Which quarterbacks in the 2025 NFL Draft class will scouts be tracking?

The centerpiece of all 2024 NFL Draft discussions was the quarterback class, specifically questions about how many teams would deem the group simply too talented to ignore. We got our answer in April, when six QBs went inside the top 12 picks.

What does that mean for the 2025 quarterback class? And how does the league view it? While you’ll be pressed to find anyone willing to compare the upcoming group with the last one — at the top and overall — that doesn’t mean it’s a bad group. A number of talented draft-eligible players returned for another year, as money continues to drive the bus inside college sports.

With that in mind, here’s an early look at who’s who in the 2025 QB draft battle, as things stand today:

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Revisiting Dane Brugler's initial 2024 NFL Draft top 50 board

Tier A: Top 10

Carson Beck, Georgia (6-foot-4, 220 pounds | Sr.)

2023: 3,941 yards (72.4 percent completions, 9.5 yards per attempt), 24 TDs, 6 INTs

Based on how the 2024 NFL Draft went, I’m fairly positive Beck would’ve been a first-round pick, and I think there’s a chance he’d have gone ahead of Michael Penix Jr., J.J. McCarthy and Bo Nix. There wasn’t a quarterback in the country who improved more consistently wire to wire last season than Beck, a first-year starter for Georgia in ‘23 as a third-year player.

The 21-year-old Beck will enter the 2024 season as the nation’s most complete college QB prospect. Beck was an aggressive, confident downfield passer last season, with 19.2 percent of his completions going for 20 or more yards and a near-40 percent success rate on third-and-long. He was also one of the most aggressive middle-field passers last year, averaging better than 10 yards per attempt on throws between the numbers. He might not have elite arm strength, but it’s plenty powerful. If he can clean up minor footwork inconsistencies, there’ll be very little to gripe about here.

Beck’s the only QB I’d give a potential top-10 stamp to right now. The Athletic’s Dane Brugler had him at No. 2 in his early 2025 mock last month.

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Tier B: First round

Quinn Ewers, Texas (6-2, 195 | Sr.)

2023: 3,479 yards (69 percent completions, 8.8 ypa), 22 TDs, 6 INTs

Ewers will create some interesting discussions throughout the evaluation cycle, possibly taking over as this year’s version of McCarthy in that department. Ewers has consistency issues he’ll need to iron out, but he does not have a talent problem. When his feet are right and everything about his process is what it’s supposed to be, he throws the best ball of any prospect in this class.

That said, he left way too much on the field last season while playing in an insanely gifted college offense — and that’s a fair critique. Health will remain a concern, as Ewers lost time to a shoulder injury in 2022 and played at 205 pounds last season. It’s also fair to compliment Ewers for making the mature decision to go back to school, stick it out at Texas and keep competing against a member of the Manning family. Hardly an easy path.

Still, the only returning quarterback better than Ewers between the numbers and on third-and-long was Beck. Ewers’ decision-making against pressure and mechanical consistency no doubt scares some scouts, but his talent keeps everyone coming back.

Shedeur Sanders, Colorado (6-2, 215 | Sr.)

2023: 3,230 yards (69.3 percent completions, 7.5 ypa), 27 TD, 3 INT

It’s incorrect to say Sanders’ draft stock is more hype than substance. He is unquestionably one of the most athletically gifted and accurate passers in college football. Though his first year of Power 5 football was up and down from a team standpoint, Sanders still produced 27 touchdown passes to three interceptions with a near-70 percent completion rate and one of the best on-target percentage numbers nationally (just 7.9 percent of his attempts were off target).

Sanders consistently made plays for his team, despite facing pretty constant pressure behind a poor offensive line. His twitch in the pocket and ability to evade rushers while keeping his eyes up is as good as you’ll see in college football. Additionally, there may not be a college QB right now more adept than Sanders at being able to move the pocket, reset his body and deliver an accurate downfield throw quickly.

Deion Sanders’ proclamations about where his son will go in the draft certainly skewed public sentiment. Shedeur Sanders does have some first-round traits to his game, but he also faces some pretty big question marks. Even with poor blocking, plenty of the sacks he took last year were his fault. He also holds onto the ball too long and fades too much in the pocket, and the offense he played in was very simple. And though his arm/speed combo is very good, it’s not elite.

Sanders and Ewers are in similar “show me” situations this year and will be two of the most deeply scouted players in America.

Tier C: Day 2

Jalen Milroe, Alabama (6-2, 220 | Redshirt Jr.)

2023: 2,834 yards (65.8 percent completions, 10.0 ypa), 23 TDs, 6 INTs; 531 rush yards, 12 TDs

Physically, Milroe might be the most intriguing quarterback in this class. A whopping 27.3 percent of the Alabama quarterback’s completions last year went for better than 20 yards. He was 18-of-25 passing from 20 to 29 yards last season, with 17 completions of 30 yards or more. He’s also currently the best open-field runner at the position. He ran for 531 yards, 12 touchdowns, 46 first downs and averaged better than 4 yards after contact per attempt in 2023.

Though Milroe had only six interceptions last season, much of his downfield passing success was boom or bust. Milroe’s average air yards per attempt (12.6) was among the best nationally last year, but his off-target number (14.8 percent) was one of the worst. Nearly 63 percent of his completions went for first downs or touchdowns, but he converted only 27.3 percent of his third-and-long opportunities.

Additionally, Milroe was hesitant over the middle, held onto the ball in the pocket too long and generally struggled to feel pressure. In terms of passing efficiency right now, he’s closer to a Day 3 prospect. But his athletic potential will keep teams interested.

Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss (6-2, 220 | Sr.)

2023: 3,364 yards (65.1 percent completions, 9.4 ypa), 23 TDs, 5 INTs; 389 rush yards, 8 TDs

There were days when I wondered if Dart might’ve had a solid landing spot in the 2024 draft had he declared. Same time, it was a wise decision for the Ole Miss passer to return. There was a lot to like about how much he improved last season but still work to do.

A smooth, 220-pound athlete with good balance and core strength, Dart is hard to arm tackle in the backfield and does a good job of keeping his eyes up as he moves in and out of the pocket. His arm strength isn’t overwhelming, but it’s hardly bad. An aggressive thrower (and not just because of the system), Dart had a better EPA/attempt number on middle-field throws (.57) than Beck (.55) last year.

Consistency remains Dart’s biggest issue. His arm strength isn’t good enough to bail him out of everything, and there were times last season when he played like it was. He fades in the pocket versus pressure and will scramble like he’s 250 pounds (and has taken some nasty hits because of it). His footwork is sloppy and leads to a lot of missed layups, underneath and over the top. Dart was up there with Milroe (27 percent) on completions of 20 yards or more, though his accuracy issues left a lot on the table. If he can clean those up, don’t be surprised if he’s a riser.

Tier D: Fringe prospects

Conner Weigman, Texas A&M (6-3, 215 | Jr.)

2023 (four games): 979 yards (68.9 percent completions, 8.2 ypa), 8 TDs, 2 INTs; 63 rush yards, 2 TDs

Weigman is one of the guys I’m most excited to watch this season. A foot injury derailed what looked like a promising 2023 after just four games.

A five-star recruit and former high-level baseball shortstop, Weigman is an explosive athlete and a physical runner in space who shows quick feet and agility, in the pocket and on the move. He can make throws from any angle and is an aggressive and confident passer who steps into pressure. That said, his feel for the rush, and general time-on-task consistency, needs work.

A big year could skyrocket his stock. Another “what-if” year could be really problematic.

Riley Leonard, Notre Dame (6-4, 212 | Sr.)

2023 (seven games at Duke): 1,102 yards (57.6 percent completions, 6.7 ypa), 3 TDs, 3 INTs; 352 rush yards, 4 TDs

Nobody needed a fresh start more than Leonard, and no team needed a fresh start at QB more than Notre Dame. The Irish’s talent level continues to rise in Marcus Freeman’s third season, which presents an awesome opportunity for the hyper-athletic Leonard. He’s a player who flashes both first-round and UDFA traits.

He put some pretty brilliant throws on tape at Duke but mixed in some pretty brutal stretches, from an accuracy standpoint. Nothing about his process was consistent enough. He’s also battled injuries, including two surgeries in the last year on the same ankle (one being a minor procedure this spring).

He has to stay healthy, No. 1. And, No. 2, he must improve his footwork/throwing process.

Cam Ward, Miami (6-2, 223 | Sr.)

2023 (at Washington State): 3,732 yards (66.7 percent, 7.7 ypa), 25 TDs, 7 INTs; 144 rush yards, 8 TDs

Ward briefly entered his name into the ‘24 draft after putting up 48 touchdowns and 16 picks in two years at Washington State, but he opted for one more college run at Miami instead. Frankly, I was excited to watch Ward compete on the all-star circuit with the rest of the ‘24 QBs but totally got the decision to return. Like Leonard, he could make a serious jump if he can stabilize his footwork and handling of pressure.

He’s a serious and legit playmaker, in and out of the pocket, when he’s under control. Including his time at Incarnate Word (before Washington State), Ward has 119 college touchdown passes and nearly 14,000 yards passing to his name. We’ll see if new Canes OC/QB coach Shannon Dawson can get Ward the polish he needs.

Tier E: Day 3 and beyond

Dillon Gabriel, Oregon (5-11, 204 | Sixth-year)

Noah Fifita, Arizona (5-11, 195 | Junior)

Size is obviously a concern with Fifita (and Gabriel). Fifita’s also played just one season as a starter, but it was a good one. He was an accurate passer last year who wasn’t afraid to push the ball vertically. His release is a bit awkward, but he’s a pretty fearless player at just 20 years old.

DJ Uiagalelei, Florida State (6-4, 252 | Fifth-year)

Will Howard, Ohio State (6-5, 242 | Fifth-year)

After four years at Kansas State, the big and athletic Howard gets a massive opportunity to play for another Ferrari of a roster. Howard’s accuracy was never consistent nor good enough at Kansas State, but he’s a big-armed passer with size and enough speed to be a credible run threat. A very interesting fit.

Drew Allar, Penn State (6-5, 243 | Junior)

Graham Mertz, Florida (6-3, 218 | Sixth-year)

Donovan Smith, Houston (6-5, 241 | Fifth-year)

Tyler Van Dyke, Wisconsin (6-4, 230 | Fifth-year)

Preston Stone, SMU (6-1, 219 | Senior)

In Stone’s first year as a starter last season, 27.2 percent of his completions went for 20 yards or more, and he averaged better than 12 air yards per attempt (with an off-target rate of just 10.8 percent). He had 20 completions of 30 yards or better en route to 3,609 yards passing, 30 TDs and seven picks. Don’t forget about him.

Grayson McCall, N.C. State (6-3, 220 | Sixth)

Jalon Daniels, Kansas (6-0, 215 | Fifth)

Garrett Nussmeier, LSU (6-2, 205 | Senior)

Cade Klubnik, Clemson (6-2, 195 | Junior)

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2024 NFL Draft sleepers who could make an instant impact as rookies

(Top photos of Shedeur Sanders and Carson Beck: Ryan Kang / Getty Images; Rich von Biberstein / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)