5 Questionable Picks in the 2025 NFL Draft
With almost half of the 1st round picks in the 2025 NFL draft signed (Spotrac) and the majority of players in Rounds, 2-7 tied up on rookie deals, now is a good time to look back at the NFL Draft and analyse the "I don't get it" picks made during April's festivities. To be clear, I am not saying these are all bad football players, far from it (I believe at least one will see significant playing time in 2025 but more on that later). However, these are picks I struggled to get my head around at the time, and I am still a little hazy as to what these teams were thinking when they turned in the card.
For this list, we will be looking at:
My evaluation of the player as a prospect vs where he was drafted
Team/Scheme Fit
Other players available on the board
Let's get into it, and feel free, fans of each of these teams, to attack me in the comments section!
1. Tyler Shough, QB, Round 2, Pick 40 (Big Board: 139)
Tyler Shough may well have been my most interesting evaluation of the 2025 NFL Draft cycle. I have had my eye on him since he transferred from Oregon to Texas Tech ahead of the 2021 season. Shough battled injuries and spotty play his 3 seasons in Lubbock, before finishing his career in Louisville playing for Jeff Brohm and the Cardinals. That final season was undoubtedly his best, throwing for 3,195 yards and a 25:6 TD-to-INT ratio, although I have concerns with his footwork and deep ball consistency. This was enough for New Orleans to pull the trigger on him in the 2nd round, adding to a QB room that has 2nd-year QB Spencer Rattler and 3rd-year player Jake Haener (following the post-draft retirement of Derek Carr).
It appears obvious now that the Saints must have known Carr's injury was more serious than they were letting on but really New Orleans? You lose one low-ceiling QB to a devastating injury and replace him with another who has started less than 30 games his entire College career and has well-documented shoulder injuries including a broken collarbone. Even though I expect Shough to get some looks this season due to the up-and-down play of the other 2 QBs on the roster, the decision to draft Shough may well be one we look back on in a few years with chagrin. When you consider both Milroe and Sanders were still on the board for the Saints, I can't personally get my head around the thought process here.
2. Shemar Stewart, DE, Round 1, Pick 17 (Big Board: 63)
The pre-draft talk around Stewart was production vs potential as he had not been the most productive player at Texas A&M, to say the least (4.5 sacks across his career). Still, there is no denying his physical gifts and overall athleticism. He looks like was created in a lab to play defensive end with insane speed to power which along with a strong Senior Bowl practice week showing was enough for the Bengals to spend a top-20 pick on the former 5-star recruit. He plays a little out of control at times and doesn't finish plays as often as you'd like, seemingly taking plays off but when he's on, he's really on! He either finds himself in the backfield before the QB has even decided what to do with the ball or leaves linemen's heads spinning in the run game.
His inconsistent tape did not reveal a 1st round player but I had no doubts he would be selected there as he fit the athletic profile teams covet. My issue is not necessarily with the value but rather with the team that took him. The Bengals have failed to develop reliable pass rushers, including last year's top choice Myles Murphy and in my opinion, Stewart may be a year away from being a year away. Given the contract dispute with top pass rusher Trey Hendrickson and his current stance, he won't play in 2025, you would have to wonder whether Stewart will get the opportunity to develop into his frame and physical gifts. All of this on a defense that has struggled mightily in recent years but looking to rebound with new DC Al Golden at the helm.
3. Jordan Burch, DL, Round 3 Pick 78 (Big Board: 124)
Another former 5-star recruit, this time in the 2020 class, Burch has been around for a while on the NFL draft circuit. Starting his career at South Carolina, he had a slower start in college football but has steadily improved his output, culminating in a strong final season at Oregon, recording 8.5 sacks. There is no denying the Cardinals targeted the position in April, springing for Walter Nolen in the 1st round and coming back in Round 3 to snag Burch. That follows a trend since the hiring of Gannon and Ossenfort with top 50 picks in the 2023 and 2024 drafts and this year's free agency where the Cardinals gave Josh Sweat the bag.
Burch flashes pass-rush moves along with some bend and flexibility but struggles against the run for me and doesn't have a lot of strength in his hands to move linemen around as consistently as you'd like. He was regularly comp'd to Matthew Judon in the pre-draft process, which makes some sense as I had Burch as a Day 3 player (Judon went in the 5th round back in 2016). Therefore, pick 78 seems rich to me for a player who will be 24 during his rookie season. Throw in the fact he doesn't have the real explosion on tape for a 279-pound player, it makes me nervous as to what his NFL prospects might be beyond a rotational piece at best. It is worth noting that the Cardinals did have Princely Umanmielen in for multiple visits suggesting he was high on their draft board, but he was snatched by the Panthers a pick earlier so I guess we will never know if the Cardinals had him higher on their draft board.
4. Tyler Booker, G, Round 1 Pick 12 (Big Board: 44)
I know, I know, the Cowboys have a habit of drafting and developing first-round linemen (Martin, Frederick, the two Smiths) but this pick didn't make sense to me watching it, and still doesn't particularly what has happened since then. In my pre-draft evaluation of Booker, I noted that he had the potential to be drafted early due to his size and strength along with his pass-pro ability. But I didn't think this early! Rumours have been swirling that the Cowboys wanted Tetairoa McMillan at this pick and pivoted to Booker once he came off the board. Maybe they already knew they'd be trading for George Pickens and so neglected the receiver position early in April.
In terms of Booker as a prospect, I felt some of his technical fundamentals let him down at times with hand usage and footwork. Also as a run blocker, he was prone to lunging on tape and can play in more control and had a strangely poor performance at the Combine which left many scratching their head as to his true NFL potential. Booker should be a solid pro and I have no doubt he can start and be a multi-year contributor for the Cowboys at a position the Cowboys are rebuilding. My issue here is with value. Trading a 3rd round pick for a possible 1-year rental in Pickens, when Matthew Golden was still on the board seems short-sighted to me. I would have preferred to see the Cowboys address receiver at 12 and come back with a Guard like Tate Ratledge in the 2nd round. Or trade back in Round 1 and still have a chance at Booker, Donovan Jackson, Grey Zabel, or Jonah Savaiinea which would have represented much better value and maybe even recouped the 3rd they eventually gave away for Pickens.
5. RJ Harvey, RB, Round 2 Pick 60 (Big Board: 103)
The Broncos came into the draft looking for a high-end RB, judging by the fact they brought almost every one of my top 15 RB prospects in for a visit (I'm not kidding). Given the plethora of quality backs still on the board, I am surprised they used the pick on Harvey. Harvey is a deep-threat back who was undoubtedly one of the top big-play RBs in the class (he had the 2nd most 15+ yard runs in the nation behind only Ashton Jeanty). His 4.40 at the Combine showcased his speed and he has good patience and vision in the backfield. It is possible Sean Payton and OC Joe Lombardi see a bit of Alvin Kamara in him, a player the Saints spent an early 3rd round pick on back in 2017.
While I trust Payton's ability to develop and use backs early in his system, I wonder if the Broncos could have done with a more well-rounded back at this pick. Harvey has broken tackles in college but not sure he will do so at the next level and offers next to nothing in pass pro. He may have some upside as a pass-catcher and should slot in as RB3 behind Estime and former undrafted Jaleel McLaughlin, offering a change of pace. With Kaleb Johnson, Cam Skattebo, and DJ Giddens all on the board and much higher in my estimation, the Broncos may be back in 2026 looking for another high-end running back to fill the void.