Quarterback Class
Early-round talent: D-Mid-round: B-
Late-round: B-
Overall grade: C-
Merging the 2024 and 2025 prospects
Caleb WilliamsJayden Daniels
Drake Maye
Michael Penix
J.J. McCarthy
Bo Nix
Cam Ward
Shedeur Sanders
Jaxson Dart
Quinn Ewers
Jalen Milroe
Just to be clear, this article and series are all my opinion. I base my evaluation on my own film study and also on information I’ve gotten from general managers, directors of college scouting, national scouts, area scouts, and NFL coaches who know way more than I do.
This is a weak of group of quarterback prospects, and as a result. It does not stack up well versus last year. In my opinion, Ward and Sanders would be rated behind Bo Nix if Nix were in this draft class. As prospects, Ward and Sanders should go late first or early second round in my opinion. Dart, Ewers, and Milroe are backups that should go in the third round or lower. I think this class has the potential to produce some quality mid and late round backups with Tyler Shough, Riley Leonard, Will Howard, and Brady Cook.
Safest Pick: Shedeur Sanders, Colorado 
Previous Picks:2023 C.J. Stroud
2022 Kenny Pickett
2021 Trevor Lawrence
2020 Joe Burrow
2019 Daniel Jones
2018 Sam Darnold
2017 Pat Mahomes
2016 Carson Wentz
2015 Jameis Winston
2014 Derek Carr
2013 Geno Smith
This year, my choice was pretty easy as I believe that Sanders is the safest of the quarterback prospects to turn into a quality starter. He is a very accurate passer that makes good decisions, is tough, a quality arm, and is prepared for being a pro.
Biggest Bust Potential: Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss 
Previous Picks2024 J.J. McCarthy
2023 Anthony Richardson
2022 Desmond Ridder
2021 Mac Jones
2020 Jordan Love
2019 Kyler Murray
2018 Mason Rudolph
2017 Mitch Trubisky
2016 Connor Cook
2015 Brett Hundley
2014 Johnny Manziel
2013 Mike Glennon
There are some media projections of Dart being a possible first-round pick, but at the NFL Scouting Combine, I surveyed 10 teams and nine of them said they had Dart lower. Dart’s size and arm strength are not special, and while he is a decent athlete, he is not a running threat. He also showed a lack of mental toughness. I think Dart has the most bust potential of the quarterback prospects that could go early in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Quarterback Rankings by Attributes
Accuracy:
NFL prototype: Jared Goff, Lions
- Shedeur Sanders
- Cam Ward
- Jaxson Dart
- Quinn Ewers
- Jalen Milroe
Recap: The most important characteristic for any quarterback in the NFL is accuracy. Not only do accurate quarterbacks reduce turnovers and maintain time of possession, they increase the opportunities for skill-position players to make a bigger impact. Thus, accurate signal-callers will give teams more return on their dollars with high-priced wide receivers. It takes an accurate quarterback to be a weapon as a pocket passer, and the elite quarterbacks are able to beat good coverage with precision passes into tight windows.
Sanders being an extremely accurate quarterback, and that is his biggest strength for the NFL. Sanders is pin-point with amazing accuracy and timing to his passes. He has tremendous ball placement to fit passes into tight windows and beat good coverage with the ball’s location. Sanders can fire the ball past defensive backs and consistently makes throws with perfect accuracy. His ability to throw into tight windows is phenomenal and very advanced.
Ward has flashes of good accuracy, but he is inconsistent with his accuracy. He needs to get more consistent with his footwork and ball placement. Dart is a gritty gunslinger who can loft in passes downfield with impressive ball placement. He makes accurate passes with precision strikes to hit receivers in stride and lead them for yards after the catch.
Over the past two seasons, Ewers has been an accuracte passer for Texas. Regularly, Ewers lofts in well placed passes downfield to beat coverage. He has advanced ball placement and can be pinpoint when operating in a clean pocket. Ewers accuracy does slip when he gets rattled by the pass rush.
Milroe struggles with his accuracy throwing in the short to intermediate part of the field. He has too many incompletions and passes off the mark to be ready to start at the pro level. While the short and intermediate part of the field needs work, Milroe does loft in a nice deep ball and he had plenty of beautiful deep balls over the past two seasons at Alabama.
Arm Strength:
NFL prototype: Josh Allen, Bills
- Jalen Milroe
- Cam Ward
- Jaxson Dart
- Quinn Ewers
- Shedeur Sanders
Recap: The quarterback with the strongest arm doesn’t always mean that much, but there are throws that powerful armed quarterbacks can make that average quarterbacks can only dream of making. So a powerful arm is another weapon that can lead to points, wins, and miserable days for defenses.
Milroe has the strongest arm in this draft class and he has a powerful arm. The ball jumps out of his hand and he can really spin it. Going vertically, Milroe has easy strength to push the ball deep downfield. While Ward and Dart do not have power arms by NFL standards, they each have solid arm strength for the NFL. Ewers and Sanders do not have an elite cannons either, but their arms are adequate.
Field Vision:
NFL prototype: Pat Mahomes, Chiefs
- Shedeur Sanders
- Cam Ward
- Quinn Ewers
- Jaxson Dart
- Jalen Milroe
Recap: Field vision is one characteristic that separates the elite quarterbacks of the NFL. Quarterbacks who throw a lot of interceptions are inclined to lock onto their primary reads and stare down receivers. Signal-callers with good field vision can quickly work through their progressions and see more than a receiver on a route. They also can help get wideouts open by looking off safeties and playing games with their eyes. Many college quarterbacks enter the NFL with subpar field vision and have to improve this at the next level.
Sanders reads the field well and is advanced with his ability to work through progressions. Coming into the NFL, Sanders’ field vision is a real strength and his NFL pedigree is clear with him being calm in the pocket to scan the defense and shows no fear with taking a hit from pass rushers.
Ward has plus field vision as well. He will hold onto the ball and let routes develop while showing mobility to dodge tacklers. He keeps his eyes downfield while scrambling and anticipates well how defenders are going to plaster in coverage.
Dart has quality field vision. From within the pocket or on the move, Dart keeps his eyes downfield and does a nice job of moving through progressions.
When he has a clean pocket, Ewers has good field vision. He works through his reads, is not slow to get through progressions, and shows natural feel for when to get the ball out. However, Ewers field vision is susceptible to getting rattled by the pass rush. When teams put steady pressure on him, Ewers eyes start moving to fast and he also will drop them and look at the rush.
Milroe’s field vision and recognition of coverage need a lot of development as he is very raw in these aspects of the position. Milroe needs to get more comfortable throwing check-downs, improve his pocket presence, and work off his primary read. He has to get faster at recognizing coverage and working through his progressions.
Decision-Making:
NFL prototype: Joe Burrow, Bengals
- Cam Ward
- Shedeur Sanders
- Quinn Ewers
- Jaxson Dart
- Jalen Milroe
Recap: All of these quarterbacks have flaws and room for improvement in decision making. Ward was a solid decision-maker over the past few seasons. He does hold the ball too long at times, but Ward is dangerous to ad-lib his team into a big play on any given snap.
Sanders did a good job protecting the ball over the past two seasons. He has to get the ball out faster and not hold the ball so long. He puts a lot of pressure on his line and took some sacks. Using his check down faster and more regularly is a point of improvement he needs to make.
Ewers was a good decision maker when he didn’t see pass pressure, but when faced with a steady rush he had some struggles in this regard. Dart is a gunslinger who got away with being loose in ball security in college football. He had too many fumbles, and intercepion worthy throws. Dart also had an epic meltdown versus Florida late in his final season to knock Ole Miss out of the college football playoff contention. Milroe needs to improve his decision making. He had some interception issues in 2024 and must get more comfortable using the checkdown.
Mobility:
NFL prototype: Lamar Jackson, Ravens
- Jalen Milroe
- Cam Ward
- Jaxson Dart
- Shedeur Sanders
- Quinn Ewers
Recap: Milroe’s biggest strength for the NFL is his running ability. He is extremely fast in a straight line, and when he takes off running, Milroe is a threat to rip off big yardage and score. He has a strong build and is dangerous in the red zone to finish drives with his legs. His 20 rushing touchdowns last season were no accident. Milroe’s running ability is his biggest strength as a quarterback entering the NFL.
Ward is a dangerous scrambler and has good mobility in the pocket. He can dodge pass rushers and make devastating passes downfield after scrambling. Dart is a quality athlete that has some scrambling and running ability, but he won’t be a real running threat at the pro level. Sanders and Ewers are pocket passers that can move around some but are not running threats for the NFL.
