Three names to look out for on 2025 NFL Draft night

The 2025 NFL draft is almost upon us and by this stage fans following along will be well aware of the best prospects set to enter the league this year.

As ever, quarterbacks dominate discussion and Travis Hunter – who can play on both offense and defense – provides a uniquely fascinating element early in the first round.

But aside from the generational two-way talent and the standout signal callers, here are three intriguing names to look out for when the draft begin on Thursday night.

• Read more | Which teams have the most at stake in the 2025 NFL draft?

Tetairoa McMillan

At the end of the 2024 college football season, Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillan was considered the consensus top wide receiver in the upcoming draft class.

Standing 6ft 4ins, the former volleyball player racked up 1,319 receiving yards and eight touchdowns for the Wildcats last year and drew comparisons with Atlanta Falcons receiver Drake London for his size and catch radius.

But more recently, McMillan has begun to fall down analysts’ draft boards, with some now ranking Texas’ Matthew Golden as the top receiver.

There have been whispers of “T-Mac” being a reluctant football watcher when it comes to studying tape of upcoming opponents or gleaning tips from the best players in his position, while there are also growing doubts about his speed and ability to separate from defensive backs.

This has all led to McMillan’s draft placement becoming one of the most difficult to predict.

Will a team in need of an offensive playmaker – say, Jacksonville, who pick fifth – ignore the misgivings to take him early? Or will he slide to the latter part of the first round and become an enticing bargain for a Super Bowl contender?

Jalon Walker

Penn State standout Abdul Carter is rated as the best edge rusher in this draft class and is expected to hear his name called no later than the No.3 pick, where the New York Giants are projected to select him if he gets that far.

But with pass rushers widely considered to be the second most valuable players on the gridiron after quarterbacks, the next edge off the board could offer considerable value.

Jalon Walker, who won the Butkus Award last season as the year’s best collegiate line backer, is likely to be that player. The 6ft 1ins, 243lb 21-year-old registered 61 tackles and 6.5 sacks for the Bulldogs in 2024 and could be drafted anywhere between pick No.5 and pick No.15.

Josh Simmons

It is only due to a stroke of misfortune that Josh Simmons is not considered the best offensive lineman in the 2025 draft class and a sure-fire top-five pick.

After transferring from San Diego State to Ohio State ahead of the 2023 season, Simmons made the starting left tackle position in Columbus his own.

But just six games into the 2024 campaign, Simmons suffered a torn patella, ruling him out for the remainder of the season and forcing him to be a mere spectator as the Buckeyes romped to a National Championship.

That injury means he is no longer likely to be a top 10 pick. But teams further down the draft order should bank on Simmons’ immense upside.

For someone like the Kansas City Chiefs – who, picking at No.31, are desperate for offensive line help after the Eagles destroyed their pass protection in Super Bowl LIX – he could be a revelation

Watch the NFL draft live and for free on DAZN

The 2025 NFL Draft begins on Thursday, April 24 at  8pm  on the East Coast /  1am  Friday in the UK.

This year's NFL Draft will be available to watch for free on NFL Game Pass on DAZN (excluding the US and China).

For more information and to watch for free,  click here .

NFL Draft schedule

• Round 1 : Thursday, April 24 (8pm ET / 1am BST)
• Rounds 2 and 3 : Friday, April 25 (6pm ET / 11pm BST)
• Rounds 4-7 : Saturday, April 26 (12pm ET / 5pm BST)