As the world gets to know more draft prospects through the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine and 2025 NFL Draft, one player’s name has garnered curiosity, especially for NBA fans: Ole Miss Rebels linebacker Chris Paul Jr.
Is Ole Miss Rebels Linebacker Related to 12-Time NBA All-Star Chris Paul?
NFL draft prospect Chris Paul Jr. has basketball fans and sports trivia savants clicking into their search bar to find out if the college football linebacker has any relation to the State Farm spokesman and San Antonio Spurs point guard known as “CP3”.
Chris Paul Jr. was born on November 4, 2002, when NBA legend Chris Paul was still in high school. Paul Jr, the 22-year-old linebacker who goes by the nickname “Pooh”, is the son of Chris Paul Sr. and Velieka Paul. The redshirt Junior declared early for the 2025 draft and is a 2025 combine invitee.
How Chris Paul Jr. Helped Ole Miss Become One of College Football’s Top Defenses
After transferring from Arkansas to Ole Miss, Paul Jr. was a huge contributor to the nation’s best rush defense and one of the university’s best defenses in program history. The 6’1″, 235-pound Georgia native finished the regular season as the team leader in tackles and ranked fourth among all Rebels in the regular season with 11 tackles for loss.
His performance at Ole Miss has caught the attention of NFL scouts, with Lane Kiffin praising his old-school approach and passion for the game. Kiffin remarked, “He’s awesome, and he’s such a good kid, an old-school player… I just love how he practices, how much he cares… Unfortunately (players like Paul are) kind of rare nowadays.”
For his impressive efforts in 2024, Paul Jr. was a Butkus Award Finalist, a Bednarik Award Semifinalist, the SEC Linebacker of the Year according to College Football News, and was selected to USA Today‘s 2024 All-America First Team.
Which Team Will Pick Chris Paul Jr. In the 2025 NFL Draft?
Dalton Miller had the Buffalo Bills taking Paul Jr in the fourth round at pick 129 in his 7-round mock draft in January 2025. In PFSN’s 2024 Defense Rankings, the Bills landed at 18, so the unit could use a boost. Considering the team is more than $43 million over the cap, that boost will most likely have to be on the cheap and come via the draft.
Justin Lewis declared Paul Jr. to be the eight best prospect at the East-West Shrine Bowl, adding that Paul Jr.’s “one season under Pete Golding was enough to firmly put him in the conversation as the best linebacker in college football last season.”
In his 7-round mock draft, PFSN’s Jacob Infante had Paul Jr going to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Round 3 at pick 89, noting Paul’s “ideal physicality” and “instincts”. Infante added that Paul “is a reliable tackler who should be able to contribute quickly in the NFL.” The Buccaneers had an average defense in 2024 with a porous secondary, but Tampa’s also thin at inside linebacker.
Ian Cummings predicts the Baltimore Ravens will take Paul at pick 91 in the third round of the draft. In his 7-round mock, Cummings stated, “Chris Paul Jr. is the perfect rangy, hard-charging linebacker to pair alongside MIKE extraordinaire Roquan Smith.” In 2024, Baltimore’s top-10 defense was bolstered by the league’s best unit against the run. Adding Paul into the mix just seems unfair.
As the 2025 NFL Draft approaches, Chris Paul Jr. is considered one of the more dynamic and explosive linebackers in his class. His draft stock may continue to rise as teams evaluate his potential to contribute at the next level.