It is that season again when fans of both the collegiate and professional gridiron are treated to the National Football League’s annual amateur selection process.
The 2025 NFL draft kicks off on Thursday night at 8 p.m. ET at Lambeau Field and its adjacent Titletown District in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Over the three-day event, there will be 257 former college players selected by one of 32 franchises as these young men look to continue their careers at the next level.
Every year since 1952, the University of Florida has sent at least one player to a professional franchise through the NFL draft, representing the nation’s second-longest streak. Only the Michigan Wolverines and USC Trojans, whose streaks go back to 1939, have a longer track record.
With the draft right around the corner, The Athletic’s Dane Brugler put together his full mock for the 2025 NFL draft, which saw four members of the 2024 Florida Gators headed to the pros. Here is a look at who was selected and where, plus a brief scouting report on each.
Florida Gators picked in The Athletic’s NFL mock draft
DT Cam Jackson: Round 4 (103) – Tennessee Titans
“Massive nose tackle whose lack of productivity belies his potential to imprint on NFL games as a run defender,” his NFL combine scouting report begins.
“Jackson is a complete non-factor as a rusher, so his spot on a draft board will be relative to a team’s willingness to take a two-down player in need of polish. He’s long and plays with extremely heavy hands and an ability to overwhelm single blockers at times. When he’s allowed to swap paint and focus on smaller areas of containment, he’s a tough out. He gets knocked off his spot more than he should, but better block take-on and technique should create better consistency.
“Jackson has freakish size and is a more enticing prospect when tape flashes are prioritized in the evaluation process.”
WR Chimere Dike: Round 6 (185) – Pittsburgh Steelers (via Seattle Seahawks)
“Niche receiver with average hands but good early speed to bypass man coverage and give life to the vertical game,” his combine scouting report notes.
“Dike is a second- and third-level receiver whose routes have the energy of a youngster on a playground with all gas and no brakes. He is an early separator with his speed but won’t see nearly as many free or schemed releases as he saw at Florida. He catches with downfield focus and good toughness when contested but doesn’t always play with catch-ready hands, which will lead to frustrating misses.
“He’s more of a field-stretcher than a volume option, but his talent for opening intermediate and deep windows could appeal to teams in need of speed.”
READ MORE: Elite speed headlines WR Chimere Dike’s 2025 NFL draft scouting report
LB Shemar James: Round 6 (207) – New York Jets (via Kansas City Chiefs)
“James flashes speed but has never really developed the recognition and response talent to chalk up playmaking production,” states his NFL combine scouting report.
“He has some twitch in his movement and does a nice job of working past blocks, but he might not be able to anticipate with enough consistency to play ahead of NFL blocking schemes. James is athletic in space and can play special teams, but he might never be more than an average backup.”
CB Jason Marshall Jr.: Round 7 (236) – Houston Texans (via Washington Redskins)
“Outside cornerback with good size, athleticism and experience but too much inconsistency on tape,” his scouting report begins.
“Marshall can disrupt the release from press and ride route turns to stay in position to defend the throw. He falls asleep against play-action and misdirection. Also, he has poor hands when it’s time to flip the field.”
“For his size, he’s a disappointing tackler, especially in run support. The lack of urgency and determination Marshall shows on tape could hurt his stock.”
READ MORE: ‘Raw talent’: Scouting CB Jason Marshall Jr. ahead of 2025 NFL draft
Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: NFL draft: The Athletic’s updated 2025 mock draft includes four Gators
It is that season again when fans of both the collegiate and professional gridiron are treated to the National Football League’s annual amateur selection process.
The 2025 NFL draft kicks off on Thursday night at 8 p.m. ET at Lambeau Field and its adjacent Titletown District in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Over the three-day event, there will be 257 former college players selected by one of 32 franchises as these young men look to continue their careers at the next level.
Every year since 1952, the University of Florida has sent at least one player to a professional franchise through the NFL draft, representing the nation’s second-longest streak. Only the Michigan Wolverines and USC Trojans, whose streaks go back to 1939, have a longer track record.
With the draft right around the corner, The Athletic’s Dane Brugler put together his full mock for the 2025 NFL draft, which saw four members of the 2024 Florida Gators headed to the pros. Here is a look at who was selected and where, plus a brief scouting report on each.
Florida Gators picked in The Athletic’s NFL mock draft
DT Cam Jackson: Round 4 (103) – Tennessee Titans
“Massive nose tackle whose lack of productivity belies his potential to imprint on NFL games as a run defender,” his NFL combine scouting report begins.
“Jackson is a complete non-factor as a rusher, so his spot on a draft board will be relative to a team’s willingness to take a two-down player in need of polish. He’s long and plays with extremely heavy hands and an ability to overwhelm single blockers at times. When he’s allowed to swap paint and focus on smaller areas of containment, he’s a tough out. He gets knocked off his spot more than he should, but better block take-on and technique should create better consistency.
“Jackson has freakish size and is a more enticing prospect when tape flashes are prioritized in the evaluation process.”
WR Chimere Dike: Round 6 (185) – Pittsburgh Steelers (via Seattle Seahawks)
“Niche receiver with average hands but good early speed to bypass man coverage and give life to the vertical game,” his combine scouting report notes.
“Dike is a second- and third-level receiver whose routes have the energy of a youngster on a playground with all gas and no brakes. He is an early separator with his speed but won’t see nearly as many free or schemed releases as he saw at Florida. He catches with downfield focus and good toughness when contested but doesn’t always play with catch-ready hands, which will lead to frustrating misses.
“He’s more of a field-stretcher than a volume option, but his talent for opening intermediate and deep windows could appeal to teams in need of speed.”
READ MORE: Elite speed headlines WR Chimere Dike’s 2025 NFL draft scouting report
LB Shemar James: Round 6 (207) – New York Jets (via Kansas City Chiefs)
“James flashes speed but has never really developed the recognition and response talent to chalk up playmaking production,” states his NFL combine scouting report.
“He has some twitch in his movement and does a nice job of working past blocks, but he might not be able to anticipate with enough consistency to play ahead of NFL blocking schemes. James is athletic in space and can play special teams, but he might never be more than an average backup.”
CB Jason Marshall Jr.: Round 7 (236) – Houston Texans (via Washington Redskins)
“Outside cornerback with good size, athleticism and experience but too much inconsistency on tape,” his scouting report begins.
“Marshall can disrupt the release from press and ride route turns to stay in position to defend the throw. He falls asleep against play-action and misdirection. Also, he has poor hands when it’s time to flip the field.”
“For his size, he’s a disappointing tackler, especially in run support. The lack of urgency and determination Marshall shows on tape could hurt his stock.”
READ MORE: ‘Raw talent’: Scouting CB Jason Marshall Jr. ahead of 2025 NFL draft
Follow us @GatorsWire on X, formerly known as Twitter, as well as Bluesky, and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Florida Gators news, notes and opinions.
This article originally appeared on Gators Wire: NFL draft: The Athletic’s updated 2025 mock draft includes four Gators
