2025 NFL Draft: Mel Kiper shakes up Top 10 QB rankings following Scouting Combine

After opting out of throwing or working out in Indy, Ward remains in the driver’s seat to be the top quarterback selected in next month’s NFL Draft, even if Kiper keeps him at No. 2 on his board.

Ward did nothing to hurt his stock at the Combine after leading the nation with 39 passing touchdowns and ranking in the Top 5 in nearly every passing metric while leading Miami’s FBS-best offense in 2024.

3. Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss

After opening eyes at the Senior Bowl earlier last month, Dart closed out a strong month with another impressive showing at the Combine in Indianapolis.

While holding steady on Kiper’s list, Dart continues to move up draft boards all across the NFL with at least one NFL.com expert predicting the Rebels’ all-time leading passer could work his way into the Top 5 in next month’s NFL Draft.

4. Kyle McCord, Syracuse

The 6-foot-3, 220-pound McCord firmly remains in Kiper’s Top 5 after making the leap prior to last week’s Combine following a transformative senior season at Syracuse.

McCord bet on himself after transferring away from the eventual national champion Buckeyes and it paid off in 2024 after posting a FBS-best 4,779 passing yards and 34 touchdowns.

5. Tyler Shough, Louisville (+3)

The biggest riser on Kiper’s board post-Combine was the 25-year-old Cardinals QB, who has bee climbing NFL Draft boards everywhere after an impressive showing last week in Indianapolis.

The well-traveled Shough finally appears healthy after injury-plagued experiences at Oregon and Texas Tech before setting career-highs in passing yards and touchdowns his lone season in Louisville.

6. Jalen Milroe, Alabama (-1)

The dual-threat Crimson Tide QB opened plenty of eyes with his performance at the NFL Combine, but Milroe still took a step back in Kiper’s ranking with Shough’s climb up the board.

Despite not running the 40-yard-dash, Milroe’s elite athleticism and cannon of a throwing arm were on full display in Indianapolis, with FOX Sports’ Joel Klatt even describing the Alabama QB as an “Adonis.”

7. Dillon Gabriel, Oregon (-1)

After making the biggest jump on Kiper’s QB board before the Combine, Gabriel slides back due to Shough’s jump in the rankings.

The well-traveled Gabriel, who will turn 25 as a NFL rookie, is one of college football’s most productive QBs of all-time with 18,722 career passing yards and 72 touchdowns over six collegiate seasons at Oregon, Oklahoma and UCF.

8. Will Howard, Ohio State (-1)

Howard also slides back a spot after Shough’s jump in Kiper’s ranking, despite what many considered a strong showing in Indianapolis.

The 6-foot-4, 235-pound Howard was a fan-favorite at the Combine, drawing rave reviews from fans and teams alike after capping his college career with a national championship last season.

9. Quinn Ewers, Texas

After falling to ninth in Kiper’s prior ranking, Ewers showed enough in Indianapolis to stay in his Top 10 after flashing a strong arm during last week’s Combine workouts.

Just by competing, Ewers proved he’s in great health after dealing with various injuries over his three seasons in Austin, during which he threw for 9,128 yards and 68 touchdowns over 36 career games.

T-10. Riley Leonard, Notre Dame

Kiper once again split the baby at No. 10. Leonard might not be the biggest quarterback at 6-foot-3 and 210-pounds, but don’t tell Notre Dame’s dual-threat playmaker.

While Leonard didn’t have the passing stats of his contemporaries, he more than made up for it on the ground, rushing for 17 touchdowns — which ranked tied for 12th nationally among all rushers in 2024.

T-10. Kurtis Rourke, Indiana

Tied at No. 10 on Kiper’s QB ranking is the 6-foot-5 Hoosiers quarterback, who proved to be the model of consistency by leading the Big Ten with a 176.01 passer rating in 2024.

After admitting to playing much of the 2024 season with a partially torn ACL, the 24-year-old Rourke will have to prove he’s healthy and ready to build off last season’s success in the NFL.