For teams that passed on free agent options—or might still be waiting at the altar for a certain someone to decide—the draft should be the focus.
The pool of talent doesn’t compare to the 2024 class, which featured a surefire No. 1 pick in Caleb Williams and a closer-than-we-knew runner-up in Jayden Daniels among six quarterbacks in the top 12 selections.
With the dust of free agency settling, there are still answers at quarterback. The 2025 class grades as a solid B, even if it’s lacking high-end, first-round talent.
Here are the top five QBs in the class and their ideal landing spots:
Cam Ward, Miami
Ward has it all. His arm is powerful and flexible, able to adjust his arm angles to make any throw from any position. He’s very accurate, with some of the most impressive placement in the class. Ward even brings another dimension to the position with his scrambling ability to pick up yards on the ground. He has some slight issues with processing and a tendency to play hero ball, but if he can calm down and see the field, he could be a stud.
Ideal NFL fit: Ward should serve Titans coach Brian Callahan well and be taken with the No. 1 overall pick. There’s not a better quarterback in the class, and the Titans have themselves set up well for Ward’s strengths after heavily investing in the offensive line.
Shedeur Sanders, Colorado
Jan 14, 2025; Dallas, Texas, USA; Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders laughs as he watches the game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Denver Nuggets during the second half at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images Another incredibly accurate quarterback, Sanders’ vision and placement will likely earn him a first-round selection. There are similarities to Kirk Cousins in the style of his game—he is not much of an athlete and his arm is a little underpowered. If a team is happy with getting the ball to its receivers consistently, no matter where they are on the field, Sanders should serve them well. His pocket adjustment is pretty solid, with experience under pressure.
Ideal NFL fit: Sanders needs to find his way to a team with an offensive line better than his line at Colorado, but many of the quarterback-needy squads don’t have that right now. The one that does is the Cleveland Browns, who added Cornelius Lucas and Teven Jenkins in hopes of a truly good—or at least better than 2024—offensive line.
Jalen Milroe, Alabama
Mar 1, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Alabama quarterback Jalen Milroe (QB11) during the 2025 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Hear me out. Milroe’s flashes are similar to that of Anthony Richardson, a player who was talented enough to go top five, and he’s shown more consistent play over the course of a season than Richardson ever did at Florida. His tools are impressive enough to get him a high Day Two selection. He struggled this year with trying to read coverages, but his scrambling ability and arm strength are too hard to pass up.
Ideal NFL fit: Get Milroe to the Saints immediately. New Orleans has a strong wide receiver core, quality tackles that could support a young quarterback, and a great offensive mind in Kellen Moore. Milroe can sit for a year or two behind Derek Carr as he continues to practice and learn to adjust to NFL speeds. Then the Saints can unpackage him as Jalen Hurts 2.0—the model with a 4.4 turbo boost.
Jaxson Dart, Mississippi
Nov 29, 2024; Oxford, Mississippi, USA; Mississippi Rebels quarterback Jaxson Dart (2) reacts after the game against the Mississippi State Bulldogs at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Bush-Imagn Images Dart also has impressive physical tools, with a strong arm and good speed to move out of the pocket. They’re a little more muted than Milroe’s, but Dart brings an ability to create outside of structure that will serve him well at the next level. There are some bad habits in his game—namely, waiting too long to make throws because the windows aren’t perfect—but there’s enough to work with for him to become a starter.
Ideal NFL fit: Dart just screams Steelers.
Mike Tomlin will likely see shades of Mason Rudolph in Dart and could use him as a solid backup to Rodgers (maybe) for a season until he feels ready to uncork him. Dart will be throwing darts for Pittsburgh sooner rather than later.
Will Howard, Ohio State
Jan 20, 2025; Atlanta, GA, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes quarterback Will Howard (18) on the podium after defeating the Notre Dame Fighting Irish in the CFP National Championship college football game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images NFL teams love a winner. Howard proved he could bring a championship to Columbus last season, and teams will be happy to have a guy with a proven track record on the squad. He looks the part of an NFL quarterback with a bulky frame and good athleticism. Teams may be underwhelmed by the arm, but he could be a solid journeyman starter in the mold of Ryan Fitzpatrick.
Ideal NFL fit: Howard should go to the Rams with a chance to unseat Jimmy G for the backup job. The two share some similarities, but Howard is more athletic.
