With the end of the NFL regular season at hand, we’ll start voting on the Best Draft Award next weekend. That means that the next Friday Wrap will list the five finalists. We’ll also send out ballots to NFL scouts so we can begin voting. The problem this year is picking the five finalists.

I’ve read in some places that the 2025 draft class didn’t yield the normal crop of talent, but I disagree sharply. Look at all the teams, listed alphabetically, who got big-time contributions from their rookies.

Bears: If you think a turnaround on the field is the biggest consideration when choosing the best draft class, Chicago — which was 5-12 last year and won the division this year — is probably your choice. Their title probably doesn’t happen without the contributions of first-round TE Colston Loveland, second-round WO Luther Burden and seventh-round OH Kyle Monangai.

Browns: If you believe sheer volume of contributing players defines draft excellence, you gotta go with Cleveland. From first-round DT Mason Graham on down, you could argue that the team got at least some output from seven players: IB Carson Schwesinger, OH Quinshon Judkins, TE Harold Fannin, OH Dylan Sampson and QBs Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. They even got good play from a UDFA, DT Adin Huntington. It wasn’t a great season for the Browns, but they are set up with an excellent foundation for the future.

Bucs: Tampa Bay already won a Best Draft Award for the team’s work in 2020, but maybe they need to clear the trophy case again. In fact, if WO Emeka Egbuka had finished the season the way he started it, they might even be the favorite. Not only did they hit on Egbuka, but they also struck gold on Day 2 with a nickel corner (Jacob Parrish) and on Day 3 with a defensive tackle (Elijah Roberts). There’s a lot to be said for a defending division winner that finds three major contributors in one draft.

Cardinals: Like the Browns, it wasn’t a great season for the Cardinals, but they had a lot of depth in their draft class. Like the Bucs, if first-round DT Walter Nolen was healthy all season, the Cards would have an even stronger case. As it is, the team seems to have reinvigorated itself at cornerback (Will Johnson and Denzel Burke) and defensive end (Jordan Burch).

Chargers: Once again, this is a good team that still got big-time reps from rookies. The record is almost unchanged — last year, the team’s record was 11-6, and they’re 11-5 entering the finale with the Broncos — but you have to like LA’s future after first-round OH Omarion Hampton made an impact along with third-round DT Jamaree Caldwell and two Day3 picks, TE Oronde Gadsden II and FS RJ Mickens.

Falcons: It’s not the depth of the class as much as the value they got at key positions. Nailing the picks on two first-round pass rushers — OB Jalon Walker and DE James Pearce — counts for a lot. Throw in third-round FS Xavier Watts, who has five picks, and you’ve got a really good draft class.

Giants: If the vote were held at midseason — before OH Cam Skattebo (4/105) went down, and while QB Jaxson Dart was making plays with his feet and his arm — the Giants would probably have won. Throw in DE Abdul Carter and the Giants got the most out of their two first-rounders plus a rock-solid running back on Day 3. That’s impressive. People take for granted that Day 1 picks are going to step right in and start, but that’s certainly not the case.

Panthers: Carolina was 5-12 last season, but plays for the division title Sunday. That’s a massive turnaround, and it doesn’t happen without first-round WO Tetairoa McMillan, along with a second round DE (Nic Scourton) and two Day 3 hits (FS Lathan Ransom and TE Mitchell Evans). A month ago, ESPN called the Panthers’ draft class the best.

Saints: New Orleans is also a repeat winner (the Saints won it in 2017 for the Lattimore/Kamara/Hendrickson, etc., class) and might have a shot at being the first ever to repeat. Second-round QB Tyler Shough may win the OROY, and he’s deservedly gotten the headlines, but New Orleans also smashed it with first-round left tackle Kelvin Banks and three Day 3 picks (FS Jonas Sanker, IB Danny Stutsman and DC Quincy Riley). Even sixth-round OH Devin Neal looked good before a season-ending injury.

Titans: Bet you don’t know who holds the NFL rookie record for most all-purpose yards in a single season (2,371 yards). It’s Titans fourth-round WO/KR Chimere Dike, who beat Tim Brown’s 1988 mark. Oh, by the way, the team also took a QB who’s looked better every game over the second half of the season in Cam Ward, and Day 3 DC Marcus Harris has also won praise.

Looking to be an NFL scout? Is this the year you want to make a big splash? Now’s the time to start getting your name out there.

Here are a few teams on which you should focus your efforts (or avoid altogether).

Teams with second-year GMs: Very often, GMs are forced to keep scouts (who are usually on two-year deals) for a year that they would rather replace with scouts who know their respective systems. Among second-year GMs are the Jaguars, Titans, Raiders and Jets.

Teams with shaky GMs: Obviously, teams that might be cleaning slate are likely to have more openings. Here are four possibilities, but there are always surprises, as well. Be ready.

Teams with second-year Scouting Assistants (also called Player Personnel Assistants): Like scouts, most scouting assistants get two years before a team decides to promote or terminate them. Teams that fit this description — there are a lot of them (19) — are the 49ers (2), Bears (3), Browns (4), Cardinals (1), Chiefs (1), Colts (1), Cowboys (1), Jaguars (3), Jets (1), Lions (2), Panthers (3), Patriots (1), Raiders (2), Ravens (1), Commanders (3), Saints (3), Steelers (2), Texans (1) and Vikings (2).

Some teams don’t carry Scouting Assistants at all: No use applying with them. Teams that don’t list scouting assistants or scouting interns are the Bengals, Broncos, Chargers, Dolphins, Eagles and Falcons.

Teams that have had Scouting Assistants in the past, but no longer: The Packers and Eagles don’t currently have any listed on the team website, but last year, they had two each. The Rams had two Scouting Apprentices in 2024 who have each been elevated to full-time positions; they currently have none listed on the team website.

Teams with Area Scouts who’ve been in the league for 10+ years: The simple fact is that modern NFL teams don’t want veteran evaluators running the roads (as counterintuitive as that sounds). They’re too expensive. Instead, they want to be young when it comes to their area/college scouts. The only way to determine which teams have such scouts is by studying all the teams. Start with our Know Your Scouts feature, which breaks down the complete evaluation staff for all 32 teams.

Really want to be aggressive? Visit the more established all-star games. You’ll see scouts at a lot of all-star games, but the only place you’re consistently going to see director-level scouts (i.e., decision-makers) is at the top two games, the East-West Shrine Bowl and Senior Bowl. You might get lucky at the other games, but the Big Two are really where you could meet someone who might be in a position to help you.

Best of luck. See you out on the trail.

This time of year, with the off-season at hand and the draft getting closer by the day, I hear from a lot of people who aspire to work in scouting. Here are a few observations for those people (some of this is review).

Is scouting a relationship business? Sure, but there’s a caveat. On the college side, for example, there are a lot of technological force multipliers, software that makes the job manageable. So you’d better be comfortable with technology. On the NFL side, new-guard owners are literally every day trying to come up with new ways to evaluate players (using analytics and AI) without having to employ scouts. So yes, of course, cultivate relationships, but realize that there’s more to it than just that.

College or pro?: If this week has shown anything, it’s how valuable college personnel staffers have become to winning on Saturday. As coaches have crisscrossed the nation taking new posts, we’re seeing DPPs, Directors of Scouting and GMs being towed right behind them (we’ve even begun tracking all the moves on our site). That was almost unheard of 10 years ago, but these are new days. For this reason, it’s much more attractive (and even profitable) to work on the college side. That’s especially true when you compare it to the vagabond lifestyle and relatively low pay of an NFL area scout.

Reversing course: For people going to Mobile to meet scouts and maybe do some networking, the “book” was to stay near the team hotel and stake out the downtown bars for an opportunity to mingle with NFL evaluators. However, now that practices are held at Hancock Whitney Stadium, more and more scouts are staying closer to the airport, making Mobile a ghost town. That’s especially true now that the official hotel is mostly off-limits unless you work for an NFL team. If you’re looking to make contacts, consider booking something closer to the South Alabama campus.

Making way with no pay: If you’re truly serious about clawing your way to the top of the college personnel world, you might have to find a school where you can volunteer while finding work elsewhere. This might sound a little unorthodox, but schools are actively seeking people willing to do just this. There are success stories, too. I know a lot of people might never consider this, but this is exactly why, maybe, you should.

Get in early: I always get asked, when should I send out my resume to NFL teams? I recommend doing it now. It may be a little on the early side, but especially if you’re going to be on the all-star circuit or at the Combine, you might be able to make your case with scouts you meet along the way. A lot of people send them out in March. That’s way too late. Don’t make that mistake.

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This week, I joined my podcast partner, Rodrik David, to discuss what’s ahead this offseason on the NFL side. Rodrik’s assignment for me was to give him at least one person who’s a legitimate GM candidate from each of the Best Draft Award winners, going back to our first one for the 2017 draft.

The complete recording is here, but in case you’re in a bit of a hurry, here’s a recap of the Best Draft Award winners, the names I came up with, and why.

Jeff Ireland, Assistant GM, Saints (2017) — The results don’t show it lately, but Jeff is still respected. Architect of one of the best drafts in the last decade, he’s slowly restocking the Saints. The 2025 draft class is a step in the right direction.

Ed Dodds, Assistant GM, Colts (2018) — Has been a member of the BART List every year since we started polling in 2022. With the Colts surprising this season, he could have the momentum to land a GM position this offseason. Director of College Scouting Matt Terpening has also been honored four times on the BART List, and there are a number of other Colts staffers who’ve been recognized. Talented staff.

Tariq Ahmad, VP of Player Personnel, 49ers (2019) — A three-time BART List Award winner, Ahmad is universally admired. I get unsolicited praise of Tariq from rival executives all the time. But the 49ers are another team with a front office full of talented people. Assistant GM R.J. Gillen and Director of College Scouting Dom DeCicco are others at the director level in San Francisco who are on the rise. Both have gotten previous BART List recognition.

Mike Biehl, VP of Player Personnel, Buccaneers (2020) — When the Bucs won the Best Draft Award, GM Jason Licht chose John Spytek and Biehl to join him on the “virtual dais” in accepting the trophy. Spytek got his GM title last offseason. It’s Biehl’s turn. The Bucs are quietly one of the best-drafting teams in the league.

Cody Rager, VP of Player Personnel, Broncos (2021) — When Broncos head coach Sean Payton couldn’t lure Ireland to Denver, he settled for Rager, who has quickly climbed the ladder for the Broncos. No BART List Awards yet, but he’s a consistent vote-getter.

Matt Berry, VP of Player Acquisition, Seahawks (2022) — Berry won his first BART List Award last offseason, but he may be starting a string. He’s a lot like Ahmad in that other teams recognize his talent. Also, don’t forget about VP of Player Personnel Trent Kirchner and Director of College Scouting Aaron Hineline, who have also been honored in the past.

Ray Agnew, Assistant GM, Lions (2023) — Why doesn’t he get more consideration, given the job the Lions have done in the draft and on the field? I don’t get it. The Lions impress me because they are one of the few teams consistently drafting for production and not promise, and the results have been there.

John McKay, Assistant GM, Rams (2024) — The Rams have won plaudits for their drafting, but McKay’s roots are on the pro side. That’s OK, however, because more and more teams are seeking pro experience in their GM candidates. The Jaguars stole much of Los Angeles’ front office talent last offseason, but McKay is still around for anyone seeking to steal some of the Rams’ thunder. Also worthy of consideration: Senior Personnel Executive Taylor Morton, who has no ego, and Senior Advisor to the GM Ray Farmer, who deserves another shot.

As always, we’ll discuss these topics and plenty more in today’s Friday Wrap, which is free. Register for it here.