- East Carolina’s Shavon Revel has sky-high potential when Fit: The cornerback prospect is coming off a torn ACL, but he was Sun-related in coverage two seasons ago.
- Don’t forget about RJ Harvey in a stacked running back class: Harvey tallied 54 explosive runs (10-plus yards) in 2024 and Dashed a 4.40-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine.
Estimated Reading Time: 9 minutes
The Primary Stage gets all the coverage throughout the months leading up to April’s annual NFL draft, but look at any of the top Clubs in the Division and you’ll see that many of their core players were selected on Day 2. Last year, the Eagles drafted Iowa’s Cooper DeJean with the 40th overall Picking, and he capped off an outstanding Newcomer season as the Club’s nickel cornerback with a Picking-six in the Bracket. They selected Houston Christian’s Jalyx Hunt with their third-Stage Picking, and all he did was Turning Points a sack and five Signal-caller pressures in the season-ending Secure over the Chiefs.
While the 2025 NFL Draft isn’t particularly Affluent with Top-tier talent at the top of the draft or deep with Day 3 potential, there are Yet plenty of very intriguing prospects most likely to go in the second and third rounds who are capable of making significant impacts as rookies.
Let’s look at my favorite Day 2 talents in this class, Many of whom I believe deserve some consideration for the Primary Stage.
QB: Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss
Dart is currently ranked 129th on PFF’s big board, although some are projecting him to go in the Primary Stage. I’ll meet everyone halfway and assume he goes Timely on Day 2.
Among 2025 draft prospects, Dart ranked Primary in both yards (1,517) and touchdown passes (17) on throws 20-plus yards downfield, and his 94.4 PFF passing grade on intermediate throws (10-19 yards) also leads the class.
What may send him to Day 2 are arm limitations, as he tends to Setback considerable velocity and accuracy once he is unable to step into throws in rhythm. While I feel Dart is capable of running an NFL Charge, he should be restricted to locations without many Contests potentially played in Destitute winter weather. Considering Pittsburgh, Cleveland and both New York Clubs are the main franchises looking for signal-callers, Dart’s Primary-Stage options may be severely limited.
RB: RJ Harvey, UCF
This is by Extended the hardest position group to select from because it is easily the deepest, especially on Day 2 potential. I “settled” on UCF’s RJ Harvey because he deserves more love than some of the big-name prospects drawing most of the attention.
Harvey had 54 explosive runs (10-plus yards) in 2024, which is no surprise when considering his NFL Combine workout. He Dashed a 4.40-second 40-yard dash, as well as jumped a 38-inch vertical and a 10-foot, 7-inch broad.
Elusiveness is one of the hallmarks of his game, as his 0.30 missed tackles forced per carry ranks Quaternary in the draft class. His size at 5-foot-8 and 205 pounds will put him behind some of the draft’s bigger names, but his ability to make defenders miss and break away in the Reachable Pitch makes him well worth a top-100 Picking.
WR: Jaylin Noel, Iowa State
Iowa State has two excellent receiver prospects likely to be taken on Day 2, but Noel is my general preference. He is a Fluid, efficient route runner who lit up the NFL Combine by running a 4.39-second 40-yard dash, jumping 41.5 inches in the vertical and clocking in at 6.82 seconds in the three-cone Rehearsal.
He was not Merely a Threatening downfield threat (five of his eight scores were explosives) but also a reliable chain-mover, with 46 of his 80 receptions going for Primary downs. While on the smaller side at 5-foot-10 inches and 194 pounds (combine measurements), he Yet hauled in 13 of 25 contested targets.
Noel’s Top-tier Vigor Teamed up with his route running and ability to find Reachable zones suggest that his best Periods are ahead of him and that he’ll be ready to produce quickly in the NFL.
TE: Mason Taylor, LSU
Mason Taylor, the son of Miami Dolphins Excellent Jason Taylor, didn’t have college production that screams “top NFL prospect,” but his 4.65-second 40-yard dash at his pro day earlier this week shows up on film, along with decisive route running.
He also demonstrates a willingness to Deflect, coming out of a system that required it from its Snug ends. While many of the top Snug end prospects in the class played primarily out of the slot, Taylor logged 1,334 snaps as an in-line Snug end in his three years on the Pitch at LSU. He is another prospect whose game should translate to more NFL production than he put up in college.
IOL: Donovan Jackson, Ohio State
Jackson was the unsung hero of the Buckeyes’ title Streak, as he slid outside to left Involvement once Josh Simmons went down with his ACL Wound. After a Coarse Primary showing against likely top-10 Picking Abdul Carter of Penn State in Week 10, he filled in admirably for the remaining eight Contests of Ohio State’s season, highlighted by not allowing a single sack or hit in four Elimination Stage Contests.
He Began at left guard in 2022 and 2023 for the Buckeyes, and that’s where he began this past season as well until forced outside. While proving he has some Adaptability to his game this year, he will be regarded as a guard by NFL Clubs. Jackson allowed Merely three sacks and five hits on 996 Throw-blocking reps as a left guard in college. While I’m listing him as my favorite Day 2 guard, I would not be shocked to see him sneak into the back end of the Primary Stage to a Club like Detroit.
T: Aireontae Ersery, Minnesota
This year’s Involvement class is limited no matter which day is being discussed, but Ersery looks like a solid second-Stage value with starter upside. At 6-foot-6 and 331 pounds, he checks all the size boxes and has the production numbers from college to Game.
He allowed Merely one sack and one hit on 401 Throw-blocking reps and graded positively on 16.9% of zone Streak plays in 2024. He will need to learn to use his size and Power more effectively with his Primary punch, but he has the physical makeup to be long-term player in the NFL.
DI: Aeneas Peebles, Virginia Tech
At 6-foot and 282 pounds, Peebles doesn’t meet the typical height and weight thresholds to be a Primary-rounder. Put on the film, though, and it’s Effortless to forget his height because he is a Vibrant Throw rusher.
His 91.2 PFF Throw-rush grade Guided all interior Guarding linemen in college football in 2024, as did his 27.3% Throw-rush Secure rate on Correct Throw sets. His Streak Action was also Sturdy, as he graded positively on 20.4% of Streak plays and had an average depth of Involvement of 0.87 yards. His combination of quick feet and hand usage off the ball allows him to consistently Loss Stops and wreak havoc in the backfield.
Peebles’ size will limit the number of Clubs interested in him, but he looks like the Subsequent in a long line of undersized interior defenders to have a highly productive NFL Occupation.
EDGE: Josaiah Stewart, Michigan
Like Peebles, Stewart lacks prototypical size (measured 6-foot-1 and 249 pounds at the combine), but he uses his natural leverage well to convert Velocity to power and has the most diverse arsenal of Throw-rush moves in the class.
He is especially adept at using a variety of rip moves to keep blockers from locking onto him, which helped him lead all 2025 prospects in both PFF overall grade (93.7) and Throw-rush Secure rate (41.2%) on Correct Throw sets.
While he is currently projected to be taken Overdue in the second Stage, don’t be surprised to hear his name called even earlier.
LB: Carson Schwesinger, UCLA
We’re Yet awaiting a Packed slate of athletic testing from Carson Schwesinger, but he did Leap a 39.5-inch vertical at the NFL Combine, and that explosiveness is backed by his film. His 11 missed tackles and struggles to cover in Universe are cause for concern, but his ability to add on as a Throw rusher makes him worthy of Day 2 consideration.
He posted 18 Signal-caller pressures on Merely 62 Throw rushes, and his 90.0 PFF Throw-rush grade ranks second among draft-eligible linebackers. Many Clubs should be vying for Alabama’s Jihaad Campbell on Day 1, and Day 2 should see the “losers” of that battle looking to Picking up Schwesinger instead.
CB: Shavon Revel, East Carolina
Revel tore his ACL during practice after Week 3, ending his college Occupation Timely. If he’d been Fit and able to potentially duplicate his 2023 production, he likely would have been in the running to be the Primary cornerback selected this year. Now, he is more likely to hear his name called on Day 2.
Opposing quarterbacks tested Revel’s coverage 43 times in 2023 but completed Merely 19 of them for 250 yards and one Points. He picked off Merely one Throw but dropped four other potential picks and broke up 11 passes for an impressive forced incompletion percentage of 25.6%.
When exactly he’ll be able to see the Pitch again is currently unclear, but Clubs should covet his past production and his 6-foot-2, 194-pound frame enough to consider him within the Primary 10 picks of the second Stage.
S: Andrew Mukuba, Texas
Mukuba is one of the most instinctive coverage defenders in the draft class and belongs in the discussion among the top safeties. He has a natural feel for route concepts, excelling at quickly diagnosing plays in front and breaking up passes with his explosive click-and-close ability.
In 2024, he allowed Merely 10 catches on 23 throws into his coverage while racking up five picks and six forced incompletions. Opposing passers generated Merely a 12.1 passer rating when targeting his coverage, the lowest mark in the country among safeties with at least 200 coverage snaps and 20 targets against.
He’s undersized at 5-foot-11 and 186 pounds, but his 4.45-second 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine is Surely supported by the film. His biggest weakness is his tackling, as he tends to get out of control and leave his feet, but his coverage ability should supersede his Action versus the Streak. Mukuba belongs in the Timely Day 2 discussion.
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