NFL Draft QB Prospect Comparisons: Which 2025 Rookies Resemble Today’s Fantasy Stars?

It never hurts to compare the best college prospects at each position to pro players who are similar in many respects. Unfortunately, it might not be the most useful thing to do in a weak quarterback class, but I'll try my best either way. There is one gem that's being underrated, though, and he'll be the most interesting player to study.

Realistically, not every NFL player compared will be a fantasy superstar because, in a weak class, it's unlikely that you'll find the next Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, and Jayden Daniels-level fantasy scorers. Each player has a unique blend of strengths and weaknesses, and most importantly, something unique between their ears, as no two minds are the same.

Let's break down pro comparisons for some of this year's best QB prospects.

• Quarterback fantasy football rankings
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Jaxson Dart - Joe Burrow Lite

Tone down all the qualities that make Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow elite. Dart is slightly less accurate, similar to a great decision-maker, a few inches shorter (yet with more muscle), and has a little less zip on his passes.

Yet the similarities between the two are many. Both were excellent producers in college -- obviously, Burrow's season was legendary, but having Ja'Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson helps.

How a young QB responds to pressure is the biggest separator in the NFL.

Jaxson Dart is my top QB in the 2025 Draft against pressure.

Numbers and tape back it up. pic.twitter.com/CRqrwMMrZ1

— David Syvertsen (@Ourlads_Sy) January 4, 2025

The biggest similarity I see on tape is how well Dart responds to pressure. He's a great playmaker (or at least a stopper of terrible plays happening for the offense) because he often senses when he's under duress and avoids turning the ball over or taking terrible sacks.

Dart's athleticism is good for a quarterback, and he'll be able to take advantage of defensive coverages that don't account for his rushing well enough. Decision-making reigns king in the NFL for QBs, and Dart's biggest strength is making the right choices while avoiding big mistakes. Kind of like Burrow.

One nuance I’ve seen from Jaxson Dart on tape this yr (and here to Jack Bech) is recognition of defenders with their back turned to the ball (typically man cvg). He’s become extremely comfortable placing throws like this, putting his target in great shape to make play on ball. pic.twitter.com/8c2RpzejTI

— Todd McShay (@McShay13) February 1, 2025

There is a mountain of intangibles when it comes to quarterback play. The above X post highlights another nuance to his game -- recognizing when defenders have their back turned and knowing where to place the ball as a result. "Little" things like this on tape are often overlooked, and the consensus seems to huff hopium that players can develop this skill.

Not every signal-caller can, though. and displaying it before even getting to the pros is seriously important. Dart is the best quarterback prospect in this class and is seriously underrated.

Shedeur Sanders - Sam Darnold

Colorado Buffaloes quarterback Shedeur Sanders's most important trait as a player is that he can't deal with pressure, struggles to see it coming, and often takes terrible sacks because he doesn't make the right decisions to evade the pressure. Unless he goes to a team with a stellar offensive line, he'll likely struggle mightily in the NFL.

Which is hilarious, because he's being mocked often to the New York Giants. It's funny that Dart, who's best able to evade pressure, is being overlooked for a guy that is mostly a deer in headlights when the rusher comes. And the Giants had terrible offensive line play for many years now.

I’m sorry, Shedeur Sanders is not a 1st round prospect and this is why. This is an egregious example of his pattern of taking too many BAD sacks. Having not learned as a three year starter to go down and not cost your team three points is alarming pic.twitter.com/6BddNQtoW6

— Anthony Russo (@Anthony_Russo97) December 29, 2024

Some plays in college are "disqualifying plays" in my book. The concept is that a player who makes a play that bad will not succeed in the NFL because they display extremely poor traits that are a long way from where they need to be. NFL defenses are not kind and will savagely exploit opposing players' glaring weaknesses as much as possible.

We saw this play out with Minnesota Vikings QB Sam Darnold. After a great majority of the regular season where he was carried by one of the best pass-protecting offensive lines in the league, great offensive schemes and great receivers, he collapsed completely once opposing teams just ran blitzes.

A QB who can't exploit blitzes for easy completions will have relentless pressure in his face. Sanders doesn't make good decisions in the pocket, often runs from pressure that isn't there, and runs himself into terrible sacks. He has impressive accuracy when not pressured, but that might not matter much.

Cam Ward - Sam Howell

Sam Howell isn't and never was a fantasy star, but in a weak class, he's the best pro comparison for Miami Hurricanes quarterback Cam Ward. Though Ward had a great season in his senior year, he simply doesn't display great decision-making skills and regularly makes terrible, turnover-worthy plays.

Cam Ward is having a no good very bad daypic.twitter.com/fWEZL9Pb9g

— RanDynasty (@ran_dynasty) October 7, 2023

Players generally don't develop from terrible to great over the course of one season. Instead, changes in situation and scheme and sometimes simply luck push them along. The "what-if-ism" of current NFL scouting focuses on what he could become if he fixes all of his flaws, though.

"I can fix him" applies to some players but not to all of them. Quarterback play is an improvisational talent rather than something that can be broken down on paper and understood in a way that helps players completely overhaul their games. The NFL's best QBs are reacting extremely quickly to a million things happening and processing a million details both before and after the snap.

Cam Ward has flaws that prevent him from being an elite QB prospect, summarized by these three clips:

• Holds onto the ball and loses the game with a turnover on 2nd down
• Takes an awful sack after hesitating to hit his wide open read
• This one is self-explanatory… pic.twitter.com/dy2gE38QdK

— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) February 4, 2025

These players make a multitude of decisions in very quick succession. A hallmark of good QBs is that they don't make terrible decisions nearly as often as bad quarterbacks do. This carries over to the NFL. College QBs who make a lot of bad decisions generally don't succeed at the next level.

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