Shedeur Sanders Will Not Throw At Combine
A number of high-profile prospects have opted against taking part in on-field drills during the annual NFL Combine. In the case of quarterbacks, that has become increasingly common over time. 
The trend of signal-callers electing not to throw during the Combine will see at least one of the 2025 class’ first-round talents follow suit. Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports Shedeur Sanders will not throw in the coming days, preferring only to meet with interested teams. Sanders will wait until Colorado’s Pro Day to take part in drills.
[RELATED: Sanders Schedules Visits With Browns, Giants]
This news comes as little surprise given recent trends amongst top quarterback prospects. Many passers have opted out of throwing in lieu of focusing on interviews during the Combine while waiting for Pro Days and individual workouts with teams to do so. Last year, eventual No. 1 pick Caleb Williams skipped the Combine altogether while Jayden Daniels (who went second overall) and Drake Maye (third) attended but did not take part in drills.
On the other hand, Sanders did not participate in the Shrine Bowl, taking the advice of several NFL teams to instead only take part in interviews. The Combine therefore would have provided him with the opportunity to perform in front of general managers and scouts in Indianapolis, but instead that will again not be the case. Sanders’ impression over the coming days and weeks will be key in establishing his draft stock, something which of course will supplement his statistical output during his four-year college tenure.
Working under his father Deion at Colorado for the past two seasons, Sanders racked up 64 touchdowns and 13 interceptions during that span. The 2024 Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year’s 74% completion percentage and 8.7 yards per attempt average indicate his floor as a passer at the NFL level, although many see fellow Day 1 lock Cam Ward as having a higher athletic ceiling. It will be interesting to see if Ward throws at the Combine or takes the same approach as Sanders, something which would open the door for the other (and much less acclaimed) passers in the 2025 class to showcase themselves.
Steelers Expected To Draft DL Early
The Steelers are currently set to return their defensive linemen rotation from 2024, but it’s an aging group that will require reinforcements this offseason.
Of the linemen who played at least 100 snaps last year, just three – Keeanu Benton, DeMarvin Leal and Isaiahh Loudermilk – will be younger than 30 when the 2025 season starts. Of the same group, only Benton, Leal and Cameron Heyward are signed through 2026. Heyward will be 37 when the 2026 season starts, making retirement a serious possibility.
As a result, the Steelers are expected to take a defensive linemen early in April’s draft, per Mike DeFabo of The Athletic, especially if they move on from Larry Ogunjobi as DeFabo predicts. The veteran defensive tackle is due a $3MM roster bonus on March 15, along with a $4MM base salary for the 2025 season. Releasing him before the new league year would save $7MM in 2025 cap space with a $3.5MM dead cap hit.
Such a move would push defensive line depth further up the Steelers’ list of priorities. They have the cap space to compete for a top free agent like Osa Odighizuwa or Milton Williams, but they have been more focused on finding a starting quarterback for next season.
That could push them to use a high draft pick to add from a strong DL draft class. There could be as many as 24 starting-caliber prospects at the position, according to NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah (via Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post). Such a deep class could allow the Steelers to wait until Day 2 to draft a defensive linemen, though a first-round pick seems to be in play as well.
Pittsburgh has used Day 2 picks on defensive linemen in two of the last three drafts: Benton in the second round in 2023 and Leal in the third in 2022. Barring a major addition in free agency, the team is likely to continue their pattern and spend a premium pick to solidify the short- and long-term future of their defensive line.
NFL Draft Rumors: Dart, QBs, Hunter
As far back as November, we have been consistently reporting that only two quarterbacks are being viewed as first-round prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft: Miami’s Cam Ward and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders. At the same time, we’ve been allowing for the potential that the usual, annual desperation from NFL teams at the quarterback position could lead to Day 2 or 3 passers being pushed into the first round with Ward and Sanders. 
We saw this happen last year. Early on in the pre-draft process in 2024, Caleb Williams and Drake Maye were viewed as the only first-round options, though Heisman-winner Jayden Daniels quickly forced his way into that conversation. Even after the conclusion of the College Football Playoff championship game, the two quarterbacks in that game, J.J. McCarthy and Michael Penix, were not generally being viewed as first-round prospects. Eventually, we ended up with six quarterbacks being selected in the first round — all in the first 12 picks — with Bo Nix joining the party, as well.
It’s not an uncommon occurrence, and this year, Jason La Canfora of The Washington Post has pegged Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart as the man to break into the first round with Ward and Sanders. “Book at least three quarterbacks to be taken in the first round of the draft,” La Canfora writes, citing that “too much demand” will overcome “not enough supply.” After watching the 21-year-old’s performance in the Senior Bowl, La Canfora quoted one general manager guaranteeing that Dart will hear his name on the first night of the draft. Another executive La Canfora talked to claimed that, while he himself wouldn’t select Dart that high, he believes Dart’s going Day 1.
Aside from his Senior Bowl performance, Dart had an impressive senior season for the Rebels, racking up the third-highest passing yards per game behind Ward (second) but ahead of Sanders (fourth). While Dart’s 29 passing touchdowns didn’t approach Ward (39) or Sanders (34), his six interceptions were fewer than both of his competitors.
Here are a couple other rumors surrounding common early conversations we’ve seen in the runup to the draft:
- Yesterday, ESPN’s NFL Nation released the results of some polling their reporters — Turron Davenport, Jeff Legwold, Daniel Oyefusi, and Katherine Terrell — conducted with NFL executives, coaches, and scouts at the Senior and Shrine Bowls. One interesting vote showed that of nine people asked if the top draft pick will be a quarterback, three said yes, four said no, and two were undecided. A big deciding factor for this will be what the Titans decide to do with their No. 1 overall pick; another factor will be if the team decides to address the quarterback position through the free agent or trade market before the draft.
- Another question NFL Nation posed was who the top quarterback in the draft is: Ward or Sanders? Of seven people asked, four sided with Ward while the remaining three went with Sanders. Oyefusi notes that the general consensus has Sanders as “a more refined pocket passer,” while “Ward’s arm talent and mobility give him the upper hand as a long-term prospect.” This goes along with most analyses we’ve seen that place Sanders just behind Ward with Dart as a distant third, if that.
- We’ve addressed plenty of speculation already on where Colorado athlete and Heisman-winner Travis Hunter may find himself playing at the NFL-level. Agreeing with early reports that Hunter is being viewed more as an elite cornerback prospect with the potential to contribute in certain packages as a wide receiver, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports that Hunter is being listed as a defensive back at the NFL Scouting Combine. Mike Giardi of the Boston Sports Journal adds that, while Hunter is planning on working out with the defensive backs at the combine, the two-way athlete will run some drills with the wide receivers, as well.
Shedeur Sanders Lines Up Visits With Browns, Giants
The NFL’s annual Scouting Combine is approaching, and the evaluation of the top prospects will be centered on the event when it takes place. After its conclusion, though, attention will turn to pre-draft visits.
Teams are permitted up to 30 visits with prospects in the period after the Combine and before the draft. Given the lack of high-end quarterbacks available in 2025, one of the top storylines will be how teams near the top of the board operate with respect to Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders. The latter already has his first two visits on the books.
Sanders revealed in a video posted by Well Off Media (operated by his brother, Deion Sanders Jr.) that he is set to meet with the Browns and Giants. That comes as no surprise considering the uncertainty both teams face under center. Cleveland is set to select second overall in April’s draft, while New York owns the No. 3 pick.
Deshaun Watson will remain with the Browns for 2025, but his second Achilles tear has created the strong possibility he will miss most (potentially all) of the coming season. Cleveland has Dorian Thompson-Robinson on the books, while Jameis Winston and Bailey Zappe are pending unrestricted and restricted free agents, respectively. The first round of the draft would offer the opportunity of adding a long-term Watson successor, but even if a Myles Garrett trade does not take place Cleveland’s roster has other notable holes.
Once the Giants elected to move on from Daniel Jones, it was clear they would be in the market for a draft addition. Indeed, the team is one to watch closely regarding a possible trade-up maneuver to secure either Sanders or Ward. New York could make a notable veteran addition before the draft, but especially if that does not take place adding either of the class’ top signal-callers in the first round would be expected.
The Titans own the No. 1 pick, and given the opportunity to add a Will Levis replacement they are of course looking heavily into their options. Tennessee has been connected to moving down the board given the relative lack of surefire prospects in the 2025 class, but the same is also true of the rest of the teams slated to select in the top five. How the Browns and Giants view Sanders will of course be central in determining the direction they go in come Day 1 of the draft.
Sanders followed his father from Jackson State to Colorado, putting himself on the round one radar in 2023. This past season, he posted 4,134 yards and a 37:10 touchdown-to-interception ratio along with a 74% completion percentage. Those figures helped him earn Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year honors and led to an eighth-place finish in Heisman voting. Concerns have been raised about the impact Deion Sanders will have with whichever team selects Shedeur, but his son – who did not practice or play in the Shrine Bowl – said he does not have a preferred destination at this point.
“Out of the teams [reportedly interested], there’s not really one that I’m looking forward to, there’s not really one I’m looking past,” he said (via NFL.com). “It’s all about the process. The teams picking me, I don’t really have much of a say on that.”
Teams Picking In Top-Five May Look To Trade Back
While there’s some belief that the Titans will move the No. 1 pick, they may not be the only team atop the draft board looking to make moves. Albert Breer of SI.com believes every team in the top five will at least entertain the idea of trading back.
[RELATED: Sources Expect Titans To Trade No. 1 Overall Pick]
All of these squads (which includes the Browns (No. 2), Giants (No. 3), Patriots (No. 4), and Jaguars (No. 5)) have plenty of reasons to justify a trade. Each of these teams won’t suddenly vault into contention (or even mediocrity) with just their first-round selection, and picking up additional assets may help them fill out their respective rosters. While these organizations may not be able to get a haul, they could still snag a foundational piece while picking up additional draft picks.
However, Breer also notes that this is partly an indictment on the draft class. Abdul Carter and Travis Hunter are generally considered the draft’s only blue-chip prospects. Teams like the Patriots and Jaguars already have their answers at quarterback, and if those front offices believe they’re out of realistic range for Carter/Hunter, it may make sense to move back and pick up extra pieces.
Further, the draft’s QB depth may convince some teams to pivot. Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders appear to be in their own tier among prospects, but neither of the impending rookies are believed to be generational, can’t-miss players. Instead of reaching for a QB they’re not enamored with, it could make sense for a team like the Giants to target a different position (or maybe a different quarterback) via a trade down the board.
Of course, each of those concerns will work against the teams picking in the top-five. As Breer notes, rival teams may not be as eager to trade up for any of the non-blue-chip prospects. There will surely be suitors, but the offers may not be lucrative enough to convince any of those top-five squads to move on.
It’s pretty common to see at least one top-five squad move off of their original draft position, but we’ve also seen a recent trend of front offices holding on to their best draft assets. Between 2019 and 2022, we only saw one top-five pick change hands (with the 2021 third-overall pick being swapped a few times before landing with the 49ers, who took Trey Lance). A handful of top-five 2023 picks were traded, but even the 2024 draft only saw the first-overall pick stray from its original team (which was a product of a trade involving the 2023 first-overall pick).
Updated 2025 NFL Draft Order
With Super Bowl LIX in the books, the 2024 campaign has come to a close. The final first-round order for April’s draft is now set as a result.
All 32 teams currently own a Day 1 selection, leaving the door open to each one adding a prospect in the first round for the first time since expansion in 2002. Any number of trades will no doubt take place between now and the draft, though, and it will be interesting to see how teams maneuver in the lead-in to the event. Of course, Tennessee in particular will be worth watching closely with a move to sell off the No. 1 pick being seen as a distinct possibility.
A weak quarterback class will leave teams like the Titans, Browns, Giants and Raiders with plenty of key offseason decisions. The free agent and trade markets do not offer many short-term alternatives which are seen as surefire additions, and teams which do not make moves in March will rely on the incoming group of rookies as part of their efforts to find a long-term solution under center. The two prospects seen as the clear-cut top options in 2025, however, are two-way Colorado star Travis Hunter and Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter.
For non-playoff teams, the draft order is determined by the inverted 2024 standings plus a series of tiebreakers, starting with strength of schedule. Playoff squads are slotted by their postseason outcome and the reverse order of their regular season record.
Here is a final look at the first-round order:
- Tennessee Titans (3-14)
- Cleveland Browns (3-14)
- New York Giants (3-14)
- New England Patriots (4-13)
- Jacksonville Jaguars (4-13)
- Las Vegas Raiders (4-13)
- New York Jets (5-12)
- Carolina Panthers (5-12)
- New Orleans Saints (5-12)
- Chicago Bears (5-12)
- San Francisco 49ers (6-11)
- Dallas Cowboys (7-10)
- Miami Dolphins (8-9)
- Indianapolis Colts (8-9)
- Atlanta Falcons (8-9)
- Arizona Cardinals (8-9)
- Cincinnati Bengals (9-8)
- Seattle Seahawks (10-7)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-7)
- Denver Broncos (10-7)
- Pittsburgh Steelers (10-7)
- Los Angeles Chargers (11-6)
- Green Bay Packers (11-6)
- Minnesota Vikings (14-3)
- Houston Texans (10-7)
- Los Angeles Rams (10-7)
- Baltimore Ravens (12-5)
- Detroit Lions (15-2)
- Washington Commanders (12-5)
- Buffalo Bills (13-4)
- Kansas City Chiefs (15-2)
- Philadelphia Eagles (14-3)
Penn State’s Abdul Carter, Colorado’s Travis Hunter Top Prospects?
The college football season is officially over; the playoffs have concluded, and the all-star games showed off a number of talented under-the-radar prospects. While those games are important for fringe first-round prospects looking to solidify their draft stock or players who will end up filling out the middle rounds, NFL scouts have been asserting some opinions at the top of the board. Namely, Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated reports rumors he’s been hearing that Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter and Colorado athlete Travis Hunter have been distancing themselves as the top two prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Carter has been shooting up draft boards recently. The Nittany Lions pass rusher has long been seen as a likely first-round pick, but as of late, Carter has seen his odds to be selected in the first three picks escalate gradually. At this point, Carter is being considered as an option for the No. 1 overall pick. This surge from Carter comes on the heels of a breakout, unanimous All-American season. After combining for 11.0 sacks and 17 tackles for loss in his first two seasons in Happy Valley, Carter reached career highs in his junior season with 12.0 sacks and 24 tackles for loss last year alone.
As for the Heisman Trophy winner, Hunter, there’s not much question as to why he’s shot up draft boards. After playing both cornerback and wide receiver for the Buffaloes at an elite level in 2024, Hunter doesn’t enter the draft as either the top wide receiver or cornerback prospect on many boards. His ability to contribute at both positions, though, has the potential to elevate him over the top prospects at each position.
Hunter likely won’t be playing both positions full-time in the NFL, though. As impressive as it was to watch Hunter often play every snap on both sides of the ball in Boulder, doing that at the NFL-level is a whole different monster. Many scouts will be evaluating Hunter at both positions, as Lance Zierlein of NFL.com plans to do, but Zierlein also mentions that most teams have been looking at him as a cornerback who can take some snaps at wide receiver, which confirms rumors we’ve heard in the past.
It’s not uncommon to see a pass rusher trending at the top of draft boards, and Hunter’s versatility makes him an intriguing prospect that could provide value at multiple positions. While the two may have established themselves as the top two talents on the board, they will still have to compete with the overwhelming push for quarterbacks at No. 1 overall. Miami’s Cam Ward has been trending with the best odds to be the first overall pick, and Hunter’s teammate Shedeur Sanders has made a strong case of his own for a high draft slot.
Carter and Hunter may be distancing themselves as the top two overall prospects, but position need may push them down a pick or two. In addition, there’s still plenty of time for other first-round talents to close the gap and make their own cases for a spot in the top five.
Jaxson Dart Moving Into QB3 Territory In 2025 Draft?
The top two quarterback prospects in this year’s draft — Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders — did not work out at the Senior Bowl. While both have generated scrutiny, especially when compared to last year’s crop, this duo has been viewed as the top tier among QBs in this draft for a while now.
A mystery exists behind those two passers, with the likes of Quinn Ewers, Jalen Milroe and Jaxson Dart being part of the next wave of QBs available. Each carries considerable questions into the draft; despite a few teams being in need, this second group may not see a player go in Round 1. Though, the supply-and-demand issue regularly leads to second-tier QB prospects being drafted earlier than they should be. That will be something to monitor as the Combine nears.
[RELATED: 2025 QB Class Generating Continued Skepticism]
Going into the Indianapolis session, one member of that trio may have helped himself most in Mobile. The Senior Bowl workouts went well enough for Dart that he may be the clubhouse leader to be the third quarterback drafted. As Milroe struggled during a week veteran ESPN analyst Louis Riddick described (h/t Paul Schwartz of the New York Post) as “uneven,” ESPN.com’s Jeremy Fowler notes Dart became more comfortable during the week of practices. An AFC scout told Fowler that Dart should not be viewed as a first-rounder, but with the maligned crop coming in, it certainly could happen.
Daniel Jeremiah’s first 2025 NFL.com big board lists only Ward and Sanders in its top 50. ESPN’s Matt Miller mocks Dart at 40th overall to the Saints, going two spots ahead of Ewers. Milroe is not in Miller’s top-64 offering. Beyond the host of QB-needy teams picking in the top six (Titans, Browns, Giants, Raiders), teams like the Jets, Saints, Steelers and Seahawks need long-term answers. This demand, along with what is not viewed as a strong free agent class (particularly if the Vikings franchise Sam Darnold), would benefit Dart.
Playing under Lane Kiffin at Ole Miss, Dart follows Matt Corral as a second-tier QB prospect. Corral did not pan out, going in Round 3 but not playing a down; he is not currently on an NFL roster. Dart started for three-plus seasons and finished the 2024 campaign with a 29-6 TD-INT ratio and a 10.8-yard average per attempt. A 69.3% completion rate and 495 rushing yards came along with those impressive numbers, though, as one NFC staffer told Fowler, the Kiffin offense is a “mess” in terms of translating to the NFL. That stands to be an issue Dart must navigate during the Combine and pre-draft visits.
Some of the teams holding picks outside the top six will need to turn to free agent or trade options, but with starter hopefuls scarce, Dart impressing at the Combine certainly could begin to generate first-round buzz. Even as Ward and Sanders are not locks to be this draft’s top two selections, Tennessee and Cleveland needs notwithstanding, their places near the top of the draft are fairly solidified. The next wave of passers, then, stand to be the more interesting part of the pre-draft process.
Titans Doing Deep Dive On QB Prospects
The Titans hold the No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming NFL draft. They also will enter the 2025 league year with only one quarterback under contract. Unfortunately, that quarterback, Will Levis, has accumulated a 5-16 record as a starter in his first two years of NFL play. These facts put together make it clear why Tennessee is doing their homework on the draft’s top quarterback prospects: Miami’s Cam Ward and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders. 
The common refrain in the runup to the draft so far has been that neither Ward nor Sanders would rank ahead of the six quarterbacks who were taken in the first round last year. Fortunately for Ward and Sanders, they’re not competing with those passers; they’re only competing with each other and prospects from other positions.
Tennessee could certainly address other positions with their top overall pick. Penn State pass rusher Abdul Carter and Colorado two-way athlete Travis Hunter have been viewed as options that the Titans could roll with, but with the importance new general manager Mike Borgonzi puts on the quarterback position, a deep dive on the passers available is necessary.
Yesterday, Jeff Howe of The Athletic reported out of Mobile, AL, the site of the Senior Bowl, that Ward was seen as the favorite in Tennessee over Sanders. They did note an interesting fact that, though both quarterbacks were onsite for the East-West Shrine Bowl in Arlington, TX, the Titans had an extra-long interview with Sanders, sitting with him for about an hour last week.
There’s a chance the Titans are throwing up a smokescreen, making things difficult for teams hoping to trade up into the top draft slot to know what they’re thinking. There’s also a chance that Tennessee has a good idea of what their thoughts are on Ward, and the extended interview could be viewed as due diligence necessary for Sanders to make up ground.
There’s of course a chance that the Titans are just interested in Sanders, though. Per ESPN’s Turron Davenport, Borgonzi is counting on head coach Brian Callahan‘s experience evaluating options for a No. 1 overall pick in this process. While Borgonzi was present in Kansas City for the acquisition of Patrick Mahomes, Mahomes fell to the Chiefs all the way down at No. 10 overall. Callahan, though, was part of the team in Cincinnati that decided to take Joe Burrow No. 1 overall over other options like Justin Herbert and Tua Tagovailoa.
Callahan looks for attributes such as decision-making, timing, and accuracy when looking for a franchise passer. While arm strength is also an important baseline characteristic, Callahan notes that anticipatory throws can make up for a lack of arm strength.
“People had questions about Burrow’s arm strength in general coming out,” Callahan told ESPN. “One of the things that makes Joe so unique, and I think you can probably put Shedeur in the same conversation…they anticipate when they throw it. They have the timing and accuracy on top of it. That makes up for arm strength. Those things are how you make up for maybe not having the biggest arm. If you’re throwing on time and putting a ball when and where you’re supposed to go, you’re not going to have too many problems.”
Ward is going to take the cake for arm strength in comparison to Sanders. Ward excels in touch throws, ball placement, and the ability to throw from different arm angles. His decision making has come into question at times, but he still excelled in limiting turnovers, though the ones he committed were extremely questionable. Scouts haven’t necessarily been identifying many such attributes as elite in Sanders, but his ability to anticipate throws seems to make up for that in Callahan’s eyes.
Borgonzi is reportedly in line with Callahan’s list of core traits, but he adds an emphasis on leadership, character, and intelligence. While Sanders hasn’t had any complaints about his character or intelligence, his leadership has been called into question. It’s easy to see how it may have been difficult for Sanders’ leadership to shine under the shadow of his father in Boulder. Despite only playing one year in Miami, the Hurricane’s rallied around Ward because of his character and leadership, so he should check those boxes off for Borgonzi. For intelligence, Borgonzi may have to depend on the NFL’s controversial Wonderlic test, which has delivered mixed results over the years.
At this point, there’s still a lot of work to do for Ward, Sanders, and the Titans. Both quarterbacks have strong cases for convincing Tennessee to use that top pick on them, but the Titans could easily go another route and allow Ward and Sanders to fall to another team. The rest of the pre-draft process — the NFL Scouting Combine and each player’s pro day — could impact some decisions, but Sanders didn’t practice at last week’s Shrine Bowl after a request that he sit out by the Titans. The mind games may continue well up until the Titans are ultimately on the clock.
Cam Ward Trending Towards Being First QB Selected In Draft
As NFL teams gather at the Shrine Bowl for an extensive look at this year’s top prospects, the focus has naturally been at the top of the draft board. As scouts and executives have started to congregate, Tony Pauline of Sportskeeda.com says the “overwhelming belief” is that Cam Ward has emerged as the top quarterback prospect in the draft. In fact, Pauline spoke to some individuals who believe that if the draft happened today, Ward would go first-overall to the Titans.
Ward was somewhat on the NFL radar heading into the 2024 campaign, but he put himself firmly on the map following a strong showing at Miami. During his lone season with the Hurricanes, Ward connected on 67.2-percent of his passes for 4,313 yards, 39 touchdowns, and seven interceptions while guiding the school to a 10-3 record. For his efforts, he earned the Davey O’Brien Award and ACC Player of the Year honors, and he ultimately finished fourth in Heisman voting.
It’s a pretty rapid rise for the QB, who entered the 2024 season as a potential Day 3 selection in the 2025 draft. As Pauline notes, the player’s turnaround isn’t completely dissimilar to that of Jayden Daniels, who evolved from a fringe prospect into the eventual No. 2 pick.
While Ward will face plenty of competition to be the first-overall selection, he’s likely only competing with one individual to be QB1: Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders. Unfortunately, teams won’t get an in-person look at the Colorado quarterback during the Shrine Bowl, as Sanders is an interview-only participant, per ESPN’s Matt Miller. Interestingly, Sanders made that decision after speaking to a handful of NFL teams, as Charles McDonald of Yahoo Sports says the Titans, Browns, and Giants all asked Sanders not to practice this week.
Each of those organizations, of course, is armed with a top-three pick, and Robinson notes that all three squads are kicking the tires on a potential Sanders selection. The QB prospect met with those three teams Friday before practices started on Saturday.
While both Ward and Sanders could be trending towards top-three picks, there continues to be a sentiment that this year’s QB class is lacking. Notably, Senior Bowl director Jim Nagy seems to share that opinion, telling Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com that he’s unsure “if any of these guys would be in the top-six last year.” This isn’t the first time we’ve heard this viewpoint, especially after the likes of Daniels, Caleb Williams, Bo Nix, Drake Maye, and Michael Penix all showed promise as rookies.
Considering the underwhelming opinion of this year’s QB prospects, there was some thought that QB-needy teams could look to other positions atop the draft board (especially Colorado’s Travis Hunter). While some of these front offices could still avoid the top of the 2025 QB class, it sounds like at least Ward and Sanders will hear their names early during the first round.