Best Value Picks of the 2025 NFL Draft (Based on Our Grade Projections)

The 2025 NFL Draft delivered no shortage of drama — from high-profile trades inside the top 10 to Shedeur Sanders’ surprising Day 3 slide. But beyond the headline moments, a handful of teams quietly walked away with elite value by selecting players who dramatically outperformed their draft slot.

Using our Football Scout 365 grading model — which factors in positional value, scheme fit, athletic profile, and long-term ceiling — we’ve identified the top value picks of this year’s draft. These prospects fell due to injuries, depth at their position, or simply being overlooked in a deep class, but they project as high-impact contributors with strong long-term upside.

Here are some of the biggest value steals of the 2025 NFL Draft, complete with their grade tier, projected draft range, and round selected.

Round 2 – Pick 47). Arizona Cardinals: CB Will Johnson, Michigan

📊 Grade: Elite📈 Projected Draft Range: Top 5–10 (1st Round)

An absolute heist for Arizona in Round 2. Johnson was our No. 5 overall player — a silky smooth boundary corner with CB1 traits, All-Pro potential, and elite ball skills. Concerns over a past medical procedure caused a drop, but make no mistake: if healthy, Johnson is an immediate difference-maker.

Round 2 – Pick 50). Baltimore Ravens: EDGE Mike Green, Marshall

📊 Grade: Near Elite📈 Projected Draft Range: Mid-to-Late 1st Round

Green was one of the most disruptive edge defenders in this class — an explosive, twitchy pass rusher with elite burst and refined hand usage. Despite grading as a top-10 prospect, Green slid into the second round. Baltimore lands a future three-down impact player for its multiple front scheme.

Round 5 – Pick 144). Cleveland Browns: QB Shedeur Sanders, Colorado

📊 Grade: Mid-Level Starter Potential 📈 Projected Draft Range: 4th–5th Round

Sanders' slide into Round 5 might go down as one of the wildest stories of the draft. While our board reflected a 4th–5th round grade, his leadership, poise, and touch made him a Day 2-caliber talent when factoring positional value. The Browns may have landed a developmental starter behind Deshaun Watson.

Round 1 – Pick 27). Baltimore Ravens: S Malaki Starks, Georgia

📊 Grade: Near Elite📈 Projected Draft Range: Mid-to-Late 1st Round

The Ravens did what smart teams do — let the board fall to them. Starks, the No. 12 player on our board, gives them a perfect complement to Kyle Hamilton. His range, instincts, and tackling efficiency make him a rare late-Round 1 value with Pro Bowl potential.

Round 2 – Pick 53). Tampa Bay Buccaneers: CB Benjamin Morrison, Notre Dame

📊 Grade: Near Elite 📈 Projected Draft Range: Mid-to-Late 1st Round

A sticky man-coverage specialist with zone versatility, Morrison was ranked 18th overall by our staff. Tampa Bay grabbed a plug-and-play starter with elite instincts and technique for a fraction of the cost of a top-20 pick.

Round 3 – Pick 76). Dallas Cowboys: CB Shavon Revel, East Carolina

📊 Grade: Near Elite📈 Projected Draft Range: Mid-to-Late 1st Round

Revel’s ACL tear dropped his stock, but he’s a top-20 talent when healthy. A long, aggressive press corner with fluid hips and advanced ball skills, Revel could emerge as one of the top value picks in the draft if he returns to form in 2025.

Round 4 – Pick 123). Pittsburgh Steelers: EDGE Jack Sawyer, Ohio State

📊 Grade: High-End Starter Potential 📈 Projected Draft Range: 2nd–3rd Round

Pittsburgh stays true to its identity with a physical, high-motor edge rusher who was a Round 2 value on our board. Sawyer’s blend of power, effort, and scheme versatility makes him an ideal rotational piece with long-term starting potential.

Round 4 – Pick 136). Los Angeles Rams: LB Chris Paul Jr., Ole Miss

📊 Grade: High-End Starter Potential 📈 Projected Draft Range: 2nd–3rd Round

Paul Jr. is a heat-seeking WILL linebacker with sideline-to-sideline range, explosive blitzing upside, and coverage traits to stay on the field all three downs. While undersized, he’s a modern linebacker who thrives in space and should immediately compete for snaps in L.A.’s front seven.

Round 4 – Pick 140). Tennessee Titans: WR Elic Ayomanor, Stanford

📊 Grade: High-End Starter Potential 📈 Projected Draft Range: 2nd–3rd Round

Ayomanor brings size, strength, and physicality to Tennessee’s receiving corps. A true alpha X receiver with strong hands and vertical skills, Ayomanor was a fringe Day 2 grade on our board. If he continues refining his route tree, he could be a breakout rookie contributor in 2025.

Round 4 – Pick 142). Kansas City Chiefs: LB Jeffrey Bassa, Oregon

📊 Grade: High-End Starter Potential 📈 Projected Draft Range: 2nd–3rd Round

Bassa is a former safety turned hybrid linebacker with elite movement skills in coverage. His ability to mirror tight ends and running backs makes him an ideal fit in Kansas City’s sub-package heavy defense. He’ll compete early in nickel/dime looks and could grow into an every-down WILL.

Round 5 – Pick 152). Kansas City Chiefs: WR Jalen Royals, Utah State

📊 Grade: High-End Starter Potential 📈 Projected Draft Range: 2nd–3rd Round

Royals is a crafty separator with a natural feel for leverage and route tempo. He wins underneath and in space, making him a seamless fit in Kansas City’s timing-based spread attack. Despite lacking elite top speed, his short-area quickness and zone-beating prowess make him a sleeper to watch in 2025.