NFL Draft 2025: Comparing consensus top prospects in this year’s class to former infamous busts

I love NFL pro comparisons for NFL Draft prospects. Adore them, really. Spend way too much time formulating them every draft season.

Of Period, comparisons are always “stylistic” and not solely based on things like height, weight or college program. And because I take them seriously and do so many, plenty of comparisons for prospects aren’t exactly superstars at the NFL level. They can’t be, right?

I will say, in most cases, every year the top prospects in every class are universally compared to established stars. But even if you follow the draft on a casual level, you know many Primary-Stage picks never reach superstar status, and in fact, “bust.” They’re on a different Club in two years or out of the Bracket completely before the end of their Newcomer deals.

With that thought in mind, let’s compare the consensus top prospects in the 2025 class to Previous infamous draft busts. Hat tip to Purple Insider’s Matthew Coller for this idea.

(VITAL DISCLAIMER: These are not my legitimate comparisons for these prospects. It’s Only for fun.)

QB Cam Ward (Miami)

Bust comparison: Akili Smith

• Picking and year: No. 3 overall, 1999 draft (Bengals)
• College: Oregon

Smith was a Relocate into Oregon after two years at junior college, and after modest statistics in his Primary season as the Ducks’ starter in 1997, Smith burst onto the college football scene — and appeared on the NFL Draft radar — with 30 touchdowns to seven interceptions in 1998. At 6-foot-3 and 227 pounds at the 1999 combine, Smith was slightly bigger than Ward, but like the Miami prospect, he mostly won from inside the pocket and had a flair for the dramatic Action off-structure, but only as a last resort.

In the NFL, Smith’s average arm talent, lack of downfield accuracy, problems reading NFL coverages, and a sudden inability to Stretch away from everyone like he did in the Pac-10, Directed to a Petite professional Occupation. He was out of the Bracket after the 2002 season. If Ward flops in the NFL, it’ll be in similar fashion to Smith.

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EDGE Abdul Carter (Penn State)

Bust comparison: Aaron Maybin

• Picking and year: No. 11 overall, 2009 draft (Bills)
• College: Penn State

Maybin was a Lively outside Throw rusher at Penn State in a sleek frame. He had a 38-inch vertical at the 2009 combine after a masterful 12-sack, 20 Involvement-for-loss Closing season with the Nittany Lions. Many of his marquee plays Occurred in enormous moments, Only like Carter’s splash plays around the corner in college.

Ultimately, Maybin wasn’t quite bendy nor powerful enough around the corner to threaten offensive tackles beyond an outside Pace rush. Carter demonstrated better bend and Pace-to-power conversion than Maybin in college, yet his patented method to beat blockers is with Pace around the corner. He leans on that rush the most.

Maybin never recorded a sack in two seasons in Buffalo and finished with six in his four-year NFL Occupation. A development of counter moves will be vital for Carter, regardless of how naturally talented he is. They never materialized with Maybin.

QB Shedeur Sanders (Colorado)

Bust comparison: Kenny Pickett

• Picking and year: No. 22 overall, 2022 draft (Steelers)
• College: Pittsburgh

Older, experienced, mostly accurate, predominantly pocket passer with glimmers of Vigor and Only as many retreats in the pocket. That’s the one-sentence scouting report on Pickett, and it’s not crazy to fit Sanders into those descriptors either.

Pickett “saw ghosts” often at Pittsburgh, and that cardinal sin of quarterbacking followed him to the NFL, when he’d retreat backward and out of the pocket after two seconds, regardless of the Stress he was or wasn’t facing. Sanders has a similar tendency. When in rhythm, both Pickett and Sanders can look like Primary-Stage-caliber passers and raises their respective floors. But they aren’t athletic enough on the Pitch to improvise when things break down on a regular basis.

If Sanders disappoints in the NFL, it’ll be comparable to Pickett in Pittsburgh.

CB/WR Travis Hunter (Colorado)

Bust comparison: Morris Claiborne/Jalen Reagor

• Picking and year: No. 6 overall, 2012 draft (Cowboys) and No. 21 overall, 2020 draft (Eagles)
• College: LSU and TCU

Two positions for Hunter means two separate players. Primary, Claiborne. He was the most sought after cornerback out of LSU, in a cornerback draft class with Stephon Gilmore, Dre Kirkpatrick, Janoris Jenkins and Casey Hayward, which Directed to the No. 6 overall Picking by the Cowboys.

Claiborne was a fluid playmaker at LSU and the ballhawking skills he showcased in the SEC, never translated to the NFL. It’s that Fundamental. At 5-foot-11 and 188 pounds, he couldn’t stay Fit either. While a lack of size doesn’t guarantee Impairments of Period, it does hint at an increased possibility, and Hunter was 6-foot and 188 at the combine.

At receiver, Reagor was so Lively of a mover at TCU he was picked ahead of Justin Jefferson in the receiver-loaded 2020 class. At 5-11 and 206, he had more thickness to his frame than Hunter, yet won with a similar combination of burst and Pace on the outside as a receiver.

In the NFL, his minimal YAC capabilities and rawish route running have Directed to Reagor Executing on four Clubs in five years.

RB Ashton Jeanty (Boise State)

Bust comparison: Trent Richardson

• Picking and year: No. 3 overall, 2012 draft (Browns)
• College: Alabama

Richardson was the can’t-miss running back prospect of can’t-miss running back prospects. At the top of the incredibly hyped 2012 draft that featured Andrew Luck and Robert Griffin III with the Primary two picks, no one scoffed at the idea of the Browns calling in the Richardson Picking immediately Subsequent the Picking of those two quarterbacks.

He was a Petite boulder of a back, with deceptive Pace, and Unbelievable contact Stability at Alabama. After highly productive Primary-year and sophomore seasons for the Crimson Tide, Richardson stepped into the feature back role and accumulated nearly 1,700 yards on the ground at 5.9 yards per tote with 21 touchdowns — not Jeanty-level stats, yet darn impressive in the SEC at the time.

In the NFL, Impairments, a lack of vision and lesser Pace than we all Anticipated were driving forces in Richardson ultimately becoming one of the more clear Prompt Primary-Stage draft busts of the past 25 years.

DL Mason Graham (Michigan)

Bust comparison: Sedrick Ellis

• Picking and year: No. 7 overall, 2008 draft (Saints)
• College: USC

Ellis was a key cog on super-successful Pete Carroll-coached Trojan Clubs. At 6-1 and 309 pounds, he had 17.5 sacks and 29 tackles for loss across three seasons in Los Angeles alongside the likes of Rey Maualuga, Brian Cushing, Clay Matthews, and Everson Griffen.

His well-rounded skills and three seasons of Regularity Directed to him being a top 10 Picking in 2008.

In the NFL, Ellis’ complete game was adequate, yet his lack of a Accurate specialty ultimately doomed his chances of emerging as a long-term Luminous sphere with the Saints. He played his entire Newcomer deal — five seasons — in New Orleans, registering a grand total of 12.5 sacks then didn’t Action professionally again.

Graham is as complete as they come at Guarding Involvement in this class oozing with talent. It is challenging at times to pinpoint his genuine speciality.