Analyst names 'most talented thrower' in 2025 NFL Draft class other than Cam Ward

While most expect the Tennessee Titans will happily make Miami quarterback Cam Ward the first overall pick of the 2025 NFL Draft, Tyler Shough is a prospect who could become a late first-round pick or an early second-round selection.

For an article published on Monday, Derrik Klassen of The Athletic shared high praise for Shough while explaining why the Louisville signal-caller could be a great fit for the Cleveland Browns.

"Outside of Ward," Klassen said, "Shough is the most talented thrower in the class. He has a flexible yet explosive release that works well from all platforms, in and out of the pocket. Though he’s more of a straight-line thrower than someone with fantastic touch, he still gets the job done from an accuracy perspective. Shough is a quality processor, as well. Similar to Ryan Tannehill, he can be a hair slow coming off of reads early in the down but generally doesn’t make bizarre mistakes, and he protects the ball well."

Unlike teams such as the New York Giants (Russell Wilson) and maybe the Pittsburgh Steelers (Aaron Rodgers?), the Browns are set to hold a legitimate competition for their starting quarterback job this summer. Projects such as Alabama's Jalen Milroe and Ole Miss' Jaxson Dart should probably spend at least a portion of the 2025 season learning as unused backups, but Shough will turn 26 years old this coming September and could be ready to face a live defense before Week 1 of his rookie campaign arrives. 

Former Steelers flop Kenny Pickett and veteran Joe Flacco will open springtime workouts as the favorites to win the Cleveland QB1 gig over a yet-to-be-determined rookie. 

"The Browns’ best path to a quarterback is to take the Day 2 player most ready to start immediately," Klassen explained. "For my money, that is Shough. ...In terms of pro readiness and arm talent, Shough just makes the most sense for (Cleveland head coach) Kevin Stefanski’s offense right now."

In his latest mock draft, Browns insider Tony Grossi of ESPN Cleveland/The Land on Demand indicated the club would prefer to take Dart or Milroe over Shough at overall pick No. 33 (the first selection of the second round). However, it's possible neither Dart nor Milroe will get out of the first round if the New Orleans Saints grab Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders at choice No. 9. 

That could end up being good news for Cleveland if Klassen is right about Shough being an ideal quarterback for Stefanski’s offense.