The 2025 NFL Draft is one week away! And despite the NFL Combine and Pro Days being over, there is still a lot of sneaky movement. Every year we have news and rumors that emerge in the days leading up to the draft that turn out to be true once the draft finally arrives. So, we’ve been keeping our eyes peeled and our ears to the streets for any rumblings. 

Each week we take the NFL Draft news and rumors and put them together here in this article. If you missed last week’s, I suggest you check that out as we are just now seeing some of those players rise and slide in NFL mock drafts. NFL teams are splitting hairs with these decisions so every bit of information counts. 

 

 

 

2025 Draft Prospect Risers

Tyler Shough, QB Louisville

In last week’s article, we discussed the intrigue surrounding Jaxson Dart. This week’s darling quarterback has been Louisville’s Tyler Shough. Tyler Shough was a highly touted prospect who took full advantage of the transfer portal playing seven years for Oregon, Texas Tech, and Louisville. 

Despite being an older prospect at 25 years old, he’s gained some steam lately. Dianna Russini recently said that Shough “is being discussed in more NFL circles lately” and she believes that he’s a candidate for a team to trade back up into the first round and draft.

Armand Membou, OT Missouri

There was a time where the only discussion at offensive tackle was about Will Campbell’s arms. If they were long enough, he’s the top tackle. If not, he’s the top guard. And that debate continues after his arm length was measured longer at his Pro Day than at the combine. 

But, behind the scenes, Armand Membou has quietly crept up boards with some mock drafts having him go as high as pick 3 or 4 to the Giants or Patriots. Pro Football Focus has been monitoring mock drafts over the last couple of months with their simulator and they say that Membou has gone from an ADP of 25 in early February to 10 overall as of this month.

Jack Bech, WR TCU

Jack Bech is an underdog with an interesting story. And people like that. He started as a tight end at LSU before converting to WR and transferring to TCU. He naturally eased from tight end to the slot before moving outside where he exploded for over 1,000 yards and 9 TDs in 12 games. That has him climbing in mocks from a late-round guy to a possible Day 2 pick. 

We had Dave Kluge of Football Guys on this week to hash out some Pre-Draft Wide Receiver Tiers and he and colleague Alfredo Brown are clearly high on Jack Bech (full video here, the timestamp for Bech is in the description). Honestly, I am rooting for guy just like many others after his brother was tragically killed in the New Orleans terrorist attack on New Year's Day.

BONUS NOTE: Browns GM Views Travis Hunter as “Receiver First”

We can’t really call him a “riser” as Travis Hunter was always projected to be a top five pick. But this is key news for fantasy football as there has been some debate as to whether Hunter will primarily play CB or WR. 

He recently said he’d rather quit football than not play both offense and defense. But that still leaves the door open for him to play SOME offense and defense. The Browns now look like a team where he will play a lot of offense, which is good news for us if they draft him. 

 

 

 

2025 Draft Prospect Fallers

Isaiah Bond, WR Texas

Isaiah Bond is a talented player. He would not have been recruited to Alabama and later Texas otherwise. There were already character concerns with Bond, as reported by Steve Palazzolo back in March. Now more serious allegations have come up as Isaiah Bond last week turned himself in to police after sexual assault allegations. 

He is now suing his accuser saying the allegations are false so we will need to wait on due process for that. But, with the draft next week and the mounting red flags, Bond is almost certain to slip in the draft. Some GMs, like Howie Roseman of the Eagles, have openly said they will not draft players who have been violent against women.

James Pearce Jr, EDGE Tennessee

James Pearce Jr. had 17 sacks over his last two years at Tennessee. Naturally, that had him going just outside the top 10 in ADP in early mock drafts in February per Pro Football Focus. During the pre-draft process, however, questions have arisen both about his on field play in terms of run stopping and his maturity in the locker room and off the field. 

That has seen his ADP in mock fall all the way to the back half of the first. A recent joint mock draft between Mel Kiper Jr and Field Yates of ESPN even had him falling to pick 43 in the second round.

Harold Fannin Jr, TE Bowling Green

Harold Fannin Jr had the most yards in a season that a tight end has ever had in college. That is a fact. And that had his ADP in early mocks right around pick 70 or so in the process in February. That’s a Day 2 pick which is great for a tight end. But, in the offseason process, his profile has been picked apart some. 

A slow(ish) 40 time at the combine has some criticizing his running style. Even his own mother has said that he “runs like a duck”. Now some are looking at the level of competition that Bowling Green faced and wondering if his records are no different than the ones that Corey Davis also set in the MAC. 

Even folks pointing at his production in the Penn State game need to remember that star defensive captain KJ Winston left that game in the first quarter with a knee issue. We’re rooting for Fannin for his fantasy football upside so hopefully a team takes a shot on him as a “big slot” player. 

 

 

 

2025 NFL Draft Trade Rumors

New York Giants

The Giants have the third pick in the NFL Draft. And that’s a big one this year with Cam Ward expected to go first overall and a couple great prospects at the top. In a recent press conference with reporters, Joe Schoen gave a bunch of interesting quotes regarding their draft spot. Here is the key info we got from the discussion. 

  • The Giants are “open to all options” at pick three
  • Schoen said they have already received calls about trading it
  • He also mentioned that they don’t feel obligated to take a QB at 3 with Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston under contract

As we discussed in last week’s breakdown, Shedeur Sanders is no longer a lock to be an early pick. Combine that with the recent Browns news above on Travis Hunter, and the real draft may start with the Cleveland Browns at 3. 

Miami Dolphins

Tyreek Hill has once again been in the news. There are always rumors of trades, retirement, and general unpleasantness surrounding him. 

Now we have gotten word directly from GM Chris Grier that CB Jalen Ramsey is on the trade block. The Dolphins could be looking at a major rebuild here which could really shake up their plans for the 2025 NFL Draft. 

Dallas Cowboys

There are a lot of smoke screens out there. And teams generally don’t talk about their plans unless they pick at 1 overall. Which is why it’s interesting that Cowboys COO Stephen Jones had some fairly blunt comments on the Cowboys draft situation. In an interview with 105.3 The Fan in Dallas he recently said, “I don’t necessarily see us moving up based on the way the board is coming together but could see a situation where we move down”.

Maybe the Cowboys believe there is an abundance of talent at their positions of need? Or maybe they are looking at a running back, which doesn’t typically require high end draft capital. That would certainly please the fantasy football community.

 

 

 

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