Debating top NFL draft prospects, QBs, risers and sleepers

Top candidates for the 2025 NFL draft have put on some impressive performances in the

first three weeks of the 2024 college football season. However, who is rising or falling in the ranks?

Following the first several weeks of college football, draft analysts Mel Kiper Jr., Matt Miller,

Jordan Reid and Steve Muench addressed a number of important draft-related queries,

including an examination of Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders’ unpredictable start.

 

What other quarterbacks have drawn attention, in addition?

Who are the early leaders in terms of rise? Which sleepers and position groups are getting away with it?

After analyzing everything they have seen and heard over the last three weekends,

Our analysts fill their notebooks to the brim.

Has your evaluation of Shedeur Sanders changed since the start of the season?

Miller: Not quite. In the end, individual position-specific skills like arm strength,

Pocket awareness, mobility, leadership, field vision, and accuracy will be used to evaluate the 6-foot-2.

215-pound Sanders (my QB1). In order to provide scouts an indication of his potential going forward,

His evaluation will also cover his time at Jackson State to the conclusion of his tenure in Colorado.

Sanders has some strengths, including his excellent touch and precision, and I admire his toughness.

but he also has to work on some areas, like timing.

However, Colorado’s play calling too frequently calls for Sanders to play “hero.”

ball and the team lacks a strong offensive line. So far, my assessment of him hasn’t changed.

but we’ll keep checking in.

Kiper: I hear you, but I am lowering my grade on Sanders just a little bit based on

what we saw in that Nebraska game. I know he took five sacks, and the offensive line didn’t help him out.

but you can’t put all of that on his surroundings. He forced things in that Week 2 matchup,

and I saw some uncharacteristic, missed layup throws.

He must be able to show he can avoid those hiccups when the situation isn’t perfect.

That said, Sanders is still my third-ranked QB and could absolutely end up in the mix at the top of the board.

When his mechanics and footwork are sound, he can pick apart a defense.

It’s easier to evaluate a quarterback when his team isn’t overmatched.

and the Buffs should be competitive the rest of the way.

So maybe a slight knock in the early going for that rough Nebraska game

—I moved him from No. 9 to No. 14 on my Big Board—but I’m not changing much until we see more.

Muench: Sanders is still an accurate passer who can get the ball out quickly and pick defenses

apart with short to intermediate passes. He has the mental toughness to make plays under pressure

and at critical points in the game. On the downside, he made an uncharacteristic mistake

throwing a pick-six against Nebraska, and the Cornhuskers’ game plan highlighted some existing concerns.

They used simulated pressures to muddy his reads and forced him to extend plays with his feet.

They also took away the middle of the field and made him throw outside the hashes at times.

I haven’t seen enough to change his evaluation at this point of the season.

But he is losing ground to Georgia’s Carson Beck in the race for QB1.

and Texas’ Quinn Ewers has been closing in, too.

Reid: Sanders is a quarterback who wants to operate from the pocket

and thrives off rhythm, timing and accuracy. The strengths and concerns have remained the same.

He has been dealing with inconsistent protection, and some of that is Sanders’ doing.

Getting the ball out in a timely manner, not compounding mistakes and stepping up

Vertically in the pocket instead of searching for an exit are still the main areas that I want to see him improve.

Which quarterback prospect has stood out the most through three weeks?

Kiper: Quinn Ewers, Texas. Well, at least until Saturday,

when he left the Longhorns’ game against UTSA with an injury.

There’s some uncertainty now, but let’s look at what he has done on the field: 691 passing yards,

73.4% completion rate, 8 touchdown passes, and 2 interceptions.

Last season, he went to Alabama and had a huge early outing.

This season, he had a marquee game against Michigan in Week 2, throwing three TDs in the Big House.

I really like what I’ve seen from the 6-foot-2, 210-pound junior, and I recently slid him up to No. 9 on my Big Board.

 

Miller: Yeah, I agree. Ewers has taken a big jump in terms of processing speed.

decision-making, and taking what the defense gives him.

It was needed after he was plagued with ill-timed turnovers and poor decisions in 2023.

despite a 22-6 TD-to-INT ratio. The game has slowed down for the 21-year-old Ewers.

His Week 2 performance against Michigan (24-of-36, 246 yards, and 3 TDs) showed his maturity as a passer.

He’s working through progressions with pro-level speed.

finding open targets and working the ball to the open man instead of forcing touches.

He had an overthrow early against UTSA that led to an interception

and then left in the second quarter with an oblique strain.

But combining his experience and confidence with his plus-level arm talent and mobility will help

Ewers makes a strong case for QB1 status—as long as his Week 3 injury isn’t a long-term issue.

Muench: Miami’s Cam Ward. The 6-foot-2, 223-pound senior is entertaining to watch because of his arm skill,

release, off-platform throws, and footwork ability.

However, it’s crucial to be cautious about his season-opening performance versus Florida in the opener.

as some of my previous reservations about him while he was at Washington State were evident on film.

Ward can push throws, hang onto the ball for too long, and drift.

but he has improved and should keep getting better.

He’s making his third read and releasing the ball on schedule, and this past Saturday against Ball State,

He showed improved pocket footwork. Ward is showing tremendous touch.

but his placement of the ball might be improved.

It’s clear that Ward is playing with great confidence. It’s early, but the tape is getting better.

and I think he has put himself in position to be that quarterback who shoots up draft boards before April.

Reid: I agree, Steve—it’s Ward for me, too. Entering the season, Sanders, Beck,

and Ewers were considered the only Round 1-worthy passers.

But Ward is on a fast track to be this year’s big riser, and I have him as my QB4.

Through three games, he has 1,035 passing yards, 11 touchdown passes, and only 1 interception.

According to ESPN Research, Ward has the fifth-highest QBR (94.4) by a player with 10 passing touchdowns through the first three games of the season. The four QBs ahead of him all went on to be first-round picks (Justin Fields, Tua Tagovailoa, Sam Bradford, and Andrew Luck).

Ward hasn’t played a high-quality opponent yet.

but his poise and accuracy have been among the best in the country.

The biggest difference for Ward this season has been his patience.

He tried to do too much at Washington State last season, resulting in too many chaotic plays.

Ward is playing under control and being more selective with his deep shots down the field.

Kiper: I want to mention one more guy. Alabama’s Jalen Milroe has been impressive.

The 6-foot-2, 225-pound junior is a true dual-threat QB.

throwing eight TD passes and zero interceptions while also rushing for six scores through three games.

I love his deep-ball accuracy and overall presence in the pocket.

The arrow is pointing up for Milroe, and I have him fifth in the position right now.

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Who has risen the most on your board in the early going?

 

Kiper: Ashton Jeanty, RB, Boise State. I don’t believe in the value of drafting running backs in Round 1.

but I also don’t grade based on philosophy. I grade based on what I see on tape.

And Jeanty is showing that he could be a top-10 prospect in this 2025 class.

in the same group as Bijan Robinson and Christian McCaffrey. To fit into that category,

you have to be an elite rusher, a talented pass catcher, and a strong blocker.

and Jeanty is all those things. He has amazing contact balance and toughness at 5-foot-9 and 215 pounds.

which helps him skirt past the first line of defense and through traffic.

Jeanty has 459 rushing yards and nine touchdowns in just two games.

and he has also displayed some terrific hands out of the backfield.

 

Miller: Shavon Revel Jr., CB, East Carolina. Revel has jumped off the tape early this season with expert play.

The 6-foot-2, 188-pound senior has awesome length, but it’s his ball skills, instincts,

and poise in coverage that I love most.

His 4.4-second speed allows him to quickly close on the ball and flip the field.

something he did in Week 3 with a 50-yard pick-six against Appalachian State.

That gave Revel back-to-back weeks with interceptions.

Rated as a Round 2 player outside my top 32 when the season began,

Revel has skyrocketed to No. 20 overall after I watched fresh tape.

He’s making a big impression in a very good cornerback class.

Reid: Alabama’s Had Campbell, LB. The 6-foot-3, 245-pound player had 18 tackles,

a half sack, and a pass breakup in three games,

So it didn’t take long for him to make an impression on the skilled Crimson Tide defense.

Because of his ability to open up and run in man, Campbell excels at pass coverage.

However, he also has good zone vision that can obstruct throwing windows.

However, as a run defender, he needs to tackle more consistently and step downhill more quickly.

Campbell has broken my top 50 overall and has the potential to raise his draft stock even

further given the uncertainty at the top of the linebacker class.

If he turns out to be the draft’s best off-ball linebacker, that wouldn’t be shocking.

Muench: Edge, South Carolina’s Kyle Kennard. In South Carolina’s three-point loss to LSU,

6-foot-5, 254-pound Kennard was responsible for two picks being negated by penalties.

 

Although he still needs to improve,

the Georgia Tech transfer is presently tied for third place nationally in tackles for loss.

and tied for the FBS lead in sacks (5). LSU offensive tackle Will Campbell,

who is widely considered a first-round choice,

had a lot of issues because of his length and ability to play inside.

Additionally adaptable, Kennard can kick inside. From being a midrounder,

he might now be selected on the second day and could further enhance his draft stock.

 

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