NFL Draft
2/14/25
6 min read
2025 NFL Draft: Player Comparisons For Top QBs
There's a lot of buzz ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft that this year's quarterback class is disappointing. While that may be the case, there's still a path for all of the top prospects at the position to find long-term fits in the league.
The top of this quarterback class doesn't look like it has Caleb Williams, Trevor Lawrence, or Andrew Luck-caliber players, but that's not to say that these won't be long-term starters. In fact, a couple of the top prospects have the upside to become multiple-time Pro Bowlers with the right system and development.
Let's examine the top quarterback prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft and compare them to other quarterbacks in the league.
2025 NFL Draft QB Comparisons
Cam Ward, Miami 
Comparison: Sam Darnold
Cam Ward is a difficult quarterback to find a comparison to off of play style alone, simply because there are so many moments where the Miami prospect looks completely unfazed. Whether it's walking out of bands or standing perfectly still in the pocket instead of hopping, that nonchalant demeanor is hard to compare to any QBs around the league.
However, Ward's physical traits and off-script playmaking will remind many scouts of Sam Darnold coming out of USC. While Ward doesn't have Darnold's funky throwing mechanics, the arm talent, mobility, comfort throwing in the middle of the field, and off-script playmaking are similar.
The bigger question from the scouts is which version of Ward they will be getting, especially if he's a prospect similar to Darnold. Will he flame out and spend multiple years as a backup around the league, or will he land with the right coach to set him up for success with a talented roster around him?
Shedeur Sanders, Colorado 
Comparison: Smaller Jared Goff
There are a lot of Geno Smith comparisons for Shedeur Sanders, and they're not necessarily wrong, as the two are talented passers with limited mobility.
Jared Goff feels more fitting because of the play style between him and Shedeur. Along with being around 215-pound quarterbacks, they're both impressive post-snap processors capable of picking apart defenses when they see an opening, and both thrive on play-action. Sanders posted a 118.9 passer rating on play-action passes this past season, completing 76.6 percent of those passes for 12 touchdowns and just two interceptions.
Like Goff, Sanders isn't the best athlete, at least as far as mobility goes. His problems this last season involved thinking that he was more athletic than he was, leading to a 20.1 pressure-to-sack ratio. That lack of mobility and decision-making in the pocket was precisely what Goff struggled with early in his career with the Los Angeles Rams, even posting a 25.5 P2S ratio as a rookie.
Goff is a bit taller than Sanders and has a bit of a stronger arm, but the same strengths and weaknesses that Goff had coming into the league are the same as Sanders'.
Jalen Milroe, Alabama
Comparison: More Explosive Justin Fields
There might not be a more divisive quarterback prospect in this class than Alabama's Jalen Milroe.
The talent is unquestionably there, both with his arm talent and rushing ability. However, his ball placement can be erratic, and when he's playing at his worst, the turnovers can rack up while the offense looks completely incapable of moving down the field.
All of this sounds like the top-tier and bottom-tier versions of Justin Fields.
When Fields was at his best, he was a dynamic rusher who wasn't afraid to take deep shots. He even rushed for 1,143 yards in his second NFL season and posted a 114.6 passer rating on throws 20-plus yards downfield a year later in his final season with the Chicago Bears.
Both are 225-pound explosive playmakers with their legs. Milroe's arm strength and gorgeous deep ball give him the potential to be a significantly better version of Fields, but the mechanics and inconsistent ball placement could also have him flame out way faster.
Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss
Comparison: Mitch Trubisky with Aura
When Mitch Trubisky was coming out, he was a late riser in the draft because of his above-average tools. While he wasn't truly elite anywhere, there was a lot of good from a physical and mental standpoint that helped him skyrocket up draft boards.
That feels a lot like what we're seeing with Jaxson Dart.
While Dart isn't elite anywhere, he's got above-average athletic ability and good arm talent that made him a constant explosive playmaker as a passer. He's also a charismatic leader who shined at the Senior Bowl for how he handled himself during the week of practice.
The same concerns that Trubisky had coming out also apply to Dart. The two were boosted by college offenses that allowed them to make quick one-read decisions instead of scanning the field, boosting their production.
A proper offensive supporting cast could make Dart a real starter-caliber quarterback, but the wrong situation could lead him down a similar career path to Trubisky.
Quinn Ewers, Texas
Comparison: Mac Jones
One of the most fascinating parts of Quinn Ewers' game is his deep ball. He posted a 106.6 NFL passer rating on passes 20-plus yards downfield, showing impressive touch to drop passes in the bucket to his elite college wideouts, such as Xavier Worthy, AD Mitchell, Isaiah Bond, and Matthew Golden.
However, there are times on his deep passes where Ewers is *too* concerned about throwing with touch, leading to underthrown passes that can become turnover-worthy plays.
That entire college situation is eerily similar to Mac Jones, who had a Heisman Trophy-winning WR in DeVonta Smith, who Jones consistently threw moon shots to deep downfield.
On top of those similar deep balls, Ewers' college tape shows a similar issue that Jones has displayed in the NFL when it comes to avoiding sacks. Their pocket presences need a lot of work, and can lead them into unnecessary trouble on key plays.
His ability to scan the field and throw with anticipation on routes could help Ewers have a better NFL career than Jones, but he'll need the right team to develop him, or his worst traits will keep showing up.
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