NFL Draft 2025 third-round grades for every pick
The third round of the 2025 NFL Draft featured plenty of excitement — with nearly as much for who was selected as who wasn't.
Shedeur Sanders didn't hear his name called at all on Friday night, but quarterbacks Dillon Gabriel, Tyler Shough and Jalen Milroe sure did. A few other skill players like wideout Pat Bryant, tight end Harold Fannin Jr. and tailback Kaleb Johnson all found new homes before the night was over.
We've been grading each pick through the first three rounds and you can catch up one Round 1 and Round 2 grades right here.
The draft will wrap up on Saturday with rounds four through seven. We'll keep you updated on all the action.
2025 NFL Draft grades: Third Round
65. New York Giants: DT Darius Alexander, Toledo
Grade: B+
Alexander had borderline first-round buzz, thanks to an explosive burst off the snap and a 6-foot-4, 305-pound frame. But his MAC numbers were good, not great – 3.5 sacks, eight tackles for loss last season – and he slid to the third. That’s great news for the Giants, who land one of the most intriguing members of this year’s deep class of interior linemen. He’ll have the chance to have an immediate impact for New York.-Christian D'Andrea
66. Kansas City Chiefs (via Titans): OLB Ashton Gillotte, Louisville
Grade: B+
Gillotte is a tenacious pass-rusher who should slot right in as a rotational piece with the Chiefs. Kansas City has some questions in the secondary, but Gillotte will probably outperform his draft status with how well the Chiefs usually do with acquiring pass-rushers. We like this one. -Cory Woodroof
67. Cleveland Browns: TE Harold Fannin Jr., Bowling Green
Grade: B-
Huh. That’s not Shedeur Sanders. Fannin was prolific at Bowling Green, but weak combine numbers – including a 4.7-second 40 and less-than-ideal size at 6-foot-3 and 240 pounds – left his NFL role in question. He’s not an in-line blocker. He may be too slow to be a dynamic game-changer from the slot or split wide. But he smoked fools in college en route to absurd numbers (an FBS high 117 catches and 1,555 yards), so he’s worth the shot.-CDA
68. Las Vegas Raiders: CB Darien Porter, Iowa State
Grade: B+
Porter is very, very fast, and he’s still relatively new to the cornerback position. However, he’s a great developmental candidate for a Las Vegas team that needs secondary help. Maybe they’ll get him on the field sooner than you might expect? Either way, this is a good pick-up. -CW
69. New England Patriots: WR Kyle Williams, Washington State
Grade: B
Williams is a reasonable pickup for a receiver-needy team. He’s quick off the line of scrimmage and has sustainable deep ball speed, as evidenced by 14 touchdowns and more than 17 yards per catch with the Cougars last season. But is he a better prospect than Jaylen Royals or Elic Ayomanor? Will either of those two continue a rich tradition of thriving after being passed over by the Patriots?-CDA
70. Detroit Lions (via Jacksonville Jaguars): WR Isaac TeSlaa, Arkansas
Grade: B
The Lions decided to pick up a new receiver in TeSlaa, who has SEC pedigree after spending time with the Hogs. The Lions traded up to get him, so they must have conviction that he can be an impact player for them. Maybe it’s a reach, but Detroit usually knows what it’s doing. -CW
71. New Orleans Saints: DT Vernon Broughton, Texas
Grade: C+
That makes 11 defensive tackles in 71 picks – we told you it was a stacked class. Big Vern waited for his chance to start in Austin and thrived in 2025, racking up five sacks and a pair of forced fumbles while generally being a problem inside. He’s massive, but raw – and the kind of high upside pick the Saints badly need to pan out in order to get back on track.-CDA
72. Buffalo Bills (via Bears): DE Landon Jackson, Arkansas
Grade: A
Jackson is an all-around solid edge rusher with great size, and he should factor in right away with Buffalo as a rotational pass-rusher. The Bills continue to build through the trenches and find value in the process. We love this pick for Buffalo. -CW
73. New York Jets: CB Azareye'h Thomas, Florida State
Grade: B+
Thomas’s limited top-end speed dropped him to Round 3, even with the size and physicality to overcome that weakness. He’s a proper DJ Reed replacement, and it looks like he and new signee Brandon Stephens will compete for a starting role opposite Sauce Gardner this summer. At 6-foot-2 and with solid ball skills, he should be an asset for a CB-needy secondary. -CDA
74. Denver Broncos (via Panthers): WR Pat Bryant, Illinois
Grade: B+
The Broncos get a new receiver for quarterback Bo Nix, as Denver has prioritized offense on the draft’s second day after focusing on defense in the first round. It’s hard to hate giving Nix more help in the passing game. -CW
75. San Francisco 49ers: LB Nick Martin, Oklahoma State
Grade: C-
Interesting. Martin may not have even been the best linebacker from the state of Oklahoma available at No. 75 (hello, Danny Stutsman), but he fits with San Francisco’s overarching goal of infusing its front seven with dynamic young talent. He lacks the beef of the Niners other picks at 6-feet and 221 pounds and could wind up being used in a hybrid safety role under Kyle Shanahan. If nothing else, he has the quickness to catch up in coverage and chase down running backs. -CDA
76. Dallas Cowboys: CB Shavon Revel Jr., East Carolina
Grade: A+
The Cowboys get an absolute steal in Revel. He had first-round talent before tearing his ACL last fall, and he’ll go to Dallas and get time to settle in behind guys like Trevon Diggs and Daron Bland. Especially if Diggs can’t go to start the year, this is a slam dunk for the Cowboys. -CW
77. Carolina Panthers (via New England Patriots via Falcons): EDGE Princely Umanmielen
Grade: A-
Scourton and Umanmielen give the Panthers a beefy edge rushing duo who can win with power or technique. Umanmielen lacks Scourton’s polish and sometimes fails to play up to his size, but he’s proven capable of getting to the quarterback (17.5 sacks the last two seasons). He’s another common sense fit for a team that badly needed to improve its pass rush. -CDA
78. Arizona Cardinals: DE Jordan Burch, Oregon
Grade: B+
Burch is raw, but he’s going to Arizona to join the Calais Campbell school of defensive line play. Like Walter Nolen, Burch is going to play with one of the all-time greats in Campbell who will show him the ropes. We love the landing spot for Burch, who is going to get a heck of an education and might get on the field sooner than expected because of it. -CW
79. Houston Texans (via Dolphins through Eagles and Commanders): WR Jaylin Noel, Iowa State
Grade: B
Houston double-dipped at wideout, adding Noel after selecting teammate Jayden Higgins earlier in the night. So the good news is the Texans know their two new receivers can coexist. More importantly, Noel can fill Tank Dell’s role in the lineup while the veteran recuperates, adding a shifty and explosive slot presence to boost CJ Stroud after a frustrating 2024. -CDA
80. Indianapolis Colts (via Patriots): CB Justin Walley, Minnesota
Grade: B
The Colts had a need at cornerback, but Walley isn’t a guy we’re super familiar with. Daniel Jeremiah described him as somebody that kept moving up his big board on the NFL Network broadcast, and Indianapolis does need a young corner to develop. We’ll allow it. -CW
81. Cincinnati Bengals: G Dylan Fairchild, Georgia
Grade: C+
Fairchild is a bit raw, but he has the size and strength to be an NFL contributor (and potentially serve time as a swing tackle if needed). His height is occasionally a detriment, as he’ll give up leverage to powerful defenders. But he’s a beast when pulling and loves flattening dudes, which is pretty much exactly what you want if you’re Chase Brown. -CDA
82. Tennessee Titans (via Seahawks): S Kevin Winston Jr., Penn State
Grade: A
Tennessee addresses its secondary with Winston, who projects as a strong safety at the next level. He might start out his career as a third safety and a special teams standout, but he could take over for Amani Hooker one day with his ceiling being what it is. We love this for the Titans. -CW
83. Pittsburgh Steelers: RB Kaleb Johnson, Iowa
Grade: A-
Well dang, *that’s* not Shedeur Sanders, either. This is remarkable. Anyway, Pittsburgh made a very Pittsburgh pick, adding a 225-pound bruiser of a tailback to fill Najee Harris’ vacated role. Johnson keeps his pads low, falls forward and drives through contact. He’s liable to get chased down by defensive backs, but he’s got enough burst to blast through holes and create big gains. -CDA
84. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: CB Jacob Parrish, Kansas State
Grade: A
Parrish gives the Buccaneers yet another promising piece for their secondary, which is just what the doctor ordered. The Kansas State standout possesses versatility, and Tampa Bay will likely use him on the inside and outside. He could see the field pretty quickly. -CW
85. Kansas City Chiefs (via New England Patriots via Denver Broncos): CB Nohl Williams, California
Grade: B+
There’s no doubting Williams’ production; his seven interceptions were tops in the FBS last fall. While he lacks elite speed and acceleration, his incredible ball skills give him the cheat code to make up for it. He uses the sideline as a backup defender well, funneling targets outside and making catches difficult (and runs after the catch nearly impossible). He’s got a steady floor that paints him as an immediate contributor in Missouri. -CDA
86. Los Angeles Chargers: DT Jamaree Caldwell, Oregon
Grade: B+
Caldwell is a space-eater who will fill a real need along the Los Angeles defensive interior. He’s the third Oregon defensive lineman to go in this draft alongside Derrick Harmon and Jordan Burch, which is a testament to how talented that Ducks unit was. We like this for L.A. -CW
87. Green Bay Packers: WR Savion Williams, TCU
Grade: C
Huh. OK. So now the Packers have Matthew Golden, Christian Watson (injured, but still), Romeo Doubs, Jayden Reed, Dontavion Wicks, Bo Melton, Malik Heath and now Williams at wideout? The good news is Williams is more of a Lynn Bowden type than a true WR. The bad news is, well, when’s the last time you heard about Lynn Bowden? -CDA
88. Jacksonville Jaguars (via Vikings): CB Caleb Ransaw, Tulane
Grade: B
The Jaguars finally pick again after taking Travis Hunter, and they get a new cornerback. That’s a need for Jacksonville at this point in the draft, even if Hunter takes some snaps at the position this fall. You have to like Jacksonville prioritizing the secondary, especially when you look at all the wide receivers the Texans added in this draft. -CW
89. Jacksonville Jaguars (via Houston Texans): OL Wyatt Milum, West Virginia
Grade: A-
Milum had brief first round buzz, but the former Division I baseball recruit wound up serving multiple roles up front for the Mountaineers. Short-ish arms will likely limit him to guard duty in the NFL, which would free up Patrick Mekari to move to tackle if called upon. Either way, he’s a powerful blocker who brings a stable floor and the ability to contribute right away to a suddenly intriguing offense. -CDA
90. Los Angeles Rams: DE Josiah Stewart, Michigan
Grade: B+
Stewart might not be the biggest edge rusher, but he can get after the passer. The Rams need depth along the defensive line, and Stewart will fill that need right away. Los Angeles’ first defender drafted should make fast fans the more he’s able to get after quarterbacks. -CW
91. Baltimore Ravens: OT Emery Jones Jr.
Grade: B
Once again, the Ravens pick up a sliding talent whose stock dropped as April approached. Jones had lost his second round buzz through the pre-draft process, but the fact remains he’s a battle tested tackle who allowed just two sacks last season. He’s big and smooth, though his game has flaws (penalties, occasional brain farts). Playing in Baltimore is a great place to correct that.
-CDA
92. Seattle Seahawks (via Lions through Jets and Raiders): QB Jalen Milroe, Alabama
Grade: A-
This well-traveled pick lands with the Seahawks, who decide to take a quarterback in Milroe. Nobody will deny Milroe can run with the best of them, and Seattle may well get him on the field in certain packages this fall. However, he’s got a ways to go as a passer to contend regularly at the NFL level. If Seattle can make him into a more efficient thrower, he might be a future starter. Even if not, this is a really good flier on a raw prospect with such alluring potential. -CW
93. New Orleans Saints (via Commanders): S Jonas Sanker, Virginia
Grade: B
Sanker is a rock solid free safety who blew up the competition en route to back-to-back All-ACC honors. While he can occasionally get out over his skis and scramble to recover, he’s able to cover a lot of ground quickly to erase plays. With a little more discipline and anticipation he could be a top 10 player at his position – but he’s still a work in progress. -CDA
94. Cleveland Browns (via Bills): QB Dillon Gabriel, Oregon
Grade: C
Well. Cleveland took a quarterback, and it is … not Shedeur Sanders. It is Gabriel, who projects as a solid backup after an expansive college career. We haven’t a clue what’s going on with Sanders, who continues to slide and slide. To be fair to Sanders, Gabriel isn’t as good as he is. The Browns must have just wanted to address the room at some point, so it’s what it is. -CW
95. New England Patriots (via Kansas City Chiefs): C Jared Wilson, Georgia
Grade: A
It’s not a sexy pick, but after pairing TreVeyeon Henderson with Rhamondre Stevenson, New England needed to beef up its interior. Adding a center who can run at 4.8-second 40 at 310 pounds will help clear a path to the second level and beyond. Wilson was arguably the second-best center prospect of 2025 and the Pats got him late in the third round after multiple trades back. That’s great value. -CDA
96. Atlanta Falcons (via Eagles): S Xavier Watts, Notre Dame
Grade: A
The Falcons are absolutely crushing this draft class, but the cost is a little foreboding for 2026. Watts is a steal at this point in the draft, as he could push right away for the strong safety role. Atlanta is making major strides to fixing its defensive issues for 2025, but the team gave up a 2026 fifth-round pick to jump up the board a handful of spots. It’s far, far less prohibitive than giving up the first rounder for OLB James Pearce Jr., but maybe Atlanta replaces that 2026 fifth rounder with a Kirk Cousins trade after the draft ends? Who knows. It’s a heck of a pick, though. -CW
97. Houston Texans (via Minnesota Vikings) (compensatory selection): CB Jaylin Smith, USC
Grade: C-
Smith has experience in the slot and outside, which brings versatility to a Houston secondary flush with young talent. However, his solid-not-spectacular resume painted him as a Day 3 pick (220th on the consensus big board). That’s a reach, but one that could pay off for a franchise that’s done a bang-up job developing defensive backs recently.
-CDA
98. Las Vegas Raiders (via Dolphins): G Caleb Rogers, Texas Tech
Grade: B+
The Raiders add a versatile piece to their offensive line, as Rogers will probably sit for 2025 and develop for a possible role in 2026. You can’t ever fault a rebuilding team like Las Vegas for taking a flier on a guy in the trenches, even if Rogers isn’t a marquee name. We don’t hate it.
-CW
99. Las Vegas Raiders (via New York Giants) (compensatory selection): OT Charles Grant, Williams & Mary
Grade: A
Rather than snag a sliding Shedeur Sanders, Pete Carroll double-dipped along the offensive line. Grant is an outstanding FCS lineman with a huge capacity to grow – he started playing football as a junior in high school. With almost 35-inch arms and a wrestling background, he utilizes leverage well and has the athleticism to be a real problem on Sundays.
-CDA
100. San Francisco 49ers (special compensatory selection): CB Upton Stout, Western Kentucky
Grade: B+
We’ll never fault an NFL team for picking from Western Kentucky. Stout fills a real need for the 49ers in the secondary, and San Francisco is notorious for finding gems in the third round. We’ll see how this one pans out for the 49ers, but we like taking a cornerback in general. -CW
101. Denver Broncos (via Philadelphia Eagles from Falcons via Rams): EDGE Sai'vion Jones, LSU
Grade: C+
A 280-pound defensive end, Jones brings power and size to the line but limited sack production (11.5 in the last three seasons). He’s got solid athleticism and disruptive top-end speed (a 4.7-second 40), but is inconsistent and can fail to play up to these gifts. A rotational role in a great defense is a wonderful landing spot; now Sean Payton can bring out the best in him. -CDA
102. Minnesota Vikings (via Detroit Lions): WR Tai Felton, Maryland
Grade: B+
Wide receiver isn’t a huge need for the Vikings because of Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, but Felton will be a fun depth piece for Minnesota. He is fast, and that counts for something in the NFL. He won’t be tasked with carrying too heavy a load on arrival, too. Good stuff. -CW