Already, the 2025 NFL Draft defensive class is being heavily anticipated. On the latest episode of The PFN Scouting Podcast, we go over the preliminary defensive rankings in detail, with prospects like Malaki Starks and Will Johnson near the top of the list.
PFN Scouting Podcast: 2025 NFL Draft Defense Preview Touches on Malaki Starks, Will Johnson
In the 2024 NFL Draft, no defensive player was selected until the 15th overall pick, when Laiatu Latu was picked by the Indianapolis Colts. It was the longest an NFL Draft had ever gone without a defensive player being picked.
The 2024 class was very offense-heavy at the top. But the 2025 NFL Draft appears as though it’ll be a shift in the other direction. The offensive cast looks strong — as we discussed last week — but the defensive class could be a historic group across positions.
Already, prospects like safety Malaki Starks, cornerback Will Johnson, and defensive tackle Mason Graham have distinguished themselves as potential top-10 talents. Other defenders like Abdul Carter, Mykel Williams, and Benjamin Morrison are firmly in the mix.
Myself and fellow NFL Draft and Fantasy Football Analyst Derek Tate dedicated the entirety of our latest podcast to discussing the upcoming defensive class. We each gave our initial rankings at each position and talked about some of our favorite early watches.
There’s still plenty of football left to be played, and the 2024 regular season will no doubt put in motion major changes on the 2025 NFL Draft front. But with the tape from the 2023 season, we can start the process of getting an accurate read on the 2025 group.
To listen to the podcast, click the link below. Be sure to like, subscribe, leave a review on other platforms, and be on the lookout for new episodes each week. We record every week on Tuesday or Wednesday and will have more mocks, mailbags, and 2025 NFL Draft analysis on the way.