NFL scouts aren’t ignoring Florida despite 4-8 meltdown

Typically speaking, a team that goes 4-8 isn’t going to have a ton of NFL talent emerge from it. There is a reason, after all, that the team went 4-8. But among the many frustrations for the 2025 edition of the Florida Gators was the feeling that the team did have talent, but had a coaching staff purchased off TEMU.

The good news for the players is that NFL scouts aren’t ignoring Florida ahead of the NFL Draft and a new Big Board from CBS Sports has a somewhat surprising number of Gators on it relative to the rest of the country.

Florida with plenty of NFL talent ahead of the draft

CBS Sports dropped a list of its top 100 NFL prospects, and Florida had four on the list. Caleb Banks led the way as the 15th-ranked prospect and seemingly should be a lock for the first round, injury concerns notwithstanding. Devin Moore was ranked 44th, which would have him squarely in the 2nd round, while Jake Slaughter was 78th and Austin Barber was 85th.

The most surprising one on the list is Moore, who had a very poor showing at the NFL Combine and at Florida’s Pro Day. But CBS doesn’t seem too concerned about those outings:

“I don't care that Florida CB Devin Moore (No. 44) ran a 4.62 in the 40 at his pro day because he plays much faster than that. In fact, he plays faster than the 4.50 he ran at the combine.

First, at 6-foot-3 and 193 pounds, he has length. He's also scheme-diverse, comfortable in both man and zone looks, and has some of the best instincts in the class, consistently reading the QB and driving on throws. Because of his frame, Moore can match up with bigger NFL receivers while also offering real value as a tackler and force defender against the run. 

There's also his position flexibility; he can play outside, in the box and even some safety. And though the production doesn't jump off the stat sheet, the combination of size, physicality and football IQ makes him a high-floor player for me, and it's why I have him ranked so high.”

Perhaps more significant is that Florida had four players ranked in the top 100. That is tied for the third most in the country, only behind Miami and Ohio State. It’s more than schools like Georgia, Indiana, Texas Tech, Alabama, and Oklahoma, all of which made the playoffs in 2025.

Banks was hurt for the bulk of 2025, so that somewhat skewed Florida’s results, but 2025 wasn’t in a vacuum for the Billy Napier Era in terms of having players ranked high ahead of the NFL Draft despite Florida as a whole being poor on the field.

The NFL Draft is slated to get underway on April 23 in Pittsburgh.

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