Week 5 NFL Draft intel: Why Alabama star is 'vying for QB1'

Each week, Yardbarker is monitoring the 2025 NFL Draft, scheduled for April 24-26 in Green Bay.

From a dynamic quarterback to a compelling tight end, here are five players we are tracking:

Is Alabama's Jalen Milroe the top QB after a huge win over Georgia?

In a 41-34 Week 5 home win over No. 5 Georgia (3-1), Milroe completed 27-of-33 passes for a career-high 374 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. He also rushed for 117 yards and two TDs on 16 carries. 

The excellent performance made draft gurus take notice. On a Tuesday episode of ESPN's "Get Up," Mel Kiper Jr. said Milroe is "vying for QB1 in this draft."

Milroe (6-foot-2, 225 pounds) must fine-tune his intermediate passing game. Per Pro Football Focus, he's 6-of-16 on throws between 10 and 19 yards through four starts.

Milroe could be a high first-rounder if he starts stretching the field more and leads No. 1 Alabama (4-0) to its second straight College Football Playoff appearance. In his first mock draft, PFF's Trevor Sikkema has the Miami Dolphins taking him with pick No. 2.

Is Georgia QB Carson Beck regressing?  

Unlike Milroe, Beck (6-foot-4, 220 pounds) struggled in last Saturday's Southeastern Conference clash. Against the Crimson Tide, he finished 27-of-50 passing for 439 yards, three TDs and three picks. Although he helped the Bulldogs return from a 30-7 deficit in the second half, some experts felt the moment looked too big for him.

"[Beck] was a mess," wrote The Athletic's Nick Baumgardner Monday. "There's been more good than bad from Beck, historically, but NFL scouts won't want to see him rattled like that again — even if he almost pulled himself (and his team) all the way out of it." 

Along with Beck's ability to deliver in key games, teams may worry about some of his declining numbers. Through four starts, his off-target rate has increased (8.9 in 2023, 9.8 in 2024), and his third-and-long conversion rate has decreased (38.5% in 2023, 34.8% in 2024) via Baumgardner.

Even so, one disappointing game shouldn't define Beck, who has a 16-2 record in two seasons as a starter. Thus, he could still sneak into the first round. In Tankathon's mock draft, the Pittsburgh Steelers select him with pick No. 28.  

Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty has looked like a potential top-15 pick

Since 2020, only two RBs have been top-15 picks. In 2023, the Atlanta Falcons drafted Bijan Robinson (pick No. 8), while the Detroit Lions chose Jahmyr Gibbs (pick No. 12). Will Jeanty join them?

"The 2024 NFL Draft lacked an elite running back prospect. In 2023, the league proved it will still draft a running back prospect highly when Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs went No. 8 and No. 12, respectively," wrote The Draft Network's Justin Melo Monday. "Jeanty is made in that mold and is currently proving he deserves to be drafted in that range."

Through four games, Jeanty (5-foot-9, 215 pounds) has run for 845 yards and 13 TDs on 82 carries. In two of those contests, the 20-year-old eclipsed 200 rushing yards. As of Thursday, FanDuel gives him the fourth-best Heisman Trophy odds (+750). Perhaps the playmaker will carry No. 21 Boise State (3-1) to its second straight Mountain West Conference title. 

While the NFL is a passing league, teams shouldn't ignore Jeanty. In their latest mock draft, Yahoo Sports' Charles McDonald and Nate Tice have the Dallas Cowboys taking him with pick No. 14. 

Does Texas WR Isaiah Bond have record-breaking speed? 

At the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine in February, former Texas WR Xavier Worthy (now with the Kansas City Chiefs) broke the 40-yard dash record (4.21). In a Monday roundtable, ESPN's Matt Miller mentioned that a scout texted him that Bond might be faster than Worthy.