2025 NFL DRAFT: Position Breakdown: THE SIGNAL CALLERS

 

The 2025 class has solid depth but lack the star power of the 2024 draft. Cam Ward is the top signal caller and will be the first pick in the draft. Other prospects will have the opportunity to be starters in the NFL but will need the right fit in order to have success. Shedeur Sanders, Jaxson Dart and even Jalen Milroe all have a chance to be selected late in the first round but only Sanders may be a lock. 

Cam Ward-QB-Miami
|6’2”/219
NFL Comp: Warren Moon/Geno Smith   
2024 Stats:
4313 passing yards
39 passing touchdowns
5 Interceptions
67.2 completion percentage
172.2 QB Rating
4 Rushing Touchdowns

Ward is the clear-cut best quarterback prospect in the 2025 class. Some (not me) feel he is not at the level of a Jayden Daniels or Caleb Williams last year. He has a very strong arm and is a good athlete. He led the nation in passing touchdowns and had a great QB rating. He had a solid receiving core at Miami but it wasn’t like he was throwing passes to Jeremiah Smith, Ryan Williams or Travis Hunter. Ward put Miami on his back and would have made the College Football Playoff if not for a historically bad defense. He has little bust potential as he should be a very good long term starter as long as he is drafted by a capable organization.

He has taken the Josh Allen path to the NFL from unranked high schooler to stardom. He played for 2 years at FCS Incarnate Word then moved on to Washington State and Miami. He put up solid numbers at WSU the 2 previous seasons, then took his game to another level as a 5^th year senior. The Titans are going to draft him first and he has a chance to be as good as Oiler/Titan legends Warren Moon and Steve McNair. 

Shedeur Sanders-QB-Colorado    
6’2”/212
NFL Comp: Brock Purdy/Derek Carr
2024 Stats:
4134 passing yards
37 passing touchdowns
10 Interceptions
74.0 completion percentage
168.2 QB Rating

Like Ward, Sanders took an unconventional path to the NFL. He played for his father, football legend Deion Sanders at Jackson State then followed him to Colorado. He helped Travis Hunter win the Heisman and led Colorado football back to national relevance. 

His calling card is his accuracy, where he set the NCAA record for career completion percentage. He is tough as nails as he took many sacks and kept getting up to play the next play. He lacks an elite arm but has great intangibles and should be able to be a NFL starter from day one. Sanders is a proven winner and is a great competitor. Like Purdy or Carr he will rely on those traits to have successful NFL career.

Jaxson Dart-QB-Ole Miss 
6’2”/223
NFL Comp: Baker Mayfield/Dak Prescott  
4085 passing yards
29 passing touchdowns
6 Interceptions
69.3 completion percentage
180.7 QB Rating
3 Rushing Touchdowns
495 Rushing Yards

Dart is a stocky strong quarterback that has a good arm. He also provides value as a runner where he can get out of the pocket and make plays with his legs. He really improved his touchdown to interception ratio last year. 

He could become a good starter in the right system like Baker or Dak but he likely needs a year or two before becoming a starter. His value seems to be all over the place as some say he could be drafted in the late first round while others have him barely in the third round. 

Jalen Milroe-QB-Alabama     
6’2”/217
NFL Comp: Tyrod Taylor/Justin Fields
Stats: 2-year Average:
2839 passing yards
19.5 passing touchdowns
58.8 Interceptions
65.1 completion percentage
160.0 QB Rating
20 Rushing Touchdowns
726 Rushing yards

Milroe is a developmental prospect that is a true dual threat. He has elite speed and good size. He recently ran a 4.37 forty at Alabama’s Pro Day. The team that drafts him will need to be patient as he is still has a long ways to go as a passer. 

He regressed from his Junior year numbers and threw 5 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in SEC play last year. It is concerning as he also struggled in the big game in his Junior season. One can tell he just doesn’t trust his arm and would rather run than stay in the pocket. He could become a high end backup like Tyrod or maybe a specialty run package quarterback.

Quinn Ewers-QB-Texas      
6’2”/214
NFL Comp: Jimmy Garoppolo/Drew Lock   
2024 Stats:
3472 passing yards
31 passing touchdowns
12 Interceptions
65.8 completion percentage
149.0 QB Rating

It is easy to forget that Ewers was the number one high school prospect in 2021. He possesses a great arm but has just been too inconsistent in college. The physical tools and abilities are clearly there with Ewers. He handled the Arch Manning situation with class and held him off as the starter in Austin. Like Sanders, he is a gamer that has high intangibles. At the next level he should develop into a high level backup or a mid level starter like Jimmy G.

Tyler Shough-QB-Louisville        
6’5”/219
NFL Comp: Dan Orlovsky/ Sage Rosenfels
2024 Stats:
3195 passing yards
23 passing touchdowns
6 Interceptions
62.7 completion percentage
148.1 QB Rating

In a quarterback class filled with players that have taken long paths to the NFL, Shough takes the cake. He was part of the 2018 high school class, the class led by Trevor Lawrence. Lawrence is entering his 5^th year in the NFL and is on his second contract. Shough will be 26 in September, he is older than about a quarter of the starting quarterbacks from last season. There is a chance he will be the last player ever drafted that was born in the 1990’s.

Enough about his age, his journey has been filled with stops at Oregon, Texas Tech and finally Louisville in 2024. He battled injuries but made it though 2024 healthy. He has a nice combination of size, arm talent and intelligence. He is also very athletic for his size, as he ran a 4.69 forty at the combine. He could turn into a very good backup at the next level.

 

 

 

DAY 3 PROSPECTS	HT	WT
Will Howard-KSU-Ohio St	6'4''	236
Kyle McCord-QB-Syracuse	6'3''	218
Dillon Gabriel-OB-Oregon	5'11''	205
Riley Leonard-QB-Notre Dame	6'4''	216
Kurtis Rourke-QB-Indiana	6'4''	220
Brady Cook-QB-Missouri	6'2"	214
Max Brosmer-QB-Minnesota	6'2"	217
Graham Mertz-QB-Florida	6'3''	212
Seth Henigan-QB-Memphis	6'3''	215
Will Rogers-QB-Washington	6'2"	210
Taylor Elgersma-QB-Canada	6'4''	216
Donovan Smith-QB-Houston	6'5''	235
KJ Jefferson-QB-UCF	6'3''	247
DJ Uiagaelei-QB-FSU	6'5''	243
Mark Gronowski-QB-South Dakota St	6'3''	230