Cam Ward, the first overall pick, has the tools to be a long-term starter, with great touch and the ability to extend plays with his eyes downfield. However, his supporting cast in Tennessee raises concerns. The Titans are overpaying Calvin Ridley, have limited depth at receiver, and a questionable offensive line ranked 21st last season. They also owe Tony Pollard nearly $13 million, despite his uncertain role. In contrast, Jayden Daniels succeeded by elevating a strong supporting cast. Ward doesn’t have that luxury, and without Daniels’ athleticism, it’s tough to see him making an immediate impact. The hope is for future growth, but for now, it feels like adding a solid piece to an incomplete team.
We have seen Shedeur Sanders’ draft stock free-fall in recent weeks. Once considered a potential top-five pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the Colorado product did not hear his name called in Round 1. Recent rumors suggested this could happen, so while it may not be all that surprising, that doesn’t mean he wasn’t worthy of first-round draft capital. Several QB-needy teams passed on Sanders on Day 1, including the Cleveland Browns, New York Giants, New Orleans Saints, and Pittsburgh Steelers. Sanders, son of Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, could very well come off the board early on Day 2, but his slide in recent weeks has been interesting to say the least. He is undersized and unequipped with elite talent, but with his accuracy and gamer mentality, he can win in a system that offers support.
Projected Trade: Browns receive 30th pick, BUF 2026 5th; Bills receive 33rd pick, 94th pick, 2026 CLE 2nd
The Browns held a workout and a 30 visit with all of the top-five QBs in the 2025 NFL Draft. They don’t seem incentivized at all to leave the first 33 picks without a QB, and at pick No. 33, they’re positioned to trade up, be aggressive, and wall off other suitors. In this 2025 NFL Mock Draft, the Browns move up for Dart, boxing out the Giants. Dart could fit Kevin Stefanski’s scheme well, if he can expand on the flashes of intermediate anticipation he shows on film. He’s talented and tough, and those traits play.
The 40th overall pick in the draft has found an ideal situation, and he's the quarterback I'm most excited about when projecting the future of this draft class. He joins a team with more talent than their 5-12 record suggests, having won nine games in 2023 despite a tough season marred by injuries. With Kellen Moore brought in from the Super Bowl-winning Eagles, the offense is in good hands. Moore's experience as a player, including being the first QB in FBS history to win 50 games, adds confidence to this pairing. Shough will benefit from Moore’s expertise and continuity, potentially starting sooner due to Derek Carr's health concerns. While Carr has been inconsistent, Shough has the opportunity to thrive, especially with playmakers like Rashid Shaheed and Chris Olave on board. With the right coaching and support, Shough’s physical talent and situation make him a strong candidate to make a significant impact in the NFL in the coming years.
Once a top high school recruit, Quinn Ewers slid to the seventh round after an up-and-down college career at Texas. Still, he brings a strong arm, quick release, and starting experience against top-tier defenses. He’ll likely spend time developing behind Tua Tagovailoa and Mike White, but his upside remains intriguing.
Max Brosmer threw and ran for 102 touchdowns in his five seasons in college (six years), first with the New Hampshire Wildcats before finishing his college career at Minnesota. He is an efficient passer with a quick release. He delivers accurate throws with plus-level arm talent. Brosmer reads coverages well, anticipates throws, and finds space in the pocket. He struggles under heavy pressure and must prove himself against tougher Big Ten competition.
Kevin Stefanski, a multiple-time Coach of the Year, will need to rely on his full coaching resume to make the quarterback situation in Cleveland work. Dillion Gabriel (94th overall) was selected 50 spots ahead of Shedeur Sanders (144th), but both quarterbacks have similar draft profiles, making this situation feel like a coin flip. Cleveland’s desperation stems from Deshaun Watson's underperformance and Joe Flacco’s aging status, while Kenny Pickett's fifth-year option was reportedly declined. Despite these struggles, there is hope with Qunshon Judkins as a potential bellcow and Jerry Jeudy’s breakout season. The defense has top-5 potential, but the QB position remains the weak link. Gabriel will likely get the first look in training camp. Despite being undersized and left-handed, his strong arm and maturity as a passer, coupled with the ability to make plays with his legs, should make him a quick study. Similar to Sanders, Gabriel’s traits allow for a flexible offensive plan. The challenge will be balancing reps between both quarterbacks in training camp, as both need NFL-level experience to succeed, potentially forcing Cleveland to choose a direction sooner than later.
Tommy Mellott proved to be one of the most dynamic players in college football last season. He threw for 2,783 yards, 31 touchdowns and just two interceptions. The former Montana State Bobcats quarterback completed 67.8% of his pass attempts while adding 1,050 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns on 123 carries. He led the team to the 2025 NCAA Division I Football Championship Game. Mellott earned the 2024 Walter Payton Award, which is given to the most outstanding offensive player in the FCS, becoming the first player in Bobcats history to earn the honor.
The Ohio State Buckeyes were happy to swap Will Howard for Kyle McCord, and they thrived with Howard at the helm. But McCord didn’t do too bad himself at Syracuse. After an up-and-down Buckeyes’ tenure, McCord led the FBS in completions (391), attempts (592), and passing yards (4,779) in his lone season with the Orange. He became one of the nation’s best volume passers, putting himself back on the radar for the 2025 NFL Draft. The 6’3″, 218-pound McCord offers almost nothing as an athlete or a creator, which greatly limits his projection. However, in structure, he’s an efficient processor and decision-maker with an arm that can layer velocity and touch, and drive the ball to optimal placement.
After a redshirt freshman 2022 campaign that saw Riley Leonard pass for almost 3,000 yards, 20 touchdowns, and just six interceptions, he was in the first round of some way-too-early mock drafts for the 2024 NFL Draft cycle. Things can change quickly, though. The 2023 campaign was a massive letdown for Leonard, who regressed while dealing with injuries (left toe, ankle). He transferred to Notre Dame in 2024 and enjoyed a run in the College Football Playoff, but the Fighting Irish largely won in spite of his passing abilities, relying more often on his ground game. (The fleet-footed quarterback rushed for 906 yards and scored 17 ground touchdowns). Leonard never recaptured the magic that first drew the interest of evaluators in 2022, but there is no denying his upside. He’s athletic. He has a loose and live arm. And his competitive resolve is a strength.
