To build a sound NFL roster through the draft is all about value—getting a game-changer at a discount, or at least not overpaying for a guy who’ll barely make the two-deep.
But every single year, a handful of picks leave you shaking your head like, they took HIM there?
Meanwhile, a few GMs seem to have the aces up their sleeve and walk away with future stars for pennies on the dollar.
Let’s break down the six worst value picks—and the six greatest steals—from the 2025 NFL Draft.
Who are the worst picks and possible steals in the 2025 NFL Draft?
WORST: Colston Loveland, TE – Chicago Bears (No. 10 Overall)
The Bears went with Michigan tight end Colston Loveland at No. 10, and look—he’s a talented player, but tight end at 10?
Chicago had bigger needs at edge, tackle, and corner. Yes, Ben Johnson’s offense loves a mismatch tight end, but Loveland wasn’t the consensus top guy at his position, and most mocks had him going closer to the end of the first round.
Click on ‘Follow Us’ and get notified of the most viral NFL stories via Google! Follow Us
You can’t help but feel like he was trying a little bit too hard to recreate the magic he captured with Sam La Porta in Detroit…
This pick felt like the definition of “luxury” instead of “necessity,” and in a division loaded with pass rushers, passing up on premium edge or offensive line help is risky business. Loveland will have to be the next… well… Sam La Porta—or George Kittle for this to pay off.
Otherwise it is going to go down as another highly questionable choice in Bears draft history… which is not exactly how they wanted to bring in this new Ben Johnson era.
GREATEST: Mason Graham, DT – Cleveland Browns (No. 5 Overall)
While the Browns’ draft as a whole raised eyebrows, their decision to trade down and STILL land Michigan’s Mason Graham at No. 5 was one of the biggest coups of Round 1.
The reality of the situation is that they were not a Travis Hunter away from competing for a Super Bowl… and as electric as he may end up being, they really need to prioritize the trenches and get stronger again on the inside.
Graham was widely viewed as the best pure defensive tackle in the class—an interior disruptor with the ability to anchor the run and collapse the pocket. His relentless motor and technique remind a lot of people of Chris Jones. Cleveland badly needed a cornerstone on the D-line, and Graham gives them just that. The Browns got their guy AND extra capital. That’s how you build a sustainable winning strategy in the NFL draft.
The pick may not translate to a Lombardi Trophy in Year 1, but few ever will… that can’t be the aim. This was a great play by Cleveland to finally start the rebuild from the ground up.
WORST: Shemar Stewart, EDGE – Cincinnati Bengals (No. 17 Overall)
Look, it’s not a shock the Bengals went defense in Round 1—but the pick of Texas A&M’s Shemar Stewart at 17? That’s a risky bet for a franchise that can’t afford another first-round flop.
It is true… Stewart looks the part. He is big, explosive, and a legit athletic freak. But production matters, and Stewart’s numbers in college were, well, underwhelming. Not to mention that his motor looked… well… questionable at times to put it nicely.
And don’t forget—we are talking about a guy that never had more than 1.5 sacks in any season, finishing his Aggies career with just 4.5 total sacks and a single forced fumble.
Sure, traits guys sometimes pop at the next level, but for a team that needs impact NOW, passing on more proven defensive talent is a real gamble.
This pick is a swing for the fences… and a desperate attempt to show Trey Hendrickson that they are putting together a plan for life without him… meanwhile, it very well may end up being a strikeout. And a painful one at that!
GREATEST: Barrett Carter, LB – Cincinnati Bengals (No. 119 Overall)
Don’t worry Bengals fans… the sky isn’t falling entirely—because y’all did find a nice potential diamond in the rough at 119.
Every NFL draft has its “how did he fall this far?” guy—and for 2025, that’s Clemson’s Barrett Carter.
Landing Carter in the fourth round is outright theft for the Bengals.
This is a player with Day 2 tape, Day 2 athleticism, and Day 1 versatility. Carter can run, cover, and hit. He’s experienced at multiple linebacker spots, has played in big games, and should be an immediate contributor to special teams and nickel packages.
In a division loaded with modern, super athletic offenses, Carter is exactly what Cincinnati needed to keep up.
There is a very good chance that you’ll be seeing this man flying around Paul Brown Stadium sooner rather than later.
WORST: Jonah Savaiinaea, OL – Miami Dolphins (No. 36 Overall)
Miami nabbed Jonah Savaiinaea—a college tackle who most project as a guard in the pros—in the second round…
And while it isn’t as easy to scrutinize out of the first round, 36 is basically a 1+ rounder, which brings us to the next point—what was Miami thinking?
The 36th overall pick holds a ton of value and yet they went after guy who is already expected to require a position change!
He wasn’t close to the best lineman left, and most scouts had him as a third- or even fourth-round project. He’s athletic, sure, but his technique is raw, and he’s inconsistent in pass protection—problematic when you’re protecting Tua Tagovailoa.
The Dolphins are desperate to fix their line, but this was a reach, pure and simple. In a conference loaded with defensive line talent, Miami can’t afford whiffs up front.
GREATEST: Shedeur Sanders, QB – Cleveland Browns (No. 144 Overall)
Every draft has a stunning fall, and this year, it was Shedeur Sanders. Once talked about as a potential first-rounder, Sanders fell all the way to the Browns in the fifth round.
Forget the drama for a minute, though, because this is insane value. Sanders has a legitimate NFL arm, pocket presence, and leadership skills. Not to mention a chip the size of the fifth round on his shoulder!
With the Browns quarterback situation still in total flux, taking a shot on a talent like Sanders at 144 is a classic high-upside swing. If he develops, this could be the best value in the entire NFL draft.
And if not? It was a fifth-rounder—who cares! This is why you collect picks and take chances.
WORST: James Pearce Jr., EDGE – Atlanta Falcons (No. 26 Overall)
Atlanta might need help on the edge of their defensive line, but desperation moves are rarely a good strategy, and the Falcons’ decision to burn a 2026 first-rounder to move up for Tennessee’s James Pearce Jr. could haunt them.
No doubt, Pearce is a talented outside linebacker who can rush the quarterback with the best of them… when he’s on his game…
But while he flashed legit first-round potential early last season, there were more than a few times he seemed to disappear out there.
Don’t get us wrong… Atlanta definitely needs help at that position. But mortgaging a future first in a deep draft for another edge, right after grabbing Jalon Walker, raises eyebrows.
The Falcons aren’t a perennial playoff team that can afford to play with house money. If Pearce isn’t a star, this is a “win-now” gamble that could backfire in a hurry.
GREATEST: Jihaad Campbell, LB – Philadelphia Eagles (No. 31 Overall)
Howie Roseman keeps playing chess while the rest of the league is playing checkers. Grabbing Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell at 31 in the 2025 NFL Draft is a perfect example.
Campbell had Top-10 grades on multiple boards, but slipped due to knee concerns… It sounds like a couple of the young studs we’ve seen on the Eagles’ defense in the last couple of years.
Anyway, Philly’s front office isn’t scared to take a medical… or character… risk on a blue-chip defender—and Campbell is an absolute stud, able to cover, blitz, and chase sideline-to-sideline.
He is a perfect fit for the Birds, and if he stays healthy, Campbell will fit right into the Eagles’ aggressive scheme and could end up as one of the signature players of this draft class.
WORST: Tyleik Williams, DT – Detroit Lions (No. 28 Overall)
There’s no denying the Lions are in a rare sweet spot—one of the deepest, most complete rosters in the NFL, especially along the defensive line.
That’s part of why the decision to invest a first-round pick in Ohio State’s Tyleik Williams is such a head-scratcher.
Williams is a strong, athletic interior defender, but Detroit already has a rising young star in Alim McNeill, who plays a strikingly similar style. Rather than addressing more urgent needs, like cornerback, wide receiver, or even adding another edge rusher, the Lions doubled up at a position with plenty of depth already.
Maybe general manager Brad Holmes is trying to channel his inner Eagles and build a never-ending pipeline of big bodies, but Williams isn’t a game-wrecker in the mold of a Jalen Carter. He’s a solid rotational piece, not a blue-chip anchor.
With their Super Bowl window wide open, Detroit needed to get a difference-maker or a long-term starter at a premium spot.
Instead, they went safe—and redundant, which even in this draft is hard not to see as a missed opportunity for a contender that should be aiming for upside, not insurance.
GREATEST: Tyler Warren, TE – Indianapolis Colts (No. 14 Overall)
Now THIS is how you attack a need with value in the NFL Draft. The Colts and Chris Ballard absolutely nailed this pick with Tyler Warren out of Penn State—a plug-and-play difference-maker.
For those who are unfamiliar with the Happy Valley product, he was the focal point of their offense the entire season.
Warren isn’t just a tight end—he’s an offensive weapon. He runs like a receiver, blocks with the best of his peers, and is a matchup nightmare in the red zone.
Anthony Richardson or Daniel Jones, if things go sideways, will get a go-to guy who can keep chains moving and create explosive plays.
Landing Warren without trading up, and ahead of the inevitable run at the position, is how you win the draft board.
Colts fans, you’ve got a piece who could end up one of the best all-around tight ends in the league for years to come.
WORST: Jaxson Dart, QB – New York Giants (No. 25 Overall, via trade)
The quarterback position is always at the top of the mind for NFL executives, especially for those who operate a team searching for its long-term answer at the game’s most important position.
So, it isn’t that stunning that New York went a little bit off script and moved up to take a signal caller…But Dart is as raw as they come. He thrived at Ole Miss in a heavy RPO and play-action scheme—one that let him play fast and loose, but didn’t require him to consistently make NFL-level reads and throws.
There’s some physical talent and moxie, but he’s nowhere near plug-and-play.
The Giants are still carrying Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston, so the plan might be to let Dart learn. But in a New York media market, with Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen both coaching for their jobs, how long until pressure mounts and Dart gets thrown to the wolves?
If he’s rushed onto the field, you could see this unravel fast, which would only make this pick look even worse over time!
This was a reach for hope, not for a sure thing—exactly the kind of move that gets regimes fired in today’s NFL.
GREATEST: Josh Simmons, OT – Kansas City Chiefs (No. 32 Overall)
Despite being a salary-capped league, the NFL is a league where sometimes the rich really do get richer—usually just because their front offices are more competent… but still!
The Chiefs proved it once again by scooping up Ohio State tackle Josh Simmons with the final pick of Round 1. This is the textbook definition of a draft-day steal.
Simmons was trending toward being a top-10 lock before a midseason knee injury knocked him down some NFL draft boards and right into the hands of Andy Reid and the Kansas City Chiefs.
When healthy, he has all the makings of a future All-Pro—size, movement skills, and the kind of edge that sets the tone up front.
Kansas City is in a perfect position, as they don’t need to rush him thanks to their depth, meaning Simmons will have plenty of time to get back to 100%, learn behind veterans, and step in when ready, possibly as the best value tackle in the entire class.
Three years from now, don’t be shocked if teams are kicking themselves for letting the Chiefs reload at a premium position… again. This is how champions stay on top.
