Man, the 2025 draft cycle was a absolute fever dream. If you were looking for the next Patrick Mahomes or a "generational" lock like Caleb Williams, you probably walked away from the screen feeling a little bit cheated. Honestly, the 2025 NFL draft quarterback rankings shifted more than a loose Jenga tower. One week, scouts were drooling over Garrett Nussmeier's arm; the next, they were wondering if he'd even make it through a full NFL training camp without getting benched.
The reality? This class wasn't about finding a savior. It was about finding a fit. We saw some guys skyrocket because of the transfer portal, while others, like Quinn Ewers, saw their stock slowly bleed out until draft day. It’s kinda wild how much we overthink these things until the actual cards are turned in.
The Consensus Top 3: High Ceilings and Shaky Floors
When you look back at how the board finally settled, three names dominated every conversation. But "domination" is a strong word for a group that had as many red flags as they did highlight reels.
Cam Ward: The Zero-Star Hero
Cam Ward is basically the poster child for the modern "bet on yourself" era. He went from a zero-star recruit at Incarnate Word to being the Tennessee Titans' choice at No. 1 overall. That's a movie script. Ward separated himself because of his "creation ability"—that's scout-speak for "the guy can make something out of nothing when the play breaks down."
But he’s a rollercoaster. You’ve seen the tape; he’ll make a throw that looks like prime Aaron Rodgers, then immediately follow it up with a turnover that makes you want to put your head through a wall. He cut down on the "insanity" at Miami in 2024, but the Titans are still betting big that they can coach the hero-ball out of him.
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Shedeur Sanders: The Pocket Scientist
Then there’s Shedeur. Probably the most polarizing player to ever enter the draft, mostly because of the "Prime" circus around him. But if you actually shut off the TV and look at the numbers, he was the most disciplined passer in the class. A 74-percent completion rate doesn't happen by accident.
He’s not a blazer. He’s "slow-twitch" as some evaluators put it, and his release is a bit long. But his poise is real. While Ward is scrambling for his life, Sanders is just standing there, taking hits, and delivering strikes. The Cleveland Browns and New York Giants were sniffing around him hard at the top of the draft, though there were always whispers that some teams saw him as more of a "game manager plus" rather than a franchise-changer.
Jalen Milroe: The Ultimate "What If?"
Jalen Milroe is the guy who makes GMs wake up in a cold sweat. He has the highest ceiling in the 2025 NFL draft quarterback rankings, period. We’re talking about a dude who ran a 4.37-second 40-yard dash at 217 pounds. That’s linebacker size with Olympic speed.
- The Good: Best deep ball in the class (95.8 PFF grade on 40+ yard throws).
- The Bad: His "anticipation" was basically non-existent. He’d wait for a receiver to be wide open before pulling the trigger.
- The Reality: He slid to the Seattle Seahawks in the 3rd round (92nd overall). It was a huge fall for a guy some thought could go top ten, but Seattle is the perfect spot for him to sit behind a veteran and actually learn how to read a pro defense.
Why Quinn Ewers and the "Big Names" Tumbled
This is where it gets interesting. Heading into the 2024 season, Quinn Ewers was supposed to be the guy. He’s got the pedigree—a five-star recruit who was once the top player in the nation. But the NFL is a "what have you done for me lately" business.
Ewers is a quick processor, sure. He fits the Steve Sarkisian "RPO" world perfectly. But once he got out of that clean pocket at Texas, things got ugly. His arm talent is just... adequate. He doesn't rip balls to the sideline. He sprays them. By the time the draft rolled around, he had slid all the way to the 7th round to the Miami Dolphins. It was a massive reality check for a player who was once a Heisman favorite.
The Garrett Nussmeier Hype Train Derailment
LSU fans will tell you Nussmeier has a "pro-ready" arm. And he does. He can make throws that leave scouts drooling. But man, the decision-making was a mess. He’s a "gunslinger" in the worst way possible—too much trust in his arm and not enough vision across the middle of the field. An abdominal strain sapped his mobility late in his senior year, and he ended up as a projected late-round "gives you a chance" QB3.
Scouting the Rest: Hidden Value or Career Backups?
Beyond the big names, the 2025 NFL draft quarterback rankings were filled with guys who played six years of college ball. We’re talking about "old" rookies.
- Jaxson Dart (Ole Miss): The youngest of the top group. He’s tough as nails and put up massive stats in the SEC. The New York Giants ultimately took a swing on him in the late first/early second area as a high-floor prospect.
- Tyler Shough (Louisville): At 6'5", he looks like a quarterback from a 1990s central casting agency. He’s 26 years old as a rookie. If he stays healthy—a massive "if"—he could be a solid bridge starter for the New Orleans Saints.
- Kyle McCord (Syracuse): He actually led the FBS in passing yards at Syracuse after leaving Ohio State. He’s a pure pocket guy. If you give him a great O-line, he’ll produce, but he’s a statue if things get messy.
Assessing the 2025 Class Impact
Looking back from 2026, it’s clear we were too hard on these guys early on. No, there wasn't a "sure thing" in the bunch. But the Titans getting Cam Ward at the top changed their entire franchise trajectory. Meanwhile, the teams that waited—like the Seahawks with Milroe—might actually have found the better long-term value.
It's sorta funny; we spend twelve months ranking these guys based on their "traits," and then they go to a team like the Dolphins or Rams and we realize that the coaching system matters more than the 40-yard dash time anyway.
If you're still tracking these guys for your dynasty leagues or just want to see how the picks panned out, here are the moves you should be watching:
- Monitor the Titans' offensive line: Cam Ward only works if he isn't running for his life on every single snap.
- Watch the Seahawks' "Taysom Hill" packages: Seattle is already using Jalen Milroe in creative rushing roles while he develops his passing.
- Keep an eye on the waiver wire for Ewers: If Tua Tagovailoa misses time in Miami, Ewers is in the perfect system to look better than his 7th-round status suggests.
The 2025 class proved that "QB1" is a fluid title. One day you're the king of college football, the next you're fighting for a roster spot in training camp.