The highly anticipated 2025 draft class is almost upon us, bringing with it an deep lineup of quarterbacks who hold the potential to become franchise players in the near future. Once again, I’ve conducted a thorough analysis into the top prospects, presenting my rankings of the top 15 quarterbacks and determining which ones I believe are draft-worthy. Unlike last year, there is not as much of a gap between the top to the bottom prospects.
Last year, I was more with the consensus in ranking Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels first and second. I disagreed with those who thought that Bo Nix was a bust candidate as I had him ranked 4th behind Michael Penix. That worked out well. Were I was wrong was putting Sam Hartman ahead of Drake Maye, but the jury is still out on JJ McCarthy who I ranked 7th. This year, I find myself disagreeing with the consensus at the top of the rankings. This quarterback class is deep and value can be found from waiting. Let’s explore my insights, best bets, and how everything stacks up for this year’s class.
- Shedeur Sanders, Colorado: HT: 6-foot-2 | WT: 212 pounds | 40YD: 4.68
I honestly do not understand how Shedeur fell below Cam Ward in the QB rankings. Last year, Shedeur had the 2nd-best pass EPA in college football, with low-leverage plays downweighed. He was 4th in total passing yards and had an impressive 37/10 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Sanders led the nation in completion percentage at 74%, which is astonishing considering his average of 8.7 yards per attempt.
Was there talent on Colorado’s team? Yes, absolutely, but the talent didn’t compare to what some SEC and BIG 10 teams provided for their quarterbacks. Colorado had a brand-new offensive line for the 2024 season, creating a lot of chaos—yet Sanders still pulled through.
Don’t get me wrong; Shedeur had his faults, such as holding onto the ball far too long, a habit he must change for the NFL. However, he’s not alone in this category, as plenty of college quarterbacks struggle to make this adjustment. Sanders ranked 2nd in adjusted completion percentage, a PFF stat showing his accuracy on all throws. Another valuable PFF stat, turnover-worthy plays, placed him 4th lowest.
The most compelling reason Sanders should be the top QB prospect is his consistency. In a class with no clear standouts, he has the highest floor out of all his competition. Being the son of a superstar like Deion Sanders has also meant operating under immense pressure, which he’s handled exceptionally well. Additionally, I don’t think Deion will allow him to fail in the NFL, making him a safer choice over other quarterbacks in this class.
2. Will Howard, Ohio State: HT: 6-foot-4 | WT: 235 pounds | 40YD: 4.85
Sleeper Alert
I normally don’t love putting a player this high who has worked with the best talent in college football, but this kid shone even during his time at Kansas State. Will has the quick thinking and advanced understanding of the game necessary for the NFL. His performances during the four college football playoff games he played were flawless.
Howard possesses the size to see clearly over the offensive line and knows when to take off running with the football. He ranked 2nd in completion percentage at 73%, with an impressive 9.5 yards per attempt. His clutch performances in crucial moments were pivotal for his team. The biggest knock on him remains some mechanical flaws and timing issues.
3. Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss: HT: 6-foot-2 | WT: 225 pounds | 40YD: 4.85
Jaxson Dart is a solid prospect who thrived in a quarterback-friendly system under Lane Kiffen. One thing that can’t be said about Dart is that he didn’t put up elite numbers—he ranked 4th in QBR, 5th in pass EPA, 3rd in passing yards, and threw only six interceptions last season.
His main issues include arm strength and lack of mobility. Dart has a quick release and throws with anticipation, which are crucial skills for the NFL. He can also take a hit. However, he needs to improve his footwork and progressions through reads. There are concerns about his ability to perform in end-of-game situations, where he needed to be more clutch.
Overall, Dart is a solid quarterback prospect, but teams may struggle to distinguish him from others in this draft.
Best Bet: Jackson Dart draft position over 24.5 +150 – .5 stars
4. Cam Ward, Miami: HT: 6-foot-2 | WT: 223 pounds | 40YD: 4.87
Bust Alert
Cam Ward is the consensus number one overall pick in this year’s draft, but I have significant reservations.
First, the positives: Cam’s numbers were undeniably elite—1st in QBR, 1st in pass EPA, 1st in touchdowns, and 2nd in total pass yards. He has excellent pocket presence and has shown up clutch in high-pressure games throughout the 2024 season.
Now the concerns: Cam Ward had one of the easiest schedules in Power Four college football, and his team had the best talent money could buy. His 40YD time of 4.87 seconds at 6-foot-2 isn’t impressive, and he benefitted greatly from the ACC’s best offensive line, avoiding much of the trouble lesser quarterbacks face.
Cam ranks 20th in adjusted completion percentage—not bad, but not elite. Ball security is also a concern, with eight fumbles in 2024 despite improved pocket awareness. Sometimes, Cam relies too heavily on arm talent, throwing off his back foot rather than resetting when the pocket gets muddy, which could lead to more interceptions at the next level.
While Ward has good potential, I don’t see him as a top-three quarterback in this year’s draft class. Based on his draft position, he has the biggest bust potential among this year’s quarterbacks.
5. Kyle McCord, Syracuse: HT: 6-foot-3 | WT: 220 pounds | 40YD: 4.95
Sleeper Alert
Kyle McCord had plenty of motivation after the Buckeyes replaced him with Will Howard, who led them to a national championship. Despite this, Kyle’s numbers were extraordinary. He ranked 1st in passing yards and 2nd in pass EPA, though Syracuse had the most pass attempts as a team last season.
McCord is a risk-taking pocket passer who was clutch in many of his games, helping the Orange achieve 10 wins last season. While the ACC competition wasn’t exceptional, Syracuse had notable wins over Miami, Georgia Tech, and UNLV. McCord’s potential makes him a candidate to develop into a special player.
6. Riley Leonard, Notre Dame: HT: 6-foot-4 | WT: 216 pounds | 40YD: 4.52
Sleeper Alert
Notre Dame leaned heavily on the run game, but that doesn’t mean Riley Leonard can’t succeed as an NFL quarterback. After making Duke football relevant, he transferred to Notre Dame and led them to the title game.
Leonard ranked 14th in QBR with a solid 66.7% completion percentage. While he gained 906 rushing yards, his ability to win games with his legs aligns with today’s NFL trend of effective running quarterbacks. Leonard’s clutch performances might be the key to winning NFL games.
7. Quinn Ewers, Texas: HT: 6-foot-2 | WT: 210 pounds | 40YD: 4.74
Bust Alert
Few have hurt their draft stock as much as Quinn Ewers did in the playoffs. Despite the abundance of talent at Texas, Ewers only ranked 69th in pass EPA and 109th in passer rating on PFF.
Ewers has won games but is plagued by inconsistency. Fumbles and poor clutch performances highlight his weaknesses. Unfortunately, there’s nothing standout about Ewers as a prospect, making him average in this draft class.
8. Tyler Shough, Louisville: HT: 6-foot-5 | WT: 225 pounds | 40YD: 4.63
Sleeper Alert
Tyler Shough moved frequently during his college career but displayed impressive throws along the way. He achieved the 5th-ranked passer rating on PFF, won big games for Louisville, and had potential to contend for the ACC championship.
Shough possesses the size, speed, and arm strength that could translate well to the NFL. At 25 years old, his maturity could work in his favor. He represents a value pick in later rounds.
9. Dillon Gabriel, Oregon: HT: 6-foot-0 | WT: 200 pounds | 40YD: 4.83
If size doesn’t matter, speed becomes crucial—unfortunately for Gabriel, he lacks both. While he posted excellent numbers for Oregon, ranking 2nd in QBR and 3rd in pass EPA, he benefitted from great coaching and a relatively easy schedule.
Though Gabriel could find some success, his chances of thriving in the NFL are slim.
10. Kurtis Rourke, Indiana: HT: 6-foot-5 | WT: 223 pounds | 40YD: 4.74
Indiana’s success was more a testament to Coach Curt Cignetti than to Kurtis Rourke. The Hoosiers had the easiest schedule of the twelve playoff teams.
On the plus side, Rourke is big, strong, and adept at finding open receivers. He achieved a 69.5% completion percentage at 9.5 yards per attempt. NFL teams may take a late-round chance on him or consider him as a potential walk-on. Could he develop into a Ben Roethlisberger-type player? It’s hard to say if his skillset will translate to the NFL.
11. Jalen Milroe, Alabama: HT: 6-foot-2 | WT: 225 pounds | 40YD: 4.40
Remember when I said that Anthony Richardson is a poor man’s Cam Newton? Well, Jalen Milroe might just be a poor man’s Anthony Richardson.
12. Brady Cook, Missouri: HT: 6-foot-2 | WT: 215 pounds | 40YD: 4.59
Brady measures 6-foot-2 wearing Robert De Niro shoes. Though his 2023 season was better, the kid has heart—it’s just not NFL-sized.
13. Graham Mertz, Florida: HT: 6-foot-3 | WT: 216 pounds | 40YD: 4.95
Remember when Pat Mahomes tweeted about Graham after he beat Illinois? Ever since, things have gone downhill for Mertz.
14. Garrett Green, West Virginia: HT: 5-foot-11 | WT: 201 pounds | 40YD: 4.50
Garrett Green is the best quarterback in the draft that you’ve never heard of. Unfortunately, after the draft, you still won’t have heard of him.
15. DJ Uiagalelei, Florida State: HT: 6-foot-4 | WT: 252 pounds | 40YD: 4.87
The best part of DJ Uiagalelei’s draft profile is knowing this might be the last time I have to say his name.
