stadium to showcase their skills in front of NFL head coaches, executives and scouts.
A total of 329 players were invited to participate at the 2025 NFL combine. Abdul Carter, Shedeur Sanders and Ashton Jeanty won’t work out at this year’s event, but plenty of other high-touted prospects will put their skills on display as they attempt to impress the NFL world in advance of the draft.
Here are six top prospects I’m looking forward to watching at this year’s combine:
Colorado CB Travis Hunter
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The reigning Heisman Trophy winner and the most ballyhooed prospect in this year’s draft class. Hunter’s name was mentioned a ton during coach and general manager interviews.
Hunter is listed as a cornerback at the combine.
Some coaches and general managers view Hunter as a better wide receiver prospect, and others consider him to be best suited as a cornerback. All the coaches and general managers that I spoke with said Hunter has the ability, at minimum, to have some wide receiver packages at the NFL level.
Hunter is the consensus top cornerback in this draft class. He has rare ball skills and diagnoses routes well as a cornerback. His skills as a wide receiver seamlessly translate to corner, and he uses it to his advantage.
Arizona WR Tetairoa McMillan
Many believe McMillan is the best wide receiver in this year’s draft class. The 6-foot-5 wide receiver has a big catch radius and runs with long strides. He’s a possession receiver with good ball skills.
There are questions about McMillan’s speed and versatility running the route tree. If he runs in the 4.5 range or below, it could solidify him as the top wide receiver in this year’s draft class.
McMillan compiled 84 catches for 1,319 yards and eight touchdowns in 2024. He was named first-team All-Big 12 and an AP first-team All-American.
Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart
Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders are the top two quarterbacks in the 2025 draft. The third-best quarterback prospect is to be determined. Dart has a prime opportunity to make his case as he showcases his skills at the combine.
Dart started three years in the SEC. He throws with adequate accuracy, can get through progressions and is a good decision-maker. However, there are concerns about Dart’s arm strength and anticipatory throws. The passing drills at the combine will be massive for him.
Dart earned first-team All-SEC in 2024. He set an Ole Miss school career record with 10,617 passing yards.
North Carolina RB Omarion Hampton
There’s talk that Ashton Jeanty and Hampton could be drafted in the first round of this year’s draft. Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs were the last two running backs to be selected in the first round of the same draft in 2023. Robinson and Gibbs have fared well thus far.
Hampton is a downhill running back who runs with good aggression. At 6-foot, 200 pounds, he has the size and strength to be a three-down running back. The North Carolina product can improve on his ability to diagnose holes and lacks elusiveness. His cone drill will be equally as important to the 40-yard dash.
Texans QB Quinn Ewers
There were some games last season where Ewers played like a top-three quarterback prospect in the draft and others where he looked like a mid-round pick at best. Ewers is a gamer and performs well when in rhythm. He has solid arm talent and can make throws off-platform.
The Texas product sometimes struggles with consistency and his mechanics sometimes break down. He has raw talent, and it could be on display in Indianapolis.
Ewers played high-level football, starting 35 games at Texas. His streak of 26 straight games with a passing touchdown is the longest active in the FBS.
Marshall EDGE Mike Green
Teams are intrigued with Green after a superb performance at the Senior Bowl.
Green is athletic, explosive and has the bend and flexibility to get around the edge. Green’s 17 sacks led the FBS in 2024, a Sun Belt Conference record and matched the Marshall team record. He also registered 22.5 tackles for loss.
Penn State’s Abdul Carter is considered the top edge in this year’s draft. There’s no clear No. 2 pass rusher. Can Green make his case at the combine?
Green does come with some character concerns. Green addressed circumstances around his 2022 departure from the Virginia football team at the combine. He was accused of sexual assault twice, allegations in which he denied. He was suspended from Virginia and transferred to Marshall.
