RELATED: See our staff's top five players at the offensive skill positions.
Recently, we asked the Footballguys staff for their top rookies at each position. Over the next several weeks, we'll get deeper into the 2025 draft class and release our massive 2025 Footballguys Rookie Guide (for offense) after the Super Bowl. For now, here's a quick look at how our staff sees the top of each IDP position.
Remember that it is early in the process. Showcase events like the Senior Bowl and Shrine Bowl will allow us to better compare these players, and the NFL Combine will add even more clarity.
Key
- Rank: the player's rank at the position
- Pts: the number of points the player gained in the voting; the max changes based on how many staff members participated and how deep the voting was, but bigger numbers are always better
- Firsts: the number of first-place votes the player received from a staff member
2025 Rookie Defensive Linemen
| Rank | Defensive Linemen | School | Pts | Firsts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mason Graham | Michigan | 30 | 3 |
| 2 | Kenneth Grant | Michigan | 26 | 0 |
| 3 | Tyleik Williams | Ohio State | 24 | 0 |
| 4 | Walter Nolen | Ole Miss | 16 | 0 |
| 5 | T.J. Sanders | South Carolina | 14 | 0 |
2025 Rookie Edge Rushers
| Rank | Edge Rushers | School | Pts | Firsts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Abdul Carter | Penn State | 30 | 3 |
| 2 | James Pearce Jr.. | Tennessee | 27 | 0 |
| 3 | Mykel Williams | Georgia | 23 | 0 |
| 4 | Nic Scourton | Texas A&M | 18 | 0 |
| 5 | Jack Sawyer | Ohio State | 17 | 0 |
2025 Rookie Linebackers
| Rank | Linebackers | School | Pts | Firsts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jihaad Campbell | Alabama | 29 | 2 |
| 2 | Jalon Walker | Georgia | 27 | 1 |
| 3 | Danny Stutsman | Oklahoma | 24 | 0 |
| 4 | Barrett Carter | Clemson | 18 | 0 |
| 5 | Chris Paul Jr.. | Ole Miss | 14 | 0 |
2025 Rookie Cornerbacks
| Rank | Cornerbacks | School | Pts | Firsts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Travis Hunter | Colorado | 29 | 2 |
| 2 | Will Johnson | Michigan | 28 | 1 |
| 3 | Benjamin Morrison | Notre Dame | 21 | 0 |
| 4 | Shavon Revel Jr.. | East Carolina | 20 | 0 |
| 5 | Trey Amos | Ole Miss | 18 | 0 |
2025 Rookie Safeties
| Rank | Safeties | School | Pts | Firsts |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nick Emmanwori | South Carolina | 29 | 2 |
| 2 | Malaki Starks | Georgia | 28 | 1 |
| 3 | Andrew Mukuba | Texas | 19 | 0 |
| 4 | Keon Sabb | Alabama | 15 | 0 |
| 5 | Dante Trader Jr. | Maryland | 15 | 0 |
Photos provided by Imagn Images