20 hidden gems to know for the 2025 NFL Draft

By now, everyone knows all about the big names available in the 2025 NFL Draft. But there are always plenty of Day 3 players who end up outperforming their draft position. Here's a look at some candidates to do so this year, all of whom are currently outside the Top 100 on the NFL Mock Draft Database consensus big board.

It's not the best year to need a quarterback, but who's to say we won't have a pleasant surprise emerge further down the board? McCord took his game to new heights at Syracuse after getting pushed out of Ohio State. He's on time from the pocket, accurate to all levels of the field, and plays with a gunslinger mentality. That can cause some trouble with his decision-making because he doesn't quite have the arm to match, but the aggressiveness can be appreciated. Think Jameis Winston. A high-variance backup who can win you some games in a pinch is certainly worth a pick in the later rounds.

A loaded running back class naturally results in some pretty special talents flying under the radar. Sanders might be at the top of that list. His mediocre production upon returning from injury this past season is probably the main reason for the limited buzz, but the tape is too good to ignore. Sanders is a patient runner who demonstrates excellent vision to set up his blocks. He's also more elusive than most ball-carriers his size, and he's got the long speed to hit the big play. There's legitimate lead-back upside here if he can clean up his fumble issues.

Croskey-Merritt probably wouldn't even be classified as a hidden gem if eligibility issues didn't keep him on the sidelines for all but one game after transferring to Arizona in 2024. The skills he put on display the year prior at New Mexico are worthy of far more attention. Croskey-Merritt runs with great vision and offers a unique combination of downhill explosiveness and lateral agility. His knack for setting up defenders and cutting on a dime makes for some incredible highlights. He's also a willing and capable pass-protector.

Thornton has two things you can't teach: size and speed. There aren't many 6-foot-5 receivers who run a 4.3. He'll need to expand his route tree to become a starting-caliber player, but that can be said about any receiver coming out of that unique Tennessee offense. And it's not like you need him in a high-volume role to return value. His ability to take the top off the defense and make plays in the contested-catch game could get him on the field quickly. Thornton's presence will force defenses to respect the deep ball, and he can make them pay when they don't.

Badger seems to be flying under the radar due to his relatively pedestrian production, but sometimes numbers don't tell the whole story. The Florida receiver is a smooth athlete who has a good release package and creates easy separation with his routes. He's a consistent finisher at the catch point (zero drops in 2024) and is a playmaker with the ball in his hands. Badger could contribute immediately in the right opportunity.

Fidone's college production doesn't move the needle at all. You may remember that the same was true about George Kittle when he was a fifth-round pick back in 2017. That's not to say we've found another All-Pro tight end on Day 3, but there are at least some similarities in untapped potential. Fidone is an impressive athlete whose explosiveness and route-running skills have provided legitimately exciting flashes in the pass game. And like Kittle, albeit to a lesser extent, he's shown the ability to contribute as an in-line blocker - a rare trait for tight ends coming out of college.

Conyers is another tight end whose receiving production won't necessarily stand out. As is so often the case for players at this position, that seems to be more about opportunity than ability. That Texas Tech lined him up in the backfield, including as a wildcat QB, tells you everything you need to know about his athleticism. Those skills were confirmed by an outstanding combine workout. Conyers can make things happen with the ball in his hands, and he's shown the ability to go up and get it in contested-catch situations. Although his in-line reps were limited because he played all over the formation, he's proven capable of holding his own as a blocker in the run game.

Frazier isn't getting nearly enough attention as part of this offensive line class. He was a consistent force at right guard for LSU in 2024, not allowing a single sack in 545 pass-block snaps, according to PFF. He's got both the lateral movement skills to match finesse rushers and the ability to drop the anchor against power. He also shows the quick processing to pass off and pick up assignments against stunts and twists. Frazier can create significant movement off the ball in the run game or get out around the edge as a puller. Put him in a gap-blocking scheme that fits his skill set, and you could have an instant-impact, long-term starter.

Lampkin's size may ultimately keep him from putting together a productive pro career; 5-foot-10 and 279 pounds is unprecedented for an NFL offensive lineman. But then you watch him in action, and it's tough to imagine he doesn't find a way. He's quick, plays with great technique, and is much stronger than you'd think. It's just not that easy to out-leverage the guy. A likely move to center only further complicates the projection, but don't be too quick to count him out. The tape is good enough that someone should be happy to take a shot on him. And it may pay off.

At 6-foot-1, Rucker doesn't have the ideal size for a full-time role on the edge. And with a leg injury keeping him out of pre-draft workouts, his athletic profile is another major question mark. But that'll all be built into the acquisition cost. The tape is too good to pass up on Day 3. Rucker is quick off the ball, and he demonstrates impressive hand usage both as a rusher and run defender. He's got a deep bag of pass-rush moves at his disposal, including the ability to counter, and his motor always keeps a rep alive. He also plays with more power than you might expect for a player of his size. Rucker has a real chance to contribute as a sub-package edge rusher, and he may even be able to hold his own in the run game.

Athleticism alone can be enough to provide some upside as a pass-rusher. Diggs certainly checks that box, as confirmed by some outstanding pro day testing, but he's also shown those abilities on the field. He's an explosive player with the speed to win the edge, hand usage to further expand his rush arsenal, and the physicality to be a factor in the run game. Diggs spent some time as an off-ball linebacker this year, but at 6-foot-4 and 257 pounds with 33-inch arms, he's got solid size for the edge. A good coaching staff will love the traits and see the potential for an impact player with some time to develop.

Peebles' height (6-foot-0), weight (282 pounds), and arm length (31 3/8 inches) all raise fair questions about his ability to hold up as an NFL run defender. His potential to impact passing downs gives him a pretty clear path to success, though. Peebles is explosive off the ball, wins with great hand usage, and his extensive pass-rush repertoire includes a nasty spin move. He also has more power than you might expect for a player of his stature. Calijah Kancey's success in Tampa Bay at a similar size should make evaluators more open to Peebles. If not, someone may end up with a major steal.

Simmons hasn't received much attention in the leadup to the draft, but that's understandable considering his relatively limited role at Tennessee, which included only 187 snaps in his sixth and final season. But he did flash quite a bit in his limited opportunities. Simmons is a stout nose tackle who can drop the anchor and eat up double teams in the run game. He's also got some impressive explosiveness off the ball, which can allow him to reset the line of scrimmage and even occasionally push the pocket as a pass-rusher. The interesting combination of power and quickness could allow for an uptick in production at the NFL level.

Mondon is an undersized linebacker who faces some significant questions about his ability to contribute as a run defender. Here's to wagering a guess that a unique skill set in the pass game makes him an impact player. Mondon is an instinctive coverage defender who has a great feel for zones and demonstrates the man-to-man skills to match up with both tight ends and running backs. Put him in a platoon with an early-down thumper and enjoy the unique advantage of having a plus coverage defender at linebacker.

Buchanan is a natural fit as a sub-package linebacker. He's a high-end athlete who demonstrates excellent movement skills in coverage and the instincts to put himself in position to make plays. He also provides upside as a blitzer from the second level. He'll probably be drafted late due to concerns over his fit on early downs, but those may be overblown. Impressive processing skills and pursuit speed give him value as a run-and-chase linebacker, even if he may not have the take-on skills to stack and shed against climbing linemen. Buchanan is also a reliable tackler.

Dolac is undersized for the linebacker position at just over 6 feet and 221 pounds. That'll make it tough for him to take on blocks at the next level, but there's a lot to like here. The Buffalo standout still produced in the ground game by processing plays quickly, navigating traffic, and consistently getting the ball-carrier on the ground. His 89 tackles against the run were 17 clear of the second-most productive linebacker in the nation last year, and he only missed four such attempts on the season, according to PFF. Dolac also plays with good instincts and movement skills in the pass game, and an outstanding pro day workout should quiet any concerns about his athletic profile. He was a consensus first-team All-American who didn't get an invitation to either the combine or the Senior Bowl. That may soon look even more egregious.

Longerbeam lacks size, with his weight falling in the first percentile among cornerbacks. That'll likely present some challenges when dealing with more physical receivers and projecting any consistent run-game contributions. But the cover talent is real. Longerbeam is an explosive athlete with the speed and fluidity to provide tight coverage at all levels of the field, including out of press-man alignments. He could get an opportunity to stick on the boundary and make teams regret overthinking the size.

Ransaw is a little short on production, having recorded just one interception and five pass breakups combined in his last two seasons at Tulane. Improving his coverage instincts will indeed be imperative for success at the next level. But spectacular physical tools give him plenty of upside; Ransaw is an explosive athlete who ran a 4.33 at the combine. He's also a force out of the slot in the run game. It's not easy to find defensive backs with this combination of movement skills and physicality.

Roberts became a must-watch prospect after putting on a show at his pro day, testing as the most athletic safety in this class, according to Relative Athletic Score. The tape doesn't disappoint, either. His unique movement skills were on full display last year at Marshall, giving him the range and ability to explode out of transitions to make plays on the ball from the deep middle. While Roberts finished the season without an interception, he did lead all FBS safeties with 13 pass breakups, according to PFF. He also makes his presence felt flying downhill in run support, despite his below-average size for the position. The significant jump in competition will lead to a long list of safeties getting drafted ahead of him, but Roberts' upside is worth a swing.

Defensive backs named Woodson have to be good, right? Even if the last name (unrelated) isn't enough to sell you, the tape can probably take care of that. The Cal product is a good athlete who's at his best as a deep safety. His transition quickness, speed, and coverage instincts allow him to cover plenty of ground from the third level. He's also a physical tackler coming downhill in the run game. Woodson will likely be drafted as a backup and core special-teams player, but it shouldn't come as a surprise if he pushes for a starting role before long.

Dan Wilkins is theScore's senior NFL writer.