Scout: Shedeur Sanders, 2025 NFL Draft QB Class 'Won't Be Anything Close' to 2024

An anonymous NFL scout believes there will be a significant drop-off from 2024 to 2025 when it comes to the quarterback crop in the NFL draft.

According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler and Pete Thamel, the veteran scout said: "It won't be anything close to this year."

The 2024 NFL draft features three surefire first-round picks at quarterback in USC's Caleb Williams, North Carolina's Drake Maye and LSU's Jayden Daniels, plus Michigan's J.J. McCarthy, Washington's Michael Penix Jr. and Oregon's Bo Nix all have a chance to be first-rounders as well.

As of now, the leading candidates to be top picks at quarterback in the 2025 draft include Colorado's Shedeur Sanders, Georgia's Carson Beck and Texas' Quinn Ewers.

Given that the Chicago Bears, Washington Commanders and New England Patriots own the first three picks in the 2024 draft and all arguably have a need at quarterback, Williams, Maye and Daniels could be the first three players off the board in April.

It is difficult to envision a similar scenario happening in 2025 given that none of the quarterbacks likely to enter the draft are currently viewed as anything close to Williams, Maye or Daniels.

Of course, one season could change perception significantly, and one scout suggested that other QBs could step up, saying: "There's no sure-thing sophomore quarterback. There's always a riser or a one-year wonder, so it may not be that bad."

After dominating for two seasons at FCS Jackson State, Sanders followed his father, Pro Football Hall of Fame cornerback Deion Sanders, to Colorado.

The Buffaloes dominated out of the gates, going 3-0 after winning just one game the entire previous year, but the Buffs ended up going 1-8 over their final nine games last season.

Still, Sanders was a bright spot, as he completed 69.3 percent of his passes for 3,230 yards, 27 touchdowns and just three interceptions, while also rushing for four scores.

The biggest issue was a lack of protection, as Sanders was sacked at will, getting hauled down 52 times.

If Colorado has a better offensive line in 2024, it could go a long way toward showing NFL scouts what Sanders is really capable of.

Beck had a tough challenge on his hands in 2023, as he had to take the reins from beloved quarterback Stetson Bennett, who led Georgia to back-to-back national titles.

While Georgia barely missed out on the College Football Playoff, Beck was largely up to the task, completing 72.4 percent of his passing attempts for 3,941 yards, 24 touchdowns and six pick, plus four rushing touchdowns.

The Bulldogs went undefeated until the SEC Championship Game where they fell 27-24 to Alabama, allowing the Crimson Tide to leapfrog them into the CFP.

At Texas, there was some thought that Arch Manning would win the starting quarterback job last season as a true freshman, but another formerly highly touted recruit in Ewers held him off.

Ewers completed 69.0 percent of his passes for 3,479 yards, 22 touchdowns and six interceptions, and he rushed for five touchdowns as well.

With Ewers under center, Texas won the Big 12 and reached the CFP, marking the program's best season since 2009.

None of Sanders, Beck or Ewers are viewed as can't-miss NFL prospects as of now, but the 2024 season could help give talent evaluators a different viewpoint heading into the 2025 draft.