Every NFL franchise walks away from the draft believing it just landed a steal or two. If history is any indication, some absolutely did.
It might take a number of years before the steals of the 2025 NFL Draft show themselves, but Super Bowl rosters are routinely rounded out by productive Day 2 or 3 picks who punch above their weight at the professional level. Who’s next?
From the first round all the way to the later rounds on Saturday, some selections already look like better values than others.
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Here are the 14 best value picks from the 2025 NFL Draft, from Luther Burden III to Shedeur Sanders.
Colts: Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State
After a dominant final season at Penn State, Warren fell right into the Colts’ lap despite the Jets reportedly showing interest at No. 7 and the Bears taking a tight end at No. 10 in Michigan’s Colston Loveland.
The Mackey Award winner is exactly the type of weapon the Colts need in their offense after posting 1,233 yards in his senior season, and he can be used in a handful of different ways by Shane Steichen, who got the two most productive seasons of Dallas Goedert’s career in 2021 and 2022 when he was the Eagles’ OC.
Ravens: Malaki Starks, S, Georgia
This was another quiet but smart pick by the Ravens, who patiently waited for a high-level safety to fall to them at No. 27. A safe prospect who played various roles on Georgia’s defense, Starks is going to an organization that has proven it can develop versatile defensive backs, including new teammate Kyle Hamilton. It would be surprising if Baltimore didn’t turn Starks into a legitimate weapon in their secondary next to Hamilton.
Bears: Luther Burden III, WR, Missouri
It was only a year ago that Burden was projected to be a top-10 pick. Injuries hampered him in his final season at Missouri — and his usage was questionable in an offense that took a step back as a whole — but the talent is absolutely there for Burden to be an x-factor in the Bears’ offense from day one.
While his ability to be a legitimate No. 1 receiver at the NFL level is a question, that’s not what Chicago needs him to be. Burden can excel in a slot role and/or as a gadget player, similar to Deebo Samuel. With DJ Moore and Rome Odunze both in place long-term, that’s the role Burden can play, giving Caleb Williams a dynamic weapon that can be used all over the field.
Cardinals: Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
Another projected top-10 pick entering the 2024 season, Johnson fell largely due to long-term health concerns, with reports indicating teams were uncertain about how long his knee will allow him to play.
By the time the middle of the second round arrives, the talent of a player like Johnson has to outweigh longevity concerns. He was one of the nation’s top defensive backs in 2023, putting together a terrific year on a Michigan team that won a national championship, and he has the makeup of a No. 1 cornerback in the NFL.
The Cardinals have a solid slot corner in Garrett Williams, but they badly need a No. 1 corner. Even if he isn’t a decade-long contributor, Johnson can help Arizona win in the short-term.
MORE 2025 NFL DRAFT: Winners and losers
Ravens: Mike Green, EDGE, Marshall
Green came with concerns of his own, as he revealed at the NFL Combine that he has faced two allegations of sexual assault. The details are scant, at least to the public. One accusation came in high school, while another ended his tenure at Virginia in 2022. Neither case resulted in a criminal charge, and Green isn’t facing any legal trouble.
With that being said, his talent far exceeds the No. 59 pick. After a monstrous 17-sack season at Marshall, Green has the physical tools and production of a first-round prospect. The Ravens needed some pass-rushing help, and they added a player who can quickly make an impact in Green.
Jets: Azareye’h Thomas, CB, Florida State
Thomas is a player teams might have overthought during the pre-draft process because of the situation he was in at Florida State and a slower than expected 40-yard dash at the combine. The 6-2 corner still played well in an ugly year for the Seminoles, allowing a 50.2 passer rating when targeted, and he can fit right into Aaron Glenn’s system without needing blazing speed.
The Jets are hoping their combination of Thomas and free-agent addition Brandon Stephens can help fill some voids in their secondary, and Thomas looks like a second-round value in the third round.
Cowboys: Shavon Revel Jr., CB, East Carolina
Another corner who fell due to injury concerns, Revel was a borderline first-round talent when tore his ACL early in his final season at East Carolina. He already had two interceptions in three games before the injury and held quarterbacks to a 62.6 passer rating when targeted in 2023.
Revel is 24, so his ceiling might be a question, but his talent easily outweighs the No. 76 pick. The Cowboys can afford to bring Revel along slowly and try to turn him into their latest success at the cornerback position outside the first round.
Chiefs: Nohl Williams, CB, California
Williams was a late riser throughout the pre-draft process, and for good reason. He was hugely productive in his final season, notching seven interceptions and proving to be one of the nation’s top ball-hawking cornerbacks.
Williams didn’t test especially well at the combine — athleticism and size aren’t his strengths — but between his ball skills, physicality, and tackling ability, it shouldn’t take long for Steve Spagnuolo to get the most out of him in Kansas City.
Patriots: Jared Wilson, C, Georgia
We’ve seen this story before. The Patriots got a steal with a Georgia center in David Andrews a decade ago, and they might have done so again with Jared Wilson.
Wilson is a bit unproven after spending only one season as a starter for the Bulldogs, but he performed well in 2024 and is among the most athletic offensive linemen in the draft. If the Patriots can tap into what he showed last season, Wilson can go from a late-Day 2 pick to a long-term starter.
Giants: Cam Skattebo, RB, Arizona State
If you’re the Giants, why not take a flier on a player who was a human wrecking ball at Arizona State? Size didn’t matter to Skattebo in 2024, as he bounced off of bigger defenders, and he’s worth a shot as a change-of-pace back at the very least.
Culture matters to NFL coaches, and Brian Daboll knows he’s getting a relentless worker in Skattebo with the chance to play a complementary role out of the Giants’ backfield right away.
Bills: Deone Walker, DT, Kentucky
Walker was considered a potential first-round pick entering the 2024 season after two strong years at Kentucky, but he regressed in his final season with the Wildcats. A massive human who just turned 21, Walker’s tools likely didn’t just disappear in one year. He needs coaching, and the Bills have the staff in place to mold a defensive lineman with Walker’s ability into a long-term piece.
Chiefs: Jalen Royals, WR, Utah State
The Chiefs ended Royals’ slide late in the fourth round on Sunday, and the Utah State star instantly gives Kansas City an intriguing weapon in an offense that tends to spread the ball around to seven or eight different pass-catchers each game.
Royals’ best work comes after the catch, and he’s joining forces with a quarterback who knows as well as anyone in the NFL how to get the ball to his receivers. The step up in competition will be worth watching, especially after his final season with the Aggies was cut short, but Royals is more talented than a late fourth-round pick.
Browns: Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
Let’s be very clear: NFL teams did not believe Sanders was the first-round talent many in the media believed he was. He’s also not a fifth-round talent. Once it became clear Sanders would have to start his career as a backup, it’s no surprise teams wanted to steer clear of the circus that comes with drafting him. If the Browns can keep that at bay, however, they have a rare fifth-round quarterback who has a legitimate chance to become a productive NFL starter.
Cleveland has a crowded QB room but no clear starter at the moment. At No. 144, there is little downside to taking a flier on Sanders. If he doesn’t pan out or causes more trouble than he’s worth, the cost of cutting him loose is next to nothing — that would not have been true if he was selected on one of the first two days of the draft.
MORE: How Shedeur Sanders fits with Browns
Texans: Jaylen Reed, S, Penn State
Reed was getting some Day 2 buzz leading up to the draft but slipped all the way to the sixth round, where the Texans ended his slide at No. 187 overall. Houston could be getting a steal.
Reed did a little bit of everything for Penn State in 2024, recording three interceptions, 2.5 sacks, and 6.5 tackles for loss along with a forced fumble. A versatile player who can play all over the field, Reed’s uncertain role at the next level clouded his draft stock, but that jack-of-all-trades ability could allow him to stick around in the NFL beyond his rookie contract.
After showcasing impressive versatility at the combine, Reed can absolutely outperform his draft status in Houston.
