2025 NFL Draft order: Updated first round picks after Week 8 games
Week 8 is in progress, which means we're approaching the halfway point of the 2024 NFL season. By now, teams and their fans have a pretty clear understanding of whether they are contenders or looking ahead to next season.
Part of looking ahead is anticipating the 2025 NFL Draft. Last year's class featured a historic run of offensive players, including a record number of quarterbacks selected in the first 12 picks and a record-tying number of wide receivers selected in the first round.
That likely won't be the case in the upcoming draft. Here's how the order looks as Week 8 games finish - and some of the top prospects in the class.
NFL draft 2025 order
Here's the order heading into the "Monday Night Football" matchup in Week 8.
NFL draft 2025 top prospects
Here are eight of the consensus top prospects in the upcoming draft.
CB Travis Hunter, Colorado
Hunter could easily play cornerback or wide receiver in the NFL but projects better at corner. He has a near-ideal frame for the position and excels in man-to-man and zone assignments with great ball skills. His athleticism and tackling also make him a reliable difference-maker against the run. He likely would've been a top-three wide receiver in this class and can offer value on that side of the ball for a team needing help at the position.
DT Mason Graham, Michigan
Graham uses his 6-foot-3, 320-pound frame with ideal leverage to play equally well against the run or pass. He has the strength to shed blocks or hold up against double teams at the point of attack. The NFL Draft hasn't had an interior defensive lineman taken in the top five since Quinnen Williams in 2019. Graham is that kind of player and could break that streak.
WR Tetairoa McMillan, Arizona
McMillan is an impressively smooth athlete at 6 feet, 5 inches tall and 210 pounds. His catch radius is one of the best in the class and he is a weapon in the passing game after the catch. His big frame makes him a mismatch against smaller defensive backs or slower linebackers. He's not a vertical threat, but he's able to convert contested catches, similar to Atlanta Falcons wideout Drake London.
CB Will Johnson, Michigan
If not for Hunter, Johnson would be a slam-dunk choice as the top cornerback prospect in the class. He has the ideal size for the cornerback position at 6-foot-2 and 202 pounds. His length matches that size, and he uses that well in both man and zone coverage schemes. He also stands up well in run defense and can be a useful blitzer.
EDGE James Pearce Jr., Tennessee
Pearce Jr. is an outstanding athlete off the edge at 6 feet, 5 inches tall and 242 pounds. Though his sack production hasn't materialized in 2024, he had 9.5 last season to lead the SEC. His long arms give him an advantage off the edge, and he can turn speed to power at will. He'll likely need to add some size to hold up against the run in the NFL, but he has the athletic floor to contribute quickly in pass-rush scenarios.
OT Kelvin Banks Jr., Texas
Banks Jr. is the top tackle prospect in this class and is likely to stay at the position in the NFL. He could also excel inside at guard. His footwork in pass protection is among the best in the class, and he has the requisite athleticism to stay in front of rushers or be useful in combo blocks. He is sometimes inconsistent in sustaining blocks in long-developing plays, but that's a small knock compared to his impressive tape.
Edge Mykel Williams, Georgia
Williams had an outstanding game in the Bulldogs' win over Texas with two sacks and a forced fumble. The 6-foot-5, 265-pound Williams has impressive power and can set the edge against the run and rush the passer. He must improve his hand skills and pass rush plan at the next level. Like Pearce Jr., his floor is pretty high in the NFL. He may not end the year with outstanding numbers thanks to Georgia's rotation at edge, but he's worth the investment.
OL Will Campbell, LSU
Campbell's one of many top offensive tackles in college who don't have the arm length to stay at that position at the NFL level. If that bears out, Campbell will be the top guard prospect. His polished footwork and hand placement make him a plus in run blocking and a reliable pass blocker. He's the first offensive lineman in LSU history to earn the top playmaker honor - he wears that Number 7 as a patch due to offensive lineman number restrictions - and earned it last season on a team with the likes of Jayden Daniels, Brian Thomas Jr., and Malik Nabers.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NFL Draft order 2025: Updated first round picks after Week 8
