- We would possibly even have a “subsequent Brock Purdy” from this 12 months’s class: Kyle McCord appeared to come back out of his shell in 2024, main the Power Four in big-time throws (34).
- Cobee Bryant’s feistiness and play model remind of Josh Norman: Both received extra with their perspective and confidence than they did with imposing athleticism or dimension.
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As we break down prospects’ strengths and weaknesses within the 2025 NFL Draft, one train folks like to see is participant comps. Every prospect in each class is totally different, with various levels of uniqueness. But comparisons is usually a useful gizmo to visualise how a participant’s strengths (or weaknesses) might play out within the NFL.
Here are 5 2025 participant comps that I consider assist inform the story of who they’re and what they may very well be within the execs.
QB KYLE McCORD, SYRACUSE: BROCK PURDY
McCord appeared hesitant as a first-time full-time starter at Ohio State in 2023, doubtlessly due to the strain related to being the Buckeyes’ quarterback and having convention title and even nationwide championship expectations. Those are much more magnified once you sit behind a expertise like C.J. Stroud for 2 seasons. But after transferring to Syracuse, McCord appeared to essentially come out of his shell. He was a way more assured passer, main the Power Four in big-time throws (34).
McCord’s play from this previous season jogged my memory of Brock Purdy. McCord has a barely stronger arm than Purdy, however each have a gun-slinger sort of mentality with out a Tier 1 or 2 arm for the NFL. They each win with anticipation, accuracy and, most of all, confidence. McCord is taller than Purdy (6-foot-3 in comparison with just below 6-foot-1). Purdy has been capable of have a number of success in a system and with a staff that has surrounded him with good expertise. McCord might discover success in an identical state of affairs with a coach who lets him play freely, as we noticed in 2024.
WR ISAAC TESLAA, ARKANSAS: ERIC DECKER
A 6-foot-3, 215-pound huge slot receiver, TeSlaa was a serious standout on the NFL Scouting Combine. His 39.5-inch vertical and 10-foot-9 broad soar each ranked close to the ninetieth percentile for the place, and his 1.51-second 10-yard cut up and 4.43-second 40-yard sprint had been above the seventy fifth percentile — and that’s not even weight-adjusted.
He was evenly recruited out of highschool since he was a quarterback, and he first attended Hillsdale College, a Division II program the place his father performed soccer. TeSlaa was there for 3 years earlier than transferring to Arkansas, the place he grew to become an impression slot receiver in 2024. He didn’t have a lot manufacturing in 2024, with simply 545 receiving yards, however his dimension and elegance from the slot are very paying homage to Eric Decker.
T KELVIN BANKS JR., TEXAS: ALIJAH VERA-TUCKER
Banks has been the topic of a scorching dialog concerning the 2025 offensive line class, questioning whether or not lots of the offensive deal with prospects can be higher suited at guard on the subsequent degree.
The Texas product was listed at 6-foot-4 and 320 kilos in school, and his physique composition made it seem like he is likely to be shorter than that. But on the NFL Scouting Combine, he measured in over 6-foot-5 with a Twenty sixth-percentile arm size (33 1/2 inches) however an 82nd-percentile wingspan (84 3/8 inches). That makes his snaps at left deal with over the previous two seasons all of the extra spectacular. But I do not assume it is out of the query he may very well be drafted as a guard early on in his profession earlier than kicking out to deal with.
Banks’ versatility jogs my memory of Alijah Vera-Tucker, who has primarily been a guard with the Jets, however there have been a handful of occasions they’ve wanted him to step in at deal with — and he has executed effectively in that function. Both additionally transfer effectively in a squatted place, staying loaded to make use of energy whereas sustaining leverage. Banks’ model, dimension and flexibility give me Vera-Tucker vibes, however I’ll say that I feel Banks ought to and can get extra of an opportunity to be a full-time deal with than Vera-Tucker has.
EDGE MYKEL WILLIAMS, GEORGIA: JERMAINE JOHNSON II
Williams has been a constant member of the highest 30 on PFF’s huge board all through this 12 months’s draft course of, however some have ranked him a lot greater. That has all the time been a bit wealthy for us. He brings nice dimension for the sting rush spot at over 6-foot-5 with 34-plus-inch arms and a wingspan over 82 inches, all above the eightieth percentile for the place. He can be as robust as an ox within the run recreation.
However, Williams’ pass-rush win charge hovered round simply 11.0% in every of the previous two seasons. That is okay, particularly for an edge participant who’s primarily a flexible run defender, however how early do you draft a participant like that if he doesn’t get extra explosive within the rush recreation? In phrases of a great end result for him, Jermaine Johnson appears like a great comparability. Johnson was constructed equally with the dimensions and power to play as a 4i-technique to a stand-up 7-technique as a flexible defensive finish who can create worth in odd and even fronts. Johnson’s pass-rush win charge at Florida State was much like that of WIlliams, and he has barely been capable of enhance that within the NFL.
CB COBEE BRYANT, KANSAS: JOSH NORMAN
If you continue to haven’t watched Kansas cornerback Cobee Bryant but, it is best to. He is as feisty and as assured as they arrive, which is saying quite a bit for a place the place these two issues really feel like stipulations to play at a excessive degree.
Despite being simply 180 kilos, Bryant likes to get in a receiver’s face on the line as a press-man cornerback, and he’ll remember to discuss some trash earlier than, throughout and after the play. His perspective and play model remind me of Josh Norman. Norman was a bit larger, nearer to 200 kilos, which is necessary and never one thing to brush off, with Bryant not having something near a number of the profession highs Norman did. But each received extra with their perspective and confidence than they did with imposing athleticism or dimension. The actual comparability is the dimensions of the canine in each gamers.