College football giveth… and college football taketh away. After a tsunami of rookie quarterbacks entered the league in 2024 (six drafted in the first round, all earning starting jobs as rookies, PLUS fifth-rounder Spencer Rattler taking on a starting role), the position seemed to be at an inflection point, both for dynasty/fantasy and NFL purposes.
If the QB position is going to finish its much-needed makeover, it will have to wait a year.
The 2025 class is… let’s just say, wanting. The quality of the class is reminiscent of 2022, when only Kenny Pickett (20th overall) was drafted before the third round. The dynasty community convinced itself to fall in love with Malik Willis and Desmond Ridder, making their complete lack of relevance from draft day on, extra disappointing.
The 2025 QB class should be better, but.they’re also propped up by demand, as several NFL franchises enter the draft with an unsettled QB position. A few teams are, in fact, straight up desperate. This is also going to push third round talents up into the first round, as up to a third of the league fights over four starting caliber rookie QBs… well, three. And a fourth if you really squint.
Next year, we will get excited again. This year, we will temper our expectations. I know. I hate it too.
Here are the incoming rookie QBs headed for the first round, in the order I’m guessing they’ll be drafted, and the dynasty superflex impact that they could have.
Strengths
- Good size, great athleticism, and arm talent to go with it.
- Excellent pocket presence; athletic with good mobility, but very patient before he takes off and runs.
- Quick release keeps him out of trouble, and helps him sneak the ball into tight windows.
- Good mix of velocity and touch, and good at identifying which to use situationally.
- Good at pre-snap reads, going through his progressions… the intellectual side of QB play.
Weaknesses
- Patience is an issue in letting plays develop. His throws are often early, and into tight coverage before the route can free the pass catcher.
- Struggles inside the red zone, and relies heavily on seam throws, which aren’t available in close working quarters.
- Backwards scrambles, extending plays when the move is to throw the ball away… too much hero ball, essentially.
NFL Prediction: First Overall, Tennessee Titans
A month ago, it seemed unlikely that the Titans would stay put and take Ward first overall; the courtship of Ward seemed more like a trade value-enhancement. But the fact that a deal hasn’t materialized and the Titans are still locked in on Ward tells us that the Will Levis experiment in Music City is over. It’s the right move, giving up on Levis and taking Ward first overall. A draft day deal could still happen, but at this point, we can confidently plan for Ward in Tennessee.
Superflex Outlook
The Titans’ offensive line and pass-catching weapons are both in the bottom third of the league, so Ward’s development is going to have to be on raw talent. Fortunately, he has plenty of that. It’s going to be a wide range of outcomes early on, with a low floor and high ceiling, but the scarcity at the QB position alone vaults him into the top tier of 2025 rookies (1.03 in superflex rookie drafts, with a strong argument for 1.02 behind only Ashton Jeanty). From there, his rookie year upside is a little capped – top 12 feels like the best case scenario – but a strong early reveal would solidify Ward as a long-term QB1 in dynasty leagues.
