With the 2025 NFL Draft over a month away, it appears pretty much set that Miami’s Cam Ward and Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders will be the first two quarterbacks taken off the board.
It’s still anyone’s guess where they ultimately land, though.
Three quarterback-needy teams own the top three picks in the Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns, and New York Giants, but since this QB class is considered relatively weak among many draft analysts, they could pivot to the veteran quarterback route instead.
Despite that uncertainty, it’s hard to imagine Ward or Sanders slipping further than the 10th overall pick.
Another quarterback prospect, Ole Miss standout Jaxson Dart, has also been steadily climbing draft boards and appears locked in as another first-round selection.
However, in a development that could reshape draft night strategies, some NFL executives believe a different quarterback prospect could shockingly ascend into the top-10 conversation.
Related: ‘Safe bet’ Baltimore Ravens use first round pick on this position in 2025 NFL Draft
NFL execs wouldn’t be surprised if Louisville QB gets taken in first round
The Athletic’s Mike Sando reports that multiple NFL executives could realistically see Louisville quarterback Tyler Shough climb into the rarefied air of the top 10 selections.
“Because Shough has had only one especially strong season, his stock could appear to rise late as teams work through his 2024 tape. His age (25) and injury history have worked against him so far, but some execs see him as a first-round talent with a shot at cracking the top 10,” Sando noted, adding that The Ringer draft analyst Todd McShay even predicts Shough would be drafted ahead of Sanders.
Shough, who spent seven years playing college football, completed 62.7% of his passes for 3,195 yards and 23 touchdowns against just six interceptions in his lone season at Louisville. He arrived there following three years at Texas Tech and three years at Oregon before that.
Unfortunately for Shough, his college journey was repeatedly derailed by significant injuries during his time with the Red Raiders. He broke his collarbone in both 2021 and 2022, and then suffered a broken fibula in 2023. These setbacks limited him to just 15 total games with Texas Tech.
Shough also played one full season just once in his seven years in FBS, and that was with Louisville last year. He significantly boosted his draft stock at the NFL Scouting Combine, running an impressive 4.63 40-yard dash and recording a 32-inch vertical leap that showcased his athletic upside.
ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper currently has Shough as his eighth-rated quarterback prospect, making a potential top-10 selection all the more surprising for a player who’s been largely overshadowed throughout the pre-draft process.
Related: 2025 NFL mock draft