Tag: 2025 rookie quarterbacks

2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: QB Cam Ward, Miami

Cam Ward steps up as the best quarterback in the NFL Draft

Cam Ward is the consensus first pick of the 2025 NFL draft, but he spun through three colleges. His first start was at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio, which was the only scholarship that he was offered. After two seasons in the Southland Conference, he transferred to Washington State where he became an immediate starter.

Ward played two seasons for the Cougars and peaked in 2023 with 3,736 yards and 25 touchdowns, plus ran in eight more scores. He graduated from Washington State and declared for the NFL draft, but changed his mind and entered the NCAA transfer portal thanks to the extra year allowed from the COVID rules.

The return to college was prompted by a desire to improve his draft stock and take advantage if the NIL rules in college football that allowed payments to players. He led the Hurricanes to a 10-2 record but they missed out on the College Football Playoffs, settling for the Pop-Tarts Bowl. Ward was the ACC Player of the Year, and was the Davey O’Brien and the Manning Award winner as the best college quarterback for 2024.

Ward finished fourth in the Heisman voting. He set the Miami single-season record with 4,313 passing yards and 39 passing touchdowns led the nation.

Height: 6-2
Weight: 219 pounds
40 time: 4.64 seconds

He declined to workout at the NFL Combine and instead attended the Miami Pro Day. He demonstrated his elite arm and mechanics with only a few errant throws. He helped cement his place as the top college quarterback in this draft.

Cam Ward stats (2022-24)

Pros

  • Highly accurate at all levels
  • Very composed and cool at all times
  • Natural leader that teammates rally behind
  • Big arm to land deep strikes with excellent timing
  • Not a running quarterback, but as mobile as play needs
  • Just as dangerous when the play breaks down
  • Playmaker with elite instincts

Cons

  • Ball security will need improvement
  • Throwing mechanics need refinement; throws too many passes from back foot just relying on arm strength
  • Gunslinger confidence can result in too many risks

Fantasy Outlook

This is the one player with no need for much conjecture. He is expected by all to be the first pick in the NFL draft, the only question is whether the Titans hold onto that pick or trade it away. This is not considered to be a strong class of quarterbacks and had Ward declared last year, he would not have been the first selected and likely taken deeper in the draft behind several others.

But – he is as good as it gets for 2025 and any team needing a franchise quarterback would love to land him. It has become more certain that the Titans will hold that No. 1 pick and will start 2025 with a new rookie quarterback in Ward.

HC Brian Callahan will start his second season in Tennessee with the franchise quarterback that his scheme needs. His Year 1 fantasy value is likely only marginal as he learns the position, but that Titans may use the draft to also boster their receiving corps that currently is little more than Calvin Ridley. Ward has obvious dynasty value, but pending any major upgrades to the receivers, the rookie will likely remain as just fantasy depth.

2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: QB Dillon Gabriel, Oregon

Central Florida/Okalahoma/Oregon’s Dillon brings six years of experience to the NFl

There are veteran college quarterbacks, and then there is Dillon Gabriel with six seasons as a starter.

Gabriel was raised in Hawaii and his father was a quarterback for the University of Hawaii. He was the Gatorade High School Player for the state in 2018 and broke Tua Tagovailoa’s state high school record for career passing yards. He committed to the University of Central Florida and became their starter midway through the Knights first game and remained so for three years. His third year ended after just three games due to a broken clavicle that did not need surgery, just rest.

Rather than return for a fourth year, he entered the transfer portal and initially chose UCLA but a few weeks later changed his mind and headed to Oklahoma where he played for two more seasons. For 2024, he again entered the transfer portal and landed in Oregon for his final year.

Gabriel holds the NCAA record with 156 career touchdown passes and is second with 18,722 yards passing yards. For comparison, Joe Burrow has thrown for 19,001 yards in the NFL. Jalen Hurts totals 14,667 pass yards. Gabriel benefitted from the additional seasons thanks to the COVID change in rules for players affected.

Height: 5-11
Weight: 205 pounds
40 time: 4.94 seconds (unofficial)

Gabriel will turn 25 by the end of this season. Trevor Lawrence and Ja’Marr Chase are both 25 years old as well. Gabriel is an older and more experienced quarterback than most any others. He declined to run the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine like most quarterbacks, but it did not help his cause when he was 5-11 – three inches shorter than any other quarterback and tied for the smallest-sized hands. At 205 pounds, he was easily the lightest quarterback as well.

Gabriel was a Heisman finalist.

Dillon Gabriel stats (2019-24)


*includes postseason/bowl games (stats from Sports Reference)

 

 Pros

  • Very experienced for a rookie with elite college stats
  • Dual threat that is dangerous when he leaves the pocket
  • Smart quarterback versed in multiple schemes
  • Was successful at all three colleges
  • Natural leader
  • Highly accurate on short and intermediate routes
  • Exceptional awareness reading defenses and reacting to pressure situations

Cons

  • Lacks the arm strength for pinpoint deep throws
  • Lacks the size to see over line or break tackles
  • Durability concerns from smaller frame
  • Speed only average in the faster NFL
  • Small hands may be turnover issue, 23 fumbles in six years

Fantasy Outlook

Dillon Gabriel has been successful in all three stops and rolled up record-setting career stats in the NCAA. Then again, he started for six seasons when most college quarterbacks leave after two big years. He is projected to be a mid-Day 3 pick and most likely slotted for being a backup in the NFL unless he gets an injury-caused opportunity and shines.

There is a chance he is taken by a team that will eventually want to give him a chance to start, and he is intelligent and far more experienced that any other rookie. He just has to compensate for his lack of size. He is almost the exact same size as Russell Wilson, who is an outlier among otherwise six-foot tall quarterbacks. There are also a mountain of other short quarterbacks who did not pan out.

Some potential suitors are the Miami Dolphins, Las Vegas Raiders, San Francisco 49ers, and New England Patriots but those are for quarterback depth more than an immediate starter. Barring a draft pick in an ideal situation and even then, more likely later in the season, Gabriel doesn’t project enough fantasy potential for this year, but he’ll carry dynasty value.

2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: WR Matthew Golden, Texas

The Longhorns’ Matthew Golden scorches with a 4.29 40-time

After starring in high school in Houston, Texas, Matthew Golden initially committed to TCU but later opted for the University of Houston. He was a starter even as a freshman, but was never the primary wideout there. He entered the transfer portal at the end of 2023 and switched to the University  of Texas Longhorns.

His only season in Austin saw him lead the offense in receiving yards (987) and touchdowns (9), helping the Longhors to reach their third playoff game before losing to Ohio State, the eventual College Football National Championship winner. He ended with a gaudy 17.0 yard receiving average.

Height: 5-11
Weight: 191 pounds
40 time: 4.29 seconds

Fast.

Very fast.

Golden’s 4.29 40-time was tops at the 2025 NFL Combine. He enters the NFL draft with a chance to be one of the first wideouts selected thanks to that blazing speed and his fine 2024 performance during his only season with the Longhorns. Golden also served as a kick returner at both Houston and Texas.

Matthew Goolden stats (2022-24)
*includes postseason/bowl games (stats from Sports Reference)

Pros

  • Pure burner  that is a big play waiting to happen
  • Excels on vertical routes with the speed to pull away from cornerbacks
  • Dangerous route runner that knows how to set up and separate from coverage
  • Proven ability for highlight reel catches
  • Shows multiple gears that let him work the coverage; top gear can leave the secondary behind
  • Played at his best versus top-tier opponents
  • While a bit smaller, uses his size well and is tenacious in contested catches

Cons

  • Occasional drops from lack of focus/concentration
  • Needs to improve working back to quarterback when route shut down
  • Has been dinged up in college, so may have durability issues in the NFL
  • Needs more work on blocking skills

Fantasy Outlook

Matthew Golden was one of the more talked about wideouts at the NFL Combine, where he elevated his stock with that 40-time. He was already quick and shifty, but his top-end speed is not something that can be taught or easily covered if he ever gets behind the secondary.

The expectation is that Golden will be a first-round selection for a team looking to ramp up their passing offense with a speed demon. He’ll carry fantasy value even as a rookie though it may take a season or two before he offers consistent play. If he lands on an offense with an above-average passer who has enough time to let Golden get downfield, consider Golden as an enticing Best Ball option with likely several high-yardage performances – just maybe not yet consistent enough for weekly redraft league play.

His return abilities are very likely to be used, at least early in his career. He’s a homerun hitter with a couple of return touchdowns in college. He met with even teams at the NFL Combine. He’s considered an attractive prospect for the Green Bay Packers, Carolina Panthers, Houston Texans and Los Angeles Rams. It is certainly not impossible for him to be a team’s leading wideout as a rookie, but most landing spots will see him contend for a No. 2 or No. 3 role for this year.

2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: QB Quinn Ewers, Texas

Quinn Ewers is a Day 2 prospect

Quinn Ewers was considered as the top overall recruit in 2022 by multiple analysts when he left football factory Carroll Senior High in Southlake, Texas. He initially committed to the University of Texas but then decommitted and headed to Ohio State. Ewers made national news when he skipped his senior season in High School and joined the Buckeyes.

He only saw the field for two plays at Ohio State as C.J. Stroud had a lock on the starting spot. He left and joined the Longhorns in 2022, where he started for the last three seasons. He set the record for most passing yards in a single conference championship game with 452 yards and four touchdowns against Oklahoma State in 2023.

He finished his college career with a win over Georgia for the first season that Texas was in the SEC, and then played three postseason games before losing, ironically, to Ohio State in the CFB Semifinal.

Height: 6-2
Weight: 214 pounds
40 time: 4.74 seconds (est.)

In January, Ewers announced that he was committing to the NFL Draft and leaving the Longhorns who turn to Arch Manning. Ewers won 27 of his 35 games played at Texas and brought them to the College Football Playoffs for the last two seasons.

Quinn Ewers stats (2022-24)


*includes postseason/bowl games (stats from Sports Reference) 

Pros

  • Athletic and mobile quarterback from a Pro-style offense
  • Arm strength and skill to throw any pass
  • Good decision-maker in the pocket, high football IQ
  • Good improvisional skills and can extend plays with his legs though he wasn’t much of a runner at Texas
  • Gunslinger not afraid to take risks, will take hits but stands strong in the pocket and delivers with downfield accuracy
  • Succeeded in Steve Sarkisian’s complex passing scheme that used all three levels and passing that relied on anticipation and accuracy with layered routes of multiple receivers each play

Cons

  • Was injured in all three seasons as a starter
  • Needs to develop his read progressions beyond the first or second read.
  • Throwing mechanics need continued attention
  • Needs to improve footwork and accuracy when pass pressure disrupts the pocket

Fantasy Outlook

The expectation is that Ewers is likely a Day 2 pick by a team looking at their future and not necessarily for this year. The Saints, Dolphins, Seahawks and Cowboys are considered potential landing spots. Ewers still would benefit from continued development. He’s smart and physically capable of being an NFL starter at some point.

Ewers is a natural passer with a good command of the offense. He does not get flustered and his calmness lifts the rest of the team when games get more challenging. If he can clean up his mechanics and continue to progress at the pro-level, he could develop into a starter. His frame is smaller than prototypical, but Ewers has succeeded at all previous levels. He needs to prove his durability and that may not be known until he gets appreciable playing starts.

2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: QB Will Howard, Ohio State

Will Howard is a National Champion with a shaky combine

Will Howard was a three-star recruit out of high school in Downingtown, Pennsylvania and was pursued by 20 colleges before signing with the Kansas State Wildcats. As a freshman, he stepped in to replace the injured Skylar Thompson. He returned to being Thompson’s backup again in 2021.

He was slated to be the starter in 2022, but Adrian Martinez transferred in and took the spot until he, too, was injured, allowing Howard to step back in as the starter to finish out the year. He finally became the full-time starter as a senior in 2023 and started 12 games. With the change in eligibility years after COVID, Howard used the transfer portal to spend his fifth and final collegiate season as the starter for Ohio State.

That move proved prudent. He led the Buckeyes to a 14-2 record and led the team to a National Championship where he was named the Offensive MVP. He racked up a total of 4,010 passing yards, threw for 35 touchdowns and rushed in seven more.

Height: 6-5
Weight: 236 pounds
40 time: 4.8 seconds (est.)

Howard isn’t just an athlete. He also earned a 3.94 GPA at Ohio State while pursuing a master’s degree in sports coaching. He enters the NFL with just one notable major college season, but it was winning a national championship and elevating his national profile in the process.

Will Howard Stats (2022-24)

Season Team Gms Cmp Att Cmp % Yds TD Int Rush Yds TD
2020 Kansas State 9 90 168 54% 1178 8 10 78 364 3
2021 Kansas State 6 30 55 55% 332 1 1 32 184 4
2022 Kansas State 7 119 199 60% 1633 15 4 35 22 3
2023 Kansas State 12 219 357 61% 2643 24 10 81 351 9
2024 Ohio State 16 309 423 73% 4010 35 10 105 226 7
Career 50 767 1202 64% 9796 83 35 331 1147 26

 Pros

  • Strong arm that can make any throw on the field
  • Prototypical height and weight that serves him in the pocket
  • Can buy more time to throw with his legs
  • Not a running quarterback, but a capable rusher with 26 rushing scores in college
  • Poised in the pocket and can beat a blitz
  • Accurate deep ball

Cons

  • May be more a product of the play caller than his own talent
  • Sometimes settled too early on his reads
  • Throwing mechanics need continue development
  • May suffer accuracy issues against faster NFL defenders and shrinking windows
  • Benefitted from playing inside a great offense for his only notable season

Fantasy Outlook

Howard was expected to likely be a Day 2 selection, but he may fall after a combine performance that was considered one of the worst. His throws were a disaster with most wildly inaccurate. He overthrew, underthrew and did the receivers no favors. Sure, he was throwing to those receivers for the first time, but it looked like the first time he had thrown to any receivers ever. He was one of the talking points from the entire combine, and not in a good way.

Where he drops in the draft is always hard to guess. He had one great season winning a national championship that naturally propelled him into prominence for the draft. But he only truly succeeded in college during his only season playing inside the best team in the NCAA. Was he the reason for the Buckeyes success or just the product fo everything around him?

His fantasy stock this year depends on where he ends up and their needs, but the expectation is that he’ll end up as he did in Kansas State, as the backup waiting for the starting quarterback to be injured.