Teams Who Crushed the 2025 NFL Draft
As the 2025 NFL Draft wrapped up, many teams believe they have added talent to put themselves over the top. The teams listed below grabbed players I valued high in the draft at later points. This cemented a great value pick. Some players fell due to possible injury or character concerns. Nevertheless, these players could be a possible steal at where they were selected. When considering value, these selections could prove pivotal for the future.
Dallas Cowboys
Going into the draft, many would agree that wide receiver and running back were amongst Dallas’s biggest needs. While they did not draft a single receiver, they added two running backs. These new additions are expected to have pivotal roles within the offense this year. Jaydon Blue, an uber explosive running back from the University of Texas, will hopefully add an explosive punch to the offense. His impact could be similar to former cowboy Tony Pollard. In addition, Phil Mafah will bring a physical element to the run game if given the touches.
I really have to give my praise to the Cowboys’ first three selections: Tyler Booker, Donovan Ezeiruaku, and Shavon Revel. While Booker, picked at 12 overall, was a bit of a reach, there was a possibility they could have moved back. They might still have gotten him later in the first round. Nevertheless, they brought in a player that is plug and play from day one. While his physical limitations will never allow him to be a great in space blocker, he will be a great addition in the pass game. He will help in keeping Dak Prescott upright. Meanwhile, picking Donovan Ezeiruaku at pick 44 was a great value. He is a crafty pass rusher who has a great array of moves to get to opposing QB’s. He could be a Robin to Micah Parson’s Batman. This ensures consistent value in their defense.
Shavon Revel was one of the biggest steals of the draft going at pick 76. Revel was a surefire first-round pick in the early 2024 season but for his unfortunate ACL tear. He will factor into a talented group of corners who are headlined by Trevon Diggs and Daron Bland. Furthermore, Revel also doubles as an eventual Bland replacement as his contract is up after the 2025 season.
Las Vegas Raiders
The Raiders have had one of the most fun offseasons in the league this year. After hiring head coach Pete Carroll, they committed to playing his brand of football. The Raiders offense has the making to be one of the most exciting in 2025. This is due to additions like Ashton Jeanty, Deont’e Thorton, and Jack Bech. Jeanty is supremely talented at running back. If healthy, he should be penciled in for 1000 yards in his rookie year. This offers high value. Thornton was a big-play receiver at Tennessee. Similarly, his role should be the same in Vegas, where he could feast on play action opportunities presented to him in the offense.
Bech is a solid route runner and tough over the middle of the field. This bodes well with new quarterback Geno Smith. The Raiders also added one of my favorite players in the draft, JJ Pegues, in the 6th round. He was an extremely versatile player while at Ole Miss. He played on both sides of the ball as a defensive tackle and was used as a wildcat running back during short yardage situations. Pegues is so physically gifted at 6’2″ 325 pounds. He was asked to do fullback drills at the combine in February. I do hope his versatility follows him into the NFL, similar to Ravens fullback Pat Ricard. Darien Porter was another selection that screams Pete Carroll. A 6’3″ corner is textbook for his defenses, and he projects as a possible starter. This is due to the lack of talent currently on the roster.
New England Patriots
The biggest winners in the 2025 draft are easily the Patriots. A couple of weeks ago, I questioned their plan in building around Drake Maye after constantly striking out on adding pieces to the offense. However, they went offense-heavy early in the draft. They selected Will Campbell, TreVyon Henderson, Jared Wilson, and Kyle Williams. Campbell is a potential cornerstone left tackle. He will protect Drake Maye’s blindside for years to come, adding immense value to the line. In addition, Henderson adds so much to the offense as a runner, receiver, and pass protector on third down.
Wilson’s first-year impact more than likely won’t be felt due to the presence of veteran Garrett Bradbury. He does have a chance at growing into the future starter. Kyle Williams was one of my favorite receivers through the draft process. He has strong hands, the ability to play within traffic, and is a supreme route runner. His game has shades of Tyler Lockett and his new teammate Stefon Diggs. Defensively, the Patriots added Bradyn Swinson and Jordan Farmer. These are two players with high motors. They could be in line for lots of snaps along the defensive line and make a notable impact.
Honorable Mentions
Overall, I do believe there are many teams that pulled together solid classes of players. One honorable mention would be the Atlanta Falcons. I did like the overall selections of Jalon Walker, James Pearce Jr, Xavier Watts, and Billy Bowman Jr. The biggest reason they didn’t make the list was because of the amount of draft capital they gave up to get James Pearce Jr. This did drop them down a letter grade.
Meanwhile, the Miami Dolphins during this draft finally committed to the trenches, which was such a big need for them. Adding Kenneth Grant and Jordan Philips is a great way to beef up a poor run defense. It adds toughness to a team that desperately needs it. The 2025 draft was filled with gems in the later rounds. These can make an impact on the right teams. This situation highlights the true value of these strategic picks. It will be interesting to see how they pan out.