NFL Draft Predictions: Execs Split on Top Quarterback Picks

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — With just 50 days remaining until the 2025 NFL Draft, uncertainty looms over which players will be selected in the top slots. After a successful scouting combine last year, including anticipated picks like Caleb Williams to the Chicago Bears and Drake Maye to the New England Patriots, executives worry about the potential for missteps this time around.

One high-ranking team executive expressed the challenge of this year’s draft class. “This is as hard as it has ever been,” he stated. “There are only four to five really good players, and everybody else has holes in their game. It’s such a different draft.”

Many mock drafts project Washington taking quarterback Cam Ward with the second overall pick. The Titans, holding the first overall pick, are predicted by some to select Ward as well. “Tennessee is not going to sign a mediocre quarterback in free agency and roll with him as their guy when they have the top pick in the draft,” said an executive linked to the Titans.

However, amid confidence in Ward, there is dissent regarding the Titans’ decision. While most believe Tennessee will select a quarterback, opinions diverge on alternatives. One executive suggested that the Titans’ leadership might lean towards Travis Hunter of Colorado instead, warning that it could disrupt their current defensive scheme.

Quarterback Shedeur Sanders has faced criticism among executives, with some labeling him as a potential second-round choice. “Not because of the kid, but because of the dad [Deion Sanders], the social media stuff and how it’s about him, not the team,” one executive noted. Perceptions of Sanders have shifted, especially following recent combine interviews.

The Giants are also in a precarious position. Experts suggest they should invest in a defensive piece like Abdul Carter from Penn State, but doubts about selecting another edge rusher linger in light of past investments in players like Kavon Thibodeaux. As one executive remarked, “You can never have enough rushers.”

As draft day nears, New England‘s choices remain unclear. With the necessary focus on beefing up the offense, there are questions surrounding specific player selections. An executive emphasized, “The fascinating thing about this draft is, offensive tackle is not great, corner is not great, receiver is not great.”

For the Panthers, the situation remains fluid. With top-tier talents like Tetairoa McMillan available to bolster the receiving game, decisions need to be made swiftly. “We get in trouble trying to overthink this,” an executive cautioned.

Across the league, teams continue weighing different scenarios over potential first-round picks. The Jaguars‘ executive deliberated over their next move, which may include selecting a top offensive lineman to fortify the offensive line.

As teams finalize their draft boards, the uncertainty regarding quarterback selections remains a focal point, particularly for the Jets. Potential candidates, including Jaxson Dart and Tyler Shough, might see their draft stock rise in light of the pressing need for a quarterback in New York. “They gotta get a quarterback, and this might be where Jaxson Dart goes,” one executive projected.

With varied opinions swirling among NFL team executives and uncertainty surrounding individual player assessments, the countdown to the 2025 NFL Draft is heating up.