2025 NFL Draft: Mel Kiper releases top 10 QB rankings ahead of CFP quarterfinals

Six quarterbacks were selected in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, matching the 1983 draft for the most QBs ever taken in a single round. Even though not as many QBs will hear their names called in the upcoming draft, there is undoubtedly a hunger for QB talent in the NFL.

Luckily for organizations across the country, this year’s draft class will feature another large chunk of elite QBs. On Thursday, ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr revealed his top 10 quarterbacks in the 2025 NFL Draft class.

The NFL Draft insider left no stone unturned, including quarterbacks from every Power Four conference. Let’s take a look at Kiper’s updated rankings.

Shedeur Sanders maintained his top spot in Kiper’s rankings this week. The Colorado QB completed 74.2% of his pass attempts this season, the highest completion rate in the country, with 3,926 passing yards and 35 touchdowns.

“I am always impressed when I watch him throw on the move and roll either left or right,” Kiper wrote. “He’s very accurate in those spots and has the arm to hit the ball. If his mechanics and footwork are solid, he can dismantle a defense. And while he doesn’t necessarily pose much of a threat, he can keep the chains moving with his legs when a gap arises.”

Cam Ward moved to Miami last offseason and took advantage of his opportunity in the spotlight. Ward finished the 2024 regular season with 4,123 passing yards and 36 touchdowns, the most in the country.

He was also extremely accurate, throwing only seven interceptions in 435 pass attempts this season. While Ward didn’t win the Heisman Trophy, he did win the ACC Player of the Year Award and set the Miami program’s single-season records for passing yards and touchdowns.

Jalen Milroe is the most dangerous running threat on Kiper’s roster. The Alabama QB racked up 719 yards and 20 touchdowns in the ground game this season. Unfortunately, his passing was often inconsistent, ultimately resulting in ten interceptions compared to 15 touchdowns.

Milroe’s inconsistencies spelled disaster for the Crimson Tide, who ultimately failed to win the title College Football Playoffs after falling 24-3 Oklahoma in Week 13. In the loss, Milroe completed just 11 of his 25 pass attempts and threw three interceptions.

Carson Beck is out for the remainder of the season after undergoing elbow surgery to repair a UCL injury suffered in Georgia’s victory over Texas in the SEC Championship. Nonetheless, Kiper is confident that a team will take a chance on Beck in the draft.

To be fair, Beck has given NFL scouts no shortage of films to review. Beck finished this season with 3,485 passing yards and 28 touchdowns in 12 picks. Beck looked particularly committed down the stretch, recording 11 passing touchdowns in UGA’s final three games of the regular season.

It’s been a tumultuous season for Quinn Ewers, but his talent is undeniable. The junior QB missed nearly a month for the Longhorns after suffering an abdominal strain in their Week 3 win over UT UTSA. When he returned, he still wasn’t clear about what some fans were demanding Arch Manning to remain the team’s QB1.

Unfortunately, Ewers ignored the noise and currently has 2,867 passing yards and 28 touchdowns with just 10 interceptions. While Ewers’ numbers aren’t exactly outstanding, he has a mental toughness that few other QBs in this year’s draft class can match.

Indiana was one of the biggest surprises of the 2024 season, reaching the CFP in its first season under head coach Curt Cignetti. While Cignetti deserves his flowers, the Hoosiers’ success would not have been possible without Rourke.

Rourke posted an impressive 3,042 yards and 29 touchdowns, compared to just five interceptions this season. In a veteran QB draft class, Rourke was one of the most experienced. He has six collegiate seasons under his belt, including four as a starter.

Speaking of experience, Jaxson Dart cemented his name in the Ole Miss history books this season, breaking Eli Manning’s long-standing career passer record in program history. Dart accumulated 10,163 passing yards and 68 touchdowns in his three-year career at Ole Miss.

In the 2024 season, Dart recorded career highs of 3,875 passing yards and 25 touchdowns. His 322.9 yards per game were the most in the SEC. With his great size and above-average arm strength, Dart could be a tempting option for NFL teams on the second day of the draft.

While Travis Hunter When he finally won the Heisman Trophy, Oregon’s Dillon Gabriel was the quarterback with the most votes, finishing third in the voting. College football experts’ praise for Gabriel is no coincidence.

In his first season at Oregon, Gabriel led the Ducks to a perfect 12-0 regular season record, a Big Ten championship and the No. 1 overall ranking in the CFP. With over 18,423 passing yards and 70 touchdowns on his college resume, Gabriel knows how to pick apart a defense perhaps better than any other quarterback in this year’s draft class.

Kyle McCord made a splash last offseason when he decided to give up his starting role at Ohio State and transfer to Syracuse. However, he quickly silenced any doubters and amassed a national-high 4,326 passing yards along with 29 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

While McCord’s frame isn’t ideal, he’s more than capable of hitting the ball and could prove to be a serious option for a team looking to take a chance. After all, he wouldn’t be the first late-round QB to succeed if given the chance.

Louisville quarterback Tyler Shough rounded out Kiper’s top 10 quarterbacks this week, but he shouldn’t be overlooked. Shough totaled 3,195 passing yards and 23 touchdowns this season while throwing just six interceptions.

At 6-foot-3, there is no area of ​​the field that Shough can’t see from the pocket. In addition, he is also mobile and can pay off defenses if they give him enough space to take off.