An expert weighs in on SU prospects with two weeks remaining until Draft Day
Six Syracuse Orange were highlighted by The Athletic in its annual NFL Draft Guide earlier today.
Known as “The Beast,” this year’s 2025 NFL Draft edition features over 400 player profiles and rankings with over 2,500 prospects included. Authored by NFL Draft Analyst Dane Brugler, the guide also contains position-by-position rankings.
The Beast is here!
The 2025 NFL Draft Guide – new and improved.https://t.co/uFiwIP1xMq
— Dane Brugler (@dpbrugler) April 9, 2025
Here’s the six Orange prospects slotted in the top 50 at their position and what the guide had to say about them:
QB7: Kyle McCord, 3rd-4th round grade
McCord comes in ranked behind Cam Ward, Shedeur Sanders, Jaxson Dart, Tyler Shough, Jalen Milroe and Quinn Ewers. Strengths listed include great anticipation, excellent pre-snap process and extremely accurate on slants, fades and out patterns. Weaknesses include sailing throws on the run and locking into reads too early.
RB17: LeQuint Allen, 4th-5th round
The fourth-highest-rated ACC running back (Omarion Hampton, Bhayshul Tuten and Damien Martinez), Allen’s listed attributes include great patience, coordination and long-striding acceleration in the open field. One negative is that he runs tall, which exposes him more to big hits.
Photo by Brooke Sutton/Getty Images
WR48: Jackson Meeks, undrafted
“Overall, Meeks isn’t a burner, which will limit his role at the next level, but he plays with the competitive juices, decisive movements and ball skills to be a chain-moving option.”
TE8: Oronde Gadsden II, 4th round
Above-average hand strength for catches in traffic and a willing position blocker were some of the given strengths. The guide calls him the most productive tight-end in Syracuse history but, interestingly, doesn’t believe he has the desired frame or body mass for the TE position.
EDGE24: Fadil Diggs, 4th-5th round
Positives include the ideal dimensions for an edge rusher (6’4, 257) and quality footwork while moving well in space for his size. Negatives are an “average” get-off by NFL standards and a segmented pass rush.
Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images
LB27: Justin Barron, undrafted
The guide loves his competitive toughness and speed for his size (6’3, 225), but says, “Barron needs better consistency to find a full-time role on defense, but he can provide versatile depth. His special teams experience (949 snaps in college) will pay immediate dividends.”
S22: Alijah Clark, undrafted
“Clark has the versatile skill set and toughness to compete for a nickel role at the next level, but his college tape leaves you wanting more from a playmaking standpoint. His upside on special teams will help his chances of sticking in the NFL.”
What do you make of The Beast’s rankings?