NFL Draft Scouting Report - The Top 5 Quarterbacks

With the 2025 NFL draft just under two months away and the scouting combine this week, we will be getting our last big look at prospects before pro days begin next month.

The talk of the draft each year revolves around the most important position in football, quarterbacks. With that in mind, I am going to be ranking my top 5 QB prospects in the draft, giving a scouting report and then a grade based on where I think they should be selected.

1. Cam Ward, Miami

Cam Ward is currently projected to go number 2 overall to the Cleveland Browns in ESPN’s Mel Kiper’s latest pre-combine mock draft.

Some draft experts were projecting Ward to go 1st overall, but the Tennessee Titans are not sold on any QBs in this draft and are likely to land Penn State’s Abdul Carter.

Ward transferred from Washington State to Miami for his final season of college ball, where he posted a 67.2% completion rate, 4,313 passing yards, 39 touchdowns and 7 interceptions.

Standing at 6’2’’, Ward has ideal NFL size. He has great arm strength and great athleticism. Ward often looks for the home run ball which works in college but not the NFL.

Ward’s accuracy looks good on paper, but he sometimes misses easy throws and his footwork needs fixing. His decision making is also questionable at times.

Grade: Top 3 pick in the draft.

2. Shedeur Sanders, Colorado

As the son of Deion Sanders, Shedeur Sanders has gotten a ton of attention from the media and the family name definitely boosts Shedeur’s draft stock.

In his final collegiate season, Sanders had a 74% completion rate, 4,134 passing yards, 37 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.

Sanders possesses good NFL size, plus accuracy and can extend plays behind the line of scrimmage. He processes defenses well and takes what the defense gives him.

Sanders does not possess great arm-strength and doesn’t put enough zip on the football, nor does he possess great speed.

A lot of scouts have also praised Sanders’ leadership skills, but I have found him to act entitled and cocky both in college and throughout the draft process.

Grade: Should be a day 2 pick, but a QB needy team will reach for Sanders in the top 5.

3. Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss

Jaxson Dart is my favorite quarterback prospect in this draft class and has the most raw talent of any QB hoping to hear their name called in April.

In his senior season at Ole Miss, Dart threw for a 69.3% completion rate, 4,279 yards, 29 touchdowns and 6 interceptions.

Dart has seen his stock rise significantly since the Senior Bowl where he impressed seemingly every NFL scout in attendance that week.

The Ole Miss product has great arm talent and plus athleticism with the ability to make plays with his legs. A concern with Dart, however, is that Lane Kiffin’s offense at Ole Miss is very quarterback friendly.

Routes are often schemed to be isolated, which means Dart makes one read and if that read isn’t there he has to improvise. Dart also doesn’t process defenses well and will get flustered if his initial read isn’t open.

Dart’s accuracy in some situations could definitely use some work, most notably his inconsistent deep ball.

Dart does not project as a day 1 starter and will need some time to learn behind a veteran before he is ready to start games.

Grade: Late 1st - early 2nd round pick.

4. Jalen Milroe, Alabama

Jalen Milroe’s draft stock fell off a cliff after an underwhelming season at Alabama.

In 2024, the 22 year-old had a 64.3% completion rate, 2,844 passing yards, 16 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. He also ran for 726 yards.

Milroe’s biggest strength is his speed. He is a run-first quarterback who saw a lot of designed plays and options called for him in college. He also possesses good arm strength.

Milroe needs polishing in his game. His mechanics are off, he is highly inaccurate and misses a ton of easy throws. He doesn’t do a great job taking care of the ball either.

He does not project as an NFL starter, however I can see the team that he ends up with to use him as a gadget player.

Grade: Day 3 draft pick likely to be taken in the mid-rounds

5. Quinn Ewers, Texas

Quinn Ewers was one of the all-time highest ranked recruits coming out of high school and was projected to be a top pick in this year’s NFL draft going into the 2024-25 College Football season.

Ewers, like Milroe, saw his draft stock tank this past season, however Ewers had been dealing with injuries for most of it.

The 21 year-old threw for a 65.8% completion rate, 3,472 yards, 31 touchdowns and 12 interceptions this past season.

Ewers does not possess an elite arm, but can sling the football well on short to medium throws. Ewers also likes to take what the defense gives him and has the ability to extend plays behind the line of scrimmage.

The Texas product does not possess plus speed and is not a scrambling threat to defenses. His ability to process plays isn’t exactly the best, he does not perform well under pressure and his pocket awareness will not cut it at the NFL level.

Ewers would have definitely benefited from returning to college for another season to bring his draft stock back up, but will now likely be a backup in the NFL.

Grade: Mid-round pick that has the potential to be a day 2 pick.

Ian Rothenberg is a first-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email imr5327@psu.edu