NFL teams may draft native Missourians as early as the first round

MISSOURI—The state of Missouri has produced talent for the National Football League (NFL) for decades. Every year, all NFL draftees hope to impact their team as powerfully as Ezekiel Elliott ran for the Dallas Cowboys, Jeremy Maclin caught touchdowns for the Philadelphia Eagles, or how Foyesade Oluokun tackles ballcarriers for the Jacksonville Jaguars.

This Thursday, April 24, 2025, it’s possible that two native-Missourians will hear their name in the first round of the draft being held in Green Bay, Wisconsin. More Missourians are likely to hear their name assigned to a team by the end of the draft when the final pick, number 257, nicknamed “Mr. Irrelevant,” is announced on Saturday.

Below is a near-comprehensive list of eligible players for this year’s NFL draft that were born in Missouri and played most of their high school years in the Show-Me State. The only Missourian to be in every expert’s first round of their mock draft is Mizzou’s offensive tackle, Armand Membou.

Each player will be headlined with their name, position and college. A brief summary of the player will be below, followed by NFL mock draft experts’ predictions of who may pick them and what round. Some of the larger sports analyst sites, such as CBS Sports or WalterFootball, may have differing opinions between multiple expert analysts. To make it less confusing, the expert’s name will be within parenthesis next to their prediction. The mock draft positions of these players are from experts’ published mock drafts from April 21 and older.

Missourians expected to be drafted

Armand Membou, OT, Mizzou

While no prospect is a “sure thing,” everyone seems sure that Membou will be a top-10 pick. Growing up on the western side of Missouri, Membou’s time at Mizzou helped establish him among the top tackles in this year’s draft. Pro Football Focus has him ranked as the 12^th best overall talent of the draft and very few have him dropping past the Jets. NFL Mock Draft Database considers him the 8^th best player in the draft. NFL analyst Lance Zierlein praises the former Tiger’s ability to mirror edge rushers and compares him to the Packers’ Zach Tom.

CBS Sports: New England Patriots at 4 (Kyle Stackpole), New York Jets at 7 (3 experts), San Francisco 49ers at 8 (Josh Edwards) and Arizona Cardinals at 16 (Pete Prisco).

The Huddle Report (Pohl): New England Patriots at 4 (Boylhart), Las Vegas Raiders at 6 (Johannes), New York Jets at 7 (several).

WalterFootball: Jacksonville Jaguars at 5 (Walt) and New York Jets at 7 (Campbell).

Mel Kiper and Field Yates: New York Jets at 7.

Daniel Jeremiah: New York Jets at 7.

Brendan Donahue (Sharp): New York Jets at 7.

Dane Brugler with the Athletic: New York Jets at 7.

NFL Stock Exchange: Las Vegas Raiders at 6.

NFL Next Gen Stats (Mike Band): New York Jets at 7.

NFL Mock Draft Database Consensus Mock Draft: New York Jets at 7.

Josh and Hayden: New York Jets at 7.

Luther Burden III, WR, Mizzou

The Mizzou star wideout grew up in St. Louis playing at Cardinal Ritter College Prep before playing his senior year across the Mississippi River where he helped the East St. Louis High School Flyers soar to the IHSA Class 6A Football Championship game. Burden is generally considered a top five receiver of the draft and Pro Football Focus has him ranked as the 15^th best overall talent of the draft. NFL Mock Draft Database considers Burden the 35^th best player in the draft. Despite the Mizzou star seeming like a lock to be the second or third receiver taken in the draft for many months and his a long resume of accomplishments, recent mock drafts show him more likely to be an early day two pick in the second round which starts at 6 p.m. on Friday, April 25. Zierlein compares Burden to the Jets’ Garrett Wilson and says he “checks several priority boxes that typically foreshadow an impressive NFL career.”

CBS Sports experts: Buffalo Bills at 30 (Ryan Wilson)

WalterFootball: 35 to the Titans (Charlie Campbell) and New England Patriots at 38 (Walt).

Dane Brugler with the Athletic: Tennessee Titans at 35.

NFL Stock Exchange: Tennessee Titans at 35.

Josh and Hayden: Jacksonville Jaguars at 36.

Mel Kiper and Field Yates: New England Patriots at pick 38.

Aireontae Ersery, OT, Minnesota, from Kansas City.

Mel Kiper has Ersery ranked as the sixth best offensive tackle in the draft. Pro Football Focus has him ranked as the 68^th best overall talent of the draft. NFL Mock Draft Database considers him the 49^th best player in the draft. Zierlein compares Ersery to Marcus Cannon as the former Gopher is massive “with a broad chest and long arms.” Ersery is also praised for his handwork against rushers.

Dane Brugler with the Athletic: Chicago Bears at 41.

WalterFootball: Jacksonville Jaguars at 36 (Campbell) and New England Patriots at 69 (Walt).

Josh and Hayden: Houston Texans at 58.

NFL Stock Exchange: San Francisco at 43.

Jaylin Noel, WR, Iowa State, from Kansas City

Noel averages being mocked as a second round pick according to NFL Mock Draft Database. Pro Football Focus has him ranked as the 78^th best overall talent of the draft. NFL Mock Draft Database considers him the 63^rd best player in the draft. Zierlein approves of two-year co-captain for the Cyclones for his elusiveness and run-after-catch ability.

Dane Brugler with the Athletic: Arizona Cardinals at 47.

Josh and Hayden: Seattle Seahawks at 50.

WalterFootball: Philadelphia Eagles at 161 (Walt) and undrafted (Campbell).

NFL Stock Exchange: Houston Texans at 58.

Brady Cook, QB, Mizzou, from St. Louis

Cook was projected by WalterFootball to be a 4^th to 6^th round selection but left him out of his six-round mock draft. Pro Football Focus has him ranked as the 209^th best overall talent of the draft. NFL Mock Draft Database ranks him at 269^th of draftable players. Zierlein projects Cook to be a 7^th round pick or a priority free agent and celebrates the Tigers passer for his arm strength and feel for touch throws.

WalterFootball: Pittsburgh Steelers at 185 (Campbell) and undrafted (Walt).

Draft eligible Missouri natives that are projected to go undrafted:

Players in this list will be to watch for when NFL teams start announcing their undrafted free agent signings. Anyone undrafted and not signed to an NFL roster by the end of cuts during NFL training camp may find themselves in the UFL, possibly as a St. Louis Battlehawks player.

Dontae Manning, CB, Oregon, from Kansas City who’s worked out for the Seahawks and Chiefs as well as had conversations with five other NFL teams, according to NFL Preme.

Jalen Logan-Redding, DL, Minnesota, from Columbia projected as potentially a 7^th round pick by WalterFootball

Mookie Cooper, WR, Mizzou, from Maryland Heights

Reggie Love III, RB, Purdue, from St. Louis

Drake Heismeyer, OC, Mizzou, from St. Charles

Mitchell Walters, OT, Mizzou, from Mehlville

Lanell Carr Jr., DL, Indiana, from St. Louis

Keyon Mozee, RB, Miami Ohio, from Lee’s Summit

Michael West, DE, Kent State, from St. Louis

Trez Moore, CB, Texas State, from St. Louis

Luke Grimm, WR, Kansas, from Peculiar graded in the top three of college receivers last season for short routes per PFF.

Darion Smith, DE/OLB, Missouri State, from St. Louis

Bennie Anderson, OG, Yale, from St. Louis

Caldra Williford, S, Tennessee Tech, from St. Louis

The NFL draft kicks off at 7 p.m. on April 24, 2025. The 1^st round has 32 draft selections. On Friday, April 25, teams will make their 2^nd and 3^rd round picks, beginning at 6 p.m.

All of the remaining picks for the final four rounds of the draft will be on Saturday, April 26, until the 257^th pick, Mr. Irrelevant, is announced.

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