The 2025 NFL Draft is almost here, and Yahoo Sports experts Nate Tice and Charles McDonald are breaking down the top prospects position by position. Here are the quarterbacks. Check out Nate and Charles’ consensus big board here, along with Nate’s final big board and Charles’ final big board.
Advertisement
Cam Ward, Miami
Nate Tice: Cam Ward exudes calmness when you watch him. Whether it’s in his pocket movements or executing in big moments, Ward is more than happy to try and make tough throws or attempt trick shots. He has no qualms continuing it even when punished.
Ward has a good frame, a good arm with a quick sidearm delivery that can attack all three levels, and he can create with his legs or off-platform when needed. He can also make the higher-difficulty plays. Ward can get a little too carried away with his heat-check moments and have some throws get away from him, but he has continued to add layers to his game at each stop of his college career and makes everyone around him better.
Advertisement
Ward is a good, but not overwhelming athlete, but is an effective scrambler with a good clock in his head for when to tuck the ball and run. Ward measured in under 6-foot-2 at the combine, but his height isn’t a deterrent because of his ability to quickly operate and change arm angles around pass rushers.
Ward still has a few things to clean up, and might lack a true overwhelming trait, but he’s young and has already shown the ability to operate (and excel) both in and out of structure — with results, too. Any fan base that drafts him should be rightfully excited because Ward is just a fun player to watch. You gotta love a QB that tries stuff.
Charles McDonald: Ward took a windy road to get here, but he’s nearly the consensus top quarterback in this year’s class. He went from Incarnate Word to Washington State to Miami and never looked out of place at any spot.
Advertisement
This past season, Ward was the driving force behind Miami’s success and nearly dragged the Hurricanes to the College Football Playoff despite having a porous defense. Ward is a big-time risk-taker on the field, but his arm talent and accuracy downfield allowed him to keep the Hurricanes alive in tough spots. His willingness to hunt big plays gets him in trouble sometimes, but it’s better to have to rein that in than try to get him to play outside of his comfort zone. — Charles McDonald
Ward will have a learning curve early on as he adapts his style to the increased pace of NFL play, but he has all the tools to be an NFL franchise quarterback.
Shedeur Sanders, Colorado
Charles McDonald: Sanders will likely go much, much higher than 37th overall, which is where I have him ranked, by the time the draft comes. That’s just the nature of quarterback drafting in the NFL right now. However, it is fair to wonder exactly what his ceiling is.
Advertisement
Nate Tice: Sanders improved his play this season, especially with his feel in the pocket and timing that he plays with on concepts. Sanders is tough, has a good arm and is more than willing to challenge defenders on tougher throws like in-breakers over the middle. When in rhythm, he can let his pass catchers thrive because of his friendly ball placement.
Sanders has below-average size and is also just an average athlete, which shows up when asked to create. He has markedly better pocket movement (although he still has a tendency to drift backward).
Sanders still has plenty to work on, especially in regards to timing and feel in the pocket. And while he has a good-enough arm for the NFL, his tools aren’t overwhelming enough to consistently mitigate tough situations. Sanders will have to be dropped into a good ecosystem to keep ascending at the next level.
Tyler Shough, Louisville
Nate Tice: I did a deep dive on Shough recently. The tl;dr — Shough is an old prospect with an injury history, but he is a good athlete who can absolutely spin it, especially while throwing on the move. He also doesn’t take sacks (which can be both good and bad). There are enough high-end throws on Shough’s tape that makes him interesting. Teams are going to have to gauge how early it is to draft a QB who was in the same high school recruiting class as Trevor Lawrence.
Advertisement
Charles McDonald: Shough is a quality quarterback prospect, but injuries and age make him a curious case to crack this draft season. Shough will be 26 this fall and was in college for seven seasons. He operated Louisville’s offense well and has some nice traits as a passer. He has starter potential, but the path to get here doesn’t have a great track record of working out in the NFL.
Jaxson Dart, Ole Missw
Charles McDonald: Look, Dart is going higher than this on draft weekend, but this ranking isn’t going to be in line with that. Dart has some intriguing physical tools to develop, but his accuracy is streaky and he has a big learning curve coming from Lane Kiffin’s offense to the NFL. Someone will get enticed with the peak plays he makes, but there’s a lot of room to grow here before he’s ready to start every week in the NFL.
Advertisement
Nate Tice: I wrote more extensively about Dart recently. Overall, he has interesting size and tools to work with. But his ability to consistently work through plays is still a work in progress that will need time to sharpen at the next level.
Riley Leonard, Notre Dame
Nate Tice: I’m likely going to be one of the higher people on Leonard. I do think there is a lot to like and tools to work with for a Day 2 dart throw.
Leonard has good size and is an excellent athlete who is a weapon on designed runs and in the open field. He has a good feel in the pocket (but can bail outside a bit too quickly at times) with an ability to mitigate sacks and pressure, something he has now shown behind two shaky offensive lines at Duke and then behind a — forgive the pun — green Notre Dame unit.
Advertisement
Leonard is an accurate thrower underneath with some real flashes of layering throws (and some downright excellent throws like at the end of the game against Indiana in the CFP), but his deep ball remains a gigantic question mark and he can have bad sprays crop up now and again. Some of that was Notre Dame’s iffy receiving core, but Leonard did feel like he was never comfortable consistently pushing the ball at times.
Leonard’s tools, toughness and ability to avoid negative plays make him intriguing to me, and his overall passing has picked up as the season went along as Notre Dame’s offense – and personnel – started to mature. I give Leonard some leeway because he was late to the QB position (with basketball being his main focus and playing wide receiver early in high school). But he still has to show that he can execute those complex throws on a more consistent basis, which might never happen and will make him more just an interesting backup option.
But it’s not the worst bet to make on such a competitive player with this much athleticism — who shows more feel for the position than he gets credit for — could turn into a starter down the road, with the usual “gets proper coaching” caveat.
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
Aaron Gordon has been a stalwart for the Nuggets, with his buzzer-beating dunk his latest act
Melissa Rohlin FOX Sports NBA Writer <!--> Aaron Gordon was sitting in the Denver Nuggets' locker room with ice wrapped around his knees, watching the Golden State Warriors play the Houston Rockets, when something flashed across the screen: It was his face, with ABC announcing that Gordon had just made the first buzzer-beating dunk in playoff history. "That's crazy," Gordon said, flashing a smile. A few moments earlier, with the score tied at 99-99 in Game 4 of the Nuggets' first-round playoff series against the LA Clippers, Gordon caught an airball from Nikola Jokic and made a two-handed dunk as 0.0 flashed on the clock. He immediately ran across the court to the tunnel, holding an arm up in celebration as he jumped into the air. The jam was made without a millisecond to spare, leading the officials to review whether the ball left Gordon's fingertips […]
Emotivní závěr El Clásica. Tři červené karty pro Real, na rozhodčího letěly sáčky s ledem
Barcelona vstoupila do finále aktivněji a odměnou jí byla vedoucí branka v 28. minutě. Pedri se po kombinaci s Lamine Yamalem dostal k míči na hranici vápna a tvrdou střelou překonal brankáře Courtoise.Real Madrid dlouho hledal cestu k vyrovnání, ale po přestávce zabral. V 70. minutě Kylian Mbappé nádherně zakroutil míč z přímého kopu a srovnal skóre. O chvíli později využil Aurélien Tchouaméni rohový kop a hlavou dokonal obrat Realu.Barcelona však nesložila zbraně. V 84. minutě se po rychlém protiútoku trefil Ferran Torres a vrátil zápasu nerozhodný stav. Drama poprvé vrcholilo už v samotném závěru základní hrací doby, kdy byla Barceloně nařízena penalta po pádu Raphinhy. Zásah VAR rozhodnutí zvrátil kvůli simulaci, brazilská hvězda za svůj letargický pád viděla žlutou kartu. O vítězi tak muselo rozhodnout prodloužení.Rozuzlení zápletky přišlo až ve 116. minutě. Obránce Jules Koundé vystihl špatnou rozehrávku Realu a pohotovou střelou zpoza vápna překonal Courtoise. Barcelona si těsný náskok pohlídala a mohla slavit. Napětí na hřišti i na lavičce Realu […]
Wieder Skandal um DFB-Star – Übler Rüdiger-Ausraster im Clasico!
Wieder einmal brennen bei Antonio Rüdiger alle Sicherungen durch – dieses Mal im Clasico gegen Real Madrid.Es passiert in der Nachspielzeit der Verlängerung – kurz nach dem entscheidenden 2:3. Ausraster auf der Bank. Mittendrin: Antonio Rüdiger!Schiedsrichter Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea (39) pfeift ein vermeintliches Stürmer-Foul von Kylian Mbappé (26) an Eric García (24). Sehr zum Unmut der Real-Stars.Was für eine Szene!: Rüdiger-Ausraster bei Clasico-Spektakel<!-->[-->Quelle: Sportdigital27.04.2025Vor allem Rüdiger ist kaum noch zu halten! Der Abwehrspieler war in der 111. Minute ausgewechselt worden, hält sich Eisbeutel an die Knie. Nach dem Pfiff springt er auf – und wirft etwas aufs Spielfeld. In Richtung des Schiedsrichters! Er trifft ihn nicht, aber es gibt die Rote Karte.Der gebürtigen Berliner muss von drei Betreuern und Mitspielern zurückgehalten werden – sieht so aus, als wäre er sonst aufs Feld gestürmt. Dann wirft Rüdiger mit deutschen Beleidigungen wie „Hurensohn“ […]
How overly-cautious Aston Villa wasted an opportunity to reach the FA Cup final
The cameras lingered on crestfallen Aston Villa faces.One half of Wembley was despondent and increasingly empty. Supporters were leaving early and, such were the queues for the exits, many had their backs turned as Ismaila Sarr’s second goal — Crystal Palace’s third — went in.Any suckers for punishment who decided to glance over their shoulder would have seen a portrait of starkly different emotions. At the far end, Palace fans were a vibrant shade of red and blue, flags waving and people bouncing. Look closer and Villa’s players appeared pale and colourless as the realisation of a spurned opportunity set in.AdvertisementFew Villa fans hung around for full-time. Players tentatively approached those that did, a reflection of the passive nature of how they played, as Palace’s ‘Glad All Over’ anthem reverberated around Wembley. The internal mood was so despondent that Villa’s social […]
STJ barra novo recurso da Fifa em disputa contra empresa brasileira sobre ‘spray de barreira’
O Superior Tribunal de Justiça (STJ) negou seguimento ao recurso extraordinário apresentado pela Fifa, no caso envolvendo a acusação de violação de patente e quebra de boa-fé objetiva nas tratativas com a empresa brasileira Spuni Comércio de Produtos Esportivos e Marketing Ltda. O recurso tentava levar a discussão ao Supremo Tribunal Federal (STF), sob a alegação de ofensa a preceitos constitucionais, o que foi rejeitado. Trata-se de mais um capítulo da disputa pelos direitos sobre o spray evanescente — usado para demarcar a distância da barreira em cobranças de falta — desenvolvido pela Spuni e que, segundo a empresa, foi indevidamente utilizado pela Fifa após tratativas negociais frustradas. A decisão que negou seguimento ao recurso foi assinada no dia 20 de abril pelo vice-presidente do STJ, ministro Luis Felipe Salomão. Segundo ele, a Corte reconheceu que a FIFA agiu em […]
David Moyes knows what he wants at Everton next season: A ruthless streak
Not for the first time, David Moyes had his head in his hands.The source of his frustration on this occasion was midfielder James Garner, who with time ticking away and Everton 1-0 down at Chelsea, had just sent a late corner straight into Robert Sanchez’s arms.Moyes was witnessing a familiar failing come back to haunt Everton. He places great stock in set pieces but has bemoaned his side’s poor delivery and execution already this season.AdvertisementOn Saturday, that absence of quality cost them a potential route back into the game as Chelsea teetered.In truth, Moyes had cut a frustrated figure throughout Saturday’s defeat.Sporting a baseball cap in the west London sun, he fumed early on at the fourth official after they took too long to punish some rough treatment on Beto close to the dugout. When Chelsea left-back Marc Cucurella complained, […]
Related
Aaron Gordon has been a stalwart for the Nuggets, with his buzzer-beating dunk his latest act
Melissa Rohlin FOX Sports NBA Writer <!--> Aaron Gordon was sitting in the Denver Nuggets' locker room with ice wrapped around his knees, watching the Golden State Warriors play the Houston Rockets, when something flashed across the screen: It was his face, with ABC announcing that Gordon had just made the first buzzer-beating dunk in playoff history. "That's crazy," Gordon said, flashing a smile. A few moments earlier, with the score tied at 99-99 in Game 4 of the Nuggets' first-round playoff series against the LA Clippers, Gordon caught an airball from Nikola Jokic and made a two-handed dunk as 0.0 flashed on the clock. He immediately ran across the court to the tunnel, holding an arm up in celebration as he jumped into the air. The jam was made without a millisecond to spare, leading the officials to review whether the ball left Gordon's fingertips […]
Emotivní závěr El Clásica. Tři červené karty pro Real, na rozhodčího letěly sáčky s ledem
Barcelona vstoupila do finále aktivněji a odměnou jí byla vedoucí branka v 28. minutě. Pedri se po kombinaci s Lamine Yamalem dostal k míči na hranici vápna a tvrdou střelou překonal brankáře Courtoise.Real Madrid dlouho hledal cestu k vyrovnání, ale po přestávce zabral. V 70. minutě Kylian Mbappé nádherně zakroutil míč z přímého kopu a srovnal skóre. O chvíli později využil Aurélien Tchouaméni rohový kop a hlavou dokonal obrat Realu.Barcelona však nesložila zbraně. V 84. minutě se po rychlém protiútoku trefil Ferran Torres a vrátil zápasu nerozhodný stav. Drama poprvé vrcholilo už v samotném závěru základní hrací doby, kdy byla Barceloně nařízena penalta po pádu Raphinhy. Zásah VAR rozhodnutí zvrátil kvůli simulaci, brazilská hvězda za svůj letargický pád viděla žlutou kartu. O vítězi tak muselo rozhodnout prodloužení.Rozuzlení zápletky přišlo až ve 116. minutě. Obránce Jules Koundé vystihl špatnou rozehrávku Realu a pohotovou střelou zpoza vápna překonal Courtoise. Barcelona si těsný náskok pohlídala a mohla slavit. Napětí na hřišti i na lavičce Realu […]
Wieder Skandal um DFB-Star – Übler Rüdiger-Ausraster im Clasico!
Wieder einmal brennen bei Antonio Rüdiger alle Sicherungen durch – dieses Mal im Clasico gegen Real Madrid.Es passiert in der Nachspielzeit der Verlängerung – kurz nach dem entscheidenden 2:3. Ausraster auf der Bank. Mittendrin: Antonio Rüdiger!Schiedsrichter Ricardo de Burgos Bengoetxea (39) pfeift ein vermeintliches Stürmer-Foul von Kylian Mbappé (26) an Eric García (24). Sehr zum Unmut der Real-Stars.Was für eine Szene!: Rüdiger-Ausraster bei Clasico-Spektakel<!-->[-->Quelle: Sportdigital27.04.2025Vor allem Rüdiger ist kaum noch zu halten! Der Abwehrspieler war in der 111. Minute ausgewechselt worden, hält sich Eisbeutel an die Knie. Nach dem Pfiff springt er auf – und wirft etwas aufs Spielfeld. In Richtung des Schiedsrichters! Er trifft ihn nicht, aber es gibt die Rote Karte.Der gebürtigen Berliner muss von drei Betreuern und Mitspielern zurückgehalten werden – sieht so aus, als wäre er sonst aufs Feld gestürmt. Dann wirft Rüdiger mit deutschen Beleidigungen wie „Hurensohn“ […]
How overly-cautious Aston Villa wasted an opportunity to reach the FA Cup final
The cameras lingered on crestfallen Aston Villa faces.One half of Wembley was despondent and increasingly empty. Supporters were leaving early and, such were the queues for the exits, many had their backs turned as Ismaila Sarr’s second goal — Crystal Palace’s third — went in.Any suckers for punishment who decided to glance over their shoulder would have seen a portrait of starkly different emotions. At the far end, Palace fans were a vibrant shade of red and blue, flags waving and people bouncing. Look closer and Villa’s players appeared pale and colourless as the realisation of a spurned opportunity set in.AdvertisementFew Villa fans hung around for full-time. Players tentatively approached those that did, a reflection of the passive nature of how they played, as Palace’s ‘Glad All Over’ anthem reverberated around Wembley. The internal mood was so despondent that Villa’s social […]
STJ barra novo recurso da Fifa em disputa contra empresa brasileira sobre ‘spray de barreira’
O Superior Tribunal de Justiça (STJ) negou seguimento ao recurso extraordinário apresentado pela Fifa, no caso envolvendo a acusação de violação de patente e quebra de boa-fé objetiva nas tratativas com a empresa brasileira Spuni Comércio de Produtos Esportivos e Marketing Ltda. O recurso tentava levar a discussão ao Supremo Tribunal Federal (STF), sob a alegação de ofensa a preceitos constitucionais, o que foi rejeitado. Trata-se de mais um capítulo da disputa pelos direitos sobre o spray evanescente — usado para demarcar a distância da barreira em cobranças de falta — desenvolvido pela Spuni e que, segundo a empresa, foi indevidamente utilizado pela Fifa após tratativas negociais frustradas. A decisão que negou seguimento ao recurso foi assinada no dia 20 de abril pelo vice-presidente do STJ, ministro Luis Felipe Salomão. Segundo ele, a Corte reconheceu que a FIFA agiu em […]
David Moyes knows what he wants at Everton next season: A ruthless streak
Not for the first time, David Moyes had his head in his hands.The source of his frustration on this occasion was midfielder James Garner, who with time ticking away and Everton 1-0 down at Chelsea, had just sent a late corner straight into Robert Sanchez’s arms.Moyes was witnessing a familiar failing come back to haunt Everton. He places great stock in set pieces but has bemoaned his side’s poor delivery and execution already this season.AdvertisementOn Saturday, that absence of quality cost them a potential route back into the game as Chelsea teetered.In truth, Moyes had cut a frustrated figure throughout Saturday’s defeat.Sporting a baseball cap in the west London sun, he fumed early on at the fourth official after they took too long to punish some rough treatment on Beto close to the dugout. When Chelsea left-back Marc Cucurella complained, […]
Be the first to leave a comment