College Football
Transfer Portal Shakes Up 2025 NFL Draft: How College Transfers Dominated Early Rounds
Colin Lynch covers the NFL, MLB and WNBA for Heavy.com, with a focus on the New England Patriots. His sports coverage has been featured on The Sports Daily and Basketball Insiders, as well as FanSided's Chowder & Champions. A New Hampshire native and former D1 baseball player at St. John's University, Colin was drafted by the San Diego Padres in 2008 and enjoyed a four-year professional baseball career.
Get to know Colin Lynch betterPublished28 Apr 2025
The College Football Transfer Portal isn’t only impacting the college football landscape, it’s also having a profound impact on the NFL Draft.
The 2025 NFL Draft was more than just a showcase of talent—it was a testament to the evolving nature of college football. Players no longer follow a single, linear path to the pros. The transfer portal has opened doors, changed narratives, and, as this year’s draft proved, redefined how teams find their future stars.
For the second consecutive year, the top two picks were players who didn’t stay put. They moved, they adapted, and ultimately, they rose to the top.
At the Top: Two Years, Four Transfers, Four Top Picks
Last year, Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels went first and second overall, both of whom were transfers. This year? Cam Ward and Travis Hunter followed suit, making it back-to-back drafts where mobility in college led to glory in the pros. Ward’s journey began at Incarnate Word, then Washington State, and finally, Miami. Hunter flipped from Florida State to Jackson State in a historic move, then starred at Colorado en route to a Heisman win and a No. 2 selection.
With the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 @NFLDraft, the @Titans select Cam Ward. @NewEraCap
📺: #NFLDraft on NFLN/ESPN/ABC
📱: Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/oqHvEMOmXi— NFL (@NFL) April 25, 2025
The Quarterback Carousel: Almost Everyone Moved
Out of 13 quarterbacks drafted, 11 had transferred during their college careers. Only Jalen Milroe (Alabama) and Cam Miller (North Dakota State) stayed the course. Milroe, a third-round pick, led Alabama with stability, while Miller, taken in the sixth, set records at the FCS powerhouse. For the rest, change was part of their story, and it didn’t stop them from hearing their names called.
From Tuscaloosa to Seattle @JalenMilroe | @Seahawks | @AlabamaFTBL pic.twitter.com/cb87j6CZp8
— NFL (@NFL) April 26, 2025
Transfer Talent Floods the Early Rounds
Thirty-one players drafted in the first three rounds had transferred at least once. That’s over 30% of top picks reshaping their futures through the portal. From first-rounders like Walter Nolen and Jaxson Dart to third-round sleepers, the transfer portal wasn’t just a side note—it was a headline.
Small Schools, Big Dreams: Non-Power Four Stars Shine
Thirteen early-round selections started at non-Power Four programs. Cam Ward (Incarnate Word), Travis Hunter (Jackson State), and Josh Simmons (San Diego State) were among them. Their rise is proof that the right opportunity, not the biggest program, paves the road to the NFL.
Names like Jayden Higgins (Eastern Kentucky to Iowa State) and Tre Harris (Louisiana Tech to Ole Miss) found second chances, and turned them into draft day success. The third round was filled with similar stories—players who bet on themselves and won.
Josh Simmons made it to KC! 🔥
Met with Coach Reid, the training staff, Brett Veach and others! 😊
Welcome home, @josh5immons !
📸 | IG — Josh Simmons pic.twitter.com/WoxdMRrwaU
— Daily Chiefs (@Daily_Chiefs_) April 27, 2025
Double Transfers, Double Impact
Five players picked in the top three rounds transferred more than once. Dillon Gabriel’s winding path—from UCF to Oklahoma to Oregon—ended in a third-round selection. Cam Ward, Tyler Shough, Demetrius Knight, and Trey Amos all found success after multiple moves, proving that persistence can be just as valuable as talent.
Offensive Line: The Lone Traveler
Among 19 offensive linemen taken early, only one had transferred: Josh Simmons. His move from San Diego State to Ohio State caught the eyes of the Kansas City Chiefs, who took him in the first round. In a position group built on stability, Simmons stood out by navigating change.
The Portal’s Promise: A New Era of Mobility
The transfer portal isn’t just changing college football—it’s reshaping the NFL Draft. For players, it’s a lifeline. For teams, it’s an opportunity. And for fans? It’s a reminder that greatness often lies in the journey, not just the destination.
