2025 NFL Draft Grades: Day 2 Picks By Team
Day 2 of the 2025 NFL Draft has come to a close, and it wasn’t quite as chaotic, but it was good. The 2025 class is characterized by its depth. There weren’t many stars to be had, but you can spot plenty of starters. In particular, the CB, RB, and edge rusher positions had serious talent still available. A few more QBs went too, but oddly none of them were Shedeur Sanders. Later on, we’ll have to find out what the story is with this slide. Here you’ll find my grades for how the teams did on day 2. I’ll try to touch on every player taken. If you’re looking for my round one grades, head to this link.
All team picks are grouped together, and the teams are listed in reverse order of their records (i.e., what the order would have looked like if no picks were ever traded). Each player is accompanied by a value in parentheses such as (2-44). In this case, the player was picked in the 2nd round with the 44th overall selection. I also add an up arrow ↑ if the team traded up for the player, and I add a down arrow ↓ if the team traded down before making their pick. * means that the team acquired the pick in a pre-draft trade or a draft-day trade for a player.
1. Tennessee Titans – EDGE Oluwafemi Oladejo, UCLA (2-52↓); S Kevin Winston, Penn State (3-82↓): B
Upon losing Harold Landry, the Titans needed another pass rusher. Oladejo can fill that role…eventually. He’s very raw in terms of his technique, but his physical profile is excellent. Tennessee traded down from 35 and picked up a third-round pick before taking him, which was a good move. That new pick was spent on Winston, who dropped after suffering a partially torn ACL during the 2024 season. He’s another physically gifted player, so Tennessee clearly has a type. Like many Penn State players, Wilson is more of an athlete than a football player. I really like the upside here, but there’s nothing safe about either pick.
2. Cleveland Browns – LB Carson Schwesinger, UCLA (2-33); RB Quinshon Judkins, Ohio State (2-36↓); TE Harold Fannin Jr, Bowling Green (3-67); QB Dillon Gabriel, Oregon (3-94*): B
Schwesinger has great tackling ability and can rush the passer. This was a bit high to take him, but the LB class dropped precipitously after him, so I get it. Judkins was a great pick. Nick Chubb is gone, so a three-down workhorse back was necessary. Last year, Judkins showed that he can contribute in the passing game, not just between the tackles. Fannin is an excellent receiver but is too small to block; the Browns wisely chose him instead of reaching for a WR. Gabriel was a peculiar pick. His upside is minimal as a small QB, and he doesn’t have a big arm. I never know what the Browns are thinking at that position.
3. New York Giants – DT Darius Alexander, Toledo (3-65): C
I understand copying the Super Bowl champions, but the Giants aren’t in any sort of position to be stacking defensive linemen. Twice now, New York has eschewed all of their (many) needs in the name of “best player available”. When you only have one day-2 pick, you have to be surgical with it. I actually like Alexander. He played really well in the MAC and tested well at the Combine. In a vacuum, this is an “A” pick. For the Giants in particular though, it doesn’t make as much sense to me. Are they not going to acquire a secondary, LBs, a TE, or offensive linemen? Good player, but not good team building.
4. New England Patriots – RB TreVeyon Henderson, Ohio State (2-38); WR Kyle Williams, Washington State (3-69); C Jared Wilson, Georgia (3-95↓): A+
I didn’t have an RB high on the Patriots’ wish list, but the value is really good. Henderson is a speedy back who can run between the tackles, catch the ball, and pass protect. He’ll complement Rhamondre Stevenson really well. Williams is a much needed field-stretcher who plays faster than his 4.4 time. His route tree is limited, but he can just blow by people until he develops further. Wilson is an incredibly athletic center who did well in the SEC. Needing to replace David Andrews, NE made a great pick here. This draft has been exclusively about helping QB Drake Maye, and I’m all in on that plan.
5. Jacksonville Jaguars – DB Caleb Ransaw, Tulane (3-88*); OT/G Wyatt Milum, West Virginia (3-89↑): B
A versatile player who can line up at corner or safety, Ransaw can help the Jaguars’ beleaguered secondary wherever he ends up. I think this is a good spot in the draft for him. Milum is an excellent run blocker with the traits to grow in pass protection. The Jaguars clearly valued versatility this draft, as all 3 of their picks so far are able to play two positions (these two aren’t quite like Travis Hunter though). But why did Jacksonville trade up AGAIN? They’re ceding so much draft capital when they’re not close to winning. I’m a fan of protecting Trevor Lawrence better. The team just won’t have much depth without these picks.
6. Las Vegas Raiders – WR Jack Bech, TCU (2-58↓); CB Darien Porter, Iowa State (3-68); OT/G Caleb Rogers, Texas Tech (3-98↓); OT Charles Grant, William and Mary (3-99↓): A-
Put aside the story of Bech overcoming his brother’s tragic death; the kid is a good player. He’s big, and tough, and more athletic than people think, and he has good hands. Vegas needed a receiver, and they got one. Porter comes with excellent size and speed, but his hips aren’t super fluid. Both offensive linemen were good adds; Rogers is safer due to playing at a Power 4 school, but Grant possesses more upside with his physical abilities. If either can play RT, I’ll be very pleased with these picks. I must note that the Raiders got most of their picks by trading down, which is smart for a team with many holes.
7. New York Jets – TE Mason Taylor, LSU (2-42); CB Azareye’h Thomas, Florida State (3-73): A
Just their two original picks for the Jets, and I really liked them both. Taylor is a smooth receiver and a willing blocker who comes from great bloodlines. Beyond Garrett Wilson, the Jets didn’t have any threatening pass catchers. Now they do, and Taylor is very pro-ready. Thomas shouldn’t have been available. He has a second-round skill set, but a slow 40 time scared teams away. New York needed a new CB to replace the departed DJ Reed, and I think they found something here. The kid can play, and if CB whisperer Aaron Glenn likes him, that’s good enough for me. This team is being built properly this weekend.
8. Carolina Panthers – EDGE Nic Scourton, Texas A&M (2-51↑); DE Princely Umanmielen, Mississippi (3-77↑): B-
Shemar Stewart was the first edge rusher from the Aggies to get drafted, but Scourton was the more productive one. He didn’t do quite as well as he did at Purdue, but he was still an All-SEC player that performed well against the run and pass. To me, he was an early second-round talent, so even with a trade up, this is good value. Carolina doubled down on edge rushers with Umanmielen, who is big and strong but a little stiff for my taste. I’m not crazy about this pick, especially with a trade up, but the defensive focus by the Panthers is correct. Taking Jalon Walker at #8 would’ve made this a lot easier though.
9. New Orleans Saints – QB Tyler Shough, Louisville (2-40); DT Vernon Broughton, Texas (3-71); S Jonas Sanker, Virginia (3-93*): D-
The Saints finally took their long-awaited QB, and it was a 25-year-old with three season-ending injuries on his resume. Shough’s skill set is good, but I don’t see the upside. Broughton was a one-year starter at Texas because he played behind some really talented players. He’s a big run stuffer, but I don’t think he warranted going this high. Sanker is a good athlete, but I’m not sure why New Orleans picked him with Justin Reid and Tyrann Mathieu on the team. I could’ve understood a corner, but not a safety. These picks were certainly interesting, but only Broughton makes the Saints even slightly better.
10. Chicago Bears – WR Luther Burden III, Missouri (2-39*); OT Ozzy Trapilo, Boston College (2-56↓); DT Shemar Turner, Texas A&M (2-62↓): C+
What on earth are the Bears doing with their most premium picks? After wasting the 10th selection on an overrated TE, they have now spent their second pick on a WR. The presence of DJ Moore and Rome Odunze means that they shouldn’t have done this, though I really like Burden. He reminds me a bit of Moore actually with his YAC skills. Trapilo is a better pick; he’s a rare second-round player who profiles as a pure tackle. I also like that the Bears traded down for him. As part of that trade, they also landed Turner, which wasn’t as impressive. He has upside, but he’s not the edge rusher Chicago sorely needed.
11. San Francisco 49ers – DT Alfred Collins (2-43); LB Nick Martin, Oklahoma State (3-75); CB Upton Stout, Western Kentucky (3-100): C-
A one-year starter at Texas, Collins showed good run-stuffing ability with some pass rushing potential. He was a good pick, but the team’s other two selections were much more curious. Martin is an undersized LB with a checkered injury history. He is an absolute tackling machine, but San Francisco just let Dre Greenlaw walk because he couldn’t stay healthy. Sticking with the small player theme, Stout is exclusively a slot corner at 5’9″. He’s fine in that role, though level of competition is a concern. Regardless, he isn’t the outside CB the Niners needed to replace Charvarius Ward.
12. Dallas Cowboys – EDGE Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College (2-44); CB Shavon Revel Jr, East Carolina (3-76): A+
Dallas reached in round 1, but they went in the opposite direction on day 2. In fact, they might have gotten the two best values of the night. Ezeiruaku is a proven pass rusher who led the Power 4 in sacks. I was surprised that he didn’t go in the first round, so this was a steal. Somehow, Revel might be an even bigger heist. If not for a torn ACL, he might’ve been the first CB off the board. That injury isn’t a career-threatening one anymore, so I’m puzzled by teams avoiding him. His skill set demanded at least a 2nd-round grade. Without question, nobody did better than the Cowboys on day 2. This haul was that good.
13. Miami Dolphins – OT/G Jonah Savaiinaea, Arizona (2-37↑): B+
With just one pick on day 2, the Dolphins had to address either the secondary or the offensive line. They opted for the former, making a big leap up the board to snag Savaiinaea. Given that he was the last player in his tier at the position to be picked, I understand why Miami made the move, though the cost was rather large. Whether you view him as a tackle or a guard determines the value of this pick. If he’s forced inside, Miami definitely needs help there, but the cost to get him won’t have been worth it. As a tackle, he’d be extremely important as Tua Tagovailoa’s blindside protector. I think he can stick at RT.
14. Indianapolis Colts – DE JT Tuimoloau, Ohio State (2-45); CB Justin Walley, Minnesota (3-80): B+
Once again, the Colts let the board come to them. Tuimoloau had a shot at going late in round 1, so the middle of the second frame is a bargain. His strong run defense and powerful push at the line give him a high floor, but his explosiveness is a bit limited. I like him as an upgrade over the departed Dayo Odeyingbo. Walley is a nice value as well. He’s fast and smooth when he changes direction, and he should be a good fit across from Charvarius Ward. Neither of these picks filled critical needs, and the offensive line still demands attention, but I’m fond of both picks nonetheless.
15. Atlanta Falcons – S Xavier Watts, Notre Dame (3-96↑): A-
Some of these teams are just being reckless in their trading up. Atlanta surrendered their 2026 first-rounder yesterday, and now a 5th-rounder from next year is out the door. As with the James Pearce move though, I really like the player they moved up for. Watts was a second-round talent who fell for no good reason. His athleticism isn’t ideal, but his skill and ball-hawking are elite. Certain players just make plays, and Watts is one of them. Because this trade wasn’t nearly as costly and Watts gives the Falcons a terrifying safety tandem with Jessie Bates, I’m going to grade the pick favorably.
16. Arizona Cardinals – CB Will Johnson, Michigan (2-47); EDGE Jordan Burch, Oregon (3-78): A+
At long last, someone ended Johnson’s slide. This was a top-10 player, but knee concerns caused a significant slide. Teams are apparently worried about the length of his career, but nothing I’ve seen suggests that he’ll be forced to retire early. No matter what, Arizona filled their biggest need with the best player in the class at the position…for just a second-round pick. Burch is another high-upside pick who was a late bloomer in college, playing his best in 2024. His potential is substantial. The Cardinals got the memo about upgrading their defensive talent, and they’ve done so in a fantastic manner.
17. Cincinnati Bengals – LB Demetrius Knight Jr, South Carolina (2-49); G Dylan Fairchild, Georgia (3-81): B-
By targeting their defense and offensive line, the Bengals did exactly what we expected. Knight is a 25-year-old prospect who isn’t great in coverage, which doesn’t sound like a second-round player to me. After taking someone in Shemar Stewart who is all traits and no production, Cincinnati did the opposite here. I’m much higher on the Fairchild pick. He’s an aggressive blocker who needs to hone his talent, but there’s plenty of talent to harness. His athleticism is off the charts for a guard, and he fills an important need. The thought process behind both of these picks was good, but one was much better than the other.
18. Seattle Seahawks – S Nick Emmanwori, South Carolina (2-35↑); TE Elijah Arroyo, Miami (2-50); QB Jalen Milroe, Alabama (3-92*): B
If Seattle took Emmanwori at 18 as they were rumored to possibly do, I wouldn’t have complained. Even with a trade up, snagging him at 35 is fantastic value. He’d fit right into the team’s old Legion of Boom. Arroyo gives new QB Sam Darnold a big security blanket in the middle of the field. He’s talented, but there are medical question marks. The Milroe selection is bizarre to me. While his physical profile is nearly unmatched, he is not a good passer right now. Seattle just signed Darnold to a big contract, and even Sam Howell is a better thrower of the football. This is pretty much a wasted selection.
19. Tampa Bay Buccaneers – CB Benjamin Morrison, Notre Dame (2-53); CB Jacob Parrish, Kansas State (3-84): A-
The Buccaneers clearly thought their secondary needed work, and they doubled down on the CB position. Morrison is another corner in this draft who fell due to injury concerns, as he was a late first-round or early second-round talent. He provided really sticky coverage in 2023 before he missed most of the 2024 campaign. Parrish isn’t quite as notable, but he possesses good speed and will probably end up in the slot. He was a bit of a reach, but not by too much. After wasting a first-rounder on a superfluous receiver, the Bucs have refocused on what they actually need to improve their team.
20. Denver Broncos – RB RJ Harvey, UCF (2-60↓); WR Pat Bryant, Illinois (3-74↓); EDGE Sai’vion Jones, LSU (3-101↑): D
It took two successive trades down, but Denver finally acquired their long-awaited running back. Unfortunately, the best options went off the board earlier than even their original 51st pick. Maybe Denver panicked, because Harvey was a reach. He’s a former QB who doesn’t have any special skills as an RB. Bryant makes even less sense, as he’s basically Courtland Sutton without any ability to separate from DBs. Jones was their best pick. He wasn’t consistent at LSU, but he flashed star potential. The skills are certainly there for him to make a leap. That doesn’t make up for the 2 other poor picks though.
21. Pittsburgh Steelers – RB Kaleb Johnson, Iowa (3-83): B
Amazingly, Pittsburgh had another chance at QB Shedeur Sanders with this pick. Unsurprisingly, they passed. Owner Art Rooney II said that he expects Aaron Rodgers to sign soon, so that settles their QB issue for this season at least. That hint allowed the Steelers to shift gears and focus on replacing Najee Harris. They did so with another power back in Johnson. I’ve heard a few character question marks about him, and he isn’t really an asset on third down. However, he is probably the best bruiser in this draft not named Ashton Jeanty. His running style fits the Steelers, and they’re targeting needs with their limited picks.
22. Los Angeles Chargers – WR Tre Harris, Mississippi (2-55); DT Jamaree Caldwell, Oregon (3-86): A
While I thought the Chargers might target a WR with the 22nd pick, they waited until pick 55 and got a really solid player. Harris is a superb route-runner and wins most 50/50 balls. His speed was better than I expected from his testing, but he’s not a burner. Overall, he’s a superior version of the departed Josh Palmer. Caldwell is a throwback nose tackle whose only job is to eat space and let his teammates flourish. He does that job well, and LA was missing someone who could bottle up opposing running games. I was really critical of the Chargers’ first-round pick, but they’ve bounced back nicely.
23. Green Bay Packers – OT/G Anthony Belton, NC State (2-54); WR Savion Williams, TCU (3-87): B
Helping QB Jordan Love become more consistent seems to be the Packers’ goal, and I can’t argue with it. Belton will help with his protection, and Green Bay was due to draft at least one lineman this year. He’s a large, powerful man, but he might not be athletic enough to stick at tackle. I think he’ll get a chance to earn one of the tackle spots though. Williams is a physically imposing receiver who uses his size to make plays, not speed. He has experience as a wildcat QB and can box out opposing players. With Christian Watson always hurt, the Packers didn’t have someone like that. This is a solid pair of players.
24. Minnesota Vikings – WR Tai Felton, Maryland (3-102↓): C
As Minnesota entered the draft with just 4 picks, I’m glad they traded down before making their 3rd-round selection. Alas, they traded two picks for two picks with slightly better value, so they still only have 4 total. Making matters worse, the Vikings took a receiver, where they already have Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. I think Felton is a good player. He brings length at 6’4″, solid speed, and strong production. His fit as a 3rd-round pick is very logical. I just don’t understand why a team with so few picks spent one of them on a WR3 when other needs were far more pressing.
25. Houston Texans – WR Jayden Higgins, Iowa State (2-34↓); OT Aireontae Ersery, Minnesota (2-48↑); WR Jaylin Noel, Iowa State (3-79*); CB Jaylin Smith, USC (3-97↑): A-
I’ll group the two Hawkeyes together as the Texans selected both members of Iowa State’s strong receiving tandem. Higgins ran well at the Combine despite his large size, which made me think more highly of him. He didn’t quite play that fast, but he was highly productive. Noel played very fast, and he too produced well. Inconsistent hands caused him to slide. CJ Stroud needed the help with Tank Dell injured. He got some more with Ersery, who is raw but can definitely stick at tackle. Smith is an unpolished corner who has talent but not skill. Houston’s first 3 picks were better, but all of them serve a purpose.
26. Los Angeles Rams – TE Terrance Ferguson, Oregon (2-46↓); EDGE Josaiah Stewart, Michigan (3-90): B-
We knew that the Rams wanted a TE, but the top prospects went early. LA reached in grabbing Ferguson. He has potential, but he never fully lived up to it at Oregon. His numbers weren’t bad, but they should’ve been much higher given the surrounding talent. I trust Sean McVay to extract Ferguson’s best stuff, but this was a round or two too early. Stewart is like the edge equivalent of Braden Fiske: a little athletically limited but knows how to play. He’s a smaller player who probably can’t handle power linemen, but he’s a tactician when it comes to hunting QBs. More talent for an already good front can’t hurt.
27. Baltimore Ravens – DE Mike Green, Marshall (2-59); OT Emery Jones Jr, LSU (3-91): A
Yet again, Baltimore had another talented player fall to them. This time though, there’s severe risk. Green apparently did not answer satisfactorily when teams asked him about his two sexual assault accusations. There’s no denying the talent: he led the FBS in sacks and dominated the Senior Bowl. Green may be a great player, and he has been forthcoming about the off-the-field stuff, so this was a risk worth taking. Jones is a powerful tackle who belongs on the right side. He had mixed tape, but the potential is definitely there. As usual, this is another good haul for Baltimore.
28. Detroit Lions – G Tate Ratledge, Georgia (2-57↑); WR Isaac TeSlaa, Arkansas (3-70↑): D
Once more, a highly athletic interior Georgia lineman got taken. Far more prolific as a run blocker than as a pass protector, Ratledge will slot right in for Kevin Zeitler, who left for Tennessee. With some polish, he could become a complete guard and solidify an already great line. The TeSlaa pick was simply nuts. He’s a good receiver with production and size, though he doesn’t have top-end speed. My issue is that Detroit vaulted from 102 to 70 by trading away TWO 2026 third-round picks. In total, that’s 3 third-rounders for one merely decent receiver. That’s not smart business at all. Ratledge saves the grade here.
29. Washington Commanders – CB Trey Amos, Mississippi (2-61): A+
Washington possessed just one pick, but boy, was it a good one! Amos had a first-round grade from me. His tape was excellent, and his length was ideal. People questioned his speed, but then he shut that down with a great 40 time. Somehow, he fell all the way to the end of the second round. I’ll be curious to see what teams didn’t like, because I haven’t heard about any injury concerns. The Commanders needed an outside CB like this, as it allows them to move Mike Sainristil back to his natural position in the slot. Good roster construction is how the Commanders turned their team around so quickly, and they’re at it again.
30. Buffalo Bills – DT TJ Sanders, South Carolina (2-41↑); EDGE Landon Jackson, Arkansas (3-72↑): A
Due to their surplus of picks, Buffalo made two trades up the board to go after exactly the players they wanted. Both of them buffed up the trenches, which is a spot where the Bills needed to get better. Sanders is a pocket pusher, but he’s also good against the run despite his slightly smaller size relative to nose tackles. He’ll free Ed Oliver up to really hunt QBs. Jackson was a 2nd-round prospect who blew up the Combine, but his production was merely average. Those athletic traits are what you bet on in round 3 though, and I’m fine with a Super Bowl contender making targeted trades up to fill needs.
31. Kansas City Chiefs – DT Omarr Norman-Lott, Tennessee (2-63); EDGE Ashton Gillotte, Louisville (3-66*); CB Nohl Williams, California (3-85↑): B
I know that some teams considered Norman-Lott a sleeper, as he was a part-time starter who showed explosive pass-rushing ability. As an undersized DT, he’s a bit redundant with Chris Jones for my taste, but he’s good at his job. Gillotte was also very productive in college, but he’s an average athlete. I can see him working out as part of a rotation. Williams is a ball hawk who could’ve been selected earlier. He gambles a bit too much in coverage, but he gives you plenty of big plays. Think of him as a poor man’s Trevon Diggs. KC didn’t make overly impressive selections, but they were pretty solid.
32. Philadelphia Eagles – S Andrew Mukuba, Texas (2-64): C+
If certain sources are correct, before the Eagles traded up for Jihaad Campbell in round 1, they first tried jumping up for S Malaki Starks. Philadelphia remade their CB room last year, but they clearly thought that a safety upgrade was in order. I had a third-round grade on Mukuba. While his ball skills are excellent and he covers well, he’s a little small. Bigger receivers will box him out, and though he plays really hard in the run game, I worry that might get him injured. DC Vic Fangio will use him properly as a pure free safety, so I don’t hate this pick. Xavier Watts was on the board though, and he’s the better safety.