2025 NFL Draft: Mel Kiper shakes up the top 10 QB rankings with the new No. 1

This year, six quarterbacks were selected in the first 12 picks of the NFL Draft. Numbers that will certainly be difficult to replicate in 2025, but nonetheless, this year’s class of candidates is definitely full of talent and potential for the position.

From veteran signal-callers to first-year starting quarterbacks, many passers have already increased their draft stock and turned heads this football season. In the eyes of some evaluators, including ESPN’s Mel Kiper, they’re already outdoing each other.

After Week 5 of the college football season this weekend, Kiper has upgraded his quarterbacks rankings for the 2025 NFL Draft. Even crowning a new top quarterback prospect in a list of talented playmakers seen below.

After being ranked No. 3 on Kiper’s previous list, Sanders rockets to No. 1 on his quarterback rankings following his impressive performance against the quarterback UCF this weekend. After an interception on Colorado’s first possession, he recovered for 290 yards and three touchdowns in an impressive 48-21 victory.

After two dominant seasons at HBCU Jackson StateWith 3,230 yards, 27 touchdowns and just three interceptions last season, Sanders seamlessly translated his game to the FBS level and was college football’s most sacked quarterback. He only built on that this year after leading Colorado to a strong 4-1 start.

Throughout the offseason, Kiper and many other analysts viewed Carson Beck as the best quarterback in this year’s draft class. A status that seems a little more questionable as the college football season begins, following some strong performances from others and some subpar moments from the Bulldogs’ signal-caller.

In two consecutive games, Beck had slow starts and turned the ball over four times in the loss Alabama on Saturday. But in Georgia’s valiant comeback, he proved why he is among the best in the country by rushing for a career-high 439 yards and three touchdowns in the game of the year.

Ewers remains in Kiper’s top three despite missing his second straight game due to injury. This season is the third year in a row that the Longhorns’ starting quarterback has been sidelined due to injury.

Injury concerns aside, there is no doubt about Ewers’ talent and raw ability. Fans and evaluators are hoping to see more of the same this year after throwing for 691 yards and eight touchdown passes in two games and a quarter of action so far this season.

After his electric start to the season, Cam Ward has the chance to rapidly expand his draft stock. He led Miami to an undefeated start and led the country with 18 touchdown passes so far this season and 1,782 yards (second in the FBS).

Ward has shown an elite level of poise this season, with a unique style of play behind the line of scrimmage and the ability to make all throws at any arm angle. Not to mention, he will enter the 2025 NFL Draft as one of the most experienced prospects, currently with 49 career starts.

No draft-eligible quarterback has a higher ceiling than Jalen Milroe, college football’s leading dual-threat quarterback who is coming off one of the best performances of his career. He threw for 374 yards and two touchdowns while rushing for 117 yards and two scores on the ground in a thrilling 41-34 victory over Georgia.

Milroe is one of the best athletes in the entire college football landscape, totaling 1,237 yards of offense and 18 total touchdowns in four games this season. And while he still needs improvement in some areas, a fully polished version of Milroe could be extremely dangerous in the NFL.

After a solid first season as the starting quarterback at the collegiate level, Allar has looked even better in his second year as a center for Penn State. Successful as the new offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnickis scheme with 956 total yards and 10 total scores on the season.

Allar looked more like a running threat compared to last season and showed more explosive plays in the passing game. A prospect who has all the physical abilities for a professional, standing at 6-foot-3 and weighing 243 pounds.

Ole Miss may have lost Kentucky are at home in an upset this weekend, but still have one of the best quarterbacks in the country. As Jackson Dart, he leads the nation with 1,815 passing yards, 112 yards on the ground and 16 total touchdowns this season.

Dart produced its most disappointing performance of the season this weekend in the Rebels’ disappointing defeat. But his skill set and body of work still make him one of the top quarterback prospects for the 2025 class.

This year may be Garrett Nussmeier’s first time as the starting quarterback, but he’s made a very strong impression in the Bayou in a short amount of time. A fearless gunslinger who has thrown for 1,656 yards and 15 touchdowns this season, both ranked in the top five in the country.

Nussmeier showed what he is capable of as a backup quarterback in his limited playing time over the last three seasons for LSU. Now fully unleashed ahead of a bye week followed by a high-stakes matchup against Ole Miss.

Similar to Nussmeier, Miller Moss also waited his turn before taking charge of USC’s offense this season. Excellent at center as a quarterback tasked with leading the Trojans into their new era as members of the Big Ten.

Moss threw three touchdown passes for the second straight game on Saturday in a 38-21 home win against Wisconsin. Blossoms Lincoln Rileyis a proven offensive system that has produced many successful passers at the college and professional levels.

Ohio State quarterback Will Howard rounds out Kiper’s top 10 after transferring this offseason after four years with Kiper Kansas State. Join a strong-armed Buckeyes team and get out of the backfield.

Howard has thrown for 1,039 yards and eight touchdowns so far this season, but the Buckeyes haven’t been tested yet. Not to mention, Howard hasn’t even flexed his skills as a runner yet this season, with just 36 yards on the ground after rushing for 921 yards and 19 touchdowns with the Wildcats.