With the 257th overall pick made, the 2025 NFL Draft has come to a close.
Three days of action saw the next crop of NFL talent hit all 32 teams. There were some surprises, most notably Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders’ drop to Day 3, and plenty of trades as teams maneuvered all over the order to get their guys.
On Day 3, 155 total picks were made starting at noon ET. That’s a lot of picks to keep track of and a lot of opportunity for surprise picks, both good and bad.
We’re taking a look at both ends of the spectrum here. Some teams made great picks given their position or the prospects available; some made odd decisions given the state of their roster, draft capital or both.
Here are our choices for the eight best picks of Day 3 as well as the eight worst.
2025 NFL Draft: Best picks of Day 3
Texas OT Cameron Williams to the Philadelphia Eagles (No. 207 overall)
The Eagles found value at multiple spots in this draft class, but this one stands above the rest. Williams was viewed as a top-60 pick by many analysts thanks to his outlier movement abilities in a 6-foot-6, 316-pound frame. Philadelphia got him late in Round 6. With his tools and the Eagles’ offensive line infrastructure, Philadelphia could have a succession plan for Lane Johnson set.
Colorado QB Shedeur Sanders to the Cleveland Browns (No. 144)
Sanders’ fall was the biggest storyline of the draft but it finally ended early on in Round 5. Sanders marked the final pick in a good draft class for the Browns as a low-risk investment at quarterback. Whether he starts or not, he offers a potential path in 2025 at the most important position in sports.
South Carolina Edge Kyle Kennard to the Los Angeles Chargers (No. 125)
Kennard was the Chargers’ first pick on Day 3 and he makes for a perfect fit in the defense at a position of need. His high-motor demeanor and long frame will make for a good fit in the Chargers’ pass-rush needy defense. He could be an impact player as a rookie.
Louisville CB Quincy Riley to the New Orleans Saints (No. 135)
Riley was one of the most productive cornerbacks in the entire class. No other prospect could match his career marks of 15 interceptions and 54 passes defensed. That translates well to the NFL. He has the athleticism to at least try to stick on the outside but may end up best at slot. New Orleans had one of the older defenses in the league last year and this is a potential building block for the future.
Utah State WR Jalen Royals to the Kansas City Chiefs (No. 133)
Royals was expected to go well inside the top 100 picks thanks to his elite burst at 6-foot and 205 pounds. He’s electric after the catch with impressive body control and footwork. He needs time to develop as a route runner but there are few offenses better equipped to maximize his skill set than Kansas City’s.
Colorado State WR Tory Horton to the Seattle Seahawks (No. 166)
Horton was one of the few wideouts in the class who had proven production, outside receiver size and sub 4.5-second 40-yard dash speed. He needs time to develop as a route runner but he’s been drafted to a team with Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Cooper Kupp. Talk about good players to learn from.
Kansas RB Devin Neal to the New Orleans Saints (No. 184)
New Orleans gets another pick in this category because it found a running back who could be a primary ball-carrier as a rookie sixth-round pick. Neal combines patience, contact balance, power and strength to churn out yards at will. Alvin Kamara will appreciate him taking the pressure off in the running back room.
Texas QB Quinn Ewers to the Miami Dolphins (No. 231)
Ewers was expected to be a Day 2 or early Day 3 pick, not a quarterback still available in the final 30 selections. He has the tools to be a potential starter with development but could be a super backup for a Dolphins team that has injury concerns with its starter, Tua Tagovailoa.
2025 NFL Draft: Worst picks of Day 3
Maryland LB Ruben Hyppolite II to the Chicago Bears (No. 132)
The Bears need some depth at linebacker but this felt like the biggest reach of Day 3. Hyppolite is fast but most analysts expected him to go undrafted due to his struggles in run defense and limits in coverage. At the end of Round 4, there were plenty of more proven, fast linebackers on the board to choose from.
Michigan State OL Luke Newman to the Chicago Bears (No. 195)
Again, the Bears go with a fast prospect who needs work with a top-200 pick. Newman was expected to go undrafted due to his short arms and smaller frame. His upper-body strength and speed gives him a chance, but his ceiling is pretty low. Considering who else was on the board, this was another reach by Chicago.
Georgia RB Trevor Etienne to the Carolina Panthers (No. 114)
Etienne is intriguing as a prospect. He’s athletic enough but isn’t an electric runner like his brother Travis was. He’s got tools as a receiver and pass protector, though, which gives him upside. The reason this pick is here is that Carolina’s spent a lot of money and resources at the position already. Using a top-120 pick for what could be your third- or fourth-string running back isn’t a good move.
Tulane CB Micah Robinson to the Green Bay Packers (No. 237)
The Packers met with Robinson pre-draft and obviously liked him. Yes, this is a bottom-20 pick in the draft, making it a low-cost asset. But there were more proven options on the board if they wanted better value out of this pick.
Indiana QB Kurtis Rourke to the San Francisco 49ers (No. 227)
San Francisco signed Mac Jones in free agency and has Tanner Mordecai bouncing between the active roster and practice squad. Again, this is a late pick, but the 49ers could’ve used this on any of the tight ends on the board (potential George Kittle successors) or even a kicker given Jake Moody’s woes last season.
Alabama TE Robbie Ouzts to the Seattle Seahawks (No. 175)
Seattle had multiple good-value picks in this draft, but this was a head-scratcher. Ouzts had 21 career targets in college. He’s a committed blocker and good at it, but that’s a bit high for a player most analysts thought wouldn’t be drafted at all.
Oregon WR Tez Johnson to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (No. 235)
Johnson is the lightest player ever drafted to the NFL and that makes his future a bit murky. He may struggle to handle NFL defenders and may have to stick in the slot. But the Buccaneers already selected a slot receiver with their first pick in the class, Emeka Egbuka, and also re-signed Chris Godwin this offseason. It’s a late pick but still confusing.
Oregon RB Jordan James to the San Francisco 49ers (No. 147)
The 49ers sustained a lot of injuries to the running back room in 2024 so it’s understandable they’d want to invest more in it this offseason. James is a good player, too, with a powerful running style, pass-protection chops and great acceleration. But the opportunity cost is confounding. The 49ers have a murky future at right tackle with Colton McKivitz set to hit free agency in 2026. There were plenty of tackles on the board worth that swing, especially considering how deep a running back class this was. San Francisco could’ve addressed depth at that position later on.