Joel Klatt
Lead Faculty Soccer Analyst
The 2025 NFL Draft is nearly right here, and I’ve launched one final mock draft earlier than Day 1’s arrival.
Earlier than the motion begins Thursday, I sat down with NFL Community’s Daniel Jeremiah on the newest episode of my podcast, “The Joel Klatt Present.” Jeremiah and I will likely be on the desk collectively for the primary two nights of NFL Community’s protection of the draft, and I believe he is among the best within the enterprise.
Listed below are some highlights of my dialog with Jeremiah, by which we mentioned this quarterback class and plenty of different sizzling subjects surrounding the 2025 NFL Draft.
Klatt: This yr is an fascinating quarterback class. I would not name it elite, however I wish to discuss concerning the high three quarterbacks as a result of we’ve got it ordered somewhat bit in a different way. I’ve Shedeur Sanders over Cam Ward after which we each have Jaxson Dart at No. 3.
Jeremiah: I’ve Cam Ward [at No. 1], then I’ve somewhat little bit of a spot earlier than we get to Shedeur. To me, No. 2 is nearer to No. 3 than No. 2 is nearer to No. 1. I believe that [opinion] varies by workforce. Should you take a look at it from a 30,000-foot view of those quarterbacks … it is nothing like what we noticed final yr. … I at all times inform folks the grade for me on Cam was the identical grade that I gave to Bo Nix, and I like Cam. I believe he is received a stay arm. I like the truth that over his travels, I believe you have seen him get higher and higher all through his faculty profession. He sort of carried that Miami workforce on his again final yr.
On the plus aspect for Cam, he’ll problem each blade of grass together with his arm power, and he has no worry. … I simply thought there was a noticeable distinction in how [Sanders and Ward] drove the soccer. I assumed Cam may entry extra of the sector together with his arm than Shedeur. The opposite factor I assumed was, there [were] instances once you get free rushers on Cam. Now, he does not have as many free rushers as Shedeur had, however I assumed he was stronger and sturdier. You possibly can sort of see him pull by way of our bodies. When house received constricted, I did not assume he wanted quite a lot of house to function there. He simply felt like a stronger man.
Shedeur Sanders & Cam Ward in Joel Klatt’s Prime 5 QB’s in 2025 NFL Draft
Klatt: I like Cam quite a bit. One factor I actually like about these three guys, primarily the highest two, is that they’ve performed a ton of soccer. I am a giant believer in that. Should you take a look at the starters who’ve received Tremendous Bowls on this league, usually talking, of their faculty careers, they’re broadly skilled. Every little thing you stated about Cam is totally correct. The opposite factor that I like about Shedeur and Cam is that they performed behind poor offensive strains, at instances, of their careers.
So far as Shedeur goes, I do know precisely how dangerous Colorado was when he received there. I do know Deion Sanders was an enormous catalyst for his or her turnaround and there was an inflow of expertise, however the largest distinction was that they lastly had a quarterback. There’s this mixture of this surgeon and magician with Shedeur, and also you’re proper about among the power points and there are occasions when he retreats greater than I might like him to, however you get these moments when all the pieces’s proper, he is surgical. Then, you get these instances when all the pieces breaks down, and he turns right into a magician as a way to make the play down the sector.
Jeremiah: The 2 issues you can cling your hat on [with Sanders] are you can’t query his toughness, you are simply not allowed to. … The opposite factor is, when issues are clear and he is received sight strains, he is extremely correct. He can put the ball in a mailbox. Like, he has pinpoint accuracy when issues are there for him.
NFL Draft: Is Jaxson Dart difficult Shedeur Sanders for QB2 on this draft?
Klatt: I might love to listen to your ideas on Jaxson Dart. Do we expect he’ll sneak into the primary spherical?
Jeremiah: We’re getting shut. After we get shut, there’s a lot conflicting data that is flying round. I’ve talked to individuals who assume that when it is all stated and completed, we would solely have one quarterback go within the first spherical. You discuss to different folks, they usually say we’re gonna have three go within the high 10, particularly with the Derek Carr data that is now on the market about his shoulder points.
After I get requested this query, I at all times wanna say, “Can I inform you after the Giants’ decide?” The Giants really feel, to me, just like the Shedeur workforce. You may make a robust case for why they need to take a quarterback due to the necessity they’ve at that place. You can too make the case that there are two elite gamers on this draft, they usually have an opportunity to get certainly one of them. If [the latter] occurs, I believe Jaxson Dart’s [draft stock] will get fascinating. I believe the Giants are going to come back away with a quarterback with certainly one of their first two picks. I believe Cleveland goes to come back away with a quarterback with its second decide.
Klatt: So, that is an ideal Dart touchdown spot if Shedeur will get taken at No. 3.
Jeremiah: If the Giants do not take Shedeur [at No. 3] and he had been to go to New Orleans, Pittsburgh or wherever, my antenna could be up for the Giants and Jaxson Dart. I do assume it is a coin flip that Jaxson Dart goes within the first spherical. The issues I like about Dart as a participant — and I made this comparability, which is somewhat unorthodox, but it surely jogged my memory of Jalen Hurts’ journey — [are] not essentially an an identical comp as gamers, however as guys who received higher every yr. Guys who, once you discuss to people round them, they discuss their competitiveness, toughness and likability. Teammates love being round him, and that was at each locations, USC and Ole Miss.
I assumed [Dart’s] finest soccer continues to be in entrance of him with the development line heading into the constructive route. He does not have elite arm power, but it surely’s good. He is not an elite athlete, however he is a very good athlete who ran a bunch within the SEC. Type of shopping for on the aggressive child and the development line.
Klatt: That is so humorous that you just talked about Jalen Hurts. Have you learnt who I considered a university comp for Dart? Bo Nix. There are flashes early, however yearly they each received somewhat bit higher. By the tip, you are like, “OK, I can see this.” This is the one concern I’ve with Dart. With Bo, you could possibly mission him into Sean Payton’s, however I battle with projecting how Dart will play popping out of Lane Kiffin’s offense. It is an excellent offense, however there are such a lot of wide-open throws or pre-snap resolution throws. Like, scripted winners. There aren’t a ton of post-snap throws the place the quarterback must be a canine within the pocket.
However let’s get into the 2 elite gamers within the draft. I’ve received Travis Hunter on the high and Abdul Carter at No. 2. You will have Carter at No. 1, however we each agree that he and Hunter are the highest two gamers on this class. I might love to listen to why you may have Carter at No. 1.
Jeremiah: I’ve had Abdul Carter [at No. 1] by way of this whole course of, however I’ve had a wayward eye.
Klatt: Oh, are you peeking?
Jeremiah: I am simply peeking somewhat at Travis Hunter. I am not gonna sit in entrance of the decide and jury and provides the all-in case for Abdul Carter, as a result of there’s going to be some deliberations, however I really like each these gamers. I am going to begin with Abdul Carter. Does he have an elite trait? Sure, he does. He can get off the rock. He has elite, elite burst. He can flip the nook as soon as he will get to the highest of his rush, and he’s a finisher. Now, he hadn’t performed off the sting his entire profession, so I believe this is rather like a chunk of clay you can mould like there’s extra in there.
The opposite factor — as a result of I hear it quite a bit as a result of he did not work out, and he has been damage somewhat bit — however I do not assume persons are labeling him as somebody who’s all-in and passionate. I refute it. I am like, “Guys, he performed within the playoff with one arm.” He was the most effective participant on the sector.
Klatt: What’s so humorous is that I am round Penn State as a lot as anyone, and I’ve by no means had that on my radar.
Jeremiah: Now, here is the second the place I had a wandering eye. We had been overlaying [Colorado’s] professional day and this sounds so dumb to folks, however I believe you will get it. [Hunter] goes the entire exercise, and it was a brisk exercise. A few of the routes he ran, he received some criticism, like, “Oh, it is sort of like Instagram routes.” He is actually taking his time doing all these completely different releases, and virtually trying like an And-1 mixtape with among the routes that he was operating on the market. However he is so dang athletic. He is received such elite ball expertise.
However it was the second on the very finish of the exercise. We did a detailed up and it was all the fellows there. You see the fellows with sweat on them and the sweat by way of their shirt. That dude didn’t have a drop of sweat on his face. And I assumed, “This man is a cyborg, like he’s simply fully completely different.”
Klatt: It is outstanding. While you’re watching movie of a participant’s cut-up, you’ll by no means notice that Hunter’s taking part in his one hundred and twenty fifth consecutive snap. I by no means received the sense that he was drained within the fourth quarter of any sport. As for what place Hunter will play, I believe he will be a full-time defender as a result of it is actually robust to discover a man with these kind of traits as a canopy nook. Then, I believe you fit him in as a No. 2 or 3 receiver offensively and restrict him to 15-to-18 snaps per sport.
Jeremiah: It is at all times been main in protection, minor in offense. You will have a bundle of performs on offense, however you are a full-time defensive participant. He is the primary one which I’ve ever lobbied for the other. … I believe he is additional alongside on offense. No. 2, he desires to play offense. He lists himself as a large receiver who performs DB, not the opposite means round. Even at his professional day after they requested him about that, he was very adamant that he sees himself as an offensive participant.
As a defensive participant, I do not assume this can be a Pat Surtain, “Depart him over on the aspect in press, go away him on that half of the sector and let him go.” I believe he is higher taking part in high down. You talked about his instincts — that is the place he’s completely at his finest.
2025 NFL Draft: Travis Hunter & Tyler Warren in Joel Klatt’s high ten gamers
Klatt: I’ve a pair extra issues I wish to hit on. I really like this tight finish class. I used to be round each Colston Loveland and Tyler Warren quite a bit within the Huge Ten. I even have Loveland ranked forward of Warren. Warren exploits house with creativity in addition to any tight finish that I’ve seen in a very long time in faculty soccer. The creativity he used to impression the sport was immense. Loveland was in a extra inflexible offense and needed to create his personal house. I believe Loveland can create his personal wins as a greater route runner and technician with the fluidity and polish he has.
So, one participant creates house and the opposite participant exploits house. To me, what you may have right here is principally the Rob Gronkowski means or the Travis Kelce means. Each might be extremely efficient.
Jeremiah: I’ve stated the very same factor. I did this entire dialog on the truth that we’ve got two timber. You will have the tree of Kelce, which is the route runners, change of route, quickness and the separation. Then you may have the Gronk tree, which is the larger man who performs greater, going to be a seam runner, on the transfer, be an inline blocker and going to bully folks when the ball’s within the air.
Six and 7 are the place they’re [on my top prospects] record. I’ve Warren at six, Loveland at seven. So, they’re proper there. That is what’s distinctive about this draft and possibly one of many issues that is not nice by way of endorsing this draft, is that three of the highest seven gamers are a operating again and two tight ends.
Klatt: I do assume there are quite a lot of starters on this draft. One last item, who’s your favourite participant to observe on tape on this draft? It does not need to be a star.
Jeremiah: My favourite factor that I’ve seen on this draft is the go safety tape for TreVeyon Henderson.
Klatt: Cease it! We did not discuss this beforehand, however you actually stole my reply.
Jeremiah: The way in which I described it was, once I watch one thing that I battle to seek out the precise phrases to explain what I am seeing that I am creating new methods of describing one thing … with him, if you happen to gradual it down, it appears like “The Matrix” when he hits guys. You simply see the slow-motion of the arms flailing and the ft up within the air. Like, he is an animal in go safety and there are so few guys in faculty which might be good at it. Shoot, there aren’t too many guys within the NFL which might be good at it. He is among the best pass-protecting operating backs that I’ve ever evaluated.
Joel Klatt is FOX Sports activities’ lead faculty soccer sport analyst and the host of the podcast “The Joel Klatt Present.” Observe him at @joelklatt and subscribe to the “Joel Klatt Present” on YouTube.
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