One year after a record run on quarterbacks in the NFL draft, the prevailing theme around this year's crop of college passers is uncertainty.
While Cam Ward appears to be solidifying his case to be the Tennessee Titans' pick with the No. 1 overall selection, the upcoming group at the position hasn't sparked the same excitement that Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and the four other signal-callers taken in the top 12 picks ignited last year. And in what's viewed as a lackluster year for top-end talent behind center, some teams might be wary about the available choices – at least when the price tag is a premium pick.
Still, this class also has a chance to split from last year's on Day 2 and beyond, with several developmental options in the mix after the 2024 group had a record 137 selections between the last first-round quarterback selection (Bo Nix) and the next pick at the position (Spencer Rattler in the fifth round).
Here's USA TODAY Sports' ranking of the top 10 quarterbacks available in the 2025 NFL draft:
1. Cam Ward, Miami (Fla.)
Between his attacking mentality and an embrace of off-schedule plays, Ward again and again bets on himself to defy the odds. Maybe that should come as no surprise for a player who began his career at the Football Championship Subdivision level with Incarnate Word before transferring to Washington State and again to Miami. But even when his confidence veers into the territory of hubris, Ward more often than not finds a way to cash in on his sizable gambles.
At the next level, his devil-may-care approach might have to be dialed back at least a little bit, with defenses sure to test whether he'll take the easier wins that he so far has frequently passed up. But given his comfort reading the entire field, making adjustments at the line of scrimmage and operating from within the pocket, Ward is far more than just an improvisational aficionado. So long as he is paired with a coaching staff prepared to ride out some early turbulence stemming from his playing style, Ward sizes up as an exciting offensive catalyst capable of elevating any group he joins.
2. Shedeur Sanders, Colorado
From the start of his career, Sanders has been defined by his ability to navigate pressure. The son of Hall of Famer Deion Sanders – as well as the coach's star pupil – has conquered a singular set of challenges, as he delivered both Jackson State and Colorado to new heights above even his substantial celebrity. Through it all, he has exhibited a never-say-die mentality that has become both his foremost strength and most pressing concern.
Sanders' toughness and confidence are unimpeachable after a career marked by insufficient protection. Yet while the 6-2, 212-pounder frequently overcame an unrelenting onslaught of pass rushers, he often exacerbated the issue by holding onto the ball too long and drifting backward in the pocket. With his margin of error getting considerably thinner at the next level, he will have to fine-tune his internal clock, especially given that he might not be able to replicate the off-platform and out-of-structure throws he grew accustomed to making for the Buffaloes. But as a precise pocket passer, Sanders could thrive as an efficient distributor if he ...
