Where Kansas football players are projected to land in the 2025 NFL Draft
The NFL Draft has finally arrived.
In Lawrence, all eyes are on several former Kansas standouts who are expected to be drafted in the later rounds in the coming days.
The 2025 NFL Draft starts with the first round at 7 p.m. Thursday in Green Bay, Wisconsin, but no KU player is expected to be selected until at least Friday (and most likely Saturday).
The second and third rounds will be held Friday, while rounds 4-7 will occur Saturday.
Kansas could have as many as five players (Devin Neal, Cobee Bryant, Bryce Cabeldue, Mello Dotson and Logan Brown) selected in the 2025 draft.
That would be the most KU players selected since the 1977 NFL Draft, when seven Jayhawks were picked.
Here’s a closer look at the five KU players in contention to be drafted and where they are projected to go according to two different mock drafts from The Athletic and Pro Football Focus.
Running back Devin Neal
The Athletic: Round 4, pick No. 131, New Orleans Saints
PFF: Round 4, pick No. 107, Jacksonville Jaguars
Devin Neal, KU’s all-time leading rusher, is projected anywhere from the end of Round 3 to Round 6 in most mock drafts. In these two mocks, Neal was selected in the fourth round.
Neal ran for 1,266 yards and had 17 total touchdowns last season. He ended his career with 4,343 rushing yards and 53 total touchdowns.
He ran a 4.58 in the 40-yard dash. NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein projects Neal as an “average backup or special teamer” in the NFL. Here’s what he wrote about the Kansas RB:
“Workload runner with NFL size and four years of steady production to help elevate the program. Neal runs with a nice blend of patience and decisiveness to choose the right lanes and maximize each carry.
“He lacks top-end burst and speed, which will shrink the field for him, but he’s a fall-forward runner with good contact balance and a nose for short-yardage conversions. … His blue-collar approach isn’t exciting, but it is effective and Neal has the ability to develop into a backup three-down back.”
Cornerback Cobee Bryant
The Athletic: Round 7, pick No. 218, Atlanta Falcons
PFF: Round 4, Pick No. 105, New York Giants
The range of outcomes for the three-time first-team All-Big 12 member varies greatly, perhaps no more shown than in these two mock drafts.
Bryant ended last season with four interceptions, 11 passes deflected, one forced fumble and 26 total tackles.
Zierlein projects Bryant as an “average backup or special-teamer” in the NFL.
“Thin but highly competitive cornerback with plenty of ball production and penalties to sift through,” he said about Bryant. “First and foremost, Bryant wants the football and does what he can to find it. He’s adequate in man coverage but struggles against big receivers in space. His instincts and ball skills shine in zone, where he reads route development and quarterback intentions.
“His low weight and skinny build will put him below the threshold for some teams, while his length, toughness and strong performance at the East-West Shrine Bowl will put him in play for others. Bryant has the potential to see nickel snaps as a pro if he can trust his technique and limit the penalties.”
Cornerback Mello Dotson
The Athletic: Undrafted
PFF: Round 4, pick No. 121, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Like Bryant, the evaluation for Dotson is all over the place. The quieter of the star CB duo had a stellar season for KU last year.
He had a Big 12-leading five interceptions, including two interceptions returned for touchdowns.
Zierlein projects Dotson as a “candidate for bottom of roster or practice squad” in the NFL. Here’s his whole scouting report.
“Instinctive outside corner with impressive ball production. Dotson has adequate NFL size and a good feel for reading routes underneath, but he struggles to stay connected if the play travels beyond the first level.
“He has good instincts and eyes in zone coverage. He triggers on throws with efficiency and ballhawking angles to take it away. He lacks speed and could struggle making plays downfield. Dotson’s size, instincts and ball production will earn him consideration from zone teams, but playing in the league will require improved tackling and a specific scheme fit.
Offensive lineman Logan Brown
The Athletic: Round 4, pick No. 118, Atlanta Falcons
PFF: Round 5, pick No. 170, Buffalo Bills
Kansas offensive lineman Logan Brown had an excellent season for the Jayhawks last year. He made Second team All-Big 12 and earned honorable mention for Big 12 Offensive Lineman of the Year.
Brown started 11 games at right tackle. Zierlein thinks highly of him, projecting him as a “good backup with the potential to develop into a starter.”
Here’s his full scouting report on Brown.
“Traits-based developmental tackle with only one full season as a college starter. Brown is high-cut but is unusually quick laterally and athletic in space for a player who plays so upright. He gets to zone-blocking landmarks and is forceful with move contact, but his pad level limits his consistency as a man-to-man blocker.
“His protection improved rapidly in-season, but he still needs to develop an inside-out approach with pass sets and learn to recognize rush games more quickly. The bad looks really bad but the good can look really good. The ceiling and floor are both moving upward and Brown has early swing tackle value with a chance to develop into an NFL starter.”
Offensive lineman Bryce Cabeldue
The Athletic: Round 4, pick No. 133, Kansas City Chiefs
PFF: Undrafted
Bryce Cabeldue has been a late riser in many mock drafts after a stellar showing at Big 12 Pro Day.
He played left tackle for Kansas last season, starting in 12 games for KU and appearing in 48 of 50 total games during his time in Lawrence. He previously played mostly right tackle.
Zierlein projects him has a “good backup with the potential to develop into starter.”
Here’s his full scouting report on Cabeldue.
“Collegiate right tackle who is built like a guard and should make the move inside as a pro. Cabeldue is not much of a knee-bender but he’s low-cut, which helps him maximize his balance. He has good pop on contact and can maul his way to wins. He’s more athletic than expected inside the box, but his range as a blocker will trail off.
“He plays with an attacking mindset and takes the action to opponents, but he needs to play with inside hands to minimize his lack of length in pass pro. He projects as a backup guard and his toughness plays in his favor.”
This story was originally published April 24, 2025 at 10:22 AM.
