Amid the free-agency flurry, teams are still aware the 2025 NFL Draft also is just around the corner.
NFL Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah is once again sharing his expertise on college football standouts looking to start their pro journey, and he recently rolled out Version 3.0 of his Top 50 Draft Prospects.
Jeremiah published his first list on Jan. 28 and followed with version 2.0 on Feb. 24. Several players vaulted up the rankings after the combine.
The player who rose most significantly is Kentucky CB Maxwell Hairston, who started out at No. 43 on Jeremiah's list and now is at 32. The analyst said Hairston is a "lean, athletic cornerback with ideal play speed and fluidity."
In press coverage, he incorporates a one-hand jam before turning and carrying vertical routes. He has plenty of burst/speed. In off coverage, he likes to settle and catch receivers at the break point. He'll need to play cleaner with his hands down the field at the next level. In Kentucky's defense, he rolled back to play in the middle of the field versus certain formations/motions, but he was late to diagnose and react from that alignment. He's willing in run support and is a dynamic blitzer. He was limited to seven games this past season due to a shoulder injury, which impacted his tackling. He had a very productive 2023 season (five interceptions) but wasn't targeted much in the games I studied from this past year. Overall, Hairston offers an enticing blend of movement skills and production.
Missouri T Armand Membou rose from No. 18 to No. 11 on Jeremiah's list; he said that while some teams "might view him as a guard, I have no doubt he's a starting-caliber tackle after getting a chance to see him compete in person."
Texas WR Matthew Golden jumped seven spots to No. 15. According to Jeremiah, he has "average size" but "plays with tremendous polish, instincts and toughness" and has spent a lot of time playing in the slot. He also was referred to as "a quarterback's best friend" thanks to reliability.
Ohio State WR Emeka Egbuka also has been a steady riser, going from No. 23 to 17, and another jumper on Jeremiah's list was recently mocked to the Vikings by CBS Sports' Garrett Podell: South Carolina S Nick Emmanwori. He went from No. 25 to No. 19.
Emmanwori is a massive safety prospect with ideal instincts and ball skills. He fits best as a strong safety, big nickel or sub linebacker. He can consistently undercut routes and take the ball away in those roles. He trusts his eyes and drives on the ball. He had multiple pick-sixes in the games I studied. He does have a little tightness that shows up in man coverage, but he has enough speed to recover. When he's aligned in the deep half, he's not as effective. He doesn't see/react as well at that depth. Against the run, he is aggressive to fill and he's a strong tackler on the front side. He will have some run-by misses when chasing from the back side. Overall, Emmanwori will be a difference-maker provided the team that drafts him deploys him close to the action.
Another safety rose an impressive nine spots and also was projected to the Vikings in a mock draft by CBS Sports' Ryan Wilson.
Jeremiah moved Georgia's Malaki Starks from 34 to 25 and noted he split his time between nickel and safety.
When he was in the slot, he showed quick feet with the ability to flip his hips and mirror underneath. To see him at his best, watch him carry a vertical route, stay in phase and high-point a deep ball against Clemson. From off coverage, he's aggressive to squat on routes, and he's had wins and losses because of it. He was caught flat-footed a few times in the games I studied. In the deep half, he takes good angles in pursuit and is a firm tackler in space. Sources at Georgia speak very highly of his character. His intelligence and leadership ability have blown NFL teams away in meetings. Overall, Starks didn't make as many plays this past season as he did in 2023, but he has the versatility to move around the field and provide a lot of value.
Three other players surged into the Top 50. Mississippi CB Trey Amos moved to No. 41 after running his 40-yard dash in 4.43 seconds. Arkansas edge defender Landon Jackson is at No. 47, and Purdue tackle Marcus Mbow is at 50.
Click here to see Jeremiah's full 3.0 rankings.
Aaron Jones, Sr., & Vikings pairing 'makes sense,' The Athletic says
The Vikings reached a deal Sunday to bring back Aaron Jones, Sr., before the running back hit free agency when the New League Year starts at 3 p.m. (CT) Wednesday.
Alec Lewis and Diana Russini noted that Jones had been the top-ranked running back (and No. 31 overall) in The Athletic's list of Top 150 Free Agents and said it "makes sense" for Jones to stay in Minnesota.
Jones remains a three-down bell cow when healthy, and his workload last year supports as much. His 255 carries and 1,138 rushing yards were new personal bests and he surpassed 1,500 scrimmage yards for the third time in his eight-year NFL career. And while his 4.5 yards per carry average was the lowest of his career, he averaged 8.0 yards per reception, good for the second-highest mark over that span.
The 2017 fifth-round pick out of UTEP has accumulated 9,562 scrimmage yards (7,078 rushing) and 70 total touchdowns (50 rushing) since entering the league.
Lewis emphasized the Vikings value the running back position and they now have a "proven option," even if they also opt to add one through this year's NFL Draft — which is said to be extremely deep at running back.
Signing Jones before free agency opened allowed Minnesota to "have more flexibility regarding his dead cap hit," Lewis explained, and he also "fills a key leadership [role] in the Vikings locker room."
