Our 2025 NFL expansion series comes to an end with the 2025 NFL Draft. To both longtime followers and new fans of the annual series, thank you for your diehard interest in looking at what an NFL expansion team might realistically look like each year—starting with the city and ending with a full roster. The Austin Rogues give an in-depth look at a hypothetical 33rd NFL franchise for 2025.
If you missed the first three parts of the 2025 edition of the expansion series, you can read them here:
And before we get to the 2025 NFL Draft, here’s the Rogues roster after the expansion draft and free agency:
QB: Marcus Mariota
RB: Nick Chubb / Dameon Pierce / Deuce Vaughn
WR: Davante Adams / Javon Baker
WR: Elijah Moore / Bo Melton
WR: Nelson Agholor
TE: Evan Engram / Drew Ogletree / Greg Dulcich
OT: Cam Robinson / Joe Noteboom
OG: Jonah Jackson / Robert Jones
C: Garrett Bradbury
OG: Mekhi Becton
OT: Fred Johnson
EDGE: Leonard Floyd / Bryce Huff
DL: Javon Hargrave / Sheldon Rankins
DL: Poona Ford / Mekhi Wingo
EDGE: Azeez Ojulari / Joshua Uche
LB: Germaine Pratt / Baylon Spector
LB: Devin White / Noah Sewell / Jalen Reeves-Maybin
CB: Jaire Alexander
S: Xavier Woods / Beau Brade
S: Chris Smith II
CB: Rock Ya-Sin
NB: Darnay Holmes
K: Rodrigo Blankenship
P: Pat O’Donnell
LS: Rick Lovato
2025 NFL Draft
Round 1, Pick 1: CB/WR Travis Hunter, Colorado
As was the case last year, I would probably trade the top overall pick for a boatload of picks and take a super-underrated quarterback (in that case, Bo Nix) if it would be seamless to implement. With this draft class, it would allow us to get prospects like Jalon Walker, Malaki Starks, and/or one of those offensive tackles like Josh Simmons. But to keep things from getting too crazy, the Rogues stick at No. 1 and take the ultra-rare two-way player in Travis Hunter, who we’ll play on both sides of the ball. It’s almost a cheat code to add a superb WR2 next to Davante Adams and CB2 opposite Jaire Alexander.
Round 2, Pick 34: QB Jalen Milroe, Alabama
While we didn’t trade out of No. 1 and take Milroe, to not cheat things he’s the selection at the top of Round 2 (despite going late Round 3 in real life). The fit with Gruden might seem questionable on the surface, but I could see him falling for Milroe as a person along with the exceptional dual threat upside he brings at quarterback. Gruden is a massive Lamar Jackson fan, and Jackson is a solid comp for Milroe’s so-called “ceiling.”
Round 2, Pick 52: CB Benjamin Morrison, Notre Dame
Injuries are the reason Benjamin Morrison didn’t go higher in the draft, and the Rogues are thrilled to take him with our second Round 2 selection. It’s not an exaggeration to say that a trio of Alexander, Hunter, and Morrison might immediately be the NFL’s best cornerback trio. Long-term, we have a 22-year-old Hunter and 21-year-old Morrison locked up as our starting corners if they pan out as projected.
Round 3, Pick 88: S Xavier Watts, Notre Dame
I would’ve liked to navigate the board a bit, but another defensive back from Notre Dame in Xavier Watts is a very solid fourth selection for us. Watts is a well-rounded safety who produced with 13 interceptions over his final two years with the Fighting Irish.
Round 4, Pick 107: QB Shedeur Sanders, Colorado
We took a big swing with Milroe, but we’re not going to pass on someone with the clear quarterbacking talent of Shedeur Sanders to kick off our Day 3—especially with the relationship Sanders has with Travis Hunter. This type of situation previously worked out for Washington when they took Kirk Cousins. Under the tutelage of Gruden, it would be shocking if at least one of Milroe or Sanders isn’t a hit.
Round 5, Pick 145: WR Tez Johnson, Oregon
Size and timed speed were two questions about Tez Johnson during the pre-draft process, but at the very least he should be able to make an impact as a returner—and I think there’s upside for him to contribute on offense. Johnson was a legit weapon for Oregon over the past couple of seasons.
Round 5, Pick 165: LB Chris Paul Jr., Ole Miss
Germaine Pratt and Devin White figure to play most of the snaps among our linebackers, but Chris Paul Jr. is a Day 3 value giving us even more depth at the position—with the skillset to work into an immediate role while potentially rotating in with White and others.
Round 6, Pick 190: OT Cameron Williams, Texas
Free agency saw us add size on the offensive line, and Cameron Williams is another big body who can push for the right tackle job in Year 1. Williams could work nicely with Mekhi Becton to pave rushing lanes for Nick Chubb (and potentially Jalen Milroe off the edge).
Round 6, Pick 205: EDGE RJ Oben, Notre Dame
RJ Oben as a fifth edge defender at the back of the roster could be excellent. He’s going to play with fundamentals and effort you want to see, with the upside for more after the flashes he showed earlier in his college career at Duke.
Round 7, Pick 240: CB Zy Alexander, LSU
You can never have enough corners in today’s NFL. A two-year starter at LSU, Zy Alexander is relatively fresh at cornerback, transitioning to the position at the beginning of his college career with Southeastern Louisiana. The size and athletic ability are certainly worth it here.
Round 7, Pick 277: G Javontez Spraggins, Tennessee
The draft stock for Tennessee guard Javontez Spraggins was higher heading into the 2024 season, but he’s another powerful offensive lineman with size. The experience as a four-year starter with 48 career starts at right guard in the SEC stands out.
2025 NFL Draft Recap
1.1: CB/WR Travis Hunter, Colorado
2.34: QB Jalen Milroe, Alabama
2.52: CB Benjamin Morrison, Notre Dame
3.88: S Xavier Watts, Notre Dame
4.107: QB Shedeur Sanders, Colorado
5.145: WR Tez Johnson, Oregon
5.165: LB Chris Paul Jr., Ole Miss
6.190: OT Cameron Williams, Texas
6.205: EDGE RJ Oben, Notre Dame
7.240: CB Zy Alexander, LSU
7.277: G Javontez Spraggins, Tennessee
Final Roster
We coincidentally drafted the two superstars from Colorado and a bunch of players from the biggest college programs—helping our cause as we look to establish a winning NFL culture from the ground up.
Looking back, we’re thankful to have grabbed Cam Robinson to play left tackle for at least this one year after not being able to land someone like Josh Simmons in the draft. Travis Hunter can be an impact guy on both sides of the ball, and the uniqueness of this draft class and grabbing two quarterbacks hopefully means we’ll be set at the position long-term. At some point, it’d probably make sense to part ways with an off-ball linebacker and add another defensive lineman.
We can adjust some contracts to create some cap space if necessary, but we currently fit just under the salary cap after signing the 12-player rookie draft class.
Salary cap: $279,200,000
Total payroll: $279,113,581
Cap space: $86,419
QB: Marcus Mariota / Jalen Milroe / Shedeur Sanders
RB: Nick Chubb / Dameon Pierce / Deuce Vaughn
WR: Davante Adams / Nelson Agholor / Javon Baker
WR: Travis Hunter / Tez Johnson
WR: Elijah Moore / Bo Melton
TE: Evan Engram / Drew Ogletree / Greg Dulcich
OT: Cam Robinson / Joe Noteboom
OG: Jonah Jackson / Robert Jones
C: Garrett Bradbury
OG: Mekhi Becton / Javontez Spraggins
OT: Fred Johnson / Cameron Williams
EDGE: Leonard Floyd / Josh Uche / RJ Oben
DL: Javon Hargrave / Mekhi Wingo
DL: Poona Ford / Sheldon Rankins
EDGE: Azeez Ojulari / Bryce Huff
LB: Germaine Pratt / Baylon Spector / Jalen Reeves-Maybin
LB: Devin White / Chris Paul Jr. / Noah Sewell
CB: Jaire Alexander / Rock Ya-Sin
S: Xavier Watts / Beau Brade
S: Xavier Woods / Chris Smith II
CB: Travis Hunter / Zy Alexander
NB: Bejamin Morris / Darnay Holmes
K: Rodrigo Blankenship
P: Pat O’Donnell
LS: Rick Lovato
Summary/Expectations
The inaugural roster for the Austin Rogues, the NFL’s 2025 expansion team, has a little bit of everything. Davante Adams and Jaire Alexander are headlining stars on each side of the ball. I anticipate we’ll be in tremendous shape up the middle with our interior offensive line and defensive line. We’re relying on our offensive tackles to hold up and on our edge rushers to get home.
My favorite part of the roster is probably the secondary group, particularly our potentially exceptional cornerback trio. Adams and Hunter as a wide receiver duo can be a blast, too. The expansion team worked out to be strong at those two positions—and, again, the nature of Hunter as a two-way player helps a ton.
With Coach Gruden getting the most out of our quarterback room, the Rogues can push for a playoff spot if we get above average play there—which we likely will from an underrated group.