ESPN goes bold, makes massive changes in 2025 NFL Draft QB rankings

On the same day Quinn Ewers announced his intentions to enter the 2025 NFL Draft, seemingly ending months of will-he won’t-he speculation, ESPN revealed where the Texas Longhorns quarterback falls within its updated ranking of draft-eligible QBs.

With many of the draft-eligible quarterbacks having already made their intentions known, including former Georgia QB Carson Beck backtracking on his own draft declaration to transfer to Miami as a fifth-year senior last week, ESPN draft analyst Jordan Reid overhauled his 2025 QB Hot Board rankings with projections of when each quarterback could be selected in late April’s NFL Draft.

Check out Reid’s full 2025 QB Hot Board Top 11 ranking below:

1. Cam Ward, Miami
Projected range: Round 1

Ward, who finished fourth in the 2024 Heisman Trophy voting, took the college football world by storm this season, leading the entire FBS with 39 passing touchdowns and just seven interceptions while ranking second nationally with 4,313 passing yards. Ward spearheaded the Hurricanes’ No. 1-ranked offense (43.9 points and 537.2 yards per game) while posting a FBS-best 88.1 Total QBR, including a 93.3 QBR in the fourth quarter alone to rank third nationally.

Reid: “He is an electrifying playmaker who led Miami to a 10-2 record, its best mark since 2017. He can throw from multiple arm slots and generate velocity with ease no matter the positioning of his body, like a shortstop maneuvering the infield. … What is most impressive is Ward’s poise and calm demeanor. He has been at his best in the biggest moments of the season, especially in fourth quarters.”

2. Shedeur Sanders, Colorado
Projected range: Round 1

Sanders, the well-hyped son of NFL legend and Colorado head coach Deion Sanders, is the only other quarterback with a first-round grade, according to Reid. But that comes with plenty of doubters. Sanders more than proved his merit in 2024, finishing just behind Ward in production with 4,134 passing yards and 37 touchdowns to 10 interceptions, and led the FBS with a 74.0 completion percentage.

Reid: “When protected in the pocket, Sanders’ rhythm, calm demeanor in the pocket and accuracy are among the best in the country. He shows great ball location in the short and underneath areas. … As the moments heighten, his heartbeat remains the same. And it’s that unwavering confidence that most excites scouts.”

3. Jalen Milroe, Alabama
Projected range: Early-to-mid Day 2

There’s a significant drop between the projected Top 2 quarterbacks and the rest of the field, with the dual-threat Milroe widely-believed to be the best of the next crop of draft-eligible QBs. Drawing favorable comparisons to Ravens star Lamar Jackson given his strong arm and natural athletic ability, Milroe racked up 36 total touchdowns and 3,570 total yards in 2024. Still, he struggled with consistency and decision-making as the season went on and finished with 2,844 passing yards and 16 scores to 11 interceptions.

Reid: “Milroe has a powerful arm and is a tremendously competitive runner. He has also shown more patience from the pocket, slowing down his internal clock and not scrambling as soon as pressure hits. He’s finding open targets, playing within Alabama’s system and could excel in an NFL offense that uses his running skills.”

4. Dillon Gabriel, Oregon
Projected range: Late Day 2

The well-traveled veteran quarterback established himself as one of the most productive quarterbacks in college football history with 18,722 passing yards and 72 touchdowns over six seasons at Oregon, Oklahoma and UCF. Finishing third in the Heisman voting, Gabriel capped his college career with his best statistical season to date, leading the Big Ten with 3,857 yards and 30 touchdowns on 72.9-percent passing, which ranked second nationally behind only Sanders.

Reid: “Gabriel is at his best when he can attack underneath voids in defenses, which helps him take advantage of space in shallow areas while mixing in occasional deep shots. … He’s a poised and precise decision-maker who makes high-level pre-snap reads.”

5. Quinn Ewers, Texas
Projected range: Late Day 2, Early Day 3

After opting to return a year ago, Ewers didn’t double-down this season, forgoing his final season of eligibility to enter the 2025 NFL Draft. Despite missing two games with an abdominal strain, Ewers set a career-high with 31 touchdown passes while throwing for 3,472 yards and 12 interceptions on 65.8-percent passing, which ranked second in the SEC behind only Ole Miss‘ Jaxson Dart.

Reid: “(Ewers) has been a point guard, distributing the ball to the wealth of playmakers in Texas’ offense. … Scouts also flagged Ewers’ tendency to panic when under duress. … Durability is also another area NFL evaluators question; he has missed seven games because of injuries over the past three seasons.”

6. Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss
Projected range: Late Day 2, Early Day 3

Dart boasts an impressive body of work after eclipsing Rebels legend Eli Manning as Ole Miss’ career leader in passing yards (10,617) and total offense (12,117 yards) following a school record-breaking 2024 campaign with an SEC-leading 4,279 passing yards and 29 touchdowns this season.

Reid: “Dart is an explosive thrower with the arm strength to attack all parts of the field and stretch the ball vertically, as his 11.5 air yards per attempt ranks third in the FBS. He also can get the ball out quickly with perimeter passes and couples touch with his arm strength.”

7. Kurtis Rourke, Indiana
Projected range: Mid-to-late Day 3

The 6-foot-5 Hoosiers quarterback was the model of consistency in his first and only season in Bloomington, ranking fourth in the Big Ten with a 69.4 completion percentage, despite quietly playing with a partially torn ACL for much of the year. Nevertheless, Rourke caught the attention of NFL scouts by finishing with 3,042 yards and 29 touchdowns to just five interceptions while guiding Indiana to its first-ever College Football Playoff appearance.

Reid: “Rourke needs to be more efficient through his progressions. There are times when he gets stuck on the first or second read instead of eliminating them quickly based on pre- and post-snap structures. Hanging onto those routes with the hope they come open has resulted in him missing other open options or being forced to escape avoidable pressure.”

8. Max Brosmer, Minnesota
Projected range: Mid-to-late Day 3

Brosmer is a bit of a surprise in Reid’s Top 10 after stepping up from the FCS level to rank sixth in the Big Ten with 2,828 passing yards and 18 touchdowns to six interceptions and a 66.5 completion percentage in 2024. That followed a strong career at New Hampshire, where compiled 8,467 passing yards and 68 touchdowns over four seasons, including a FCS-best 3,459 passing yards in 2023.

Reid: “Brosmer is a quick passer with unwavering confidence. He has an average arm but gets the ball out quickly. … He plays with a constant chip on his shoulder, and that competitiveness shows on film. Brosmer doesn’t hesitate on throws, and his confidence grew as he became more acclimated to the FBS level.”

9. Tyler Shough, Louisville
Projected range: Mid-to-late Day 3

Another well-traveled quarterback, the 25-year-old Shough set career-highs in both passing yards (3,195) and touchdowns (23) in his lone season at Louisville following multi-year stints at Oregon and Texas Tech. After battling through three injury-plagued seasons in Lubbock, Shough proved he can stay healthy, appearing in a career-high 12 regular-season games in 2024.

Reid: “He has clean footwork and drop timing and can execute multiple pre-snap mechanics. Shough can play from under center and out of the shotgun and isn’t hesitant to test the deeper parts of the field, yet shows a feather downfield touch.”

10. Kyle McCord, Syracuse
Projected range: Late Day 3, UDFA

McCord bet on himself in his final collegiate season, transferring to Syracuse after serving as Ohio State’s starting quarterback in 2023 when it became clear the Buckeyes were exploring other options. That decision paid off in spades as McCord led the entire FBS with 4,779 passing yards and ranked fourth with 34 touchdowns to 12 interceptions — five vs. Pittsburgh — with the Orange.

Reid: “McCord has shown quick decision-making abilities, getting rid of the ball in 2.46 seconds on average, the sixth-fastest rate in the country. He also understands his limitations and plays in structure, immediately taking what’s available early in his progressions.”

11. Will Howard, Ohio State
Projected range: Late Day 3, UDFA

Given his physical style and affinity for tough yards on the ground, the big-bodied Howard has drawn comparisons to Bills star Josh Allen. After transferring from Kansas State, Howard led Ohio State to next Monday’s College Football Playoff National Championship Game with a Big Ten-leading 40 total touchdowns while ranking fourth nationally with 33 scores and a career-high 3,779 yards on 72.6-percent passing in 2024.

Reid: “A physically imposing QB, Howard is a dual-threat passer with a good enough arm and the mobility to be an extension of the run game. … He tends to drop his eyes and immediately look for running lanes; he must become more patient and read progressions even at the hint of pressure.”