Some 2025 NFL Draft Defenders: Tacario Davis, Cobee Bryant, and others
The offseason, and the 2025 NFL Draft, will creep up on football fans before they know it. While prospects like Luther Burden III, Travis Hunter, and Carson Beck continue to shoot up draft boards, it’s never too early to talk about the Day Two, Day Three guys that excite us.
Namely, the defenders that excite us.
Here are some 2025 NFL Draft prospects to keep your eyes on until draft day in Green Bay, Wisconsin on April 24th, 2025.
Cobee Bryant, Defensive Back, Kansas
If anyone wins the name game, it’s the six-foot, 175 pound senior cornerback in Lawrence, Kansas.
The 2023 All-Big 12 First Team honoree - who says his biggest role model is Kobe Bryant - has all of the goods: ball instincts, length and quickness, plays light on his feet, a strong run supporter, fluid in coverage, and comes with the route recognition, field awareness, and quickness to play zone coverage exceptionally.
In 2023, Bryant totaled 32 tackles, five tackles for loss, a sack, four interceptions, nine pass deflections, and a forced fumble. So far in 2024, Bryant has pulled in 18 tackles, one tackle for loss, an interception, and four pass breakups.
According to Pro Football Focus, Bryant has pieced together a 70.2 defensive grade on the season, as well as a 78.8 run defense grade.
Keep your eye on Bryant throughout the rest of the season. He’ll have some key matchups, including Colorado’s Travis Hunter, Houston’s Joseph Manjack IV, Iowa State’s Jaylin Noel.
Anthony Johnson, Defensive Back, Western Kentucky
Johnson is another fiery, hard-hitting defensive back on the rise. The 5’10 senior joined the Hilltopper’s defensive unit in 2023 after transferring to Bowling Green, Kentucky from West Florida (DII). In 21 games there, Johnson totaled 69 tackles, 15 pass breakups, five interceptions, and two fumble recoveries.
In his first year on the Hill, Johnson appeared in 10 games, recording nine starts. He pulled in 44 tackles, one tackle for loss, four interceptions, and nine pass deflections. He was named a 2023 Conference USA honorable mention, while also earning Defensive MVP honor in the 2023 Famous Toastery Bowl.
So far in 2024, Johnson has accounted for 21 tackles, a tackle for loss, an interception, and two pass breakups through five games. He was PFF’s fourth highest graded cornerback in 2023 with a grade of 90.3. So far this season, he has put up an 87.7 tackling grade and 75.0 run defense grade.
He’s also allowed just a 38.2 NFL passing grade through the air: six catches allowed on 12 targets (50%) for 84 yards, zero scores, an interception, and a pass breakup.
Tacario Davis, Defensive Back, Arizona
One of the two Arizona Wildcats on this blurb, Davis is very likely going to end up a day one pick. The six-foot-four, 190 pound defensive back has all of the intangibles: incredible length, a high motor, lays down the wood, and is truly a zone coverage merchant.
On a serious note, Davis does have game changing length and physical intangibles. His instincts in zone coverage and plays on the football are on an NFL level. His rare length and stride as a runner makes him a strong tool in deep ball coverage. He is snappy and athletic with above average field vision.
In 2023, Davis totaled 25 tackles, an interception, and 16 pass breakups. So far in 2024, he has pulled in 16 tackles, a tackle for loss, and five pass breakups. Davis was named AP Second Team All-PAC-12 honoree in 2023.
So far in 2024, Davis has been targeted 14 times, allowing seven catches for 63 yards (per PFF).
Justin Flowe, Linebacker, Arizona
Remember this guy? Before transferring to Arizona, Flowe got his start at Oregon between 2020 and 2022. Coming out of high school, Flowe was a consensus five-star prospect, the number one inside linebacker in the nation, and the 2019-10 All-USA High School Defensive Player of the Year (USA Today).
Flowe didn’t quite meet his All-American expectations at Oregon, but left the school after 2022, when he recorded a season-high 35 tackles and 2.5 tackles for loss over 10 games in his final season as a Duck.
The highly-touted student athlete then joined the Wildcats in 2023, where he flourished, totaling 44 tackles, two tackles for loss, and a sack, as well as two pass breakups.
So far in 2024, Flowe has recorded…no stats. That’ll most likely change by the end of the season. Flowe is athletic, fast, and has a lot of muscle - it’s hard to imagine he won’t be seen as a prospect with both upside and special-teams-ace potential.
Deone Walker, Defensive Line, Kentucky
This is another guy that’ll most likely walk the stage in Green Bay come time for the 2025 NFL Draft.
Walker, an intimidating six-foot-six, 345 pound interior defensive lineman, was a third and fourth team All-American (CFN, Phil Steele) as a sophomore - and team captain - in 2023. Coming into 2024, Walker has earned Preseason First Team All-American honors (ESPN, Sporting News) and landed on the 2025 Senior Bowl Watch List.
In 2023, Walker was able to pull in 55 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, and two pass deflections. So far in 2024, the junior has recorded 15 tackles, two tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks, and a pass deflection.
Walker is an impactful force across the defensive line, despite playing tall at times, he’s able to generate a strong interior pass rush and has next-level abilities as run defender. He is able to eat space and pull in inside-zone runs like a gravitational force. The big guy comes with a violent, high motor and long arms, able to move with a rare lateral speed down the line of scrimmage.
Walker has some tough tasks ahead, facing offensive line units like Ole Miss, Tennessee, and Texas.
Keep eyes on these guys for the rest of the season, and as the offseason approaches.