The 2024 NFL Draft will always be remembered for a record six quarterbacks being taken in the first round. USC's Caleb Williams and North Carolina's Drake Maye had distinguished themselves as top prospects entering their final collegiate seasons. No one from the 2025 NFL Draft eligible quarterback class has cast themselves in the same light thus far.
One polarizing prospect is Texas' Quinn Ewers, who was a highly touted recruit coming out of high school before enrolling early at Ohio State. After losing a quarterback battle with C.J. Stroud, Ewers transferred to Texas. His first two seasons as the starter were rich with flashes of greatness, but intertwined with poor decision-making. There were questions coming into the season about how Ewers would fare without wide receivers AD Mitchell and Xavier Worthy, as well as tight end Ja'Tavion Sanders.
Early returns in 2024 suggest that Ewers may be an improved product, but there are still questionable choices. Early in the Michigan game, he floated a screen to the boundary and a Wolverine made an attempt but could not get to it before it fell haplessly to the ground. There are reasons to believe he could elevate his draft stock into first-round consideration, but time will tell as the season plays out.
Some of the other quarterback prospects to monitor include USC's Miller Moss, Colorado's Shedeur Sanders, Georgia's Carson Beck, LSU's Garrett Nussmeier and more.
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In today's thought exercise, we explore some of the difficult decisions that teams may have to make at the quarterback position. Although no trades are projected, I will share a few spots that could be trade-down possibilities along the way.
The draft order below was determined in the preseason using Super Bowl odds but in reverse order.
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NFL Mock Draft
Round 1
Round 1 - Pick 1
Mykel Williams
EDGE
Georgia
• Jr
• 6'5"
/ 265 lbs
New England has its quarterback of the future in Drake Maye, so the Patriots do not have to sink resources into the position. Offensive line would be great but that is more realistic in a trade-down scenario. I do not see the Patriots taking an offensive lineman when there are blue-chip players available at premium positions like edge rusher and cornerback. Williams has more size than James Pearce Jr., which is something that the franchise has looked for over the years.
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Round 1 - Pick 2
Will Johnson
CB
Michigan
• Jr
• 6'2"
/ 202 lbs
Carolina has a lot of issues right now. The defense is not good and there is no real reason for optimism on offense yet. They need to add talent and Johnson is No. 1 overall on my board. Horn and Johnson turn that into a position of strength.
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Round 1 - Pick 3
Carson Beck
QB
Georgia
• Sr
• 6'4"
/ 220 lbs
There is a long way to go before the quarterback pecking order begins to crystallize. As it stands, it is a back-and-forth race of mediocrity. Beck was the favorite to be the first quarterback taken coming into the season and there is no reason to change that yet.
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Round 1 - Pick 4
LSU
• Jr
• 6'6"
/ 323 lbs
The Brandon Coleman experiment could still pan out for Washington, and I hope it does for both parties, but there is also reason to believe that it may not. The Commanders have to prioritize the offensive line to maximize the potential of Jayden Daniels.
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Round 1 - Pick 5
James Pearce Jr.
EDGE
Tennessee
• Jr
• 6'5"
/ 243 lbs
Tennessee has sorely missed a game-wrecker of Pearce's caliber. Pearce is flexible and explosive around the corner. The pressure is on for Will Levis and the offensive line is still a work in progress, but it would be difficult to pass on Pearce in this scenario.
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Round 1 - Pick 6
Colorado
• Sr
• 6'2"
/ 215 lbs
Gardner Minshew vs. Aidan O'Connell may be a fine quarterback competition in a head coach's first full season, but it is not going to fly for long. Shedeur Sanders would certainly bring some hope and swagger to that room.
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Round 1 - Pick 7
Colorado
• Jr
• 6'1"
/ 185 lbs
One would assume that Hunter wants to play wide receiver in the NFL, especially given the pay discrepancy between the cornerback and wide receiver positions. Hunter has shown a more reasonable claim to play wide receiver in the NFL early this season.
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Round 1 - Pick 8
Deone Walker
DL
Kentucky
• Jr
• 6'6"
/ 345 lbs
Coach Jonathan Gannon continues to build a defensive line that suits him. Walker is unique at 6-foot-6, roughly 350 pounds. He has the athleticism to take over games but needs to show that on a more consistent basis to justify this level of consideration.
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Round 1 - Pick 9
Mason Graham
DL
Michigan
• Jr
• 6'3"
/ 320 lbs
Minnesota's defensive interior is underwhelming to say the least. The Vikings invested significant assets into the position this offseason but that investment must continue moving forward. Graham is a good start.
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Round 1 - Pick 10
Arizona
• Jr
• 6'5"
/ 212 lbs
The New Orleans offense showed more life in Week 1 than most, including myself, expected. Chris Olave, Tetairoa McMillan Rashid Shaheed would be a fun group.
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Round 1 - Pick 11
Notre Dame
• Jr
• 6'0"
/ 190 lbs
Week 1 was either an indictment of Washington or Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers performed really well, but adding to a depleted cornerback room is the smart path for this team.
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Round 1 - Pick 12
Georgia
• Jr
• 6'1"
/ 205 lbs
Indianapolis was late to the cornerback party so the Colts are forced to address another position of need -- safety. Starks is a technically sound defensive back who can make an impact on that football team.
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Round 1 - Pick 13
Abdul Carter
EDGE
Penn State
• Jr
• 6'3"
/ 252 lbs
The ascension of Boye Mafe, Derick Hall or Uchenna Nwosu would go a long way towards answering a need for a pass rush. Mike Macdonald did not have a dominant pass rusher in Baltimore either, so the strength could be the sum of its parts.
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Round 1 - Pick 14
Missouri
• Jr
• 5'11"
/ 205 lbs
The outlook of the quarterback position is still very much a mystery. There is not a lot of confidence in either Justin Fields or Russell Wilson at this time. One thing is certain and that is Pittsburgh needing more contributors in the wide receiver room.
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Round 1 - Pick 15
Texas
• Jr
• 6'4"
/ 320 lbs
Left tackle Cam Robinson is in the final year of his contract, so that is an opportunity for Jacksonville to get younger in that role and save money toward its salary cap. Banks is a sturdy option to protect Trevor Lawrence's blindside.
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Round 1 - Pick 16
Quinn Ewers
QB
Texas
• Jr
• 6'2"
/ 210 lbs
Cleveland has one of the most talented rosters in the NFL and yet there are no expectations because of the quarterback play. The leash is getting incredibly short and now there are new allegations against Deshaun Watson. It may be time for the Browns to hold some difficult conversations and move forward without him.
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Round 1 - Pick 17
Michigan
• Jr
• 6'5"
/ 245 lbs
John Harbaugh continues to stockpile his former players as Loveland joins the squad. There are not any roster blockades at the tight end position and Loveland is well-rounded.
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Round 1 - Pick 18
Nic Scourton
EDGE
Texas A&M
• Jr
• 6'4"
/ 285 lbs
General manager Ryan Poles' actions have made it clear that he is looking to bolster the team's pass rush. Montez Sweat is a great start, but they showed interest in Matthew Judon, traded up in the draft for Austin Booker and then traded for Darrell Taylor. Scourton is a powerful rusher who gives the team a different skill set from Sweat.
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Round 1 - Pick 19
Arizona
• Jr
• 6'4"
/ 190 lbs
Atlanta's search for a No. 2 cornerback opposite A.J. Terrell takes them to the desert where a player with the wingspan of a Pterodactyl awaits. Davis could bring stability to that unit long-term.
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Round 1 - Pick 20
Denzel Burke
CB
Ohio State
• Sr
• 6'1"
/ 193 lbs
The signings of Tre'Davious White and Darious Williams, who is currently injured, feels more like a Band-Aid than a long-term remedy. Burke has accumulated extensive experience playing in Columbus and now takes what he has learned to the NFL.
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Round 1 - Pick 21
Ohio State
• Sr
• 6'3"
/ 327 lbs
Miami notably lost Christian Wilkins from last year's team and that will not be easy to replace. Williams is a strong player who will hold up at the point of attack. He may not be Wilkins, but he brings them closer to where they should aspire to be at the position.
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Round 1 - Pick 22
Emeka Egbuka
WR
Ohio State
• Sr
• 6'1"
/ 205 lbs
New York continues to invest in the wide receiver room. Garrett Wilson is an explosive outlet in the pass game whereas Malachi Corley is more run after the catch. Emeka Egbuka is a reliable pass catcher who does a good job getting himself open.
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Round 1 - Pick 23
Boise State
• Jr
• 5'9"
/ 215 lbs
Ashton Jeanty is a twitchy runner who contributes in the pass game. Dallas may be able to get through its current season with the group of running backs it has assembled, but a player of Jeanty's caliber would open up more of that offense.
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Round 1 - Pick 24
LSU
• Jr
• 6'1"
/ 225 lbs
The youth movement continues on defense for Green Bay as the Packers bring in an Uber-talented linebacker to go along with Quay Walker. Perkins is a rangy linebacker who has yet to settle into a role with the Tigers.
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Round 1 - Pick 25
Jack Sawyer
EDGE
Ohio State
• Sr
• 6'5"
/ 260 lbs
Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr. are a formidable duo in the present, but Hunter may not be playing much longer. Sawyer provides good depth early in his rookie contract but could develop into a viable option across from Anderson down the road.
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Round 1 - Pick 26
Iowa
• Jr
• 6'2"
/ 215 lbs
It is difficult to replace the accountability and experience that Jordan Poyer and Micah Hyde provided an on annual basis but Nwankpa is a well-rounded prospect who can deliver game-changing plays.
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Round 1 - Pick 27
Evan Stewart
WR
Oregon
• Jr
• 6'0"
/ 175 lbs
Stewart is still very much a projection but Cincinnati could need help at the position after this season. Ja'Marr Chase is still searching for a new contract and Tee Higgins has resigned to the idea that he is not going to get one from the Bengals. If Jermaine Burton does not come around by the end of the season, then wide receiver will be a position of need next season.
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Round 1 - Pick 28
JT Tuimoloau
EDGE
Ohio State
• Sr
• 6'5"
/ 269 lbs
Marcus Davenport had an encouraging debut but injuries have plagued him throughout his career. Perhaps he is able to stay healthy and it can be a fruitful union for both parties, but Tuimoloau is an athletic, big-bodied edge rusher who can help Detroit be even more stingy up front.
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Round 1 - Pick 29
Jalon Walker
LB
Georgia
• Jr
• 6'2"
/ 245 lbs
Which tendency is stronger: Philadelphia's inclination to draft Georgia players or its lack of desire to use significant resources on a linebacker? All I know is that Walker is a really good player who can also provide the occasional pass rush.
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Round 1 - Pick 30
Isaiah Bond
WR
Texas
• Jr
• 5'11"
/ 180 lbs
Baltimore's use of Zay Flowers was a bit concerning regarding this season's offensive output. Flowers got the ball near the line of scrimmage almost exclusively, so teams could condense the field on them without a true vertical threat. Bond has some of that potential.
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Round 1 - Pick 31
Landon Jackson
EDGE
Arkansas
• Sr
• 6'7"
/ 280 lbs
San Francisco is cycling through players opposite Nick Bosa and Drake Jackson has not panned out to this point in his career. Jackson has the length that the franchise looks for in the position and the hope is that he provides a bit more stability in the role.
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Round 1 - Pick 32
Arizona
• Jr
• 6'5"
/ 336 lbs
Jawaan Taylor is costly. His contract may preclude Kansas City from moving on from him until after the 2025 season, but a year is not that long for Savaiinaea to sit the bench. It worked out just fine for Patrick Mahomes. Imagine broadcasters having to learn Suamataia and Savaiinaea as K.C.'s bookend tackles.
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