What might the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft look like, if every player in college football were eligible to be drafted?
Pro Football Focus (PFF) laid that out in a new mock draft, projecting how the first round would play out, if the pool of available players wasn’t limited to those who are three years removed from high school.
If that were the case, PFF believes a trio of rising junior Clemson standouts would be selected in the first round of this year’s draft – defensive linemen Peter Woods and T.J. Parker, and cornerback Avieon Terrell.
PFF projected that Woods would be drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals with the 17th overall pick.
“Through his true freshman and sophomore seasons, Woods has proven himself as an elite run defender while still developing his pass-rush skills,” PFF’s Max Chadwick and Dalton Wasserman wrote. “The former is evidenced by his outstanding 89.7 run-defense grade over the past two seasons. His strength is beyond his years, and his potential at such a young age would be welcomed in Cincinnati.”
Meanwhile, PFF thinks Parker would be picked by the Detroit Lions with the No. 28 overall selection.
“The Lions will likely be looking to add an edge defender running mate in the 2025 NFL Draft to pair with Aidan Hutchinson,” Chadwick and Wasserman wrote. “Parker is the early favorite to be the top edge in next year’s class. His 12 sacks in 2024 led all returning Power Four edge rushers, and he is one of three in that same group who posted 80.0-plus PFF grades both as a pass rusher and a run defender.”
As for Terrell, if he could be drafted this year, PFF thinks the Buffalo Bills would grab him with the 30th overall pick.
“The Bills finished with the second-worst PFF coverage grade in the NFL last year (37.7), so adding defensive backs is a must,” Chadwick and Wasserman wrote. “The younger brother of current Atlanta Falcons corner A.J. Terrell, Avieon is projected to follow in his brother’s footsteps from Clemson to the first round of the NFL Draft.
“The younger Terrell is a much better run defender than his brother, placing fourth among all cornerbacks with a 90.7 PFF run-defense grade this past season. His three forced fumbles tied for the second most. He is excellent in coverage, as well, leading all Power Four cornerbacks with 14 forced incompletions in 2024.”
Woods, Parker and Terrell will have to wait another year to hear their names called in the NFL Draft, but this year’s draft is set to take place from April 24-26 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.