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The 2025 NFL draft is just a few days away and the biggest question currently on the collective mind of the Gators Nation is which Florida football alumni will be selected among the 257 picks this week.
The University of Florida has a storied tradition of sending its former students to the professional ranks through the draft process dating back to 1952, which represents the second-longest streak in the nation. The Orange and Blue are nearly certain to continue that tradition this April, though the program's streak of five-straight years with a first-round pick is likely to end.
Various publications have been offering their mock drafts in the days leading up to the draft, including CBS Sports, for which Josh Edwards composed his full seven-round predictions. He is a bit more bullish than some of the other prognosticators, naming six former Gators that he expects to be selected during the three-day event.
Here is a look at who Edwards expects to be picked, as well as by whom and in which round.
"Niche receiver with average hands but good early speed to bypass man coverage and give life to the vertical game," his combine scouting report notes.
"Dike is a second- and third-level receiver whose routes have the energy of a youngster on a playground with all gas and no brakes. He is an early separator with his speed but won’t see nearly as many free or schemed releases as he saw at Florida. He catches with downfield focus and good toughness when contested but doesn’t always play with catch-ready hands, which will lead to frustrating misses.
"He’s more of a field-stretcher than a volume option, but his talent for opening intermediate and deep windows could appeal to teams in need of speed."
READ MORE: Elite speed headlines WR Chimere Dike's 2025 NFL draft scouting report
"Massive nose tackle whose lack of productivity belies his potential to imprint on NFL games as a run defender," his NFL combine scouting report begins.
"Jackson is a complete non-factor as a rusher, so his spot on a draft board will be relative to a team’s willingness to take a two-down player in need of polish. He’s long and plays with extremely heavy hands and an ability to overwhelm single blockers at times. When he’s allowed to swap paint and focus on smaller areas of containment, he’s a tough out. He gets knocked off his spot more than he should, but better block take-on and technique should create better consistency.
"Jackson has freakish size and is a more enticing prospect when tape flashes are prioritized in the evaluation process."
"James flashes speed but has never really developed the recognition and response talent to chalk up playmaking production," states his NFL combine scouting report.
"He has some twitch in his movement and does a nice job of working past blocks, but he might not be able to anticipate with enough consistency to play ahead of NFL blocking schemes. James is athletic in space and can play special teams, but he might never be more than an average backup."
"Outside cornerback with good size, athleticism and experience but too much inconsistency on tape," his scouting report begins.
"Marshall can disrupt the release from press and ride route turns to stay in position to defend the throw. He falls asleep against play-action and misdirection. Also, he has poor hands when it’s time to flip the field."
"For his size, he’s a disappointing tackler, especially in run support. The lack of urgency and determination Marshall shows on tape could hurt his stock."
READ MORE: 'Raw talent': Scouting CB Jason Marshall Jr. ahead of 2025 NFL draft
"A four-year punter for the Gators, Crawshaw flashes good power from a quick delivery but will need to improve his hang time to keep NFL returners from chopping at his net average," his scouting report notes.
"He can be highly effective when he’s protected, with touch punts placing opponents near or inside their own 10-yard line."
"There are times where Badger looks like the youngster on the playground who’s a grade older than everyone else and able to do whatever he wants," Badger's scouting report begins.
"He’s on the lighter side and won’t outrun NFL coverage but the game comes naturally for him. His route running can be effective but needs better detail and urgency. He has above-average ball skills to track throws and win in tight spaces or pluck the ball from outside his frame.
"He’s slippery with the ball in his hands and can handle kick returns. If he can handle more physical NFL coverage, he has the talent to become a WR3."
Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: NFL draft: CBS Sports mock sees six Florida football players selected
Continue reading...
The University of Florida has a storied tradition of sending its former students to the professional ranks through the draft process dating back to 1952, which represents the second-longest streak in the nation. The Orange and Blue are nearly certain to continue that tradition this April, though the program's streak of five-straight years with a first-round pick is likely to end.
Various publications have been offering their mock drafts in the days leading up to the draft, including CBS Sports, for which Josh Edwards composed his full seven-round predictions. He is a bit more bullish than some of the other prognosticators, naming six former Gators that he expects to be selected during the three-day event.
Here is a look at who Edwards expects to be picked, as well as by whom and in which round.
Florida Gators picked in CBS Sports' NFL mock draft
WR Chimere Dike: Round 5 (155) - Miami Dolphins
"Niche receiver with average hands but good early speed to bypass man coverage and give life to the vertical game," his combine scouting report notes.
"Dike is a second- and third-level receiver whose routes have the energy of a youngster on a playground with all gas and no brakes. He is an early separator with his speed but won’t see nearly as many free or schemed releases as he saw at Florida. He catches with downfield focus and good toughness when contested but doesn’t always play with catch-ready hands, which will lead to frustrating misses.
"He’s more of a field-stretcher than a volume option, but his talent for opening intermediate and deep windows could appeal to teams in need of speed."
READ MORE: Elite speed headlines WR Chimere Dike's 2025 NFL draft scouting report
DT Cam Jackson: Round 5 (156) - Pittsburgh Steelers
"Massive nose tackle whose lack of productivity belies his potential to imprint on NFL games as a run defender," his NFL combine scouting report begins.
"Jackson is a complete non-factor as a rusher, so his spot on a draft board will be relative to a team’s willingness to take a two-down player in need of polish. He’s long and plays with extremely heavy hands and an ability to overwhelm single blockers at times. When he’s allowed to swap paint and focus on smaller areas of containment, he’s a tough out. He gets knocked off his spot more than he should, but better block take-on and technique should create better consistency.
"Jackson has freakish size and is a more enticing prospect when tape flashes are prioritized in the evaluation process."
LB Shemar James: Round 6 (186) - New York Jets
"James flashes speed but has never really developed the recognition and response talent to chalk up playmaking production," states his NFL combine scouting report.
"He has some twitch in his movement and does a nice job of working past blocks, but he might not be able to anticipate with enough consistency to play ahead of NFL blocking schemes. James is athletic in space and can play special teams, but he might never be more than an average backup."
CB Jason Marshall Jr.: Round 6 (200) - Washington Commanders via Cleveland Browns
"Outside cornerback with good size, athleticism and experience but too much inconsistency on tape," his scouting report begins.
"Marshall can disrupt the release from press and ride route turns to stay in position to defend the throw. He falls asleep against play-action and misdirection. Also, he has poor hands when it’s time to flip the field."
"For his size, he’s a disappointing tackler, especially in run support. The lack of urgency and determination Marshall shows on tape could hurt his stock."
READ MORE: 'Raw talent': Scouting CB Jason Marshall Jr. ahead of 2025 NFL draft
P Jeremy Crawshaw: Round 6 (208) - Denver Broncos
"A four-year punter for the Gators, Crawshaw flashes good power from a quick delivery but will need to improve his hang time to keep NFL returners from chopping at his net average," his scouting report notes.
"He can be highly effective when he’s protected, with touch punts placing opponents near or inside their own 10-yard line."
WR Elijhah Badger: Round 7 (248) - New Orleans Saints
"There are times where Badger looks like the youngster on the playground who’s a grade older than everyone else and able to do whatever he wants," Badger's scouting report begins.
"He’s on the lighter side and won’t outrun NFL coverage but the game comes naturally for him. His route running can be effective but needs better detail and urgency. He has above-average ball skills to track throws and win in tight spaces or pluck the ball from outside his frame.
"He’s slippery with the ball in his hands and can handle kick returns. If he can handle more physical NFL coverage, he has the talent to become a WR3."
Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: NFL draft: CBS Sports mock sees six Florida football players selected
Continue reading...
