When it comes to the 2025 NFL Draft, quarterback evaluations are heating up. There are three names — Cam Ward, Shedeur Sanders, and Jaxson Dart — at the top, and if we are being honest, most people only want to talk about the first two.
However, reputed NFL analyst Colin Cowherd shared a different view and believes neither Sanders nor Dart is the second-best QB of the 2025 Class.
Colin Cowherd’s Bold Take on Second Best QB in 2025 NFL Draft
Ward and Sanders have had exceptional collegiate careers right from their freshman seasons, and while Dart is comparatively a late bloomer, he is now a consensus first-round pick. But Cowherd argues he is like Zach Wilson of the New York Jets — a No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft who has posted more interceptions than touchdowns in his pro career so far.
“Jaxson Dart…I see Zach Wilson with the Jets. He’s got a little of an arm but he was inaccurate in big games. I don’t think he sees the field particularly well, so I don’t see it, but he’ll get drafted in the first round, enough GMs like him,” Cowherd said on “The Herd with Colin Cowherd.”
Cowherd argued that he rated Sanders higher than most of the NFL general managers, but the QB lacked impressive enough physical traits to be a transformational player.
“I like him more than NFL general managers. He’s a very smart decision-maker and super composed and accurate. But he doesn’t have a huge arm. He doesn’t have a lot of physical traits that are impressive. He will be as good as the coaching staff and his protection.”
Cowherd, like most analysts, has Ward as the No. 1 quarterback. He suggested teams pivot away from Louisville Cardinals’ Tyler Shough due to his older age before making a bold statement about Kyle McCord.
“Kyle McCord at Syracuse, who I have been saying now for three months, I think he’s the sleeper. Good in big games, anticipation thrower, moves well enough, accurate, highly productive in Ohio State…I like him. I think there’s an argument he’s the second-best QB in this class.”
McCord, like Dart, is a late bloomer. He only started 13 games across his three years at Ohio State before transferring to Syracuse for his final season in 2024. He started all 13 games, lighting up the stat sheet with 4,779 passing yards (ACC record) along with 34 touchdowns and just 12 interceptions (five of which came in a painful loss to Pitt).
His performance earned him CSN second-team All-ACC honors behind Miami’s Cam Ward, and he quietly finished 10th in the Heisman Trophy voting.
Despite the elite level of production as a senior, McCord isn’t rated as high as first-round or second-round pick by many. In PFSN’s latest seven-round mock draft, he was drafted 137th overall by the Seattle Seahawks.