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About Our NFL Draft Grade Process
At Football Scout 365, we meticulously evaluate NFL Draft prospects using our internal evaluation grade scale, a system refined since the 2021 NFL Draft. Our grading process blends film study and advanced analytics, assessing players year-round—from the prior season’s tape to summer scouting, in-season evaluations, and key pre-draft events like the Senior Bowl and NFL Combine. This comprehensive approach ensures every data point is accounted for, allowing us to accurately assess each prospect’s NFL potential.
For the 2025 NFL Draft, we’re incorporating graded comparisons to top quarterbacks from previous draft classes. This process helps us identify anomalies and ensure our grades remain consistent and accurate by evaluating this year’s prospects alongside past evaluations. Our methodology follows BLESTO and NFL scouting department grading models, providing a data-driven approach to quarterback rankings.
How We Grade Quarterbacks
Scouting the quarterback position is one of the most complex evaluations in football. As the leader of the offense, a quarterback’s success often determines a team’s ceiling. Given the position’s importance, NFL teams invest anywhere from 6% to 25% of their salary cap in a franchise QB, a number that continues to rise.
At Football Scout 365, we use a detailed grading system that evaluates quarterbacks across multiple key traits. Each QB receives a 1-9 grade in the following categories, leading to an overall draft grade and a ceiling grade projecting long-term potential.
Key Traits We Evaluate in Quarterbacks
Arm Talent – Accuracy, velocity, and ability to throw at all levels.
Decision-Making – Processing speed, defensive recognition, and turnover avoidance.
Mobility – Play-extending ability, pocket movement, and effectiveness throwing on the run.
A successful evaluation requires analyzing a QB’s on-field performance, leadership, and football intelligence, while also considering how their skill set fits within an offensive system. Scheme adaptability and long-term development potential are key factors in projecting NFL success.
Overview of the 2025 NFL Draft QB Class
Several NFL franchises lack a long-term answer at quarterback and enter the offseason looking for upgrades. While scouts consider this a weaker class in terms of top-end talent, multiple quarterbacks are still expected to be first-round selections. Additionally, several intriguing mid-to-late-round prospects have caught the attention of NFL evaluators.
QB Rankings: How This Year’s Class Stacks Up
In evaluating the 2025 NFL Draft quarterback class, we compare each prospect to the top-tier QBs from previous draft classes, placing them within our NFL Draft grade scale. This system categorizes quarterbacks into four key tiers:
Elite Tier
Near Elite Tier
High-End Starter Potential
Mid-Level Starter Potential
Elite Tier (Generational/Franchise QB)
1). Caleb Williams (2024, USC)
2). Trevor Lawrence (2021, Clemson)
*There are zero Elite QB grades in the 2025 NFL Draft class.
Near Elite Tier (High-End Starter With Pro Bowl Upside)
3). Bryce Young (2023 NFL Draft, Alabama)
4). C.J. Stroud (2023 NFL Draft, Ohio State)
*There are zero Near Elite QB grades in the 2025 NFL Draft class.
High-End Starter Potential (Capable Long-Term Starter)
5). Jayden Daniels (2024, LSU)
6). J.J. McCarthy (2024, Michigan)
7). Drake Maye (2024, North Carolina)
8). Michael Penix Jr. (2024, Washington)
9). Shedeur Sanders (2025, Colorado)
A precision passer with excellent poise under pressure, Sanders excels in rhythm-based offenses. His accuracy and decision-making are NFL-ready.
10). Cam Ward (2025, Miami)
An aggressive passer with elite arm talent, Ward thrives in vertical passing schemes. His mechanics need refinement, but his ability to extend plays and push the ball downfield makes him one of the most exciting prospects in this class.
11). Justin Fields (2021, Ohio State)
12). Anthony Richardson (2023, Florida)
Mid-Level Starter Potential (Developmental Starter With Upside)
13). Bo Nix (2024, Oregon)
14). Zach Wilson (2021, BYU)
15). Quinn Ewers (2025, Texas)
A high IQ passer with a quick release and excellent pocket presence, Ewers thrives in spread or West Coast schemes that emphasize RPOs and quick passing concepts. His deep-ball accuracy is a strength, but he must improve footwork and consistency under pressure to maximize his upside.
16). Jalen Milroe (2025, Alabama)
An elite dual-threat quarterback with a strong arm, Milroe fits best in a spread-based offense that utilizes RPOs and designed quarterback runs. His mobility and deep-ball ability are major assets, but he must refine his accuracy and decision-making in the intermediate passing game.
17). Will Levis (2023, Kentucky)
18). Kyle McCord (2025, Syracuse)
A pocket passer with strong arm talent and solid accuracy, McCord fits best in a play-action-heavy system that allows him to leverage timing throws and structured reads. His ability to make downfield throws when given a clean pocket is a plus, but he must improve handling pressure.
19). Mac Jones (2021, Alabama)
20). Jaxson Dart (2025, Ole Miss)
A strong-armed, athletic quarterback, Dart thrives in RPO-heavy and vertical passing schemes. His ability to make off-platform throws and extend plays is a plus, but he must refine his mechanics under pressure to transition smoothly into a pro-style system.
21). Will Howard (2025, Ohio State)
A big-bodied, strong-armed quarterback with solid mobility, Howard fits best in a vertical play-action offense. His deep-ball accuracy and poise in high-pressure situations stand out, but his lower-body mechanics and processing against complex defenses need refinement.
22). Dillon Gabriel (2025, Oregon)
A rhythm-based passer with strong football IQ and accuracy in the short-to-intermediate game, Gabriel thrives in quick-hitting offenses that emphasize timing and RPOs. His lack of elite size and arm strength limit his upside, but his decision-making makes him a solid developmental option.