QB Class of 2025 Taking Shape
The 2025 NFL Draft QB carousel has already begun to turn. All Access Football examines who's in, who's out and who could be on the move!
Volume XXIV Edition LXXXX || QB Class of 2025 Taking Shape
Welcome to the December 30, 2024 edition of the All Access Football Newsletter, Presented By Sports Management Worldwide.
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UPDATED 2025 NFL DRAFT ORDER
There are significant changes atop the NFL Draft order following Week 17 action. After New York Giants and Las Vegas Raiders victories, the New England Patriots have slid up into the number one overall pick based on strength of schedule. Four teams enter the final week of the regular season with just three wins. There are an additional five teams with just four wins.
Here is the latest look at the top of the draft order as we enter the final week:
Pick || Team || Record || Strength of Schedule
New England Patriots (3-13) [.469]
Tennessee Titans (3-13) [.513]
Cleveland Browns (3-13) [.540]
New York Giants (3-13) [.551]
Jacksonville Jaguars (4-12) [.472]
Carolina Panthers (4-12) [.496]
New York Jets (4-12) [.502]
Las Vegas Raiders (4-12) [.544]
Chicago Bears (4-12) [.554]
New Orleans Saints (5-11) [.507]
NFL DRAFT WATCH: QB CLASS OF 2025
While the final NFL Draft order will be determined this weekend, there are still two weeks remaining for underclassmen to declare. However, the QB Class of 2025 has begun to take shape.
It will be a far fall from the six signal-callers we saw selected in round one a year ago. In fact, the number may very well be cut in half, with just two sure-fire first round locks at the moment.
Below is a look at which quarterbacks have declared their intent for the 2025 draft, which prospects could still enter early, along with those who have announced their return to school for next season.
It’s a double chin-strap affair, as the upcoming NFL Draft QB carousel turns…
WHO’S IN
Those watching an exhilarating Pop Tarts Bowl that had Miami enter halftime with a 31-28 lead over Iowa State, would tune-in to the second half disappointed, only to find out that Hurricanes star quarterback Cameron Ward had removed himself from the game entirely.
It’s not a popular decision, nor is it unprecedented (Malik Nabers pulled a similar stunt last year). The reality is, it doesn’t matter how the move is perceived. In the modern day college football climate, it’s viewed strictly as a business decision. For those taking note, Miami would ultimately lose the game 42-41.
In what could have been a historic final performance, Ward would instead exit prematurely with 190 passing yards and three touchdowns. However, his performance will still be noted in the record books, as Ward’s 156 career passing touchdowns, made him the new NCAA FBS all-time leader, giving him one more than Case Keenum of Houston (2007-11).
Since Ward has exhausted all eligibility, he will certainly be in the upcoming draft and is contention to be the first signal-caller selected.
For Sheduer Sanders of Colorado, he took a different approach entering the Alamo Bowl and while his participation is to be commended, the final outcome brings into question if Sanders mind was preoccupied on his professional future.
Earlier in the week, Sanders was caught on camera stating, ‘We know where we’re are going,’ referring to the draft. He was later seen with custom made New York Giants cleats inside his locker prior to the Buffaloes game against BYU.
However, a shaky final outing by Sanders and a Giants victory may have suddenly derailed those plans. As we’ve become accustomed to seeing all season, Sanders was on the move versus the Cougars with little time to throw behind a porous Colorado offensive line.
Still, Sanders will have plenty of support as a future franchise signal-caller due to his ability to improvise, moxie and extremely high football intelligence.
As we previously stated, it’s a down year for signal-callers. So, it would make sense that Georgia quarterback Carson Beck would tip his toes in the draft waters, despite a subpar performance this season and recent surgery on his throwing elbow to repair his UCL.
It’s a supply and demand quarterback-based league. It’s why signal-callers have and will continue to be pushed up draft boards. Beck was less efficient in 2024, had an increase in interceptions and drew some ire over some leaked social media DMs.
Regardless, there will be plenty of intrigued teams interested in his services. However, Beck will have to face the firing line when he meets with NFL teams, as there will also be an abundance of questions.
The NFL free agent frenzy, reserved for mid-March, is sure to play a role in Beck’s draft status. It’s possible that an Aaron Rodgers, Sam Darnold, or Russell Wilson becomes available this offseason but when you consider all alternatives, there could very well be a team that believes Beck is still worth a late first round investment.
WHO’S OUT
Still active in College Football Playoff action, Penn State quarterback Drew Allar has already announced his intent to return back to Happy Valley for another season, a smart move for the Nittany Lions leader. While his stats are may appear gaudy, Allar needs to prove he can push the ball downfield and take over ball games on his own, rather than rely upon a strong ground game to propel the offense. The Ohio native could still develop into a first round pick due to his size, smarts and experience.
Another quarterback expected to ascend to first round status with an additional year of development would be Garrett Nussmeier, son of former NFL signal-caller and current Philadelphia Eagles quarterback coach Doug Nussmeier. He’ll suit up in the Kinder’s Texas Bowl on Tuesday during what has been a down year for LSU but the Tigers have already shown a commitment to Nussmeier via the transfer portal, importing several playmakers at wideout, something they sorely lacked this season.
TO BE DETERMINED
There’s a lot of static noise surrounding Quinn Ewers, as Texas prepares for the second round of the College Football Playoff. First and foremost, durability has always been a huge concern for Ewers, dating back to his high school days. This season, he has dealt with nagging oblique and ankle injuries.
There is also the Arch Manning factor. Part of football royalty, Manning has been paid millions of NIL dollars to backup Ewers the past two seasons. There is no doubt that the Longhorns are ready to hand him the keys to the Cadillac next year. Hence, rumblings have emerged that Ewers could possibly return to Ohio State next year, where he began his collegiate career.
More recently, Ewers has been linked to Notre Dame, as a replacement for Riley Leonard. How the future unfolds for the Texas gunslinger could ultimately be dictated by how the College Football Playoff pans out.
Should the Longhorns run the table, it would likely have a lot to do with Ewers who could then seek to capitalize on the momentum.
A quarterback sitting in an even more unsettling chair would be Alabama dual-threat Jalen Milroe, who has been non-committal about his status leading into the ReliaQuest Bowl against Michigan.
It was a flawed year for Milroe and the Crimson Tide, as deficiencies in the passing attack showed up throughout the season. An exciting player capable of beating opposing defenses with his arm or feet, Milroe needs to reel in some of his accuracy woes. The new Kalen DeBoer offense did not appear to best suit his overall skill-set.
In addition, five-star recruit Ty Simpson has been patiently biding his time and is ready to assume the position in 2025. In effect, Milroe could be forced to play elsewhere if he wants to remain a college starter in 2025.
The most recent rumors have connected Milroe to Oregon, who has recently raised nearly $30M of new NIL money behind alumni Phil Knight.
TRANSPERFECT MUSIC CITY BOWL
IOWA HAWKEYES (8-4) vs MISSOURI TIGERS (9-3)
Nissan Stadium (Nashville, TN) || Tuesday, December 31, 2024 || 2:30pm ESPN
Note: With opt-outs, NIL, the transfer portal and draft announcements all transpiring at once, tracking which players will actually participate in bowl games remains fluid.
Below is a list of prospects eligible for the 2025 NFL Draft for the TransPerfect Music City Bowl between the Iowa Hawkeyes and Missouri Tigers, along with their draft projections according to NFL Draft Bible.
IOWA HAWKEYES
POSITION | PLAYER | YEAR | HEIGHT | WEIGHT | FORTY | PROJECTION
RB Kaleb Johnson, Jr, 6002, 225, 4.52, Day 2
C Logan Jones, rSr, 6026, 290, 4.96, Day 2
OG Connor Colby, Sr, 6060, 311, 5.04, Day 2
CB Jermari Harris, rSr, 6005, 189, 4.53, Day 2
TE Luke Lachey, rSr, 6060, 255, 4.78, Day 2
S Sebastian Castro, rSr, 5114, 210, 4.60, Day 3
DT Yahya Black, Sr, 6050, 324, 5.30, Day 3
DT Aaron Graves, Jr, 6036, 300, 4.90, Day 3
LB Nick Jackson, rSr, 6010, 235, 4.80, Day 3
LB Jay Higgins, rSr, 6003, 227, 4.85, Day 3
ER Ethan Hurkett, Iowa, rSr, 6026, 260, 4.80, HPFA
OG Nick DeJong, rSr, 6055, 305, 5.17, HPFA
S Xavier Nwankpa, Jr, 6016, 210, 4.50, PFA
S Quinn Schulte, rSr, 6002, 210, 4.50, PFA
TE Hayden Large, rSr, 6041, 250, 4.88, PFA
MISSOURI TIGERS
POSITION | PLAYER | YEAR | HEIGHT | WEIGHT | FORTY | PROJECTION
WR Luther Burden III, Jr, 5110, 208, 4.40, Day 1
OG Armand Membou, Jr, 6026, 325, 4.95, Day 3
WR Theo Wease, rSr, 6030, 205, 4.57, Day 3
ER Johnny Walker Jr., rSr, 6026, 250, 4.70, Day 3
QB Brady Cook, Sr, 6015, 210, 4.65, Day 3
C Connor Tollison, Jr, 6040, 286, 5.00, Day 3
OG Cam’Ron Johnson, rSr, 6031, 301, 5.20, HPFA
CB Toriano Pride Jr., CB, Jr, 5010, 190, 4.47, HPFA
RB Nate Noel, Sr, 5100, 184, 4.47, HPFA
RB Marcus Carroll, Sr, 5085, 212, 4.55, HPFA
DT Kristian Williams, rSr, 6016, 302, 5.30, PFA
S Joseph Charleston, rSr, 6001, 193, 4.60, PFA
2025 NFL DRAFT HEADQUARTERS
All Access Football keeps daily tabs on the latest underclassmen players to declare for the 2025 NFL Draft, along with confirmed player invites for all the major all-star games, courtesy of the NFL Draft Bible scouting department:
SENIOR BOWL SCOUT SCHOOL WITH AAF
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