2025 NFL Draft Grades: AFC South
With the 2025 draft complete, theScore's senior NFL writer Dan Wilkins hands out his initial grades for each team's incoming rookies.
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Grade: B
The Texans sure do love their Iowa State receivers. It's tough to blame them in this class. Getting Higgins and Noel on Day 2 is a nice haul to address the receiver depth after a tough season for that group. Higgins is a big body who runs good routes and can make plays above the rim. Noel is a smaller, more explosive target who creates easy separation. Ersery is also an interesting addition to the new-look offensive line room, bringing a combination of size, power, and athleticism at tackle. Trading up for Marks in the fourth round is a strange one here. That's no slight against the USC product, but giving up a 2026 third-rounder feels unnecessary in a stacked running back class. That process hurts the overall grade for an otherwise solid group.
Grade: B+
The Colts finally got their tight end. The position was the most glaring need on their roster heading in, and Warren is a physical, do-it-all playmaker who can also contribute as an in-line blocker. Tuimoloau is a talented power rusher who flew under the radar as part of this edge group. His game should translate well, giving Indy a long-term running mate for 2024 first-rounder Laiatu Latu. Walley is an exciting sleeper in the secondary, and Travis could be a candidate to challenge for one of the starting guard spots up front. And keep an eye on Giddens. Playing time might be tough to come by working behind Jonathan Taylor, but the Kansas State product is an elusive runner who plays with good vision and balance.
Grade: B+
How can you not love the aggressiveness of trading up for Hunter? Parting with future first-rounders, among other assets, for non-QBs is generally not a good idea. But this is a true unicorn prospect we're talking about. Hunter's got legitimate All-Pro upside at both receiver and corner. The Ransaw pick was a little early, and it would have been nice to see the Jaguars dip into a loaded defensive tackle class to address their needs up front. But Milum has starter potential if he moves into guard, and Tuten is a big-play machine at running back. Could Tuten be this year's version of Bucky Irving for Liam Coen's offense? The new regime is off to a fascinating start.
Grade: B
Ward was a no-brainer at the top of the draft. The Titans had to take a swing on a quarterback, and the Miami star has the arm talent, athleticism, and creativity to be a high-end starter. Oladejo and Dike feel like reaches in their respective draft slots, slightly weighing down the overall grade. However, moving down in the second round to replace the third-round pick lost in the L'Jarius Sneed trade was a good move. Winston should be a significant upgrade on the back end of the defense, and Ayomanor gives Ward an athletic, competitive receiver to develop alongside in the years to come. The Titans are trending up.