NFL Draft comparisons that have nothing to do with football for Ashton Jeanty, Travis Hunter, and more

Every year when it comes to the NFL Draft, prospects get a lot of NFL comparisons that either don’t make any sense at all or set nonsensical expectations for said player. When doing a comparison, it should take into account the body type and playing style of the player you’re comparing the prospect to. Arizona WR Tetairoa McMillan is not a mix of Mike Evans and Randy Moss, because if he was he would be the first pick in the NFL Draft regardless of year or situation. Both of those guys are Hall of Famers, and comparing McMillan to those guys sets up unfair expectations on a player before he even steps onto an NFL field.

So, let’s have some fun, shall we? Every year I do NFL Draft comparisons that have nothing to do with football, drawing from other sports, animes and cartoons that I love to make comparisons that you think make no sense, but then you think about it and it begins to click. So let’s do it for the 2025 Draft class, shall we?

Alabama OG Tyler Booker: Mark Henry

Booker and Henry are both massive people, and there’s an argument to be made that Booker is the strongest player in the 2025 NFL Draft class. That’s perfectly fitting for the Strongest Man Alive, who packs a powerful punch just like Booker. I love how tight Booker keeps his hands when he plays, shooting them out compactly like pistons and getting plenty of pancakes. Knockdowns and knockouts are the name of Booker and Henry’s game, and I think Three 6 Mafia would make a kickass theme song for Booker too.

Also he said this:

That’s a Mark Henry ass answer right there.

Colorado CB/WR Travis Hunter: Ben Tennyson, Ben 10

Two guys who can do and be anything, Travis Hunter is Ben Tennyson, the main character from Ben 10. With Ben’s Omnitrix, he can turn into various aliens that serve different roles. Hunter doesn’t have an omnitrix, but what makes him so special is that he can be great in various roles. If you need him to be a shutdown corner, he can absolutely do that. If you need him to fly through the air and make crazy catches as a wide receiver, he can also do that. He might even be able to throw the ball if you ask him to. In fact, the NFL is split on having him play receiver or corner. Wherever he decides to play, there’s endless possibilities with Hunter on your team, just like Ben 10.

Shedeur Sanders: Isagi Yoichi, Blue Lock

Walk with me on this one.

Both Sanders and Isagi are athletically limited players, but if you ask me both can still be very good in their respective sports, just based on how much ball they know. Sanders is an efficient point guard of an offense, firing digs and in breakers over the middle of the field and threading passes to his skill position players. While Isagi is a striker in Blue Lock, he plays more like a midfielder, with his special talent being the ability to see the game as a puzzle piece and fitting in exactly where he needs to be. Sanders might not be as explosive of a QB as previous guys in other classes, but there’s a path to him becoming a very good QB, just like the path for Isagi as a striker.

Michigan DT Mason Graham: Blastoise, Pokemon

This one was fairly easy to point out in the draft cycle, Michigan’s fearsome DT Mason Graham is Blastoise through and through. Both squatty and stout rather than these massive and long players, the motor and lateral quickness really stand out for Graham. Blastoise has underrated quickness to his game, with the ability to learn Rapid Spin in Pokemon Scarlet and Violet. In addition, the hard shell and guns on Blastoise’s back make him incredible on defense, where Mason Graham resides in the middle, shooting gaps in the run game and being an impactful pass rusher.

Texas A&M EDGE Shemar Stewart: Garchomp, Pokemon

Massive, imposing, physical freaks of nature, Stewart and Garchomp are both near the top of the list of things I would use to intimidate my opponent. While I think Stewart and Garchomp might have the same wingspan, Stewart possibly has a bit more explosion in his step. However, both are capable of wreaking havoc on their opponents with power and length and a motor that’s always running hot. I’m a big fan of Stewart’s game, and I think he and Garchomp mesh really well.

Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty: Pikachu, Pokemon

THE character from Pokemon, Pikachu and Boise State RB Ashton Jeanty share many similarities. The first of them is how they run low to the ground, making them impossible to take down in a 1v1 situation. In his final season with the Broncos, Jeanty had more yards after contact than the second leading rusher in the nation had total. Jeanty is also versatile, being a very good receiver out the backfield. What stands out the most about this comparison is the ability to hit the lightning bolt. Pikachu’s Thunderbolt is capable of stopping a fight immediately, and Jeanty has the home run ability like a lightning strike.

Georgia EDGE/LB Jalon Walker: Ippo Makunouchi, Hajime no Ippo

Both seen as small for their positions/weight classes, I see a lot of similarities between Georgia EDGE Jalon Walker and the main character of Hajime no Ippo, Ippo Makunouchi. The first one comes from their relentless nature. Ippo is always going forward in fights, and although it might get him rocked, he still keeps getting up and swinging with power. Walker has the motor to be a force on the edge, but it’s his surprising power in his frame that really catches my eye. His arms are a little short on the edge, but he can convert speed to power really well despite that. Above anything else, I’m not going to be the one to doubt Walker or Ippo, because the minute you do you’ll end up staring at the lights.

Iowa RB Kaleb Johnson: That Paul George/Erykah Badu TikTok edit

If you’re like me (chronically online), you know exactly what edit I’m talking about. If you’re a normal person, here it is:

Johnson is the best zone runner in this draft class, combining stellar contact balance and a strong 224-pound frame with exceptional vision to find alleys on any type of zone run. He doesn’t need to be the fastest, but with his burst and acceleration through gaps he makes zone running look easy.

Watch some Kaleb Johnson tape and you can just hear this song playing as he’s gliding around the field, smooth as the intro on the song. Unfortunately for Paul George, he has a new song trending with his name on TikTok, but it’s perfect timing for Johnson to adopt this one.