Insiders repeat warnings about quarterbacks in 2025 NFL Draft class

Throughout the winter, numerous draft analysts and reporters have repeatedly mentioned that the 2025 quarterback draft class is "a very questionable group," even though it's widely believed Miami’s Cam Ward and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders could ultimately become the top two picks of the player-selection process later this spring. 

For a piece published Friday morning, The Athletic's Jeff Howe shared that "numerous front office sources" have acknowledged they "would not rank any of the draft prospects ahead of the six quarterbacks who were selected in the first round last year." 

Specifically, one executive said roughly "90% of the people" at the Senior Bowl this week "would feel that way." 

The Tennessee Titans (No. 1 pick), Cleveland Browns (No. 2) and New York Giants (No. 3) are on track to make the draft's first three selections. All three teams are looking for long-term answers at quarterback, but The Athletic's Nick Baumgardner and Scott Dochterman predicted in a mock draft posted earlier this week that both the Titans and Browns would address other positions via their top draft assets. Baumgardner and Dochterman had the Giants grabbing Ward with the third choice. 

"If the Giants select (the wrong QB), it could set the franchise back years," one executive told Howe. 

Back on Jan. 22, ESPN NFL Draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. suggested that a quarterback-needy club could take a flier on an advertised second-tier prospect such as Alabama's Jalen Milroe, Ole Miss' Jaxson Dart or Syracuse's Kyle McCord late in the draft's first round. With that said, at least one analyst thinks Milroe "needs time" before he'll be ready to face a live NFL defense in a regular-season game. Meanwhile, Browns insider Tony Grossi of ESPN Cleveland/The Land on Demand noted on Thursday that Milroe and Dart "were largely unimpressive, erratic with throws and sloppy with fundamentals" during Senior Bowl practices.

"It’s entirely possible to draft Ward, Sanders, or anyone else in April and develop them into long-term starters. A good situation matters, just as it does when perceived generational talents are failed by bad organizations," Howe added. 

Executives and coaches facing make-or-break seasons regarding their jobs often feel they must rush rookie quarterbacks into lineups to appease fans and owners who want exciting young signal-callers to play as soon as possible. In short, it's practically a guarantee at least one team will "reach" for a quarterback in April and then play that first-year pro ahead of schedule this coming fall.