The Best-Kept Secrets of the 2025 NFL Draft

Everyone likes a good bargain. NFL teams especially do. It's easier to build a roster if a middle- or late-round draft pick hits big, and the organization gets to benefit from a cost-controlled rookie contract for four seasons.

In today's information-laden world, it seems impossible to sneak a talented prospect through the predraft process. Traditional sleepers have nearly gone by the wayside.

However, good players still fall through the cracks. Usually, those individuals lack an elite athletic profile or they contribute at a high level with a very specialized skill set. Bottom line: They're good football players and will continue to be.

Like any other class, this year's group will have those drafted on the third day, or possibly even go undrafted, and become long-time NFL contributors. We looked at eight prospects who are graded lower than 150 overall on the site's draft rankings, who have the ability to be excellent pros.

More often than not, coaching staffs mention they can't trust young running backs because they're not prepared to play on third downs, either as a pass-catcher or a blocker. Syracuse's LeQuint Allen is different.

Allen should be able to immediately contribute on third downs at the onset of his professional career.

The second-team All-ACC performer led all FBS running backs last season with 64 receptions. Allen is not just a check-down option, either. He can run routes and line up wide. He's also more than willing to consistently and aggressively pass-protect. Ohio State's TreVeyon Henderson may be considered the class' top pass-blocker among the running backs, but Allen will be available later in the process and bring similar qualities.

Two other factors should be taken into the equation. Allen isn't just a third-down back. He posted back-to-back 1,000-yard campaigns. Furthermore, he's only 20 years old. His upside is just as intriguing as his current skill set.

Some will take one look at Nick Nash's age—he turns 26 during his rookie campaign—and immediately disqualify him as a draftable option.

Yet an immediate qualifier must be applied. Nash originally committed and spent his first three seasons at quarterback before finally starting the transition to wide receiver, where he played full-time over the last two years.

Despite the late position-switch, Nash dominated a season ago. He led all FBS wide receivers with 104 receptions, 1,382 receiving yards and 16 touchdown grabs.

Obviously, his time at quarterback helps with an understanding of how to be available for a passer, even if he's not an explosive athlete. He's also quite adept at playing above the rim, so to speak, when it comes to physically outmaneuvering a defensive back in coverage. Nash's hands are extremely strong and he's an excellent red-zone target.

Plus, the unanimous All-American is still developing as a route-runner coming out of an Air Raid scheme. Right now, he can excel as a power slot as he continues to grow as a wide receiver.

Tight end classes are often dominated by those who are valuable assets in the passing game. Penn State's Tyler Warren and Michigan's Colston Loveland are the obvious examples in this year's draft class. Blockers aren't valued nearly as much. Either a tight end is a unique offensive weapon or capable of dominating in both phases to be considered elite.

A prospect like Texas Tech's Jalin Conyers can contribute in both areas at a relatively high level and not receive the same attention.

As an all-round blocker, Conyers is arguably the class' best option. He's capable at the point of attack in the run game and rock solid when kept in to help with pass protection.

The two-time transfer can be used in the passing game, too, with 98 receptions for 1,104 yards and 10 touchdowns over the last three seasons. Obviously, Conyers never posted huge production, but he has the athletic profile to contribute more at the next level. According to Kent Lee Platte, the 260-pound tight end posted a relative athletic score out of nine, with strong explosive and change-of-direction numbers.

As a fun aside, Conyers can do some of the things that Warren was asked to do at Penn State this past season. He just hasn't been featured in the same way.

Offensive linemen are regularly drafted outside the confines of major college football. Last year, six draftees didn't play at the FBS level.

This year's class includes the likes of North Dakota State's Grey Zabel, William & Mary's Charles Grant, Alabama A&M's Carson Vinson, Sacramento State's Jackson Slater and Jacksonville State's Clay Webb. Montana State's Marcus Wehr shouldn't be left out of the conversation.

Wehr became a dominant FCS blocker, with back-to-back first-team All-American nods. What's interesting about how he played is the seemingly constant transition the 6'3", 298-pound prospect has undergone throughout his collegiate career. Wehr originally entered the Bobcats program as a defensive end before converting to offensive tackle. He seemingly found a home at guard during his final season on campus.

The combine snub is powerful at the point of attack and really excels in the run game. His experience at tackle should help as a pass-protection while working in confined spaces and mitigate some of his movement deficiencies. Wehr may even find his way to center before it's all said and done.

If an NFL team is specifically looking for a nose/1-technique without having to spend a draft pick during the event's first and second days, it can immediately turn to Boston College's Cam Horsley.

Horsley is one of the most powerful and violent interior defenders in the class. He's also capable of resetting the line of scrimmage because of a nice combination of first-step quickness and lateral agility, which provides some flexibility to play either defensive tackle spot.

However, the 6'3", 312-pound prospect won't provide much as a pass-rusher. Defensive tackles who can collapse the pocket hold the most value. Even an individual with the perceived upside to create pressure up the middle will intrigue NFL teams.

But Horsley is more of a space-eater willing to do the necessary dirty work for others to make plays. A place definitely exists for that type of individual. They're simply not viewed as favorably despite having an obvious role upon stepping into an NFL locker room.

An NFL team won't find a linebacker more productive than Buffalo's Shaun Dolac.

In two of the last three collegiate seasons, Dolac either finished first or second in total tackles. Between the 2022 and '24 campaigns, the reigning MAC Defensive Player of the Year amassed 315 tackles, 33 tackles for loss, 12 defended passes and five interceptions.

Sandwiched between those two points, the linebacker suffered a season-ending shoulder injury in 2023.

Dolac is a tackling machine and an excellent athlete. Despite being a combine snub, the 6'0", 220-pound defender showed out at Buffalo's pro day. According to Colton Edwards, Dolac posted a 4.55-second 40-yard dash, 25 reps on bench, a 35.5-inch vertical jump, 4.21-second short shuttle and 6.94-second 3-cone drill. All but the vertical effort would have qualified among the top-six linebackers at the combine. The last two numbers would have ranked first.

The consensus All-American is a bit of a throwback with how he's constantly around the ball, but his athletic profile indicates he'll be fine as an every-down linebacker in the NFL.

Boise State's Ahmed Hassanein brings both an inspirational story and real chance of thriving in the NFL as he continues to grow in the sport of football. Hassanein is working to become the first Egyptian citizen to play in the NFL. He described his journey to The Draft Network's Justin Melo:

"I left the United States when I was about seven years old. When I went to Egypt, I had to learn how to speak Arabic. I started speaking the language and learning the Arabic way.

I started playing a ton of sports. I was ranked nationally in crossbow, I was top 10 in Africa and No. 1 in Egypt. I did boxing, jiu-jitsu, ping pong, basketball, and soccer. I was playing everything. I fell in love with sports.

When my half-brother visited Egypt, it had been about 10 years. We hadn’t seen each other in so long. He saw me and asked me to come play high school football for him in America. He was a high school football coach and English teacher. I was doing neither of those things at that time.

I started playing football at 18 even though I didn’t speak any English yet.

Hassanein settled along the defensive line. Less than five years later, he's coming off a collegiate career with 33 tackles for loss and 22 sacks over the last two seasons, in which he was named first-team All-Mountain West. Hassanein may not have grown up with American football, but he's clearly a natural athlete with significant growth potential.

While the NFL has trended toward zone-heavy, Vic Fangio-influenced defensive schemes in recent years, a cornerback who provides flexibility and allows a play-caller to switch things up and make life more confusing on an opposing quarterback is always welcomed.

South Carolina's O'Donnell Fortune emerged as one of college football's best all-around cover corners last season. In fact, he and Colorado's Travis Hunter, who B/R considers the No. 1 overall pick in this year's class, were the only corners to grade among the top four at the FBS level in both man and zone coverage, according to Pro Football Focus.

Of course, Fortune doesn't have the same profile as Hunter, who is a truly unique talent. Yet the fact that those are the only two to crack that barrier shows the former deserves more credit for the type of player he is on the field.

The 6'1" defensive back is slight. He didn't post impressive workout numbers. But he knows how to play within the framework of a defense in whatever scheme the team employs and do so at a relatively high level.