Importance Score: 45 / 100 🔵
2025 NFL Draft: Quarterback Class Under Scrutiny as Teams Assess Options
Following a year where six quarterbacks were selected in the first round of the NFL draft, teams who made those early investments are generally optimistic heading into the 2025 season. However, franchises with pressing quarterback needs as the upcoming draft approaches may face greater challenges, as evaluations suggest this year’s pool of quarterback prospects isn’t as highly regarded as the previous class.
Diminished Hype for 2025 Quarterback Prospects
While Miami’s Cam Ward, a Heisman Trophy finalist, is widely projected to be the top overall pick for the Tennessee Titans, uncertainty clouds the outlook for the remaining quarterback prospects. This diminished enthusiasm stems partly from teams addressing their quarterback positions through free agency, signing experienced veterans instead of focusing solely on drafting a future franchise quarterback.
“For teams needing a quarterback, and if Cam Ward is the highest-rated quarterback on their draft board, they must select him when their pick arrives,” noted Bucky Brooks, a former NFL player and scout, now an analyst for NFL Network, on the “Move the Sticks” podcast. “However, in terms of overall talent and potential impact, I don’t believe any quarterback in this class projects as a truly transformative player.”
Quarterback Need Still Prevalent Across the League
Despite expert evaluations, several NFL teams still harbor significant questions at the quarterback position—arguably the most critical in professional football. This includes multiple teams holding top-10 draft picks, such as the New Orleans Saints, especially given recent concerns about Derek Carr’s shoulder injury affecting his availability for the next season.
The potential of securing a long-term solution at quarterback, particularly with a first-round pick, remains alluring. Even in a year considered less robust for quarterback talent, the inherent pressure to compete will compel several prospects to anxiously await early selections in the draft.
vCard.red is a free platform for creating a mobile-friendly digital business cards. You can easily create a vCard and generate a QR code for it, allowing others to scan and save your contact details instantly.
The platform allows you to display contact information, social media links, services, and products all in one shareable link. Optional features include appointment scheduling, WhatsApp-based storefronts, media galleries, and custom design options.
Draft Analysts Highlight Quarterback “Upside” Factor
Connor Rogers, an NFL draft analyst for NBC Sports and co-host of the “NFL Stock Exchange” podcast, observed that the late-stage buzz surrounding quarterbacks in a comparatively weaker class underscores the “incredible advantage quarterbacks receive” when franchises prioritize potential upside.
“If a player demonstrates raw talent, even with a lower probability of success, it significantly impacts the draft capital required to acquire him,” Rogers explained. He further emphasized that league regulations capping rookie quarterback salaries offer teams a potentially “remarkable strategic advantage.”
Top Quarterback Prospects: Ward, Sanders, Dart, and Milroe
With Cam Ward as the consensus top pick, numerous media figures and draft analysts consistently project Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders as a first-round selection in mock drafts. Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart has also gained momentum recently, while Alabama’s Jalen Milroe is among the select invitees to attend the draft in person, according to the NFL.
Rogers assesses Ward as a “top-15 pick” even in the previous year’s highly touted quarterback draft class, which featured Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels. He views Sanders, however, as a prospect who could be drafted in the latter part of the first round, especially in a “quarterback-needy draft like this one.”
Dart and Milroe possess considerable potential, but Rogers suggests both may require developmental time before starting in the NFL. Dart, in particular, needs to improve his comfort level playing under center, and Milroe must enhance his throwing consistency.
Analyst Comparisons to Previous Draft Classes
NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah echoed a similar perspective on Ward and Sanders in a media call leading up to the NFL scouting combine. He indicated that his evaluation of Ward aligns with his pre-draft assessment of Bo Nix from the previous year, who was eventually selected 12th overall in 2024. Jeremiah’s grade for Sanders is slightly below his grade for Michael Penix Jr., who was his sixth-ranked quarterback in the 2024 draft and surprisingly picked eighth overall by the Atlanta Falcons.
Both Ward and Sanders achieved success across multiple college programs throughout their extensive careers—Ward as a Heisman Trophy finalist and recipient of an award recognizing the nation’s premier quarterback, and Sanders as an award winner for the top senior quarterback. While Ward and Sanders might be comparable to the later picks of the previous year’s class, Nix is coming off a promising rookie season with Denver, and the Falcons are relying on Penix as their starter after he showed flashes of potential last season.
Supply and Demand Dynamics in Quarterback Drafting
Rogers highlighted that comparing the past two draft classes effectively illustrates the principles of supply and demand. Last year, quarterback demand was high, but “the supply was also strong.” This year, the landscape has shifted.
The Tennessee Titans, a team struggling for quarterback stability in recent years and possessing the top overall pick, will set the tone for Thursday’s draft. Will Levis, the Titans’ second-round pick in 2023, started the majority of games last season but experienced an inconsistent and injury-marred year. His long-term viability as the uncontested starter remains uncertain.
Every team confronts this fundamental question: Does the positional value of quarterback justify taking a draft gamble, or is it more prudent to explore solutions already within the roster? The Titans might opt to bypass Ward in favor of standout Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter or Colorado two-way talent Travis Hunter, although current indications suggest this is less likely.
For other teams, the decision will be even more complex.
Teams Explore Veteran Options Amid Draft Uncertainty
The Cleveland Browns, holding the second pick, face a significant void at quarterback due to the unsuccessful acquisition of Deshaun Watson. Following the Browns’ controversial trade for Watson in 2022 and subsequent record-breaking contract despite sexual misconduct allegations, their quarterback situation remains precarious. Watson has struggled, and his future is uncertain due to a torn Achilles tendon suffered last season. The team acquired former first-round pick Kenny Pickett, who served as a backup for the Philadelphia Eagles last season, and re-signed veteran Joe Flacco, who played for the team in 2023.
The New York Giants (pick No. 3), Las Vegas Raiders (No. 6), New York Jets (No. 7), and Seattle Seahawks (No. 18) all signed free-agent quarterbacks during the offseason. The Pittsburgh Steelers (No. 21) have been linked to veteran Aaron Rodgers, although his potential arrival remains unclear.
While drafting quarterbacks remains possible for some of these teams, the inclination to solidify the position through free agency rather than relying solely on the draft sends a clear message about the perception of this year’s quarterback class.
“The preference for veteran options, even in a limited free-agent market, speaks volumes about the perceived depth and quality of this quarterback draft class,” Rogers commented.
Draft Dynamics and Potential Late First-Round Quarterback Picks
Despite concerns about high-end value, these quarterback prospects will find NFL homes. The inherent scarcity of the position and the financial advantage of a cost-controlled rookie contract often motivate teams to take chances on quarterbacks in the draft. A specific rule further incentivizes teams to consider a first-round quarterback selection: while all drafted rookies sign four-year contracts, first-round picks are eligible for a team-optioned fifth year.
This benefit can encourage teams to trade into the latter portion of the first round to secure a quarterback prospect who might be sliding, as exemplified by the Baltimore Ravens’ 2018 move to draft Lamar Jackson, who later became an NFL MVP.
Beyond the First Round: Quarterback Prospects on Day 2 and 3
While many elite quarterbacks were high draft picks, being selected outside the first round is not a career-ending outcome. Hall of Famer Tom Brady famously wasn’t drafted until the sixth round.
Players with high potential for the draft’s second and third days include Texas’ Quinn Ewers, Louisville’s Tyler Shough, Ohio State’s Will Howard, Notre Dame’s Riley Leonard, and Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel. Syracuse’s Kyle McCord and Indiana’s Kurtis Rourke, who excelled after transferring for their final college seasons, may also warrant consideration as later-round selections.
However, none are considered guaranteed successes, and few have significantly improved their draft stock since the end of the college season.
“When you compare this quarterback class to last year’s, the contrast is stark,” Rogers concluded. “You simply can’t artificially create a strong quarterback class.”