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

Coming out of the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine, ESPN NFL Draft guru Mel Kiper Jr. overhauled his Big Board rankings. And that included a big mover within his Top 10 quarterback list.

With several of the 2025 NFL Draft’s top projected passers opting out of participating at the Combine, Kiper’s Top 4 quarterbacks held firm. Colorado‘s Shedeur Sanders and Miami‘s Cam Ward maintaining their hold on his top two spots.

But there was one new addition to Kiper’s Top 5. Former Louisville QB Tyler Shough jumped three spots to No. 5 on Kiper’s board following an impressive showing last week in Indianapolis.

Check out how the rest of Kiper’s 2025 NFL Draft Top 10 quarterback list shakes out below. Multiple QBs drop a spot.

1. Shedeur Sanders, Colorado

Mel Kiper Jr. is holding onto his preference for the son of NFL legend Deion Sanders as his No. 1 quarterback in the 2025 draft class. This comes despite Shedeur Sanders received some anonymous criticism after reportedly coming off as “arrogant” during team interviews in Indy.

Arrogant or not, Kiper loves Shedeur Sanders’ combination of toughness, relisiency and unmatched accuracy after posting a FBS-leading 74-percent completion rate along with 4,134 passing yards and 37 touchdowns in 2024.

2. Cam Ward, Miami

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. Still, 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. He also ranked in the Top 5 in nearly every passing metric while leading Miami’s FBS-best offense in 2024.

3. Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss

Dart began opening eyes at the Senior Bowl earlier last month. Now, he 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. At least one NFL.com expert predicts 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. He made 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 4,779 passing yards and 34 touchdowns. Both totals led all FBS passers.

5. Tyler Shough, Louisville (+3)

The biggest riser on Kiper’s board post-Combine was the 25-year-old Cardinals QB. Shough has been 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. Those years came 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. Still, 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. FOX Sports’ Joel Klatt even described the Alabama QB as an “Adonis.”

7. Dillon Gabriel, Oregon (-1)

Gabriel was making the biggest jump on Kiper’s QB board before the Combine. Now, he 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. He has 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. That despite what many considered a strong showing in Indianapolis.

The 6-foot-4, 235-pound Howard was a fan-favorite at the Combine. He drew 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. A big part of that is him 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. There, 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. That 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. Rourke 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 to NFL teams. He’ll be looking to prove his worth with whichever team he lands with.