Ranking Rookie QBs Best Set Up To Succeed During 2025 NFL Season

Draft status and talent are only a portion of why a young quarterback succeeds or fails at the NFL level. Oftentimes, the situation dictates which direction the young man travels.

A highway of broken former first-rounders can be found based on how they were set up to fail at the onset of their careers, because they suffered from A) poor coaching, B) a lack of scheme adjustments, C) a terrible surrounding cast, D) organizational instability or E) all of the above.

The quarterback serves as the CEO of a NFL franchise. He needs to have the best people around him in order to profit on the field.

A great talent in a great situation can flourish, a la Jayden Daniels with the Washington Commanders last season. A promising prospect can wither and shrink from the spotlight while under a barrage from multiple different angles (the Cleveland Browns' quarterback situation since 1999 should be used as the primary example here).

However, an understanding of how to place a rookie quarterback in position to succeed and actually executing the plan are two completely different things.

Currently, four different squads are expected to start a first-year signal-caller at some point during the 2025 campaign. Which of the four should be viewed as the best and worst situations for those incoming talents with heavy expectations on their shoulders?

4. Tyler Shough, New Orleans Saints

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Those within the NFL discussed what it takes to build a successful "ecosystem" around a rookie quarterback, per ESPN's Dan Graziano. In the piece, a four-point plan was identified to bring this specific position along successfully.

First, a deep and competent coaching staff is necessary. Second, a reliable veteran backup can be ultra-helpful. Third, make sure the job isn't directly handed to the young man. Fourth, allow the quarterback to win over the locker room.

While not outright stated, a fifth point should be added: Build the best possible offensive supporting cast around the quarterback position.

When all of that is taken into consideration, Tyler Shough finds himself in a difficult position. No one is going to deny the 25-year-old's natural talent.

"Shough throws well from the pocket with velocity, accuracy, and ball placement," B/R's Dame Parson wrote in Shough's scouting report. "He has a good arm and rips throws in the short and intermediate areas of the field. Shough pushes the ball down the field with a flick of the wrist. When his mechanics are aligned, he delivers passes with good pacing and velocity to beat closing defenders."

However, multiple factors are working against this year's 40th overall draft pick.

First, a new coaching staff with a first-time head coach and first-time NFL offensive coordinator will help to mold Shough. Second, the Saints lack a legitimate veteran backup option to help in the young quarterback's development. Finally, the Saints are viewed as having the league's worst roster, at least on paper.

Shough can help elevate this squad, which will speak well of him considering the situation. At the same time, odds are heavily in the favor of New Orleans owning a top-five draft pick next year and restarting at the game's most important position.

3. Shedeur Sanders/Dillon Gabriel, Cleveland Browns

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A glimmer of hope exists within the Cleveland Browns organization, even though neither of their rookie quarterbacks are guaranteed to start this season. The idea of neither Dillon Gabriel nor Shedeur Sanders starting for at least a portion of this season should be viewed as a organizational malpractice.

Maybe Joe Flacco recaptures the magic of the 2023 campaign and once again leads the Browns back to the postseason. Then again, he's now 40 years old after playing rather poorly for the Indianapolis Colts last year.

One or both of the rookie quarterbacks playing this season is in the best interests of the franchise. The Browns must know whether they have something in either of them or that they'll need to move on next offseason, with a pair of first-round picks as ammunition to target a quarterback in April's first round.

While no guarantees exist for the third- or fifth-rounder when looking at the Browns' depth chart, the situation around them isn't poor.

Obviously, Flacco is in place to help in their development. The offensive line is a veteran-laden bunch with plenty of time playing alongside one another. Kevin Stefanski is a two-time NFL Coach of the Year, with extensive play-calling experience employing a system that tends to be quarterback-friendly. Cleveland has some legitimate weapons at the skill positions as well with wide receiver Jerry Jeudy and tight end David Njoku, along with recent investments at the running back position.

Cleveland's front office thought highly enough to draft Gabriel first. At the collegiate level, the two-time transfer set the FBS record with 190 career touchdowns responsible for. He doesn't have great physical tools, but he's a quick decision-maker and distributor.

Sanders presents a higher upside, as seen in his preseason debut with a pair of touchdown passes. The legacy athlete has better tools than Gabriel, but Sanders still isn't elite in any specific area other than ball placement. He can make certain plays and throws, as long as he doesn't get rattled by pressure and throws with anticipation.

At some point, the Browns need to commit to one or the other and see what they have at quarterback. Otherwise, the team will enter next offseason with no answers to the most important question.

2. Cam Ward, Tennessee Titans

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This year's No. 1 overall pick comes in second when looking through lens of which rookie quarterback has the best chance to succeed this fall.

Cam Ward has the natural throwing and play-making ability to signal a franchise quarterback, hence his draft status. At the same time, his introduction to the league won't be friendly.

"I don't think I'm being welcomed in (the league) with open arms," Ward told reporters. “I was the first pick. I’m blessed to be that. But at the end of the day, there’s a target on my back. There's a target on everyone's back in the league, but I'm trying to prove myself to my teammates."

He's not wrong. Anytime a quarterback enters the league with fanfare, defenses are waiting for their opportunity to make his life miserable. At the same time, Ward is saying and doing the right things to take over the Titans huddle and locker room.

Even so, legitimate questions still exists regarding the Titans' offense. Nick Holz is a first-time NFL offensive coordinator after being fired from last year's Jacksonville Jaguars' staff. Granted, Brian Callahan is Tennessee's play-caller, but he's still trying to assert himself as the head coach after a disappointing first season at the helm.

As for the roster, the offensive line is in flux. Dan Moore Jr. was brought in secure left tackle after a middling career for the Pittsburgh Steelers. JC Latham, whom the Titans selected with last year's seventh overall pick, is shifting back to right tackle. Long-time veteran guard Kevin Zeitler joined the team this offseason. Center Lloyd Cushenberry III is trying to come back from a torn Achilles tendon.

At wide receiver, Calvin Ridley and Tyler Lockett are both 30 or older. Tight end Chigoziem Okonkwo still hasn't fully broken out as a premium weapon, either.

Ward is the most obvious answer when it comes to the 2025 rookie who is going to start from Day 1. He should be the overwhelming favorite to post the highest passing total among first-year signal-callers. He has the makings of a future franchise quarterback. The path to get there may a little rockier than anyone within the Titans organization might like.

1. Jaxson Dart, New York Giants

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The New York Giants understand the assignment when it comes to this year's 25th overall draft pick, Jaxson Dart.

"I think whenever you draft a quarterback early, you want to have a plan or schedule to put in place," offensive coordinator Mike Kafka told ESPN's Dan Graziano. "Understand that it's not really a one-week plan. It's a six-month, one-year, two-year type of plan. ... We try to put together a little checklist and a plan for every player, and the quarterback is no different."

Some will immediately point out that the Giants ultimately failed in Daniel Jones' development without mentioning that Jones 1) wasn't chosen by the current regime and 2) experienced his best season under head coach Brian Daboll.

Now, Daboll, general manager Joe Schoen and the current staff have their choice at quarterback. Of those mentioned, Dart hits most the criteria to be set up for success.

Daboll and Kafka are competent offensive coaches, even if the team has struggled over the last two seasons. The former was also instrumental in Josh Allen's development with the Buffalo Bills. Veteran quarterback Russell Wilson is in place as the starter to open the season, so Dart won't be rushed onto the field before he's ready and Jameis Winston is on the roster as a viable backup option. Dart has looked good early in the process to build some trust among the roster. Finally, the Giants have the pieces in place to support a talented young signal-caller.

The offensive line remains a sticking point, but the group experienced an uptick in performance last season compared to the previous two campaigns. All five of the final lineup return this year, with Evan Neal competing to push right guard Greg Van Roten out of starting group. As long as New York's front five is competent, the quarterbacks will benefit.

From there, Malik Nabers is a legit No. 1 target and bona fide playmaker at wide receiver. Wan'Dale Robinson quietly caught over 90 passes last season. Running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. also burst onto the scene as a fifth-round rookie. If the Giants can get more out of tight end Theo Johnson during his sophomore campaign, this group can cook.

Again, Wilson is the expected starter. If the Giants perform well, the 36-year-old vetern isn't coming out of the lineup. Recent history tells us that probably won't be the case and Dart will see the field at some point in 2025. When that occurs, the rookie can rip schemed throws and add a little flavor to the designed run game and when forced to break the pocket.

The Giants may have surprised when they traded up and selected Dart over Shedeur Sanders (at least, at the time). However, New York has done a good job setting up its first-year quarterback to thrive whenever the opportunity arises.