With the pre-draft process for the 2025 NFL Draft in full swing, it's time to take a closer look at a few players who went undervalued in the latest update of our Draft Network Top 100. Every year, certain prospects slip through the cracks, whether due to positional value, lack of production, injury, or prospect fatigue. But the more you dig in, the clearer it becomes: the following ballplayers deserve a bump up.
From explosive playmakers to disruptive defenders, each of these prospects has the skill set to continue to rise as the draft process unfolds and we work toward April. Let’s break down why they’re being overlooked and why they should be climbing our board.
Shemar Stewart, EDGE, Texas A&M (No. 27)
Lack of sack production continues to be the knock on Shemar Stewart’s game, but a deeper dive into A&M’s defensive scheme shows that the Aggies asked Stewart to stop the run first, not to pin his ears back as an explosive 5-technique. Just look at Nic Scourton’s production, also. A dominant force at the Senior Bowl, Stewart has the size, length, twitch… really everything you look for in a potential Pro Bowler along a defensive front. Taking the reins off of him as a pass rusher could showcase one of the most productive pass-rushers from the 2025 class. He’s a top-10 player for me.
Donovan Ezeiruaku, EDGE, Boston College (No. 32)
Entering 2024, I wanted to see Donovan Ezeiruaku take that next step in his progression before I thrust him into the top 50 conversation. This fall, all he did was show up, execute, and dominate the blockers tasked with trying to keep him away from the pocket. He was named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year. Turn on his tape against Pittsburgh to see one of the most dominant performances, from any player, in the 2025 class. He may come off the board late on day one or early on day two, but he's become a top-20 player for me in this draft.
Femi Oladejo, EDGE, UCLA (No. 54)
A continued ‘riser’ in the process, don’t be shocked to hear Femi Oladejo’s name on night one come April. Yes, you read that right. A dynamic and physical former off-ball ‘backer turned edge rusher, Oladejo is a ball of clay at the position whose success near the line of scrimmage popped consistently on tape, leading into his outstanding week at the Senior Bowl. As smart as they come within the front seven, he’s the type of player teams are going to be fighting to add when we get to the 25-35 range of selections on draft night.
Benjamin Morrison, CB, Notre Dame (No. 70)
There’s way too much prospect fatigue around the industry on Benjamin Morrison. An elite technician at the position, a healthy Morrison is a first-round pick in any class. While the hip surgery and medicals remain a talking point in his game, Morrison has the potential to shut down his side of the field as a pure man cover corner—a lost art in today’s game. He’s right up there with Travis Hunter and Will Johnson as far as the elites at the position in the class.
Derrick Harmon, DL, Oregon (No. 86)
There’s still some fine-tuning needed in his game (rush plan, pad level) and he has room to gain muscle, but Derrick Harmon is a disruptive and alignment-versatile player who remains among the top interior ballplayers in the class. Only one year of production at Oregon after three seasons at Michigan State has some teams shying away, but at his best, Harmon could become a highly disruptive force within a defensive line that has talent around him. Keep an eye on the Eagles at No. 32 overall.
Ashton Gillotte, EDGE, Louisville (No. 94)
I haven’t seen the twitch and power showcased in Ashton Gillotte’s game from many other players in the class. A standout at Louisville, Gillotte amassed 153 pressures in the last two seasons combined (14 sacks) and he has become a player who continually gets left out of conversations among the top EDGEs due to the overwhelming talent pool this spring. He projects as a winning starter at the NFL level and is one of the biggest sleepers in the entire class. Someone is going to strike gold with him on day two.
Honorable mentions for those outside the Draft Network Top 100:
Joshua Farmer (DL, Florida State)
Chandler Martin (LB, Memphis)
