First round sleepers for the 2025 NFL Draft

There are always draft sleepers spread out through the entire draft. Let’s look at each position and talk about a sleeper I could see becoming valuable for the teams that secure their services.

Offense:

QB: Kyle McCord, Syracuse

This is a very weak quarterback draft class, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t sleepers at the position.

McCord is being slept on. He was recruited to Ohio State for a reason. He has a great arm and was productive in his last two years in college. Although he had to transfer out of Columbus to truly showcase his talent, the former Buckeye wasn’t expected to be the answer at quarterback for Syracuse.

However, he ended up breaking out in his final season, throwing for 4,779 yards and 34 touchdowns while leading the No. 20-ranked Orange to a 10-3 record and a notable upset victory against a Cam Ward-led Miami Hurricanes squad.

He isn’t a good athlete whatsoever and probably doesn’t have the upside teams want at the position, but he could be seen starting quality games if need be.

RB: Bhayshul Tuten, Virginia Tech

Unlike the quarterback position, the running back position in this draft is loaded with talented prospects. I could’ve made this list and included only running backs.

One prospect in this running back group who stands out to me as underrated is Bhaysul Tuten. He ran circles in the ACC for Virginia Tech and proved why he was so dynamic in college by running a 4.32 40-yard dash at this year’s combine.

He is a speedy, one-cut runner who can hit the home run play consistently. Running for 1,159 yards and 15 touchdowns on 6.3 yards per attempt, he is a prospect that needs to find the perfect scheme to maximize what he does best.

Sky’s the limit for someone with his athletic tools and perfect frame.

WR: Jaylin Noel, Iowa State

Noel might not be the best wide receiver prospect coming out of Iowa State in this draft as Jayden Higgins is also coming out. That could be the main reason he is being slept on.

He registered 1,194 receiving yards and eight touchdowns in his senior season as a Cyclone. As a slot receiver who can create separation and use his breakaway speed to capitalize on big play opportunities, I think Noel is being overlooked as a prospect.

During his pre-draft process, he has been productive at the Senior Bowl and the combine, which included running a 4.39 40-yard dash and posting a 41.5” vertical.

TE: Mason Taylor, LSU

Taylor, son of Hall of Fame linebacker Jason Taylor, was gifted with the genes to become a talented football player and he became that over his time at LSU.

He produced throughout his three-year career at LSU, where he, most notably, caught for 546 yards and two touchdowns in his final season.

Just another prospect who has the athletic tools at the tight end position to translate to the next level.

IOL: Jared Wilson, Georgia

Wilson, yet another prospect who has all the athletic traits you want in an offensive lineman. He adds the production too, as he allowed zero sacks in his one season as a starter.

There are measurements teams look for when scouting the interior offensive line position. Wilson checks all of those boxes and more. His movement skills for a center are phenomenal, and that is what we expect from athletes coming out of Georgia.

He ran a 4.84 at 310, which just shouldn’t be possible at that size.

OT: Anthony Belton, NC State

Belton started three full seasons at left tackle for the Wolfpack, progressing every season by displaying his incredible power and anchor in the run game.

Offensive lineman prospects are built for the pre-draft process and he has maximized it so far with a standout performance at the Senior Bowl.

It will be interesting to see where he lands in the draft with the offensive tackle position thinning out early, allowing him to possibly sneak into Day 2.

Defense:

DT: JJ Pegues, Ole Miss

Everyone is talking about the two-way ability of Colorado’s Travis Hunter at the top of the draft, but people are forgetting the versatility of Pegues, who scored multiple rushing touchdowns for the Rebels last season.

Pegues has a great burst off the line of scrimmage and can win quickly, however, when his first move doesn’t work, he struggles to come up with a counter.

He has a lot to patch up if he wants to develop as an every-down defensive lineman, but his versatility and body type are undeniable. Pegues is a prospect I could see a team taking a chance on.

EDGE: Femi Oladejo, UCLA

When we talk about prospects who have aced the pre-draft process, Oladejo is on the short list. He was on my list for standouts at the Senior Bowl and he carried that momentum into the combine, where he performed well.

Oladejo recorded 4.5 sacks last season for UCLA and stacked up well against some very solid competition in the Big Ten.

He has been one of my draft crushes throughout the draft process so far.

LB: Eugene Asante, Auburn

Asante is a twitched-up athlete coming out of Auburn. The six-year senior who started his collegiate career at UNC broke out for the Tigers in 2023 and continued that production in 2024.

His speed and quickness is his true superpower as he isn’t as instinctive, but is able to track down ball carriers and blitz with his high-level reactiveness.

CB: Zah Frazier, UTSA

What is it with the Roadrunners' ability to produce athletic freaks? First, it’s Riq Woolen a couple of years ago, now it’s Frazier who ran a blazing 4.36 40-yard dash.

Frazier was named to the first-team All-AAC this past season, where he intercepted six passes, tied for the second-most in the FBS. With his length, speed and press-man capabilities, he has a fit within any defense scheme.

The only real concern with him is his upside, as he will already be a 25-year-old rookie.

Woolen was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the fifth round, and Frazier projects to have the same draft hype.

S: Andrew Mukuba, Texas

The Clemson transfer spent three seasons with the Tigers before returning back to his hometown team in the Longhorns.

The decision turned out to be a great one as he produced at a high level, capturing six interceptions and recording 69 tackles as a do-it-all safety. He can hit, he can cover, he can run defend; there isn’t much he can’t do.

Mukuba is by far my biggest draft crush, and I really don’t see a world where he fails in the NFL. It is a very similar situation with his secondary partner in Jahdae Barron, who has produced a lot more hype behind him as a true boundary corner.

You never know what overlooked players could become draft steals for teams. We will see next month if the listed players end up being slept on and see in the next couple of years if these were some quality predictions.

Owen Daszko is a first-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email opd5073@psu.edu.