Baker Mayfield. Kyler Murray. Joe Burrow. These three names are quarterbacks who have gone on different career trajectories since entering the NFL, but they all started their professional journeys the exact same way.
All three had ascended to the first overall pick without being considered prior to the start of the season.
To this point, draft boards are still fluid, and there is plenty of time from now to next April in Green Bay for prospects to fly up the rankings. While there are rumblings suggesting this upcoming class is heavy on top defensive prospects and that the quarterback crop is weaker than the past two years, the narrative is far from set in stone. Even in the last two drafts, the likes of Anthony Richardson and Jayden Daniels went from barely being considered for the first round to being drafted in the top five.
That being said, this group is not without its leading contenders. Georgia’s Carson Beck is the current clubhouse leader for the first quarterback selected, possessing a combination of size, arm strength, and passing mechanics that modern NFL scouts covet. Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders is another name thrown in that discussion, with the hope being that his decision-making can catch up to his arm strength and accuracy. While these two both have a strong case for them to solve a QB-needy team’s woes under center, they are far from the only options available. In fact, looking at the group of draft-eligible quarterbacks for 2025, there are plenty of names that could easily enter the equation in the right circumstances.
Which quarterback prospects look poised to shake up the hierarchy of the draft? Let’s find out.
Jalen Milroe, Alabama
Looking for a physical specimen that will almost certainly rise up the ranks during the Combine? Milroe is your man.
The tape on Milroe last year was admittedly inconsistent. There were moments in the first half of the season that lead to a temporary benching, but Milroe eventually became the engine of the Alabama offense that defeated Georgia in the SEC Championship game and snuck into the College Football Playoff. He certainly possesses the arm strength NFL scouts look for, with his ten yards per attempt ranking third in the nation last season. When the play breaks down, Milroe also has the ability to use his legs to keep the offense moving. All of this paints the picture of Milroe being a dynamic offensive weapon at quarterback, but it is currently balanced out by his processing. He can get caught holding the ball for too long as he observes the field, suggesting improvement as a pocket passer and a need to trust his receivers and take what the defense is willing to give him.
All that being said, the great equalizer that stands out is Alabama’s new coach: Kalen DeBoer. While DeBoer will certainly feel the pressure of having to replace the legendary Nick Saban, Milroe stands out as the biggest winner of the coaching change. DeBoer’s previous stop in Washington saw him turn Michael Penix Jr. from one of college football’s great “what if?” stories into a surprise top-10 selection in this year’s draft. At Fresno State prior to that, DeBoer unlocked the potential of Jake Haener and guided him to a season where he threw for 33 touchdowns. That type of track record can only mean good things for Milroe, as DeBoer and his staff can iron out any inconsistencies and turn the obvious physical traits into production.
Milroe has all of the tools necessary to climb up boards and steal the QB1 crown from the favorites. A dominant year at Alabama could make that all but an inevitability.
Connor Weigman, Texas A&M
Staying in the SEC for a moment, Weigman stands out as one of the most intriguing prospects at quarterback this season
Looking back on Weigman’s tape the last season, it’s easy to understand why his stock looks set to skyrocket. What stands out right away is how unafraid Weigman is to face pressure, which became a necessity due to Texas A&M’s rough offensive line play last year. He never allows the defense to take him out of rhythm, and he rarely makes critical mistakes that young quarterbacks often do. Weigman is willing to escape the pocket and throw on the run, doing what he can to keep plays alive and still make the best decision possible; such is a skillset that will endear him to teams where the trenches are still a work in progress.
The bad news with Weigman is that there is still much projection to his game. A broken bone in his foot ended his campaign after four games, and he’s only thrown just over 250 passes in his collegiate career. The best ability is availability, and another year where Weigman is lost to injury will automatically raise questions about his durability and if he can withstand the punishment that the NFL will invariably dish out. If Weigman wants to make good on the hype surrounding him from the scouting community, staying healthy is crucial.
Weigman’s sample size is smaller than many of the others on this list, but what he’s shown so far has arguably been the most impressive of the bunch. If he can manage a bill of health as clean as his mechanics, there’s no reason Weigman can’t shoot up boards in a hurry.
Drew Allar, Penn State
Now we start getting into the bold predictions, starting with one of the most toolsy quarterbacks in the nation in Allar.
Looking at Allar, it’s not hard to understand why teams would line up to work with him. His 6-foot-5 frame is the prototypical size for a modern NFL quarterback, and he has shown multiple times that he has the arm strength to boot. Even more importantly is that Allar has shown some good decision-making under center, highlighted by throwing only two interceptions last season on just under 450 attempts. The natural talent for Allar to dominate at the collegiate and, eventually, the professional level is there, and the tape puts it on display.
Of course, Allar is far from a finished product. His accuracy was just below 60 percent last season, and his timing can be thrown off when either his main option is taken away or the defense applies significant pressure. While this can all be chalked up to inexperience, part of the problem stem from Penn State not providing an ideal environment for Allar’s development. The Nittany Lions changed offensive coordinators mid-season, the offensive line struggled against elite competition, and the receiver corps performed well below average. This resulted in Allar, as well as highly-touted running back Nick Singleton, having to endure up-and-down seasons in a far too conservative offensive scheme that either refused or was unable to allow them to unleash their talents.
There is certainly the possibility that Allar needs more seasoning at this level before he elects to go the the pros. However, a strong season in Happy Valley and showcasing more poise to match the physical gifts would shift the conversation completely.
Donovan Smith, Houston
A more raw version of Milroe, Smith is a name that the college football world should get ready to hear early and often.
Smith possesses all of the tools that NFL scouts love. The 6-foot-5 frame is exactly what the league is looking for at the position. He not only has the requisite arm strength to push the ball downfield and drive plays forward, but also the confidence to attack the middle of the field and hit quick passes with efficiency. Smith can operate as both a pure pocket passer who doesn’t get easily rattled under pressure, as well as a runner out of the backfield on both designed run plays and scrambles. His combination of size, strength, and athleticism points to someone who is destined to dominate the athletic testing portions of the draft process (Richardson immediately comes to mind as someone who benefitted immensely from this.)
So why is Smith the best quarterback prospect you’ve never heard of? First, Houston is a team expected to finish near the bottom of the Big 12 standings, so the lack of exposure does not help his case. Secondly, Smith’s first year starting showcased some of the usual flaws that young quarterbacks have. He has the tendency to lock onto his first read, and his mechanics can sometimes falter when things go off-script. For Smith to improve his stock, he will have to eliminate the mental mistakes and prove that he can properly manipulate the defense and anticipate when his receivers will get open. Again, last season was Smith’s first season as a starting quarterback, so the idea here is that more game reps will help him establish good habits. Also, Sanders is a top quarterback prospect on an average Colorado team, so there’s no excuse to use Houston’s lack of success against Smith if the results are not on him.
A breakout season is all that separates Smith from a locked-in first round selection. Even if teams do not intend to start him right away, the physical tools are just too tantalizing to ignore.
Kyron Drones, Virginia Tech
The name currently most likely to choose to wait until 2026, the conversation surrounding Drones has the potential to change if the hype train begins to get out of control.
Another prospect who was a first-time starter last year, Drones showcased his abilities quite effectively. For a 6-foot-2 quarterback, the first thing that stands out about Drones is his mobility. With 818 rushing yards and five touchdowns, Drones is a legit threat to take it from the backfield and drive play forward with his feet. OF course, he also possesses a cannon for an arm, pushing play downfield while also limiting mistakes (three interceptions in 2023). With experience now under his belt, Drones looks poised to take the next step and establish himself as a dynamic weapon as Virginia Tech takes the next step forward.
The thing that stands out most about Drones that could hurt his case, however, is his accuracy. Just over 58 percent in completions is not going to cut it at the professional level. A large part of this is Drones tending to look more towards making the big play instead of going underneath and allowing his receivers to take advantage of holes in the defense. Similar to other first-year starters, however, it’s easy to suggest that this is all due to inexperience and will be filtered out over time. That being said, Drones will have to compete against several other underclassmen at his position. Other than a quartet of Milroe, Weigman, Allar, and Texas’s Quinn Ewers, Drones finds himself in a tier with USC’s Miller Moss and Arizona’s Noah Fifita as quarterbacks who have shown dynamic tendencies and just need to show more consistency. If Drones wants to turn pro after this season, he will have to develop good habits quickly and stay ahead of the curve.
There’s no denying Drones will be a top name come 2026. If he and Virginia Tech live up to the expectations this year, however, the NFL may not have to wait another year to see what he can do.
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