NFL Draft Mix 2025: Greatest and worst from defensive backs and tight ends

The second day of the 2025 NFL Mix introduced us some memorable moments. We had guys working beneath the 4.3 second mark within the 40-yard sprint, some unbelievable jumps and the debut (?) of a brand new identify for a drill that’s been used for a very long time.

So who or what stood out when the DBs and TEs examined?

• Kentucky CB Maxwell Hairston holds the short-term title of quickest man of the NFL Mix. He blazed a 4.28 second 40-yard sprint and appeared easy and clean throughout positional drills. I had him in my high 50, nearer to the second spherical vary than the primary, however together with his athletic testing he may go increased. Actually like him on defenses that play extra off protection, the place he can use his fluid hips and pace to trace passes deep or leap routes beneath.

• Texas CB Jahdae Barron answered a giant query for me on Friday. He got here out and ran a 4.39 official 40-yard sprint, a crucial quantity for him. I used to be frightened a bit about his lengthy pace, and he emphatically answered that. He may in all probability survive on the surface, however I feel he’s at his greatest within the slot as a nickel, affecting the run and passing recreation together with his instincts and physicality. He didn’t do positional drills, however he didn’t really want to in the present day.
• I’m actually intrigued by Iowa State CB Darien Porter. Former wideout, doesn’t have numerous snaps on the surface (however is an ace particular teamer), he ran a 4.3 40 yard sprint and in addition confirmed good motion abilities within the backpedal drills. He’s a man I’m going to get again to after the Mix.
• Ditto for the Rutgers CB Robert Longerbeam. Had some good jumps with a 36.5 inch vertical leap and a 11’2 broad leap, then ran a 4.39 40-yard sprint. He additionally moved very well in drills. He’s a bit undersized at 5’10, however what is going to his tape say? We’ll should go discover out.

• Two extra undersized cornerbacks I’ve had my eye on that stood out yesterday: Kansas State’s Jacob Parrish and Western Kentucky’s Upton Stout. Each profile extra as slot defenders, however ran properly and moved properly in drills. Stout was hoopin’, he’s gonna play within the league for a very long time.
• FSU CB Azareye’h Thomas didn’t check, however I assumed he actually opened up properly within the drills. I’m tremendous excessive on Thomas as a size and measurement press man nook. Groups can be desirous about spherical 1.
• Ole Miss CB Trey Amos additionally answered numerous questions with a 4.43 40. I used to be frightened about his lengthy pace, however he silenced a few of these doubts.
• Keep in mind how athletic Seattle Seahawks’ CB Riq Woolen appeared on the Mix popping out of UTSA? Effectively there’s one other one from the Roadrunners, Zah Frazier. Frazier ran a 4.36 40-yard sprint, jumped properly and total moved shortly. Gonna have to return and watch his tape as properly.
• South Carolina security Nick Emmanwori. That’s all.

• I’m a giant fan of Oklahoma security Billy Bowman Jr. Though he’s undersized, he performs very equally to Arizona Cardinals’ S Budda Baker. Operating a 4.43 is a superb time for him, and I feel a staff is gonna discover a high quality starter on Day 2 of the draft.
• Persons are going to overthink Georgia S Malaki Starks’ 40 time (4.5–which isn’t dangerous in any respect, similar time as Falcons’ security Jessie Bates), however take a look at these GPS scores.

Looks like an amazing athlete to me.

• Texas S Andrew Mukuba working a 4.46 can be an excellent quantity. I feel he’s gone sorta underneath the radar, however his vary is backed up by the run. He’s acquired a little bit of a smaller body and he’s a little bit of a reckless tackler, however he may very well be similar to Texans’ rookie S Calen Bullock.
• Kansas State S Marques Sigle–can SCOOT. He ran a 4.37 40-yard sprint, however on tape he strikes even sooner than that.
• Navy S Rayuan Lane III didn’t blaze the quickest 40, however man he appeared good in drills. It’s at all times troublesome to grade athletic testing for service academies as a result of their athletic requirements are MUCH completely different from the NFL, however Lane had some good motion abilities. Think about me intrigued.
• Wisconsin DB Hunter Wohler didn’t run the quickest 40, however his 3-cone time was elite and his GPS scores within the gauntlet had been second behind Starks. I noticed him in Cellular on the Senior Bowl, and he didn’t seem like a linebacker there, both. Good day for him within the drills.
• Clearly, lacking Colston Loveland and Tyler Warren harm the occasions, however a few of these tight finish 40-yard dashes…WOOF.
• Probably the most polarizing prospect on the place is Bowling Inexperienced TE Harold Fannin Jr. Jr.’s Mix was the epitome of “it’s so over/we’re so again.” Weighing in at 241 (greater than he was listed at–we’re so again), he ran a 4.71 40-yard sprint (it’s so over). A 4.39 brief shuttle and 6.97 3-cone are sick numbers for a decent finish (we’re so again), however a 9’10 broad leap could be very meh (it’s so over). Fannin ran routes and the gauntlet very well (we’re so again), but in addition blocked like this (it’s so over):

In the end, I feel the dialog round Fannin has gone too far in each instructions. Is he a primary spherical participant? Most likely not. Is he a helpful participant within the NFL? Completely. I’m nonetheless holding on to my inventory in Fannin, who could be the topic of a narrative in a while.

• The largest winner of the tight finish drills is Oregon TE Terrence Ferguson. Ferguson ran a 4.63 40-yard sprint, had the quickest max pace within the 40 and jumped 39 inches within the vert. On high of that, he was one of many higher tight ends within the blocking and receiving drills. Tight finish is a spot had been the very best athletes usually translate instantly, so Ferguson may have a shot within the NFL.
• Notre Dame TE Mitchell Evans is a man I’ve had my eye on since 2023. He’s a confirmed blocker in Notre Dame’s highly effective run recreation, and I feel he was a bit underutilized throughout his time as a receiving possibility. He moved properly on Friday, may very well be a greater professional than faculty participant.
• Texas Tech TE Jalin Conyers can MOVE, y’all. Highest most acceleration within the brief shuttle and quickest total in each areas, plus he moved properly as a receiver. He’s seen numerous targets, each at Tech and Arizona State, and his brief space burst may very well be one thing I’m going again and search for on his tape.
• As a cardholding member of the Texas TE Gunnar Helm fan membership, it was a BRUTAL day. A 4.84 40 yard sprint isn’t a good time for a 241 pound tight finish, and neither is a 30-inch vertical. Whereas these are very dangerous for a decent finish, Helm’s recreation is predicated round contact steadiness and savvy. I’m nonetheless a fan, however man it was a tough go of it for Helm.
• LSU TE Mason Taylor appeared like the very best athlete on the market, and he didn’t even run or check. Simply watch this gauntlet drill:

Like butter.

• Iowa TE Luke Lachey is one other man I’m gonna return and watch tape on. You can stroll via a cornfield in Iowa and discover an NFL tight finish, and Lachey positively has the motion abilities to be the following good one. His receiving numbers are very meh, however may that be as a result of Iowa doesn’t throw it? Let’s go discover out!
• Alabama TE/FB Robbie Ouzts has the best mustache of all time: