Where Shedeur Sanders, Cam Ward Would Rank Among Top QB Prospects of Last 5 Years

Colorado's Shedeur Sanders and Miami's Cam Ward are expected to be top-five picks in April's NFL draft, if not the first and second overall selections. But not all quarterback prospects are made the same.

Entering the NFL, Andrew Luck was viewed quite differently than Baker Mayfield, though they were both No. 1 overall picks.

Quarterback is always going to hold the most value, because it's the game's most valuable position. Not all top quarterback prospects are legitimate elite talents.

For the 2025 class, the top of the incoming crop appears shaky. The projected top 10 overall isn't as strong when compared to other classes. Sanders and Ward will benefit. But how do they look when compared to quarterbacks from the last four classes?

The Bleacher Report Scouting Department opened for business during the 2021 cycle. During that time, the trio of Nate Tice, Derrik Klassen and Dame Parson have graded the quarterback position. Sanders and Ward are part of the group's fifth year of evaluations. Some proved to be hits; others were big misses.

Still, those grades have been compiled to place into context how the top two incoming prospects are viewed based on other recent entrees.

For reference, the B/R Scouting Department has been working off the same grading scale since the group's inception. It is as follows...

10: Generational Talent/No. 1 Overall

9.5-9.9: Top-Five Prospect

9.0-9.4: Top-10 Prospect

8.5-8.9: Immediate Impact Prospect / 1st Round

8.0-8.4: Year 1 Starter / Late 1st-2nd Round

7.5-7.9: Potential Impact Player / 2nd Round

7.0-7.4: High-Level Backup / Potential Starter / 3rd Round

6.5-6.9: Potential Role Player / 4th Round

6.0-6.4: Developmental Prospect / 5th Round

5.5-5.9: Backup/Draftable / 6th-7th Round

5.0-5.4: Backup/UDFA with Roster Potential / UDFA

4.0-4.9: Developmental Prospect / UDFA

3.0-3.9: Training Camp Body / UDFA

Colorado's Shedeur Sanders could easily be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft. Yet there are lingering concerns about this overall skill set, particularly when facing consistent pressure.

To Sanders' credit, he has helped elevate two programs—the Jackson State Tigers and the Buffaloes. Sanders' play helped him emerge from the shadow of his father's celebrity status and established himself as a legitimate NFL talent.

With that said, Sanders still has multiple concerning areas for the professional ranks, hence his standing on this list.

Shedeur Sanders Scouting Report

Pre-Draft Strengths: "He throws a catchable ball on the move or inside the pocket. He has outstanding poise to make plays out of structure when forced out of the pocket. Sanders is an incredibly accurate and precise passer, especially in the short-to-intermediate parts of the field. He possesses the velocity to thrive when targeting receivers in those areas."

Pre-Draft Weaknesses: "However, Sanders takes too many hits because he tries to make a play and holds onto the ball. Those hits add up in the NFL and can create injuries for the most important person on the roster. Sanders must improve his anticipation; he tends to be a see-it, throw-it style quarterback. This is part of why he holds on to football, which increases his vulnerability. He is equipped with an NFL-caliber arm, but drifting backward in the pocket negatively impacts the velocity behind his passes."

Bryce Young is small for a quarterback. That's true whether he's been discussed at the high school, collegiate or professional levels. He's always been that way, though, and learned how to excel based on what natural tools he had.

Despite being a size outlier, the Carolina Panthers still chose him with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft. As a rookie, Young had been comically outplayed by fellow rookie C.J. Stroud. Panthers head coach Dave Canales benched his quarterback by Week 3 of the 2024 campaign.

To Young's credit, he didn't pout or shut down. Upon returning to the starting lineup a month later, he started to show some of the signs that originally made him the No. 1 overall pick, with Carolina now comfortable moving ahead with him behind center.

Bryce Young Scouting Report

Pre-Draft Strengths:

"He is a sharp processor, though slightly less so in 2022 than in 2021, and understands how to play within the rhythm of a concept. He has a great understanding of which throws aren't open and how to avoid forcing the ball.

"That skill bleeds into his ability as a playmaker. Once Young decides a play is broken, either because of pressure or sticky coverage, he is quick to find an answer. Sometimes that is a timely checkdown, but more frequently it means a play outside the pocket, where his blend of athleticism, creativity and flexible mechanics creates magic."

Pre-Draft Weaknesses: "On the other hand, quarterbacks of Young's frame don't exist in the NFL. Not only is Young on the shorter side, which inhibits his ability to throw over defenders when they crowd him, but he is also a major outlier in terms of weight. Young would be the first quarterback who weighs less than 200 pounds to be picked in the top 100 since Pat White in 2007."

The 2022 quarterback class was easily the worst of the last 25 years. If not for Brock Purdy emerging as a legitimate starter after being selected as Mr. Irrelevant, it would have turned into a total bust.

Desmond Ridder was graded as the best of a bad bunch.

The Atlanta Falcons chose Ridder in the third round that year and then gave him every opportunity for two seasons to become the team's long-term starter. He never looked comfortable in the role, lacked poise and couldn't take advantage of the numerous talented skill-position performers on the Falcons roster.

As a result, Atlanta's front office signed veteran Kirk Cousins in free agency, drafted Michael Penix Jr. with last year's eighth overall pick and shipped Ridder to the Arizona Cardinals, where he lost the backup quarterback competition, re-signed to the practice squad and ultimately joined the Las Vegas Raiders thanks to all of their issues at quarterback.

Desmond Ridder Scouting Report

Pre-Draft Strengths: "Even though he is a plus athlete with very good speed who is a weapon on designed quarterback runs, Ridder prefers to do his damage from the pocket.

"Ridder also shows an advanced pre-snap operation, adjusting protections and moving his teammates around as needed in a calm manner. His processing also shows up when progressing on passing concepts. He keeps his eyes downfield and shows the ability to truly get through multiple read plays. When paired with his very good pocket movement, he is able to get to the correct throw on a variety of different passing plays."

Pre-Draft Weaknesses: "His main blemish is some inaccurate throws at the beginning of games when he seems to be too amped up. But he settles in as the game goes along and is a player who steps up in big moments. Ridder shows enough advanced play that he can start for an NFL team as a rookie. He's not a perfect prospect and might take some knocks early as he steps up a level in competition."

Anthony Richardson was nothing but raw, unfiltered potential. Everyone understood that Richardson lacked experience, refinement and consistency. But his upside was off the charts.

The Indianapolis Colts chose the Florida quarterback with the fourth overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft. General manager Chris Ballard later questioned the decision to make the then-21-year-old quarterback a Week 1 starter as a rookie.

Richardson finished his first season on injured reserve. He then returned in 2024 only to eventually be benched, as the team sent a message about what it takes to prepare as an NFL quarterback.

The Colts quarterback is young and supremely talented. He simply hasn't developed as much as everyone hoped through two seasons.

Anthony Richardson Scouting Report

Pre-Draft Strengths: "Athletically, nobody in this class compares to Richardson. At 6'4" and 232 pounds, Richardson will walk into the league with top-five speed, explosiveness and contact balance for the position. He is very effective as a designed runner, particularly on plays that get him on the perimeter. Richardson is also a terrifying and creative scrambler. Not only is he quick to react to pressure and explosive enough to free himself from their clutches, but he's got a good eye for making plays both in congested areas or outside the pocket. When all of those athletic tools are paired with Richardson's blistering arm strength, there's no denying he is the most talented quarterback in the class."

Pre-Draft Weaknesses: "Accuracy is Richardson's biggest area for improvement. Richardson's best throws are mesmerizing, but there are too many random misfires littered in between. Richardson is prone to three or so terrible misfires per game, often in the 1-10 yard area—throws that are supposed to keep the offense on schedule. He also struggles a bit more with moving targets than he does stationary ones, too often limiting YAC. Richardson's accuracy isn't as bad as his 53.8 percent completion percentage suggests, since that's partly a product of the Gators' poor receiving group, but he's certainly a tick or two less accurate at this stage in his development than your typical first-round pick."

Miami's Cam Ward rose through the competition levels, multiple programs and the draft process to establish himself as QB1 for the 2025 class.

Ward originally played for the FCS-level Incarnate Word Cardinals after being lightly recruited out of high school. There, he became the SCL Offensive Player of the Year before transferring to the Washington State Cougars. In the Pac-12, Ward threw for 6,966 yards and 48 touchdowns over two seasons. Finally, he joined the Hurricanes program, where he helped elevate the program to national status, with Heisman Trophy consideration along the way.

During his one year in Miami, Ward shattered the program's single-season passing record, as the team improved to 10-3 after six straight seasons with fewer than double-digit victories.

Cam Ward Scouting Report

Pre-Draft Strengths: "Beginning with arm talent, Ward can make everything needed at the next level. He can access the short, intermediate and deep portions of the defense with little restrictions. The ball pops off his hands when releasing it down the field. Ward does a great job toggling between velocity and touch based on throwing trajectory and distance. He can fire the ball past a defender's earhole and on the receiver's face mask with immense velocity when necessary.

"... Ward has plus-level mobility and can create plays with his feet. Whether second-reaction throws outside the pocket or running for 20 yards, he is a threat on the ground."

Pre-Draft Weaknesses: "Ball protection will remain a talking point with his draft profile. He is a gunslinger and even admitted to it during an August interview. Ward is a risk-taker but needs to improve on being calculated with those risks. He tends to test coverage windows and has put the ball in harm's way throughout his career. Ward is accustomed to performing as Michael Jordan in the Finals and putting the offense on his back. Sometimes, playing less hero ball and taking the designated layups or hot reads in the offense will go a long way."

In 2023, C.J. Stroud showed why he should have been the No. 1 overall pick instead of Bryce Young, with an outstanding NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year performance thanks to a 23-to-5 touchdown-to-interception ratio as the Texans won a division title and returned to the postseason.

Stroud's overall play experienced a downturn this past season, though the Texans still won back-to-back division titles. From a statistical standpoint, the second-year signal-caller threw for fewer yards and touchdowns and more interceptions.

Even so, the Texans are confident they have one of the game's best young quarterbacks, with the potential to dominate their division for years to come.

C.J. Stroud Scouting Report

Pre-Draft Strengths: "Stroud is a task-oriented passer and a very good one. Pre-snap, Stroud does well to identify potential blitzes, decipher man vs. zone tells and anticipate early weak spots in coverage. Ohio State's wide-open scheme helped with that in terms of presenting pre-snap indicators, but Stroud did well to take advantage.

"His rapid-fire throwing motion and ample arm strength make it easy for him to deliver on those opportunities as well.

"... There isn't a throw Stroud can't make when in rhythm, and his high-end flashes of touch placement are better than anyone else's in the class."

Pre-Draft Weaknesses: "When Stroud's pre-snap understanding of a play is disrupted, he is up and down. Versus more ambitious defenses ... Stroud showed late or questionable decision-making when the coverage was rotated or when bodies dropped off the line of scrimmage unexpectedly.

"Likewise, Stroud is not much of a natural playmaker. There are moments when he can find a safe throw on the move or get to a throwaway, but he doesn't do very well to break tackles or hunt for explosive plays during scramble drills."

The 2021 quarterback class was supposed to be one of the best in recent memory, with three landing among the top three selections and Justin Fields also counted among the crop.

As it turns out, draft classes can look far better on paper than when the group is asked to perform on the field.

Case in point, the New York Jets chose BYU's Zach Wilson with the second overall pick. Wilson entered the NFL as a 21-year-old prospect who played extremely well during his final season on campus. He wasn't ready to be an NFL quarterback, though.

Wilson greatly struggled through three seasons with Gang Green. Maybe some of the issues stem from organizational ineptitude (look at Sam Darnold currently). Whatever the case, he was traded to the Denver Broncos last offseason, where he took over as the squad's third-string quarterback.

Zach Wilson Scouting Report

Pre-Draft Strengths: "He has the arm talent to consistently make throws at all three levels from controlled settings and while off-platform. He is a good athlete who shows the ability to create and ad-lib plays when initial reads are covered, which is coveted from the QB position in today's NFL.

"Wilson has the utmost confidence in his arm and is not scared to throw into tight windows, even downfield."

Pre-Draft Weaknesses: "He will still need to improve on his timing, ball security, and when to learn to tone down the aggression and be a quarterback instead of a thrower. He showed confidence in concepts he ran often (mesh, mirrored routes) but would sometimes be lacking the ability to progress on infrequent play calls. His slight overall build is also something to note, as he won't be able to pull out of defenders' grasps as easily in the NFL, and durability will be something to keep track of."

Much like classmate Zach Wilson, Trey Lance's draft stock was boosted by an early breakout age with one really good season under his belt. He also proved unready to handle the responsibilities of an NFL starting quarterback.

Lance was 20 at the time of being drafted, and he played in only one contest during the 2020 campaign due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During the '19 season, Lance was phenomenal, being named the Walter Payton Award winner as the most outstanding player at the FCS level. He threw for 2,786 yards and 28 touchdowns while adding 1,100 rushing yards and 14 more scores.

The massive increase in level of competition and uncertainty with limited playing experience proved too much to overcome in the NFL, where Lance has started only five games in four seasons after being drafted by the San Francisco 49ers with the third overall pick and then dealt to the Dallas Cowboys.

Trey Lance Scouting Report

Pre-Draft Strengths: "Lance has a nice blend of height, weight and build for the QB position, and he plays with smooth and polished mechanics that can borderline on being robotic. Lance is a good athlete alongside his size and play strength, which makes him a viable weapon on QB run concepts and also makes him a tough body to pull down in the pocket.

"Lance plays with polish throughout his game and has very good eyes pre-snap, identifying protections for his OL and RB and showing the consistent ability to communicate to his teammates in a calm manner while also playing quickly post-snap."

Pre-Draft Weaknesses: "Lance still has room to grow, both literally because of his build and young age but also in terms of consistency and accuracy, as he'll spray the ball when feeling late on a throw or try to gun a ball into contested spaces.

"He will take some time to develop his consistency as a thrower and to the speed of the NFL game, but Lance's natural traits and work ethic make his upside sky-high, with more nuance to his game that suggests his floor is higher than meets the eye."

Caleb Williams was destined to be the No. 1 overall pick of some NFL draft class. He achieved that feat in 2024.

Williams entered the collegiate ranks as a heralded 5-star recruit. By the end of his true freshman campaign, he dethroned Spencer Rattler as the starting quarterback of the Oklahoma Sooners.

After transferring to the USC Trojans the following year, he won the Heisman Trophy. Williams did experience issues during his final season on campus where he tried to do too much on a team that faltered down the stretch, losing five of its last six regular-season games.

As a rookie with the Chicago Bears, those same ups and downs became apparent again. Williams flashed brilliance. He also holds the ball too long and tries to do too much when nothing is available. He needs the right tutelage to harness his immense natural throwing and playmaking abilities.

Caleb Williams Scouting Report

Pre-Draft Strengths: "It all starts with arm talent. ... Williams can also flick the ball 50 yards downfield like it's nothing. Combine that with pretty consistent accuracy across the board, and you've got a scary passer.

"What really makes Williams' arm special is the elasticity in his throwing motion. Williams' upper half is incredibly flexible, and he generates a ton of torque seemingly out of nowhere. Whether the pocket is cluttered or Williams is on the move, he's always able to get the ball out cleanly with the same kind of velocity and control he would get under normal circumstances."

Pre-Draft Weaknesses: "Areas of improvement for Williams mostly come down to consistency.

"Williams is a quality processor, but he sometimes gets in his own way. His affinity for the big play can mean he'll pass up easier opportunities. Additionally, Williams tends to drop back square to the offensive line (which helps him stay on his toes and see). That can disrupt his timing on specific routes because he needs an extra step to gather himself. These are not fatal flaws, but he'll need to improve upon them in the NFL."

At one point during their collegiate careers, Justin Fields was outplaying draft classmate Trevor Lawrence. The latter did overcome some bumps along the way to become the 2021 draft's No. 1 overall pick. In contrast, Fields tumbled out of the top 10 until the Chicago Bears traded up to acquire his services.

With Chicago, Fields simultaneously overachieved yet disappointed during his first three seasons. How can both occur? Well, Fields was not supported enough and responded by being a major weapon as a runner, with 2,220 yards and 14 touchdowns over that stretch.

However, Fields didn't progress far enough as a passer. Once the Bears secured the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft, the standing determined his fate. Chicago then traded its former starting quarterback to the Pittsburgh Steelers, where Fields opened the '24 campaign as the starter only to give way to veteran Russell Wilson.

Justin Fields Scouting Report

Pre-Draft Strengths: "Fields is a dynamic quarterback prospect who would be in consideration for the No. 1 pick in any other draft class. He displays excellent accuracy and good throw power at all three levels. Fields is able to change arm slots and throw off-platform while maintaining accuracy. He is tough in the pocket and constantly keeps his eyes downfield while also using his athleticism to make rushers miss in the pocket and generate yards with his legs.

"All QB run-game concepts are available with him, and he has the ability to extend passing plays when the play breaks down."

Pre-Draft Weaknesses: "He has a tendency to hang on to some of his reads, but that is also because of some of the concepts being called, and he will have to keep improving upon his mental clock to save himself from hits in the NFL."

In a class where Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels heard their names called with the No. 1 and 2 overall picks, Drake Maye graded as the Bleacher Report Scouting Department's QB1 throughout the 2024 cycle. The early entrant presented prototypical size, top-notch arm talent and enough athleticism to be a consistent playmaker.

Still, the New England Patriots tried to slow-play Maye's rookie season when the organization didn't really need to do so.

Maye almost immediately looked like he fit as a starting NFL quarterback upon taking over the role in Week 6 against the Houston Texans.

New England must feel great to have its quarterback in place. However, the organization must complete a significant roster overhaul this offseason since Maye's surrounding cast was easily the league's worst during this past season.

Drake Maye Scouting Report

Pre-Draft Strengths: "Maye's arm talent is the core of his game. He can throw a 100 mph fastball into a tight window over the middle or outside the numbers. Maye can also throttle down and put throws where only his receiver can go get it, as well as creating smooth yards-after-the-catch transitions for his receivers on underneath routes. He possesses every club in the bag.

"Maye can do all of that off-platform, too. He has no issue throwing without a proper base under him or when he's falling away from pressure. Likewise, Maye can really spin it when he's on the move, both on rollouts and when scrambling."

Pre-Draft Weaknesses: "Maye does have moments where he doesn't see or react to post-snap movement. In particular, late safety rotations don't always trigger the response out of him that you'd like to see.

"Maye also has a little bit of Superman Syndrome. There are two or three plays per game where things break down and Maye feels the need to do something outrageous to salvage the play, rather than just move on to the next play or series. You don't want Maye to lose his edge, but some of those plays must be cut out."

Trevor Lawrence was viewed as the best quarterback prospect since Andrew Luck entered the professional ranks nine years earlier. His predraft grade reflected the general consensus.

Lawrence excelled as a true freshman with the national championship-winning Clemson Tigers. The sophomore set career highs in passing yardage and touchdown tosses. He then showed better consistency and less of a penchant to make incorrect reads during his final season on campus. At 6'6" and athletic, with a strong and smooth release, Lawrence ran the table as the top prospect during the 2021 draft cycle before being chosen by the Jacksonville Jaguars.

His NFL experience hasn't been anywhere near as smooth.

First, the rookie dealt with the absolute disaster that was Urban Meyer's tenure as the Jaguars head coach. Lawrence displayed significant growth in Year 2, only to trend down during his third season and ended his fourth campaign on injured reserve with a concussion.

Lawrence has already inked a long-term contract extension, but he needs a strong season in 2025 under the Jaguars' new coaching staff.

Trevor Lawrence Scouting Report

Pre-Draft Strengths: "Lawrence has all the tools and makeup to live up to the expectations of a generational franchise quarterback. Lawrence is the complete package of size, arm talent, athleticism and intangibles. Although he played in a very simple offense in college, his ability to deliver top-tier throws at all three levels with a variety of touch and consistent placement is something that translates to any offense."

Pre-Draft Weaknesses: "Lawrence displayed a growing knowledge of protection schemes, and you can see him communicating with his offensive linemen and running backs about their pre-snap assignments, but this will remain something that he will need to continue to refine."