Yahoo Sports NFL draft analyst Charles McDonald offers pick-by-pick analysis and grades of Rounds 2 and 3 of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Here’s how he rated teams on Day 2 of the 2024 and 2023 drafts if you’re scoring at home. And here’s how he rated Round 1 of the 2025 Draft.
Round 21. (33 overall) Cleveland Browns: LB Carson Schwesinger (UCLA)
Grade: B
The Browns had a need at linebacker with the serious injury to Jeremiah Owusu Koramoah and took a similar player in Carson Schwesinger. Schwesinger is a fast, rangy player in coverage that will benefit from playing behind a talented defensive line.
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Player comparison: Deion Jones
2. (34) Houston Texans (from Giants): WR Jayden Higgins (Iowa St.)
Grade: B-
The Texans needed a slot receiver and they opted for a big one in Jayden Higgins from Iowa State. Higgins is built like Nico Collins, but won’t play the same position for the Texans offense — and they needed the depth with injuries to Tank Dell and Stefon Diggs leaving the team.
Player comparison: Joshua Palmer
3. (35) Seattle Seahawks (from Titans): S Nick Emmanwori (South Carolina)
Grade: C+
Nick Emmanwori doesn’t play up to his insane NFL combine performance, but he’s got enough potential for someone like Mike Macdonald to get the most out of him. Just don’t love trading up for a guy who doesn’t play like the baddest dude on the field, despite having those traits.
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Player comparison: Ifeatu Melifonwu
4. (36). Cleveland Browns (from Jaguars): RB Quinshon Judkins (Ohio St.)
Grade: B
The Browns needed a starting caliber running back after moving on Nick Chubb and found someone with a similar running style, albeit less explosive. Judkins has a chance to be a bellcow back early for the Browns.
Player comparison: David Montgomery
5. (37). Miami Dolphins (from Raiders): OG Jonah Savaiinaea (Arizona)
Grade: A-
A lineman! The Dolphins needed beef up front after the retirement of Terron Armstead and added a talented, explosive one here in Jonah Savaiinaea. The Dolphins want to be a team that runs the ball well and this is a move in the right direction.
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Player comparison: Jordan Morgan
6. (38) New England Patriots: RB TreVeyon Henderson (Ohio St.)
Grade: B
Big-play running back who has a great feel for running outside and finding a crease to exploit for big runs. He’s not the most powerful runner, but his vision and speed will make him a threat in the NFL.
Player comparison: J.K. Dobbins
7. (39) Chicago Bears (from Panthers): WR Luther Burden III (Missouri)
Grade: B
Burden is an explosive slot wide receiver who can create first downs and touchdowns out of nothing, but his role has been streamlined in his career. He can be an exciting player if the Bears can expand his route tree and overall skill set.
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Player comparison: Curtis Samuel
Tyler Shough of Louisville participates in a drill during the NFL Scouting Combine. (Photo by Brooke Sutton/Getty Images)
(Brooke Sutton via Getty Images)8. (40) New Orleans Saints: QB Tyler Shough (Louisville)
Grade: C+
A need pick. Shough is a quality quarterback prospect, but injuries and age make him a curious case. Shough will be 26 this fall and was in college for seven seasons. He operated Louisville’s offense well and has some nice traits as a passer. He has starter potential, but the Saints will need him to get there quickly.
Player comparison: Case Keenum
9. (41) Buffalo Bills (from Bears): DT T.J. Sanders (South Carolina)
Grade: C+
A bit of a trade up here for the Bills and it might not have been necessary due to where Sanders was seen prior to the draft. Sanders has upside as a pass rusher, but still has a ways to go before he gets there.
10. (42) New York Jets: TE Mason Taylor (LSU)
Grade: A
Just like his father Jason, Mason Taylor looks like he was built in a lab to be an NFL player. Taylor might not be as flashy or explosive as Tyler Warren and Colston Loveland, but he should be a quality starting tight end in the NFL sooner rather than later. Taylor gives Justin Fields a reliable tight end target over the middle, something the Jets have been searching for for years.
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Player comparison: Hunter Henry
11. (43) San Francisco 49ers: DT Alfred Collins (Texas)
Grade: C
Alfred Collins is a run-first defensive tackle, albeit missing some explosive traits to be a good pass rusher. This is a pick that should keep Fred Warner clean, but a quality starter here.
12. (44) Dallas Cowboys: Edge Donovan Ezeiruaku (Boston College)
Grade: B+
Donovan Ezeiruaku is another player in this class who should be a strong addition to a Cowboys team trying to bolster its pass rush. He isn’t the biggest pass rusher out there (6-2 1/2, 248 pounds), but he’s quick, explosive and has a nice array of moves to get home. He had a fairly similar combine performance to former Boston College edge rusher Harold Landry III, who is a decent comparison for him moving to the pros.
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Player comparison: Harold Landry III
13. (45) Indianapolis Colts: Edge J.T. Tuimoloau (Ohio St.)
Grade: B
Heavy handed pass rusher who can help their pass rush and run game. A solid replacement for Dayo Odeyingbo who they lost in free agency. He’s a thick, bruising defensive end who might be able to play some on the interior for obvious passing downs.
Player comparison: Jabaal Sheard
14. (46) Los Angeles Rams (from Falcons): TE Terrance Ferguson (Oregon)
Grade: B
Rams had a need at tight end and got one here with Terrance Ferguson. Ferguson has some big-time upside to be a productive pro down the road as the Rams move into the next phase of their offense.
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Player comparison: Jake Ferguson
15. (47) Arizona Cardinals: CB Will Johnson (Michigan)
Grade: A+
There’s certainly been an increased injury concern regarding Will Johnson, but the Cardinals needed someone to play on the outside and Johnson has potential to be a real deal CB1 if he can get and stay healthy.
Player Comparison: A.J. Terrell Jr.
16. (48) Houston Texans (from Raiders): OT Aireontae Ersery (Minnesota)
Grade: A
Ersery could’ve been drafted higher than this and the Texans desperately needed offensive line help after trading away Laremy Tunsil. Ersery can play anywhere up front and should be an immediate starter for Houston.
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Player comparison: Bryan Bulaga
17. (49) Cincinnati Bengals18. (50) Seattle Seahawks19. (51) Denver Broncos20. (52) Seattle Seahawks (from Steelers)21. (53) Tampa Bay Buccaneers 22. (54) Green Bay Packers 23. (55) Los Angeles Chargers24. (56) Buffalo Bills (from Vikings via Texans) 25. (57) Carolina Panthers (from Rams) 26. (58) Houston Texans 27. (59) Baltimore Ravens28. (60) Detroit Lions 29. (61) Washington Commanders30. (62) Buffalo Bills 31. (63) Kansas City Chiefs32. (64) Philadelphia Eagles
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Round 31. (65) New York Giants2. (66) Kansas City Chiefs (from Titans)3. (67) Cleveland Browns4. (68) Las Vegas Raiders5. (69) New England Patriots6. (70) Jacksonville Jaguars7. (71) New Orleans Saints8. (72) Chicago Bears9. (73) New York Jets10. (74) Carolina Panthers11. (75) San Francisco 49ers12. (76) Dallas Cowboys13. (77) New England Patriots (from Falcons)14. (78) Arizona Cardinals15. (79) Houston Texans (from Dolphins via Eagles, Commanders) 16. (80) Indianapolis Colts17. (81) Cincinnati Bengals18. (82) Seattle Seahawks19. (83) Pittsburgh Steelers20. (84) Tampa Bay Buccaneers21. (85) Denver Broncos22. (86) Los Angeles Chargers 23. (87) Green Bay Packers24. (88) Jacksonville Jaguars (from Vikings) 25. (89) Houston Texans26. (90) Los Angeles Rams27. (91) Baltimore Ravens28. (92) Seattle Seahawks (from Lions via Jets, Raiders) 29. (93) New Orleans Saints (from Commanders) 30. (94) Cleveland Browns (from Bills) 31. (95) Kansas City Chiefs 32 (96) Philadelphia Eagles 33. (97) Minnesota Vikings (compensatory) 34. (98) Miami Dolphins (compensatory) 35. (99) Houston Texans (compensatory from Giants)36. (100) San Francisco 49ers (special compensatory)37. (101) Atlanta Falcons (special compensatory from Rams)38. (102) Detroit Lions (special compensatory)