2025 NFL draft: Day 2 options for teams who miss out on top prospects in Round 1

[ASFN Admin]

The 2025 NFL draft is just a few weeks away. On Thursday, April 24, the three-day event kicks off with Round 1 from Green Bay, Wis., and all 32 teams hold a first-round pick for the first time in NFL history.

With free agency and the NFL combine in the rear view for fanbases league-wide, their collective attentions turn to the NFL draft and how their favorite teams should best use their first-round picks. A contending team may need a finishing piece on defense to get them over the hump in the playoffs. A team picking early may need a foundational piece for a retool in the coming seasons.

Every team has just one first-round pick at time of publishing. That means some fanbases will be disappointed that a specific player wasn't available at their team's pick in Round 1.

If that's the case, we've got you covered with contingency plans on Day 2. The second and third rounds of the 2025 NFL draft will have plenty of starting-caliber prospects because the overall talent difference between the player selected at No. 15 overall and No. 50 won't be much different.

For this exercise, we've kept the likely top three picks in the draft - Miami quarterback Cam Ward, Colorado wide receiver/cornerback Travis Hunter, and Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter - off this list. Those talents are a cut above the rest in the class and it's hard to find a comparable prospect later on.

For some other likely top-15 picks, teams may be able to find a comparable prospect on Day 2. Here are six of those top prospects and their Day 2 alternative:

2025 NFL draft: Day 2 value picks​

EDGE Shemar Stewart​

The Texas A&M edge rusher is among the freakiest athletes in the 2025 NFL draft. Teams will covet his rare mix of length and explosion at the next level. That means he's unlikely to make it out of the top half of the first round.

It's tough to find a one-for-one match for Stewart's athleticism but multiple prospects offer similar length, size and/or inside-out versatility on the defensive line:

• Jordan Burch (Oregon): Burch weighed in heavier at the combine than Stewart at 6-foot-4 and 279 pounds compared to Stewart at 6-foot-5 and 267. But the former Duck was more productive (8.5 sacks, 11 tackles for loss in 2024) as a pass rusher compared to Stewart alongside similarly talented teammates on the defensive line.
• Landon Jackson (Arkansas): Jackson had a stellar combine and was close with Stewart in many of the drills. He's a linear athlete but has the length at 6-foot-6 and 264 pounds to offer similar upside as a pass rusher. He needs to develop his pass rush plan but could grow into a contributor off the edge early on.
• Bradyn Swinson (LSU): Swinson may be available later on in Day 2. He's lighter than Stewart at 255 pounds but has the frame to add more weight. His long arms, heavy hands and footwork give him a solid foundation to build on as pass rusher.

WR Tetairoa McMillan​

Arizona's top prospect in the draft will likely be a top-15 pick as he's considered the consensus best wide receiver-only in the class (Travis Hunter ranks higher but is a two-way player). McMillan's fluid athleticism and big frame (6-foot-4, 212 pounds) makes him a great fit on the outside for a team looking to diversify its wide receiver room.

It's a weaker wide receiver class than last year and most prospects fit best in the slot at the NFL level. But there are a few players who could fit a similar role to McMillan for NFL teams and should be available on Day 2:

• Tre Harris (Ole Miss): Harris is a bit smaller than McMillan but offers a similar skillset. His body control shows up in contested catch scenarios and he is a good route runner considering his stage of development. Like McMillan, he's not a burner but would be an excellent possession No. 2 receiver for an offense.
• Jayden Higgins (Iowa State): Higgins ran a more limited route tree in college to McMillan so that will be an area of development. That aside, he offers similar size and body control that should make him a good red-zone target.
• Elic Ayomanor (Stanford): It's tough to read how best Ayomanor fits at the NFL level but his size, body control and play strength show he'd be worth a shot on the outside. He's not an explosive athlete but offers enough after the catch.

OL Armand Membou​

Membou's risen up draft boards in the last few months thanks to his mix of elite talents. At 6-foot-4 and 332 pounds, he has the size and premier athleticism to make it as a tackle in the NFL. He's specifically played on the right side only in college so he may start out at guard to adjust to the NFL game before moving to tackle.

There are few true tackles in this class, much fewer than last year. But there are some options on Day 2 for a potential long-term starter at the position:

• Aireontae Ersery (Minnesota): Ersery's built like Membou at 6-foot-6 and 331 pounds. He was a three-year starter at left tackle and projects well for multiple types of rushing attacks. His biggest knocks are his recovery skills and upright playing style, two things that could take some time to coach up.
• Cameron Williams (Texas): Williams has the size and length to play tackle at the NFL level but is raw in his development. He started for one season with the Longhorns and will need time to improve his hand usage and footwork to stick outside at tackle. That means he may be suited to a start at guard before moving to tackle, similar to Membou.
• Anthony Belton (N.C. State): Belton is similarly sized to Membou at 6-foot-6 and 336 pounds with NFL-caliber arm length. He's powerful with good athleticism, just not quite on the same level as Membou, hence why he'd be available later in the draft, perhaps as late as Day 3.

CB Will Johnson​

Like McMillan, Johnson is the top cornerback-only on most draft boards behind the two-way star Hunter. Johnson missed much of 2024 due to injury but his 2023 tape is some of the best in the class. His size (6-foot-2, 194 pounds) is ideal for an outside cornerback and he can fit in with either zone or man coverage schemes.

There should be lots of developmental cornerbacks available on Day 2 and even Day 3 of this year's draft who could be a good choice at outside cornerback if a team misses out on Johnson.

• Trey Amos (Ole Miss): Amos offers similar size (6-foot-1, 195 pounds) and even more length than Johnson which translates well on the outside. He is good in press coverage, plays hard against the run and has the fluid athleticism to change direction and mirror wide receivers.
• Dorian Strong (Virginia Tech): Strong stands 6-foot-1 and 185 pounds with slightly longer arms than Johnson. That physical profile helps him in press coverage and he has a good mix of athleticism and understanding of leverage.
• Tommi Hill (Nebraska): Hill offers impressive athletic traits at 6-foot-1 and 213 pounds with nearly 33-inch long arms. He's got great speed and that works in his favor especially in zone coverage. He may drop down the order due to injuries in 2024 and could be available into Day 3.

TE Tyler Warren​

Warren won the John Mackey Award in 2024 given annually to the best tight end in college football. He's a lock for the first round thanks to his versatility. At 6-foot-6 and 256 pounds, Warren is a mismatch in the passing game and was used all over the formation with the power to be a positive in run blocking.

This year's draft features a deeper tight end class than usual. Like Stewart, it's hard to find a one-to-one comparison for Warren's skillset but there are some tight ends who could offer something similar for teams on Day 2.

• Harold Fannin Jr. (Bowling Green): Fannin Jr. led the country in receptions (117) and receiving yards (1,555) in 2024 and was used in various ways by the Bowling Green offense. He's an impressive vertical athlete who could be a similar mismatch through the air. At 6-foot-3 and 241 pounds, he's less of a run blocker at this stage than Warren, which could drop him down the order.
• Elijah Arroyo (Miami): Arroyo is another impressive athlete at 6-foot-5 and 250 pounds and a willing blocker in the running game. Injuries affected his time at Miami, which could move him down the board to Day 2. If he's available, he's a savvy route runner who could help a passing offense quickly.
• Thomas Fidone II (Nebraska): Fidone stands 6-foot-5 and 243 pounds but has very long arms for his size. He was a good blocker for the Cornhuskers and provides a solid baseline there for the NFL. His route running needs work but he's athletic with the catch radius to grow into a threat in the passing game. He'll likely be available late on Day 2 or even into Day 3.

DT Mason Graham​

Graham is among the safest picks in a deep interior defensive line class. At 6-foot-3 and 306 pounds, his high floor as a plus run defender makes him a fit for most teams and should see him go in the top 10 picks of the draft. With time, he should improve his pass rush prowess.

There will likely be a dozen defensive tackles available on Day 2 of the draft, some of whom could play a similar role to Graham on the interior. Here are our top three picks for that:

• T.J. Sanders (South Carolina): Sanders offers a similar frame (6-foot-4, 297 pounds) and productivity to Graham at the college level. He's a powerful, heavy-handed run defender who was rarely brought to the ground in college. Like Graham, he could use some development as a pass rusher but has the tools to improve.
• Joshua Farmer (Florida State): Farmer is slightly heavier than Graham with much longer arms on his frame. He's stout against the run thanks to his length and upper-body strength. He's flashed as a pass rusher in college thanks to his tools but needs to improve his consistency and hand usage.
• Shemar Turner (Texas A&M): Turner lined up alongside NFL talent on the defensive line, much like Graham, and holds up well in run defense despite his slightly leaner frame (6-foot-3, 290 pounds). His powerful punch, aggressive attitude and pass rush moves offer some upside as well on Day 2.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: NFL draft: Value picks for teams that missed out in Round 1

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