By Jake DiBlasio/ Sports Columnist

The NFL Draft is less than a month away and will entirely change the landscape of the league. Teams will rise to the top while others will fall. Every now and then, one player could make all the difference in the world. In 2024, second overall pick Jayden Daniels took the Washington Commanders from the bottom of the NFC East all the way to the NFC Championship. While what Daniels did is few and far between, that does not mean it is impossible for a player in this year’s draft to have a similar impact. This year’s draft features a two-way star, dominant pass rushers, and a variety of skill players who can make an immediate difference for any team in the NFL. Here are my top prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft:

Enough positive things can not be said about the 2024 Heisman Trophy winner. Travis Hunter excelled as both a corner and a wide receiver in his two years with the Buffaloes. On the defensive side of the ball, Hunter only gave up 217 yards and one touchdown while also accumulating four interceptions. On offense, Hunter put together a campaign mustering over 1,200 yards and 15 touchdowns. Both of these stat lines on their own are extremely impressive, but for the two to come from the same player is unheard of. The projected top five pick combines his natural athleticism and his exceptional football IQ, which is a large reason why he had a stellar 2024 season. Hunter deserves to be the first overall pick in this year’s draft, and the team that does draft him will not be disappointed.

Penn State went on a deep, playful run in 2024, and that would not have been possible without Abdul Carter. The Pennsylvania native pairs his extraordinarily long arms with his athletic abilities, which make him one of the best pass-rushers in college football. Carter recorded 12 sacks and 52 pressures last season in his true junior season. During his career with the Nittany Lions, Carter had over 1,500 snaps, providing him with plenty of experience before entering the NFL. If Carter is going to find the same success in college that he did in the NFL, he needs to learn to be a more disciplined player. Over the last three seasons, Carter has 29 missed tackles, his most notable flaw as a player. If Carter can clean up the missed tackles, he has all the tools to become an all-pro caliber player.

Ashton Jeanty may be the best running back prospect since Saquon Barkley in 2018. In a season with 2,595 rushing yards and 29 rushing touchdowns, Jeanty was the Heisman runner-up, only behind Hunter. Jeanty led the country in rushing yards, with the next closest rusher being over 800 yards behind. The college football great has many desirable traits of a great running back, including contact balance, speed, and vision. Many scouts view Jeanty’s biggest weakness as his size. Jeanty is only 5’9″ and less than 220 lbs, but I do not believe this is an issue. Multiple NFL running backs under 5’10 have found success recently, including Jahmyr Gibbs and Kyren Williams. As talented as Jeanty is, it would help him to improve as a receiving back. In a season where running backs had a resurgence, it would not be a surprise to see Jeanty go in the top 10 this season.

Mason Graham has been on multiple teams’ radar for the past few seasons. Graham was an integral part of the Wolverines national championship run in 2024. Graham has a high motor and has incredible strength, two of the most sought-after traits in interior defensive lineman. During his tenure at Michigan, Graham acquired 12 sacks and 72 tackles. As mentioned before, one of the weaknesses holding Graham back is his size. The unanimous All-American is 6’3″ and 320 pounds, making him small for your typical NFL defensive tackle. Graham was able to rise above his small size during his time in college, and many believe he will be able to do so once entering the NFL.

Will Campbell has plenty of experience at LSU as a three-year starter, playing over 2,500 snaps. Over those 2,500 snaps, he has only given up four sacks, proving to be a reliable player. A large reason why Campbell found success in Baton Rouge was because of his excellent footwork and impeccable balance. Similar to Graham, one of Campbell’s biggest weaknesses is his size, specifically arm length. In the past few years, an emphasis has been placed on offensive lineman’s especially tackles when it comes to having short arms. This may cause some teams to worry about if he will make it in the NFL as a tackle. While Campbell has no control over his arm length, he can improve his flexibility and his ability to play low. In a weaker tackle class, I do believe Campbell will be the first offensive lineman off the board.

With the NFL Draft about a month away, these are five players to keep an eye on. These five players have the potential to come in and make a huge impact on whatever team drafts them. Whether they are scoring touchdowns, sacking the quarterback, or serving as the blindside protector, their impact will certainly be noticeable. The big question now is where each player will land and how they fit in with their new team. We will find out on April 24 in Green Bay where these players are, but we will be forced to wait until the start of the 2025 season to see how each player fits in with their new team.