NFL Draft fits for Travis Hunter, Abdul Carter, and other top 2025 prospects
What teams fit for the top 10 prospects in this class, schematically?
One thing that goes underrated when it comes to the NFL Draft and draft process is how important schematic fit is. Of course, there are prospects who are more scheme-diverse (the Travis Hunters of the world), but in order to optimize those guys, being in the right scheme and correct system can turn them from a very good player to one of the best in the world.
I think the 2025 draft class is a really good example of guys who can be good in certain schemes or teams. Using the top 10 from my post-NFL Combine big board, we’ll break down the best schematic fits for each guy at the top of the class, regardless of draft position.
1 . EDGE Abdul Carter: Tennessee Titans
I know this one might seem like a copout, but the Titans have a great scheme and need for a guy like Carter on their team. Carter wins with speed and violence around the corner, which can be mobilized in Tennessee where there’s already a prominent interior pass rusher such as DT Jeffrey Simmons. With Harold Landry III in New England, the EDGE depth is lacking in Tennessee, which frees up an Abdul Carter-sized hole on the outside.
2. CB/WR Travis Hunter: Green Bay Packers
The Packers are in a spot where they could use more production from their cornerback spot, but a sneaky need for them is at wide receiver. They have nobody on the outside who can stay healthy or consistently catch passes. Enter Hunter, who could be the solution at both corner or receiver. I love Hunter as a corner, where his ball skills and instincts just make much more sense so he can make impact plays on defense. CB Jaire Alexander might be on his way out of Green Bay, and the Packers need a CB1. Hunter is the ideal fit there.
3. RB Ashton Jeanty: Chicago Bears
In what might be the dream fit of all dream fits, Jeanty to Chicago makes far too much sense. The Bears’ RB room has guys who aren’t exactly impact players. D’Andre Swift is a boom or bust style of back, and Roschon Johnson is more of a thumper than a home-run hitter. Jeanty can do both, a tackle-breaking machine who can be explosive as a runner and receiver. Behind a revamped offensive line, Jeanty could instantly take off in the NFL.
4. DT Mason Graham: San Francisco 49ers
I think Graham can be scheme-versatile, a wrecking ball who uses leverage and technique to win on the interior despite shorter arms. However, he’s at his best in a four-down defense where he can just fire off the ball and win as a penetrating three-technique. The 49ers have been looking for a player like Graham, a guy who can impact the run game and get vertical push as a pass rusher at defensive tackle.
5. TE Tyler Warren: New York Jets
With new Jets’ OC Tanner Engstrand coming from Detroit, I think they could be in the market to find their own Sam LaPorta, a guy who can create matchup problems by being a plus blocker and an impactful receiver as well. Warren is a monster after the catch and has a wide catch radius that’ll help him in the toughest areas of the field. Jeremy Ruckert and Stone Smartt are the top two tight ends on the roster right now; not exactly a great start for the position in New York. Warren instantly adds a boost there.
6. S Malaki Starks: Baltimore Ravens
I think Starks has been a victim of some draft fatigue, but he’s an incredibly versatile player who went from playing on the roof at Georgia in 2023 to being more of a nickel and playing man coverage in 2024 without missing too many beats. Starks’ versatility and ball production just makes too much sense in Baltimore, where he can either play the nickel with Kyle Hamilton as the deep safety, or let Hamilton go back to the nickel and let Starks play deep.
7. EDGE/LB Jalon Walker: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
This was the first team-prospect fit I thought about when making this story. Bucs’ HC Todd Bowles loves versatility from his defenders in the front seven, and Walker might be one of the most versatile defensive prospects in the entire draft. He’s a hammer coming downhill, and I think he can survive on the edge despite not having ideal length at the position. Bowles can move Walker around from the outside to off the ball, very similarly to what the Commanders do with LB Frankie Luvu, and in that some of the pass rush woes the Bucs have had will be helped along with their issues off the ball.
8. EDGE Shemar Stewart: Carolina Panthers
The Panthers were one of the worst teams in the NFL at defending the run last season, especially along the edge. They didn’t really address the spot too heavily in free agency, but Stewart makes a lot of sense here. While he’s not a perfect prospect, his blend of speed and power along with his strength defending the run would fit nicely in Carolina. Plus, he’ll be playing out wide where he can continue to develop as a pass rusher.
9. CB Will Johnson: Miami Dolphins
Johnson and the Dolphins is a fit that I think makes a whole lot of sense. After CB Jalen Ramsey, the Dolphins cornerback room is in very dire straits. With Johnson’s physicality and instincts in quarters and cover 2 types of defenses, he can make a lot of plays on the ball just like he did at Michigan. Dolphins DC Anthony Weaver is a disciple of Mike Macdonald, and with Johnson having success in those kinds of defenses it makes too much sense to link the two.
10. OL Will Campbell: Houston Texans
Finding a great fit for Campbell can be a little tough, because while Campbell can be a good tackle, he might be a phenomenal guard on the interior. A team that could use his versatility at any spot could be the best for him; let him try being a tackle and then kick him inside to guard if it doesn’t work out.
Enter the Houston Texans, who need help almost everywhere along the offensive front. Campbell is a technically sound player with incredible core strength, and profiles as one of the best pass protectors in the class. I think adding a player like Campbell to the Texans can help fill any holes at tackle or guard, but it gives Houston an impact player up front.