The 2025 NFL Scouting Combine is scheduled to take place in Indianapolis from Thursday, February 27th through Sunday, March 2nd and it will feature a total of 329 prospects that have been invited to be measured, interviewed, tested, and perform a series of on-field exercises and drills (such as the 40-yard dash, vertical jump, broad jump, short shuttle, long shuttle, bench press, and the three-cone drill), over the course of four days in the world’s most watched job fair. The goal every year is to invite the prospects who are most likely to get drafted over the course of the last weekend in April. And to be fair, the NFL does a quality job of selecting the prospects that are most likely to hear their name called amongst the 257 players drafted, but this still leaves several intriguing or highly ranked prospects who did not receive an invitation. The following players have draftable grades and all are prospects that still could get drafted despite their combine snub.
Taylor Elgersma / QB / Laurier (Canada)
The best player in Canadian college football is definitely a project and a long-term developmental prospect but as he displayed during the Senior Bowl practices and game, he has an NFL arm with the raw processing skills needed in the NFL – his field vision is good and he already shows the ability to manipulate defenses with his eyes. Elgersma is a big, strong pocket passer in the mold of Jared Goff with limited mobility but the toughness to stand in the pocket, stare down the rush, and throw an accurate pass. Elgersma may be best served playing a few years in the CFL to refine his game. But his raw tools are NFL caliber and he could hear his name called late on day three in Green Bay.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt / RB / Arizona
Croskey-Merritt missed almost the entire 2024 season after being declared ineligible by the NCAA but as he displayed during the one game he played – the season opener - and the East-West Shrine Bowl – that he has the skills and athleticism needed to play in the NFL. The little amount of film on JCM would seem to indicate the need to bring him to Indy to get a better look at the former New Mexico Lobo RB, but not receiving an invitation means that much more weight will be placed on his pro day workout on March 14th. JCM has great speed and acceleration in the open field with the agility and quickness to make the defender miss in the hole. He fits the profile of the modern-day NFL RB. JCM could get drafted in rounds six or seven in April.
Efton Chism / WR / Eastern Washington
One of the more surprising omissions from the list of combine invitees, Chism was one of the best players to practice and play at the East-West Shrine Bowl and looked like a shoo-in to be invited to Indy. Chism lacks desired size but has great hands, is very quick, and runs quality routes. He broke virtually every record that Cooper Kupp had established on the red turf of EWU, and is a similar technician who figures to be a dangerous weapon across the middle of the field in the NFL. Despite not being invited to Indy, Chism should still get drafted in the middle rounds (fourth-sixth) in April.
Mark Redman / TE / Louisville
One of the most noteworthy casualties of the depth of the 2025 TE class is the omission of Redman from the list of invitees to Indianapolis. Redman started his career at Washington before transferring to San Diego State where he was arguably the best TE in the Mountain West Conference, before deciding to give the ACC a try. Redman was not a featured weapon in the Cardinals attack in 2024 and this undoubtedly hurt his draft stock. But Redman is a well-rounded TE who sets a strong edge in the run game and is a reliable weapon over the middle of the field. Redman is likely to go undrafted but don’t be surprised if he makes a regular season roster or practice squad this fall.
Willie Lampkin / IOL / North Carolina
Perhaps it isn’t surprising that Lampkin was not invited to Indianapolis when you consider how he does not meet the expectations for size for an offensive lineman – Lampkin only measures in at just over 5’10” and 270 pounds, far below what is desired at the NFL level. Lampkin has relatively long arms and reach (32” Arms / 78 & ¼” Wingspan) and plays with tremendous natural leverage – when he anchors against the bull rush, he is difficult to move. A former high school wrestler, Lampkin is strong and fierce and battles until the echo of the whistle. Lampkin is unlikely to get drafted but he will be very difficult to cut because although he doesn’t look the part, Lampkin is going to endear himself to OL coaches with his technique, durability, and drive. Expect Lampkin to start his NFL career on a practice squad this coming fall.
Simeon Barrow / IDL / Miami, Fl
Barrow not being invited to Indianapolis is rather head scratching. Yes, the 2025 IDL class is extremely deep but Barrow being left off is perplexing. Barrow had a great senior year in Coral Gables, constantly applying pressure up the middle in the pass rush while regularly requiring double teams in the run game. Barrow recorded 5.5 sacks, a career high, in 2024. Miami’s pro day is scheduled for March 24th and this date will be key in getting Barrow back on NFL Draft radars. But Barrow’s film is good and he looks like an NFL contributor, and potential starter, within the next few seasons. Barrow should be off the board by the end of the fifth round in Green Bay.
Jailin Walker / LB / Indiana
The biggest surprise in college football last season was Indiana’s rise from historically one of the worst programs in the annals of college football to making the inaugural 12-team college football playoff field. Curt Cignetti won National Coach of the Year by turning around a moribund program by infusing a bevy of transfers from James Madison into the culture in Bloomington. Walker transferred to IU from JMU and immediately upgraded the LB corps. Walker lacks some muscle mass and is a bit too thin but he is very active and quick. He has very long arms with excellent range and has the perfect attributes to excel on special teams. Walker (not to be confused with Georgia’s Jalon Walker – a lock as a first-round pick) likely will not get drafted but his agility and length fits the NFL profile. Expect him to make a team’s practice squad this fall.
Jordan Clark / CB / Notre Dame
This year’s CB class has some elite prospects, namely Travis Hunter (Colorado), Will Johnson (Michigan), and Quincy Riley (Louisville), but lacks great depth and there are few top shelf slot CBs available in April. Which makes the omission of Clark from the invitees to Indianapolis especially confounding as he is one of the most accomplished slot CBs in college football last year. Clark, who’s father Ryan played several seasons with the Steelers, has the lateral agility, quickness, and instincts to become a starter in the next season or two. The one big question concerning Clark is his foot speed. That is, is he a step too slow to hang with slot receivers on vertical routes? That question could have been answered in Indianapolis but will need to answered at Notre Dame’s pro day in late March. This will heavily impact his draft status that currently ranges between late third round and going undrafted. Clark’s combine snub may be the most impactful omission this year.
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