This is a brutal year to be an NFL team needing a quarterback.
When Sam Darnold is the most heralded quarterback available in free agency, and major questions persist about the upside of the top rookie quarterbacks, NFL teams could be ripe for doing some desperate things. Meanwhile, other teams may decide to merely sign a bridge quarterback at wait at least one more season before finding their solution.
2025 NFL Draft QB Class Panned by Top Executives
Recently, an NFL personnel executive told me that he doesn’t think that Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders–the top two quarterbacks in this year’s draft class, are capable of winning right away.
“I don’t think the Titans are going to win anything next year with either of these quarterbacks,” an NFC Personnel Executive tells me, on the condition of anonymity to speak freely about another team. “But Shedeur would be my pick. He’s more polished, and what stands out is he has that confidence factor you look for. He’s just tough.”
Another NFL evaluator went a step further, in his conversation with ESPN NFL Draft analyst Matt Miller.
“There isn’t a single guy this year you’d take over the six drafted [in the first round] last year,” an AFC scouting director told ESPN.
If the Scouting Director is correct, the teams at the top of this year’s draft may struggle to find a Jayden Daniels or Bo Nix or even Caleb Williams, as the follow up to what may become one of the more gifted quarterback draft classes in recent memory.
Teams will always do desperate things when it comes to quarterbacks, but just how highly Miami’s Cam Ward or Colorado‘s Shedeur Sanders go off the board remains to be seen, but, the league seems skeptical of both.
For More Football News:
Follow Matt Lombardo on Threads at @MattLombardoNFL. To read more of our articles and in-depth NFL coverage, click here.
