Shedeur Sanders, Cam Ward, Jaxson Dart, and Tyler Shough find their place in final 2025 NFL Draft quarterback rankings

We are just about a month until the 2025 NFL Draft officially kicks off. That means that final grades are going to begin to be finalized. At quarterback, we can finally turn the page on an underwhelming overall class. There is value to be found, but the skill tapers off quickly. In the end, I […]

Ryan Roberts — National College Football Writer
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Miami Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward (1) throws a pass against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the second quarter at Bobby Dodd Stadium at Hyundai Field.
Brett Davis-Imagn Images

We are just about a month until the 2025 NFL Draft officially kicks off. That means that final grades are going to begin to be finalized. At quarterback, we can finally turn the page on an underwhelming overall class. There is value to be found, but the skill tapers off quickly.

In the end, I got a chance to do full evaluations on 15 talented signal callers. Here is how that board ended up finishing, including a ranking and round grades. Let the quarterback debate continue, but hopefully end sometime soon.

1. Cam Ward (Miami) – Early 2nd round

While Ward’s raw grade might be an early second, that isn’t with positional value cooked in. He is, without question, a first round talent at the quarterback position. Ward possesses a tremendous arm, a coolness as a player, unwavering confidence, and can make some magic happen. He will have to eliminate some of the unnecessary risks and settle for the simple play more. If he can, Ward has superstar upside, but there is some risk involved.

2. Shedeur Sanders (Colorado) – Late 2nd / Early 3rd round

The most fascinating part of the comparison between Ward and Sanders is considering just how different they are. While Ward is all tools, Sanders’ tools are very modest. He is, however, the most accurate quarterback in the entire 2025 class. We saw improvements from Sanders in the pocket in 2024, but he needs to take another step forward. His game is very similar to former Minnesota Viking first rounder Teddy Bridgewater before his catastrophic leg injury.

3. Jalen Milroe (Alabama) – Late 3rd round

Early in the 2024 season, it looked like Milroe could have challenged to be the top quarterback off the board in April. His back half of the season ended up being a disaster, and it became unclear if Milroe would opt to return for one more season. A team that drafts Milroe is going to have to be patient with him. He is an outstanding athlete with clear NFL skills. The fit will matter most. There is still a lot of upside on the table, but Milroe’s floor is scary low. 

4. Tyler Shough (Louisville) – Late 3rd / Early 4th round

If Shough wasn’t an older prospect with durability concerns, there is a strong chance he could be in the first round conversation right now. Shough boasts a huge frame, live arm, and is a good athlete as well. Despite his age, Shough still hasn’t played a ton of football. There is still some developmental upside but Shough will have to be fast tracked if he has a starting window.

5. Jaxson Dart (Ole Miss) – Late 3rd / Early 4th round

Some love Dart, while others have major concerns. I am somewhere in between. Dart is a good athlete, fearless in the pocket, and has been very productive. He also has a below average arm, and is consistently late on his reads. A team is going to have to speed up Dart’s process a good bit, which is troubling. Having a late processor with an underwhelming arm sounds like a recipe for disaster.

6. Dillon Gabriel (Oregon) – 5th round

Gabriel’s size will limit his upside, but he brings a nice floor to the table. He is a good athlete, has a solid arm, and has played a ton of football. The latter should give Gabriel a great chance to stick on the next level as a valuable backup.

7. Will Howard (Ohio State) – 6th round

There is nothing about Howard physically that is going to get you excited, but he does a lot of things pretty well. When he’s in rhythm, the former Kansas State transfer is extremely accurate. He made some money throws down the stretch in 2024.

8. Kyle McCord (Syracuse) – 6th round

The Kyle McCord we saw in 2024 was a completely different player than the Ohio State version. Outside of a disastrous game against Pittsburgh, McCord mostly made very good decisions this season. He has some natural zip and arm talent to continue developing.

9. Riley Leonard (Notre Dame) – Late 6th / Early 7th round

Leonard looked like an early round draft selection during his time at Duke, but his passing never took the next step. He is still a tremendous athlete with untapped potential that has a chance to stick in the right situation.

10. Max Brosmer (Minnesota) – Late 6th / Early 7th round

Originally a standout at FCS New Hampshire, Brosmer did a lot of nice things in his lone season with the Golden Gophers. His tools are average at best for the next level, but there isn’t a more anticipatory thrower in this draft class. Brosmer has the floor to become a good backup long term.

11. Quinn Ewers (Texas) – 7th round

There was a time where Ewers was one of the most gifted throwers in college football. Unfortunately it looks like injuries have zapped him of velocity. Add in a slight frame and inconsistent pocket presence, and you have a prospect that continues to fall.

12. Kurtis Rourke (Indiana) – 7th round

Rourke boasts a big frame with pretty good overall arm talent, and is a good enough of a mover to matter. The biggest drawbacks for Rourke are a very long release and an expansive list of past injuries.

13. Cam Miller (NDSU) – PFA

After being a run-first quarterback early in his career, Miller had by far his best season in 2024. His tools are pretty average overall but Miller does enough well to get a long look at least.

14. Brady Cook (Missouri) – PFA

There is some athleticism to like with Cook, and he played a ton of football for Missouri. His toughness will also be something an NFL team will like but it probably won’t be enough to make up for his below average passing skill set.

15. Seth Henigan (Memphis) – UDFA

Henigan was a tremendous quarterback at Memphis, but his game just doesn’t translate. There is a general lack of arm strength, below average athleticism, a wiry frame, and longer delivery. 

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