Three 2025 NFL Draft prospects to watch from Florida

No college football team has a tougher schedule in 2024 than the Florida Gators, who will play virtually all the top contenders in the new-look SEC (Georgia, Texas, Ole Miss and LSU). They'll also play ACC favorite Florida State and a solid Miami team.

The Gators are not the juggernaut they were in the late 2000s, but as the saying goes, iron sharpens iron.

Playing the nation's best will be a great test and learning experience for Florida's best players, and given the Gators' competition, NFL talent evaluators should have their eyes on them.

Here are the three best Florida prospects to watch ahead of the NFL Draft, which begins April 24, 2025.

Graham Mertz | Quarterback

Pro Football Network's Ian Cummings on Mertz : "High-end arm elasticity."

Prospect ranking: Pro Football Focus (No. 40), Tankathon (unranked), Pro Football Network (unranked)

After two seasons as the starter at Wisconsin, Mertz did not fit into new head coach Luke Fickell's plans and sought a move south. It seems to have paid off, as he boosted his numbers in a big way — his touchdown to interception ratio jumped from 29-21 over his last two years at Wisconsin to 20-3 in year one as a Gator.

So what will this season and beyond hold for Mertz? Florida's brutal schedule will provide challenges, giving Mertz a chance to show some development in terms of field vision.

Mertz appears to have NFL arm talent and a frame (6-foot-3 and 213 pounds) the pros like. He'll be selected in the draft, perhaps on Day 2.

Jason Marshall Jr. | Cornerback

On3's Andrew Graham on Marshall : "Tons of college experience and production."

Prospect ranking: Pro Football Focus (unranked), Tankathon (No. 88), Pro Football Network (honorable mention)

Marshall has had a significant role with the Gators in each of the past three seasons, playing nearly 2,000 snaps on defense. At 6-foot-1 and 205 pounds, he has impressive size for the position and good athleticism, allowing him to play all across the field on various types of receivers.

He displays the man coverage ability NFL teams love to see, although it's a bit of a two-edged sword as he appears deficient in his zone assignments at times. If he can shore up the weak points of his game against top competition, Marshall should hear his name called at the NFL Draft in Green Bay, possibly as early as Day 2.

Brandon Crenshaw-Dickson | Offensive tackle

Sports Illustrated's Brandon Carroll on Crenshaw-Dickson : "Notable power and consistency."

Prospect ranking: Pro Football Focus (No. 51), Tankathon (unranked), Pro Football Network (unranked)

After three seasons with a significant role at San Diego State, Crenshaw-Dickson secured a huge transfer to the SEC with an eye on setting up his career as a pro. With this Florida team, he'll have a chance to do just that on a talented offensive line that will face some of the country's best-edge rushers.

At 6-foot-7 and 315 pounds, Crenshaw-Dickson moves well for his size and has shown an ability to flip sides of the line, impressing in pass protection at both tackle positions. A big season could see him fly as high as the second round, but a selection anytime during Day 2 would be a solid outcome for this fascinating prospect.