There's no way to beat around the bush; this QB class is weak. Not to say there isn't some potential here, 3 or 4 prospects truly have great potential including Cam Ward, Shedeur Sanders and Jalen Milroe. The problem with this class is a lack of true talent and production. Cameron Ward may have set the all-time Passing Touchdowns mark but that was after 5 seasons of pass-friendly offenses (4 season in a non-Power-5 conference.)
The class also includes players with decent floors and projectable status as backups in the league which may not be what you're looking for in First Round QBs but is still very valuable.
1. Cameron Ward
Miami 6'2" 219 lbs.
Big Board Rank: 16
With the highest potential in the class and 5 years of good production under his belt, Ward is arguably the best QB prospect in the class. Also with one of the best arm strengths in the class Ward has the potential to be a starter for a long time. He will need some time to improve skills like reding pro defenses and getting better at progressing beyond his 2nd and 3rd read. Ward also has some odd behavior in the pocket; he is very non-chalant and will keep his heels down which will lead to far too many sacks in the pros. None the less because of his potential he just barely sneaks by the second best prospect in the class.
Pro Comp: Jordan Love
2. Shedeur Sanders
Colorado 6'1" 212 lbs.
Big Board Rank: 22
Shedeur Sanders is by far the most complete Quarterback and pro-ready at this moment. Sanders 74% pass accuracy this year was a Top-10 mark in history and has averaged about 35 TDs and 7 INTs per year over the last 4 seasons. Another great trait for Sanders is his toughness, with the most sacks in FBS in each of the last two years without missing a single game. The problem with Sanders as a prospect is his arm strength. Without a specific measurement, Sanders thrown balls have been visibly slower than Ward's and in the NFL that will be a huge factor. Still, his accuracy and pro-ability will be enough that his lowest floor in the NFL is a career backup and will most likely be a starter for a long time in the league.
Player Comp: Alex Smith
3. Jaxson Dart
Ole Miss 6'2" 223 lbs.
Big Board Rank: 57
An intriguing riser throughout the draft process, Dart has been showing off his arm talent at the Combine and Senior Bowl alike. Dart's 3 years starting at Ole Miss were capped off by a terrific Senior Season where he had over 4,800 all-purpose yards, 32 TDs, a 69.3% completion percentage and led his team to a spectacular season where they just barely missed the CFP. For a prospect, Dart will need time to improve his decision-making and not rely too much on his arm and athleticism. Under the right scheme though, Dart has about as much potential as any other QB in the class.
Pro Comp: J.J. McCarthy
4. Dillon Gabriel
Oregon 5'11" 205 lbs.
Big Board Rank: 81
Gabriel is a prospect I am much higher on than most because of his production at multiple colleges and his arm talent. Gabriel's 6 seasons in college has shown his ability to limit turnovers while having great accuracy. Gabriel very well may be a product of his environment, succeeding most in Oregon this past season but all that means is Gabriel's potential on a team that takes him and is patient could be great. Gabriel's size is also a concern but a factor that is starting to mean less and less these days. Gabriel also had a ball reportedly thrown 74.9 MPH at the Combine which broke a record. The processing, the experience, the accuracy and a potentially lethal arm should make Gabriel at the worst a solid backup in the league.
Pro Comp: Current Russell Wilson
5. Quinn Ewers
Texas 6'2" 214 lbs.
Big Board Rank: 95
Ewers has been a top-QB talent for 2 years in a row but injuries cost him gravely this season. Reportedly playing the whole season with a Torn Oblique, Ewers still put up good numbers and brought the Longhorns to a CFP semi-finals but the damage was done. Ewers play also took a hit from the injury as noticeable declines in throw power and mobility were causes for concerns. Ewers is still a top prospect with a lot of potential but he will certainly not be good enough to start his rookie year. His intelligence and experience are absolutely worth stashing him however and when his name is finally called on, I wouldn't be shocked to see him be a teams' Starting QB for a few seasons.
Pro Comp: Bo Nix
6. Jalen Milroe
Alabama 6'2" 217 lbs.
Big Board Rank: 103
I have never been a huge fan of Jalen Milroe but there's no doubting his Pro Potential. A mix between Jalen Hurts and Anthony Richardson, Milroe is the most physically-gifted QB in the class but has obvious accuracy issues. Milroe showed his problems throwing the ball at the Senior Bowl and his stock took a major hit. If a team is looking for a scrambling QB in a run heavy offense it is worth taking Milroe with a 2nd or 3rd round pick. Every team should know that they will need patience with Milroe to develop his throwing mechanics or they'll end up with another Anthony Richardson. If they can wait though, the potential comparison to Jalen Hurts is easy to see.
Pro Comp: Tim Tebow
7. Kyle McCord
Syracuse 6'3" 218 lbs.
Big Board Rank: 113
McCord revitalized his draft prospects after transferring to Syracuse this season. After a decent season starting at Ohio State, McCord Senior season in New York went for over 4,700 passing yards, 37 total TDs while leading his team to a 10-3 record.
As a prospect, McCord is very interesting due to his size and production he's had over the last two years by winning at both places. His arm strength will always be an issue and his mobility isn't anything special, but under the right circumstances after some time for McCord to get used to a pro style offense, McCord could definitely succeed at the next level.
Pro Comp: Kirk Cousins
8. Will Howard
Ohio State 6'4" 236 lbs.
Big Board Rank: N/A
From Kyle McCord to the QB Ohio State replaced him for, Will Howard is a eerily similar prospect. A very similar style, Howard is bigger and a bit more athletic but with less arm talent than his predecessor. Howard may have won a Natty with OSU which McCord can't say, but it was the roster around him more than Howard's efforts that made the difference. Howard can still have potential in the league, with the perfect size for the position and 50 starts under his belt. Still, Howard's potential will be extremely scheme-dependent.
Pro Comp: Mason Rudolph
9. Brady Cook
Missouri 6'2" 214 lbs.
Big Board Rank: N/A
One of the least known prospects of the position, Brady Cook started for the Missouri Tigers for 3 seasons and had one of the lowest INT% in SEC history. Cook's scheme-reliant style won't make him pop out to any NFL GMs but it does show his ability to limit turnovers in a competitive environment. Cook also has very good mobility and has shown a propensity to make throws on the run. Another case of poor arm talent may cause him never to see the field but a good backup QB with low risk and low reward will find ways to make it on NFL teams historically.
Pro Comp: Marcus Mariota
10. Kurtis Rourke
Indiana 6'4" 220 lbs.
Big Board Rank: N/A
Rourke makes the final spot on my Top-10 list with some legit developmental traits NFL scouts will love. His size and experience at both Ohio and Indiana have shown real ability to become an above average backup at the NFL level. Unfortunately for Rourke, the fact he played on a Torn ACL may have him go undrafted as it will be at least a full season before he's ready to step on to the field. Still, a decent career could be Rourke's future if he goes to a team with enough patience.
Pro Comp: Carson Strong
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-Z.D.
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