The 2025 NFL Draft is a day away and most of the attention is around which players are going to be selected on Thursday. While day one is important, here are some players who might be getting overlooked and undervalued.
Kyle McCord QB Syracuse
Kyle McCord was Ohio State's quarterback in 2023 and had an up and down season. It was always evident he is a true pocket passer with good accuracy and the ability to throw the deep ball, but it never seemed like he could stay consistent. After the season he transferred to Syracuse and improved dramatically. While the decision making remained questionable at times he averaged 367.6 passing yards per game and threw for 34 total touchdowns on the season, good enough to finish with a few second and third place Heisman votes.
Best Team Fit: Los Angeles Rams
Damien Martinez , RB, Miami
Damien Martinez doesn't have elite speed but his excellent vision and willingness to be physical make up for it. Over his two years at Oregon State and final season in Miami he has averaged over 6 yards per carry, showing that he is consistently efficient. He has also significantly improved as a receiver but there is still a lot of room to improve in that area. There is no doubt Martinez is a talented player but teams might worry about his maturity after his DUI arrest last season.
Best Team Fit: Pittsburgh Steelers
Tai Felton, WR, Maryland
One of the big playmakers in this class that has the ability to separate and run after the catch. Tai Felton really broke out in 2024 compiling 723 yards and 6 touchdowns. This season proved that was not a fluke as he added another 1,124 yards and 9 touchdowns to that total. Felton’s big obstacle is going to be adjusting to the physicality at the NFL level, but he is a smart and creative route runner who can be explosive if teams can find a way to get the ball in his hands.
Best Team Fit: Denver Broncos
Terrance Ferguson, TE, Oregon
Terrance Ferguson saw his red zone usage drop a bit after Bo Nix left for the NFL Draft last season. Despite having a new quarterback throwing him the ball this year he was still productive as he racked up 591 yards. He is going to be sought after in the middle rounds because he has good receiving ability and capable blocking skills. While Ferguson isn’t the flashiest player, he is a steady player that has the upside to become a starter with some development.
Best team fit: Indianapolis Colts
Seth McLaughlin, C, Ohio State
Seth McLaughlin probably would've emerged as a guaranteed NFL starter if he hadn’t tore his achilles, which leaves some questions about when he will be back. He was an All-American in 2024 and while he struggled at times playing for Alabama, once he transferred to Ohio State he looked like a completely different player. If a team is willing to take a chance on his injury, they could land themselves a star center if he returns to the player he looked like this past season.
Best Team Fit: New England Patriots