What goes up must come down.
The NFL draft isn’t an event that takes the words of Isaac Newton literally, but the general concept remains the same. For someone to rise up the boards, that means someone must fall.
It’s an inexact science as teams examine a number of traits, personalities and game tape to make a projection before selecting a player. Some will be right and others, not so much.
Players will inevitably fall down the board, but it’s not always a fault of their own.
The 2025 NFL Draft isn’t thought of as a top-heavy class with a clearly defined top-10 or 15 players. Instead, the class is characterized by its depth, meaning the drop-off between first and second-round picks isn’t as big as it typically is.
So, while these future NFL players won’t be ordering a Life Alert anytime soon, they could be waiting a little longer than previously expected. Here’s a look at the projected first-round picks that could fall down the draft board.
NFL draft predictions: Players who could fall
Shedeur Sanders, QB, Colorado
Sanders was previously thought of as the potential No. 1 pick. Now, there are questions about whether he even lands in the top 10. The pick range for the Colorado quarterback has never been larger, making him a clear candidate to tumble down the draft board.
Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
Injuries and a lack of participation in pre-draft workouts like the 40-yard dash cloud the draft future for Johnson. Perhaps he finds himself in the Derek Stingley Jr. mold of overcoming injuries and those concerns don’t come to fruition. Regardless, that won’t be the case for every team, even if he does have an argument as the best cornerback in the class, aside from Travis Hunter. With other players carrying less risk, Johnson’s history is a disadvantage on draft night.
Tetairoa McMillan, WR, Arizona
McMillan might headline a weak receiver class, but his lack of speed could doom him early. While some project the Arizona receiver to land inside the top 10, others have him waiting until the back half of the first round. With so many teams prioritizing speed over size at receiver, he may fall out of favor with better talent available at other positions.
Tyler Booker, OG, Alabama
Booker has seen himself rise into the late teens in some mock drafts, but the fact that he doesn’t play a premium position could ultimately be his undoing. The last batch of picks in the first round is prime territory for teams eyeing premium positions for the coveted fifth-year option. That’s where we can see some quarterbacks sneak into the first round. Given Booker’s position, he feels like a prime candidate to drop back into the second round.
James Pearce Jr., EDGE, Tennessee
A year ago, Pearce was commonly thought of as the crown jewel of the 2025 class. He’s since fallen out of favor in draft circles, with mocks pushing him into the latter half of the first round and others dropping him into the second. Time will tell where Pearce ends up, but it comes across as more prospect fatigue than a sudden loss of talent.
As a more slender pass-rusher, Pearce will likely need to bulk up to become an impact player. While teams overthink prospects at this stage, the soon-to-be former Tennessee Volunteer could make some noise if he lands with the right one. It might just come later than expected.
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