WCG’s lead draft analyst shares his favorite prospects on defense in the 2025 NFL Draft.
With the 2025 NFL Draft right around the corner, now is as good of a time as any to stand your ground and claim which prospects you’ll go to bat for.
I’ve finished my preparations for this year’s draft, a group in which I’ve watched a personal-best 480 players for my big board, which is available in full on my Patreon! Cheap plug aside, this is a class I think gets too much flak.
It’s hardly the flashiest class, but if you’re a believer that football is won and lost in the trenches, the 2025 NFL Draft is the class for you. Particularly on defense, this is a group that’s highlighted by its deep group of defensive linemen, both at edge rusher and along the interior.
I’ve decided to share the players I’ll go to bat for the most in this draft class. These are not my top overall players at each position, but rather, who I feel strongly only compared to their current consensus draft stock.
All consensus rankings will be pulled from the consensus big board at NFL Mock Draft Database, which is a tremendous tool I highly recommend.
Without further ado, these are “My Guys” on defense in the 2025 NFL Draft.
EDGE: Nic Scourton, Texas A&M
Consensus ranking: 39
My ranking: 32
Scourton is only 20 years old and has a refined skill set unlike few other edge rushers in the 2025 NFL Draft. That’s a pretty safe bet in an early-round pick.
Are there edge rushers who are quicker off the ball or faster in a straight line than Scourton? Absolutely. But with his power, his pass-rushing instincts and his ability to string moves together, he’s a high-floor edge rusher who seems like a pretty likely option to become a six-to-eight sack player. That types of player makes a ton of money in the league.
DT: Kenneth Grant, Michigan
Consensus ranking: 23
My ranking: 9
I understand why some have Grant as a late first-round pick. After all, the bulk of his value comes in how strong and sturdy he is against the run. That said, I think I’m much higher on his pass-rushing upside and athleticism than most.
Grant is a strong 1-technique defensive tackle with heavy hands and good spatial awareness up the middle. That said, he’s explosive off the line of scrimmage and offers much better agility in space than one would expect for a defender north of 330 pounds. I doubt the Bears take him at No. 10 — it’s more likely he’s there in the second round — but he’ll be one of my top players on the board when they pick.
DT: C.J. West, Indiana
Consensus ranking: 115
My ranking: 72
As a refined defensive tackle who thrives against the run, West is a player I loved when I first started watching him on tape. The more I studied him, though, and after he put together a strong Combine outing, the more convinced I became that he’ll be a good NFL player.
With elite speed and explosion numbers at the Combine, West looked like a top-notch athlete among his defensive tackle peers. He has a low center of gravity, a powerful anchor and good instincts as a two-gapper. I feel confident that he’ll become a valuable contributor for a defensive line rotation.
EDGE: Ahmed Hassanein, Boise State
Consensus ranking: 230
My ranking: 209
For someone who’s relatively new to the sport of football, Hassanein has an acute understanding of how to use his hands to get into opposing backfields.
He isn’t the flashiest athlete at his position, but Hassanein gets into opposing backfields with sheer will and a multi-sport combat background that helps him understand the movements of opposing offensive tackles. He’s a smart player and a quick learner who plays his ass off.
LB: Danny Stutsman, Oklahoma
Consensus ranking: 107
My ranking: 93
Stutsman has come a long way as a processor at the second level, showcasing the pre-snap instincts and the precision in pursuit to get to the ball.
That said, I think he’s a lot better athlete than a lot of people give him credit for in space. He ran a 4.52 40-yard dash at the Combine, which I think is more reflective of the speed and agility he demonstrates in pursuit than other scouting reports have picked up on.
LB: Jamon Dumas-Johnson, Kentucky
Consensus ranking: 256
My ranking: 145
I don’t think that Dumas-Johnson lived up to the hype that surrounded him early at his time at Georgia. That said, he showcased traits that indicate he should be an NFL draft pick.
Though not an elite athlete for the linebacker position, he’s an effective communicator at the second level who’s a physical tackler. He’s precise in his moves in pursuit, and he does a good job of feeling out space against wide-zone runs to avoid blocks.
CB: Will Johnson, Michigan
Consensus ranking: 12
My ranking: 6
I think that everyone knows Johnson is a talented player, but I think he’s fallen a bit down boards after his injury near the end of the 2024 season. I still think he’s a borderline blue-chip prospect, though.
With his fluidity, physicality, ball skills and instincts in coverage, Johnson is a well-rounded cornerback with the physical and mental tools to be a quality starting cornerback in the NFL. I think he’ll end up as a true CB1 at the next level, and that’s a player worth taking in the top 10.
CB: Quincy Riley, Louisville
Consensus ranking: 113
My ranking: 80
There are flashier cornerbacks in the 2025 draft class, but I don’t think there are too many who are more consistent in coverage than Riley has been across his stints at Louisville and Middle Tennessee State.
Riley is a fluid field-side cornerback who’s intelligent processing route concepts in coverage, and he’s quick to act upon his reads to make plays on the ball. He’s a bit light in the pads and can struggle in run support, but he’s an effective cover corner who can keep wide receivers inside of his hip pocket consistently.
CB: Bilhal Kone, Western Michigan
Consensus ranking: 213
My ranking: 136
Western Michigan has had players drafted in each of the last four NFL Draft classes. That streak will extend to five when Kone gets selected this year.
With 17 pass deflections in his two seasons at Western Michigan, Kone excelled in the MAC at held his own against both Ohio State and Wisconsin to kick off the 2024 season. His fluidity and mirroring abilities in coverage make him one of the more fun defensive backs I’ve watched in this draft class.
S: Xavier Watts, Notre Dame
Consensus ranking: 54
My ranking: 33
A two-time All-American with 13 interceptions in the last two years, Watts is a tremendous talent who I’d argue isn’t being talked about enough for how strong his resume is.
Watts is an intelligent safety who can play all over the field, showcasing a high motor in pursuit, both in coverage and run support. He has great ball skills with loose hips and tremendous range as a deep safety. He has a high floor at the NFL level, and I think his ceiling is higher than many give him credit for.
S: Marques Sigle, Kansas State
Consensus ranking: 347
My ranking: 249
Sigle is a physical, versatile defender who can play out of the slot, as a deep safety and in the box. His ability to play just about anywhere in the back-seven should be enticing to NFL teams.
In addition to his versatility, as well as his high PFF grading between his stints at Kansas State and North Dakota State, Sigle is a 4.3 athlete with an aggressive mindset in pursuit and playmaking capabilities in coverage. He’s a bit unproven as a full-time deep safety, but his speed and versatility should make him a nice depth addition on Day 3 of the 2025 NFL Draft.