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2025 NFL Draft

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Draft experts provide NFL comparisons for top prospects

SANDERS-CARTER-WARD-HUNTER-MOODYS

Preparations for the 2025 NFL Draft are in full gear.

We are going to take a step away from our usual mock draft coverage for something a little different today. With the draft a little over two months away, let's take a look at player comparisons the media has given out for some of this year's top draft prospects.

Several media outlets have provided player comps for various players, including ESPN, Pro Football Focus, and The 33rd Team.

Let's dive right into it.

Cam Ward, QB, Miami

NFL Comparison: Sam Darnold

Analysis: "Ward's physical traits and off-script playmaking will remind many scouts of Sam Darnold coming out of USC. While Ward doesn't have Darnold's funky throwing mechanics, the arm talent, mobility, comfort throwing in the middle of the field, and off-script playmaking are similar." -- Tyler Brooke, The 33rd Team

NFL Comparison: Ben Roethlisberger

Analysis: "Ward is an unorthodox gunslinger, and the NFL comparison my mind keeps going back to is Ben Roethlisberger. Both had some scoot with their escapability, but you wouldn't exactly call them mobile. Both were also fearless in pushing the ball deep down the field. It's a high-end comparison, but I believe Ward sees the game like Big Ben did." -- PFF's Trevor Sikkema

Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado

NFL Comparison: Jared Goff

Analysis: "There are a lot of Geno Smith comparisons for Shedeur Sanders, and they're not necessarily wrong, as the two are talented passers with limited mobility. Jared Goff feels more fitting because of the play style between him and Shedeur. Along with being around 215-pound quarterbacks, they're both impressive post-snap processors capable of picking apart defenses when they see an opening, and both thrive on play-action. Sanders posted a 118.9 passer rating on play-action passes this past season, completing 76.6 percent of those passes for 12 touchdowns and just two interceptions." -- Brooke

Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado

NFL Comparison: Odell Beckham Jr.

Analysis: "The 6-foot-1, 185-pound Hunter won the Heisman Trophy because of his two-way ability, but I think his biggest NFL impact will come at receiver, which is why I rated him here. (He'd be my No. 2 cornerback if he exclusively played defense). Hunter's playmaking ability, burst in space and easy speed are a joy to watch." -- ESPN's Matt Miller

NFL Comparison: Champ Bailey

Analysis: "Hunter's unique ability to play both sides of the ball as well as he does limits who we can even compare him to. Bailey is a lofty comparison, but it fits. Bailey was a standout cornerback at Georgia and a contributing wide receiver with over 700 receiving yards in his final year. He went on to be an All-Pro corner in the NFL, something I can see for Hunter, too." -- Sikkema

NFL Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah released his initial ranking of the top 50 prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Abdul Carter, Edge, Penn State

NFL Comparison: Micah Parsons

Analysis: "Carter is currently my favorite prospect in this class. At 6-foot-3, 259 pounds, he started his college career as an off-ball linebacker but was unstoppable after being bumped to edge full time this past season, racking up 12 sacks and 61 pressures. Carter has the first-step quickness and speed to blow past tackles, along with the power to set them up and run through them. He has the makings of a perennial NFL double-digit sack performer." -- Miller

Analysis: "I understand this one might feel lazy since Carter not only went to the same school but also wears the same number as Parsons during his time at Penn State, but they are built very similarly and have the same type of freakish athleticism. The shoe indeed fits." -- Sikkema

Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State

NFL Comparison: Supercharged Doug Martin

Analysis: "The biggest reason that Ashton Jeanty is garnering first-round buzz is his elite contact balance in a compact frame. The first running back that comes to mind with that play style is the Muscle Hamster. As a rookie, Martin produced more than 1,000 yards after contact, keeping a low center of gravity while breaking tackles and picking up chunks of yards. While his career wasn't consistent, Martin was still a two-time Pro Bowler and first-team All-Pro in 2015." -- Brooke

NFL Comparison: Alvin Kamara

Analysis: "After rushing for over 2,600 yards in 2024 and earning back-to-back rushing grades above 94.0 over the last two seasons, Jeanty's NFL comparisons should be notable names. Alvin Kamara is the one that sticks out to me due to how Kamara-like Jeanty is at taking contact for a very high yards-after-contact average, as well as what he can do in the receiving game." -- Sikkema

Analysis: "The 5-foot-9, 215-pound Jeanty is a punishing runner with patience, vision and runaway speed, and he can also catch passes out of the backfield and stand up to pass rushers while in pass protection. The Heisman runner-up is a rare, true blue-chip running back prospect." -- Miller

Mason Graham, DT, Michigan

NFL Comparison: La'Roi Glover

Analysis: "I am going back into the archives for this one. Graham comes in shorter and doesn't have the great length that typical difference-making NFL defensive tackles have, which was the same for Glover as a fifth-round pick out of San Diego State in 1996. Nonetheless, Glover went on to have an All-Pro career thanks to his first step explosiveness and strength, two traits Graham also boasts to be a presence defending the run and rushing the passer." -- Sikkema

NFL Comparison: Nnamdi Madubuike

Analysis: "Graham pops on tape, as you'll see him causing constant problems from his 3-technique alignment. The 6-foot-3, 320-pounder had 3.5 sacks and 7.5 tackles for loss in 2024. He is powerful enough to anchor in the run game while also being quick enough to knife through gaps and make plays in the backfield. One AFC East scout summed it up to me by saying that Graham "never loses snaps." He consistently beats the player in front of him and has the tools to be an NFL star." -- Miller

NFL Comparison: Christian Wilkins (ESPN's Jordan Reid)

View photos of every NFL player selected with the third overall pick since the first draft in 1936.

Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State

NFL Comparison: Dallas Clark

Analysis: "I promise I am not just number scouting with this one, as Warren wears No. 44 for Penn State and Clark wore that same number for all those years in Indianapolis. Both Clark and Warren bring so much reliability to the position. They have great hands and were good athletes, but they could also hold up inline as blockers." -- Sikkema

NFL Comparison: Rob Gronkowski

Analysis: "I don't typically compare prospects to NFL Hall of Famers, but since Gronk isn't in the Hall yet, I'm making an exception because Warren is that rare and that good. The 6-foot-6, 257-pound Warren has the functional quickness and movement of a much smaller player, more in line with a 6-foot-3 tight end such as Sam LaPorta. Warren scored a touchdown as a passer, runner and receiver this past season, finishing with 104 receptions for 1,233 yards and eight touchdowns. He could be an Offensive Rookie of the Year contender in the right scheme." -- Miller

Will Campbell, T, LSU

NFL Comparison: Dion Dawkins

Analysis: "Campbell will spark intense debates in NFL scouting rooms as teams try to decide if the three-year starter at left tackle will remain at that spot in the pros. The 6-foot-6, 323-pounder is a technician with great agility and balance, but his shorter arms (under 33 inches) and an upright stance which lacks base power could force a move to guard. Whether he's on the inside or outside, I confidently give Campbell a Round 1 grade." -- Miller

NFL Comparison: Ryan Ramczyk

Analysis: "The mental makeup and how Campbell approaches the position should be coveted by every NFL team. However, there are questions about his overall foot speed and whether or not he has the length to play tackle in the NFL. Ramczyk had similar length questions heading into the NFL out of Wisconsin, as his 33 ¾-inch arm length was just 33rd percentile for the position. Yet, he has made it work due to how smart he is. That can be Campbell." -- Sikkema

NFL Comparison: Sam Cosmi (ESPN's Jordan Reid)

Kelvin Banks Jr., T, Texas

NFL Comparison: Rashawn Slater

Analysis: "Banks has been the anchor of the Longhorns' offensive line since arriving on campus as a freshman. Though his 6-foot-4, 320-pound frame might scare some scouts in pass protection, Banks' elite footwork makes up for a lack of length and has helped him allow pressures on an FBS-low 0.8% of snaps. He is also an elite run blocker with the power and agility to overwhelm defenders. Banks has the potential to be a top run blocker in the NFL, either at tackle or kicking inside to guard." -- Miller

NFL Comparison: Alijah Vera-Tucker

Analysis: "Banks Jr. is a great athlete for the offensive line, and though it appears his arms are long enough to be a projected tackle at the NFL level, he could also be a smooth-moving and versatile guard/tackle type of player. For that reason, I see Alijah Vera-Tucker as a good NFL comparison, as Vera-Tucker has been fantastic at guard for the Jets, and has also been able to fill in at tackle when needed." -- Sikkema

NFL.com analyst Bucky Brooks revealed his first position rankings for the 2025 NFL Draft.

Kaleb Johnson, RB, Iowa

NFL Comparison: James Conner

Analysis: "There aren't a lot of 6-foot-2 running backs in the league, but someone with a body type and play style similar to Kaleb Johnson would be James Conner. While he's not a home-run hitter, Johnson consistently won at Iowa. He used excellent vision and contact balance to pick up chunks of yards consistently. He produced more than 1,000 yards after contact, rushing for more than 1,500 yards and 21 touchdowns in his final college season.

"Conner, at 6-foot-1 and 233 pounds, has a similar build to Johnson. He has played with vision, power, and contact balance to be a productive running back throughout his career. He's averaged more than 3.0 YAC per carry in eight NFL seasons and hasn't shown severe signs of slowing down." -- Brooke

Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama

NFL Comparison: More explosive Justin Fields

Analysis: "There might not be a more divisive quarterback prospect in this class than Alabama's Jalen Milroe. The talent is unquestionably there, both with his arm talent and rushing ability. However, his ball placement can be erratic, and when he's playing at his worst, the turnovers can rack up while the offense looks completely incapable of moving down the field. All of this sounds like the top-tier and bottom-tier versions of Justin Fields.

"When Fields was at his best, he was a dynamic rusher who wasn't afraid to take deep shots. He even rushed for 1,143 yards in his second NFL season and posted a 114.6 passer rating on throws 20-plus yards downfield a year later in his final season with the Chicago Bears. Both are 225-pound explosive playmakers with their legs. Milroe's arm strength and gorgeous deep ball give him the potential to be a significantly better version of Fields, but the mechanics and inconsistent ball placement could also have him flame out way faster." -- Brooke

Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina

NFL Comparison: Joe Mixon

Analysis: "In another draft class, there's a good chance that Omarion Hampton would be RB1 because the comparisons to Joe Mixon are easy to visualize. With a nearly identical frame at 6-foot-1 and 220 pounds, Hampton brings legitimate power behind his pads, combined with excellent contact balance to break tackles with consistency. On top of that, Hampton brings solid breakaway speed and elusiveness in open space to keep defenders guessing instead of always trying to run through them.

"That should immediately bring Mixon to mind. While he has earned his reputation as a power back, the current Houston Texans running back is also capable of winning by bouncing to the outside or forcing defenders to whiff in 1-on-1 situations. Hampton-Mixon is one of the easiest comparisons in this draft class because of their body types and play styles." -- Brooke

NFL Comparison: David Montgomery (ESPN's Jordan Reid)

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