The 2025 NFL draft was an interesting class, and it might be too early to revisit it. But too bad, here are the top ten draft classes across the NFL from the 2025 NFL draft. For this exercise, AV from Pro Football Reference was used to provide an unbiased look. It’s not a perfect stat, but it can give a good look at players who otherwise don’t get a lot of love, like guards and defensive tackles.
Best Draft Classes from the 2025 NFL Draft
10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Key Players – Emeka Egbuka, Elijah Roberts, Tez Johnson
Total AV – 22
Emeka Egbuka did a lot of the heavy lifting with this class. His nine AV is among the highest in the class, which is part of the reason he was firmly in the Offensive Rookie of the Year race throughout the season. Tez Johnson didn’t see the field much on offense, but was a solid injury replacement and provided value on special teams, which is a slam dunk pick in the seventh round.
9. Carolina Panthers
Key Players – Tetairoa McMillan, Nic Scourton, Lathan Ransom
Total AV – 23
The Panthers used an accuracy by volume approach in the 2025 draft, and it sort of worked. McMillan is the only player who made a noticeable difference on a week-by-week basis, but they found multiple players who were able to work in as spot starters or depth pieces.
8. Cincinnati Bengals
Key Players – Demetrius Knight, Dylan Fairchild, Barrett Carter
Total AV – 23
The Bengals didn’t get everything they expected out of Shemar Stewart. But they did get meaningful contributions from multiple rookies across their defense, and a guard who started 15 games for them in the third round. It didn’t result in the season they hoped for, but it was a step in the right direction for the organization. The tie goes to the team that scored the same AV with fewer players in their class.
