2025 NFL Draft: Day 2 and 3 prospects with immediate starting potential

SPORTIVO
Article arrow_drop_down

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes


Even though the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft is in the books, there are still plenty of talent left on the board entering Day 2. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the available prospects who have immediate starting potential.


Click here for more draft tools:

NFL Draft Big Board | Mock Draft Simulator | NCAA Premium Stats
2025 PFF Draft Guide | Mock Draft Hub | Prospect Data Profiles
Draft Position Rankings


WR Jayden Higgins, Iowa State

PFF Big Board Rank: 36

Higgins’ stock has risen to the point that some thought he could be a surprise first-round pick. He is a potential starting X receiver with excellent size and footwork. Higgins led all Power-Four wide receivers with a 90.5 receiving grade and earned a perfect 99.9 receiving grade on intermediate targets. He could make a Tee Higgins-like impact.

S Xavier Watts, Notre Dame

PFF Big Board Rank: 37

Watts is arguably the best single-high safety in this draft. He’s a ball hawk who has reeled in 13 interceptions over the past two seasons. More importantly, he shored up his tackling in 2024 while also earning a solid 79.5 run-defense grade. Watts would be the starting free safety immediately for a team picking early in the second round, such as the Jacksonville Jaguars or Las Vegas Raiders.

LB Demetrius Knight Jr., South Carolina

PFF Big Board Rank: 52

Knight’s speed and coverage ability would fit in well with a team that already has an established middle linebacker next to him – such as the San Francisco 49ers or Cincinnati Bengals. Over the past two seasons, Knight’s 92.1 coverage grade is the fourth-best among qualified FBS linebackers. Knight is one of the few immediate starters in this draft at linebacker and should be a nice addition to a defense in the second round.

S Andrew Mukuba, Texas

PFF Big Board Rank: 63

Mukuba transferred to safety full-time at Texas in 2024 after playing more of a hybrid role at Clemson. That move paid off, as Mukuba earned an 89.7 coverage grade that tied him for sixth-best among qualified safeties. He’s a bit undersized but doesn’t lack physicality. Mukuba should start early for a team that runs a high rate of zone coverage.

DI Alfred Collins, Texas

PFF Big Board Rank: 79

Collins is a versatile and strong run defender who does the little things that make defenses successful. He got his first chance to play a starting number of snaps in 2024 and responded with an 87.2 overall grade that ranked seventh in the FBS. He can play anywhere from over the offensive tackles to a head-up nose alignment. Collins should see early down snaps very quickly in the NFL.

PFF+ is 25% off for a limited time. Use code DRAFT25 for an offseason win.

OT Ozzy Trapilo, Boston College

PFF Big Board Rank: 82

Boston College’s Ozzy Trapilo stands at 6-foot-8, but he is an underrated athlete and could be an early starter for a team that needs stability at right tackle. Over the past two seasons, he recorded near-identical pass blocking grades of 81.7 and 80.5 while allowing just two sacks in that stretch. He also has one year of experience at left tackle, just in case a team needs him to fill in there.

C Jared Wilson, Georgia

PFF Big Board Rank: 87

This class lacks experienced center prospects who can be projected as starters. As a one-year starter, Wilson also lacks that experience, but that one year could not have gone much better. His 79.6 overall grade ranked third among qualified Power Four centers despite playing a gauntlet of SEC defensive lines along the way. His athleticism and command of protections stood out, and he did not allow a sack all season. There could be even more upside with Wilson as he gets more snaps.

CB Jacob Parrish, Kansas State

PFF Big Board Rank: 107

Parrish has excellent feet and feel for the cornerback position. He earned a career-high 76.9 coverage grade in 2024 in addition to five interceptions and 10 pass breakups over the past two seasons. His lack of size may move him into the slot, but he could succeed there, particularly for a team that lets him roam in the curl/flat area of the field.

CB Jordan Hancock, Ohio State

PFF Big Board Rank: 147

Hancock was an unsung hero on an Ohio State defense loaded with prominent names. He’s very athletic and able to shift between the slot or a deep safety position. He earned a 76.2 coverage grade while playing over 400 snaps in the slot and 200 at free safety this past year. Perhaps different teams have different visions for what Hancock could be, but he has multiple avenues to becoming a starter due to his versatility and athleticism.

G Luke Kandra, Cincinnati 

PFF Big Board Rank: 163

Kandra is a player who could fit in as a starter in a Shanahan-style outside zone run scheme. Over his past two seasons at Cincinnati, Kandra earned an elite 91.6 run blocking grade when running an outside zone concept. He also earned an excellent 84.1 pass-blocking grade while allowing zero sacks in 2024.

PFF+ is 25% off for a limited time. Use code DRAFT25 for an offseason win.

This news was originally published on this post .

About the author

About the author call_made

SPORTIVO

More posts

trending_flat
Dorival confirma ‘sim’ ao Corinthians

O técnico Dorival Junior confirmou ao blog que chegou a um acordo com o Corinthians nesta sexta, 25. Depois de idas e vindas nas negociações, ele assumirá o time paulista na vaga de Ramon Diaz. Ex-seleção brasileira, Dorival vai assinar até o fim de 2026. A estreia deve acontecer contra o Flamengo, domingo, pelo Brasileiro.

trending_flat
Five NBA playoff storylines to watch this weekend. Plus, awards season is here!

The Bounce Newsletter  | This is The Athletic’s daily NBA newsletter. Sign up here to receive The Bounce directly in your inbox.Hey, it’s the 500th edition of The Bounce newsletter! One player scored exactly 500 points in their career. It’s Timberwolves legend Reggie Jordan. Matt Maloney and Guerschon Yabusele have exactly 500 rebounds. Paul Mokeski and Donald Royal have exactly 500 assists. Scott Skiles has exactly 500 steals, Wayman Tisdale has exactly 500 blocks, and Michael Olowokandi has exactly 500 games played. Are those interesting facts? Probably not, but I looked them up.Playoff UpdatesKnicks, Clippers take control of their seriesOn Wednesday night, Jalen Brunson won Clutch Player of the Year. However, through the first two games of this series against the Pistons, the Knicks star was having a tough one. They were physical with him. They were knocking him around. And his play […]

trending_flat
Panthers’ draft shows how much faith they have in Bryce Young

The run from “starting franchise quarterback” to “benched bust” to “rejuvenated savior” is a solid arc over an entire career; Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold both reached Station 3 last year. Over in Carolina, though, Bryce Young sped-run through all the stations in just one season. After Thursday night’s first round of the draft, it’s clear that the Panthers are tripling down on Young’s potential, yet another bounce in the NFL’s most pinballing quarterback career.With the eighth pick of the 2025 NFL Draft, the Panthers selected wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan out of Arizona. McMillan himself is a defensible, potentially exceptional pick. He projects as a WR1, and Yahoo Sports’ Charles McDonald gave the Panthers a B for adding McMillan’s “depth and starting talent” to the roster. The pick apparently incensed the Cowboys’ Micah Parsons, who wanted the receiver at No. […]

České biatlonistky jsou bez trenéra. Ital Bormolini skončil

Online magazín deníku Právo & Seznam.czCopyright © 1996–2025, Seznam.cz, a.s., Borgis, a.s., ČTK, DPA, Reuters, fotobanka Profimedia.Publikování nebo další šíření obsahu serveru Sport.cz je bez písemného souhlasu společnosti Borgis, a.s. zakázáno. RSS kanály serveru Sport.cz jsou určeny pouze pro osobní užití. Jakékoli kopírování, šíření nebo využívání obsahu RSS kanálů serveru Sport.cz bez předchozího písemného souhlasu společnosti Borgis a.s. není dovoleno. Dodavatelem obsahu serveru Sport.cz a osobou vykonávající redakční odpovědnost je společnost BORGIS a.s. Šiřitelem reklamy na serveru Sport.cz je společnost Seznam.cz, a.s., IČO 26168685.

trending_flat
Goalkeeper Carl Rushworth wants to leave Brighton if game time does not improve

Carl Rushworth wants to leave Brighton & Hove Albion unless his chances of game time improve.The goalkeeper’s future is set to reach a crunch point this summer after six years at the club without making a first team appearance.Rushworth, under contract at Brighton until 2027, was on the bench for 12 Premier League matches in succession from January as cover for first choice Bart Verbruggen during Jason Steele’s recovery from shoulder surgery.AdvertisementSteele, 34, returned as a substitute for last Saturday’s 4-2 defeat at Brentford following an outing in the under-21s. That has brought to a head the prospect of Rushworth getting minutes under head coach Fabian Hurzeler.The 23-year-old is not interested in spending a fifth season in succession out on loan to a league club since joining Brighton from Halifax Town in 2019.He wants to progress his career by settling […]

trending_flat
Ceni, do Bahia, destaca goleiro diferenciado do Brasileirão: “Passa confiança”

Ceni é técnico do Bahia - Divulgação Rogério Ceni escolheu Marcos Felipe entre os titulares do Bahia na vitória por 1 a 0 sobre o Atlético Nacional, nesta quinta, pela terceira rodada da fase de grupos da Libertadores. Com a lesão de Ronaldo, o ex-goleiro optou pela volta do camisa 22. Na entrevista coletiva, o treinador foi perguntado sobre buscas por uma nova alternativa no mercado. Ao invés de abordar a possível ida ao mercado, o comandante preferiu tecer elogios ao novo dono da posição. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE “Marcos está jogando, temos o Ronaldo que veio agora e se machucou. Temos o Danilo, temos os nossos goleiros. Se um dia houver necessidade, vamos trazer. Mas vamos valorizar o que o Marcos fez hoje. São dois jogos sem sofrer gols”, disse Ceni. Elogiado por Ceni, Marcos Felipe deve ter sequência Marcos Felipe […]

Related

trending_flat
Dorival confirma ‘sim’ ao Corinthians

O técnico Dorival Junior confirmou ao blog que chegou a um acordo com o Corinthians nesta sexta, 25. Depois de idas e vindas nas negociações, ele assumirá o time paulista na vaga de Ramon Diaz. Ex-seleção brasileira, Dorival vai assinar até o fim de 2026. A estreia deve acontecer contra o Flamengo, domingo, pelo Brasileiro.

trending_flat
Five NBA playoff storylines to watch this weekend. Plus, awards season is here!

The Bounce Newsletter  | This is The Athletic’s daily NBA newsletter. Sign up here to receive The Bounce directly in your inbox.Hey, it’s the 500th edition of The Bounce newsletter! One player scored exactly 500 points in their career. It’s Timberwolves legend Reggie Jordan. Matt Maloney and Guerschon Yabusele have exactly 500 rebounds. Paul Mokeski and Donald Royal have exactly 500 assists. Scott Skiles has exactly 500 steals, Wayman Tisdale has exactly 500 blocks, and Michael Olowokandi has exactly 500 games played. Are those interesting facts? Probably not, but I looked them up.Playoff UpdatesKnicks, Clippers take control of their seriesOn Wednesday night, Jalen Brunson won Clutch Player of the Year. However, through the first two games of this series against the Pistons, the Knicks star was having a tough one. They were physical with him. They were knocking him around. And his play […]

trending_flat
Panthers’ draft shows how much faith they have in Bryce Young

The run from “starting franchise quarterback” to “benched bust” to “rejuvenated savior” is a solid arc over an entire career; Baker Mayfield and Sam Darnold both reached Station 3 last year. Over in Carolina, though, Bryce Young sped-run through all the stations in just one season. After Thursday night’s first round of the draft, it’s clear that the Panthers are tripling down on Young’s potential, yet another bounce in the NFL’s most pinballing quarterback career.With the eighth pick of the 2025 NFL Draft, the Panthers selected wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan out of Arizona. McMillan himself is a defensible, potentially exceptional pick. He projects as a WR1, and Yahoo Sports’ Charles McDonald gave the Panthers a B for adding McMillan’s “depth and starting talent” to the roster. The pick apparently incensed the Cowboys’ Micah Parsons, who wanted the receiver at No. […]

České biatlonistky jsou bez trenéra. Ital Bormolini skončil

Online magazín deníku Právo & Seznam.czCopyright © 1996–2025, Seznam.cz, a.s., Borgis, a.s., ČTK, DPA, Reuters, fotobanka Profimedia.Publikování nebo další šíření obsahu serveru Sport.cz je bez písemného souhlasu společnosti Borgis, a.s. zakázáno. RSS kanály serveru Sport.cz jsou určeny pouze pro osobní užití. Jakékoli kopírování, šíření nebo využívání obsahu RSS kanálů serveru Sport.cz bez předchozího písemného souhlasu společnosti Borgis a.s. není dovoleno. Dodavatelem obsahu serveru Sport.cz a osobou vykonávající redakční odpovědnost je společnost BORGIS a.s. Šiřitelem reklamy na serveru Sport.cz je společnost Seznam.cz, a.s., IČO 26168685.

trending_flat
Goalkeeper Carl Rushworth wants to leave Brighton if game time does not improve

Carl Rushworth wants to leave Brighton & Hove Albion unless his chances of game time improve.The goalkeeper’s future is set to reach a crunch point this summer after six years at the club without making a first team appearance.Rushworth, under contract at Brighton until 2027, was on the bench for 12 Premier League matches in succession from January as cover for first choice Bart Verbruggen during Jason Steele’s recovery from shoulder surgery.AdvertisementSteele, 34, returned as a substitute for last Saturday’s 4-2 defeat at Brentford following an outing in the under-21s. That has brought to a head the prospect of Rushworth getting minutes under head coach Fabian Hurzeler.The 23-year-old is not interested in spending a fifth season in succession out on loan to a league club since joining Brighton from Halifax Town in 2019.He wants to progress his career by settling […]

trending_flat
Ceni, do Bahia, destaca goleiro diferenciado do Brasileirão: “Passa confiança”

Ceni é técnico do Bahia - Divulgação Rogério Ceni escolheu Marcos Felipe entre os titulares do Bahia na vitória por 1 a 0 sobre o Atlético Nacional, nesta quinta, pela terceira rodada da fase de grupos da Libertadores. Com a lesão de Ronaldo, o ex-goleiro optou pela volta do camisa 22. Na entrevista coletiva, o treinador foi perguntado sobre buscas por uma nova alternativa no mercado. Ao invés de abordar a possível ida ao mercado, o comandante preferiu tecer elogios ao novo dono da posição. PUBLICIDADE PUBLICIDADE “Marcos está jogando, temos o Ronaldo que veio agora e se machucou. Temos o Danilo, temos os nossos goleiros. Se um dia houver necessidade, vamos trazer. Mas vamos valorizar o que o Marcos fez hoje. São dois jogos sem sofrer gols”, disse Ceni. Elogiado por Ceni, Marcos Felipe deve ter sequência Marcos Felipe […]

Be the first to leave a comment

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Sportivo bridges the gap between talent and opportunity.

About SPORTIVO

Sportivo Network is a dedicated social platform for sports enthusiasts, athletes, and scouts. Whether you’re an aspiring athlete looking for opportunities, a coach searching for talent, or simply a sports lover wanting to connect with like-minded people, Sportivo is your go-to network. With features like direct messaging, profile showcasing, and talent scouting, Sportivo bridges the gap between talent and opportunity. Here, you can share your achievements, interact with professionals, and open doors to the next level in your sports journey. Join Sportivo Network – because every great athlete deserves to be discovered!
Copyright © 2025 SPORTIVO News. and SPORTIVO Network. All rights reserved.

Login to enjoy full advantages

Please login or subscribe to continue.

Go Premium!

Enjoy the full advantage of the premium access.

Stop following

Unfollow Cancel

Cancel subscription

Are you sure you want to cancel your subscription? You will lose your Premium access and stored playlists.

Go back Confirm cancellation