Player comps for Shedeur Sanders, Cameron Ward, and the rest of the 2025 NFL Draft quarterback class
There are two people in this world, those who love player comps, and those who pretend that they don't love player comps. With any comparison, this isn't a projection of career success. This is more about a play style comparison, which for quarterbacks, can include physical tools, and how a player wins. In the 2025 […]
There are two people in this world, those who love player comps, and those who pretend that they don't love player comps. With any comparison, this isn't a projection of career success. This is more about a play style comparison, which for quarterbacks, can include physical tools, and how a player wins.
In the 2025 NFL Draft class, the quarterbacks have been talked about a ton. It is not a great class, but there is always value to be found. Here are the top players to know, and current and former NFL signal callers that they resemble to a degree.
Cam Ward (Miami) – Jay Culter
Maybe “Jay Cutler with a little more swag” would have been more suitable for Ward. For better or for worse, there isn’t a throw that Ward doesn’t think that he can’t make. The same was true of Cutler, who would be susceptible to turnovers way too often. The raw tools say superstar but the full package says good quarterback with a fatal flaw.
Shedeur Sanders (Colorado) – Teddy Bridgewater
Some people will read this and automatically think it’s a negative. Before you do, go back and watch Bridgewater at Louisville and appreciate his trajectory before the early career injury. This is more a comparison about skill set. Like Brigewater, Sanders is a thinner-framed signal caller with modest tools but outstanding accuracy and footwork.
Jalen Milroe (Alabama) – Aaron Brooks on 1.75x speed
It’s easy to fall in love with the raw tools of Milroe, but his deficiencies as a passer are very troubling. Milroe is very explosive, fast, and has a big arm. That’s similar to Brooks, who had some success with the New Orleans Saints but was always maddeningly inconsistent. Milroe could have a similar career, but be an even more dangerous athlete to stop.
Jaxson Dart (Ole Miss) – Power Four JP Losman
Losman was selected with the 22nd overall selection in the 2004 NFL Draft due to his athletic skills, arm talent, and production. Unfortunately, it didn’t translate to the next level, where his raw arm strength and upside were just average. Losman should never have been selected in the first round, and we could have a similar conversation about Dart this April.
Tyler Shough (Louisville) – Davis Mills
There was a lot to like about Mills coming out of Stanford, similarly to how we feel about Shough this cycle. Shough does a lot good as a passer, but doesn’t necessarily have an elite trait. He also has a nice frame and solid athleticism. That’s also what has allowed Mills to do some good things when he’s played, but now sticking around as a long-term backup.
Dillon Gabriel (Oregon) – left-handed Seneca Wallace
While Gabriel might not be quite as fast as Wallace, he is a really good mover who can make things happen. His smaller frame will be a turnoff for some, but Gabriel does enough from a processing and accuracy perspective to find a role. A trajectory and profile similar to Wallace could very much be in the cards.
Will Howard (Ohio State) – Mason Rudolph with a National Championship
The hype around Howard is getting a bit out of hand. He has a big frame, and put together a tremendous stretch of the season to capture a National Championship. Howard also throws a good deep ball despite having a very average overall arm. His career could look a lot like Rudolph, who has been a very solid backup when pressed into duty.
Kyle McCord (Syracuse) – draft hype Clayton Tune
A lot of people liked Tune coming out of Houston. All we heard about was his solid tools, feel as a passer, and a solid floor. That draft outlook feels similar to McCord. Let’s just hope he doesn’t turn into the NFL version of Tune, which isn’t ideal.
Riley Leonard (Notre Dame) – tall Taysom Hill
Leonard is an awesome athlete, but his passing skills never quite developed like some had hoped. There is still the potential for Leonard to find a home on the next level due to size, leadership skills, and that running ability. There could also be some creative ways for an offense to get the ball in Leonard’s hands in some creative ways.
Quinn Ewers (Texas) – Gardner Minshew with a good PR team
Forget about the Ewers you remember coming out of high school, or even during his first season with Texas, for a second. He isn’t the same thrower he once was due to injury. That isn’t the end of the world, but unfortunately, Ewers still plays free and like he’s a high-level talent at times. A gunslinger with modest tools you say? Where have I seen that before?
Max Brosmer (Minnesota) – Brian Hoyer
When you look at Brian Hoyer, there is nothing about him physically that is overly impressive. Yet, he continues to be a spot starter and good backup for a long time. I could see a similar trajectory for Brosmer, who is always on time, extremely accurate, and consistent. This feels like a preferred backup on the next level.
Kurtis Rourke (Indiana) – Mike White
White was drafted in the 2018 NFL Draft, and has managed to stick around the league for some time now. From a talent perspective, there is nothing special about him, and there isn’t with Rourke either. They both possess big frames with a good enough arm to stick. It wouldn’t be shocking to see Rourke find a home for several years similarly.
8 tight ends and offensive lineman that will dominate the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine and skyrocket their draft stock
Potential tight end and offensive line risers to know at the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine.
