2025 NFL Draft: 5 Potential 1st-Rounders Who Could Fall Further Than Expected

Every year, we spend countless hours looking through mock drafts to get an idea of what will happen, and still experience shock when a highly touted prospect falls within or out of the first round.

In 2023, cornerback Christian Gonzalez fell to the New England Patriots at No. 17. Last year, Bleacher Report nailed Brock Bowers' potential slide to the teens.

So, who will wait longer than we all expect this year?

The 2025 draft class features a limited number of marquee prospects. Consequently, it shouldn't surprise anyone if notable players slide several spots compared to mock draft projections.

Nonetheless, there are five collegiate standouts whose draft position floor could bottom out in the 20s because of questions about their prospective roles in a scheme, locker room fit and how they stack up against other top prospects at the same position.

Let's discuss the ceiling and floor for these potential first-rounders.

Will Johnson, CB, Michigan

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CB Will Johnson

Aside from two-way prospect Travis Hunter, Will Johnson has a case to be the top pure cornerback on draft boards. At 6'2", 202 pounds with nine interceptions in three collegiate terms, he has the size and ball production that should put him in the discussion as one of the top 10 picks.

However, over the last two years, Johnson has dealt with injuries that cost him games, most notably the 2023 Big Ten Championship and several contests last year. He also sat out of the NFL Scouting Combine.

Coming off turf toe and hamstring injuries, Johnson had a mixed performance at his private pre-draft workout.

Though Johnson's workout numbers shouldn't significantly impact his stock, teams at the top of the draft order may be hesitant to take a prospect whose injuries kept him off the field over the last six months. Moreover, Johnson's mediocre workout doesn't quell concerns (if any) about his recovery. 

Johnson could go as high as No. 6 to the cornerback-needy Las Vegas Raiders. On the other hand, he may fall out of the top 20 without much pre-draft momentum.

Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona

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Before the New England Patriots signed wide receiver Stefon Diggs, beat reporters highlighted Tetairoa McMillan as a viable option at No. 4. New England needed a top-flight receiver to lead a mediocre group.

According to FantasyPros' expert consensus projections late in March, analysts linked McMillan to the Carolina Panthers at No. 8 and the Dallas Cowboys at No. 12 as the third possible choice for those teams.

The Panthers and Cowboys have a need at wide receiver, but Carolina, following a 5-12 season, has several roster voids to fill, and Matthew Golden has become a popular choice for the Cowboys at No. 12.

In a recent mock draft with fellow ESPN staffer Field Yates, Mel Kiper Jr. slotted Golden to the Cowboys as the first wide receiver off the board.

If a team selects Golden before McMillan, the latter could slip outside the top 20. None of the eight teams that pick after the Cowboys have a glaring need at wide receiver. 

Like Dallas, the Denver Broncos (No. 20 overall) could address the No. 2 wideout spot, but McMillan has a similar body frame to Courtland Sutton with 4.53 40-yard speed. The Broncos may want a speedy threat like Golden to complement Sutton.

If the Cowboys choose a wide receiver, their pick could significantly affect McMillan's landing spot.

Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado

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QB Shedeur Sanders

Shedeur Sanders is the most polarizing prospect in this year's draft class. Analysts have a wide range of opinions on him.

Go Long's Ty Dunne shared one glowing evaluation of Sanders from an anonymous scout.

"I like him over Ward. He'll start from Day 1 wherever he goes. ... Things aren't going to faze him. He got hit more than anybody in college football over the last couple years (behind) bad lines. He's going to have to get used to getting rid of the ball quicker. Outside of that, he gives you everything you want."

Another unnamed scout doesn't see Sanders as a first-round pick.

"He is the flashiest, most overhyped game manager I've ever graded. There's no way on this earth he should go in the top three. He's a second- or third-rounder, at best, and he's gonna go top 10?"

Teams will go above and beyond to address the quarterback position if necessary, which may lead to clubs taking signal-callers earlier than expected.

However, Sanders acknowledged that his approach rubbed some teams the wrong way during the interview process. He talked to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero (h/t NFL.com's Nick Shook) about his pre-draft visits.

"When I go visit these coaches and when I go to all these different franchises, I ask them truly what I think and how I feel. Some get offended, some like it, some don't. Make some people uncomfortable, some people invite that. They know what type of person and what type of player they're gonna get out of me, so I just have to make sure, you know, what type of culture or what type of dynamic I'm going to have with them also."

During the pre-draft process, most of the analytical focus is on collegiate production and workouts, though the interview process plays a factor in these selections as well.

As Sanders noted, clubs want a prospect who fits the locker room culture. He may not be a good fit for certain quarterback-needy teams from that perspective.

Though most analysts see Sanders as a first-round pick, Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer noted a few sources with a leaguewide view believe that it would take intervention from a team's ownership for the Colorado product to be a first-round pick.

"I've had more than one person say to me that if Sanders goes in the first round, it'll be because an owner got involved," Breer wrote.

Shemar Stewart, DE, Texas A&M

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DE Shemar Stewart

Teams interested in Shemar Stewart are banking on his exceptional physical traits. According to MathBomb's Kent Lee Platte, Stewart has the best relative athletic score among defensive ends since 1987.

Because of his rare athleticism, Stewart has a sky-high potential ceiling, but he must land in the right spot for a coaching staff to unlock his best attributes.

Moreover, teams must put much more stock into Stewart's upside than his collegiate production. As a one-year starter at Texas A&M, he only recorded 11 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks in three collegiate terms. Also, at 6'5", 281 pounds, some clubs may see him as a three-technique defensive tackle capable of winning battles on the interior with his athletic profile.

The San Francisco 49ers have needs on the perimeter and interior of their defensive line. So, they could give Stewart a ton of reps and snaps in multiple spots.

But if San Francisco doesn't take Stewart at No. 11, teams picking in the teens may struggle to project where he fits along the defensive line with his modest production and body type.

Jalon Walker, Edge/LB, Georgia

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EDGE/LB Jalen Walker

Most draft analysts have slotted Jalen Walker in the top 10. 

According to FantasyPros' consensus projections, among the most accurate prognosticators, Walker is the second choice for the Carolina Panthers (No. 8), and the third choice for the Chicago Bears (No. 10) and San Francisco 49ers (No. 11). 

Teams that need an edge-rusher will likely target Walker, but he's a hybrid defender who also played off-ball linebacker in head coach Kirby Smart's system. 

While Walker's versatility will boost his draft stock on some big boards, other teams may have concerns about his position fit in a system, and if the coaching staff can fully optimize his skill set.

At 6'1", 243 pounds, Walker will likely struggle on the edge against pro-level offensive tackles, particularly players who can use their power and arm length to stifle him. 

Furthermore, Walker is a work in progress in coverage assignments. Though he has the athleticism to defend sideline to sideline, tight ends could take advantage of his inability to make plays on the ball. Walker only logged three pass breakups without an interception in college. 

Perhaps too small for a full-time edge-rushing position and not equipped to make game-changing plays in coverage, Walker could drop far outside the top 10. 

College statistics are provided by cfbstats.com.

Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @MoeMoton.