2025 NFL Draft Analysis: Evaluating Surprises from Travis Hunter to Dillon Gabriel
Every year at the NFL Draft, we are reminded of famous busts, as well as players who lived up to the potential the team expected when they drafted them. Tipp Major looks at the teams who made him turn his head in excitement with their draft selection. He was also left scratching his head in confusion with some of the selections made by other teams. Read on for this 2025 post NFL Draft analysis.
Tipp Major - May 4, 2025, 6:30 PM EDT
6 min2025 NFL Draft Analysis: Evaluating Surprises from Travis Hunter to Dillon Gabriel
Nothing was more entertaining than Matthew Golden chanting the wrong Green Bay Chant. It’s Go Pack Go, Matthew! But seriously the Shedeur Sanders fiasco was must-see TV on its own. He was supposed to be drafted in the first round, was drafted in the 5th round, and could be the Browns starter at the beginning of the year. Maybe a shot at rookie of the year? It’s +1900 on FanDuel currently.
Each year after the NFL Draft we get draft grades. This tells the public how well each team did or didn’t do based on the team’s needs. Well, this article isn’t about any grades. I dislike grades. Grades don’t define a player fully. Instead, we will talk about some head-turning moves and some head-scratchers that happened during the draft.
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2025 NFL Draft Head-Turning Surprises
Travis Hunter - 1st Round: Pick 2 by Jacksonville Jaguars
Spotlight's on you, Trevor Lawrence. No more excuses; you've survived the Urban Meyer and Doug Pederson eras, and now you find yourself with perhaps one of the greatest weapons the NFL has ever seen: Travis Hunter. Anytime you have a dynamic player paired with an aggressive head coach like Liam Coen, it could signal redemption and rejuvenate the offense. Hunter fits in perfectly, and how they perform together on the field will be something to watch during training camp and leading to the season.
Omarion Hampton - 1st Round: Pick 22 by Los Angeles Chargers
What could be better for an RB than playing in a system with Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman? Hampton is the running back who could make an immediate impact in this offense. Things were looking promising for Najee Harris, especially from a fantasy perspective, until Thursday night of the draft. Hampton is not only capable of competing for touches with Harris, but I believe that as the season progresses, Hampton will become the focal point of the Chargers' running game. However, Harris could become a troublesome presence near the goal line, potentially stealing touchdowns. The run game for the Chargers should be a force in 2025.
Jayden Higgins - 2nd Round: Pick 34 by Houston Texans
Last year’s debacle in Houston left them no choice but to go after wide receiver early and often. Jayden Higgins is dynamic; pairing him up with C.J. Stroud and giving him another big-play receiver is the correct move for the offense. The loss of Stefon Diggs (Patriots) and Tank Dell (injury) should not hold the offense back. Watching the connection between Stroud and Higgins will be interesting to see during practices leading up to the preseason and regular season.
Can Higgins boost the Texans offense and help them to another AFC South title? Check the latest odds
2025 NFL Draft Head-Scratching Disappointments
Tyler Warren - 1st Round: Pick 14 by Indianapolis Colts
There’s no doubt that Tyler Warren was one of the top tight end prospects in the 2025 draft. Players like Sam LaPorta and Brock Bowers are demonstrating that the tight end position is becoming more manageable for rookies. However, I’m not particularly enthusiastic about Warren’s landing spot with the Colts, mainly due to the quarterbacks on the roster.
While Warren and the other playmakers on the team can certainly help the starting QB, both Gardner Minshew and Mac Jones had better quarterback ratings (QBR) than Daniel Jones, whose QBR was 79.4. To put it into even more perspective for Colts fans, both Spencer Rattler and even Deshaun Watson had higher QBRs than Anthony Richardson, who recorded a QBR of just 61.6. Good luck, Warren! Hopefully, Coach Shane Steichen can devise more ways to get the ball in your hands.
Matthew Golden - 1st Round: Pick 23 by Green Bay Packers
I love the player, but the fit… not so much. I understand that the draft was held in Green Bay, and it had been years since the Packers selected a wide receiver in the first round. Matthew Golden is a talented player, and I believe he can succeed in the NFL. However, the Packers' wide receiver room already has several players who offer similar skills to Golden.
This could lead to confusion regarding personnel packages, playing time, and overall consistency. It's worth noting that Christian Watson might be nearing the end of his tenure with the Packers, which could open up opportunities for Golden as the team's speedster. Perhaps the organization will increase their passing attempts—last season, they averaged only 28 pass attempts per game. For now, it seems wise to take a wait-and-see approach with this wide receiver group.
Dillion Gabriel - 3rd Round: Pick 94 by Cleveland Browns
Cleveland, if you are going to make a statement by getting Dillion Gabriel in the 3rd round, why go with Shedeur Sanders in the 5th. Even if you couldn’t pass on Sanders anymore, it is a head-scratcher for sure. Now look at what the Browns have at QB:
- Joe Flacco
- Dillion Gabriel
- Kenny Pickett
- Shedeur Sanders
- Deshaun Watson
Who do you think will be the starter come Week 1? With this group, it’s hard to overlook Sanders’ +175 odds of becoming the starting quarterback for the Browns at the beginning of the NFL season. Many have described Sanders as a fiery competitor by some, and it seems that his motivation has intensified since being selected in the fifth round. He anxiously awaited his name to be called by any team. As for Gabriel, it’s challenging to determine where he fits in this crowded lineup in Cleveland. He is also a competitor, but currently, he appears to be the third-best option on the roster. We’ll have to wait and see how things unfold.
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