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The 2025 NFL Draft could feature one of the most unpredictable first rounds in recent memory.
In a normal year, teams might have 18 to 22 players with first-round grades. For many organizations, that number is lower this time around.
As one longtime team executive put it recently: "I don't think there's a difference between Player 10 and Player 40 in this draft. (But) you've got to draft somebody."
So, after Cam Ward, Travis Hunter and Abdul Carter are long gone, who could be some of the surprises that come off the board on Thursday evening?
The following five players are underrepresented in the mock draft discourse, but hearing their names called in Round 1 wouldn't shock some of the NFL executives, scouts and coaches I've talked to in recent weeks.
Carson Schwesinger
UCLA · LB · Junior (RS)
A onetime walk-on at UCLA, Schwesinger (6-foot-2 1/2, 242 pounds) led all FBS players with 90 solo tackles and was a Butkus Award finalist last season, his first as a starter. He can run, cover and play all three downs. His instincts and character are pluses.
Schwesinger isn't as versatile as Alabama's Jihaad Campbell, who also has flashed edge-rush ability. But with several teams near the bottom of Round 1 needing an off-ball linebacker, Schwesinger could find his NFL home sooner than many expect.
Emeka Egbuka
Ohio State · WR · Senior
With this receiver class, the first-round attention has largely focused on Arizona big-play threat Tetairoa McMillan and Texas speedster Matthew Golden. But don't overlook Egbuka, Ohio State's standout slot receiver who racked up a school-record 205 catches for 2,868 yards and 24 touchdowns in 50 college games (37 starts).
Egbuka (6-0 7/8, 202) has been durable, missing just three games for health reasons (ankle injury in 2023) over his four years as a Buckeye. And he's arguably more explosive than former OSU teammate Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who went 20th overall to Seattle in 2023 and just made his first Pro Bowl. At this point, frankly, I'll be surprised if Egbuka doesn't go in the first.
Jared Wilson
Georgia · C · Junior (RS)
While some teams project versatile North Dakota State OL Grey Zabel to center, the top prospect who actually played the position in college is probably Wilson. According to Pro Football Focus, the Georgia product allowed zero sacks in 511 pass-block snaps last season, his first as a starter.
Like most UGA centers, Wilson (6-3, 310) is quicker than he is strong, but he tested off the charts at the combine. Many teams expect he'll go on Day 2, but it won't be a total shock if he's off the board even sooner.
Tyleik Williams
Ohio State · DT · Senior
In a deep defensive line group, Williams stands out because of his size (6-2 7/8, 334), experience (51 college games with 25 starts) and run-stopping ability.
A hamstring injury suffered while running the 40-yard dash at the Buckeyes' pro day last month cut short Williams' pre-draft process. But that's not expected to be a long-term issue. He had six top-30 visits -- including several with teams owning picks late in Round 1.
Tyler Shough
Louisville · QB · Senior
There isn't much consensus across the league about the QBs in this draft beyond Cam Ward being the top prospect and presumptive No. 1 overall pick. Shough has thrust himself into the next-tier conversation with Shedeur Sanders, Jaxson Dart and Jalen Milroe -- and many scouts and coaches rank him above at least one of those more-heralded players.
In a seven-year college odyssey, Shough started 32 games at three schools. He returned from three significant injuries (broken collarbone in 2021, shoulder issue in '22, broken leg in '23) to put together a career year last fall at Louisville: 62.7% passing for 3,195 yards and 23 touchdowns (against six interceptions) in 12 starts for a Cardinals team that finished 9-4.
Shough is older (25), and both the injury volume and its impact on his play style will concern some teams. But coaches like his size (6-4 7/8, 219), accuracy and processing ability. He might be the readiest of the whole QB group to play in the NFL right now. Does he have a chance to be a bona fide, long-term starter in the pros? All it takes is one team to buy in and take a shot on Shough in Round 1.
