National

2025 NFL Draft: 14 players to plant your flag on

Ohio State Pro Day Football Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka catches a pass during the school's NFL football pro day, Wednesday, March 26, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki) (Sue Ogrocki/AP)

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On the latest episode of Football 301 podcast, Charles McDonald and Nate Tice "planted a flag on" on 14 players in the upcoming 2025 NFL Draft. Here's a breakdown of their selections:

Charles McDonald’s Flag Plants

1. Emeka Egbuka, WR, Ohio StateWhy: High floor, high-character slot receiver. Makes tough catches, does dirty work, has underrated speed. Charles sees a "safe" skill set: reliable, versatile, and likely to be a day-one contributor.

2. Grey Zabel, OL, North Dakota StateWhy: Position-versatile lineman, can play multiple spots. Athletic, good technique even coming from FCS. Impressed at the Senior Bowl and Combine. Extremely high floor as a utility OL.

3. Damien Martinez, RB, Miami (formerly Oregon State)Why: Big back with surprising agility. Breaks tackles but also can avoid them. Good fit for NFL run schemes. Upside as a starting back, possibly underutilized in college and has NFL starter traits.

4. Kenneth Grant, DT, MichiganWhy: Massive size, rare athleticism for a 330-pounder. Excellent run-stopper with flashes of pass rush. Charles' favorite defensive tackle — believes in the untapped upside.

5. Andrew Mukuba, S, TexasWhy: Violent, fearless safety who flies downhill and hits hard. Not afraid to put his body on the line. Infectious playing style; has ball skills and big-play ability.

6. Shavon Ravel, CB, East CarolinaWhy: High-end, long, fast outside corner. Has the rare traits to be a #1. Was hurt but is a physical and technical standout with straight-up "Cromartie" vibes. If healthy, Charles thinks he's a first-round CB talent.

7. Trey Amos, CB, Ole Miss(mentioned by Nate but Charles gives analysis)Why: Great zone corner, excellent ball skills, very athletic. Projected strong #2 or low-end 1.

Nate Tice’s Flag Plants

1. Tory Horton, WR, Colorado StateWhy: Smooth, fluid mover with great ball skills and production. Compared to DeVonta Smith (movement not career), excited for his Z-receiver upside, especially if fully healthy.

2. Devin Neal, RB, KansasWhy: Not flashy but highly efficient. Sees holes, a true professional back. Reliable, can pass-protect, catch, and maximize every carry. Compared to David Montgomery or Devin Singletary but with better size.

3. Mitchell Evans, TE, Notre DameWhy: "Classic" reliable Y tight end. Big, great hands, undervalued because of injury. Can really block and catch everything — projected as an early contributor.

4. Marcus Mbow, OL, PurdueWhy: Tackle/guard versatility, hand usage advanced, fluid athlete. Projects as a guard, needs to get stronger, but very smart and aware. High upside.

5. Donovan Jackson, OG, Ohio StateWhy: Bona fide Pro Bowl guard potential. Great size, athletic, versatile. Can move, strong, smart — fits any scheme.

6. Josh Conerly Jr., OT, OregonWhy: True left tackle skills (rare!). Great athleticism, footwork, and rapidly improving technique. Young but already can hang with elite pass rushers.

7. Derrick Harmon, DT, OregonWhy: Versatile (can 2-gap or shoot gaps), great against run and pass. Can be a steady starter, with pass rush upside, not flashy but checks every box.

To hear more NFL discussions, tune into "Football 301" on Apple, Spotify or YouTube.



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