2025 NFL Mock Draft: Cowboys add a big-time RB, Jets bring in another pass catcher for Aaron Rodgers

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. 

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.

For more draft coverage, you can hear in-depth analysis twice a week on “With the First Pick” — our year-round NFL Draft podcast with NFL Draft analyst Ryan Wilson and former Vikings general manager Rick Spielman. You can find “With the First Pick” wherever you get your podcasts: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, etc. Listen below!