This year, six quarterbacks were selected within the first 12 picks of NFL Draft. Numbers like that will definitely be tough to replicate in 2025, but nonetheless, this year’s class of prospects is loaded with talent and upside at the position.
From experienced signal callers to first-year starting quarterbacks, plenty of passers have already increased their draft stock and turned heads this football season. There have already been shakeups in the rankings in the eyes of some evaluators, including ESPN’s Mel Kiper.
Following Week 5 of the college football season this weekend, Kiper shook up his quarterbacks ranking for the 2025 NFL Draft. The Draft guru even crowned a new top quarterback prospect in a list of talented playmakers that can be seen below.
After ranking No. 3 on Kiper’s previous list, Sanders shoots up to the No. 1 spot in his quarterback ranking following his impressive performance against UCF this weekend. He bounced back from an interception on Colorado’s first possession with 290 yards and three touchdowns in an impressive 48-21 win.
Following two dominant seasons at HBCU Jackson State, Sanders seamlessly translated his game to the FBS level with 3,230 yards, 27 touchdowns, and just three interceptions last season as college football’s most sacked quarterback. Which he’s only continued to build on this year after leading Colorado to a strong 4-1 start.
For the entire offseason, Kiper and plenty of other analysts regarded Carson Beck as the top quarterback of this year’s draft class. A status that seems a little bit more in question early in the college football season following some strong performances from others and some subpar moments from the Bulldogs’ signal caller.
For two straight games, Beck has gotten off to slow starts, turning the ball over four times in their loss to Alabama on Saturday. But in Georgia’s valiant comeback effort, he showed why he’s one of the best in the country, throwing for a career-high 439 yards and three touchdowns in the game of the year.
Ewers remains in Kiper’s Top 3 despite missing his second straight game with an injury. This season represents the third straight year where the starting quarterback for the Longhorns has missed time with an injury.
Injury concerns aside, there’s no doubting the talent and raw ability Ewers possesses. Which fans and evaluators are hoping to see more of eventually this year after throwing for 691 yards and eight touchdown passes in two games and one quarter of action so far this season.
Cam Ward has the chance to continue increasing his draft stock at a rapid pace following his electric start to the season. He has led Miami to an undefeated start and leads the country with 18 touchdown passes so far this season along with 1,782 yards (second in the FBS).
Ward has shown an elite level of poise this season with a unique play style behind the line of scrimmage and the ability to make all the throws at every arm angle. Not to mention, he’ll enter the 2025 NFL Draft as one of the most experienced prospects with 49 career starts currently under his belt.
No draft-eligible quarterback may have a higher ceiling than Jalen Milroe, the premier dual-threat quarterback in college football who is fresh off of one of the best performances of his career. Milroe threw for 374 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 117 yards and two scores on the ground in a thrilling 41-34 win over Georgia.
Milroe is one of the best overall athletes across the entire college football landscape, now accounting for 1,237 total yards of offense and 18 total touchdowns through four games this season. And while he still has some areas to improve, a fully polished version of Milroe could be extremely dangerous in the NFL.
After a solid first season as a starting quarterback at the college level, Allar has looked even better in year two under center for Penn State. He’s thrived in new offense coordinator Andy Kotelnicki‘s scheme with 956 total yards and 10 total scores on the season.
Allar has looked like more of a running threat and made more explosive plays in the passing game compared to last season. The Nittany Lion has all the physical tools for the pros standing 6-foot-5 and weighing 243 pounds.
Ole Miss may have lost to Kentucky at home in upset fashion this weekend, but they still have one of the best quarterbacks in the nation. Jaxson Dart leads the nation with 1,815 passing yards to go along with his 112 yards on the ground and 16 total touchdowns this season.
Dart had his most underwhelming performance of the season this weekend in the Rebels’ disappointing loss. But his ability and body of work still make him one of the top quarterback prospects for the 2025 class.
This year may be Garrett Nussmeier’s first as a starting quarterback, but in a short time he’s made a very strong impression in The Bayou. A fearless gunslinger who’s thrown for 1,656 yards and 15 touchdowns this season, which both rank top five in the nation.
Nussmeier showed glimpses of what he’s capable of as a backup quarterback in his limited playing time the past three seasons for LSU. Now fully unleashed ahead of a bye week followed by a high stakes matchup against Ole Miss.
Similar to Nussmeier, Miller Moss also waited his turn before taking over the reins of USC’s offense this season. He has excelled under center as the quarterback tasked with leading the Trojans into their new era as members of the Big Ten.
Moss threw three touchdown passes for a second straight week on Saturday in a 38-21 home win against Wisconsin. Flourishing in Lincoln Riley‘s proven offensive scheme that’s bred plenty of successful passers at the college and pro level.
Ohio State quarterback Will Howard rounds out Kiper’s Top 10 after transferring this offseason following four years at Kansas State. He joined a loaded Buckeyes team full of weapons out wide and coming out of the backfield.
Howard’s thrown for 1,039 yards and eight touchdowns so far this season, but the Buckeyes have not been tested just yet. Not to mention Howard has not even unleashed his ability as a runner this season with just 36 yards on the ground after rushing for 921 yards and 19 touchdowns with the Wildcats.
