The NFL is excited about the quarterback class of 2024, and for good reason. With a weak collection of signs on the horizon for 2025, the talent pool in this year’s draft stands out as particularly promising. Led by standout prospects like USC’s Caleb Williams, North Carolina’s Drake Maye and LSU’s Jayden Daniels, as many as six quarterbacks in the class of 2024 have first-round grades.

In contrast, the class of 2025 offers only one prospect with “franchise” potential, Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders. While there is a possibility that other quarterbacks such as Carson Beck of Georgia, Quinn Ewers of Texas or Drew Allar of Penn State will emerge as viable candidates for QB1 next fall, the lack of enthusiasm of the NFL scouting community for this stage is palpable.

The lack of anticipation surrounding quarterback prospects for next year is reminiscent of the 2022 draft, which featured Kenny Pickett, Malik Willis, Desmond Ridder and Matt Corral. Despite their impressive resumes and remarkable achievements, the shortlisting process failed to generate significant enthusiasm among scounts regarding their talent or long-term potential.

Ultimately, Pickett was the only first-round selection in the class of 2022, but his performance with the Pittsburgh Steelers was marked by inconsistencies before he was traded this offseason. Similarly, Ridder, drafted in the third round by the Atlanta Falcons, struggled to establish himself as a consistent starter and was recently traded with the Arizona Cardinals.

The lessons learned from the disappointing 2022 draft class serve as a cautionary tale for evaluating quarterback prospects. While the class of 2024 shines brightly, the unpredictability of the NFL draft underscores the importance of thorough scouting and evaluation to identify the future franchise quarterback memey from a flame of talent.