The NFL Draft is always one of the biggest stages of the year, and USC football is often at the center. While there was no Caleb Williams-level Trojan prospect this year, three USC players were drafted this year, giving them 533 all-time draftees, just five behind Notre Dame for the most of any college.

It may have been a somewhat quiet year for USC, but there are still several Trojans who will join NFL teams this summer and have a chance to make an immediate impact. Some draftees will need to work hard to make a roster spot, and others may get opportunities to be immediate plug-and-play guys. The Daily Trojan senior sports staff dove into a few of the weekend’s draftees, debating which Trojan is most likely to make a significant impact on Sundays this season.

Deon Botshekan, Associate Managing Editor — Jaylin Smith

It’d be silly to pick anyone other than the highest-rated Trojan prospect to make the biggest impact from the 2025 NFL Draft class.

As expected, cornerback Jaylin Smith was the first Trojan selected when he was taken with the 97th-overall pick and the 33rd pick of the third round Saturday. Coming off an impressive final season in cardinal and gold, Smith is bound to continue his momentum with the Houston Texans.

On the Texans, Smith will reunite with his former running mate in the Trojan secondary: safety Calen Bullock. The duo’s chemistry, proven to be a major asset in collegiate play, is bound to translate to the NFL. Bullock has already proven himself to be a promising member of Houston’s roster, earning a spot on the Professional Football Writers of America’s All-Rookie Team in 2024.

The Texans finished the 2024-25 season with a 10-7 record and the AFC South title before losing in the divisional round of the playoffs. The team was inconsistent and had clear gaps in its roster. Blowout losses like a 34-7 defeat to the Minnesota Vikings and a 31-2 loss to the Baltimore Ravens made something clear: Houston needs dire help in pass coverage, a gap that a player like Smith is bound to fill.

In his 2024 campaign with the Trojans, Smith totaled 59 tackles, two interceptions and two pass breakups. His versatility — playing both corner and safety as needed — along with his proven chemistry with Bullock will translate immediately and is certain to make an immediate impact for Houston.

Sophia Ainsworth, Assistant Sports Editor — Woody Marks

Perhaps the most obvious choice, running back Woody Marks was drafted by the Houston Texans with the 14th pick of the fourth round — 116th overall — and holds immense promise. Marks was a part of a run on backs in the fourth round, when he was one of six to be selected. He began his college career at Mississippi State before transferring to USC for a sole season. In his one year in Los Angeles, Marks rushed for 1,133 yards and nine touchdowns — standing out as one of the bright spots in a disappointing campaign for the Trojans.

The Texans are known for their reliable defense, but needed to add weapons around star quarterback C.J. Stroud, and drafting Marks is a great start. Marks’ matchless agility and ability to hit any hole will be dangerous in Houston. As long as he can see the end zone, Marks is completing the play, most likely accompanied by a celebratory touchdown dance. So many successful Trojan plays were made by simply passing the ball off to Marks and letting him figure it out. His 214 career receptions at Mississippi State are still a school record.

The Texans were a pass-heavy team in 2024, and it will be exciting to see if Marks can help improve their rushing attack. Stroud hasn’t had much support in the backfield, and if the Texans utilize Marks properly, that will change in 2025.

It’s an exciting time to be a Texans fan as Marks makes the move from the Big Ten to the AFC South. He’ll feel right at home alongside fellow Trojans Bullock, Smith and defensive end Solomon Byrd.

Stefano Fendrich, Editor in Chief — Jonah Monheim

While offensive lineman Jonah Monheim was by no means one of the highest-rated USC players in the draft — he was the final Trojan picked in the draft at No. 221 — he is one of the most dynamic. The Jacksonville Jaguars are taking a little bit of a swing on Monheim, but in a weak center class, he’s a good bet. Monheim is a dynamic player with good size, and the Jaguars can plug and play him anywhere on the line.

A captain at USC for the past two years, Monheim started 12 games at center but also started 18 games at right tackle, 12 at left tackle and four at right guard. He was Third Team All-Big Ten this past season, and was named to the All-Pac-12 Second Team the season before. Monheim was the definition of consistency for USC and could fill a very similar role for the Jaguars. The value of versatile depth is enormous on the offensive line in particular, where injuries are frequent in the NFL.

The Jaguars had a decent line last year — they were in the top 10 in terms of sacks allowed and just in the bottom half in terms of yards per rush. They are returning three of their five starters and signed two potential starters in free agency: offensive linemen Robert Hainsey and Patrick Mekari. It will not be easy for Monheim to break into a starting spot in his rookie year — as is the case for any seventh-rounder — but he has the work ethic to get there eventually. It won’t be on day one, but give Monheim some time and he can develop into a reliable starter for the Jaguars or another NFL team.

Henry Mode, Sports Editor — Eddie Czaplicki

While my colleagues have all selected players who had the luxury of hearing their names called in Green Bay, there are also several Trojans who signed contracts as undrafted free agents after the festivities wrapped up. While they may not grab the headlines Monday morning, there are undrafted rookies that fight their way onto rosters and make an impact every NFL season. This year, punter Eddie Czaplicki will be one of them.

Czaplicki was arguably USC’s best player in 2024, averaging 47.8 yards per punt and taking home the Ray Guy Award — given out annually to college football’s best punter. The Charlotte, North Carolina native ended in an ideal spot, quickly signing a contract with the Kansas City Chiefs after the draft concluded.

In Kansas City, Czaplicki will compete for playing time with another former Ray Guy winner — second-year punter Matt Araiza, who was a much-hyped prospect after a record-setting career at San Diego State. After legal issues delayed the start of his career, Araiza had a decent yet uneven rookie campaign with the then two-time defending champions in 2024.

He was middle of the pack in net yardage, with 41.8 per punt, but more worryingly, had nine touchbacks — tied for the most of any punter. This trend continued in the Chiefs’ Super Bowl defeat, when two of Araiza’s six punts went for touchbacks.

After Araiza’s playoff struggles, bringing in competition of Czaplicki’s pedigree indicates that the starting spot in Kansas City is up for grabs. If Czaplicki punts like he did last season, he will win the job and make the most significant impact of any Trojan rookie. Smith, Marks and Monheim are talented, but they won’t even have the opportunity to make an impact on the biggest stage as rookies. When Czaplicki is bombing punts in the playoffs next season and helping Patrick Mahomes win a fourth ring, this won’t even be a discussion.