NFL Analysis
10/4/24
9 min read
2025 NFL Draft: Ranking Top 10 Quarterback Prospects
Few things define the narrative of an NFL Draft class quite like the quarterback group. And if this year's crop of passers is any indication, we are in for a wild ride.
We've already seen some chaotic movement from the quarterbacks and their perception this college season — with risers and fallers changing the landscape. What is the common theme from the dog days of summer and now?
Many of these quarterbacks have believers. But which ones are making the most of their opportunities this fall? Here's where we stand on the 2025 Quarterback class as we turn the calendar to October.
>> READ MORE: Latest 2025 NFL Mock Draft
Early Top 10 2025 NFL Draft QB Rankings
1. Cam Ward, Miami Hurricanes 
Ward's ascension among the 2025 NFL draft-eligible quarterbacks is undoubtedly aided by his transfer to the University of Miami. Still, much of the credit belongs to Ward and his efforts to transition and evolve his game in a new system this offseason.
Ward's biggest questions during the season have revolved around decision-making and ball security. While some of these concerns surfaced in his most recent contest against the Virginia Tech Hokies, the playmaking ability and explosive plays he has illustrated thus far outweigh the turnover-worthy plays he has demonstrated thus far with Miami.
The big test for Ward will come as the season progresses: will the trend of reduced high-risk and unnecessary-risk plays continue? Cam Ward showcases the slippery ability to extend plays and throw on the run, often generating explosive outcomes by breaking down defensive coverages. He remains poised and comfortable under duress, a common trait among impactful NFL starters in today’s game.
2. Carson Beck, Georgia Bulldogs
Beck's first half against the University of Alabama was as troublesome of a stretch of play as we have seen from one of the presumptive top quarterbacks throughout the summer. The second half against Alabama affirms everything you think Carson Beck can be as a pro prospect.
He's not the biggest, he doesn't have the strongest arm, and he's not the most athletic. But he's generally good in all of those areas. He has also been praised as a very high-IQ quarterback and is well-regarded for his leadership capabilities.
With the departure of highly drafted talents like Ladd McConkey and Brock Bowers within the Georgia Bulldogs offense this offseason, Beck has experienced a bit of a transition. I'm interested to see if the looseness that Beck played with in the second half against Alabama will continue throughout the rest of the season; if so, I think he will reap the benefits.
3. Shedeur Sanders, Colorado Buffaloes 
The best word that I could use to describe Shedeur Sanders is fluid. He's very comfortable under duress. He showcases an understanding and a feel of his pass protection, understands where pressure is coming from, and does as good a job as any quarterback in this class of drifting to buy enough time and moving his launch point to throw the ball.
Granted, sometimes you wish he would concede the down and live to play another rep. He's had big-time moments and big-time spots for Colorado this season, and that was the big question coming into the year after Colorado faded down the stretch in 2023.
Shedeur is an alpha personality likely to galvanize his teammates at the next level; showing up in those big moments will further fuel his "it factor."
Sanders is a passer that would likely rank higher for me if he had better tools to work with. I don't think he's as athletic as the quarterbacks ranked ahead of him, nor do I believe he has the same raw arm strength and access to all field levels.
4. Garrett Nussmeier, LSU Tigers
Cameron Ward may be the biggest riser out of this year's class, with his play in the first month of the season. However, Nussmeier feels like the quarterback who's made the most significant overall leaps with his performance.
Nussmeier has been a career LSU Tiger in the transfer portal era of college football and has finally showcased what he can do this season. Nussmeier has showcased an ability to throw with anticipation, throw on the move, operate with solid control at the line of scrimmage, and throw to all field levels as necessary.
The sample size is Nussmeier's most significant question mark, making the remaining stretch of this year's schedule paramount to sustaining his status as a top-five quarterback in the class.
5. Jalen Milroe, Alabama Crimson Tide
Milroe has been electric this season as a dual-threat passer capable of launching the ball to all areas of the field and killing you with his legs against man coverage.
If you choose to pressure or if he breaks your contain in the pocket, I think Milroe is still a little too dependent upon that sometimes, but his growth as a passer has been undeniable since he first stepped foot on the field for the Crimson Tide.
I'm not sure he has the same touch as some of the other players in the class. His throwing motion is a bit more violent, which impacts his ability to pull the string on the ball and layer throws to all field levels. Still, there's no question he has the strength to make all the throws, and if he sees things on time, he should have little issue delivering the ball to all areas.
6. Drew Allar, Penn State Nittany Lions
Allar feels like the first true prototype pocket passer in these rankings. At six foot six, 240 pounds, and a rocket for an arm, Allar checks the boxes for old-school football enthusiasts and executives who are used to evaluating the quarterback position through a particular lens.
He's shown improvements this year at Penn State amidst some coaching staff changes, but he is still a little erratic from down to down and game to game regarding the consistency of his ball placement and decision-making.
Allar is working with one of the least impressive wide receiver cores of quarterbacks in this year's rankings, which means a little more weight falls on his shoulders. You consider that while evaluating his tape, but his big moments will come in the meat of the Big Ten schedule, where we see if he's made the improvements and whether they stick in more high-duress situations.
7. Kurtis Rourke, Indiana Hoosiers
Rourke is a transfer from Ohio University, where he was a highly productive quarterback showcasing dual-threat ability despite his size at 6-foot-5. Rourke doesn’t have the most dynamic arm in this year's class, but he's tough and can get off his spot.
He passes all of the under-pressure passing efficiency measures you would like to see, whether on third down or in the red zone. He showcased impressive anticipation throws while under pressure, understanding where the ball needs to go to provide an answer vs. what the defense is showing.
Indiana plays Ohio State and Michigan in November, and those games will be the defining points on Rourke's resume during his leap to the Big Ten.
8. Quinn Ewers, Texas Longhorns
Ewers is still popular, but I still have questions about his play. I don't think that, among the other quarterbacks in the class, Ewers has an attractive physical skill set at his disposal. He has a sufficient level arm and sufficient mobility, but neither element is an area he really hangs his hat.
Ewers is the lightest among the quarterbacks we've looked at in this year's class. And that leaves questions about the ceiling that Ewers presents to an NFL team. How highly do you really covet him relative to the upside of other passers?
I like his ball-handling skills a lot. He's shown growth within Steve Sarkisian’s system this year, too. That's a big step. However, the dynamics at Texas also blur the lines a little bit.
9. Miller Moss, USC Trojans
Moss has the feel of a decade-long backup quarterback in the NFL. I'm not overly enamored with his tools, and he is still, admittedly, a little raw as a passer.
He had an impressive showing in his season debut against the LSU Tigers, leading a come-from-behind win, but he also entered this season with less than 100 career pass attempts in his previous three seasons.
Like Ewers, Moss feels like a limited-ceiling passer who can be relied on to know the playbook and execute plays accordingly. But does he have the ceiling of an NFL starter? Despite a strong start for Moss this year at USC, I’m not yet sold on him.
10. Jaxson Dart, Mississippi Rebels
Dart is off to a torrid start this year from a production standpoint, averaging more than 360 passing yards per game, and also illustrates a dual threat profile as evidenced by his eight rushing touchdowns in 2023.
He has the size, arm strength, and arm talent. But playing for Lane Kiffin does raise some questions about his readiness to execute an NFL offense and read NFL defenses.
College football adds several dynamics that make space much more readily available than in the pro game, and few coaches do a better job of exploiting this than Lane Kiffin. That's the big question I have left with Dart. He's a highly intriguing developmental quarterback, but how close is he to running an NFL offense?
