Beat writers’ favorite 2025 NFL Draft picks: Cam Skattebo, Colston Loveland and 30 more players

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The 2025 NFL Draft was dominated by discussion of Shedeur Sanders’ slide to the fifth round, but the Colorado quarterback was just one of 257 players selected in recent days.

The Athletic asked its NFL beat writers to share their favorite pick their team made across the three-day draft in Green Bay, Wis. “Favorite” doesn’t necessarily mean “best” — though in some cases, it’s one and the same.

So which players appealed to our writers for on-field performance, team fit, roster-depth help or because they were just a great draft weekend story? Here are our writers’ thoughts.

Arizona Cardinals: Cody Simon, LB, Ohio State

Pick: Round 4, No. 115

Ole Miss defensive tackle Walter Nolen (first round) and Michigan corner Will Johnson (second) are easy picks, just because of what they could mean for Arizona’s push to the postseason. But I’m going with Simon. Tremendous college player. Led the Buckeyes in tackles. Team captain. All-Academic. Experts aren’t sure how that production will translate to the NFL. Simon may not be more than a role player. That would be fine. But the guess here is he will make a bigger impact. — Doug Haller

Atlanta Falcons: Billy Bowman Jr., S, Oklahoma

Pick: Round 4, No. 118

Billy Bowman Jr. was the happiest Falcon to hear his name called. “Everything is amazing now,” a beaming Bowman said Saturday after being selected. “This was one of the spots I had a feeling I would land.” Atlanta defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich was so smitten with Bowman that he lobbied the Falcons to trade up in the fourth round to ensure his selection. “Off the charts character,” Ulbrich said. Bowman played safety for the Sooners, but Atlanta is hopeful he can compete for the starting nickelback spot as a rookie. — Josh Kendall

Baltimore Ravens: Teddye Buchanan, LB, California

Pick: Round 4, No. 129

The Ravens certainly know what high-level inside linebacker play looks like, and Buchanan has the qualities to become the next fan favorite at the position. The fourth-round pick is a high-energy player who flies around the field and usually ends up around the football. Over five college seasons, the first four at UC Davis and the final one at Cal, Buchanan had 322 tackles, nine sacks, three forced fumbles and eight interceptions. At 6-foot-2 and 233 pounds, he is a physical specimen and he was one of most athletic linebackers in the draft. He’ll likely immediately become a core special teamer, but he has the potential to challenge Trenton Simpson for the starting weak-side linebacker job as the season goes on. — Jeff Zrebiec

Buffalo Bills: T.J. Sanders, DT, South Carolina

Pick: Round 2, No. 41

Sanders is a tremendous fit for everything the Bills value in a defensive tackle. Although he’s not the biggest player, at 305 pounds he outpunches his weight class in the run game and can hold his ground against double teams. As a pass rusher and penetrator, Sanders can consistently give the Bills a new dimension they haven’t had with anyone other than starter Ed Oliver. On top of that, due to his versatility, Sanders has a path to be a long-term starter either next to Oliver at one-technique, or in place of Oliver at three-technique one day down the road. — Joe Buscaglia

Carolina Panthers: Princely Umanmielen, Edge, Ole Miss

Pick: Round 3, No. 77

As a longtime tight end fan, I’m tempted to go with fifth-round pick Mitchell Evans — the Notre Dame tight end who gives off strong Mark Bavaro vibes (aging myself here). But I’ll go with Umanmielen, who has the same type of speed and bend that made Brian Burns an explosive pass rusher with the Panthers. Like Burns, Umanmielen might be a little light to hold up against the run. He could be a game-changer in a division that will include a couple of new starting quarterbacks in Atlanta and New Orleans. — Joseph Person

Chicago Bears: Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan

Pick: Round 1, No. 10

It’s fair to debate the value of taking a tight end at No. 10. But if coach Ben Johnson sees Loveland as his new version of Sam LaPorta — and the Bears graded him this high in this draft class — then take him. Give Johnson an elite weapon for his offense. That’s what the Bears did. Loveland should be an immediate contributor as a mismatch nightmare for opposing defenses, particularly against linebackers. He also opens the door for more 12 personnel (two tight ends) with tight end Cole Kmet. The Bears offense is better with Loveland. — Adam Jahns

Cincinnati Bengals: Dylan Fairchild, G, Georgia

Pick: Round 3, No. 81

The Bengals have been so poor at drafting offensive linemen over the years. It grew into a debilitating roster-building trend. Picking Fairchild  signaled their willingness to self-scout, try something different and trust the people they’ve asked to fix the problem. New offensive line coach Scott Peters brings a very different style with his background in jujutsu, seeking more athletic, aggressive technicians as opposed to some of the bigger, more powerful but less athletic linemen in recent years. Peters found an ideal fit for his system in Fairchild, meshing the two-time state champion wrestler’s background with what Peters is looking to implement. This was also only the third time in 13 years the Bengals used a Day 2 pick on the offensive line. Then they aggressively cleared the path for him to start, with offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher calling left guard “his to win.” In so many ways, this one felt different. It felt like a conscious change, hoping to create alternate results, which is exactly what the Bengals needed. — Paul Dehner Jr.

Cleveland Browns: Quinshon Judkins, RB, Ohio State

Pick: Round 2, No. 36

Judkins isn’t afraid of contact. His athleticism and running style make him a fit for the kind of power-based scheme Kevin Stefanski’s best teams have run, but he’s also an energy fit for an offense in transition. Judkins will need plenty of energy — the Browns figure to run the ball a lot in 2025 — and should see a path to winning immediate carries. He had 45 rushing touchdowns over three college seasons. Even if he doesn’t become the immediate starter in Cleveland, he should become the team’s best goal-line option. — Zac Jackson

Dallas Cowboys: Donovan Ezeiruaku, Edge, Boston College

Pick: Round 2, No. 44

Ezeiruaku could end up being a sneaky valuable selection. Dallas lost DeMarcus Lawrence in free agency and 2022 second-round pick Sam Williams is coming off a torn ACL and entering the final year of his contract. Veteran Dante Fowler Jr. is only on a one-year deal. Edge rusher may not seem like a pressing need but Ezeiruaku could pay dividends in the future. He will have the benefit of breaking into the NFL with Micah Parsons on the other side, which should make the transition to the pros a little easier. If he pans out, Ezeiruaku, Parsons and Marshawn Kneeland are a solid, young core at defensive end. — Saad Yousuf

Denver Broncos: Caleb Lohner, TE, Utah

Pick: Round 7, No. 241

The seventh-round selection for the Broncos may not be in line for a big role in 2025. He’ll be in for a tough fight to make the initial 53-man roster in September. But it’s hard not to be intrigued by a 6-foot-7, 256-pound target who played one season of college football after five years as a major-conference basketball player. Perhaps the Broncos fell in love with Lohner’s stat line at Utah: four catches, all four touchdowns — and one complete box out that no doubt made his hoops coaches proud. — Nick Kosmider

.@caleblohner posting up for the TD!

📺: FOX#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/wKuGbLLSe7

— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) November 16, 2024

Detroit Lions: Tyleik Williams, DT, Ohio State

Pick: Round 1, No. 28

Williams is one of my favorite prospects in the entire draft class. When I watched his film, I was impressed with how agile he was at his size (327 pounds), his ability to read and react as quickly as he does and his untapped potential as an interior pass-rusher, should he continue to develop. You don’t see that combination often … unless you watch the Lions. GM Brad Holmes likened Williams’ game to Alim McNeill’s and it’s a great comp. Their games are so similar, and after talking to Williams, it’s clear their demeanors are, too. A pair of versatile, nimble defensive tackles who happen to be easygoing dudes. Together, they should form an excellent duo for the future. — Colton Pouncy

Green Bay Packers: Barryn Sorrell, Edge, Texas

Pick: Round 4, No. 124

NFL Draft Day 3 for writers is about finding unique stories with guys that may or may not make the roster and Sorrell had one of the best in the entire draft. He had been in Green Bay since Wednesday because he wanted to experience the draft in person despite knowing he wasn’t getting picked until at least Day 2. He was alone in the green room on two separate days before the Packers picked him at No. 124 on Saturday. His brother and parents were in attendance as he got to walk on stage after the commissioner announced his name and celebrate with the sea of fans in front of his new home stadium. — Matt Schneidman

Houston Texans: Jayden Higgins, WR, Iowa State

Pick: Round 2, No. 34

Stefon Diggs departed in free agency and Tank Dell may be out for the entire season due to injury, so the Texans badly needed help at wide receiver. They appear to have gotten a good one in Higgins. He’s a big target at 6-4, 214 pounds and is highly productive, making 87 catches for 1,183 yards last season. C.J. Stroud will capitalize on Higgins’ big-catch radius, particularly in the red zone. — Mike Jones

Indianapolis Colts: Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State

Pick: Round 1, No. 14

There’s no need to overthink this. Warren is arguably the best tight end in the year’s class, and he fills a major need for the Colts. Indianapolis hasn’t had a tight end record at least 40 catches and 400 receiving yards in a season since two-time Pro Bowler Jack Doyle in 2019. Warren will immediately take over as the Colts’ starter, and now the attention shifts to the QB he’ll be catching passes from: Anthony Richardson or Daniel Jones? — James Boyd

Jacksonville Jaguars: Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado

Pick: Round 1, No. 2

The two-way star was the most exciting player in the draft class, and the Jaguars gave up a ton to get him. It was a nice way for the regime to declare there’s a new era in Jacksonville, but there’s a lot of pressure on GM James Gladstone and coach Liam Coen to make it work. The Jaguars view Hunter as more of a wide receiver than a cornerback, so Coen should have a lot of fun scheming up an offense that now includes Hunter, Brian Thomas Jr., Travis Etienne and, of course, Trevor Lawrence. — Jeff Howe

Kansas City Chiefs: Jalen Royals, WR, Utah State

Pick: Round 4, No. 133

Royals is going to wind up being a Deebo Samuel-type player in Andy Reid’s offense, posing a threat as a pass catcher on a variety of routes, as a ball carrier and also as a return man. The former running back will make plays all over the field. Seventh-rounder Brashard Smith — an SMU running back who had played wide receiver at Miami — is a close second because of the dynamic playmaking ability, versatility and speed he’ll bring to the offense and return game. — Mike Jones

Las Vegas Raiders: Caleb Rogers, G, Texas Tech

Pick: Round 3, No. 88

While he needs some polish, Rogers is a thumper in the running game and he played every spot on the line except center at Texas Tech. But he caught the Raiders by surprise and won us over when he hung up on coach Pete Carroll during the congratulatory phone call when he was drafted. “I thought the call was over,” Rogers said. “I felt horrible. Hopefully it’s something we can all laugh at after I have been in the league for 12 years.” Carroll surely smiled when he heard that last line. Confident competitiveness might be the team’s new slogan. — Vic Tafur

Los Angeles Chargers: Kyle Kennard, Edge, South Carolina

Pick: Round 4, No. 125

I like this pick for a couple reasons. Kennard had great production in the SEC with 11 1/2 sacks, and he played one of his best games of the season against Will Campbell, Mason Taylor and LSU. Kennard also makes sense as a fit alongside Khalil Mack, Tuli Tuipulotu and Bud Dupree in the Chargers edge room. Mack, Tuipulotu and Dupree are all power players. Kennard brings a speed element — with his energetic get-off and ability to beat tackles around the corner — that the Chargers were missing at this position. Having different skill sets among your pass rushers is important. Kennard brings a different flavor to the table. — Daniel Popper

Los Angeles Rams: Chris Paul Jr., LB, Ole Miss

Pick: Round 5, No. 172

How could anyone not like Paul, who had a Rams hat ready for his selection Saturday. The Rams have been looking for their heartbeat in the middle of the defense since trading Ernest Jones IV ahead of his contract year last summer. Andy Sugarman, one of a few staffers who travel for lengthy visits and film study with players instead of the Rams hosting “30 visits,” seemed to especially get a feel for Paul’s personality and ability to bring people up with him. Paul will immediately compete at middle linebacker with Omar Speights and Nate Landman. He is undersized, but rarely misses tackles, plays urgently and with extreme effort — traits the Rams value over measurements. — Jourdan Rodrigue

Miami Dolphins: Jonah Savaiinaea, G, Arizona

Pick: Round 2, No. 37

This was easy. It’s their second-round pick, and it’s not close. For one thing, the Dolphins desperately needed to upgrade their interior offensive line, and he will do that for them. But the reason I really love this pick is because of how cool it is Savaiinaea landed in Miami. Savaiinaea will now be protecting not only a fellow Polynesian in QB Tua Tagovailoa, but someone who went to the same high school (St. Louis High in Honolulu) that he did. “God never makes mistakes,” Savaiinaea said after he was picked. “He wants me to block for my people, so I’m there.” — Jim Ayello

Minnesota Vikings: Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, DT/Edge, Georgia

Pick: Round 5, No. 139

When defensive coordinator Brian Flores thinks he can get the most out of a player, it’s hard not to trust him. The versatile Ingram-Dawkins has the length to play on the edge, the strength to stop the run on the interior and the movement skills to run twists and stunts from the inside. Last year, the Vikings used veteran Jihad Ward in a versatile role. Ingram-Dawkins might be a younger, more dynamic version with upside. — Alec Lewis

New England Patriots: Kyle Williams, WR, Washington State

Pick: Round 3, No. 69

The Patriots have had the worst receiver play in the NFL over the last two years. They were stuck with a group that couldn’t separate or create after the catch. No one could win deep. Enter Williams. He gets off the line of scrimmage extremely well, excels at creating separation and has a track record of winning deep. Those are all great traits for Drake Maye, who should be thrilled with this pick. — Chad Graff

New Orleans Saints: Devin Neal, RB, Kansas

Pick: Round 6, No. 184

It’s hard to argue production. That’s why Neal became an easy choice. The Saints lacked any legitimate depth behind Alvin Kamara going into this draft. New Orleans selected Kendre Miller in Round 3 two years ago and he’s been a non-factor. Neal comes to the Saints after leading the Jayhawks in rushing all four years he played. He set school records for rushing yards (4,343), rushing touchdowns (49), total touchdowns (53) and rushing games of 100 yards or more (20). For a sixth-round pick, sign me up as a believer Neal could become a monster steal. — Larry Holder

New York Giants: Cam Skattebo, RB, Arizona State

Pick: Round 4, No. 105

The potential for puns and wordplay with Jaxson Dart’s last name are endless, and I promise I will have fun with it over the next few years. However, I love the Skattebo pick. The running back’s collegiate journey made him a fan favorite, and I feel like we’re going to see a similar embrace in the NFL once he hits the New York market. On a more football-related front, it’s a great pick to fill out the Giants’ running back room, as Skattebo’s rugged running style offers a perfect complement to the more shifty Tyrone Tracy Jr. — Charlotte Carroll

New York Jets: Mason Taylor, TE, LSU

Pick: Round 2, No. 42

Taylor brings great bloodlines: He’s the son of Hall of Fame defensive end Jason Taylor and the nephew of Hall of Fame linebacker Zach Thomas. The Jets’ tight end room before the draft was probably the worst on the roster and Taylor has the ability to step in right away and become the No. 2 or 3 target in the passing game, behind Garrett Wilson and in the range of running back Breece Hall. He was the most productive tight end in LSU history and widely considered the third-best tight end in this class; the Jets were nervous that he wouldn’t make it to their pick in the second round. And to top it off: He’s only 20 years old. He might just be the one to break the team’s poor run of drafting tight ends. — Zack Rosenblatt

Philadelphia Eagles: Andrew Mukuba, S, Texas

Pick: Round 2, No. 64

It was sensible for the Eagles to add competition and depth by drafting Mukuba. Even if Sydney Brown wins the starting job, the Eagles still needed to identify a dime defender after Avonte Maddox’s contract expired. The Eagles deployed their dime package on 4.2 percent of their total defensive snaps, according to TruMedia. But it’s still a required feature for NFL defenses. Mukuba’s skill set could possibly convince Vic Fangio that he has the personnel to deploy dime at a higher frequency. When discussing Mukuba, GM Howie Roseman said, “It’s really hard to find cover safeties and guys who have the ability to come down and play over the slot, play in the middle of the field, have natural instincts, play the ball.” That’s a skill that should benefit the Eagles in more ways than one. — Brooks Kubena

Pittsburgh Steelers: Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon

Pick: Round 1, No. 21

I really liked the Harmon pick — it married need and value for a player who fits their scheme perfectly — but this is as much about whom the Steelers didn’t take in Round 1. The Steelers set the franchise back by overdrafting Kenny Pickett in 2022 and are still dealing with the consequences from that decision. Rather than roll the dice with Shedeur Sanders or Jaxson Dart, Pittsburgh is playing the long game. The Steelers will ride out 2025 with a bridge QB and then make a more aggressive move for a QB in 2026, when the class is stronger and the team will have multiple extra picks to trade up. — Mike DeFabo

San Francisco 49ers: C.J. West, DT, Indiana

Pick: Round 4, No. 113

West fell to the fourth round because he doesn’t have the length — 6-1 with stubby, 31 1/2-inch arms — teams covet in interior linemen. His low profile, however, made him an extremely slippery blocking assignment for Big Ten offensive linemen last season. West seems like an excellent fit for a team that wants its defensive linemen to fire off the snap and slip through a gap into the backfield. Size- and speed-wise, he compares very well to 49ers 2017 sixth-round pick D.J. Jones. — Matt Barrows

Seattle Seahawks: Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina

Pick: Round 2, No. 35

Seattle has recent history with a big safety in Kam Chancellor, one of the best players in franchise history. Mike Macdonald has recent history with super-sized safety Kyle Hamilton, one of the best defenders in the league. Will Emmanwori reach that level? Who knows. But it’ll be interesting to see Macdonald try to fit this puzzle piece into his defense. Is Emmanwori a safety? A nickel? A corner? There’s plenty of potential there if the Seahawks can figure it out. — Michael-Shawn Dugar

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: David Walker, Edge, Central Arkansas

Pick: Round 4, No. 121

He’s old (almost 25), small (6-1) and not particularly fast (4.69 40-yard-dash). He also was a zero-star recruit, and he hasn’t played against many players who are nearly as talented as the ones he’s going to face in the NFL. But Walker knows how to play, as evidenced by 39 college sacks. Walker wouldn’t have been nearly as appealing if not for his Senior Bowl week, when he showed his skills translate against other future NFL players. — Dan Pompei

Tennessee Titans: Cam Ward, QB, Miami

Pick: Round 1, No. 1

The conviction expressed in the choice and the possibility it represents make Ward the easy answer here. The latest iteration of a Titans front office went into the process talking openly about the importance of adding draft capital — which is what this franchise did with the No. 1 pick nine years ago, accelerating a turnaround. But Ward ended that talk. The Giants liked Ward enough to make a serious offer for him, and the Titans didn’t blink. Yes, this may turn out to be a giant mistake. But what if they’re right? Ward’s presence, high-level talent and backstory make that easier to buy. He needs to hope the rest of the Titans’ draft was incredible. — Joe Rexrode

Washington Commanders: Josh Conerly Jr., OT, Oregon

Pick: Round 1, No. 29

Anyone looking to upgrade their home for a future sale knows that renovating the kitchen provides the greatest return on investment. The same goes for the offensive line. You can have the best skill players, but those talents won’t shine bright without quality blockers. The Commanders overhauled the line in the past two years and went next-level with the trade for Laremy Tunsil and selecting Conerly in Round 1. We can’t say Washington has one of the league’s best tackle tandems quite yet, but the potential is there. Jayden Daniels can’t wait. — Ben Standig

(Photos of Cam Skattebo and Colston Loveland: Sam Hodde and Gregory Shamus / Getty Images)

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