Forgotten Player of the NFL Draft: 2025 Day Three Darlings & Sleepers
Do you smell that?
That’s the smell of arrogance because it’s draft season baby. It’s the time of the year when die-hard college football fans like myself can feel superior to NFL normies because we know the names of more college players than our friends who actually have things to do on Saturdays. We like to tell people such things as how San Jose St. wide receiver Nick Nash won the Triple Crown this season (the secret being that we only watched a total of three Spartan snaps all year, but you don’t know that) or how projected 6th round pick Cobee Bryant from Kansas excels in zone coverage with a quick twitch and strong closing burst. No, I didn’t just read that online…I heard it on a podcast…BE IMPRESSED BY VAST KNOWLEDGE!!!
Now that I’ve taken the time to T-Pose on the world and show off my big college football brain, let’s get down to business. Over the next few weeks, podcasters, analysts, and the Kipers of the world are going to spend endless amounts of time picking apart prospects. The names getting drafted on day one will get a lot of talk, along with all the players selected on day two. It’s fun to talk about those popular names, but real talented GMs make their name by hitting big on day three. I’m talking about rounds four through seven, the time when you’ve stopped watching on TV and just take out your phone to see who your team selected. Those are the players we’re going to be talking about today as I present to you some of Mike Regan’s Day Three Darlings.
QB Kyle McCord, Syracuse
This next one is tough to call a day three darling. I’ve seen Kyle McCords projected draft round range from day two to day three depending on what “analysts” you check out. With him playing QB, he could fall to round five or get scooped up in round two due to the positional value bump. Either way, I’m taking this chance to plant my flag, because in a year with a weak QB class, I gotta be honest.
This guy is actually my favorite one.
Some of you may remember McCord as that guy who took all the blame for Ohio State not making the playoffs in the 2023-2024 season. They failed to beat eventually 2024 National Champion Michigan that year and missed the playoffs. Unlike this past season where with Will Howard at QB the Buckeyes… still lost to Michigan. However, thanks to the expanded 12-team format, the Buckeyes still made the playoffs. So I guess it’s McCord’s fault that the playoffs hadn’t expanded yet? Whatever the case, after being ostracized from Ohio State the former five-star recruit from Philadelphia took his talents to Syracuse, NY via the transfer portal. I’d best describe his season as, “Hey guys, sorry I lost that one game to the team that won a f*cking natty, but I’m still a damn good QB.” McCord balled out in his senior year at Cuse, throwing for over 4700 yards and 34 TDs with the seventh-highest passing grade in the FBS. He was a big part of first-year head coach Fran Brown, who doesn’t shower after losses, leading the Orange to a 10-3 record after the team went 6-7 the year prior. Their tenth win came in the Holiday Bowl against Washington State. A game where McCord went 24-34 for 453 and 5 tuddies.
“High-level Athleticism” is not something you will see listed on any of McCord’s draft profiles. He is much more of your classic prototypical pocket passer. While that type of QB has become less coveted in the NFL, it’s not a bad thing if you can hang in that pocket and cook. McCord is great at rhythm, has good arm strength, and has excellent ball placement. He’s accurate and has that kind of lightning-quick release you want in an NFL QB. His deep ball is also a thing of beauty.
WOOOWWW
— FOX College Football (@CFBONFOX) December 28, 2024
What a play for @CuseFootball and a historic one for Kyle McCord 👏 pic.twitter.com/ohl05F4Gzy
Something else I like about McCord is his willingness to be aggressive and attack the opposing defense, however, this is a bit of a double-edged sword. For example, in 2024 McCord led the entire FBS with 36 big-time throws per PFF. However, he was also second in the nation with 24 turnover-worthy plays. The good still outweighs the bad for me when it comes to the former Orange QB because I rather have a confident aggressive QB than a passive one. The last thing that sells me on him in just the perceived personality and swagger. For example, in week two when Syracuse defeated then 23rd ranked Georgia Tech, a game where McCord threw for 381 and four tuddies, cameras caught the QB telling his teammates what he thought of their opponents after throwing the game-opening touchdown. Or in the final week of the regular season. After McCord out-performed Cam Ward and Cuse upset #6 Miami, he was asked about Ohio State once again losing to Michigan. He kept receipts and had the perfect response.
Hey Ohio State!! You forgot your quarterback!!
— Cuse Sports Talk (@CuseSportsTalk_) December 1, 2024
Kyle McCord sums up today perfectly for him. pic.twitter.com/8cmDBFOTFy
EDGE Antwaun Powell-Ryland, VA Tech
Antwuan Powell-Ryland is a Portsmouth, VA Native who played at Indian River High School (WHOOP WHOOP 757 REPRESENT!). He hails from the same area in VA that produced Eagles DE and rightful Super Bowl MVP Josh Sweat. That has zero correlation to how he’ll pan out in the NFL, but it’s a fun fact.
Something that does help his NFL projections is his raw numbers. His stat sheet is stuffed. Ryland played his first three seasons in college at Florida before transferring to VA Tech. This is where he really broke out. He posted 9.5 sacks and 15 TFL in 2023. Somehow he put up bigger numbers in 2024, finishing the season with 16 sacks and 19 TFL. This begs the age-old draft prospect question, the production is high, so why is the draft stock low?
The answer? The measurables. Powell-Ryland’s height, weight, and arm length all come in undersized compared to the average NFL edge player. With that said, he has relentless pursuit, a good jump of the line, flexibility, and doesn’t miss tackles. Even if his NFL future is just as a OLB/Edge rushing specialist that’s a good find on day three. With numbers like his and a spin move like this. What’s not to love in a day-three pick?
One period of @ShrineBowl 1-on-1 OL/DL drills in and we’ve already got a @HokiesFB Antwaun Powell-Ryland vintage spin move
— Trevor Sikkema (@TampaBayTre) January 25, 2025
A go-to of his on tape. It’s a beauty in person, too pic.twitter.com/MB1Ig2oEhK
WR Ricky White, UNLV
Every year there’s a receiver farther down draft boards that I become enamored with. Last year it was Devontez Walker from UNC who was selected in round four by the Ravens, and while I’m still waiting for my Tez Walker stock to bear fruit, my guy this year is UNLV Rebel Ricky White. A Marietta, GA native. White started his college career at Michigan State before transferring to Las Vegas after his freshman season. He had his breakout year as a junior in 2023 when he hauled in 88 catches for almost 1500 yards. His senior year started on a scorching pace, going for over 100 yards in four of the team’s first six games while hauling in 8 tuddies. Unfortunately, things cooled down from there as he finished with 78 catches, 1032 yards, and 11 TDs on the year.
While standing 6 ‘1”, White can still sometimes struggle against more physical corners due to him weighing in at only 184 lbs. His draft stock also wasn’t helped by his rather average 4.61 forty time. However, for what he lacks in strength and speed, he makes up for in skill and smarts. Unlike some rookie wideouts, White enters the NFL with an expansive route tree at his disposal along with a high football IQ. He has a knack for finding the soft spots in zone coverage, naturally comebacks to the ball, and creates separation for himself with good footwork and twitchy movements that get defenders to bite. Even if some of his measurables and workout performances aren’t eye-popping he has all the tools to succeed at the NFL level. I will go as far as to guarantee that White will outperform the value of whatever day-three pick a team uses on this underrated wideout.
Lastly, A Pair of Running Backs
I love this half-back class and couldn’t choose just one to highlight. I know that Ashton Jeanty is the headlining name this year who is expected to go round one, however, this class is deep. Any team that is leary of using the value of a first rounder on a RB will have plenty of chances to get one in later rounds. This is going to be another year where we see day two and three runners hit.
RB Damien Martinez, Miami
Obviously, all the talk revolving around the Miami Hurricanes this season was about the high-octane passing offense led by Cam Ward, and understandably so, but, with all the lights shining on the likes of Ward and Restrepo, many seemed to have missed the talented weapon sitting in the backfield.
Originally an Oregon State Beaver, in 2024 Martinez transferred to THE U for his Junior season. Despite being in a pass-heavy offense, and being in a backfield that saw him lose a lot of carries to sophomore Mark Fletcher junior. Martinez managed to break the thousand-yard mark this past year, he also did that while being extremely efficient, averaging 6.3 per carry. Speaking of averages, his 4.51 yards after contact was only a mere 0.2 behind the nation’s leader, Ashton Jeanty. The Texas Native is what is often called a “big-bodied bruiser” due to his six foot and 217 lbs measured at the NFL combine, but, his weight during the season was listed at around 230 pounds. Of his 160 carries this past season, 107 of them were gap runs and, thanks to his size and power, he still managed to average over six yards a carry when running inside. The man just simply never got stuffed by defenders.
Martinez has all the tools to be a workhorse clock-chewing chain-moving running back in this league. He can fight through contact with power and excellent balance. When watching him run you can see he possesses good vision and tempo. Also, while he doesn’t have freakish speed, I’ll take a 4.51 forty from a back his size and archetype.
RB DJ Giddens, Kansas St.
A homegrown recruit, DJ Giddens improved on his breakout sophomore season this past year. Despite a decrease in total carries, his yardage and per attempt went up, finishing his junior year with 1343 yards at a 6.5-yard average clip. He actually didn’t start playing football until he was a sophomore in high school, so he’s still in need of some polishing up in certain areas when it comes to his technique, and pass blocking. However, there is high ceiling potential for the former K-State Wildcat.
His build, six foot 212 lbs, means he has the size of your typical workhorse inside back, however, the other aspects of his tool kit make him stand out even more. He has quickness and agility along the line that he pairs with good patience to wait for running lanes to develop before making his cut. Look at some of the quick lateral movements on display here.
DJ Giddens had DISGUSTING film against Colorado.
— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) February 19, 2025
Embarrassed Shilo Sanders more than once on his way to 220 total yards 👀 pic.twitter.com/12hLPWdhP6
That paired with his speed, 4.43 forty, creates an explosive running weapon. Last season he had a breakaway percentage of 54.9%, which was second in the FBS among backs with a minimum of 180 carries. To explain, that’s the percentage of his total yardage that came from runs that went for 15+ yards. His size paired with his explosive play ability makes him among my favorite backs in this draft. Also, he carried the ball 518 times over his three seasons in college and only put the ball on the ground three times, so add “safe with the football” to his scouting profile. With the right refinement and fine-tuning, Giddens could end up a top twenty running back in this league.
