Mel Kiper shakes up Big Board Top 25 player rankings for 2025 NFL Draft ahead of Combine

The NFL Combine is rapidly approaching. With that, ESPN NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. has updated his latest Big Board Top 25 player rankings for the 2025 NFL Draft going into one of the most vital pre-draft events in Indianapolis.

Kiper made sure to shake up his Big Board going into the Combine too. That includes three players who previously weren’t in his Top 25. On top of that, only six of the players in the rankings are in the same slot that Kiper previously ranked them. So, even before the players are tested and interviewed at the Combine, there are plenty of changes.

There is still plenty of time for things to change in the NFL Draft. For now, though, here’s how Kiper broke down his NFL Draft Big Board.

1. Travis Hunter, WR/CB, Colorado

Previous ranking: 1
The 2024 Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter is one of the most unique prospects that the NFL Draft has seen. A two-way player, Hunter was a star at both at both wide receiver and defensive back. In 13 games last season, he had 96 catches, 1,258 receiving yards, 15 receiving touchdowns, 36 tackles, 10 pass breakups, 4 interceptions, and a forced fumble.

Kiper: “Hunter has tremendous hand-eye coordination and elite ball skills. His physical traits and quickness are off the charts, but the Heisman winner also thinks about the game at a high level. He is a highly competitive prospect who works hard to maximize his potential.”

2. Abdul Carter, OLB, Penn State

Previous ranking: 2
The Penn State Nittany Lions made their way to the College Football Playoff semifinal in 2024. While it was a team effort, the Nittany Lions were largely led by their elite defense and one of college football’s best pass rushers, Abdul Carter. He had 93 tackles, 12 sacks, 61 pressures, and 23.5 tackles for a loss this season. However, he won’t be working out at the NFL Combine while he continues to recover from a shoulder injury he suffered during the season.

Kiper: “Carter is versatile and has plenty of experience effectively operating as an off-ball linebacker, helping him crack 60 tackles in three straight seasons at Penn State. But he has now shown the ability to make a dent in opponents’ game plans as a pass rusher off the edge, too. Carter has the traits to wreak havoc there, getting pressure on 18.5% of his pass-rush snaps. He is instinctive and fast flying to the football. Carter’s 23.5 tackles for loss this season ranked No. 1 in the nation.”

3. Mason Graham, DT, Michigan

Previous ranking: 3
One of the most interesting defensive prospects in the NFL Draft is Mason Graham. A defensive tackle who has been a key piece of the Michigan defense over the past couple of seasons, he had 52 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, 3.5 sacks, 26 pressures, and 14 run stops in 12 games last season. That’s from a position not normally known for its accumulation of stats.

Kiper: “I love Graham’s technique. His leverage gives him an advantage at the point of attack, and interior offensive linemen struggle with his power and quickness. Graham has strong and active hands, and he has proved effective against the run and pass from inside. He had two sacks against Minnesota in September but managed just 1.5 the rest of the season.”

4. Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State

Previous ranking: 6
A Heisman Trophy finalist, Ashton Jeanty put up massive numbers as a running back in the Group of Five, leading the Broncos to the CFP in the process. He had 2,601 rushing yards for 29 rushing touchdowns to go along with 23 catches for 138 receiving yards and a receiving touchdown. That made him one of the biggest names in the NFL Draft, but the question of where he goes may come down to his position.

Kiper: “Jeanty displays excellent contact balance and toughness, which help him skirt past the first line of defense and through traffic. He averaged 7.0 yards per carry and forced a nation-leading 126 missed tackles in 2024. And don’t sleep on his receiving skills. Jeanty has sure hands out of the backfield and can be a true all-purpose back in the NFL.”

5. Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado

Previous ranking: 4
The first quarterback in the NFL Draft who Kiper lists on his Big Board is Shedeur Sanders from Colorado. Known for his accuracy and decision-making, it will be interesting to see where he ends up landing. One thing is clear, though, Sanders is expected to be one of the first quarterbacks selected this year.

Kiper: “You won’t find a tougher or more resilient quarterback prospect than Sanders, who took 99 sacks over the past two seasons but still put up really strong numbers. I’m always impressed watching him throw on the move, rolling either left or right. He is very accurate in those spots and has the arm to drive the ball. When his mechanics and footwork are sound, he can pick apart a defense. And while he’s not necessarily a major rushing threat, he can keep the chains moving with his legs when there is an opening.”

6. Cam Ward, QB, Miami

Previous ranking: 5
Cam Ward, who prior to playing for Miami spent time at Washington State and Incarnate Word, is the second quarterback who Kiper listed on his Big Board. He had a phenomenal season at Miami to wrap up his college career, throwing for 4,313 yards and 39 touchdowns. That helped make returning to school for an extra season worth it, and Ward looks like a first round pick now.

Kiper: “Ward has an unorthodox delivery, but he throws with accuracy and velocity from different arm angles. He displays solid game management traits, and while he had some ball security issues in 2023 at Washington State, that wasn’t an issue in 2024. When things break down around him, Ward can extend plays with his legs, either throwing on the move or picking up first downs as a runner. I like his toughness, swagger and confidence.”

7. Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State

Previous ranking: 10
Tyler Warren became one of the most unique offensive weapons in college football last season. A tight end who played quarterback in high school, Penn State used him not only as one of the best tight ends in the entire sport but had him take snaps and play from the Wildcat, both running and throwing the ball at times. Other times, he would be a key player in trick plays. For the season, he had 104 catches for 1,233 receiving yards and eight receiving touchdowns.

Kiper: “Warren is super versatile. He can be used as a traditional in-line tight end, at H-back, at fullback, out of the slot or lined up out wide. He’s a reliable pass catcher, and once the ball is in his hands, he can break free. Warren had 700 yards after the catch this season. He was incredible against USC in October, hauling in 17 catches for 224 yards and a TD. It tied for the most single-game catches by a tight end in FBS history.”

8. Jalon Walker, LB, Georgia

Previous ranking: 8
The highest-ranked SEC player on Kiper’s Big Board is Jalon Walker, the star linebacker from Georgia. He’s both athletic and versatile, which is going to make him incredibly valuable to an NFL team in the draft. That talent was reflected in his production. He played 14 games and had 62 tackles, 6.5 sacks, 7 tackles for loss, and 29 pressures last season.

Kiper: “Walker gets into the backfield as if he were shot out of a cannon, and his bend and explosion off the edge help him beat blockers and get to the quarterback or ball carrier. He’s a versatile defender, with experience as an off-ball linebacker and a pass rusher. His sideline-to-sideline speed gets your attention when you watch the tape. In Week 8 against Texas, he picked up three sacks.”

9. Will Johnson, CB, Michigan

Previous ranking: 9
Will Johnson was one of the most important players on Michigan’s national championship team. He remained a key figure on the Wolverines defense in 2024 but missed half of the season while he battled injury issues. Still, he did finish with 21 tackles, two interceptions, three pass breakups, and two defensive touchdowns in just six games last season.

Kiper: “Johnson is so instinctive in coverage, and his ability to read quarterbacks jumps out when you watch him. He has great quickness in his transition, allowing him to make plays on the ball. Johnson returned both of his interceptions this season for touchdowns, and you can see those instincts throughout his first pick-six in Michigan’s opener against Fresno State — when he jumped a screen and took the ball 86 yards to the house. He has nine career picks. Johnson missed the team’s last six games with a toe injury.”

10. Will Campbell, OT, LSU

Previous ranking: 11
Will Campbell of the LSU Tigers is the highest-ranked offensive lineman that Kiper has on his Big Board. With how valuable his position is in the NFL Draft, though, it’s highly doubtful that he won’t go before 10th in the actual NFL Draft. In fact, in his mock draft 2.0, Kiper has Campbell going fourth overall. However, he still has time to move up even further than that.

Kiper: “Campbell started for LSU since 2022 and gave up just two sacks since that first season. He has a big frame, and his solid footwork and technique make him an effective pass protector at left tackle.”

Rest of Mel Kiper’s Big Board Top 25

11. Colston Loveland, TE, Michigan (+2)
12. Mike Green, OLB, Marshall (+5)
13. Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona (-6)
14. Josh Simmons, OT, Ohio State (+2)
15. Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama (+9)
16. Shemar Stewart, DE, Texas A&M (-4)
17. Mykel Williams, OLB, Georgia (-2)
18. Malaki Starks, S, Georgia (+2)
19. Omarion Hampton, RB, North Carolina (NR)
20. Tyler Booker, G, Alabama (+3)
21. Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio State (+1)
22. Armand Membou, OT/G, Missouri (NR)
23. Kelvin Banks Jr., OT, Texas (-9)
24. Azareye’h Thomas, CB, Florida State (NR)
25. Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss