The Big 12 Conference will have at least two players selected in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft next week, both from Colorado.
Yes, Travis Hunter and Shedeur Sanders will come off the board on the first night. But so many other Big 12 players will have to wait their turn on the second and third days.
That doesn’t mean they’re not talented. In fact, some of them are, in my opinion, underrated.
As an aside I covered pro football for four years, so I’ve been through this process covering the draft. It’s been a while since I’ve been on the beat, but the basic things NFL teams are looking for haven’t changed.
Here are five players that I believe are underrated, based on where ESPN has them ranked at their position.
RB D.J. Giddens, Kansas State (No. 9 RB ESPN)
I saw Giddens blow up in person against Oklahoma State in late September. I was impressed then, and I’m a little surprised he’s not closer to the top of ESPN’s running back rankings, even though it is the deepest class in years. A recent three-round mock draft at ESPN didn’t have Giddens in the first three rounds (ESPN also has him graded as a third-round player).
For the right team and scheme, he could be an absolute steal.
For the uninitiated, he had back-to-back 1,000-yard season and is a capable pass catcher. I think he could be a starter late in his rookie year.
WR Jack Bech, TCU (No. 8 WR ESPN)
I think evaluators are torn because he blew up in 2024 and hadn’t done much in his first three seasons. He caught 62 passes for 1,034 yards and nine touchdowns.
But he was the Senior Bowl MVP, he’s had a terrific evaluation season, and he’s rose up draft boards. If one goes back to that ESPN three-round mock, he’s in Round 2, but ESPN also has him graded as a third-round player. So, there’s some definite disagreement. He could slide into day three because this draft is flooded with quality at the position.
I think he has a Cooper Kupp feel to his game, though Kupp certainly had more production in college at Eastern Washington. I think whoever takes him gets a ready contributor from Day 1 and a potential Pro Bowl selection in his second or third season.
OT Caleb Rogers, Texas Tech (No. 19 OG ESPN)
Rogers played tackle at Tech but most scouting reports have him listed as a guard and that’s only going to help him. NFL.com ranked his athleticism score among guards at the NFL Combine at No. 3. That’s a good fit in the interior line.
He’s probably a Day 3 pick. ESPN has him as a fifth-round grade. The scouting reports scream that he’s a fundamentally good offensive lineman that could develop into a starter by his second or third year.
LB Nick Martin, Oklahoma State (No. 14 LB ESPN)
He’s being undervalued because of the knee injury that stole much of last season. He had a monster 2023, during which he had 140 tackles and earned All-Big 12 First Team honors in leading the Cowboys to the Big 12 title game. ESPN grades him as a fifth-round pick.
The scouting reports I’ve read show a love for his athleticism and some concerns about his fundamentals. Every player picked on the third day has flaws. I think whichever team drafts him gets a player that, with the right coaching, has the potential to be a high producer by his second or third year.
CB Cobee Bryant, Kansas (No. 14 CB ESPN)
Finding a cornerback with 13 career interceptions on Day 3 of the NFL Draft isn’t easy. With a late third-round grade from ESPN, it’s possible Bryant slides into the third day of the draft. Wherever he lands, that team will be happy to have a ball hawk with his skills.
At 6-foot-0, he’s destined to be more of a slot corner in the NFL. He’s a three-time All-Big 12 selection, and there’s plenty of raw material to work with. Scouts love his ability to read plays in zone coverage, and that makes him a great fit for a team that plays a base Cover 2 scheme.
You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard.
