Our Top 8 Quarterbacks entering the 2025 NFL Draft
CAM WARD
By John Mesenbrink @JohnMesenbrink
Miami (SR), QB
The consensus №1 QB taken off the board, Cam Ward’s size, arm strength, mobility and ability to read coverages make him the complete package in an otherwise weak QB class in this year’s NFL draft class. A fifth-year senior for the Miami Hurricanes — via the Incarnate Word Cardinals and Washington State Cougars — Ward was First-team AP All-American, winner of the Davey O’Brien Award for best QB in the nation, and finished fourth in the Heisman voting. Starting all 13 games in 2024, Ward led the FBS with a school-record 39 passing TDs and ranked second with 4,313 passing yards with 7 INTs and 4 TDs rushing. Projected as top 5 pick, the Titans take a hard look at №1.
Pluses:
• Arm Strength
• Mobility
• Ball placement, especially in tight windows
• Experience
• Improvisational Skills
Concerns:
• Patience in the Pocket
• Turnovers/Ball Security
• Some question leadership after first half exit from bowl game
• Slower Read Progressions
SHEDEUR SANDERS
By John Mesenbrink @JohnMesenbrink
Colorado (SR), QB
Perhaps the most polarizing player in the 2025 draft — because of his lineage and the fact that he sat out the combine — we could see an Aaron Rodgers-esque draft night where the former Buff could go top five or drop to anywhere from the bottom of the top 10 (Saints at nine) to the middle stages (Steelers trade up) of round one. In any event, Sanders just wins. His confidence, coupled with his accuracy (74% completion rate in 2024), especially the deep ball, makes him an intriguing draft prospect with some prognosticators having him as their №1 QB on the board. Starting all 13 games in 2024, he finished the season with 4,134 yards, 37 pass TDs — vs. 10 INTs–and four rushing TDs. A traditional pocket passer, Sanders possesses good pocket awareness, buying himself time to move and adjust to make plays downfield through the air. We see him as a top 10 draft pick, and if drafted by a team that is QB needy, he could be starting year one.
Pluses:
• Confidence
• Accuracy
• Processing Speed
• Pocket Presence
• Winner Wherever He Goes
Concerns:
• Ability Against Complex Defensive Packages
• Took Too Many Sacks/Negative Plays in College
• Overconfidence?
JAXSON DART
By Brandon Lane
Ole Miss (SR), QB
Dart began his college career at USC before transferring to Ole Miss, which proved to be a beneficial decision. He concluded his collegiate career with a record 10,617 passing yards and a total of 12,115 yards of offense for the Rebels. A capable runner as well, he accumulated nearly 1,500 combined rushing yards and scored 12 touchdowns on the ground. Heading into the Senior Bowl, he was my top-ranked quarterback in attendance, and his solid performance there elevated him to my QB3 on the NFL Draft Board. Expect him to be drafted in the mid-to-late first round.
Pluses:
• NFL Frame/Size
• Throws with accuracy and makes tight window throws
• Quick release
• Intelligence for the game
• Solid footwork
• Escapes pocket pressure
Concerns:
• Questionable Arm Strength
• Collegiate system limited his decision-making
• Needs to work on making progressions, reads well from 1 to 2, but not 3 to 4
TYLER SHOUGH
By Brandon Lane
Louisville (SR), QB
When I attended the Senior Bowl, I didn’t anticipate that a seventh-year college quarterback — who has played for Oregon, Texas Tech, and Louisville, is nearly 26 years old, with an injury history — would be one of my biggest risers in the NFL Draft. However, that’s precisely what happened. He came to the Senior Bowl with something to prove and demonstrated his abilities earning top QB honors. He continued to elevate his status with a strong showing at the NFL Combine.
Shough is a pocket passer known for his solid accuracy and ability to read progressions well. He certainly possesses the size and arm strength expected at the NFL level. However, durability and age will likely raise concerns for teams considering him in the draft. Nonetheless, any team that selects him will gain a quarterback who is experienced and ready to contribute immediately albeit likely in a backup role.
Pluses:
• Size (6’5”) and solid speed (4.63 40-Yard Dash)
• Throws with accuracy and reads through progressions
• Arm strength to make intermediate to deep throws
Concerns:
• Age
• Durability concerns (missed much of 2021, 2022 and 2023 seasons)
• Can be flustered by pressure and throw the ball away too quickly
JALEN MILROE
By Brandon Lane
Alabama (rJR), QB
Since attending the practices for the Senior Bowl, my opinion of Jalen Milroe has steadily declined. While he is exceptionally athletic and possesses a strong arm, I have significant concerns about his accuracy, particularly in the short-to-intermediate areas of the field. Throughout the Senior Bowl, he consistently struggled to connect with open targets, which was concerning. Additionally, it was troubling that he opted out of the NFL Combine, where showcasing his speed and athleticism could have improved his standing on my draft board. Although he demonstrated impressive rushing ability during his collegiate career, accumulating 1,257 yards and scoring 32 touchdowns, I remain uncertain about whether he has the passing skills necessary to succeed in the NFL.
Pluses:
• Speed, agility & evasiveness
• Arm strength
• Elite run threat
Concerns:
• Short-to-intermediate accuracy issues
• Making reads and decision-making
• Lacks soft touch
• Needs to work on hitting receivers in stride
Others of note:
By Brandon Lane
QUINN EWERS, TEXAS (r-JR), 6’2”, 214lbs
The nation’s top-ranked recruit coming out of high school had a brief stint at Ohio State before transferring to Texas, where he played three seasons for the Longhorns. As he entered his final season, many projected him as a first-round pick. However, inconsistent play and questionable decision-making became his downfall. Ewers has good size and solid footwork, but he lacks mobility and struggles to read through his progressions, often locking onto his first read. It’s possible that some of these traits can be improved if he receives time to develop under the guidance of coaching and a seasoned veteran presence.
WILL HOWARD, OHIO STATE (SR), 6’4”, 236 lbs
If you only watched him play in Ohio State’s national championship game, you might wonder why he isn’t more highly regarded. While he performed well in that game, it doesn’t reflect his entire collegiate career. Howard struggled during his first four seasons at Kansas State before transferring to Ohio State. However, things started to click for him with the Buckeyes, where he passed for 4,010 yards and 35 touchdowns. He possesses NFL size and has a solid throwing delivery, but he also has some sloppy lower body mechanics, which often lead to issues with ball placement. In the right system, it’s possible that he will continue to build on this progression.
DILLON GABRIEL, OREGON (SR), 5’11”, 205 lbs
Gabrielle is a seasoned southpaw who started two full seasons at UCF before an injury ended his junior year. This led him to transfer to Oklahoma, where he started for another two seasons. He then completed his college career with a final season at Oregon, where he threw for 3,857 yards and 30 touchdowns. Although undersized for the position, Gabrielle is an efficient passer in the short-to-intermediate areas of the field. His extensive experience makes him a pro-ready prospect, but concerns about his size and arm strength may limit his draft capital entering the NFL Draft.
