Shedeur Sanders Tops Poll of Insiders as 2025 NFL Draft's QB1 over Beck, Milroe, More

Nine out of 20 NFL scouts and executives surveyed in an anonymous poll by ESPN ranked Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders as the top quarterback of the upcoming 2025 NFL draft.

Sanders received the most votes from NFL evaluators, followed by Georgia's Carson Beck (five votes) and Alabama's Jalen Milroe (four votes), according to ESPN's Pete Thamel.

Miami quarterback Cam Ward and Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers both received one vote each, Thamel reported.

Thamel wrote that the poll is a reflection of the "potential volatility" of these quarterback rankings, and that NFL insiders believe it is "rare to have this many quarterbacks in the conversation and this much uncertainty around the position" six months out from the draft.

Thamel also wrote that there is "unanimous feeling in scouting circles that there's a significant step back in top quarterback talent from the 2024 draft class."

The ESPN reporter noted that "a few scouts" did not answer the poll and said it was too early in the college season to decide on signal caller's draft prospects.

The 2024 draft class set an NFL record with six quarterbacks selected among the top 12 picks as Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye topped the draft, followed by No. 8 Michael Penix. Jr, No. 10 J.J. McCarthy and No. 12 Bo Nix.

Unlike the previous draft, which had Williams as a clear presumptive No. 1 with Daniels and Maye on a second tier behind him, there isn't a consensus clear answer as to the top quarterback in the class.

Also unlike that draft, the 2025 addition isn't a lock to have a quarterback as the No. 1 selection with players like Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter receiving early buzz as a potential top pick.

The buzz surrounding Ewers has dipped after missing two straight games with an abdominal strain, but the Texas quarterback is reportedly expected to return next Saturday against Oklahoma and could raise his draft stock with a strong performance against the No. 19 Sooners.

Ward is meanwhile playing himself into the first round conversation as the first player in six years to lead his school to 5-0 start while passing for at least three touchdowns and 300 yards in each win (h/t Greg Harvey of Stats Perform.)

Milroe followed up his impressive junior season by returning as an improved passer in 2024 and completing 72.9 percent of his passes through four games.

Beck, who led the SEC with 3,941 passing yards last year, struggled last Saturday during Georgia's loss to No. 1 Alabama. After he threw three interceptions and completed just 59 percent of his 50 pass attempts, Thamel noted that some scouts "picked Beck through gritted teeth."

Sanders received his nine votes after leading Colorado to a stunning overtime win over Baylor in Week 4. The Buffaloes quarterback threw two Hail Mary pass attempts in the final seconds of the game, one of which connected to force the game to extra time. His ability to lead Colorado to a 4-1 season-opening record behind a sometimes leaky offensive line could potentially be earning him more admiration from scouts compared to Beck's work with an offensive powerhouse like Georgia.

Sanders' position atop the upcoming draft seems anything but assured, however. The return of Ewers, the improved play of Milroe and the rise of Ward could lead to a new quarterback order before the draft begins next April.