Latest Buzz and Predictions on Top Injured 2025 NFL Rookie Draft Picks

Injuries are a part of football. Anyone who has ever played the game will discuss their laundry list of maladies experienced throughout their career. Certain injuries and when they occur can be more devastating than others, though.

The NFL draft acts as a rejuvenation point for the entire league and its incoming prospects. It's supposed to be a time of happiness and hope, as individuals start to realize their dream of being a professional athlete and every pick will work out in a team's favor. Yet injuries can damper the process. This year, the cornerback class was hit particularly hard.

Extensive medical check-ups and rechecks are completed in Indianapolis at the NFL combine and become a critical component to the evaluation process. Based on a team's intel, it's looking to determine whether an injury can have a long-term effect on an individual's effectiveness.

Among those selected in this year's top 75 picks, five had major question marks that ultimately affected their draft status. Even so, they heard their names called early enough, because their respective teams understood their talent level and weighed the risk factor.

Two months after being selected, where do each of those prospects stand and what type of impact can be expected from them this season?

TE Colston Loveland, Chicago Bears

AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh

Chicago Bears rookie tight end Colston Loveland (left) and head coach Ben Johnson (right)

Colston Loveland suffered an AC joint separation during the 2024 campaign, which forced him to miss two games. Once the season ended, he required surgery to repair a torn labrum in his shoulder and reconstruct the AC joint capsule.

The Chicago Bears still selected Loveland with this year's 10th overall pick and made him TE1 in the class. The latter shouldn't have come as a surprise. The Bleacher Report Scouting Department graded Loveland as the class' top option.

"Overall, Colston Loveland is a natural pass catcher and playmaker at the tight end position," B/R scout Dame Parson wrote. "His athleticism, change of direction, and movement skills are impressive. He suffers from being in run-first offenses with incomplete quarterback play. His best football is ahead of him, and he expects to be a more productive pro than a college player."

But the Michigan product is still not on the field due to the aforementioned injury. Loveland expects to be back practicing by the start of training camp. So far, he's taken mental reps and been consistently involved in the installation process.

"I would say, I think what I can gather, from the walk-throughs, from the meetings, is he's very professional, he takes everything seriously," Bears head coach Ben Johnson said of Loveland. "I think he's going to fit in really well once we start getting him to go full speed.

"I know (tight ends) coach (Jim) Dray has said to me, numerous times, how impressed he is for the types of questions he's asking at his young age."

Chicago still has veteran Cole Kmet on the roster, so the team doesn't need to rush Loveland onto the field. At the same time, he's a top-10 pick and potential big-time threat. Once he's on the field, he can quickly develop into quarterback Caleb Williams' security blanket.

IMPACT: Offensive weapon, with the upside of being the team's No. 2 option in the passing game.

LB Jihaad Campbell, Philadelphia Eagles

AP Photo

Linebacker Jihaad Campbell looked like a lock to become a top-15 selection before a shoulder injury came to light prior to the NFL draft. The injury will likely limit his effectiveness in Year 1.

Campbell needed shoulder surgery after the NFL Scouting combine, according to ESPN's Jordan Reid. The Philadelphia Eagles stopped the linebacker's draft-day slide with the 31st overall pick (after swapping selections with the Kansas City Chiefs).

The rookie isn't scheduled to practice until some point in August, according to defensive coordinator Vic Fangio (via SB Nation's Brandon Lee Gowton), which could limit his effectiveness this season while simultaneously providing another young linebacker, Jeremiah Trotter Jr., with more opportunities.

"Definitely because of the circumstances, you don't want to see guys injured, but with that happening my reps have gone up," Trotter told reporters. "I'm blessed to still be able to have that opportunity, continuing to gain the trust of my coaches and go out there and just continue to get better and continue to improve on my game."

Once Campbell is healthy and stars working his way into the lineup, his skill set coupled with the missed time will likely keep him as a rotational piece. The 21-year-old prospect has the traits and athleticism to be an outstanding off-ball linebacker. However, he began his collegiate career as an edge defender. He can eventually provide the Eagles with significant flexibility, much like Zack Baun already does.

Although, an expanded role with multiple responsibilities may be too much to ask early in Campbell's career.

"My understanding, from conversations I’ve had in the last few days, is that it's going to be [off-ball] linebacker first and then we'll see what happens from there," ALLCITY Network's Fran Duffy said (h/t Gowton).

IMPACT: Rotational piece, primarily playing off-ball but being placed in pressure package as the season progress.

OT Josh Simmons, Kansas City Chiefs

AP Photo/Colin E. Braley

Once the Kansas City Chiefs swapped picks with the Philadelphia Eagles, they chose Ohio State left tackle Josh Simmons with the 32nd overall pick. Throughout the process, Simmons was viewed as a top-end tackle prospect.

Unfortunately, he suffered a torn a patellar tendon in October. Along with perceived maturity issues, Simmons found himself near the back of the opening frame instead of toward the top.

The Chiefs are known for having one of the NFL's locker rooms under head coach Andy Reid and Simmons is ahead of schedule when it comes to being physically ready for the transition to the professional level.

Unfortunately, he suffered a torn a patellar tendon in October. Along with perceived maturity issues, Simmons found himself near the back of the opening frame instead of toward the top.

The Chiefs are known for having one of the NFL's locker rooms under head coach Andy Reid and Simmons is ahead of schedule when it comes to being physically ready for the transition to the professional level.

Reid already revealed that Simmons will be a full participant once training camp begins after being a part of offseason practices and minicamps.

"You can see his athletic ability," the coach told reporters. "You can see his want-to. He's got a great attitude. He's approached everything the right way plus a little bit extra. You could tell if you just want to look at his rehab, you can see that he's got a mindset that, 'I'm going to get in there.'

"He worked his tail off to get there. So, we respect that part. He's done a nice job, he's worked well, and we'll just see what training camp does. It's different when things are flying fast up there and you've got full contact and pads on. We'll see how he does."

The Chiefs also signed veteran Jaylon Moore in free agency. Moore previously swerved as the utility lineman for the San Francisco 49ers, with 12 starts over the last four seasons.

Even so, a healthy and committed Simmons should win this job outright and possibly secure Patrick Mahomes' blind side for years to come.

IMPACT: Day 1 starter, secures the Chiefs offensive line as its new anchor.

CB Will Johnson, Arizona Cardinals

AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin

Will Johnson had top-five pick skills as a legitimate elite cover corner, yet a string a injuries caused him to fall all of the way into the second round where the Arizona Cardinals eventually selected the talented defensive back.

Johnson dealt with turf toe during the 2024 campaign, which held him to six game appearances. After the toe healed, the cornerback tweaked a hamstring during predraft preparation. Ultimately, concerns over a "knee issue" drove Johnson's value beyond the draft's first day, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.

The Cardinals apparently weren't one of the teams with those concerns. They were ecstatic to see him on the board with the 47th overall pick.

"So when he was sitting there, I'm like; 'Dude am I missing something? Like, this is the best corner in the draft. Like what are we talking about?' And there was a group of players we liked, right when we were picking, and that was kind of a no-brainer, too," head coach Jonathan Gannon said during an interview on Mad Dog Sports Radio. “We’re like: ‘We think this guy’s a starting corner, and just the person is phenomenal.’ The intangibles. He's very intelligent. And it really is a scheme fit for us, too, so it was like; 'Dude, let's take that guy.' So when we picked him it was like; 'Holy cow, man.' I did not think he was going to be there."

The Cardinals do want to play it smart and "take it easy" with the rookie's workload, as mentioned by Gannon himself. Still, Johnson participated during organized team activities and mandatory minicamp.

Granted, the cornerback dealt with injuries in two of the last three seasons. So, Arizona's approach makes sense. Yet Johnson has the ability and opportunity to take on a significant role this fall, particularly after the Cardinals placed veteran Sean Murphy-Bunting on the reserve/non-football injury list.

IMPACT: Starter, with the potential to miss some time or be pulled back a bit by the Cardinals.

CB Benjamin Morrison, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

AP Photo/Chris O'Meara

Benjamin Morrison had a lot of buzz as a potential first-round pick during the 2025 draft cycle, but a torn hip labrum stopped his final season with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish after only six games.

In order to quell NFL team's concerns prior to the draft, Morrison held a pro day three days before the event began.

"Both of them are bilateral (including a previous hip injury at the high school level). There's no problems with either of them... so the hips aren't an issue," Morrison told reporters who attended his individual pro day. "I wanted to answer that question before the draft because I don't want to leave it up to them."

True to his word, Morrison has been a participant throughout the offseason process by competing in individual drills during rookie minicamp then moved up to team activities during the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' mandatory minicamp.

The Bucs were looking for improvements in man coverage this offseason, which included the selection of Morrison with this year's 53rd overall pick. The second-round rookie probably won't push for a starting spot, at least immediately. Jamel Dean, Zyon McCollum and Tykee Smith (nickel) all return as the squad's primary three cornerbacks.

However, cornerback depth is something every organization strives to acquire. Morrison will almost certainly become the first replacement among the outside corners, while classmate Jacob Parrish will likely help over the slot. The former has the talent to eventually claim one of the outside jobs, with a close eye on McCollum's performance since he's set to enter free agency after this season.

IMPACT: Fourth corner on Buccaneers' roster