The first three rounds of the 2025 NFL Draft are officially in the books. As we head into Day 3, this draft has seen its fair share of surprises. Some players have come off the board significantly earlier than projected, while several top prospects have yet to hear their names called.
Before Round 4 gets underway, let’s take a look back at the most notable steals and snubs from Day 2 of the draft.
Biggest Day 2 Steals
Chicago Bears: Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri (No. 39 overall)
It was a bit surprising to see Luther Burden III last this long, as he’s one of the most dynamic playmakers in the 2025 NFL Draft class with the football in his hands. Ryan Poles and the Chicago Bears’ front office are doing everything in their power to help Caleb Williams succeed after a bumpy rookie season.
The Bears’ offense struggled in 2024, finishing 30th in PFSN’s Offense+ metric. The passing attack left much to be desired, as they ranked 29th in passing yards per attempt (6.3) and 27th in first downs per pass attempt (30.4%).
Keenan Allen is no longer on the roster, so Chicago wanted to add more weaponry to join D.J. Moore and Rome Odunze. They selected tight end Colston Loveland in Round 1 and then followed it up with the explosive Burden in the second round.
Burden stands out as a slot receiver, showcasing a remarkable blend of speed, strength, and agility. His innate playmaking abilities make him a threat in open space, and he possesses impressive ball skills that shine when he’s able to stretch the field. While he still needs to refine his route-running technique, his versatility and ability to gain yards after contact rank among the best in this draft class.
Arizona Cardinals: Will Johnson, CB, Michigan (No. 47 overall)
Will Johnson getting selected in the middle of Round 2 speaks volumes about what NFL teams must feel about his medicals. The former Michigan Wolverine suffered a season-ending knee injury in 2024, and those injury concerns caused him to slide out of the first round.
It’s fair for teams to be wary of taking a cornerback who’s coming off a significant knee injury. Still, the talent and upside are undeniable. Even after an injury-shortened 2024 campaign, Johnson is still at the top of the pure CB board. He was the 12th overall prospect on our Big Board, so getting him at 47th overall is a massive steal.
The physical attributes are clear, but it’s Johnson’s playmaking mindset and ability to recognize routes that elevate him as a top prospect. He boasts a tall, lean frame and showcases remarkable speed and fluidity in coverage. His football IQ is impressive, making him a strong asset in the secondary. He possesses a natural instinct for generating turnovers and has the ball skills to capitalize on quarterbacks who take risks.
Baltimore Ravens: Mike Green, EDGE, Marshall (No. 59 overall)
Eric DeCosta and the Baltimore Ravens found themselves a steal on the second night in a row. In Round 1, they landed safety Malaki Starks (ninth overall on PFSN’s Big Board) at 27. On Day 2, they selected edge rusher Mike Green (18th overall) with the No. 59 pick.
The Ravens finished with a top-10 defense in our Defense+ metric, but they needed to add some juice to their pass rush. Baltimore’s 8.0% sack rate ranked sixth in the NFL last season, but they finished 21st in pressure rate (33.0%). Odafe Oweh and Kyle Van Noy each recorded double-digit sacks in 2024, but the unit lacks overall depth on the edge.
Green is the most productive pass rusher in this draft class, wrapping up the 2024 season with an impressive 17 sacks and 23 tackles for loss. Standing at 6’3″ and weighing 251 pounds, his arm length of 32″ might not catch the eye, but what sets Green apart is his ability to disrupt tackles with sheer explosiveness, bend, agility, and precise technique.
It should be noted that potential character concerns are the likely reason for Green’s free-fall. However, from a pure football standpoint, this is an obvious steal, as the Ravens’ defense gets even more dangerous.
Washington Commanders: Trey Amos, CB, Ole Miss (No. 61 overall)
The Washington Commanders finished with a middle-of-the-pack defense in 2024. They were pretty inconsistent at defending the pass. While they ranked 10th in pass defense success rate (55.5%), they were 24th in EPA per dropback (-0.10) and 26th in TD/INT ratio (3.6).
Washington lacked overall talent and depth in the secondary. They acquired Marshon Lattimore from the Saints during the season, but his play didn’t resemble that of the Pro Bowl player we’ve seen over the years. Rookie Mike Sainristil turned out to be a pleasant surprise, and he could be in store for a full-on breakout in 2025. Trey Amos could have a similar type of impact in Year 1.
Amos excelled against SEC competition, showing he can hang physically and mentally with the best in college football. His combination of size, length, and athleticism makes him a prototypical boundary cornerback from a physical perspective. He was the third-best cornerback on PFSN’s Big Board and 16th overall. The Commanders landing him at No. 61 is an unreal steal.
New York Jets: Azareye’h Thomas, CB, Florida State (No. 73 overall)
The New York Jets lost D.J. Reed to free agency (signed with the Lions), so they have a significant hole to fill opposite All-Pro cornerback Sauce Gardner. Last season, New York’s defense took a notable step backward, finishing league average after being a top-five unit for the previous two years under Robert Saleh.
While the Jets had a solid performance against the pass in 2024, they still allowed a concerning 2.6 touchdown-to-interception ratio, placing them 23rd in the NFL. Former Ravens cornerback Brandon Stephens hasn’t been the most dependable option in coverage, but Azareye’h Thomas is an intriguing prospect who can compete for a starting job.
When you turn on the tape, you’ll see one of the most complete, physically imposing players in this CB group. The Florida State product is a press-man savant with suffocating length, quick feet, and soft skills. Thomas plays the game with an edge, and his confidence and dog mentality should mesh well alongside Gardner.
Dallas Cowboys: Shavon Revel Jr., CB, East Carolina (No. 76 overall)
Similar to Johnson, Shavon Revel Jr. is coming off a major knee injury that cut his 2024 season short. The former East Carolina standout suffered a torn ACL, but he appears to be on track for a full return to play before training camp. Still, it’s understandable why NFL teams were hesitant to take him earlier.
If it weren’t for the medical concerns, Revel likely would’ve been a first-round pick. Getting him well into Round 3 is fantastic value for the Dallas Cowboys. Revel has a combination of height, length, and speed that you just can’t teach at the cornerback position. His physical tools alone would get him on the radar of NFL teams, but he maximizes well with a high football IQ.
He didn’t face elite competition in college, but Revel’s traits suggest he’s one of the highest-ceiling CB prospects in the class.
The Cowboys’ defense disappointed in 2024, finishing with the 25th-ranked unit in Defense+. Injuries took a toll on Dallas, as starting cornerbacks Trevon Diggs and DaRon Bland played just one game together all year. The defense fell from eighth in EPA per dropback in 2023 to 16th last season.
With availability becoming a concern at the position, selecting a corner with an injury history is interesting. The upside is just too good to pass up.
Biggest Day 2 Snubs
Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
We listed Shedeur Sanders as a snub after Round 1, and somehow, he’s still here heading into Day 3. Sanders’ draft stock has clearly taken a significant hit, and it’s not exactly clear why.
Several teams in desperate need of a quarterback, such as the Cleveland Browns, New York Giants, New Orleans Saints, and Pittsburgh Steelers, overlooked Sanders. The Colorado product was the No. 2 quarterback on PFSN’s Big Board, yet five signal-callers have heard their name called before Sanders.
There are still four rounds left in the 2025 NFL Draft, so perhaps, we’ll finally see Sanders come off the board, but his slide is undoubtedly one of the most bizarre that we’ve ever seen.
Jalen Royals, WR, Utah State
Jalen Royals is a player who is flying under the radar. Perhaps it’s because he played in the Mountain West Conference, but he has the potential to be a big-time playmaker at the next level.
Royals is quietly one of the more complete three-level threats in the 2025 NFL Draft. He caught 71 passes for 1,080 yards and 15 touchdowns in just his second season at Utah State, and in 2024, he racked up 836 yards and six TDs in just seven games.
The former Utah State standout has the makeup of a phenomenal WR2 with impact upside, and he could be especially potent in scoring situations. Royals is the No. 5 WR on our Big Board, and it’s difficult to imagine him waiting too long on Day 3.
Marcus Mbow, OL, Purdue
Marcus Mbow was a player whose stock seemed to rise heading into this draft. However, he’s still available after three rounds. His positional versatility was an asset that many believed would get him drafted a bit earlier. He projects better on the interior at the NFL level, but he played at both right guard and right tackle in college.
Mbow, PFSN’s 55th overall prospect, is explosive in pass protection. He plays with good natural leverage, incredibly violent hands, and impressive stunt vision. In the running game, he’s one of the best in-space blockers in the class and particularly thrives when he can climb to the second level and attack defenders in zone looks.
Mbow’s versatility is his greatest strength, and some teams looking to add depth to their offensive line could get a massive steal on Day 3.
Tory Horton, WR, Colorado State
Like many of the prospects in this class, Tory Horton has suffered from NFL Draft fatigue. People have watched him for three cycles now, and he’s been somewhat lost to time. But Horton’s game hasn’t vanished.
Horton elevates and high-points well while also being a natural separator. He’s a bit lean and doesn’t have elite proportional length, and his lighter frame impacts his play strength in the RAC phase. But overall, Horton has the vertical speed, athleticism, size, route running instincts, and catch-point ability to be a quality WR2.