The 2025 NFL Combine wasn’t just about 40-yard dashes and bench press reps—it’s a prime networking hub where intel is swapped behind the scenes. Between hotel lobbies, late-night dinners, and the floors of the Indianapolis Convention Center, the real action was in the conversations that could ultimately shape draft boards.
While sifting through the smoke is a part of the business, some of it is often tangible, and it all adds fuel to the fire that is the draft process. Following the week in Indianapolis, here are a few notes from conversations around the league.
What Does Tennessee Do At 1?
If I had to give you an answer right now, I’d say to expect the Titans and GM Mike Borgonzi to trade back. How far? We’ll see, but conversations continue to trend toward the Titans moving back with a team like the Giants, who have their sights set on Miami QB Cam Ward. Penn State pass rusher Abdul Carter is the No. 1 player on the Titans’ board, per multiple sources, and if Tennessee can trade back, add capital, and add their top player, you could classify the early portions of Borgonzi’s first draft haul as a win.
Stacking the QBs
There’s a whole lot of discourse surrounding the signal-callers in the 2025 class. For some, Ward is the clear top option at the position with a massive gap between him and the rest of the class. For others, Shedeur Sanders sits atop Ward on the QB totem pole in a close 1-2. However, post-combine, it looks like the former continues to be the trend in which the NFL is moving as April nears.
While Ward looks to be a lock for the top 10, it remains to be seen where the likes of Sanders, Jalen Milroe, Tyler Shough, Jaxson Dart, Will Howard, and the rest of the QB class land. Not a single person will bat an eye should Ward and Sanders represent the lone two QBs to come off the board on night one. Free agency will assist in finding homes for the rest of the rookie class, but don’t be shocked if we see just one quarterback come off the board in round one.
Chicago Locked in on Ashton Jeanty
The core talent surrounding QB Caleb Williams is expected to improve even further in the coming months. While adding pieces up front continues to be a focus on the pro side of things, adding Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty at No. 10 overall was one of the more common topics of conversation at the combine. With wideouts DJ Moore, Rome Odunze, and tight end Cole Kmet already in place, along with the addition of HC Ben Johnson in the headset, Jeanty was a common player-team match that was discussed throughout the week by a variety of different folks.
While things of course can, and will, change for teams, the historically productive ball-carrier could very soon find himself in the NFC North taking handoffs from the 2024 No. 1 overall pick.
Buzzworthy First-Round Names
Every year some guys blow up the NFL Combine, whether it’s on the field in testing or in meeting rooms with their ability to sell themselves to prospective NFL clubs. Two names I wanted to mention for you all to keep an eye on as potential first-round names are UCLA LB Carson Schwesinger and LSU TE Mason Taylor.
In a class where beyond the Carter, Travis Hunter, and Mason Graham bucket remains up in the air, picks from five to 32 will ultimately come down to ‘beauty is in the eye of the beholder.’ It only takes one team to fall in love with a prospect, and both Schwesinger and Taylor were constant names that popped up in regards to players that could sneak into the backend of round one. Another name to watch is Iowa State WR Jaylin Noel.
