What to Expect From the 2025 NFL Draft
By Evan Gottlieb & Conor Pernetti
The NFL Draft will take place April 24-26, 2025 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. In 2024, NFL Draft viewership during the first round in Detroit exceeded 12 million. This year, viewership is projected to be equally strong. It is projected that “Titletown” will draw 240,000 in-person attendees and generate $94 million in statewide economic impact.
WHAT’S THE STORY?
The Quarterbacks: Another Draft brings another highly anticipated QB class to the table as we expect to see Miami’s Cam Ward go first overall and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders somewhere in the early first round. There’s also Ole Miss QB Jaxson Dart.
The Skill Positions: Travis Hunter, another Colorado Buffalo, is a name to keep an eye on as the dual cornerback/wide receiver and 2025 Heisman Winner has teams chomping at the bit. And speaking of the Heisman, 2025 runner up Ashton Jeanty from Boise State projects to be an early first round pick at the running back position. Some other highly touted skill position players that project to go in the first-round include Arizona WR Teta McMillan, Ohio State (and NCAA National Champion) WR Emeka Egbuka, and Texas WR Matthew Golden.
In the Trenches: Teams will look to loads of top prospects on both sides of the ball. On the offensive line, top prospects include LSU’s Will Campbell (top 5 projected), the Missouri Tigers’ Armand Membou (top 10 projected), and Kelvin Banks Jr from Texas (top 15 projected). Teams in need of help on the defensive side of the ball can look to Penn State’s Abdul Carter, Mason Graham from Michigan, Georgia’s Jalon Walker, and Mykel Williams, another Missourian.
The Tight Ends: Following the 2024 Draft, teams are recognizing the value of the tight end position after the Raiders selected Brock Bowers with the 13th overall pick, especially considering he went on to break rookie receiving records. How does this impact the 2025 class? Top tight end prospects Tyler Warren of Penn State and Colston Loveland of Michigan project to be first round picks. And LSU’s Mason Taylor, the son and nephew of two NFL Hall of Famers in Jason Talyor and Zach Thomas, is also starting to make some noise.
COMMERCIAL APPEAL
Following is a list of players we believe will have the greatest commercial appeal to marketers. Beginning with our projected Top Five:
- Cameron Ward, Miami: A dual-threat QB is the heavy favorite to be the #1 overall selection in the Draft. Ward is a brand ambassador for Under Armour and New Era.
- *Travis Hunter, Colorado: TheHeisman winner who remarkably played both offense and defense during his college career. Travis has brand partnerships with Snickers, Olipop and United Airlines.
- Abdul Carter, Penn State: The top pass-rusher in the draft with elite initial quickness. Carter has worked with NextGenCamps to host youth football camps.
- *Mason Graham, Michigan: The Michigan Wolverine has the potential to be one of the best defensive tackle prospects to come out of the draft in the last few years with elite mobility and strength. He has done NIL deals with EA Sports and Wolverine Boots.
- *Will Campbell, LSU: The projected #1 offensive lineman off the board leverages his competitive fire as a proven run blocker. Will worked with Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys in a season-long brand partnership while at LSU.
And here are 11 other players we believe offer marketing potential. In alphabetical order:
*Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss: Earned All-SEC First Team Honors and has crept his way up the Draft board to QB #3. Dart has had multiple brand integrations throughout the season such as Fortnite, Stanley 1913 and Uber Eats.
Emeka Egubka, Ohio State: The savvy route runner ranks 2nd in all time receiving yards at Ohio State. Emeka has been a brand ambassador for Alo and Celsius throughout his final collegiate season.
Matthew Golden, Texas: The big play threat ran the fastest 40-yard dash among receivers at the combine. Golden is working with Missing Element Sports to hold a youth football camp the week before the draft.
*Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky: Recorded the fastest 40-yard dash time at the combine and his elite quickness results in a high turnover rate. Before his 2024 season with Kentucky, Hairston and his teammates starred in a campaign for Hilton Hotels.
TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State: The Ohio State National Champion boasts home run speed and the ability to make defenders miss in space. TreVeyon has worked with Chipotle, Hollister, and Arby’s in past brand campaigns.
Ashton Jeanty, Boise State: This Heisman runner-up recorded the 2nd most all-time rushing yards in a single season in NCAA history. Jeanty is working with brands such as Opendoor and Newell Brand’s Sharpie around the Draft.
*Will Johnson, Michigan: A top-2 defensive back in the Draft class who uses his elite athleticism and size to secure leverage in passing lanes. Will has had brand deals with Toyota, Uber and Alo.
*Quinshon Judkins: The Ohio State National Champion possesses a dynamic blend of speed and strength that makes him a complete three-down back. His brand partners have included Raising Cane’s, JLab Headphones and Kane Footwear.
Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona: A top-2 WR in the Draft who showcases his ability to make circus-catches fueled by his elite size and body control. Brand deals for Tetairoa include Sharpie, Raising Cane’s and JLab Headphones.
Shedeur Sanders, Colorado: The second projected QB to be taken in the Draft has elite accuracy from the pocket. Shedeur has worked with brands including Beats by Dre, Gatorade and JD Sports.
Tyler Warren, Penn State: The John Mackey Award winner for most outstanding tight end of the year offers versatility to any offense he ends up in. Tyler has brand partnerships with Planet Fitness and Rockin’ Protein.
*Denotes draftees who are working with our team on brand activations centered around the Draft.
Authors Evan Gottlieb and Conor Pernetti manage athlete and celebrity partnerships at Platinum Rye Entertainment, TMA’s talent- and IP-procurement shop.
