“NFL Draft Week Spotlight: Where the Miami Hurricanes Are Projected to Be Selected in 2025”

As the 2025 NFL Draft descends upon Detroit, college football programs across the country will turn their attention to the league’s annual talent showcase. For the Miami Hurricanes, it’s a moment of both reflection and projection. While the Canes are still clawing toward national prominence under Mario Cristobal, this year’s draft class proves that talent is alive and well in Coral Gables.

Led by All-ACC tight end Elijah Arroyo, the Hurricanes are expected to see multiple players selected — a crucial barometer for both recruiting and program development. Although the 2025 draft class isn’t as top-heavy as Miami fans might hope, it offers a diverse crop of prospects: steady veterans, high-upside underclassmen, and versatile contributors who fit a variety of pro schemes.

Here’s a comprehensive look at Miami’s top NFL hopefuls, their draft projections, and what it all means for the direction of the program.

Elijah Arroyo, TE – Projected: Round 2-3

Arguably Miami’s top draft-eligible player, Elijah Arroyo enters the draft on the heels of a career-best senior season. The 6-foot-4, 245-pound tight end earned First-Team All-ACC honors and was Miami’s most consistent offensive weapon in 2024.

Why scouts like him:
Arroyo is a traditional “Y” tight end with soft hands, fluid route-running, and above-average blocking skills. He isn’t flashy, but he’s polished — the kind of prospect who can step into an NFL offense as a TE2 and eventually become a reliable starter.

Concerns:
His injury history (two shortened seasons due to lower-body injuries) might cause some hesitation. However, his 2024 durability and tape suggest those concerns are largely behind him.

Best Fits:

• Green Bay Packers
• Cincinnati Bengals
• New Orleans Saints

Bottom Line: Arroyo won’t be the first tight end taken, but he could be the most well-rounded of the bunch — a potential Day 2 steal.

Leonard Taylor III, DL – Projected: Round 3-5

Once viewed as a potential first-rounder, Leonard Taylor’s NFL stock has cooled. The former five-star recruit struggled with consistency during his time at Miami, but his ceiling remains tantalizing.

Why scouts like him:
Taylor possesses elite raw tools — explosive get-off, long arms, and a powerful frame. He flashes brilliance as a 3-technique pass rusher and has the tools to disrupt at the next level.

Concerns:
Scouts still question his motor and consistency. While his highs are impressive, he can disappear for stretches. Some evaluators are unsure whether he loves football — fair or not, that narrative has taken hold.

Best Fits:

• Jacksonville Jaguars
• Detroit Lions
• Kansas City Chiefs (who specialize in developing raw talent)

Bottom Line: Taylor is a classic boom-or-bust pick. If he lands with a coaching staff that can unlock his motor, he has Day 1 starter potential.

Kamren Kinchens, S – Projected: Round 4-6

Few players were more beloved by Canes fans in recent memory than Kamren Kinchens. The ball-hawking safety was a turnover machine in 2022, but a quieter 2024 season and average combine testing may push him down draft boards.

Why scouts like him:
Instincts. Kinchens has elite football IQ and always seems to be in the right place at the right time. His tape is filled with timely interceptions, strong support in the run game, and vocal leadership.

Concerns:
Lacks elite size (5’11”, 202 lbs) and tested just average in the 40-yard dash and shuttle drills. Some teams view him as a nickel or box safety rather than a true center fielder.

Best Fits:

• Pittsburgh Steelers
• New England Patriots
• Chicago Bears

Bottom Line: Kinchens may slide due to athletic testing, but he’s a value pick in the middle rounds with special teams upside and eventual starting potential.

Javion Cohen, OG – Projected: Round 5-7

After transferring from Alabama, Cohen brought toughness and SEC pedigree to Miami’s offensive line. He quietly had a solid senior campaign, showing good anchor strength and veteran savvy.

Why scouts like him:
Cohen is strong in pass protection, rarely gets bull-rushed, and has enough lateral agility to pull and climb at the next level. He’s also smart and coachable — a low-maintenance plug-and-play depth piece.

Concerns:
Doesn’t wow in any one area. Scouts worry about his ceiling, and his arm length could limit him in certain schemes.

Best Fits:

• Baltimore Ravens
• Tennessee Titans
• Las Vegas Raiders

Bottom Line: Cohen isn’t flashy, but every NFL team needs interior depth. He’ll get drafted and could stick for a long time.

James Williams, S/LB Hybrid – Projected: Round 5-UDFA

Once considered a future first-rounder, James Williams’ stock has dropped significantly over the past year. The 6-foot-5, 230-pound hybrid safety/linebacker never quite figured out his role at Miami, but his upside remains intriguing.

Why scouts like him:
Size. Williams looks like an edge rusher but moves like a safety. He’s physical, rangy, and could thrive as a hybrid STAR or sub-package linebacker in today’s NFL.

Concerns:
Instincts and coverage technique. He often struggled in space and missed key assignments. Scouts worry he’s a “tweener” without a natural position.

Best Fits:

• Dallas Cowboys
• San Francisco 49ers
• New York Jets

Bottom Line: A project pick with special teams appeal. If someone can simplify his responsibilities, he might become a unique chess piece.

Other Miami Players to Watch

Tyler Van Dyke, QB – UDFA or Rookie Camp Invite

After a promising 2021, Van Dyke’s career spiraled due to injuries, inconsistency, and coaching changes. He entered the portal before ultimately declaring for the draft.

Van Dyke still has a strong arm and prototypical size, but his tape from the last two years is riddled with questionable decisions. He’ll likely go undrafted but could be invited to a rookie camp as a developmental arm.

Don Chaney Jr., RB – UDFA

Injuries derailed what could’ve been a special career for Chaney. When healthy, he showed burst and physicality between the tackles. Unfortunately, his body never quite held up. He’s a long shot but could earn a camp invite if medicals clear.

How This Draft Class Reflects on Miami Football

The 2025 NFL Draft won’t be a historic one for the Hurricanes, but it does offer meaningful context for the program’s development arc under Mario Cristobal.

Positives:

• Multiple Day 2-3 picks show Miami can still produce pros even without elite team success.
• Arroyo’s emergence and Kinchens’ consistency prove development is happening in some areas.
• Transfer portal additions (like Cohen) show Miami can be a bridge to the league for high-level talent.

Concerns:

• No clear first-rounders.
• Former five-stars (Taylor, Williams) underachieved relative to their high school billing.
• QB play has regressed, hurting skill-position draft stock across the board.

Looking Ahead: 2026 and Beyond

While the 2025 draft won’t make headlines nationally, the 2026 class could be a different story. Young talents like:

• Rueben Bain Jr. (EDGE)
• Francis Mauigoa (OT)
• Emory Williams (QB)
• Nathaniel Joseph (WR)

…are poised to shine in 2025 and potentially boost Miami’s future draft profile.

Cristobal’s recruiting classes are among the best in the ACC, and player development will be key. If Miami can finally put it all together on the field, the Canes could soon return to producing first-rounders consistently, just like in the early 2000s glory days.

The 2025 NFL Draft offers a microcosm of where Miami football stands today: not elite, not irrelevant, but somewhere in between. Players like Elijah Arroyo and Kam Kinchens remind fans that Coral Gables can still mold pros. But until the program produces consistent top-tier talent and wins on Saturdays, these moments will feel more like flashes than foundations.

Still, for the players who do hear their names called — and for those who grind their way into camp invites — this week is a celebration of persistence, potential, and promise.

The Miami Hurricanes may not dominate this draft, but their fingerprints will be on it — and the future might just be brighter than the present.