It is here, ladies and gentlemen. The 2025 NFL Draft. So, naturally, it’s time for us to round up the news, rumors, risers, and fallers surrounding the draft one last time. These last few days can make all the difference and the hairs your favorite team is splitting now can determine their fate for years to come. Let’s hope they get it right!

As we’ve done the last couple of weeks, we’ve combed the mock drafts, the rumor mills, and the pre-draft shows to figure out what we can glean. Which players are trending up or down as well as which teams might be trading up or down. 

If it’s relevant to fantasy football and your dynasty rookie drafts with guys like Ashton Jeanty, Tetairoa McMillan, and Shedeur Sanders, even better! Here’s what we’ve found as of late - happy mocking and good luck to your team!

 

 

 

2025 Draft Prospect Risers

Ashton Jeanty, RB Boise State

Believe it or not, the unanimous top running back prospect still had room to trend up! Early mocks had teams like the Cowboys and Broncos interested in Jeanty. Over the last month or so he truly started to be viewed as a top 10 option. The most common spot for him to go as of late was to the Las Vegas Raiders at 6.

But lately there’s been just a bit more steam with trusted industry folks having him go ever EARLIER. Peter Schrager, who is in touch directly with many GMs, has him at 5 to the Jacksonville Jaguars in his mock. Lance Zielein’s also has Jeanty at 5. 

But Zierlein’s NFL.com colleague, and many others, are taking it a step further with Jeanty going at 4 to the New England Patriots. If teams are set on taking “best player available”, he is undoubtedly one of the best players in this draft.   

Mykel Williams, EDGE Georgia

It’s kind of interesting to call Williams a riser now. Because, back in September, he was viewed as a top 10 pick in a lot of circles. As the season and early off-season progressed though, he was still viewed as a first round pick but more of a mid to back end option in the 20s.

This week, however, he’s gained a resurgence of steam. Matt Miller of ESPN named him specifically this morning as someone that will go higher than a lot of mocks have him. And, all of a sudden, he’s moved his way up the boards in “final” mock drafts. 

So much so that the betting odds for the New Orleans Saints at 9, long rumored to be looking at a quarterback, have shifted from Shedeur Sanders to now favor Williams to the Saints as a top 10 pick.

Emeka Egbuka, WR Ohio State

Emega Egbuka has long been viewed as the “safe” wide receiver pick. But Matt Harmon of Reception Perception, in a recent interview with Sirius XM on Fantasy Alarm, told us that he’s not only safe but has the upside to be a power slot/flanker in the vein of guys like Chris Godwin and Cooper Kupp. That line of thinking has Egbuka moving up boards as of late.

And it makes sense. Not only does his playstyle scream high floor but there is near unanimous praise for his character and leadership. Egbuka was once viewed as a clear Day Two player but, on sites like DraftKings, you now need to pay -400 to bet on him being a first round pick. This is a guy we like a lot for fantasy football purposes, especially if he lands in the right spot. 

 

 

 

2025 Draft Prospect Fallers

Luther Burden, WR Missouri

Anyone who relies heavily on an analytical model, especially in the fantasy football space, is going to be intrigued by Luther Burden. His breakout as a true sophomore at a very young age with 86 catches for 1,212 and 9 TDs is going to look great on a spreadsheet. Per Pro Football Focus, he was going as high as in the top 5 of early mock drafts back in August before the season started.

As the season progressed, things started to cool off for Burden and he was viewed more as a middle round pick. In late February, however, following the combine, rumors started swirling about character issues including some evidence of lack of interest on the field. Many mocks now have him falling out of the first round entirely. And, if you still believe and want to be on him, a site like DraftKings is offering +190 for him to be a 1st round pick at all, and +5000 to be the top wide receiver selected. 

Shedeur Sanders, QB Colorado State

We actually covered the initial slide for Sanders two weeks ago in this same series. But that detailed a slide from possibly a top two pick down to an over/under of 8.5 where he was potentially projected to the New Orleans Saints. That’s still a possibility, of course, but analysts have further pushed Sanders down boards.

He’s still the betting favorite to be the second QB drafted at -190. But his over/under draft position with books has continued to fall to 14.5. And you actually have to pay -120 odds to bet on Shedeur Sanders going in the second round, per ESPN Bet. The NFL Draft will always bring surprises to no one knows for sure but the days of debating Cam Ward vs. Shedeur Sanders are far in the rearview mirror.  

Mason Graham, DL Michigan

Graham was long considered a favorite to be the #5 pick to the Jacksonville Jaguars as the “best available player”. I believe Graham is still a good player and that that’s entirely possible as that is where I have him in my mock draft. But, as we mentioned earlier, many are now projecting Ashton Jeanty to that draft slot. Which naturally means Graham has to go later. 

NFL Insider Peter Schrager, for instance, has him falling all the way to pick 13 to the Miami Dolphins. Not because he doesn’t think he’s a good player but because he too likes Jeanty at 5. He considers this a win for Miami but it would not be a win for Graham to fall that far. The sportsbooks have followed suit with Will Campbell (-500) and Ashton Jeanty (-250) now the betting favorites to get top five with Mason Graham at +350. 

 

 

 

2025 NFL Draft Trade Rumors

Dallas Cowboys

It would not be NFL Draft season if Jerry Jones did not open his mouth and stir the pot. Not only did he say the Cowboys are working on a trade but that they are working on TWO massive trades. Naturally, that sent social media running wild with ideas. 

The most juicy rumors for fantasy football include the Cowboys possibly trading for a big split end. The Courtland Sutton trade rumors were shut down fairly quickly. But Steelers WR George Pickens added fuel to the rumors surrounding him when he unfollowed the Steelers on social media. The Lions Jameson Williams sent a similarly cryptic message, sparking rumors there as well.

Indianapolis Colts

As the final mock drafts roll in, we are starting to see some common trends showing up. One that we’ve now seen multiple times has the Indianapolis Colts trading up to select tight end Colston Loveland as the second tight end off the board. 

Lance Zierlien of NFL.com, for instance, has them trading up to pick 9 via the New Orleans Saints. Peter Schrager of ESPN has the Colts swapping with the Chicago Bears and taking Colston at 10. The Jets and Colts remain the favorites to land top tight end prospects Tyler Warren and Colston Loveland.

Kirk Cousins

With all the contrversry surrounding rookie quarterbacks and whether or not they are worth the price tag, rumors have resurfaced on a possible Kirk Cousins trade. Teams like the Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns, and Minnesota Vikings are now all back reportedly in the mix for the veteran signal caller. 

He’d be the immediate starter for the Steelers and Browns though a reunion with the Vikings would be the spiciest one. After letting Sam Darnold walk it seemed they were ready to move on with JJ McCarthy at the helm. But perhaps not.

 

 

 

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