Ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft, what team is the best fit for each Colorado prospect?
- Liam Howard
- 4 hours ago
- 11 min read
With 10 days until the NFL Draft, 15 Colorado Buffaloes football players (excluding special teams) are hoping to hear their names called and make an impact at the next level. Some of these prospects are projected to land in the first round, while others are expected to be searching for a team in free agency by the final week of April.
However, each prospect has an NFL team with needs that match their respective skillset, consequently giving them the best chance to become mainstays in the league. Here’s a look at the best NFL fit for each Buff entering the draft.
CB/WR Travis Hunter (New England Patriots)
The Patriots hold the No. 4 overall pick in the draft and have the third-best odds to select Hunter at +950 according to FOX Sports.
New England ranked dead last in the NFL in receiving yards in 2024, and while their secondary was solid, starting cornerback and former Buff Christian Gonzalez has struggled to stay on the field, missing most of 2023 with a torn labrum and suffering a concussion to end his season in December of 2024. Adding Hunter gives the Patriots the luxury of addressing both of those needs with one pick, giving young QB Drake Maye a new weapon in the passing game while reinforcing their defense to build around in the future.
It has become increasingly unlikely that the 2024 Heisman Trophy winner will fall to the No. 4 pick, but if he falls into their lap, expect them to quickly jump on the opportunity to select him.
“If two of the top-three selections aren’t quarterbacks, it’s difficult to imagine a Hunter being attainable for New England,” said Sports Illustrated’s Kevin Sinclair. “However, given the number of teams hungry for a franchise passer, the Patriots could see the Colorado Buffalo fall to No. 4.”
QB Shedeur Sanders (Cleveland Browns)
Sanders is almost universally considered the second-best quarterback in this draft, the only question has been, what team will take him? The Browns hold the No. 2 overall pick in the draft, and with Deshaun Watson likely out for the entire 2025 season, they are desperate for a new signal-caller. They were largely inactive at the position during free agency, and with few veteran QBs left on the market, they are likely looking to the draft and a top-of-the-line young prospect to pair with Kenny Pickett in the QB room.
With no real safety valve to sit behind a rookie, it would be in Cleveland’s best interest to address this need by selecting Sanders, one of the two prospects most scouts expect to be able to start right away.
"If you ain't trying to change the franchise or the culture -- don't get me,” Sanders said at the NFL Combine. “You should know history repeats itself over and over and over, and I've done it over and over and over, so it should be no question why a franchise should pick me."
Sanders’ moniker for changing cultures is certainly needed in Cleveland. Since their re-introduction to the league in 1999, Baker Mayfield is the only quarterback to make a Pro Bowl for the team out of the 40 different starters they’ve had in that time.
The Browns’ offense has numerous positional needs, but acquiring Sanders as its centerpiece would be an incredible first step in rebuilding that unit.
DE BJ Green II (Atlanta Falcons)
Green was one of the top performers at the Buffs’ “We Ain’t Hard 2 Find” Showcase on April 4, putting NFL scouts on notice, particularly with his display in the 40-yard dash. He is projected to go undrafted by NFL Mock Database but could wind up as a day-three pick following that performance.
The Falcons are a perfect fit for Green, as they ranked second-to-last in the NFL in sacks last season and have very little depth at the edge rusher position. The Arizona State transfer led the Buffaloes with 7.5 sacks along with 33 tackles in 2024 as their premier defensive end. The Falcons’ struggles in those departments were the reasons for their defense underperforming as a whole last season, despite a solid secondary.
While Green wouldn’t necessarily transform their defense, he could easily emerge as a rotational player among the weak competition and potentially move into a starting role given proper time and development.
LB LaVonta Bentley (Los Angeles Rams)
Bentley was a premier middle linebacker for the Buffaloes this past season, registering 55 total tackles, a sack, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries.
Bentley asserted himself as a field general, something the Rams are in desperate need of. They lost 2024 leading tackler LB Christian Rozeboom in free agency to the Carolina Panthers, and despite signing fellow Colorado alum Nate Landman to help fill the gap, they still lack a solid secondary option to help him anchor the interior of their defense.
Bentley serves as a low-risk, high-reward option for the Rams to either select late in day three of the draft or target as an undrafted free agent. He has room to grow in Los Angeles’ well-coached defense and, like Green, can easily emerge as a solid role-player or even starter with proper time and development.
WR Will Sheppard (Seattle Seahawks)
Sheppard was widely considered the MVP of the CU NFL Showcase, with his measurements, on-field routes and 40-yard dash that exceeded expectations. Namely, his vertical jump performance dropped jaws in the weight room. His 40.5-inch leap highlighted his ability to be a deep-threat receiver in any offense, a luxury the Seahawks could show some major interest in.
With the departure of both D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett, the Seahawks will need a solid third option for QB Sam Darnold in the receiving game. Sheppard would be the third-tallest receiver on the team and not only bring his deep-threat ability, but considerable speed and route-running, creating a variety of ways to target him in an offense that’s trying to form a reliable receiver corps.
“I can do it all,” Sheppard said after his Pro Day. “I’m big but I’m more than just a possession, go-up-and-get-it kind of receiver.” “I can run routes, I’ve got run after catch, I can do everything,” he continued. “Come get me.”
WR Jimmy Horn Jr. (Tennessee Titans)
Horn was the No. 4 option in the Buffaloes’ offense this season but has climbed draft boards as a projected day-three pick due to his performance at the Combine, Big 12 Pro Day and CU NFL Showcase. He shows promise as a rotational slot receiver at the next level and could see the field a good amount in the right system.
The Titans are projected to take Miami QB Cam Ward with the No. 1 overall pick, so they will need some more weapons to surround him with. They lack depth at the receiver position, primarily in the slot, so they could benefit from taking a late-round flyer on Horn next weekend.
WR LaJohntay Wester (Las Vegas Raiders)
As the No. 2 option to Hunter in Colorado’s offense last season, Wester totaled 74 receptions for 931 yards and 10 touchdowns. He had the most impressive numbers out of the Buffaloes’ projected late-round receivers, and despite concerns about his size, his production is undeniable and can translate to the next level.
Las Vegas is desperate for receivers, and getting a player with proven production like Wester in the late rounds would be a major steal. With little competition around him, the 5-foot-11 receiver would have ample opportunity to make his way onto the field at some point during the season, and having played in both the slot and exterior receiver positions, he can function as a multi-tool player for the Raiders amid their offensive rebuild.
S Shilo Sanders (Miami Dolphins)
Sanders has received draft projections anywhere from the late sixth round to going undrafted, but if there’s one team most likely to pursue him on day three, it's the safety-depleted Miami Dolphins. They didn’t re-sign the team’s second-leading tackler in Jordan Poyer or their other starting safety, Jevon Holland, leaving them desperate for depth at the position.
Sanders, while not a high-end prospect, brings notable starting experience at three different schools to the inexperienced safety corps. He wasn’t able to boost his stock much in the offseason, as he wasn’t invited to the NFL Combine, didn’t participate in the Big 12 Pro Day and had an unremarkable performance at CU’s Pro Day. However, he did run a solid 4.52 40-yard dash, which certainly caught the eye of the scouts in attendance.
If he could hone this skillset somewhere like Miami, he may be able to emerge from the crowd and see the field in his rookie year.
S Cam’Ron Silmon-Craig (Washington Commanders)
Silmon-Craig is one of the more underrated CU draft prospects, as his size and sub-par speed have him projected as an undrafted free agent. However, this wasn’t an issue for him in Colorado’s defense. He was a tackling machine as he led the team with 89 total tackles, 64 of which were solo. The Buffs were able to use him wherever needed on defense, often using him in the nickel and occasionally in safety-blitz packages.
The Commanders’ defense came out of nowhere in 2024, as their group wasn’t perceived as anything special in the preseason before greatly exceeding those expectations en route to an NFC Championship appearance. This is precisely the type of setting Silmon-Craig would thrive in, as they lack depth at the safety position and could use a player with his versatile skillset.
Their ability to quickly develop talent was on full display last season, and with this support behind him, he could easily make his way into the starting role and contribute the way he did with the Buffaloes.
OL Justin Mayers (Cincinnati Bengals)
Mayers excelled in his Pro Day performance after a highly underrated season for the Buffaloes in 2024. He was Pro Football Focus’s highest-rated guard in pass blocking, receiving a grade of 89.4. He only allowed two sacks in 2024, and in his time at UTEP, allowed just one sack in 402 passing attempts.
The Bengals’ mission to protect franchise QB Joe Burrow has been unsuccessful to this point, as he’s been one of the most pressured QBs in the league when healthy. The Bengals guards struggled mightily last season, with Alex Cappa taking home the negative O-line triple-crown. He was tied for most sacks, pressures and hurries allowed in the league last year, a level of play the team cannot afford to see repeated if they want to keep Burrow healthy.
Taking a chance on the physically-impressive Mayers as a developmental prospect would be of great interest to Cincinnati, and while it may take time for him to see much of the field, he could make his way there after a few seasons.
OL Kardell Thomas (Houston Texans)
Thomas will more than likely go undrafted, as he only played in one game in his time with the Buffaloes. He was formerly a highly-touted recruit out of high school, listed as the No. 4 guard in the class of 2019 by 247Sports.
Houston could benefit from signing him after the draft, as their offensive line struggled mightily to protect C.J. Stroud last season, and they were scrambling for answers once it came time for the playoffs. Thomas brings good size and could potentially get moved to tackle at the next level with proper development, but his signing would largely serve as a needed depth piece in Houston.
DT Chidozie Nwankwo (Carolina Panthers)
Nwankwo was the biggest run-stopper for the Buffaloes this past season, as he recorded 31 total tackles, a forced fumble and 2.5 sacks. He has gone largely unnoticed during the pre-draft process due to his small frame compared to most NFL defensive tackles. However, this didn’t stop him from being a one-man wrecking crew in the trenches in his time at CU or Houston, a trait that could be very valuable at the next level.
The Panthers could especially use his talents when trying to limit the run game, as they allowed far and away the most rushing yards in 2024 (3,057). They did little to address this position of need in free agency, and while it’s likely they do early in the draft, Nwankwo makes for a great depth option who could rise up the depth chart as a contributor.
DT Shane Cokes (New Orleans Saints)
Cokes performed well alongside Nwankwo, registering 19 total tackles, a forced fumble and a sack of his own in 2024. He was a consistent starter for two years in the Buffs’ defense and could make for a developmental NFL prospect. His size is more NFL-ready than Nwankwo’s, standing 6-foot-3 and weighing in at 275 pounds.
The Saints finished second-worst in the NFL in rushing yards allowed last year and are in desperate need of someone to emerge alongside former first-round pick Bryan Bresee. Cokes could potentially fill that role if he can adapt well to their system and play a similar rotational role to his time in Boulder.
S Travis Jay (Denver Broncos)
Travis Jay has a difficult path to the draft as injuries prevented him from seeing much of the field in both 2023 and 2024. However, in his first two seasons at Florida State, he was a consistent role player and looked to be on the path to stardom. He registered 43 tackles, a forced fumble, and three interceptions in those two seasons playing at both the free and strong safety positions for the Seminoles.
The Broncos are still searching for consistency at the safety position, and despite Jay not having much film to display, Colorado’s Pro Day was attended by a high volume of Broncos coaches and scouts, who got the opportunity to closely examine the 6-foot-2 safety not only as a player but as a person.
“Tremendous competitor,” said Colorado head coach Deion Sanders on Instagram. “Practiced every day, worked his butt off, wanted it … and whenever he got an opportunity, he went in there and gave it his all, I love this young man.”
The Broncos could pursue the idea of a training camp invite for Jay, and see if he can bring some of the depth they need at the safety position.
S Herman Smith III (Buffalo Bills)
The Bills are another team in need of safety depth as they struggled to fill the void left by Poyer last season. While Smith doesn’t provide the experience of other talent in this Buffs class, he’s played at three different schools in his college career, showing he has what it takes to adapt to new settings.
The Bills’ safety corps doesn’t provide much competition to Smith, so he could potentially earn himself a roster spot. He also contributed heavily on special teams for the Buffs, which qualifies him as a contender to contribute to the team in that way as well.
This class of Buffs is the best they’ve sent to the league in recent memory. It would take less than half of these prospects hearing their name called next weekend to surpass the program’s largest draft class since the turn of the century. With ranges of projections and scouting reports throughout this year's class, only time will tell what impact these Buffaloes will make at the next level.
Comments