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2025 NFL Scouting Combine Winners and Losers: Quarterbacks

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Jaxson Dart | © Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Tim Riordan Posted On March 4, 2025
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The quarterbacks were the talk of the town in Indianapolis last week. Unfortunately, the focus was more on the veteran quarterbacks than the rookies who were there to display their talents. While Matthew Stafford agreed to a re-worked contract with the Rams, and rumors swirled about Sam Darnold, Aaron Rodgers, Justin Fields, and Russell Wilson, the buzz around the incoming rookie quarterbacks was minimal.

The truth is, this is a weak quarterback class, and the quarterback-needy teams in Indianapolis seemed to be focused more on the veteran options than the rookie ones. Sam Darnold broke the mold last year, when he led the Vikings to the playoffs in his first year with the team. Now, teams are hoping to catch lightning with a veteran cast-off more than an unknown rookie.

To be fair, the 2025 quarterback class didn’t do much to put their names out there. The top two options, Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders, didn’t do any on-field drills. The ones that did take the field did fine, but there was no standout performance that had the internet going crazy (see Anthony Richardson from two years ago).

Despite the lack of buzz, there were still plenty of winners and losers from the NFL Scouting Combine at the quarterback position. Let’s break them down.

Winners

Cam Ward, Miami

Ward didn’t do much in Indianapolis this week. He was measured, he participated in interviews, and he went through the medicals. While he only really threw a football to his former teammate Xavier Restrepo, Ward still comes out as a winner.

 

It now appears abundantly clear that Ward will be the number one overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. All of the rumors and headlines coming out of Indy appeared to point towards that reality. The Giants and Jets are reportedly interested in trading up to the first overall pick to take Ward, while the Titans spent plenty of time with Ward this week.

 

Leaving the Combine, my assumption is that Ward will be the number one pick, it’s just a question of which team makes that pick. That’s a win for Ward, even though he barely threw a football in Indianapolis.

Jaxson Dart, Mississippi

Of the players that did participate in drills this week, Dart was far and away the best of the group. He looked incredibly comfortable, hitting receivers in the hands on all routes, to both sides, short, deep and intermediate.

Dart has been a polarizing player in the draft community in recent weeks. His Mock Draft ADP has him going outside of the first round, but plenty of people believe he should go in the first round, even in the top ten picks.

It certainly helps that he didn’t have to throw up against Ward and Sanders, but it was an impressive performance nonetheless. It’s the most important position in sports, and Dart has the upside to be a decent NFL starting quarterback. After this performance at the Combine, and his success at the Senior Bowl, I expect him to hear his name called on day one.

Brady Cook, Missouri

Cook is one of the few quarterbacks who participated in the tests at the NFL Combine, and there’s a good reason for that. He knew he would absolutely dominate the testing numbers, and he did just that.

Cook ran the fastest 40-yard dash at the QB position this year at 4.59 seconds. While that does sound impressive, four quarterbacks in the 2023 class ran a faster time than him, so it isn’t historic by any means.

Many were impressed with Cook’s on-field drills as well, but I came out of them thinking he has work to do. His deep-ball looked great, but I thought the short and intermediate throws really lacked any zip to them. Receivers had to come back to meet the ball because they were so late getting to the point.

Cook’s stock certainly rose in Indy. He was looking at potentially going undrafted, but now, thanks to his testing, he’s on the radar for a draft pick. That being said, he likely won’t be worth a dynasty pick.

Honorable Mention – Jalen Milroe, Alabama

Losers

Will Howard, Ohio State

Howard garnered a reaction from the crowd at the Combine every time he touched the ball. Indy is in the heart of Big Ten country, and the stadium was packed with Ohio State and Michigan fans who had something to say to the championship-winning QB.

While the crowd and the broadcasters were distracted by the school next to his name, Howard was a massive disappointment in the throwing drills.

It took him a half-dozen reps before he finally threw an on-target ball. He was high on almost every throw and didn’t give his receivers a chance on many of them.

It is true that this is a unique environment for quarterbacks. They are throwing to receivers they’ve almost never thrown to before. You don’t know what their cues are, where they like to go and where they like the ball. Despite all of that, every quarterback throwing was in the same exact position, and he looked like the worst of the bunch.

Howard entered Indy with a mock draft ADP in the third round. I’d now be surprised to see him go any higher than a day three pick.

Honorable Mentions – Quinn Ewers, Texas and Shedeur Sanders, Colorado

Tim Riordan
Latest posts by Tim Riordan (see all)

The quarterbacks were the talk of the town in Indianapolis last week. Unfortunately, the focus was more on the veteran quarterbacks than the rookies who were there to display their talents. While Matthew Stafford agreed to a re-worked contract with the Rams, and rumors swirled about Sam Darnold, Aaron Rodgers, Justin Fields, and Russell Wilson, the buzz around the incoming rookie quarterbacks was minimal.

The truth is, this is a weak quarterback class, and the quarterback-needy teams in Indianapolis seemed to be focused more on the veteran options than the rookie ones. Sam Darnold broke the mold last year, when he led the Vikings to the playoffs in his first year with the team. Now, teams are hoping to catch lightning with a veteran cast-off more than an unknown rookie.

To be fair, the 2025 quarterback class didn’t do much to put their names out there. The top two options, Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders, didn’t do any on-field drills. The ones that did take the field did fine, but there was no standout performance that had the internet going crazy (see Anthony Richardson from two years ago).

Despite the lack of buzz, there were still plenty of winners and losers from the NFL Scouting Combine at the quarterback position. Let’s break them down.

Winners

Cam Ward, Miami

Ward didn’t do much in Indianapolis this week. He was measured, he participated in interviews, and he went through the medicals. While he only really threw a football to his former teammate Xavier Restrepo, Ward still comes out as a winner.

 

It now appears abundantly clear that Ward will be the number one overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft. All of the rumors and headlines coming out of Indy appeared to point towards that reality. The Giants and Jets are reportedly interested in trading up to the first overall pick to take Ward, while the Titans spent plenty of time with Ward this week.

 

Leaving the Combine, my assumption is that Ward will be the number one pick, it’s just a question of which team makes that pick. That’s a win for Ward, even though he barely threw a football in Indianapolis.

Jaxson Dart, Mississippi

Of the players that did participate in drills this week, Dart was far and away the best of the group. He looked incredibly comfortable, hitting receivers in the hands on all routes, to both sides, short, deep and intermediate.

Dart has been a polarizing player in the draft community in recent weeks. His Mock Draft ADP has him going outside of the first round, but plenty of people believe he should go in the first round, even in the top ten picks.

It certainly helps that he didn’t have to throw up against Ward and Sanders, but it was an impressive performance nonetheless. It’s the most important position in sports, and Dart has the upside to be a decent NFL starting quarterback. After this performance at the Combine, and his success at the Senior Bowl, I expect him to hear his name called on day one.

Brady Cook, Missouri

Cook is one of the few quarterbacks who participated in the tests at the NFL Combine, and there’s a good reason for that. He knew he would absolutely dominate the testing numbers, and he did just that.

Cook ran the fastest 40-yard dash at the QB position this year at 4.59 seconds. While that does sound impressive, four quarterbacks in the 2023 class ran a faster time than him, so it isn’t historic by any means.

Many were impressed with Cook’s on-field drills as well, but I came out of them thinking he has work to do. His deep-ball looked great, but I thought the short and intermediate throws really lacked any zip to them. Receivers had to come back to meet the ball because they were so late getting to the point.

Cook’s stock certainly rose in Indy. He was looking at potentially going undrafted, but now, thanks to his testing, he’s on the radar for a draft pick. That being said, he likely won’t be worth a dynasty pick.

Honorable Mention – Jalen Milroe, Alabama

Losers

Will Howard, Ohio State

Howard garnered a reaction from the crowd at the Combine every time he touched the ball. Indy is in the heart of Big Ten country, and the stadium was packed with Ohio State and Michigan fans who had something to say to the championship-winning QB.

While the crowd and the broadcasters were distracted by the school next to his name, Howard was a massive disappointment in the throwing drills.

It took him a half-dozen reps before he finally threw an on-target ball. He was high on almost every throw and didn’t give his receivers a chance on many of them.

It is true that this is a unique environment for quarterbacks. They are throwing to receivers they’ve almost never thrown to before. You don’t know what their cues are, where they like to go and where they like the ball. Despite all of that, every quarterback throwing was in the same exact position, and he looked like the worst of the bunch.

Howard entered Indy with a mock draft ADP in the third round. I’d now be surprised to see him go any higher than a day three pick.

Honorable Mentions – Quinn Ewers, Texas and Shedeur Sanders, Colorado

Tim Riordan
Latest posts by Tim Riordan (see all)

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