2025 NFL Draft: Predicting Trade-Up Scenarios for Top Quarterback Prospects

The Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns and New York Giants each finished with a 3-14 record and are in desperate need of a quarterback and hold the first three picks in the 2025 NFL Draft. The 2024 NFL season saw a number of teams struggle with inconsistent quarterback play, leading many to believe that several teams will be aggressive in trying to trade up to select their preferred quarterback. With the draft less than six weeks away, speculation is growing that Cam Ward could be off the board before New York picks, Shedeur Sanders appears to be the most likely option if the Giants go quarterback early.

Quarterback Landscape in the 2025 NFL Draft

The 2025 NFL Draft class is headlined by a few potential franchise quarterbacks, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. Several analysts have different rankings for the quarterbacks in the draft.

Here’s a look at some of the top quarterback prospects:

Shedeur Sanders (Colorado): Sanders, son of Hall of Famer Deion Sanders, led the nation with a 74.0% completion rate in 2024 while setting multiple school records at Colorado. A two-time All-Conference performer and the 2024 Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, he amassed 14,347 passing yards and 134 touchdowns in his college career, showcasing strong decision-making and resilience despite facing heavy pressure. Sanders may be below average in stature and arm talent compared to NFL quarterbacks, but he plays the game cleanly, takes care of the football and is tough as nails with ice in his veins under pressure. Last season, Sanders’ 81.8% adjusted accuracy percentage—five points ahead of Cam Ward’s 76.3%—ranked No. 2 amongst FBS quarterbacks, per PFF. Sanders was also 97th percentile in avoiding negative throws/dropback, per PFF. Last season, he ranked No. 3 in turnover-worthy play rate (1.2)—Ward’s turnover-worthy play rate of 3.1 was nearly three times higher.
Cam Ward (Miami): Ward won ACC Player of the Year, ACC Offensive Player of the Year, and was named a 1st-Team AP All-American in 2024. He set an NCAA record with 158 career passing touchdowns and led the FBS with 39 passing TDs in his final season while finishing fourth in Heisman voting. A former Southland Conference Offensive Player of the Year at Incarnate Word, Ward consistently showcased elite arm talent and mobility, making him a high-upside quarterback prospect in the 2025 NFL Draft. Ward completed 67 percent of his passes for 4,313 yards with 39 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He had four rushing touchdowns as well. For the NFL, Ward looks like a potential starting quarterback.
Jalen Milroe (Alabama): Milroe is the most physically gifted quarterback in the 2025 draft class, but he is still far too inconsistent in when and how he delivers the football. In a perfect world, he would be drafted with a plan to let him sit and develop. Milroe is the only player in the FBS responsible for over 30 touchdowns through the air and ground in each of the past two seasons. He was also honored with the William J. Campbell Trophy (often described as the “Academic Heisman”) and was voted team captain in 2023 and 2024, as an underclassman. Milroe is a dangerous runner with speed and toughness. As a passer, Milroe shows real potential with a powerful arm, and he can throw the ball accurately deep downfield. Milroe’s deep ball is very good, and that is the pass that he throws the best. He is also a dangerous running threat who can rip a defense with his legs.
Jaxson Dart (Ole Miss): The youngest quarterback on this list and one who leaves SEC competition after three years with 50 more touchdowns thrown than interceptions, Dart will be the darling of many in the buildup to the 2025 draft. Despite his youth, Dart already possesses a well-proportioned frame and a live arm. He has a quick setup and delivery of the ball and can drop his arm angle to throw around defenders, as well as over them. Further, he is a quality athlete, capable of making plays in rhythm or improvising and extending plays. Frankly, Dart has all the physical characteristics scouts are looking for to project as a future NFL starter. Dart led the FBS in yards per attempt this season, showing excellent touch and accuracy on medium level throws and doing an excellent job of leading his receivers to help them rattle off YAC. Dart is a capable runner who gets the ball out very quickly, and has excelled against the blitz in his career.
Quinn Ewers (Texas): Ewers does a good job of getting the ball out quickly, has good mechanics, and enough arm strength to be an NFL starter. Despite not being much of a runner, he’s good at stepping up in the pocket to buy time and has some ability to improvise and throw outside the pocket. Despite leading Texas to the CFP Semifinals, this year was a bit of a disappointment for Ewers.

Teams Likely to Trade Up

Several teams could be looking to trade up to secure their quarterback of the future. Here are some of the most likely candidates:

New York Giants: The Giants are in dire need of a quarterback after cutting ties with Daniel Jones during the regular season. It would be a big surprise if they don’t use the draft to address this need and they will hope that either Ward, Sanders or both will still be in play by the time they turn in their card. The Giants need to acquire a franchise signal-caller and even if it requires trading up, New York should put itself in position to take its preferred quarterback.
Las Vegas Raiders: Two late-season wins took the Raiders out of the hunt for a top-five pick, but they still need to find a franchise quarterback in the draft or free agency (in addition to adding talent at running back and receiver).
New York Jets: The Jets have their share of question marks, with the future at quarterback among the most glaring. They must decide whether they can find a long-term answer in this year’s draft.

Potential Trade-Up Scenarios

Here are a few potential trade-up scenarios that could play out in the 2025 NFL Draft:

Giants trade up to No. 1 with the Titans: The Giants, desperate for a quarterback, could offer a significant package of picks to the Titans to move up to the first overall selection and take their guy. The reports are that the Titans like Cam Ward, but they’ll probably like what the desperate Giants will offer them more. After whiffing in free agency, New York trades up to draft its franchise quarterback. The Titans are more than a quarterback away, so they move back two spots, collect extra draft capital and take a player who can help them on both sides of the ball.
Raiders trade up to No. 2 with the Browns: The Raiders, sitting at No. 6, could jump the Giants by trading up to the second spot with the Browns. This would allow them to select a quarterback like Shedeur Sanders or Cam Ward.
Jets trade up to No. 3 with the Giants: If the top two quarterbacks are off the board, the Jets could try to trade up with the Giants to select the remaining top quarterback prospect.

Teams That Could Trade Down

With the Titans, Browns, and Giants holding the first three picks, all three teams could look to trade down. Early picks in this year’s draft won’t be as valuable as previous drafts due to less top-end quarterback talent, so the Titans, Browns and Giants have some options. Let’s say the Titans or Giants sign Sam Darnold or trade for Matthew Stafford during free agency. In that case, they should want to trade back in the draft and acquire a handful of picks on Day 2, where the class is deeper, rather than stay put and lose value despite selecting Travis Hunter or Abdul Carter. If the Browns end up trading Myles Garrett, they will enter a full rebuild in which they should secure more picks to revamp their roster, mainly the trenches.

The Jaguars, picking at No. 5, are already in a good position. But if a top quarterback prospect (Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders) is available, they could trade down.

Conclusion

The 2025 NFL Draft is shaping up to be an exciting one, especially at the quarterback position. With several teams in need of a franchise quarterback, we could see some aggressive moves in the draft as teams try to trade up and secure their guy.