2025 NFL Combine IDP Review
Jase Abbey examines which rookies impressed and who disappointed in Indianapolis.
The NFL Combine once again provided a glimpse of the next generation of NFL stars, with teams and fans eagerly watching as several of the top prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft class were put through their paces.
Many players opted to skip athletic testing, preferring to wait until their pro day. Nevertheless, for those of us passionate about IDP, there were plenty of intriguing takeaways from the defensive players who participated.
In this article, we have divided each defensive position group into tiers and discussed how noteworthy NFL Combine performances affected the IDP outlook of key players.
Linebackers
Tier 1
Jihaad Campbell, Alabama
Carson Schwesinger, UCLA
Tier 2
Demetrius Knight Jr., South Carolina
Barrett Carter, Clemson
Danny Stutsman, Oklahoma
Tier 3
Chris Paul Jr., Mississippi
Smael Mondon Jr., Georgia
Jay Higgins, Iowa
Cody Simon, Ohio State
Everyone expected Campbell to perform well in athletic testing, and he duly delivered. The number one rookie linebacker in our dynasty IDP rankings finished third among his peers in the 40-yard dash and second in the broad jump.
Schwesinger’s day was cut short after he experienced a hamstring injury, but his 39.5” vertical was impressive. Although relatively inexperienced after making only 10 starts at UCLA, the AP All-American is a fast riser on draft boards.
Knight Jr. was the only linebacker to participate in all of the athletic tests. Although his 31.5” vertical was disappointing, he acquitted himself well overall by finishing 7th in the 40-yard dash, 2nd in the shuttle, and 3rd in the bench press.
Despite being tied for the 6th quickest 10-yard split, Higgins’ time of 4.69 seconds in the 40-yard dash ranked 15th at the position, raising concerns about his long speed.
Edge Defenders
Tier 1
Abdul Carter, Penn State
Mykel Williams, Georgia
Jalon Walker, Georgia
Tier 2
Mike Green, Marshall
James Pearce Jr., Tennessee
Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College
Tier 3
Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M
Jack Sawyer, Ohio
Nic Sourton, Texas A&M
Landon Jackson, Arkansas
JT Tuimolau, Ohio
Josaiah Stewart, Michigan
Carter could not participate in athletic testing due to a stress reaction in his foot. Despite his injury, the 21-year-old remains confident he will be the first player selected in the 2025 NFL Draft.
NFL insider Daniel Jeremiah revealed that the NFL teams he spoke to at the Combine weren’t “overly concerned” about Carter’s health. Here at The IDP Show, we are extremely excited that Carter could become an elite IDP asset.
Walker opted to delay athletic testing until his Pro Day and may come to regret that decision after suffering an unfortunate thigh injury in training. Despite not participating, the 21-year-old remains an intriguing option in IDP formats that allow dual-position designations.
Pearce Jr. led all edge rushers with a blistering 4.47 second 40-yard dash and followed up with an impressive 10’3” broad jump. He also excelled in position drills. Whether Pearce eased the rumors about character concerns in team interviews remains to be seen. There is a scenario where, if he falls far enough in the NFL Draft and the perception of his IDP value suffers, he could become a steal in fantasy.
Stewart’s college production was underwhelming, but his athleticism is off the charts. At 6’5” and 267 pounds, he drew comparisons to Myles Garrett after finishing fourth in the 40-yard dash, second in the vertical, and first in the broad jump.
Not to be outdone by Stewart, Jackson dominated in testing and performed exceptionally well in position drills. Widely criticized for his technique in bag drills after a clip went viral several years ago, Jackson showed notable improvement in his latest workout.
Defensive Tackles
Tier 1
Mason Graham, Michigan
Walter Nolen, Ole Miss
Tier 2
Tyleik Williams, Ohio State
Kenneth Grant, Michigan
Derrick Harmon, Oregon
Tier 3
T.J. Sanders, South Carolina
Alfred Collins, Texas
Darius Alexander, Toledo
Joshua Farmer, Florida State
It was disappointing that neither of the tier-two DTs competed in testing.
The main talking point about Graham was his weight, which, at 296 pounds, was 24 pounds lighter than expected. His relatively small hands and wingspan also raised eyebrows. Time will tell whether Graham’s measurements affect his draft stock, but the early signs suggest that NFL teams were not overly concerned.
Nolen is a game-wrecker who possesses the power, first step, and college production that NFL teams covet. Mike Woellert has Nolen as his rookie DT1. Hopefully, Nolen’s decision to skip the workout portion of the Combine will not come back to haunt him.
Harmon and Williams are likely to be day-two selections in the draft, but they should be on the radar of IDP managers as potential DT sleepers after impressing in position drills.
Safeties
Tier 1
Malaki Starks, Georgia
Nick Emmanwori, South Carolina
Tier 2
Xavier Watts, Notre Dame
Tier 3
Kevin Winston Jr., Penn State
Sebastian Castro, Iowa
Andrew Makuba, Texas
Lathan Ransom, Ohio State
Jonas Sanker, Virginia
Kitan Crawford, Nevada
R.J. Mickens, Clemson
Starks disappointed in athletic testing. At 6’0” and 197 pounds, he finished last in the shuttle and 3-cone, and his 33” vertical ranked 13th among 16 safeties.
Still, IDP managers need no reminder of the ample evidence suggesting that safeties who test poorly at the Combine can still establish successful NFL careers. Starks’ tape and on-field work demonstrate he has what it takes to follow in the footsteps of Brian Branch, Budda Baker, and Xavier McKinney, who had similarly poor RAS.
Perhaps the biggest winner at the Combine, Emmanwori dazzled evaluators in every conceivable way. Multiple NFL insiders predict that the versatile 6’3”, 220-pound All-American will leapfrog Starks and may even creep into the first half of the first round of the NFL Draft.
Crawford left an indelible mark after finishing among the top three in every athletic test. He’s unlikely to become an NFL starter in his rookie year but should be monitored in deep IDP leagues.
Cornerbacks
Tier 1
Travis Hunter, Colorado
Will Johnson, Michigan
Jahdae Barron, Texas
Tier 2
Maxwell Hairston, Kentucky
Trey Amos, Mississippi
Azareye’h Thomas, Florida State
Benjamin Morrison, Notre Dame
Tier 3
Shavon Revel Jr., East Carolina
Hunter did not participate in athletic testing but may do so at the Big 12 Pro Day, which begins on March 18. He did, at least, alleviate concerns about his weight.
Unfortunately, we still lack a definitive answer on exactly how Hunter will be used in the NFL. Cleveland Browns general manager Andrew Berry revealed they “would see him as a receiver primarily,” while Tennessee Titans head coach Brian Callahan said Hunter would “probably start at corner.” It's promising that NFL front offices are open to leveraging Hunter's two-way abilities, but IDP managers remain in limbo while they wait and hope for him to receive a CB designation.
Barron and Amos answered critics who had questioned whether they possessed the top-end speed required of NFL cornerbacks by posting better-than-expected 40-yard dash times of 4.39 and 4.43 seconds, respectively.
Hairston ran a blazing 4.28-second 40-yard dash, which ranked first among all players. He also looked fluid in position drills, demonstrating impressive short-area quickness.
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