**2025 NFL DRAFT PREVIEW – QUARTERBACKS**
\*Please note – NFL comparisons are more about skill set, style, and tools than how well they will perform in the NFL\*
**1: Cam Ward – Miami – 6’2/219**
**Grade: 82**
Five-year starter. Spent two seasons at FCS Incarnate Word where he was all-conference both years, first team in 2021. Winner of the Jerry Rice Award in spring 2021 and Southland Conference Player of Year in addition to earning All-America honors that fall. Transferred to Washington State in 2022 for two seasons where he earned All-Pac 12 honors twice. Final stop was at Miami in 2024 where he won ACC Player of the Year, earned first team All-America honors, and was named the Davey O’Brien Award recipient.
Ward is a battle-tested winner with production in multiple schemes against varying levels of competition. He leveled up multiple times over his career and only got better. He is not a normal prospect. In fact, his path to the draft is incredibly rare as he was a 0-star recruit from a Wing-T offense who threw the ball 12 times a game. He is a creator in every sense of the word. Whether it is evading pressure with a slippery yet sturdy build or altering his release point, the play is never dead with him. He proved capable of putting a team on his back with multiple comeback efforts, he threw more touchdowns than any Division I (FCS + FBS) quarterback in history, and he can adapt to his surroundings in a hurry. Ward needs to clean up his footwork and get away from hero ball at times but that is a part of what can make him a special player. Think of it as a JV-version of Caleb Williams as a prospect in that you want to rope him in but not to the point where you cut off what makes him special. With more experience and quality coaching, Ward can ascend to a winning pro quarterback but there is a lot of work to be done and improvements that absolutely need to be made because he got away with a lot in college that he will not in the NFL.
_\*Ward ended at the top the longest and most in depth QB-scouting process I’ve ever done from a single class. I’ve seen almost every drop back from the last two seasons and I began the weekly work in September. He is the only quarterback I would endorse at #3 overall even though the grade is not as high as some others. NYG is starving for a quarterback and while I do feel they should kick the can down the road until next year, I would not be upset with Ward if he fell and Schoen drafted him. With that said, he is closer to the Bo Nix level than the JJ McCarthy/Drake Maye level if you want to use last year as a gauge. He can make plays with his feet and arm. He brings swagger and confidence to his teammates. And he knows how to make plays when the team needs somebody to step up. I can’t get away from the lackadaisical, borderline lazy approach to how he plays the position at times. The interceptions against Duke and California were all-time poor, AKA couldn’t be worse. Those plays and the missed free throws/layups on short passes in combination with the sloppy footwork stem from either poor coaching or poor decision making. Time will tell once he enters the league._
_NFL Comparison: Steve McNair (ret)_
**2: Shedeur Sanders – Colorado – 6’1/212**
**Grade: 79**
Four-year starter. Spent two seasons at Jackson State prior to transferring to Colorado to follow his father, Hall of Fame cornerback and Head Coach Deion Sanders. Two-time All-Conference at FBS level and a 2024 All-American. Winner of the Jerry Rice Award (top FCS freshman) in 2021.
Sanders has been groomed to play quarterback since his early days, and it shows up both on and off the field. He is a field commander who knows the game inside and out. There is a cleanliness to his game from a mechanical perspective across the board. His polished footwork and release pave the path for his excellent accuracy and ball placement to all levels of the defense. Sanders is used to the spotlight and can handle pressure, understanding all of the jobs a face of the franchise needs to accept at the next level. He protects the ball exceptionally well and will layer the ball between defenders consistently, as he shows a good feel for coverages and route combinations. Sanders has a lot of check marks on his score sheet, but lacks stand out athletic ability. His size is somewhat of a shortcoming. He tends to drift backwards against pass rush pressure instead of stepping up and it creates inconsistent follow through. He needs to be fundamentally sound to bring out his arm talent, as his ball dies when he can’t fully use the lower half. There’s somewhat of a slowness to his game Sanders needs to fix and he needs to speed things up and improve his internal clock. The weaknesses in his game could put a cap on his ceiling but there is also a safe feel to his potential. If he can improve his response to pressure and play on time more consistently, he can lead a quality NFL offense.
_\*One of the most interesting QB-evaluations I’ve ever done. At no point did I ever view him as an elite prospect but at no point did I consider him a throw away. Sanders can play. As I said early in the fall, his natural accuracy and ball placement are the best in this class. Many will say you can’t teach accuracy and while I do think things can improve with better footwork and mechanics, I do believe there are hard-to-learn skills at this point in a quarterback’s personal timeline of playing the position. This is the feather in his cap and yes, it can elevate him at the next level. How he responds to pressure shows off his toughness but I question his decision making. No part of his off-field life impacted this grade. Sanders is your typical young famous athlete in today’s world that some people have a hard time relating to. But I’ll tell you what. Being the son of Deion Sanders did provide several perks for him growing up, however I feel like he has handled it as well as anyone could ask for. This kid is all about ball and I have stories to back it up. He works hard, he knows the game better than most, and he plays with a chip on his shoulder. The one thing I question, however, is the fact his father will not be on the sidelines for the first time since he was a little kid. He was on the high school coaching staff and both college staffs. Lastly, Sanders simply grades out like a guy with a lot of average-at-best traits with one really solid trait (ball location). Normally for me, that puts you in a day two tier at best and that is the only spot I would fully endorse him._
_NFL Comparison: Jared Goff / DET_
**3: Jaxson Dart – Mississippi – 6’2/223**
**Grade: 79**
Three-year starter. Spent one season at Southern Cal prior to transferring to Mississippi in 2022. First team All-SEC in 2024. Set program records for career wins, passing, and rushing yards by a quarterback. A highly experienced signal caller with 41 career starts, 38 of which came on an SEC team
The former two-time all-state baseball player in high school is a balanced athlete with a sturdy frame. He plays the game confident and tough, consistently showing the ability to play through pain and contact without any fear. Dart plays like he thinks he can make any throw at any time. The gunslinger mentality has gotten him into trouble against some of the better defenses he faced off against, however. This creates a wide spectrum between his good and bad. For such an experienced quarterback, the lack of cleanliness to his decision making is worrisome. There are enough positives in his game attached to a live arm and dual-threat attack, but he needs to be in a system that will preach patience and development rather than year one impact. There is enough to work on for him to stay on the sidelines in 2025, at least. He is productive against pressure and will stare down the barrel of a gun if it means giving the target an extra second to get open. Dart can make every throw with any level of touch needed and he throws a nice deep ball and will take chances. He has an abundance of high-level passes on tape; the most in this class by a wide margin. With that said, he will get reckless with his decision making as he makes throws as if he does not see or feel the back side of the coverage. He tends to put his receiver in a den of defenders ready to pounce. Dart has a lot of all-or-nothing to his game that is dictated by momentum rather than his own mindset.
_\*Dart is really good friends with the #2 overall pick from the 2021 Draft, Zach Wilson. The more I watched him, the more I saw the two as incredibly similar prospects. Many, including myself, missed on Wilson and it was partially a result of being sucked in by the good and ignoring the bad. Every quarterback makes mistakes and that is never a reason to turn away. But there are specific mistakes, if repeated over and over, that need to cause hesitation in a grade. That is where I stand with Dart. His best plays (he has a lot of them) are the best in this class. His worst plays (he has a lot of them) are among the worst in the class. I expect more from a 41-game starter in a QB-friendly offense that, by the way, has never produced a solid NFL quarterback. Dart is widely considered a day two quarterback so I agree with the consensus. But when it comes to either Dart in round 2 or Sanders in round 1? I’m taking the former every day and twice on Sunday. Dart has some wildcard in him that, if a team can be patient, could evolve into the best QB play in this class. I trust him against pressure (pass rush) more than any of these guys but I’m not sure I trust what’s going on between the ears enough. Response to adversity is a big deal and he did not grade out well there._
_NFL Comparison: Dak Prescott (DAL)_
**4: Jalen Milroe – Alabama – 6’2 / 217**
**Grade: 76**
Two-year starter. All-SEC in 2023. Winner of the William V. Campbell Trophy, the top football academic award. Milroe backed up Bryce Young for two seasons, first appearing in 2022 for a few games after an injury to the eventual number one overall pick. He quickly showed the playmaking talent with both his arm and legs, scoring 35 points on eight drives against Arkansas and then tying a school record the next week with three passing touchdowns in his first career start. When he took over the full-time role in 2023, he finished second nationally among quarterbacks with 12 rushing touchdowns (behind only Jayden Daniels) while proving he could throw the ball downfield with success. There is enough quality tape and production to prove he has a high ceiling that includes an electric trait. The elite athleticism promotes the idea of him being a dangerous dual threat that is difficult to game plan against and that alone is worth giving a long look toward. The question will be whether or not he can balance out as a passer enough to beat defenses with his arm. His strong, running back-type build can take hits but he also knows when and how to avoid them. Milroe’s true run-away speed will create a lot of explosives for the run game; that is the obvious part. But he can also create quick torque and really spin it without a wind up. He has excellent deep ball touch and ball placement and no passer in the country suffered from deep drops more than Milroe in 2024. The potential in his arm is real but he does not anticipate throwing lanes and he waits too long to see it before throwing it. Milroe follows his target with his eyes post-snap for too long, opening the door to backside interceptions. He is not a fluid mover in the pocket and his footwork is rigid. Lastly, he has too many poor throws and fumbles which can be partially attributed to his small hands in addition to very poor effort post-interception on multiple occasions. Milroe is a mystery but he is also the best pure playmaker in this quarterback class that is credibly in the Vick, Lamar, Jayden tier when looking at what he does with his legs.
_\*There was a period where I believed Milroe would be the top quarterback in this lackluster class. It was a combination of the lack of pure top tier quarterback play in the group in addition to Milroe’s special athleticism. The thing I needed to see in his arsenal as a passer never showed up consistently. If anything, Milroe may have regressed as a passer in the new offense. He is incredibly erratic and he showed a lack of feel. “Feel” when it comes to the position revolves around anticipation and staying a step ahead mentally. Of all the football I watched on Milroe, I never got the sense he could get halfway there on gameday. Staring down his target, waiting too long to get the ball out, and being too quick to tuck and run showed up more often than not. I was told he had a very hard time learning the new scheme as well. This is a long term project with a high ceiling. The path to that ceiling will need to hit several checkpoints and if you’re someone that makes decisions based on odds, well his are very slim. The secondary question here is what use could a team get out of him athletically? If Taysom Hill can have the success he’s had in his unique role, Milroe can be ten times the contributor he’s been. I do not want to suggest a full blown position change yet but this is not a good athlete, this is a great one. A true difference-making one. If he fails under center, he is still a weapon and that adds a layer of complexity to his grade. Milroe is and can be something beyond a quarterback._
_NFL Comparison: Mike Vick (ret)_
**5: Quinn Ewers – Texas – 6’2 / 214**
**Grade: 76**
Three-year starter. A number one overall high school recruit who began his career at Ohio State before transferring to Texas, his home state, in 2022. All-Big 12 in 2023.
Ewers is a talented thrower capable of lightning-fast and versatile releases that stem from his ability to handle and manipulate the football. He has a crafty way about him that, at his best, looks like an ideal quarterback who likes to out-scheme with a lot of pre-snap motion and misdirection. He plays on time consistently, averaging just over 2.5 seconds getting the ball out over his career. He maintains his own level of accuracy no matter what arm angle he uses, an easy flick of the wrist gets the ball to his target in a hurry. Ewers plays with a low pulse, very calm and composed. Despite the obvious arm talent and three years of starting experience, his performance remained inconsistent. He went backwards in his final year when it came to ball protection, doubling his career total in interceptions in 2024 alone. He also doubled his career total in fumbles in 2024 alone. He does not process well against pressure or the blitz and his mechanics tend to break down weekly at some point in every game. Ewers does not play well through contact and he missed multiple games to injury all three years as a starter. Without a big frame or special athletic ability, this is a significant injury risk at the next level. He is a high-floor backup who could work his way into a starter role down the road when looking at his sheer talent.
_\*I’ve been pretty vocal on X about my “soft spot” for Ewers. The talent that he has in his arm is real and I want to be sure nobody undervalues it. Quarterback coaches I speak with reiterate that notion. This was a classic example of a top-shelf recruit that read his own headlines coming out of high school but then soon realized his talent would not be enough to beat out CJ Stroud (or even Kyle McCord). He ran back home to Texas, got hooked up with a solid offensive coach Steve Sarkisian (who battled his own off-field demons as well) and they two blossomed together. Ewers has the style of play that a Shanahan/McVay/O’Connell/Coen system can thrive with. But at the end of the day this is still a kid that lacks consistency and durability. That is a tough sell beyond a backup projection but I do want to be clear that I see something in him. He just got a late start to the maturity component._
_NFL Comparison: Sam Howell (SEA)_
**6: Kyle McCord – Syracuse – 6’3/218**
**Grade: 73**
Two-year starter. Spent three seasons at Ohio State prior to transferring to Syracuse in 2024 where he rewrote the program’s single season record book and set a new mark for the ACC conference in single season yards. Earned all-conference honors at both spots.
He waited in the wings behind CJ Stroud for two years prior to getting thrown into the limelight for the National Championship-contending Buckeyes. While he did not fill the shoes of the eventual NFL Rookie of the Year, he did show off a big arm and occasional eye-opening throw in high-pressure situations. Transferring to Syracuse did allow him to open it up more, as he threw more passes than everybody by a wide margin. He has a strong, thick frame that can play through contact. He throws the ball with different tempos and touch based on the situation. He feels the pass rush and will properly speed things up. The primary issue is McCord has a lot of ups and downs. The wide spectrum of results brings a level of instability to the field and he often makes throws he shouldn’t. The decision making must improve but considering he started for just two years and he has more than his fair share of high-level throws, he is worth a gamble but there is a lot of all-or-nothing to his projection. He has the arm talent and mentality to handle a high-volume approach but he must prove he can cut down on the mistakes and improve his ball placement.
_\*If there is one day three quarterback in this class that would not surprise me if he ended up being a quality starter, it is McCord. What happened to him at Ohio State was simply bizarre. His leash was really short and in my opinion, I think that had more to do with Ryan Day feeling job security heat than McCord’s poor play. Had he stayed at Ohio State for 2025 with the supporting cast Will Howard got to work with, I believe the Buckeyes still win it all. Had that been the case, is McCord being talked about as a day two guy? Situations can change everything for a quarterback. At the end of the day this is a kid that went 22-4 as a starter who vastly improved from 2023 to 2024. The inconsistent decisions and accuracy are what prevent him from getting higher on this list. The numbers he put up last season are on the inflated side and there is a little too much Wild Wild West in his game. Bruce Arians would have loved him._
_NFL Comparison: Cooper Rush (BAL)_
**7: Will Howard – Ohio State – 6’4 / 236**
**Grade: 74**
Five-year starter. Spent four seasons at Kansas State prior to transferring to Ohio State in 2024. Set a Kansas State career record with 48 career touchdown passes and added another 19 on the ground even though he was in and out of the lineup a few times early in his career. Put himself on the national radar in 2022 when he led the Wildcats to a win against TCU in the Big 12 Championship game. Two seasons later, he led the Buckeyes to a National Championship.
He is an easy prospect to like at the start of the process with his massive frame and a dual threat approach who steadily improved his passing over his career. He can break tackles and avoid sacks in addition to being tough with the ball in his hands and playing on time. He is a game manager who knows how to distribute the ball out quickly and accurately. While Howard does not have the most live arm and there is a cap to his overall physical potential, he ascended to new heights last fall and it gives hope to what he can evolve into at the next level. He is a safe pick to be a quality long-time backup with his versatile skill set and performance in big games within different systems. His ball hangs in the air too long and he has a tough time making big time throws into tight windows down the field. The scheme may need to limit his air yards because he tends to push and aim the ball rather than throw it. There are realistic scenarios where he can be an average starter if he is put in a friendly system but he will struggle to raise the level of his teammates.
_\*Howard’s ascent was a very long and slow drip. He couldn’t beat out Skylar Thompson and he lost snaps to Adrian Martinez at Kansas State. With that said, the offense there was not a great fit for a future pro. The transfer to Ohio State put him in a position to play with NFL starters all over the place. There may not have been a better supporting cast than what he got to work with. Even in 2024 alone, Howard did not play well in the front half of the schedule and it looked like he didn’t belong at times. He was a key reason why they lost at Oregon and why they were upset at home against Michigan. The playoffs are what kept his stock alive and while it did cause some overreaction within the market (fans and league to be honest), Howard did show he can play big in big moments. While he didn’t do it enough, combining those facts with his size and underrated athletic ability can lead some to believe that when he is in a real offense with real talent, he can win. While I’m sure several quarterbacks would say that about themselves, Howard proved it. And to be honest, his tapes in those big games were very impressive. I struggle to see the natural flow and consistency to his passing to warrant anything more than a backup projection. But not a bad option for day three to see if he really is on a constant ascent._
_NFL Comparison: Sean Clifford (GB)_
**8: Tyler Shough – Louisville – 6’5/219**
**Grade: 73**
Five-year starter who redshirted in 2018 and had multiple seasons cut short due to injury, opening the door to seven seasons in college. Began his career at Oregon backing up Justin Herbert. Transferred to Texas Tech in 2021 and then Louisville in 2024. Shough started 32 games over that span.
While the path has been anything but straight for the soon-to-be 26-year-old, Shough’s rise from adversity is noteworthy. On the field, he is a classic drop back passer with obvious size and arm talent. He can create out of structure and once in the Louisville scheme, we saw a different player. He improved across the board and gave legs to the notion there is untapped upside that his previous stops did not reach. His huge frame that handles contact well has underrated athleticism. He has excellent accuracy on the move with the ability to create on his own. Shough has enough arm to make every throw and his best ones have some special to them. He is adept at throwing the ball to a spot with anticipation. Shough did not have enough success throwing the deep ball, as he put too much air under them and left too much time for defensive backs to make their way to the destination. The overall ball placement and accuracy is inconsistent with a lot of wide misses. At the end of the day, Shough has just one full season of quality tape over seven years in college. He comes with durability and age concerns and an injury history which includes a broken collarbone, shoulder surgery, and a broken fibula. There are a few components of his game that do hold him back, but there is more than enough to project him to a worthy backup tier with upside for more.
_\*Shough has four college degrees. He is going to be one of the oldest, if not the oldest, rookies in the league and is approaching Brandon Weeden territory. The number of people that hopped on to his bandwagon was puzzling to me. I’m not sure if it was the follower/herd mentality that we see every year with a few guys or those that spend all of the evaluation time watching highlights-only. Shough does have talent and ability, but what is the plan with a kid this old and in injury history that is lengthy? It would be one thing if he had a special year of production or won a lot of games. But neither are true and I’m not sold on him as a deep ball passer nor do I like him against a quality pass rush. Crazier things have happened but I think Shough is a day three-only type for numerous reasons. Maybe the ceiling that stems from the talent is enough for some, but not me._
_NFL Comparison: Joe Flacco (FA)_
**9: Dillon Gabriel – Oregon – 5’11/205**
**Grade: 72**
Six-year starter who had his 2021 season cut short three games in due to injury. The all-time leader in career starts (63) and touchdowns scored (189) in addition to finishing second all-time in passing in FBS. Finished third in the 2024 Heisman Trophy voting in addition to winning the Big 10 Offensive Player of the Year Award and earning an All-America honor. Spent three seasons at Central Florida, two at Oklahoma, and one at Oregon.
His experience and polish are top shelf traits. A proven playmaker who plays with a point guard-style brand of the position, Gabriel for six straight years averaged over eight yards per attempt, finished with single-digit interceptions, and averaged under 2.95 seconds to throw with an NFL passer rating of above 105. When in open space he can see the field and get the ball out quickly with accuracy. His varnish, experience, and knowledge of the game will suit him well in a backup role that can keep things together if he is relied on. His repeatable, smooth release throws a clean, catchable ball and he anticipates creases and openings well. Gabriel is excellent on the move, as he is a shifty and quick mover who can maintain all of his arm talent moving in any direction. The improvement he showed against pressure over his career was obvious. He is a sound decision maker who protects the ball and plays on time within the structure of the offense. The lack of size will put a cap on his potential and widen the risk of error. He gets lost in traffic and will have a hard time consistently seeing the field and this is an obvious limitation that will never change. His size profile is in rare territory. Nearly all of his snaps in college came out of shotgun where that lack of vision and height can be improved. Gabriel will need to be near-perfect in other areas to hide the size-limitation. The dual threat approach to his game, experience in big games, and production spread across multiple programs can make him a safe bet for backup duty but he will likely struggle to be anything more.
_\*I have a few quarterbacks graded above Gabriel when it comes to their potential to evolve into a surprise starter down the road. But if you asked me who is the guy teams will want more when it comes to set-in-stone backup duty? Gabriel bumps up a few spots. Bizarre thing to say, I know. It makes sense in my head the way I would want Chase Daniel as a backup over a high-ceiling kid with all the tools. Gabriel brings a level of safety to the depth chart that I always like to have in the room should an injury appear. But I simply don’t see a scenario where a guy this small can get it done week after week when a defense can scheme-plan for you. Gabriel can handle pressure and he can create innovative styles of play to sneak his way into a win or two if called upon. But no, I do not see a Brock Purdy type situation (who can see that coming with anyone?). If he is drafted day three to be the long term backup, sign me up but that selection is probably better suited for another hole on the roster._
_NFL Comparison: Bryce Young (CAR)_
**10: Kurtis Rourke – Indiana – 6’4/220**
**Grade: 71**
Five-year starter. Spent four seasons at Ohio prior to transferring to Indiana in 2024 where he earned All-Big 10 honors. Also earned All-MAC honors twice and was the 2022 All-MAC Offensive Player of the Year. He leveled up and maintained his level of play and production seamlessly while leading Indiana to its best season in school history. He did so while playing on a partially torn ACL. Rourke will bring the kind of leadership and functional intelligence to the group that will raise the floor of the room. He clearly knows how to read a defense and will play within the structure of the offense consistently. He is an accurate thrower who can put his release on constant repeat and throw receivers open. Rourke can see the throwing lanes and aiming spots before they appear, showing excellent anticipation. He throws a catchable ball with easy touch and tight spirals. Against pressure, Rourke knew how to produce and get the most out of a play. The problem with him is simply baseline talent. He does not have enough zip on his balls that need to travel more than intermediate distance; his passes hang in the air too long. Throwing the ball deep appears labored and unnatural as he tends to push and aim rather than drive the ball with his hips. Rourke will turn 25 as a rookie and lacks upside beyond backup status, but his experience and ball protection do make him attractive as a second stringer.
_\*There are some advanced metrics guys I speak with who like Rourke a lot. Top five in this class actually. I know he was slowed by the ACL this past season so I went back and watched some of his tape (not all) from Ohio. There was a repeated slowness to his game that will hinder him at the next level. Both with his arm and legs. He is a strong, physical tough guy who knows how to play the position. That will go a long way for teams simply looking to get a long time backup in the building._
**11: Max Brosmer – Minnesota – 6’2/217**
**Grade: 72**
Four-year starter. Spent five seasons at New Hampshire (one of which was missed due to a torn ACL) prior to transferring to Minnesota in 2024. Earned first team All-CAA and second team All-America (FCS) honors in 2023. Fought through adversity early in his career between a shortened Covid season before missing an entire year with a torn ACL.
After throwing 174 passes as a true freshman in 2019, he did not throw more than 21 passes in a game until 2022. The late bloomer excelled and then proved he could handle playing the position after leveling up to the Big 10. He shows great feel and processing, certainly NFL-caliber. He repeatedly went through multiple progressions and made high level throws to all levels with a clean release. He shows excellent footwork and ball handling, obvious signs of being well-schooled and developed. Brosmer has advanced eyes that can put defenders where he wants and he will throw his targets open. He does not respond well under pressure as he tends to get jumpy and thrown off balance which forces errant throws. When it comes to sheer arm strength, he does not have enough zip on his ball. He lofts too many in the air and it won’t get there fast enough at times and it shows up on a lot of intermediate to deep passing. His below average size and speed can be an issue as well and he did not get off contact with rushers often enough. While the lack of physical talent keeps his ceiling low, this is a guy who knows the game well and plays within the structure. He projects as a quality backup who can stick around and could end up being more in the right system.
_\*Brosmer was a guy I had my close eye on all year. He was on my radar last season while he was at New Hampshire because I thought he was going to have a big year and come out. He leveled up to the Big Ten and essentially kept his level of play the same against much tougher competition. There are holes in his game that make it hard to see him doing well at the next level, however, when it comes to doing anything more than holding the clipboard. I’m not sold if he can perform against a quality pass rush. I’m not sold he can make every throw. And I’m not sold he is a good enough athlete. So as much as I liked the initial looks at him, I had to control the bias and follow the grading process. Backup at best but he does bring intelligence to the field._
**12: Riley Leonard – Notre Dame – 6’4/216**
**Grade: 71**
Three-year starter. All-ACC in 2022. Spent three seasons at Duke prior to transferring to Notre Dame for the 2024 season.
He initially made a name for himself as a runner, finishing second in the country among quarterbacks in 2022 with 13 rushing touchdowns. With the idea of improving his surrounding cast to help him reach his ceiling as a passer, Leonard went to lead the Fighting Irish and led them to the National Championship after losing his first home game against unranked Northern Illinois. He and the team hit their stride following that loss and the improvement as a passer did come while he maintained his effectiveness on the ground. With that said, he does not make a lot of big time NFL-caliber throws but he does protect the ball and he will be a dual threat at the next level. Leonards’s top-shelf intangibles and ability to lead will win over decision makers from the perspective of looking for a quality backup presence. He has a big, strong, and athletic frame that shows a high level of toughness. He can see the field well and will process information pre-snap. The vastly improved mechanics over the last three years led to better accuracy and more consistent ball placement. Leonard is very quick to tuck and scramble. He needs to make more happen with his arm if he is going to last in the NFL. He does not maintain accuracy on the move, particularly when rolling left and defenses will scheme into that. The lack of deep passing success over his career is concerning but it did improve in 2024. Leonard projects to a backup role that can offer dual-threat potential and a reliable work ethic that has proven to be effective when it comes to development.
_\*It is hard not to fall in love with Leonoard the person and Leonard the athlete. His intangibles are as good as any player in the class, all positions. He is an easy kid to root for. As we all know, however, that only takes you so far. Leonard’s throwing did improve but he has played a lot of football and it was simply hard to find a lot of real NFL-caliber quality throws on tape. It simply doesn’t look clean and while he can make up for some of it with his ability to move, I’m not sold that area is enough to support his style of play. If you’re sitting at the end of the draft and you have a spot on your depth chart or practice squad for Leonard, I would take that swing for the intangibles alone._
**13: Seth Henigan – Memphis – 6’3/215**
**Grade: 70**
Four-year starter. Two-time All-AAC. The son of a coach, Henigan was an immediate starter as a true freshman, a first in program history. He enters the league with 50 career starts under his belt in college.
Watching him progress through reads and throw the ball with a repeated flow from top to bottom paints a high-floor picture for the next level. At the very least, he will be a valuable asset to a quarterback room with his extensive experience and knowledge of the game. On the field, his arm talent is enough to make all the throws with touch and timing, but there may not be enough sheer talent to get him into a starter role. He can look off the safety and will clearly go through multiple reads while shifting himself in and out of space within the pocket. The skill set of a quarterback has clearly been drilled into him and he shows the necessary anticipation with excellent touch. Henigan is a successful deep passer who can drop it in a bucket. He does not have enough athleticism to pose as a dual threat and his arm strength is lacking, and his ball tends to float. His game simply has a small margin for error. He tends to lose himself against pressure and will show panic. Henigan is best suited for a number two or three role but there is not much upside to work with for anything more.
_\*Henigan has a lot of really nice throws on tape. Unlike many guys, his best throws stem from anticipation more than reaction. He knows the game well and has loads of experience. Clearly a football guy that I’ve been told will be a big time coach someday. Think Kellen Moore. That is where we will what his name in the future so I don’t mind having a guy like that around especially if the NYG long term answer at quarterback is being brought in this year or next._
**14: Brady Cook – Missouri – 6’2/214**
**Grade: 69**
Three-year starter. Cook is experienced (39 career starts) and a good-sized dual threat. He began his career on a high note, putting himself on the radar but there were several struggles that followed. The promise and upside were never quite reached but he still has multiple traits that are attractive to teams from a developmental perspective. There is a strong arm that can make the ball jump out of his hand downfield. He has a lot of high-level 20+ yard passes on tape, so it’s there. Cook shows a quick and decisive release and he will not hesitate to go for the home run. When things break down, he can tuck and run with big play potential. He created a lot with his legs and outran several angles of SEC defenders. He was excellent in the run-pass option attack on designed runs, accelerating in a hurry while getting through cheap contact. When it comes to reading plays, Cook tends to stare down his target post-snap. He was an easy quarterback to read for defensive backs. He also lost track of simple footwork and release mechanics under pressure and it held back the entire offense on numerous occasions. He simply does not throw a consistent ball and it stems from choppy mechanics top to bottom. Cook is an interesting prospect for the back end who will make things happen with his legs but he must make the passing components cleaner and more automatic.
_\*Cook was a cool a story. Local kid that dreamed of playing quarterback from his hometown college but he was a little under-recruited. He is a self-made player which I always like to root for but he never progressed. I think he really held that team back over the past two years and had they had a better player under center, Missouri could have been a national championship contender. Cook just seems to be a maxed out prospect without much more upside than what we saw in 2024. He is talented, tough, and hardworking though. Someone will bring him in._
**BEST OF THE REST**
**15: Taylor Elgersma – Wilfrid Laurier: 6’5/227: 67**
**16: Cam Miller – North Dakota State: 6’1/215: 67**
**17: Will Rogers – Washington – 6’2/207: 67**
**18: Payton Thorne – Auburn – 6’2/207: 67**
**19: Graham Mertz – Florida – 6’2/216: 66**
**20: Donovan Smith – Houston – 6’4/227: 65**
**21: DJ Uiagalelei – Florida State: 65**
**22: Ethan Garbers – UCLA – 6’2/207: 64**
**NYG APPROACH**
7,000 words for the quarterbacks. Apologies for the length considering there are just 14 reports in this group. With that said – the primary reason why NYG find themselves in the hole they’re in has been the mismanagement of the position. Declining the Jones option, signing him to a long term deal rather than a one-year tryout on the franchise tag, then cutting him loose and swallowing a big cap hit with a quarterback room feeding off Jameis Winston and 36-year-old Russell Wilson is the end result. I understand the urgency to simply take a rookie quarterback and hope for the best. The league’s average is about 50% over the past decade when it comes to getting this position correct, so why not, right? This comes down to philosophy just as much as it does scouting. Nobody is necessarily right or wrong (especially in the moment). I come back to my own foundation and say that Ward is the only guy worth taking at three. Even though I do see the scenario of Sanders being a quality starter and Dart being an explosive play machine, it is more than just being about the quarterback. If you reach for one beyond the grade at #3, you are also passing on a talent at a premium position that needs help on this roster for both now and the future.
If Ward goes #1 (or #2), NYG will need to punt on QB until day two. The debate will be a trade up into the back half of round one and while this may be a better value spot, it still means giving up other assets this team needs to build the future. The one risk I do endorse? Jalen Milroe on day two (preferably round 3 if he lasts that long). I am not overly optimistic about his future as a passer but he has shown enough over the past two seasons to try and develop that part of his game for a year or two. And as I said above, there are things he can do for this team if it does not work out at quarterback. I get the feeling several teams will feel that way, however, and there is no guarantee he will be there in the third. Beyond that, unless you absolutely love one of the other guys for long-term backup reasons, my resolution (unfortunately) is look into next year for the answer under quarterback when it comes to the long term future.