Best Defensive Sleepers to Watch on Day 3 of the 2025 NFL Draft

Draft week is here, and all the preparation is about to come to a close. After months of discussion surrounding the top players at each position, it is time to give recognition to some of the more unheralded names you may not have heard about.

I am a firm believer you can still find starting caliber players on Day 3 of the draft, and even though this year’s draft is historically weak, I still believe there are a few diamonds in the rough. We will discuss these players below, going position by position.

Defensive Line

Rylie Mills | DL | Notre Dame | 6’5″, 291 lbs

Mills emerged as a pass rusher this season, accumulating 7.5 sacks over 13 games. When you combine his ability to bull rush with his heavy hands and non-stop motor, you get a menace along the interior that nobody wants to be matched against. He may not have elite arm length, and he may play too stiff and upright, but there are enough tools here to develop into starting material.

Desmond Watson | NT | Florida | 6’6″, 464 lbs

• Biggest prospect in NFL Draft History
• Moves decently well for his size and has already promised to lose weight upon entering the league
• A stone wall against the run; players his size could be the answer to stopping the tush push

EDGE Rusher

Kyle Kennard | EDGE | South Carolina | 6’4″, 254 lbs

Kennard may not be an elite athlete across the board, but the man simply knows how to produce week in and week out. He lives in the backfield and never takes a play off. Here are a few key traits about his game:

• One of the most consistent pass rushers in this draft
• Uncanny feel for getting after the quarterback; has the EDGE rusher “it” factor
• Has a nice repertoire of pass rush moves
• Not a top-end athlete

Barryn Sorrell | EDGE | Texas | 6’3″, 256 lbs

• Not elite physically, but consistent in pursuit
• Makes up for his lack of length with impressive bend around the edge
• Active hands
• Lacks lower body strength and can get pushed off the ball by more physical linemen

Elijah Ponder | EDGE | Cal Poly | 6’3″, 251 lbs

• Elite athleticism (4.63 40, 41″ vertical, 11’0″ broad jump, 4.28 short shuttle, 6.99 3-cone)
• Productive; 15.5 sacks over the last 2 seasons
• Needs to get stronger at the point of attack

Others to Consider: Fadil Diggs — Syracuse, Collin Oliver — Oklahoma State

Inside Linebacker

Cody Simon | ILB | Ohio State | 6’2″, 232 lbs

Simon did not put it all together at Ohio State until the second half of this past season, but when he did, he significantly improved the defensive unit as a whole. Simon may not have tested as well as I expected at his pro day, but he is still a strong athlete with the ability to impact the game as a run defender, blitzer, and cover man. With his experience and leadership, I expect him to get serious looks on Day 3.

Jack Kiser | ILB | Notre Dame | 6’1″, 229 lbs

Kiser is not the rangy sideline-to-sideline linebacker that fits the modern NFL game, but he is incredibly smart, rarely makes a mental mistake, and plays the run at an extraordinarily high level. His ability to take command of the defense reminds me of former Notre Dame linebacker, Drue Tranquil, who has become a productive NFL linebacker. I expect the same to happen for Kiser. Teams will overlook him from an athletic standpoint and forget how valuable he is despite his lack of elite athleticism.

Shaun Dolac | ILB | Buffalo | 6’0″, 221 lbs

Dolac is a tackle machine who put up outrageous production in 2024. His lack of size is concerning, but when you watch the tape, his lack of size did not stop him from being one of the most consistent tacklers in all of college football. His strong instincts also aid his efforts as a blitzer, as he times his blitzes well and rarely overruns a play. The physical traits may not bring the “wow” factor, but when you turn on the tape, you see someone who is always around the football.

Others to Consider: Smael Mondon (3rd round grade) — Georgia, Carson Bruener — Washington

Cornerback

Jordan Hancock | CB | Ohio State | 6’0″, 186 lbs

• Explosive athlete (4.45 40, 41″ vertical)
• Great change-of-direction skills
• Underrated ball skills
• Dominated several games while bumpy in a few others; needs to become more consistent
• Needs to add weight to his frame to have a chance at survival on the outside

Denzel Burke | CB | Ohio State | 5’11”, 187 lbs

• Never fully broke out at Ohio State but was much more consistent in 2024
• Good hand usage at the line; can re-route receivers and get good positioning going down the field
• May move to full-time slot duties in the NFL

Others to Consider: Jakob Robertson — BYU, Kam Alexander — Oregon, Fentrell Cyprus II — Florida State, Donte Kent — Central Michigan, Kendall Paul — East Texas A&M, Terrance Spence — James Madison, Marquise Robinson — Arkansas, Ethan Robinson — Minnesota, Vincent Fisher — Otterbein, Melvin Smith — USC, Isaiah Greene — Campbell

Safety

Malachi Moore | S | Alabama | 5’11”, 197 lbs

Moore’s athleticism will not blow you away, but he has put out multiple seasons of consistently good tape. He may not be flashy, but he is sound in coverage, generally tackles well in the open field, and possesses solid instincts and ball skills. Moore is also incredibly versatile, having played on the perimeter, in the slot, and as a safety. I love athleticism as much as anyone else, but when push comes to shove, Malachi Moore is simply a good football player that has starting upside at the next level.

Others to Consider: Craig Woodson (top-100 prospect) — California, Wyett Ekeler — Wyoming, Jack Henderson — Minnesota, Makari Paige — Michigan, Major Burns — LSU

Who are your favorite sleepers in the 2025 NFL Draft? Be sure to share them in the comment section down below!