Way-Too-Early Top Five SEC Draft Prospects for the 2025 NFL Draft
While this year's draft has been getting all of the attention, it is never too early to start looking forward to next year. With that being said, here is my way-too-early list of the top 5 SEC Draft Prospects for the 2025 NFL Draft.
Honorable Mentions: LB Harold Perkins (LSU), OT Will Campbell (LSU), OT Kelvin Banks Jr. (Texas), DL Walter Nolen (Ole Miss)
QB Carson Beck (Georgia)
Carson Beck is one of the nation's top returning QB's in 2025 after a strong first year as Georgia's starting QB. On the year, he went for a 72.4% completion percentage, 3,941 passing yards, 24 passing TD's, and 6 INT's while earning 2nd team All-SEC honors.
Beck played his best ball against SEC opponents as well. In nine games against SEC teams (including the SEC Championship), Beck averaged 294.2 passing yards per game with a 73.4% completion percentage.
Beck had some consistency issues at times in 2023, but another year as a starter in 2024 should help with that. He has the size and arm talent to be one of the top QB's (and player's overall) off the board in the 2025 NFL Draft.
QB Quinn Ewers (Texas)
Ewers took a huge step forward in Year 2 as a starter in 2023. After a so-so Freshman season in 2022, Ewers put up 3,479 passing yards, 22 TD's, and 6 INT's on a 69% completion percentage in 2023.
It will also be interesting to see how Ewers fares in a full-season in the SEC, and how that affects his play. As well as him now playing without his star receivers Xavier Worthy and AD Mitchell. However, the talent of Ewers is undeniable and if he has a strong season then he will be in the running to be one of the first QB's off the board in 2025.
WR Luther Burden III (Missouri)
Luther Burden, a former five-star recruit, stepped up as one of the best receivers in the country in 2023. On the year, he put up 86 catches, 1,212 receiving yards, and 9 TD's while being one of the key players in Missouri's up-start 11-2 season.
After being a 1st team All-SEC selection this past year, Burden has a chance to be Missouri's first top 10 pick since the duo of Aldon Smith and Blaine Gabbert went 7th and 10th respectively in 2011. He'll be arguably the top receiver in the nation in 2024 and headed into next year's draft we well.
EDGE James Pearce Jr. (Tennessee)
A 2023 1st team All-SEC selection, Pearce Jr. is expected to be one of the top edge rushers headed into the 2025 NFL Draft. The former five-star recruit had a breakout Sophomore season in which he went for 28 tackles, 14.5 TFL, and 10 sacks (as well as having a pick-6).
If Pearce has a similar season in Year 3, he very well could be in the running to be the No. 1 overall pick next year.
DL/EDGE Mykel Williams (Georgia)
Another former five-star front seven recruit from the class of 2022, Williams is also heading into Year 3. Williams was an impact Freshman for the Dawgs National Championship team in 2022, going for 28 tackles, 6.5 TFL, and 4.5 sacks. While missing some games due to injury, Williams went for 18 tackles, 6.5 TFL, and 4.5 sacks in 2023.
2024 will be an interesting year for Williams. After playing mainly with his hand in the dirt at the 5 technique (Defensive End in a 3-4 defense) through his first two seasons, Georgia has experimented with Williams standing up and playing the outside linebacker pass-rusher role.
While he is already a potential 1st round pick, exactly how Williams plays in this new role could dictate exactly how high he goes and potentially make him a top 10 guy.
