With less than a week to go until the 2025 NFL Draft, we have a pretty good idea of which prospects are going to walk across the stage in Green Bay. I think it’s safe to say Miami quarterback Cam Ward will be the first overall pick. Travis Hunter and Abdul Carter will also hear their names called early. The more unknown and intriguing parts of Draft Night are the later picks in the first round.
Every year there are names that are further down the consensus board that end up in the first round. Of the six quarterbacks that went in Round 1 last year, two were outside the consensus top 32 prospects. Receivers Xavier Worthy, Ricky Pearsall, and Xavier Legette all snuck into the back five selections of the first round, despite being at 40th or below on consensus. Who are some of the prospects this season that could see a similar rise?
By using the Two-Point Conversion’s 2025 Draft Guide, we can try to predict some of the sneaky risers in this year’s draft. The rules for this exercise are simple: find prospects outside of our Top 50 on the 2PC Consensus Board that have a case for being first-round picks. Hopefully, we can identify one or more of the surprise picks on Draft Night.
The Quarterbacks
These are somewhat freebies, but being that quarterback is the most important position, players who may not be at the top of the class will be driven up out of necessity. This year, both Jalen Milroe (58 on the 2PC Draft Guide) and Jaxson Dart (71) are getting first-round looks from quarterback-needy teams. While both players may not have the same upside as Cam Ward, recent draft history has shown that if teams are convicted on a prospect as a potential franchise quarterback, they won’t hesitate to take a chance.
Trey Amos (51), DB, Mississippi
Naturally, we had to include Number 51 in an article that includes prospects outside the Top 50. Amos is a long and athletic corner who showed good ball skills this season at Ole Miss. Having played and transferred from Louisiana and Alabama, Amos has experience playing in multiple systems. A team like the Buffalo Bills that likes to draft athletic, plus-measurable players in the first round could take Amos and mold him into a starting corner.
Maxwell Hairston (60), DB, Kentucky
Another corner that may hear their name called on Draft Night is Hairston. The fastest man at the NFL Combine, Hairston has run his way up many teams’ draft boards. Every year, we see teams prioritize rare speed, almost to the point that it can overwrite concerns that a prospect may have. With Hairston now appearing as a green room member at the NFL Draft, it seems all but certain that he will find his name called on Day 1.
Mason Taylor (65), TE, Louisiana State
One of the youngest players in the draft, Mason Taylor, oozes potential. Having already captured LSU’s records for catches and yards at the position, Taylor’s upside is tantalizing. With other tight ends such as Colston Loveland and Tyler Warren likely going in the first half of Round 1, other tight ends could see a rise up the board as teams with needs at the position are willing to draft them. Taylor has the current skills and upside that fit the bill for a team needing a tight end.
Jaylin Noel (67), WR, Iowa State
Wide receivers always seem to fly off the board at the end of Round 1. If we could refer you to this article’s intro, you’d see that last year, quite a few receivers got pushed into Round 1, despite a lower consensus ranking. This year’s candidate for this spot is Noel, a shifty, athletic receiver who can be a plus starter from the slot immediately.
Josh Conerly (70), OT, Oregon
Another young player with upside, Conerly anchored the blindside of the Oregon offense effectively throughout the season. Conerly made a name for himself at the Senior Bowl, impressing scouts with his play against some of the country’s best. Tackle is a position we generally see teams want to address early in the draft. If a team misses on the top 3 tackles (W. Campbell, Membou, Banks), Conerly could be the guy headlining the next group of tackles taken.
Bradyn Swinson (88), EDGE, Louisiana State
In a crowded edge group, how can players differentiate themselves as prospects? One way is through being a strong run defender, which is Swinson’s calling card. Playing sound against the run and being impactful as a pass rusher (8.5 sacks this season) are good starting points for getting on the field early in your career. With so many undersized or designated pass rushers, Swinson can stand apart as someone willing and able to do the dirty work in the run game.
