2025 NFL Draft: WR rankings evolve with the fall of Luther Burden III and the latest top 10 mock | News, results, highlights, statistics and rumors

Prospects are always evaluated in comparison to their best competition.

A year ago, Missouri's Luther Burden III appeared to be the best wide receiver on the field when the Tigers played LSU, which featured future first-round picks Malik Nabers and Brian Thomas Jr.

Last weekend, Burden had three catches for three yards against the Alabama Crimson Tide. Some will be quick to point out that starting quarterback Brady Cook suffered an injury during the contest.

At the same time, Burden hasn’t been dominant this season. He has only surpassed 85 yards rushing once this year and doesn't seem like the same playmaker in a class where others like Arizona's Tetairoa McMillan and Ole Miss' Tre Harris have had big games.

“Originally there were rumors that Burden would split more time between playing in the slot and outside,” Parson said. “This setup didn’t come to fruition. Burden has not repeated his performance and success from 2023. “Missouri’s offense limits its threat through press orientation and route options – resulting in a less clean draft profile to evaluate.”

Burden could easily evolve from a top-five prospect to someone more targeted for a late first-round finish.

2. QB Kyle McCord, Syracuse

Syracuse quarterback Kyle McCord suffered a Chernobyl-level meltdown against the Pittsburgh Panthers. Everything went wrong. Any doubts surrounding him after he was effectively booted from Ohio State came to a head, even though the quarterback had been successful in the last six games.

“After playing relatively clean and consistent football, McCord finished last week with zero passing touchdowns and five interceptions – three of which came on pick sixes,” Parson said. “For the first time all season, McCord looked exhausted and beside himself. Performances like these can sink a draft title if they aren’t followed by a rebound.”

The Wisconsin Badgers looked at Penn State's talented defensive front and thought, “Let's go after Abdul Carter.” The Badgers set several traps and ran in Carter's direction. The sporty note didn't put much pressure on either.

“Carter is currently considered a 'project' edge defender as he changed positions during the offseason and previously lined up as an off-ball linebacker. He hasn't done much to shake that label this season and has been unproductive as a player.” Granted, Wisconsin's quick passing game played a role in that, but right now Carter looks more like an athlete learning how to play the position plays like an NFL-ready asset.

4. QB Garrett Nussmeier, LSU

A “tale of two halves” is one of the oldest clichés in sports reporting. In the case of LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, that's absolutely true.

Nussmeier looked great in the first half of Saturday's contest with the Texas A&M Aggies. His opponent adjusted and applied significant pressure in the second half, forcing the quarterback to make mistakes. In fact, all three of Nussmeier's interceptions occurred with less than ten minutes to play in the third quarter.

“Nussmeier is a talented gunslinger with NFL throws that are on tape,” Parson said. “Nevertheless, his decision-making is a cause for concern. He's started less than 10 games and it shows. If he wants to be a first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Nussmeier needs to do a better job of protecting the football during the regular season.”

LSU's Will Campbell is a future NFL starting blocker. In the last two weeks he has shown why he cannot do this in left attack.

“After facing top competition in Arkansas' Landon Jackson and Texas A&M's Nic Scourton (as well as Shemar Stewart) over the past two weeks, some questions have been brought to light about Campbell's ability to stay at tackle in the NFL . It wasn't against these players that Campbell had big problems either. In fact, he had some decisive victories that highlighted his strengths.

“Against Arkansas, Campbell was hit three times by Jackson, who made the same move (cross-chop) each time because he was a touch late with his punch timing, which resulted in his outside hand getting caught before he took the corner lost. That raises questions about his ability to keep rushers at the ready after the first win, which would help widen the corner instead of compressing it too quickly.

“Against the 6-foot-2, 220-pound Scourton and the 6-foot-1, 220-pound Stewart, Campbell uncharacteristically lost several reps in the running game, largely because he was squeezed and pushed backwards. But he lost again in pass protection after that. His outside hand was swiped by Scourton, and later an inside spin move occurred.

“Overall, Campbell is still winning in the same way he has been all season, but as competition has increased and body types have gotten taller/longer, there have been notable losses that are examples of why a move inward is on “The next level could be possible.” would be best.”