Top 2025 NFL Draft Prospects Falling Down Boards

In the immortal words of Yoda, "Do or do not. There is no try."

As it pertains to the NFL draft and evaluating talent throughout the process, another poignant saying applies, "You must unlearn what you have learned."

Incoming prospects must show what they can do throughout the predraft process. Failure only leads to hurting their own standing. Meanwhile, talent evaluators must know that events after the season can impact in-season evaluations. These aspiring professionals have gone through all-star festivities and the NFL Scouting Combine, and some have already completed their pro days.

With these things in mind, B/R identified seven prospects who haven't benefited and aren't viewed as favorably or hopefully today as they were when the 2024 college football season ended.

QB Jalen Milroe, Alabama

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Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe is who he is: a tremendous athlete with immense upside who needs significant development with his footwork and accuracy.

His issues weren't going to be solved in one offseason, particularly while the 22-year-old works his way through the arduous predraft process. Even so, there was some hope that he'd perform better than expected as a passer at the Senior Bowl. That didn't happen.

Milroe could have still blown the doors off Lucas Oil Stadium by showing off his top-notch athleticism to generate plenty of buzz about his potential. He did not do so, though.

Since the start of the new year, the race to claim QB3 in the upcoming draft class was wide open. Milroe had as good of a chance of any to do so. In fact, he still has a chance. But those opportunities aren't as plentiful now, with Ole Miss' Jaxson Dart, Ohio State's Will Howard and even Louisville's Tyler Shough having done more to impress.

A team with a vision for Milroe and his traits could still make him a relatively high draft pick. But his status has taken a hit in recent months.

WR Tez Johnson, Oregon

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To once again invoke the sage Jedi wisdom passed down by Master Yoda, "Judge me by my size, do you?"

In the case of Oregon wide receiver Tez Johnson, yes, we do. And he knows it. Johnson weighed only 154 pounds at the NFL Scouting Combine.

"I know what my weight is," Johnson told reporters in Indianapolis. "Everybody knows what my weight is. Go watch the film. It speaks for itself."

To make matters worse, the undersized target didn't run quite as well as expected, with a 4.51-second 40-yard dash.

For comparison, the trio of DeSean Jackson, Calvin Austin and Tutu Atwell all weighed between 155-170 pounds and ran in the 4.3-second range.

At the combine, Johnson also talked about how he needed to learn how to run routes because he could always run past defenders. He won't be able to do so at the professional level. His game will be predicated on short-area quickness and his ability to sell routes. But he could struggle immensely with more physical corners capable of getting their hands on him at the jam-point.

Johnson's size shouldn't entirely prevent him from being a productive target. At the same time, it limits his overall upside, which should affect his draft status.

TE Harold Fannin Jr., Bowling Green

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A year ago, the greatest tight prospect in college football history entered the NFL ranks when the Las Vegas Raiders chose Brock Bowers. This year, the most productive tight end in college football history is set to join the league.

A significant difference in perception exists between those two points, though.

Bowling Green's Harold Fannin Jr. dominated this past season by leading the FBS with 117 catches and 1,555 receiving yards—both of which set records for the tight end position. Yet he's not viewed as the same dynamic weapon with the potential to take over games at the NFL level.

Fannin didn't particularly help himself with a slow start at the Senior Bowl, which included a couple of key drops. Like Bowers, the MAC standout doesn't have a traditional tight end frame. The 6'4", 241-pound Fannin is more of an H-back than a true inline option. He doesn't have the same overwhelming size other dominant tight ends have in the past.

At the combine, the consensus All-American pieced together a marginal workout.

As a result, Penn State's Tyler Warren and even the injured Colston Loveland are still viewed as superior options, while Miami's Elijah Arroyo and LSU's Mason Taylor have impressed throughout the process to surpass Fannin in the Bleacher Report Scouting Department's rankings.

OT Josh Conerly Jr., Oregon

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Sometimes, one highlight or lowlight makes such an impression that it defines the perception around an NFL prospect.

Case in point, everyone remembers Marshall's Mike Green obliterating an offensive lineman during one-one-drills at the Senior Bowl. If you haven't seen that particular rep, it's not difficult to find on social media. Who happened to be the poor soul on the other end of that viral moment? Oregon offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr.

Truth be told, one rep won't have a profound effect on Conerly's status. He's still a top-three offensive tackle in this year's class and a likely future starter on some quarterback's blind side.

However, the moment plus his performance throughout this process have probably cost him any chance of becoming OT1 in 2025, which was possible at the start of the offseason.

With Ohio State's Josh Simmons still recovering from a torn patellar tendon and Missouri's Armand Membou probably better set at right tackle or even guard, Conerly could have stepped in and seized the moment. He didn't. Instead, concerns found in the 21-year-old's game became apparent.

Conerly must continue improving his play-strength and overall technique. As a younger prospect, he can grow into this these. But they are issues that could affect his performance at the onset his professional career.

DL Deone Walker, Kentucky

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Every year, a highly regarded prospect coming into the collegiate season takes a nosedive as the campaign and evaluation period progress. Kentucky defensive tackle Deone Walker is this year's prime example.

Entering 2024, Walker had been pumped up as a potential top-15 pick. The 6'7", 331-pound defender has his moments when it looks like he can be a dominant force.

But there's also being 6'7" and playing like you're 6'7".

Once upon a time, John Henderson came into the league and measured nearly the same height. He became one of the NFL's best defensive tackles and went to a couple of Pro Bowls. He survived because he played with good enough pad level not to be driven off the ball.

The same can't be said of Walker. Numerous instances can be found on Kentucky's tape where a man of Walker's size and athleticism is just too easily moved off the point of attack.

At the Senior Bowl, Walker's inability to play low enough proved to be detrimental, even against a 5'10", 270-pound center like North Carolina's Willie Lampkin.

If Walker's size doesn't allow him to be a consistent presence, or at the very least as a competent space-eater, his skill set isn't worth much at the NFL level, hence why his draft stock has tumbled rounds from where it began.

Edge James Pearce Jr., Tennessee

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Once the 2024 NFL draft closed for business, those looking ahead to the '25 class often had Tennessee's James Pearce Jr. as the potential No. 1 overall pick.

Pearce didn't build on the success he had as a sophomore in the SEC. He started slowly, and his pressure rate didn't show a continuous upward trend. Instead, his sack production dropped, and the underclassman didn't perform at his best against Tennessee's top competition.

As Sharp Football Analysis' Ryan McCrystal noted, Pearce's pressure rate decreased dramatically when facing better offensive lines. The Volunteers faced five ranked opponents. The edge-rusher managed two only sacks and was shut out in three of those contests.

When testing for the combine, red flags were raised. He ran well and pieced together a strong on-field workout. Yet he didn't perform quite as well during the explosive drills, which is odd considering how quick he can be off the snap. Also, his arms measured under 33 inches. Both of these factors must be taken into consideration.

Finally, a report emerged about Pearce's attitude and how it could impact his draft status.

"Pearce was seen as undeniably uncoachable and as a player with one foot out the door already this season, giving his coaches little incentive to put him on the field full-time," Daft on Draft's Cory Kinnan wrote.

S Xavier Watts, Notre Dame

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Notre Dame's Xavier Watts is an excellent football player. In fact, he led college football with 13 interceptions over the last two seasons. He may be even better working in the box. But his standing on this list is more about what others can do.

Georgia's Malaki Starks has been the top-rated safety throughout the season, specifically because of his unnatural coverage ability. Watts has hung around as another first-round safety option, though he's taken a step back in the last two months.

Teams have questioned his playmaking in the open field, particularly when it comes to some missed tackles.

“Obviously, I’m an aggressive player, so sometimes I take aggressive angles,” he said, per the South Bend Tribune's Mike Berardino. “(Teams) question sometimes what I do when it comes to tackling."

Furthermore, South Carolina's Nick Emmanwori skyrocketed up boards because of his rare physical skill set. Emmanwori is a talented defender and legitimately deserves first-round consideration, but his athletic profile borders on otherworldly. The relative athletic score posted by the 6'3", 220-pound defensive back is the highest among safeties over the last 38 years, according to Kent Lee Platte. He's one-of-one, and defensive coordinators will be salivating over the possibility to deploy him in their respective schemes.

Again, Watts is still a tremendous performer, but he's taken a half-step back as the draft cycle continues.