The 2025 NFL Draft has an abundance of talent at various spots, but quarterback isn’t one of them. People have a propensity to hyper focus on the position, and it’s very understandable. Quarterback is not only the most important position in the NFL, but arguably in all of sports.
When discussing the 2025 signal callers, talking about them with an open mind is necessary. While it is a below average group, there is still value to be found. In order to understand the class on a much deeper level, superlatives are a way to do so. From the strongest arm, most upside, and the biggest sleeper among others, there is a lot to consider.
Ward simply can make some throws that no other quarterback in this class can make. In terms of distance and velocity, the former Incarnate Word, Washington State, and Miami star makes things look very easy. Ward’s release quickness and ability to throw from different arm slots is something to behold. He is the modern passer with arm talent for days.
lol pic.twitter.com/DvJzJ3pyRW
— Ryan Roberts (@RiseNDraft) September 6, 2024
You could have made a strong argument for Ward again, and it’s completely understandable if he was your selection. In terms of raw tools, it’s hard to argue against Milroe. His combination of arm strength and athleticism is really impressive. It’s just too bad playing the quarterback position is about a lot more than just those raw tools.
Alabama QB Jalen Milroe has had a rough couple of weeks, but the highs are still very high. I’m hoping he returns to school for another year but you never know with this quarterback class.
— Ryan Roberts (@RiseNDraft) October 23, 2024
Live arm, rare athlete. Physical tools are there. pic.twitter.com/SywiikpeqR
From an accuracy perspective, you won’t find anyone as good as Sanders in this class. He also showed an improved internal clock in 2024, as well as better pocket awareness. While Sanders’ tools are very, very average for league standard, you can expect him to at least be a solid NFL signal caller. The floor is high.
Shedeur dime pic.twitter.com/KpSINI4hrC
— Ryan Roberts (@RiseNDraft) October 18, 2024
The out of structure magic is great, but it is Ward’s default far too often. He needs to be more consistent making plays inside of structure, and not freelancing too regularly. If Ward doesn’t then he does have a lot of bust potential. The talent is apparent, but so is the risk.
Excited to launch the next iteration of A to Z Sports Film Room with @RiseNDraft and @joedeleone
— A to Z Sports (@AtoZSportsNFL) February 6, 2025
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First up: Why Cam Ward Is The CLEAR CUT QB1… pic.twitter.com/rbuIEqrPEV
Shough is an older quarterback prospect who has dealt with a series of injuries during his career. If not for those couple of questions, Shough would be discussed quite a bit more in this class. He put together his best season in 2024, showcasing a prototype frame, good arm talent, and underrated athleticism. It wouldn’t be surprising if Shough is starting some games on the next level within a year or two.
Louisville QB Tyler Shough was doing some things this year pic.twitter.com/VNrxeMUnhD
— Ryan Roberts (@RiseNDraft) February 12, 2025
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Shortly after Miami Dolphins players reported for training camp on Tuesday, Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill suggested he wants to be "better as a leader" after he controversially subbed himself out of Miami's regular-season finale this past January and then told reporters he was "out." While speaking with reporters on Wednesday, Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa addressed the Hill-sized elephant in the room. "I think there’s a lot more vulnerability with Tyreek," Tagovailoa explained, as shared by Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk. "He’s conversating a lot more with the guys, not just about football, but about things off the field, being vulnerable about some of the things people know about his personal life and things of that nature. I think that’s the first step toward him building true relationships and a real connection with a lot of the guys in there." Following Hill's "out" comment, Dolphins general manager Chris Grier revealed that the 31-year-old speedster never requested a trade. While publicly apologizing to his teammates during a Super Bowl week interview, Hill directly said that Tagovailoa is his "guy." Hill also insisted at the time that he loves Tagovailoa. "Everybody makes mistakes," Tagovailoa added about Hill. "It’s just, some people, they’re in the spotlight, and their deals get pushed out more than some others. So you’ve just got to cut him some grace. That’s our teammate. We love him, but as a person, I think if you get to know him, you’ll love him too." Hill and Tagovailoa likely will need to be on the same page if they want to prevent the Dolphins from going through a franchise reset next offseason. At least head coach Mike McDaniel is reportedly on the hot seat this summer, while Tagovailoa's status beyond the upcoming campaign is up in the air after he suffered a third reported concussion since the fall of 2022 last season. "You guys aren’t the only people that heard that," Tagovailoa said about Hill's "out" statement. "...So when you say something like that, you don’t just come back from that with, 'Hey, my bad.' You’ve got to work that relationship up. You’ve got to build everything up again. It’s still a work in progress, not just for me but for everybody. But like I said, he’s working on himself, he’s working on the things he says he wants to get better with and do better on. So that’s the first step to me, so I commend him for doing that." As of Wednesday morning, DraftKings Sportsbook had the 2024 Dolphins at -275 betting odds to miss the playoffs. Those who believe the relationship between Tagovailoa and Hill is on shaky ground following Wednesday's developments may want to take a flier on such a wager before the odds change later this year.
Rafael Devers played first base for the San Francisco Giants for the first time on Tuesday, and his quote about playing the field likely will not sit well with Boston Red Sox fans. Devers said after Tuesday’s game that he prefers playing in the field as opposed to serving as a designated hitter. “It keeps me active. It keeps my head out of just thinking about the next at-bat,” Devers said, via Shayna Rubin of the San Francisco Chronicle. “I’d rather be on the field than in the cage hitting all the time and thinking about the next at-bat.” Devers, of course, refused to play first base for the Red Sox after they asked him to. He felt disrespected after they moved him off third base to accommodate Alex Bregman, and thought the team went back on its word by later asking him to play first. To Red Sox fans, if Devers is best playing in the field and playing first would have helped the team, it will be baffling why he did not just do it when that would seemingly have been a preferable outcome for all involved. Devers went 2-for-5 in Tuesday’s 9-0 win over the Atlanta Braves, driving in a run in his first appearance at first base. It remains unclear how frequently the Giants plan to use him at the position, but the team might take note of these comments.
Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert still has a huge hater in Shaquille O’Neal, as the latter believes that the four-time Defensive Player of the Year doesn’t deserve a spot in the Hall of Fame someday. O’Neal has called out Gobert for years, and the four-time NBA champion went so far as to request that he be removed from the Hall of Fame if the committee inducts Gobert. “If he gets in, take me out,” O’Neal said about Gobert on his YouTube channel. “Go in there and just rip my jersey out. I f***ing hate Rudy Gobert. Because f***ing making 250 (million dollars), he doesn’t deserve it. F**k that. I don’t care.” “As the President of the Big Man Alliance, you’re making big money, play like a f***ing big man, that’s it,” he continued. “Play like a f***ing big man. Throw some bows, knock some people out. Don’t be letting little white dudes from Denver dunk on you and then talk s**t to you. Then you’re going to grab them by the neck at the last second. Come on bro.” Minnesota Timberwolves News: Rudy Gobert plans to sit out the upcoming EuroBasket Minnesota Timberwolves center Rudy Gobert will not play for the French national team in the upcoming FIBA EuroBasket, as he plans to recharge his batteries ahead of the 2025-26 NBA campaign. “I’ve had busy summers in recent years, and it’s taken a toll. People don’t always realize how intense the EuroBasket is,” Gobert said to L’Aisne. “It finishes just before the NBA resumes, and it’s a big responsibility. I had said I’d wait until the end of the season to decide, and now I have. This summer, I’m focusing on myself, my family, and my son,” he added.
Milwaukee Brewers Jacob Misiorowski was back on the mound on Tuesday night against the Seattle Mariners, and even though he pitched just 3.2 innings, he continued to show why he is one of baseball's most exciting young talents. Prior to be pulled after 64 pitches, he allowed just three hits, walked one and struck out seven to continue his stunning start to his big league career. He also continued to light up the radar gun in a way that no other pitcher in the modern era has. Following Tuesday's start, where he regularly clocked in at over 101 mph, he has now thrown 39 pitches this season that have eclipsed 101 mph on the radar gun. He has done that in just 29.1 innings over six starts. By comparison, every other starting pitcher in Major League Baseball has tallied just 17 pitches of 101 mph or higher — combined. But it's not just about how he stacks up with pitchers this season that is staggering. It's that he is near the top of the list for 101 mph pitches for a career. Here are two of his 101 mph heaters from Tuesday. The ball just erupts out of his hand at the hitters. When you add in his mid-90s change-up and high-90s breaking pitches he is already one of the nastiest pitchers in the majors. It is that sort of electric stuff that made him a National League All-Star after just five appearances. For the season, he has now struck out 40 batters in 29.1 innings of work (that is 12.27 per nine innings), allowed only 15 hits and just eight earned runs. And five of those earned runs against came in only one start. Given his age and with the way teams today are extremely protective of their pitchers, he is probably going to see his pitch counts and innings closely monitored this season. When he is on the mound, though, he is quickly becoming appointment viewing.