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The 2025 NFL draft class isn't considered strong at the quarterback position. There aren't many blue-chippers at the position, which has led some to write this year's group off as one that's not overly exciting.
That said, there are still a handful of intriguing prospects who could develop into quality starting quarterbacks. Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders have drawn much of the attention, but Jaxson Dart, Jalen Milroe and Tyler Shough are all getting some love late in the lead-up to the draft.
Given the high demand at the position, some may be pushed up the draft board. That could allow some extra signal-callers to sneak into the end of Round 1 or if Day 2 possesses more quarterback selections than usual compared to recent seasons.
But where will the 2025 NFL draft quarterback prospects be selected? Here's a look at a quarterback-only mock draft that outlines the landing spots for the 11 quarterbacks most likely to be chosen in this year's draft.
2025 NFL MOCK DRAFT: Latest projection for first round features a few shifting picks
Ward to the Titans seems like a pick we can now write in pen. It's no secret that Tennessee needs to add quarterback talent to a roster featuring just Will Levis, Brandon Allen and Tim Boyle. The Titans have been increasingly tied to the Miami product.
Ward is an athletic playmaker with good arm talent and plenty of college experience. He started at Incarnate Word, Washington State and Miami and should be able to pick up Brian Callahan's offense quickly.
If Sanders doesn't go within the first three picks, it's not easy to find a landing spot for him. That said, the Saints could use a successor for Derek Carr, who is entering his age-34 season and new coach Kellen Moore may see the benefit of taking Sanders and letting him develop for a year as New Orleans efforts a mini rebuild.
Sanders has good accuracy and ball placement as well as a solid ability to step up in the pocket and deliver quality throws. He needs to avoid taking massive sacks and get the ball out of his hands quicker at the NFL level, but he could emerge as a quality starter with better protection than he had at Colorado.
Will Dart go in the first round? It's possible, but there aren't an abundance of quarterback landing spots among the first 32 selections. A quarterback-needy team could trade into the back of the first round, but it also may be content to keep its draft capital.
If the Browns don't take a quarterback with the No. 2 pick, they will almost certainly take one with their selection atop Round 2. Dart is the best signal-caller available, and his combination of toughness, mobility and accuracy could give him a chance to find success under Kevin Stefanski's tutelage.
2025 NFL DRAFT QB PROSPECTS: Best landing spots for Ward, Sanders, Dart
The Giants signed Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston in free agency, but New York's leadership needs to add a young quarterback with upside as they try to save their jobs. "Big Blue" has been tied to Milroe, and he is an ideal developmental project to roster behind the two veterans.
Milroe has rare athleticism and running abilities that should allow him to be a mobile playmaker early in his NFL career. He needs to develop his accuracy and consistency to make it as a passer, but there's a lot to like about his raw, athletic skill set.
If Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen are looking for a quarterback who might be ready to start sooner, they could opt for Louisville's Tyler Shough, who spent seven seasons in college and enjoyed a quality final season. But if they swing for the fences, Milroe should be their top option.
If Milroe is on the board for the Jets' second-round pick, they will have to think long and hard about selecting him to join Justin Fields and Tyrod Taylor in their room of mobile, athletic quarterbacks. If not, Shough could fit the bill and eventually challenge Fields should the fifth-year pro struggle to fit in Tanner Engstrand's offense.
Funny enough, Shough, 25, is just six months younger than Fields yet is set to be a rookie. Shough has a strong arm and possesses good downfield accuracy. That, plus his play-extending athleticism (he ran a 4.63-second 40-yard dash at the 2025 NFL combine) could make him an intriguing backup candidate with the potential to develop into a starter.
Matthew Stafford is 37 and Jimmy Garoppolo is 33, so the Rams will have to add some youth to their quarterback room even if they're confident in Stetson Bennett's development.
McCord enjoyed a strong season in Syracuse's pro-style offense, completing 66% of his passes for 4,779 yards, 34 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. McCord has a good arm that allows him to make downfield throws, but his gunslinger mentality coupled with his inconsistent ball placement can occasionally get him into trouble with turnovers.
Los Angeles would be a great landing spot for McCord, as Sean McVay could get the most out of the 6-3, 218-pound pocket passer's skill set.
The Raiders traded for Geno Smith and locked him in as their starter for at least three seasons after extending him. Pete Carroll may still be interested in adding a young quarterback to groom behind Smith, and getting Howard in the middle of the draft would be a good value.
Howard was a steady, accurate and tough quarterback during his college days and has functional mobility that should allow him to be a quality NFL player. Raiders offensive coordinator Chip Kelly coached Howard to a national championship at Ohio State, so the duo reuniting could be the best thing for the 23-year-old Howard's development.
2025 NFL DRAFT BIG BOARD: Who are the top ranked QBs according to experts?
The Colts currently have one of the most confounding quarterback situations in the NFL. They signed Daniel Jones – the second-lowest-rated passer in the NFL last season (79.4) – to compete for the starting job with Anthony Richardson, the lowest-rated passer in the NFL last season (61.6).
Richardson or Jones could still pan out, but the Colts could probably stand to add another quarterback to the fold. Questions exist about Ewers' arm strength – he threw a lot of touch passes at Texas and didn't drive the ball into his downfield throws – but he led the Longhorns to consecutive College Football Playoff appearances while showing poise in the pocket and between-the-numbers accuracy.
Shane Steichen can take a flier on Ewers and see if the Texas product can be developed into a quality starter. If not, he should be a fine backup quarterback.
The Dolphins have just two quarterbacks on their roster: Tua Tagovailoa and Zach Wilson. Considering Tagovailoa's injury history and Wilson's 73.2 career passer rating, the Dolphins may want to add another player to their quarterback room just in case.
Gabriel was productive in college, tying Case Keenum for the record with 155 passing touchdowns across his five seasons at UCF, Oklahoma and Oregon. The 5-11, 205-pound lefty is undersized for the next level and doesn't have any elite traits. Still, his short-passing accuracy and mobility could allow him to develop into a quality backup behind Tagovailoa, another lefty quarterback.
The Steelers are expected to draft a quarterback even if they sign Aaron Rodgers. They could target one earlier than the fifth round, but if they wait, Leonard would be a nice option as a potential backup.
Leonard is a tough and physical runner who helped guide Notre Dame to a national championship game appearance in his lone season with the program. He has good short accuracy but wasn't a big-time downfield passer for the Fighting Irish because he has just a solid arm. That will raise questions about whether he will be a starter or backup long-term, but there's still enough there to intrigue Pittsburgh at this stage in the draft.
Rourke figures to be selected late in the 2025 NFL draft. He doesn't have a stand-out skill set, but he was a good-looking game manager at Indiana, completing 69.4% of his passes for 3,042 yards, 29 touchdowns and just five interceptions. He may not have a starter's ceiling, but he could be a steady backup at the NFL level.
Several teams could stand to add depth to their quarterback rooms in the final round. The Seahawks stand out, as Rourke could compete with Sam Howell and Jaren Hall for the backup and third-string job behind Sam Darnold.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NFL mock draft: Which teams will take QBs in 2025?
Continue reading...
That said, there are still a handful of intriguing prospects who could develop into quality starting quarterbacks. Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders have drawn much of the attention, but Jaxson Dart, Jalen Milroe and Tyler Shough are all getting some love late in the lead-up to the draft.
Given the high demand at the position, some may be pushed up the draft board. That could allow some extra signal-callers to sneak into the end of Round 1 or if Day 2 possesses more quarterback selections than usual compared to recent seasons.
But where will the 2025 NFL draft quarterback prospects be selected? Here's a look at a quarterback-only mock draft that outlines the landing spots for the 11 quarterbacks most likely to be chosen in this year's draft.
2025 NFL MOCK DRAFT: Latest projection for first round features a few shifting picks
NFL mock draft 2025: Projecting all QB landing spots
Cam Ward, Miami (FL)
- Team: Tennessee Titans
- Pick: No. 1 overall, first round
Ward to the Titans seems like a pick we can now write in pen. It's no secret that Tennessee needs to add quarterback talent to a roster featuring just Will Levis, Brandon Allen and Tim Boyle. The Titans have been increasingly tied to the Miami product.
Ward is an athletic playmaker with good arm talent and plenty of college experience. He started at Incarnate Word, Washington State and Miami and should be able to pick up Brian Callahan's offense quickly.
Shedeur Sanders, Colorado
- Team: New Orleans Saints
- Pick: No. 9 overall, first round
If Sanders doesn't go within the first three picks, it's not easy to find a landing spot for him. That said, the Saints could use a successor for Derek Carr, who is entering his age-34 season and new coach Kellen Moore may see the benefit of taking Sanders and letting him develop for a year as New Orleans efforts a mini rebuild.
Sanders has good accuracy and ball placement as well as a solid ability to step up in the pocket and deliver quality throws. He needs to avoid taking massive sacks and get the ball out of his hands quicker at the NFL level, but he could emerge as a quality starter with better protection than he had at Colorado.
Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss
- Team: Cleveland Browns
- Pick: No. 33 overall, second round
Will Dart go in the first round? It's possible, but there aren't an abundance of quarterback landing spots among the first 32 selections. A quarterback-needy team could trade into the back of the first round, but it also may be content to keep its draft capital.
If the Browns don't take a quarterback with the No. 2 pick, they will almost certainly take one with their selection atop Round 2. Dart is the best signal-caller available, and his combination of toughness, mobility and accuracy could give him a chance to find success under Kevin Stefanski's tutelage.
2025 NFL DRAFT QB PROSPECTS: Best landing spots for Ward, Sanders, Dart
Jalen Milroe, Alabama
- Team: New York Giants
- Pick: No. 34 overall, second round
The Giants signed Russell Wilson and Jameis Winston in free agency, but New York's leadership needs to add a young quarterback with upside as they try to save their jobs. "Big Blue" has been tied to Milroe, and he is an ideal developmental project to roster behind the two veterans.
Milroe has rare athleticism and running abilities that should allow him to be a mobile playmaker early in his NFL career. He needs to develop his accuracy and consistency to make it as a passer, but there's a lot to like about his raw, athletic skill set.
If Brian Daboll and Joe Schoen are looking for a quarterback who might be ready to start sooner, they could opt for Louisville's Tyler Shough, who spent seven seasons in college and enjoyed a quality final season. But if they swing for the fences, Milroe should be their top option.
Tyler Shough, Louisville
- Team: New York Jets
- Pick: No. 73, third round
If Milroe is on the board for the Jets' second-round pick, they will have to think long and hard about selecting him to join Justin Fields and Tyrod Taylor in their room of mobile, athletic quarterbacks. If not, Shough could fit the bill and eventually challenge Fields should the fifth-year pro struggle to fit in Tanner Engstrand's offense.
Funny enough, Shough, 25, is just six months younger than Fields yet is set to be a rookie. Shough has a strong arm and possesses good downfield accuracy. That, plus his play-extending athleticism (he ran a 4.63-second 40-yard dash at the 2025 NFL combine) could make him an intriguing backup candidate with the potential to develop into a starter.
Kyle McCord, Syracuse
- Team: Los Angeles Rams
- Pick: No. 90, third round
Matthew Stafford is 37 and Jimmy Garoppolo is 33, so the Rams will have to add some youth to their quarterback room even if they're confident in Stetson Bennett's development.
McCord enjoyed a strong season in Syracuse's pro-style offense, completing 66% of his passes for 4,779 yards, 34 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. McCord has a good arm that allows him to make downfield throws, but his gunslinger mentality coupled with his inconsistent ball placement can occasionally get him into trouble with turnovers.
Los Angeles would be a great landing spot for McCord, as Sean McVay could get the most out of the 6-3, 218-pound pocket passer's skill set.
Will Howard, Ohio State
- Team: Las Vegas Raiders
- Pick: No. 108, fourth round
The Raiders traded for Geno Smith and locked him in as their starter for at least three seasons after extending him. Pete Carroll may still be interested in adding a young quarterback to groom behind Smith, and getting Howard in the middle of the draft would be a good value.
Howard was a steady, accurate and tough quarterback during his college days and has functional mobility that should allow him to be a quality NFL player. Raiders offensive coordinator Chip Kelly coached Howard to a national championship at Ohio State, so the duo reuniting could be the best thing for the 23-year-old Howard's development.
2025 NFL DRAFT BIG BOARD: Who are the top ranked QBs according to experts?
Quinn Ewers, Texas
- Team: Indianapolis Colts
- Pick: No. 151, fifth round
The Colts currently have one of the most confounding quarterback situations in the NFL. They signed Daniel Jones – the second-lowest-rated passer in the NFL last season (79.4) – to compete for the starting job with Anthony Richardson, the lowest-rated passer in the NFL last season (61.6).
Richardson or Jones could still pan out, but the Colts could probably stand to add another quarterback to the fold. Questions exist about Ewers' arm strength – he threw a lot of touch passes at Texas and didn't drive the ball into his downfield throws – but he led the Longhorns to consecutive College Football Playoff appearances while showing poise in the pocket and between-the-numbers accuracy.
Shane Steichen can take a flier on Ewers and see if the Texas product can be developed into a quality starter. If not, he should be a fine backup quarterback.
Dillon Gabriel, Oregon
- Team: Miami Dolphins
- Pick: No. 155, fifth round
The Dolphins have just two quarterbacks on their roster: Tua Tagovailoa and Zach Wilson. Considering Tagovailoa's injury history and Wilson's 73.2 career passer rating, the Dolphins may want to add another player to their quarterback room just in case.
Gabriel was productive in college, tying Case Keenum for the record with 155 passing touchdowns across his five seasons at UCF, Oklahoma and Oregon. The 5-11, 205-pound lefty is undersized for the next level and doesn't have any elite traits. Still, his short-passing accuracy and mobility could allow him to develop into a quality backup behind Tagovailoa, another lefty quarterback.
Riley Leonard, Notre Dame
- Team: Pittsburgh Steelers
- Pick: No. 156, fifth round
The Steelers are expected to draft a quarterback even if they sign Aaron Rodgers. They could target one earlier than the fifth round, but if they wait, Leonard would be a nice option as a potential backup.
Leonard is a tough and physical runner who helped guide Notre Dame to a national championship game appearance in his lone season with the program. He has good short accuracy but wasn't a big-time downfield passer for the Fighting Irish because he has just a solid arm. That will raise questions about whether he will be a starter or backup long-term, but there's still enough there to intrigue Pittsburgh at this stage in the draft.
Kurtis Rourke, Indiana
- Team: Seattle Seahawks
- Pick: No. 223, seventh round
Rourke figures to be selected late in the 2025 NFL draft. He doesn't have a stand-out skill set, but he was a good-looking game manager at Indiana, completing 69.4% of his passes for 3,042 yards, 29 touchdowns and just five interceptions. He may not have a starter's ceiling, but he could be a steady backup at the NFL level.
Several teams could stand to add depth to their quarterback rooms in the final round. The Seahawks stand out, as Rourke could compete with Sam Howell and Jaren Hall for the backup and third-string job behind Sam Darnold.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: NFL mock draft: Which teams will take QBs in 2025?
Continue reading...
