2025 NFL Draft Stock Report: Music City Bowl

2025 NFL Draft Stock Report: Music City Bowl

The 2025 NFL Draft will be here before you know it. We here at Vendetta Sports Media strive to take our draft coverage to another level heading into 2025. We’ve covered more Bowl games than ever this year and are even adding the Music City Bowl between Iowa and Missouri.

Missouri won the game 27-24. It was a close game but I wouldn’t say it was one that was exactly flooding with NFL players. This post won’t be super long but you will get your money’s worth as always. Let’s get right to business. Here are your 2025 NFL Draft Stock notes.

Iowa

No Kaleb Johnson but I actually think we learned something today. I’m not somebody who is pushing the hype train on this one. Missouri was 40th in stopping the run entering this game. Back up Kamari Moulton averaged 6.9 yards per carry on 14 carries. Other back up Jaziun Patterson averaged 8.2 yards per carry on nine attempts. Iowa had no problems running the ball and they didn’t really miss Johnson.

I’m not trying to hate on Johnson but I think there are several backs in this upcoming class who are better. We’ll find out more during the predraft process, but I think it should be understood by now that Iowa produces NFL lineman and a lot of their backs prove to be replaceable by the next recruiting class.

I have no idea where the other NFL Draft people stand but I don’t really care. It’s unlikely he will be in the top 10 for me and we saw a big reason why. The back ups look just fine to me in the same system…

I’ll be honest; Brendan Sullivan played way better than I thought he would. I thought he was total trash at Northwestern. Now it’s pretty clear that Cade McNamara needed to go. Sullivan is the better option. Didn’t really push the ball down the field but was 14/18 for 131 yards and one touchdown / interception each. He’s not NFL good but he’s good in terms of being Iowa good. Has size and will be back next year. That’s about as nice as I can be for a guy who isn’t going to do a damn thing at the NFL level. Being Iowa good is a compliment because most of the time they don’t even have that. In fact, I was surprised by how wiggly he was moving around on his size. Not a total statue either.

Kaden Wetjen was the Big 10 return man of the year. He scored another one in the first quarter. I have no idea where Iowa finds guys like this who look like Cooper DeJean and move like the wind but they keep doing it. He has basically zero actual production on offense but damn dude can return kicks. I don’t know what it means but I’m sure Belichick would find a way to use him if he was still in the league.

Few notes on defense. Jay Higgins actually played. Good football player. Right now I’m waiting to see how he moves around at the Combine and how fast he is. When we get those answers I’ll get back to you.

Deontae Crag had two sacks and four TFLs. Which sounds cool but it really came out of nowhere. Senior who hasn’t gotten much run this year. Then in his last game goes nuts. I don’t know what that means but that’s what happened.

The other linebacker Nick Jackson might not be terrible.

Missouri

No Luther Burden. That means we saw plenty of Theo Wease and I thought he played well. Honestly looked like not having Burden out there helped him. He was able to line up more in the slot, which seems to be his best fit on an offense. He’s had good performances in the past and came to play in this one. Five receptions for 75 yards and a score. It could have been more but he hurt himself with what looked like a hand/wrist injury. Played well though and maybe can be a slot guy at the next level.

That then opened the door for the Marquise Johnson breakout party. We saw flashes when he was a freshman but didn’t really do anything this year. Maybe it’s a playing time and lack of QB play issue. When he got his chance, he did some things. He will be back next year. Likely for two years. Finished this game with seven receptions for 122 yards and a score. Not a freak like Burden but maybe he can become a real contributor beyond a flash in the future.

Brady Cook is horrible. He has Combine Thrower written all over him, doesn’t he? He was fine in the game but what does it really mean? Went 18/32 for 287 yards and two scores. In reality, it’s better than how he’s played for a vast majority of the season. He’s been banged up too and the time off clearly helped him.

I’m just not sure how much it matters. Just has no real ceiling. Would Missouri even want him back if they had a young gun waiting in the wings? No real arm power. No real juice in any aspect of his game. It’s like if people figured out Connor Cook wasn’t good because he simply had more snaps and played in the SEC. Cooper Rush has been in the league forever so maybe he can be that but beyond that you’re playing yourself if you’re asking for more.

Johnny Walker Jr. went out on a high note. Two sacks in this one. 6-foot-3, 255, and now up to 9.5 for the season. Haven’t watched a ton of him this season but a good impression that will make me dig further before the draft.

Subscribe to Vendetta’s Twitch

Subscribe to Vendetta’s YouTube

Click here for Vendetta Fantasy Contests

Click here for more NFL Draft content