When assessing who may stand out from the 2025 draft class within the AFC, skill-position players dominated the list. That is not the case within the NFC, the place two offensive linemen might be among the many most impactful rookies this season.
This is our record, ranked in inverse order of potential influence. Every participant is a first-round choice.
5. Gray Zabel, guard, Seattle Seahawks
Seattle’s offensive line points from 2024 have to be fastened with new beginning QB Sam Darnold, who’s much less cellular than final season’s starter, Geno Smith. The Seahawks understood that and chosen Zabel, who they hope will decrease their sack complete from final season (54, lower than only two other teams).
The previous North Dakota State guard will present an enormous elevate to Seattle’s offense, which can be trying to set up the run with offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak taking up the play-calling duties.
Zabel’s versatility will enable the Seahawks to regulate accordingly if gamers alongside the offensive line proceed to wrestle.
“Immediate starter,” ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. called Zabel.
4. Tyler Booker, guard, Dallas Cowboys
Taking a skill-position participant, whether or not a operating again or huge receiver, was nearly a common choose for the Cowboys in mock drafts. Nonetheless, Dallas leaned on its power of drafting and creating offensive linemen by deciding on Alabama product Booker.
Regardless of being a guard — which isn’t a premium place — Booker was thought-about a top-15 prospect on this 12 months’s draft class. QB Dak Prescott has suffered two vital accidents prior to now 5 seasons, hampering his mobility, so it is vital that Dallas retains him upright. Booker will assist.
3. Matthew Golden, WR, Inexperienced Bay
Golden, who transferred to Texas after two seasons at Houston, was one of many extra controversial prospects for scouts to judge all through the draft course of.
Whereas a number of groups seen the Texas wideout (58 catches, 987 yards, 9 TDs in 2024) as a first-round expertise, the manufacturing didn’t meet expertise. Golden’s inconsistencies in faculty might be boiled right down to Quinn Ewers’ ineptitude at quarterback. (The Dolphins chosen Ewers within the seventh spherical.)
Nonetheless, for the primary time since 2022, the Packers used a first-round choose on a receiver.
Christian Watson, who suffered a torn ACL in Week 18 towards the Chicago Bears, and Romeo Doubs are getting into the ultimate years of their rookie offers. With each gamers prone to depart in free company following the 2025 season, Golden may set up himself because the clear WR1, which is one thing the Packers have been trying to find the previous few seasons.
2. Jalon Walker, EDGE, Atlanta Falcons
Atlanta’s sack manufacturing in 2024 was paltry (31, 31st in the NFL).
The Falcons made certain that may not be a difficulty this season, taking two pass-rushers within the first spherical: Georgia’s Walker and Tennessee’s James Pearce Jr. Giving up a 2026 first-round choose to the Los Angeles Rams for Pearce Jr. was perplexing, however Atlanta now has a formidable pass-rushing tandem.
It was shocking that Walker, who Kiper Jr. had tenth on his massive board, slipped exterior the highest 10. The previous Georgia pass-rusher is a bit undersized for his place (6-foot-2 and 245 kilos), however his versatility and uncooked athleticism are attributes he can lean on to excel within the NFL.
1. Abdul Carter, EDGE, New York Giants
Skipping a quarterback and taking one of many blue-chip prospects on this 12 months’s class with the third choose was the proper determination by the Giants. This choice additionally allowed New York to commerce again into the primary spherical to seize a possible franchise quarterback in Mississippi’s Jaxson Dart.
Carter, who’s 6-foot-3 and 250 kilos, was one of many extra dominant defensive gamers in faculty soccer final season. That was evident in his efficiency towards Notre Dame within the School Soccer Playoff, when the 21-year-old edge-rusher recorded one sack, seven pressures, a 22% stress fee (per Pro Football Focus) and three run stops regardless of a shoulder harm.
With Brian Burns Jr., Kayvon Thibodeaux, Dexter Lawrence and Carter, the Giants boast one of many higher defensive traces within the NFL.
