Draft Buzz: The final push has arrived

The calendar turned to April a week ago. The NCAA Tournament came to a close on Monday night in San Antonio. The Masters will come into focus this week but the next big football event on the calendar is now less than two weeks away.

Who is ready for the 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay? I know I certainly am.

The pro day circuit is complete and final visits with teams are being completed. We are now starting to get a clearer picture of the board. At KSR, our draft profiles of each Kentucky prospect will start rolling out soon. Once draft week arrives, we will have an in-depth draft guide at KSR+ that will include my own top-50 big board, favorite targets on Day 2 and Day 3, plus reports on each Kentucky prospect and where they could possibly land on draft weekend. There will also be a first-round mock draft. It’s just about go time.

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As most in the Big Blue Nation have been focused on basketball and getting lost in the portal sauce, I’ve put together a quick rundown of what has been going on in the draft world. Round one will not be boring as Maxwell Hairston looks to sneak into the back end.

Maxwell Hairston is a true borderline first-round prospect

The Athletic puts together a consensus big board for the draft every season. It combines rankings from numerous NFL Draft experts to help present a true power ranking. Kentucky’s Maxwell Hairston is certainly in first-round range.

The Kentucky product sits at No. 34 overall and is the No. 3 cornerback trailing only Will Johnson (No. 7), and Jahdae Barron (No. 13). Cornerback is a priority position that NFL franchises typically like to address in the first round and early in the second round. Hairston could be one of the top picks on Friday or he could come off the board late in round one.

In his final mock draft, ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. has Hairston going off the board at No. 30 overall to the Buffalo Bills.

Once we get into the 20s at the 2025 NFL Draft, the Kentucky cornerback will be in draft range.

Jalen Milroe isn’t showing up in first-round mocks but received an invite to the NFL Draft

In the 2023 NFL Draft, the cameras were locked in on Will Levis after the quarterback slipped all the way out of the first round. Levis and his camp then decided to watch the second-round from another location after the rough draft experience. The NFL likely does not what something like that to happen again.

Yet, Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe has received and accepted an invitation to the 2025 NFL Draft. The two-year starter in Tuscaloosa who was benched for one guy by head coach Nick Saban is not showing up in many — if any — first-round mock drafts. Should he be?

Odds are high that the NFL would not have approved this invitation being sent out unless they were almost positive that Milroe would come off the board on Thursday night. Is the Alabama product actually QB3 in this draft ahead of Jaxson Dart?

The expectation should be for a QB-needy team to select Milroe at some point. Could it be the Pittsburgh Steelers?

Might be time to get the sharpie out of Travis Hunter at No. 2 overall

Colorado wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter is contending with Penn State EDGE Abdul Carter as the best overall player in this draft class. Many believe Hunter is a special talent that could be a star on offense or defense. The QBs often eat first in the draft but Hunter will not have to wait long on draft night.

It sounds like the wait will be fairly short. The Cleveland Browns have a need at quarterback, and own the No. 2 overall pick, but appear to be in best player available mode.

Two-plus weeks ahead of the NFL Draft, there are signs that point to the Browns now using the No. 2 overall pick on Colorado standout Travis Hunter.

With @tyschmit:

🎧 https://t.co/pwhzj4PCTm pic.twitter.com/4nkO8ZFy8E

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 7, 2025

The AFC North franchise has a desperate need at wide receiver no matter who is playing quarterback this season. Hunter will give Cleveland a young phenom and a potential face of the franchise as Myles Garrett enters his age 29 season. The Browns might not overthink this pick.

Do not be surprised if Hunter moonlights at cornerback in Cleveland. This franchise could also look to sneak into the back of the first round via trade to address quarterback or just wait until they are on the clock again early in the second round to find a potential Deshaun Watson replacement.