In the ever-evolving landscape of the NFL, the quarterback position remains the linchpin for success—even more so in a draft class as unpredictable as 2025’s. The challenge for franchises and fantasy managers alike is to identify quarterbacks who not only possess raw talent and impressive collegiate production but also the intangibles needed to thrive at the next level.
In the Best Ball streets, that means identifying the players who can become difference makers at cost and parsing them out from players who cannot. In this analysis, we’re looking to discuss these players in the context of their pre-draft stock. This is useful for contests like Underdog’s “The Big Board,” where we hope to capitalize on potentially discounted prices for the NFL’s future stars.
We will briefly break down five strong prospects at the QB position by examining their college stats, playing styles, and the inherent risks of investing in a best ball quarterback at this stage of uncertainty.
Top 5 QB Prospects for Best Ball and Season-Long Drafts
Note: Current ADP from “The Big Board” on Underdog (as of March 3rd).
- Cam Ward (ADP: 152.4)
- Shedeur Sanders (ADP: 178.9)
- Jaxson Dart (ADP: 209.9)
- Jalen Milroe (ADP: 237.2)
- Kyle McCord (ADP: 239.8)
Cam Ward (ADP: 152.4)
Cam Ward has built an impressive collegiate resume over his five-year career that spans Incarnate Word, Washington State, and Miami. His epic finale season at Miami saw him rack up 4,313 passing yards and 44 total TDs. He has been efficient from a QBR standpoint and accurate with a career completion percentage of 65.0% over 57 games. These numbers underscore his consistency and ability to move the chains effectively, even as he transitioned between different offensive systems.
Ward’s production has translated into significant accolades. Notably, he was a Heisman Trophy finalist in 2024 and earned the Manning Award the same year—both honors that speak volumes about his talent, leadership, and efficiency on the field. These accomplishments, along with his record-setting performances (like setting the Miami single-season passing yard record), make him a compelling prospect for teams looking for a quarterback who can deliver immediately while also offering room for further growth.
Ward’s ADP of 152.4 in “The Big Board” is a relatively safe price for the format, with a high floor for playing time regardless of landing spot. The top projected landing spot is heavily weighted to the New York Giants, but we also see mocks to the Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns, and New York Jets floating around. All four spots would put him as a heavy favorite to start the majority of games in year 1. I am currently guarded about this entire class but find Ward to be a reasonable QB option in builds with three QBs.
Shedeur Sanders (ADP: 178.9)
Shedeur Sanders from Colorado is going to bring a lot more than the flash, fanfare, and spectacle that come with his personality and family name. His accuracy is among the class leaders, and he turns pressure into production on a consistent basis.
In his final season at Colorado, Sanders posted a 74.0% completion percentage and threw for 4,134 yards—both marks that not only set new benchmarks for the program but also highlighted his consistency and efficiency as a passer. Sanders was burdened with a questionable offensive line and almost unreasonable expectations as the son of a legend. Despite this, we saw him achieve Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, a 9:1 TD to interception ratio, plaster his name all over the Colorado record book, and perform well enough to earn Heisman votes in his final season.
With an ADP of 178.9, Sanders represents a mid-tier investment in “The Big Board” contest and one who might blossom with improved protection and system adjustments in the NFL. The mock draft scene has his landing spot all over the place… with the Giants, Browns, Saints, Raiders, and Jets all in the mix. I’m not overly excited to draft him, but in a 3 QB build, I’d be willing to take almost anyone with a secure job. Sanders will likely be the guy wherever he goes.
Jaxson Dart (ADP: 209.9)
Jaxson Dart, from Ole Miss, is one of the most intriguing prospects of this group. His statistical profile stands out as efficient, with an AY/A in the 11.5 range and a Total QBR that positions him near the top of his class. Dart’s dual-threat ability allows him to extend plays with his legs and make out-of-structure plays that are extremely difficult to defend. He checks a lot of boxes from a real-life and fantasy standpoint, which makes him maybe my favorite with price considered.
.@MoveTheSticks' No. 42 prospect Jaxson Dart knows how to throw a deep ball
— NFL (@NFL) March 1, 2025: #NFLCombine on @NFLNetwork
: Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/BO6izCSCvM
Dart’s numbers are not inflated by an easy system at Ole Miss, and it’s possible that he has the highest upside among any of this year’s options. Ole Miss ranked just 65th in passing play percentage, and he still threw for almost 4,300 yards and accounted for almost 500 more on the ground. With some players, you wonder if the system and the competition skewed the numbers, and I don’t really have that question with Dart.
Although his ADP of 209.9 suggests a lower probability of year-1 playing time, his all-around skill set and dynamic playmaking ability make him a prospect who could emerge as a top draft pick if he continues his upward trajectory. This would obviously increase his chances of being a value within best ball drafts. I do see him being mocked in the first round of the NFL Draft at times, with a range of options that include the Raiders, Jets, Steelers, and Rams. I think the Raiders would represent a strong long-term future for him, while the Jets have day-one weapons that could make him dangerous from jump street.
Jalen Milroe (ADP: 237.2)
Jalen Milroe of Alabama offers a solid mix of deep-ball talent and raw athleticism that has drawn comparisons to some of the most dynamic quarterbacks in recent memory. Milroe has shown he can launch deep, accurate passes that stretch defenses vertically. His ability to attack downfield is a highlight reel waiting to happen, and he possesses the arm strength needed to challenge NFL-caliber secondary units… but let’s not bury the lede.
Milroe is one of the best rushing prospects at the position we’ve seen, and the numbers bear that out. In 2024, Milroe rushed for 726 yards and 20 touchdowns—yes, TWENTY. He is a fit for the modern QB world in that sense, where the elite players at the position are unlikely to be one-dimensional pocket players moving forward. Having some rushing chops and the ability to do damage when a play breaks down is almost a minimum requirement. Milroe has a lot more than that to offer.
However, Milroe’s strengths are dampened by inconsistency and questions about his overall passing skill set. His overall efficiency leaves something to be desired, and his ball security was sometimes an issue. His 16 touchdowns and 11 interceptions in 2024 are hardly the QB numbers of dreams. With an ADP of 237.2, Milroe is seen as a high-upside, “boom-or-bust” prospect—one that could pay dividends if he can develop greater consistency and refine his decision-making.
Most NFL mock drafts I ingested do not have him as a first-round pick, and that puts his year-1 probability to play on the low side. I’m not particularly interested in drafting for 2025 at the moment, but the fantasy upside is real.
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Kyle McCord (ADP: 239.8)
He’s a quarterback who projects as a traditional, pocket-oriented passer coming out of Syracuse and Ohio State. Standing at 6’3″ and weighing 224 pounds, he’s the guy we used to be looking for at the position. His final season at Syracuse was a redemption story after a rough year at Ohio State. He damn near put up 5,000 yards and tossed 34 touchdowns and looked pretty damn good doing it.
Your love should have limitations here, though. McCord’s aggressive style enables him to make plays in challenging situations, yet that same aggressiveness can lead to turnovers (12 interceptions in 2024). Thanks to college football’s negative rushing yards for sacks, he tallied consecutive seasons of -65 rushing yards. We don’t see the dual-threat ability here, which means he would have to produce legendary passing seasons to reach a league-winning profile.
With an ADP of 239.8, McCord is generally viewed as a developmental prospect without much chance to help us this season. I agree with that in full and don’t see him being drafted at all in the first three rounds. If he does go sooner, it would have to be a lot sooner for this ADP and 2025 fantasy stock to rise high enough to draft him.
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