2025 NFL draft prospect rankings: Quarterbacks

Editor’s note: The Union-Tribune’s Eddie Brown is breaking down prospects, position by position, leading up to the NFL draft (April 24-26). Here are his top 10 quarterbacks, plus “bonus” players he believes will be drafted or signed as a priority free agent:

— 1. Cam Ward (Sr., Miami, 6-foot-2, 219 pounds)

He was lightly recruited out of high school and began his collegiate career at FCS-level Incarnate Word, where he became the Southland Conference Offensive Player of the Year before transferring to Washington State. He passed for 6,968 yards and 48 touchdowns against only 16 interceptions in two seasons with the Cougars. In his one year with the Hurricanes, he helped return the program to national prominence and finished fourth in Heisman Trophy voting. Ward features immense arm talent and more than enough mobility to extend plays. Ball protection will be a point of contention in the pros due to his gunslinger mentality, but he’s improved every single season and I don’t see why that can’t continue at the next level. I see a lot of Tony Romo in Ward’s game. Projected: No. 1 overall

— 2. Shedeur Sanders (Sr., Colorado, 6-1, 212)

Coach Prime’s progeny is a polished pocket passer. His pinpoint accuracy, fearlessness and production are the top selling points. He throws a catchable ball, especially on his deep throws. When he’s in rhythm, he’s capable of surgically dissecting a defense, but average arm strength, athleticism and his propensity for holding onto the ball for too long could hinder his development at the next level. Projected: Round 1

— 3. Jalen Milroe (Jr., Alabama, 6-2, 217)

Milroe is an electric runner with a big arm and is a dangerous passer when he’s outside the pocket, especially rolling to his right. Inside the pocket? His game looks like a David Lynch film at times, a little confusing and often unsettling. The dual-threat ability and athletic traits make him this draft’s top lottery ticket. He was the first player since Nevada’s Colin Kaepernick in 2010 to record multiple passing and rushing TDs in each of his team’s first three games. The right coaching staff could help him fulfill his promise as the next Kaepernick (albeit shorter) or Kordell Stewart (a better physical comp). Milroe is likely going to need some time to develop. Projected: Rounds 2-3

— 4. Kyle McCord (Sr., Syracuse, 6-3, 218)

A former five-star recruit who led Philadelphia powerhouse St. Joseph’s Prep to three straight state championships, McCord began his career at Ohio State, along with his high school teammate Marvin Harrison Jr., before joining the Orange for his senior season. He proved to be more confident and productive without the same level of supporting talent last season. McCord’s an accurate pocket passer with a quick release, good mechanics and size. He prefers to attack a defense vertically — he led the FBS with an ACC-record 4,779 passing yards in 2024. He was No. 1 in big-time throws, but also responsible for the most turnover-worthy plays in the nation. The gunslinger giveth, and taketh away, especially when he writes a check his arm can’t cash. Projected: Rounds 3-4

— 5. Jaxson Dart (Sr., Ole Miss, 6-2, 223)

The 2020 Gatorade and MaxPreps National Player of the Year committed to USC before transferring to Oxford, Miss., after Lincoln Riley brought in Caleb Williams. As a three-year starter in the SEC, Dart improved every season. He led the FBS with 10.8 yards per attempt and ranked third with 4,279 passing yards last season. He will need to develop his anticipation and decisiveness since he really wasn’t asked to do much of that in Lane Kiffin’s offense, but there’s a lot to like here. Dart can make plays with his legs when needed and features exceptional accuracy when attacking the intermediate part of the field, much like 49ers QB Brock Purdy. Projected: Rounds 1-2

— 6. Will Howard (Sr., Ohio St., 6-4, 236)

Howard led the Buckeyes to a national championship in 2024 after spending four years at Kansas State (he’ll be 24 in September). The former three-star recruit features prototypical size, a nice touch, especially on vertical throws, and functional mobility. He’s tough inside and outside of the pocket, and fits the definition of a “field general.” Howard doesn’t have a rocket arm, but he’s accurate, makes good decisions and is mechanically sound. Just don’t watch his tape against Michigan last season. Projected: Rounds 2-4

— 7. Quinn Ewers (Sr., Texas, 6-2, 214)

Ewers was the No. 1 recruit in his class and lasted one season at Ohio State before transferring to Austin. He led the Longhorns to back-to-back playoff berths and was named second-team All-SEC in 2024. Ewers has shown flashes of the raw talent and upside that made him the most coveted prospect in the nation, but consistency remains elusive, and durability is a concern. He’s a natural playmaker who features an impressive touch on throws from all platforms, but his sloppy footwork inevitably leads to skittishness in the pocket, which can negate his skill set. Projected: Rounds 3-4

— 8. Tyler Shough (Sr., Louisville, 6-5, 219)

Shough (pronounced “shuck”) turns 26 in September, was in the same recruiting class as Trevor Lawrence and was Justin Herbert’s backup at Oregon. His prototypical size, NFL-caliber arm talent, athleticism and productive season with the Cardinals have generated plenty of buzz in what’s considered a down year for quarterbacks. Concerns surrounding his age and medical evaluations will have a big impact on what day of the draft he hears his name called. The old-school pocket passer broke his collarbone in 2021 and 2022 and fractured his left fibula in 2023, receiving medical hardships that allowed him to spend seven years in college. Unlike Animal House’s John “Bluto” Blutarsky, who famously had a GPA of 0.0, Shough earned four degrees, or one more than the amount of season-ending injuries he sustained. Projected: Rounds 2-4

— 9. Dillon Gabriel (Sr., Oregon, 5-11, 205)

The FBS all-time leader in total touchdowns (189) is a former three-star recruit who broke Tua Tagovailoa’s Hawaii state high school record for career passing yards. Gabriel was highly productive for two other programs (Central Florida and Oklahoma) before finishing his collegiate career with the Ducks as a Heisman Trophy finalist. He’s small, older (he’ll turn 25 in December) and a southpaw, which can be an adjustment for some receivers. He’s also poised in the pocket with a quick release, and even quicker feet. There’s simply no panic in his game, and he throws one of the more catchable balls in this draft class, even if sometimes it’s from his tippy toes. Projected: Rounds 4-7

— 10. Riley Leonard (Sr., Notre Dame, 6-4, 216)

Leonard started 21 of 27 games in three seasons at Duke before leading the Fighting Irish to playoff victories over Indiana, Georgia and Penn State before falling to Ohio State in the National Championship. Leonard was selected team captain for the Blue Devils in 2023 and the Irish last season (an impressive feat for a transfer). As a sophomore, he was one of just three FBS quarterbacks to eclipse 2,900 passing yards and 695 rushing yards. Future top-3 picks Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye were the other two. Leonard features a strong arm, with solid fundamentals, but his accuracy comes and goes. His ball placement is also inconsistent. Leonard’s dual-threat ability is his calling card. He runs like a fullback in short-yardage situations. Projected: Rounds 4-7

— 11. Kurtis Rourke (Sr., Indiana, 6-4, 220)

Rourke was a three-star recruit in 2019, and the No. 1 recruit in Canada (Oakville, Ontario). He was a three-time team captain at Ohio before joining the Hoosiers last season. Rourke was selected second-team All-Big Ten, completing 69.4% of his passes for 3,042 yards with 29 TD passes and only five interceptions while helping Indiana earn a spot in the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff. Rourke features size, a nice touch and fearlessness in the pocket, but he’s not going to threaten a defense with his legs, and has minimal experience operating under center. Durability is a concern after injuring his left shoulder (2020) and right thumb (2024), and tearing his ACL in his right knee twice (2022 and ’24). Projected: Rounds 6-7

— 12. Graham Mertz (Sr., Florida, 6-3, 212)

Mertz is a former four-star recruit who was named the Gatorade Kansas Football Player of the Year as a senior in 2018 before committing to Wisconsin. He was the Badgers’ starter for three seasons before joining the Gators in 2023. He struggled to stay healthy in Gainesville (collarbone, concussion and ACL), but he showed legit improvement in his overall game against top-tier competition in the SEC. Mertz is a fundamentally sound passer with good size, mobility and adequate arm strength, who could make an NFL roster once he’s healthy. Projected: Round 7-PFA

— 13. Brady Cook (Sr., Missouri, 6-2, 214)

A former three-star recruit who turned into a three-time team captain, Cook went 26-12 as a starter for the Tigers the last three seasons. Cook generated some buzz at the combine, running a 4.59-second 40-yard dash with a 37-inch vertical jump while tossing in a 10-foot-8 broad jump for good measure. The broad jump was only one inch from tying Anthony Richardson’s combine record for a QB in 2023. Projected: Round 7-PFA

— 14. Cam Miller (Sr., North Dakota St., 6-0, 215)

A three-star recruit who became a four-year starter for the Bison, Miller is a winner (45-11 career record as a starter) who started 54 straight games to finish his collegiate career. The two-time FCS national champion (2021 and 2024) is a coach’s son who takes care of the football and features a quick release. He’s a dynamic runner who produced 2,277 rushing yards and 48 rushing TDs, but only faced two FBS opponents in his 56 career starts — Arizona (2022) and Colorado (2024). Projected: PFA

— 15. Seth Henigan (Sr., Memphis, 6-3, 215)

Henigan was a highly-productive, four-year starter for the Tigers — he was the first true freshman to start a season opener in program history. He ranked fourth in the FBS in passing yards (3,883) and tied for fifth in TD passes (32) in 2023. He finished his collegiate career tied for the American Athletic Conference’s passing TD record (104). Henigan features a compact release, and clean footwork when he’s not rushed, but he’s wiry with below-average arm talent. He has a bad habit of retreating in the pocket and too often ends up throwing ill-advised passes off his back foot. Henigan’s highlight of the draft process was throwing a walk-off TD after leading a 12-play, 85-yard drive to win the Senior Bowl. Projected: Round 7-PFA

— 16. Max Brosmer (Sr., Minnesota, 6-2, 217)

Brosmer was a finalist for the Walter Payton Award (top FCS player) for New Hampshire in 2023 before joining the Gophers last season. He’s a cerebral QB with average traits who looked impressive at the Shrine Bowl. He commands an offense, and looks comfortable both under center and in shotgun, but he lacks mobility and pressure brings out the worst in him. Brosmer turned 24 in March, and missed the entire 2021 season with a torn ACL/meniscus. If Brosmer is drafted, he’d be the first Minnesota QB selected since 1972 (Craig Curry). Projected: Round 7-PFA

— 17. Taylor Elgersma (Sr., Laurier, 6-4, 216)

The 2024 Hec Crighton Trophy winner, the Canadian equivalent of the Heisman Trophy, started 33 games for the Golden Hawks across four seasons in Waterloo. He showcased his legit arm talent and deep-ball accuracy in Mobile, Ala. at the Senior Bowl. Elgersma can threaten a defense on all three levels from a clean pocket, but there are some issues with spatial awareness and blitz recognition. Both areas could be coached up in the pros. Projected: PFA