Special to Sports News Highlights

(SNH) — The 2024 NFL Draft is in the rear-view mirror, but it’s become a common trend to look ahead to next year and the top-10 of the 2025 Draft.

Now, we, of course, have no idea what the draft order will be, but to compensate for that unknown, we’ll use the current Super Bowl odds for next season to determine the order courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook.

For this exercise, think of this more as a preview of what to expect from these players for this next college football season and how they could fit into the teams we’re projecting.

Things will change, but it’s never a bad time to prepare for the next crop of players. Let’s check it out.

Carolina Panthers: James Peace Jr., EDGE, Tennessee

James Pearce Jr. is currently +1000 to go No. 1 overall. If the Panthers are selecting here next year, he’s an extremely likely candidate to go.

At this point, we’ll be two years into Panthers quarterback Bryce Young’s career. We could argue that the team could look to move on from him if they’re drafting No. 1 overall again, but considering the investment they put into him, they’ll give him a few years to get right, especially heading into the 2024-25 season with a new coaching staff.

The Panthers traded Brian Burns to the New York Giants, and Pearce Jr. will fill in. In 2023, Pearce Jr. had 52 pressures, 13 sacks, and 11 quarterback hits. That was his first full season starting after playing just 61 snaps in 2022.

New England Patriots: Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri

The Patriots added two wide receivers in the 2024 draft, Ja’Lynn Polk and Javon Baker, and here, they get another weapon for quarterback Drake Maye in Luther Burden III.

Burden III was a force last season at Missouri. He saw 120 targets, caught 86 of them, and had over 1,200 yards and nine scores.

He had stand-out performances against LSU (11 catches for 149 yards) and Georgia (three catches, 53 yards, and a touchdown) and also scored against Ohio State in their bowl game.

He also posted 725 yards after the catch, making him even more dynamic. A conversation could be had about Burden III or a tackle.

Tennessee Titans: Mykel Williams, EDGE, Georgia

The Titans need help off the edge with Denico Autry leaving for Houston. He led the team in sacks with 12 last season, and while they still have Harold Landry III, they need more production from this position.

On a consistently loaded Bulldogs depth chart, Williams played 381 snaps and managed six sacks. He’ll play full-time in 2024 and should only continue to have more success.

Denver Broncos: Will Campbell, OT, LSU

The Broncos got their quarterback in Bo Nix, and now it’s time to protect him. Incumbent left tackle Garrett Bolles is in the final year of his deal, and at six-feet-six and 325 pounds, Campbell played 805 snaps for the LSU Tigers last season and 882 the year before. He didn’t allow a sack last season and allowed just two as a freshman.

Las Vegas Raiders: Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado

The most controversial prospect heading into the draft, Sanders could slide down certain draft boards due to his personality, but he feels “right” with the Raiders and the attitude head coach Antonio Pierce wants to bring to the team.

The team added Brock Bowers this year in the first round, and they didn’t get a quarterback, as six of them went ahead. Now, with Sanders on the roster, they’ll get a player who may not have booming arm strength, but he goes through progressions well, can make the reads, and survived behind what was arguably the worst offensive line in college during the 2023 season, getting sacked about 50 times.

New York Giants: Carson Beck, QB, Georgia

If the Giants are picking near the top five again, it’s because things didn’t work out with Daniel Jones, and the addition of wide receiver Malik Nabers simply didn’t make that much of a difference.

Beck and Sanders are projected to be in a race for QB1, and Beck could win. He plays within structure quite well, and in 2023, he completed 72.2% of his passes for nearly 4,000 yards. His 9.4 yards per attempt ranked eighth in college football among all passers with at least 100 dropbacks.

Arizona Cardinals: Will Johnson, CB, Michigan

The Cardinals added Max Melton in the 2024 draft but need more help. If Johnson is on the board here, they should take him. He’s the definition of a shutdown cornerback.

In 2023, he allowed 17 catches on 38 targets for 267 yards and no touchdowns. He also added four interceptions. As a freshman, he allowed 28 catches, two touchdowns, and three interceptions.

If he plays like he did last year again in 2024, he could be a top-five selection.

Alternatively, Kentucky defensive lineman Deone Walker could be an option here.

Washington Commanders: Kelvin Banks, OT, Texas

Heading into the 2024 draft, there was plenty of chatter about the Commanders trading back into the first round to get a tackle, but they didn’t.

Now, they draft a guy to immediately take over that left tackle position. They’d likely hope for Campbell to pair back up with quarterback Jayden Daniels.

Still, with over nearly 1000 snaps, the Banks allowed just one sack all season and two the year before. Across 1,843 snaps (1,006 pass blocking), Banks has allowed three sacks, two hits, and 24 pressures. 

Minnesota Vikings: Travis Hunter, CB, Colorado

The Vikings didn’t add a cornerback in the draft, and here, they get a dual-threat weapon in Hunter. He played both wide receiver and cornerback for the Buffaloes last season.

He suffered an injury that kept him out a few weeks, but he finished the year with 57 catches for 721 yards and five touchdowns and on defense, he allowed 30 receptions, five touchdowns, and had three interceptions.

At the NFL level, he’ll likely be more concentrated on one position, but Brian Flores and his defense will welcome his freakish athleticism.

And hey, it doesn’t hurt that he could play receiver at times to help quarterback J.J. McCarthy.

New Orleans Saints: Quinn Ewers, QB, Texas

There are still some lingering questions for Ewers heading into 2024. His team in 2023 was loaded, and they couldn’t get the job done, but he improved mightily from 2022 to 2023. He completed 68.5% of his passes for 3,460 yards, 22 touchdowns, and six interceptions. He threw for over 300 and scored against Washington in their playoff game.

Carr is likely locked in for the 2025 season, too, but another year at Texas plus a season of sitting or coming in later in the year could be beneficial for this raw prospect.

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