The 2025 NFL Draft has not been short on quarterback drama through the first three rounds.
Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders has not been selected — a stunning development that has become the dominant storyline of this draft. When is the last time a projected first-round QB who was in the conversation for the No. 1 pick fell this far?
A total of five quarterbacks have been selected through two days. Tennessee selected Miami’s Cam Ward with the No. 1 pick, and the Giants traded up to take Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart with the No. 25 pick.
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Day 2 had a few surprises. New Orleans selected Louisville’s Tyler Shough in the second round with the No. 40 pick. Seattle took Alabama’s Jalen Milroe in the third round with the No. 92 pick, and Cleveland added Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel two picks later. All of those Day 2 picks will be compared to Sanders in the future.
How did Sporting News grade the quarterback picks in the first three rounds? A closer look.
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2025 NFL Draft quarterback grades
Tennessee Titans: Cam Ward (Round 1, Pick No. 1)
Grade: A
Ward (6-2, 219 pounds) was the easy pick here, and it’s undeniable there are franchise quarterback qualities at work. Warren Moon even unretired his number for Ward.
Tennessee tried to address quarterback by selecting Malik Willis in the third round in 2022 and Will Levis in the second round in 2024, but neither worked out. Taking Ward in the first round is an all-in moment, and the stat we keep coming back to is Ward had a 45.3% completion percentage with 14 TDs and no interceptions on passes of 20 yards or more at Miami last season. Ward did take an average of 30 sacks the past two seasons —and he can be loose with the football — but he’s a clear upgrade at the position and a fresh start for second-year coach Brian Callahan.
New York Giants: Jaxson Dart (Round 1, Pick No. 25)
Grade: B+
Dart (6-2, 223 pounds) was a surprise as the second QB selected in the draft, and the Giants made their splash by trading up with the Texans to get the No. 25 pick. The Ole Miss star had 17 TD passes of 20 yards or more, and he added 495 rushing yards and four TDs last year.
Will Dart emerge as a franchise quarterback? That remains an open-ended question, and as far as the immediate, he'll serve as Russell Wilson's backup. New York general manager Joe Schoen needed to take a swing, and Dart could turn out to be the best quarterback in this draft.
New Orleans Saints: Tyler Shough (Round 2, Pick No. 40)
Grade: C-
Shough (6-5, 219 pounds) has played seven seasons of college football, and the Saints took this late riser ahead of Sanders, which was a Day 2 surprise. Shough impressed in his one season with Louisville under Jeff Brohm with 3,195 yards, 23 TDs, and six interceptions. He battled injury throughout his career, but NFL scouts have liked his value throughout the draft process.
Is he a starter for first-year coach Kellen Moore? That is debatable despite the Derek Carr injury. New Orleans also has Spencer Rattler on the roster. Shough had more of a Day 3 projection, so this feels like at least a reach and at most a half-measure at the quarterback position for New Orleans.
Seattle Seahawks: Jalen Milroe (Round 3, Pick No. 92)
Grade: B+
Milroe (6-2, 217 pounds) was a safe backup option for the Seahawks, who signed Sam Darnold to a three-year, $100.5 million contract. Milroe had ups-and-downs in two years as Alabama’s starter, but he can make an immediate impact in run packages given he had 20 rushing TDs last season.
Milroe struggled with turnovers at times, but he still finished his career with a 64.3% completion percentage. A willingness to be patient could pay off for the Seahawks in the future. Offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak can work with Milroe, and Seattle did not reach here.
Cleveland Browns: Dillon Gabriel, Oregon (Round 3, Pick No. 94)
Grade: C
Gabriel (5-11, 205 pounds), who finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting last season, also will not be a Day 1 starter. Gabriel averaged 3,759 yards, 30 TDs, and six interceptions for Oklahoma and Oregon the past two seasons, and he has above-average mobility that led to 19 rushing TDs.
Cleveland’s quarterback room features veteran Joe Flacco, who will likely start in Week 1. Deshaun Watson is recovering from a torn Achilles and isn't expected to play this season. He also has two years left on his $230 million contract, though. Gabriel could have slipped to Day 3, and his size will be a topic of conversation. He is not a long-term option at quarterback, but he could be a solid backup for Cleveland in the latest QB shuffle. The Browns have tried the third round in the past with Charlie Frye (2005), Colt McCoy (2010), and Cody Kessler (2016). This does not feel much different.