2025 NFL Draft Grades: AFC South

2025 NFL Draft Grades: AFC South

The 2025 NFL Draft journey is finally over. After essentially a year of work studying this class, it’s finally time to hand out grades. We’ve already done just that for the AFC East and AFC North. Now it’s time for the AFC South, and we’re essentially here to discuss if anyone made improvement so they can challenge Houston for that top spot. As always, feel free to comment, and at the bottom of the post will be a reminder of the Draft content that’s still on the horizon.

Houston Texans: Grade D+

Round 2: No. 34 (from NYG) – Jayden Higgins, WR, Iowa State (Profile)
Round 2: No. 48 (from MIA via LV) – Aireontae Ersery, T, Minnesota (Profile)
Round 3: No. 79 (from MIA via PHI and WAS) – Jaylin Noel, WR, Iowa State (Profile)
Round 3: No. 97 (Compensatory, from MIN) – Jaylin Smith, CB, USC
Round 4: No. 116 (from MIA) – Woody Marks, RB, USC (Profile)
Round 6: No. 187 (from SF via MIN) – Jaylen Reed, S, Penn State
Round 6: No. 197 (from DEN) – Graham Mertz, QB, Florida (Profile)
Round 7: No. 224 (from CHI via MIA) – Kyonte Hamilton, DT, Rutgers
Round 7: No. 255 (Compensatory, from CLE) – Luke Lachey, TE, Iowa (Profile)

Notable UDFAs: Daniel Jackson, Eli Cox, Junior Tafuna, Alijah Huzzie

I love that Houston traded down a bunch, but I’m not sure they actually got any good players… so that’s a problem. I love the Ersery pick. He’s going to help fill one of the tackle spots. I’m also a fan of Jaylen Reed. Beyond that, I’m really not sure how much the Texans got better.

The track record of Iowa State wide receivers being successful is basically zero. I like the gamble on Higgins more than Noel, but it’s very possible they pulled a New England from last year where they’re still looking for help at receiver a year from now. Trading up for Woody Marks is a joke. Using a comp pick for Jaylin Smith is also hilarious.

Other than picking up some depth, I don’t think Houston got better. They’re incredibly vulnerable heading into this year.

Indianapolis Colts: Grade C

Round 1: No. 14 – Tyler Warren, TE, Penn State (Profile)
Round 2: No. 45 – JT Tuimoloau, EDGE, Ohio State (Profile)
Round 3: No. 80 – Justin Walley, CB, Minnesota
Round 4: No. 127 – Jalen Travis, T, Iowa State
Round 5: No. 151 – DJ Giddens, RB, Kansas State (Profile)
Round 6: No. 189 – Riley Leonard, QB, Notre Dame (Profile)
Round 6: No. 190 (from ATL via LAR) – Tim Smith, DT, Alabama
Round 7: No. 232 – Hunter Wohler, S, Wisconsin

Notable UDFAs: Ulysses Bentley, Blayne Taylor, Evan Slocum

The Tuimolau pick saves this from being an F. If the Colts got him in the first and Warren in the second, this class starts to make more sense. Honestly, the failures go well beyond that. Once again, Chris Ballard did what he always does. All of his middle round picks got flushed down the toilet again. I’ve been studying this class for the entire year, and I have no idea who Justin Walley is. Jalen Travis is a hope and prayer who feels like a spitting image of when they did the same thing with Le’Raven Clark. Riley Leonard had no business being drafted, and if DJ Giddens becomes a nice backup, it may be the best thing they did after round two.

Nothing really changes for the Colts. Chris Ballard is a dope and as long as he’s in charge, this team is screwed.

Jacksonville Jaguars: Grade C+

Round 1: No. 2 (from CLE) – Travis Hunter, CB/WR, Colorado (Profile)
Round 3: No. 88 (from MIN) – Caleb Ransaw, CB, Tulane (Profile)
Round 3: No. 89 (from HOU) – Wyatt Milum, G, West Virginia (Profile)
Round 4: No. 104 (from CLE) – Bhayshul Tuten, RB, Virginia Tech (Profile)
Round 4: No. 107 – Jack Kiser, LB, Notre Dame (Profile)
Round 6: No. 194 (from SEA) – Jalen McLeod, LB, Auburn
Round 6: No. 200 (from MIN via CLE) – Rayuan Lane III, S, Navy
Round 7: No. 221 – Jonah Monheim, C, USC
Round 7: No. 236 (from DEN via PHI, WAS & HOU) – LeQuint Allen, RB, Syracuse (Profile)

Notable UDFAs: Seth Henigan, Ja’Quinden Jackson, Cam Camper, JJ Jones, Patrick Herbert, Sal Wormley, BJ Green, Danny Striggow, Ethan Downs, Jabbar Muhammad, Jordan Wright

Trading up for Travis Hunter is awesome… but it also comes with a price. A big price and when you did that, you better hit on the rest of your picks. I like Ransaw and LeQuint Allen in round 7 is good business. Beyond that, this class is really concerning.

Are you good enough to give up the next year’s one? Jack Kiser can’t beat a five year old in a race. Tuten was a kick returner at North Carolina A&T this time two years ago. You can’t flush picks down the toilet like this when you make this kind of move.

The Coen/Gladstone regime sure feels like it’s going to be entertaining, but in a rollercoaster type of way that makes their fans die of early heart attacks.

2025 NFL Draft Grades: AFC North

Tennessee Titans: Grade B-

Round 1: No. 1 – Cam Ward, QB, Miami (Profile)
Round 2: No. 52 (from PIT via SEA) – Oluwafemi Oladejo, EDGE, UCLA (Profile)
Round 3: No. 82 (from SEA) – Kevin Winston Jr., S, Penn State
Round 4: No. 103 – Chimere Dike, WR, Florida (Profile)
Round 4: No. 120 (from SEA) – Gunnar Helm, TE, Texas (Profile)
Round 4: No. 136 (Compensatory, from BAL) – Elic Ayomanor, WR, Stanford (Profile)
Round 5: No. 167 (from KC) – Jackson Slater, G, Sacramento State
Round 6: No. 183 (from CAR via BAL) – Marcus Harris, CB, California
Round 6: No. 188 (from DAL) – Kalel Mullings, RB, Michigan (Profile)

Notable UDFAs: Micah Bernard, Xavier Restrepo, Kaden Moore, Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson, Cam Horsley, Philip Blidi, David Gbenda, Clarence Lewis, Jalen Kimber

Can’t fault them for going Cam Ward. The guy can flat out play and has the right mentality. You can’t put a price tag on that. The round two and three picks were nice. The only problem is the draft went to hell after that. Maybe Helm becomes a thing. Mullings might be a nice third back. Beyond that, too many wasted opportunities late in the draft to go higher with this grade.

*Still on the horizon*

2025 NFL Draft Grades along with a few stragglers left behind on the individual profiles.

The film studies for the East-West and Senior Bowl practices will be published soonish.

The 2026 NFL Draft way-too-early position rankings will be posted after the grades.

Fantasy rookie rankings for each position will come out after the way-too-early 2026 list.

Then, Trey is going on hiatus for a few days. Make sure to share the links around, and feel free to comment. If you’re here, thanks for your support, and I hope I helped make everyone smart this draft season!

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