The clock is TICKING! Following an exciting first round of the 2025 NFL Draft last night, the Cleveland Browns are on the clock to begin Day 2 of the festivities in Green Bay. Stay tuned here for live updates, notable picks, and analysis of the second and third rounds tonight.
2025 NFL Draft Day 2: Live Grades and Analysis
The biggest storyline heading into Day 2 of the 2025 NFL Draft? Shedeur Sanders remains on the board, which feels like quite the surprise given how high his stock was just a couple of weeks ago. There’s a handful of teams who may take him, but could he keep sliding further?
There’s also plenty of other talent still available. Aside from Sanders, quarterbacks Jalen Milroe and Quinn Ewers are still available for teams in need of a signal caller. At receiver, Luther Burden and Jayden Higgins are still out there. Every halfback not named Ashton Jeanty is still available, so watch for TreVeyon Henderson, Quinshon Judkins, Cam Skattebo, and a littany of runners to see their names called, as well.
On defense, a couple of secondary players are still up for grabs between safety Nick Emmanwori and Will Johnson, whose slide out of the first round continues due to alleged medical issues. Notably, EDGE Mike Green is still on the board too after being mocked in the mid-first through the latter part of the draft cycle.
How will things shake out as Day 2 gets rolling? Read on below for analysis on the most high-profile picks.
Pick No. 34: Houston Texans
Selection: Jayden Higgins, WR, Iowa State
GRADE: B+
Analysis:
A third-team All-American selection last season, Higgins finished with the second-most receptions of any FBS wideout with 87 catches for 1,183 yards and nine touchdowns. The Iowa State product is a bit of a draft pundit darling and brings a high-upside target to share the field with Nico Collins and Christian Kirk in Houston. They still need OL, but WR was also a need and they get it with this pick acquired via trade.
Pick No. 35: Seattle Seahawks
Selection: Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina
GRADE: A
Analysis:
Emmanwori is one of the best defensive backs in this class, bar none. In a world in which positional value matters slightly less, he probably would’ve gone in the first round. Regardless, the 6-foot-3 safety brings is a stellar athlete and adds a great option on the back end of the Seahawks’ defense after they trade up for this selection — Legion of Boom, anyone?
Pick No. 36: Cleveland Browns
Selection: Quinshon Judkins, RB, Ohio State
GRADE: B+
Analysis:
Judkins is a national champion and now keeps that experience in the state of Ohio as a Cleveland Brown. His stats are absurd with three-straight seasons of 1,000-plus yards and 30 touchdowns on the ground over that span. He’s a bruiser type, which feels fitting for this offense. His pass-catching chops aren’t stellar, but he should immediately step in as the starter here. The only reason this isn’t a higher grade? There would’ve been plenty of talent left at RB later in the draft.
Pick No. 38: New England Patriots
Selection: TreVeyon Henderson, RB, Ohio State
GRADE: B
Analysis:
Well, there goes the other Buckeye running back! Judkins’ backfield mate didn’t have to wait long to hear his name called. He’s an explosive runner who also tallied over 1,000 yards for Ohio State last season and has plenty of home-run ability. He’s a bit better as a pass-catcher than his teammate and steps in as a threat to start on a Patriots offense which looks much improved. He and Rhamondre Stevenson should be quite the duo, especially if Drake Maye is given a longer leash with the option game.
Pick No. 39: Chicago Bears
Selection: Luther Burden, WR, Missouri
GRADE: B+
Analysis:
The best thing a team can do for a young quarterback is support them with plenty of talent. The Bears are certainly doing that after taking TE Colston Loveland in the first and picking up WR Luther Burden here. Don’t let the numbers of Burden’s 2024 fool you — the quarterback play at Mizzou was severely lacking and this guy went for 1,212 yards and nine scores in the season before. He’s explosive and a real threat after the catch. Does his route-running need a bit of development? Yeah, but that can be taught. Athleticism can’t.
Pick No. 40: New Orleans Saints
Selection: Tyler Shough, QB, Louisville
GRADE: C+
Analysis:
Day 2 is in full pandemonium after the Saints took a quarterback… and not Shedeur Sanders. Tyler Shough turns 26 years old in September, and while he flashed some upside with nearly 3,200 yards and 23 TDs with just six INTs for Louisville this past season, this pick remains a bit confounding. New Orleans doesn’t know when Derek Carr will return from his shoulder injury, and they get a potential successor in Shough. Still, Shough is on the older side and completed just 62.7% of his passes as a Cardinal.
Pick No. 42: New York Jets
Selection: Mason Taylor, TE, LSU
GRADE: B+
Analysis:
The Jets need talent on offense and they get a solid tight end here. Taylor is the only TE in LSU program history with 100-plus receptions and 1,000-plus receiving yards in their career, and he notched 55 catches for 546 yards and a pair of scores in 2024. He ranked sixth in production score and fifth in athleticism score among his peers in this class, and with a Hall-of-Fame bloodline thanks to father Jason Taylor, he should make an immediate impact.
Pick No. 44: Dallas Cowboys
Selection: Donovan Ezeiruaku, EDGE, South Carolina
GRADE: A-
Analysis:
A 6-foot-2, 248-pound EDGE, Ezeiruaku earned a First Team All-American nod in 2024 after finishing second in the FBS with 16.5 sacks and third among all players with 20.5 TFLs. His 2024 was extremely impressive as he took home the Ted Hendricks Award as the nation’s top DE. He’ll be a productive player at the next level alongside Micah Parsons, but a bigger body to stuff the run or a wideout would’ve been nice for Dallas.
Pick No. 45: Indianapolis Colts
Selection: JT Tuimoloau, EDGE, Ohio State
GRADE: A-
Analysis:
Another nice pickup for the Colts, who are off to a slick start with their rookie class. The guy tallied 30-plus pressures in each of the last three seasons and earned First Team All-Big Ten selections in every one of those campaigns. He notched 12.5 sacks this past season, tied for fifth among FBS players, and also finished third among all players with 21.5 tackles for loss. Great pick.
Pick No. 46: Los Angeles Rams
Selection: Terrence Ferguson, TE, Oregon
GRADE: B
Analysis:
The Rams love their pass-catchers and lost a top target in Cooper Kupp over the offseason. Their tight end room is unspectacular and Tyler Higbee is likely in the twilight of his career. Ferguson set school records for career receptions and receiving touchdowns, earned an All-PAC-12 nod (RIP) two years ago, and caught 43 passes for 591 yards and three scores this season. He’ll have a bit of time to adjust to the NFL in this room, but should be a reliable option in Sean McVay’s pass-heavy offense in another year or so.
Pick No. 47: Arizona Cardinals
Selection: Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
GRADE: A
Analysis:
Johnson has the talent to be a top corner in this league. Teams must have been scared off by his medicals in relation to the knee injury which sidelined him last season, so there’s some risk involved here. On the flip side, if he can stay on the field, this guy can be a lockdown corner for a Cardinals team in serious need of pass defense. Scared money doesn’t make money, and this pick actually earns an A thanks to Johnson’s elite upside.
Pick No. 50: Seattle Seahawks
Selection: Elijah Arroyo, TE, Miami
GRADE: C+
Analysis:
The Seahawks haven’t rostered a great tight end in a very long time, but Arroyo possesses the potential to be one. He’s a talented pass-catcher and while he didn’t test at the combine, it’s clear the guy is quite the athlete. He tallied seven scores and 590 yards on just 35 receptions in 2024, and at 6-foot-5, he’s a big-bodied target and can hopefully gobble up some targets among Seattle’s thin position group. However, they still have too many holes to fill on the offensive line and on defense to grade this much higher.
Pick No. 51: Carolina Panthers
Selection: Nic Scourton, EDGE, Texas A&M
GRADE: B+
Analysis:
Scourton is a big name coming out of Texas A&M. He logged 10 sacks in his second season and while he only racked up five more last year, he earned an All-SEC selection thanks to 36 pressures and 14 TFLs. He can stop the run and can become a three-down contributor for a Panthers squad devoid of EDGE talent.
Pick No. 53: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Selection: Benjamin Morrison, CB
GRADE: B
Analysis:
The Buccaneers often got into shootouts last season. In Morrison, they bolster a pass defense and fill a need with a guy who can become a productive NFL corner. His 2024 was shortened due to injury, but over the two seasons prior he intercepted nine passes. As Lance Zierlein puts it, he probably won’t be a press corner, but he can excel in the zone game and make an impact.
Pick No. 55: Los Angeles Chargers
Selection: Tre Harris, WR, Ole Miss
GRADE: B
Analysis:
This Ole Miss wideout increased his yardage output in each of his five college seasons, this Second-team All-American racked up 60 catches, 1,030 yards, and seven scores… in just eight starts. The guy put up numbers and has some upside with good size at 6-foot-2. This move really helps the Chargers’ WR depth after losing Josh Palmer in free agency. Plus, catching passes from Justin Herbert makes anyone look better. The team still needs to address some holes though, and this was a bit of a luxury pick.
Pick No. 58: Las Vegas Raiders
Selection: Jack Bech, WR, TCU
GRADE: B-
Analysis:
A late breakout at TCU, Bech made some noise in his fourth season of college ball with a tick over 1,000 yards and nine touchdowns on 62 catches. However, his athleticism score is unspectacular and he’s more possession target at the next level than anything else. However, he slots in as a day-one starter for Las Vegas and fills a position of need. He won’t have to be a star alongside Brock Bowers and Jakobi Meyers.
Pick No. 59: Baltimore Ravens
Selection: Mike Green, EDGE, Marshall
GRADE: A
Analysis:
How did a projected top-20 pick fall this far? Well, there’s some off-field allegations you can search on your own. Based on this slide, it seems teams had some questions about investing significant draft capital in the Marshall product. This grade is based strictly on the on-field production, though, in which case the Ravens just landed a potential stud. Green experienced a late breakout with an FBS-leading 17 sacks, the second-most TFLs at 22.5, and an impressive 84 tackles. He also forced three fumbles, too.
Pick No. 60: Denver Broncos
Selection: RJ Harvey, RB, UCF
GRADE: C+
Analysis:
Harvey’s RAS grade of 8.48 is impressive, as is his 4.4 40-yard dash time. He set the UCF program record with 48 career touchdowns and ranked sixth or better in both FBS rushing yards and scores across each of the last two seasons. However, he’s just 5-foot-8 and already 24 years old. Did he produce in college? Yes. Were there more exciting backs on the board? Also yes. This is a wait-and-see pick, but maybe he can produce in a run-heavy Broncos system.
Pick No. 62: Chicago Bears
Selection: Shemar Turner, EDGE, Texas A&M
GRADE: B
Analysis:
The Bears needed EDGE help, and while Shemar Turner probably won’t be a star, he can be a useful starter. Better production in college would’ve been nice to see, but he’s quite the athlete and plays fast off the line of scrimmage. He fills a position of need long-term and brings some speed to the Chicago front seven they sorely lacked before.
Pick No. 67: Cleveland Browns
Selection: Harold Fannin Jr., TE, Bowling Green
GRADE: C+
Analysis:
The Sanders fall continues as the Browns once again pass on a quarterback entering the third round. That’s a bit stunning, admittedly. Regardless, Cleveland takes a John Mackey Award finalist who put up numbers in the MAC. The question is whether he can do it in the NFL. David Njoku’s contract has a void year in 2026, so looks like this could be an insurance pick — it’s a C+ for now, with room to grow.
Pick No. 69: New England Patriots
Selection: Kyle Williams, WR, Washington State
GRADE: A-
Analysis:
The Patriots’ WR room remains fairly wide open despite bringing in veteran Stefon Diggs this offseason. Here, they take a wideout with explosive 4.40 speed and some shiftiness. Williams finished with the eighth-most yards in the FBS (1,198) and the fourth-most receiving touchdowns (14) while averaging over 19 yards per catch. He’s a tad undersized, but that doesn’t matter if he’s already blown past the back line for a deep-ball touchdown. Sneaky-great pick for the Patriots and Drake Maye’s cannon arm.
Pick No. 74: Denver Broncos
Selection: Pat Bryant, WR, Illinois
GRADE: C
Analysis:
Bryant is your classic big, physical, catch-point receiver. His 4.61 40-yard dash time puts him in the Martavis Bryant-type category of a slow-moving yet reliable big target. It’s a bit of a reach given Bryant’s physical limitations, but Denver’s wide receiver room is lacking in depth. Bryant may find himself fantasy-relevant sooner rather than later if he can get snaps.
Pick No. 79: Houston Texans
Selection: Jaylin Noel, WR, Iowa State
GRADE: B+
Analysis:
After taking fellow Iowa State receiver Jayden Higgins with the 34th overall pick, Houston grabs his teammate. Noel is a shifty playmaker at 5’10”, one who can take the top off the defense from the slot or work across the middle. It’s a great value, but an interesting fit. Houston has a WR1 in Nico Collins in addition to the recently acquired Christian Kirk. Higgins projects more on the outside. Perhaps this is a sign that Houston is not confident in Tank Dell’s recovery, as he and Noel are similar players. Even if his injury outlook is poor, Noel faces an uphill battle for snaps in his rookie year.
Pick No. 83: Pittsburgh Steelers
Selection: Kaleb Johnson, RB, Iowa
GRADE: B+
Analysis:
Classic Pittsburgh. With Najee Harris leaving for the Los Angeles Chargers, the Steelers needed to bring in extra bodies for the running back room. Jaylen Warren, the incumbent RB1, is a shiftier receiving type, albeit a great runner. Someone needed to take some of the between-the-tackles duty in their zone scheme. Who better than Kaleb Johnson, who ran for over 1,500 yards and 21 scores last year with his tough-nosed, lower-the-shoulder style. He’s an excellent fit and is poised to be in a committee from the jump, and is likeliest to become the goal-line back.
Pick No. 87: Green Bay Packers
Selection: Savion Williams, WR, TCU
GRADE: C-
Analysis:
Of all the surprises the draft brings, the Green Bay Packers going for two receivers in the first three rounds is up there.
After shocking many by drafting Texas WR Matthew Golden in the first round, GM Brian Gutekunst nabs another receiver from the Lone Star State. Williams is a fascinating case. At 6-foot-4, he’s extremely shifty while maintaining strength and power in his running. He’s physical enough to break through press coverage and quick enough to shake off corners. The Horned Frogs often moved him around the formation, including the backfield. Williams is full of potential, but the position is why I’m giving it a middling grade. Williams gives them six exciting young receivers, with he and Golden joining a group of Jayden Reed, Christian Watson, Dontayvion Wicks, and Romeo Doubs. With needs on the offensive line and in the defensive secondary, it’s a questionable fit.
Pick No. 92: Seattle Seahawks
Selection: Jalen Milroe, QB, Alabama
GRADE: A+
Analysis:
If you have questions at the quarterback position and address them multiple times, it’s never a bad idea. The Seahawks shipped Geno Smith to the Las Vegas Raiders this offseason and replaced him with Sam Darnold on a three-year, $100 million deal. Darnold is no sure thing, however. His shortcomings were on display in his last two games for the Minnesota Vikings.
Milroe presents a strong backup option and a possible long-term solution. He’s everything Darnold isn’t — an exceptional runner, deep-ball slinger, and proven winner. He also lacks the short and intermediate accuracy that Darnold has honed over the years. The hope here is that Milroe can be a backup groomed for future starting duties, and perhaps a run-package option in the short term. Home run pick for the Seahawks here.
Pick No. 94: Seattle Seahawks
Selection: Dillon Gabriel, QB, Oregon
GRADE: D-
Analysis:
It’s no secret the Cleveland Browns need a quarterback. Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett are the incumbent options and were unlikely to be starting candidates. Now they are in contention.
Dillon Gabriel was an extremely productive college quarterback, no doubt about it. He’s got plenty of experience under his belt and can read a defense, but he’s also going to be 25 years old this season and is 5-foot-11. Few short quarterbacks make it in the league, and most of them can run, which Gabriel likely cannot do at the pro level. On top of that, Sanders, Will Howard, and Quinn Ewers were better options on the board for a developmental quarterback option. If Gabriel starts this year, expect the Browns to be back at the top of the draft order next season, too. This isn’t quite an F since he can sling it a bit, but it’s pretty close to a failing grade.
Pick No. 102: Minnesota Vikings
Selection: Tai Felton, WR, Maryland
GRADE: B+
Analysis:
Few teams boast a better receiver duo than the Minnesota Vikings. Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison are as good as it gets. The third receiver spot, however, is quite up for grabs. Incumbent Jalen Nailor is a solid enough option, but no guarantee. Recent signing Rondale Moore is more of a gadget player than a real slot receiver. Tai Felton may be able to make a difference here.
He’s got good size at 6-foot-1, plus speed and agility. When going downfield, Felton is tough to stop. They can work him out of the slot or out wide, allowing Minnesota plenty of versatility to move around their receivers. He might get snaps in three-receiver sets out of the gate. Though he’d be fourth in the pecking order for targets, Minnesota’s offense may be able to support several targets if JJ McCarthy has the goods.
