How Three 2025 Rookies Defied Their Pre-Draft Expectations
The 2025 NFL Draft class was considered weak. Outside of a couple can’t miss prospects, like Abdul Carter, and the first overall pick Cam Ward. While both of these players were solid in their rookie years, a few smaller names outplayed their draft position. A draft is never weak. We are talking about some of the best athletes in the world who have devoted their lives to the game. We’ll talk about three players that should have been drafted higher, and have proved that talent can be found anywhere.
Tyler Shough
Tyler Shough was a six-year college player whom many scouts wrote off. Shough was an average quarterback at best for the better part of his college career before exploding at Louisville. To make matters worse, Shough was 26. ESPN ranked Shough as the 12th-best quarterback in the draft, based on Next Gen Stats score, a backup who could maybe start in the future. To the shock of the football world, the Saints selected Shough with the 40th pick ahead of other prospects, like Shedeur Sanders. The former Louisville Cardinals spent the first half of the season behind Spencer Rattler before taking over in Week 10. After Shough took over, the Saints went on a run, turning around their season from 2-8 to 6-11. He finished his rookie season with 221 completions, 2,384 passing yards, 10 passing touchdowns, three rushing touchdowns, and six interceptions. Interceptions are the nature of the game for rookie quarterbacks, but Shough has shown more than enough to solidify himself as the Saints’ franchise quarterback.
Carson Schwesinger
Carson Schwesinger fell to the second round of the 2025 draft. He did not participate in most of the combine events, such as the 40-yard dash; however, at the combine, he chose to focus on testing at his pro day. The league doesn’t really value linebackers the way it should, with it considered taboo to draft a linebacker early who isn’t an edge rusher. Falling out of the first round, he was drafted with the first pick of the second round, pick 33, by the Cleveland Browns. Considered the second-best linebacker in the draft, he wasn’t expected to be a force in his rookie season. Instead, Schwesinger wowed the NFL by playing at an elite level. On a stout Browns defense with multiple veterans, he led the team in tackles. The Browns have serious talent on their defense, so to lead the team in tackles as a rookie is huge. Finishing the season with a combined total of 156 tackles and 67 solo tackles. The former UCLA Bruins ended his stellar rookie season with the Defensive Rookie of the Year Award.
Chimere Dike
Chimere Dike did not particularly stand out heading into the draft due to a lack of elite collegiate production, a high drop rate, and being viewed as a reach compared to other available wide receivers. Dike never eclipsed 1,00 receiving yards in college but was a solid receiver overall. According to Next Gen Stats' grading system, he was the 24th-best receiver in the class and was projected to be a career backup. To no surprise, Dike was drafted in the fourth round with the 103rd pick by the Titans. The Titans were an absolute mess this season, but the former Florida Gator was able to seize his opportunity on a team hurting for offensive talent. He was an average receiver, all things considered, finishing the season with 48 receptions for 423 receiving yards and four touchdowns. Despite the issues on offense, Dike was an elite special teams player as a returner. He had 323 punt return yards with two touchdowns and 1,588 kickoff return yards. The former Gator was elite as a returner, and the league agreed, with Dike making the Pro Bowl and First team All-Pro as a rookie. Dike has shown enough to warrant his roster spot. With a new head coach coming to town and a massive budget for free agency, we don’t know what the Titans are cooking up. The team has holes everywhere, and Dike’s play should be secured as long as he can continue to improve.
