NFL Scout Says 2025 Draft is 'Thin on Top' and 'NIL Probably Carved Out' Day 3

There's belief within the NFL that the top and bottom of the 2025 draft class isn't as deep compared to past years.

"Maybe this is how it's going to look [from now on], but this year feels different," a longtime AFC scout told ESPN's Jeff Legwold. "[It's] pretty thin on top [of the board], thick in the middle, and NIL probably carved out the back end [of Day 3]."

While top prospects such as Miami's Cam Ward and Colorado's Travis Hunter have shown promise throughout the pre-draft process as well as their respective 2024 seasons, it may be more difficult for teams to find immediate impact players in the back half of the first round.

Day 3 of the draft might also feature fewer breakout players, as underclassmen could choose to return to their respective schools and continue earning money from NIL deals while targeting the 2026 draft instead.

New York Jets senior football advisor Rick Spielman discussed the concept in Dec. 2024.

"If they're going to be a Saturday pick and even a late Friday pick, why not go back to school and try to improve your draft stock?" Spielman said, via CBS Sports' Josh Edwards. "Because I'm sure these colleges have some kind of, not only NILs, but whatever insurance packages. Whatever the total financial packages, it's probably worth more than if they're not a first- or second-round pick. Or they're transferring to another school."

70 underclassmen have declared for the 2025 draft, marking the third consecutive year in which fewer than 100 underclassmen have done so. According to the Associated Press, at least 100 underclassmen entered the draft each year from 2016-22.

Teams without a top first-round pick may end up finding the most success on Day 2 of the 2025 draft.