DRAFT TRACKER 2025

The assessment of Emmanwori’s tape could depend on which games you watch. He’s a physical specimen with rare size and outstanding speed, but he doesn’t always play with a “first to the action” mentality in run support. When he gets it cranked up, he becomes a much more effective tackler and overall run stopper from sideline to sideline. He’s capable of playing over the top, inside the box or even matching up with pass-catching tight ends. He’s upright with average transition fluidity in coverage, but he has great recovery speed and uses his length to throw a blanket over the catch point. He has rare NFL traits and talent, so a boost in urgency could take him from a good starter to a Pro Bowl-caliber player.

Passionate linebacker with great size, good instincts and a feel for how to play the position. Knight is a fluid athlete with average pursuit speed and short-area burst. He uses his eyes and instincts to diagnose quickly and he maneuvers around bodies like a running back. He’s adept at slipping blocks and rarely allows blockers to stick and sustain on the second level. He’s aware and productive in zone but could struggle to stay connected in man coverage. He’s not a twitchy mover but knows how to play the game and has a chance to play on all three downs. Knight’s field demeanor and football character should seal the deal as a future starter at inside ‘backer.

Sanders is a powerful road block with heavy hands and a strong core. He rarely touches the ground. Despite a lack of knee bend, he usually gives better than he gets and blockers have a hard time keeping him sealed. He punches and locks out quickly with a twitchy shed to tackle a gap over. His rush features average first-step quickness, but sudden hand swipes and play-through power in his lower half open pathways to the pocket. Sanders' blend of power and pressure should put him on the board for both odd- and even-front defenses as a potential three-down solution.

Burch’s tape can be inconsistent, but he offers physical traits and upside as a rusher. As a run defender, his length and play strength flashes, but he simply doesn’t play with the block destruction or aggression you want to see for a player of his size. As a pass rusher, he’s a more energetic player with good get-off, long strides and the bend to turn the corner or unleash a bull-rush. He needs to work on adding skill to his hands and becoming more creative as a rusher to create quick wins. Burch leaves too many plays on the field, but the upside will have teams anxious to light the fire and get more out of him.

Edge defender with reams of 2024 production to sift through. Kennard keeps his long frame clean with well-timed punches and has plus range as a playmaker. He can be slippery when he finds edges in either phase. He is frequently knocked off-balance at contact points, though. He will create pressure with his get-off and length alone but needs less predictable rush patterns and more hand skill to beat NFL tackles. He fits as a wide nine-technique, where he can avoid early contact and create rush momentum. He profiles as a Day 2 pick, but the tape creates enough concerns to lower the floor for his projection.

A sixth-year senior who spent his final two seasons at South Carolina, Simon possesses the speed and quickness to challenge man coverage and work into deep sideline pockets of the zone. He was frequently used on play-action drags and quick-game throws underneath. He has good run-after-catch talent and makes an honest effort as a blocker. He lacks an ideal frame, but Simon’s spike in production over the final six games of the 2024 season could help spark interest from teams looking for a pass-catching tight end with upside.

When healthy, Sanders has been a productive three-down back at two SEC spots. He’s a big rusher with pop behind his pads. He runs with timing and tempo as a one-cut runner. He creates yards with vision and cut quickness, but he can fall into the trap of trying to be a hero instead of taking yards that are there and moving on. His speed won’t prohibit him from outside runs, but his living will be made inside the tackles. He’s rarely stopped on “gotta have it” downs and is capable out of the backfield. Fumbles and inconsistent pass protection might land him in the doghouse, but he has the size and talent to become a committee runner.

“Tweener” type with good athletic ability but limitations on how he can be played. The former defensive end displayed enough quickness and lateral movement to flash for the South Carolina defense. Hemingway will need to align as a 4i (inside shoulder of OT) or five-technique as he simply doesn’t have the strength to leverage his gaps as a run defender inside. His best bet might be to drop weight and rebrand as a 4-3 base defensive end with sub-package rush potential inside.

Defensive tackle with imposing size and intriguing flashes but a relative lack of snap experience for a sixth-year player. His anchor can sink fairly deep against double-teams and he has the length and power to control and shed single blocks. He’s very average athletically but moves with some quickness to tackle inside. Jules holds his own against blockers but struggles with play recognition and consistency. He also offers little success as a rusher. His traits and flashes necessitate a “developmental” label.

Two-year starter with good height and length but lacking in play strength. He’s not physical from press but he plays long and with twitchy movements to match route breaks or break into the passing lane when reading the quarterback from zone. A lack of long speed could be a concern, though. His instincts are above average and his ball skills are solid. However, big, physical wideouts can create a mismatch against him inside the route, at the catch point and after the catch. Fortune will need scheme help, won’t offer help on special teams and is a liability as a run defender. Consistency and ball production will be critical for him.

Powerful interior lineman who proved he belonged in his single season in the SEC after transferring from North Carolina Central. Simpkins is a durable four-year starter with NFL size and guard/center flexibility. His best tape is in the run game, where he pushes defensive tackles against their will and has the athleticism to play in space. He makes good use of his length in pass protection, but he struggles to recognize and adjust to gaming fronts. Simpkins’ size, strength and position flexibility gives him a chance to hear his name called on Day 3.

A 4-3 outside linebacker who will turn 25 years old this summer, Martin-Scott has had limited game snaps. He has adequate size and speed but lacks instincts and blocking-scheme recognition. He plays on his front foot with a downhill mentality but sometimes without a plan. He’s hit-or-miss with block take-ons and can be a step late getting to his tackle angles in the open field. He has some rush and cover ability on passing downs and can play special teams. Age and instincts work against him, but he might have enough attributes to get a look late in the draft.

Two-year starter at inside linebacker with very good instincts but athletic limitations. Blanton is quick to read keys and flows to the runner with good timing. He can slip blocks or stick and move during take-ons. However, his pursuit burst in space is below average and he misses too many tackles. He can spot drop and feel receivers around him but he’s not much of a blitzer on passing downs. He has a high football IQ but will need to prove himself on special teams to improve his chances of making a roster.

Sanders is a hard-hitting safety who plays with good aggression but lacks consistency and playmaking traits. He will be a 25-year-old rookie, and he has missed time due to injuries in each of the last three seasons. He lacks ideal range and instincts to play high safety, but he has enough vision and aggression to compete as a down safety. Ultimately, he will need to eliminate his inconsistencies with pursuit angles and shine on special teams to have a chance of sticking with an NFL squad.

Fifth-year senior with three seasons under his belt against SEC competition. His routes lack suddenness to separate and he struggles to win contested battles. He runs with good build-up speed to get deep and he’s a bruising runner after the catch, but he needs to catch with better focus underneath. Ultimately, Wells' traits and ball skills fail to stand out.

Long-limbed, left-footed punter with five years of experience in the SEC. Kroeger has good drive power but needs to prove he can punt with much better hang time to prevent high return totals and better touch to limit touchbacks.