Framing the Draft: Tierable QB Profiles
I am beyond thrilled to start with Fantasy In Frames and am grateful to Jorge and company for bringing me on! For my first articles with the site, I will be Framing The Draft (SEE what I did there… and there? Double pun!) while also doing player analysis with Terrible Tierable profiles.
I will put a bit of a twist on rankings, as this series will not just break down top-5s. Top 5s are important, of course, but reading about the same handful of prospects gets tedious. Therefore, we will be going deeper, taking a couple of players to analyze from a few “tiers” of consensus rankings.
We will kick this series off with Quarterbacks, as football games are typically won on their backs. This is a polarizing class, without much high-end talent but a glut of solid prospects.
Utilizing the consensus big board from www.nflmockdraftdatabase.com. The top 10 names are on the left, while my top 10 are on the right. Note: These rankings are purely for my projections as NFL prospects, not necessarily for fantasy! We will utilize the consensus as a breakdown for tiers: first-round locks, upside shots with risk, and backups (or are they?) with juice.
Tier 1 – First Round Locks:
This is the easiest section to pick two names from, as there are only two! This quarterback class gets much hate for not having a “generational” talent. We often lose sight of the middle ground, which this class will challenge. There is a clear QB1 with all-pro talent, but the others are no slouches. Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders are trending towards being top-3 picks, so we will start with them!
QB1: Cam Ward, Miami (Washington State, Incarnate Word)
Framing The Draft: In 2024, Ward projected as a solid day 2 pick (he would have been my QB5) but bet on himself to improve his draft stock. This was a spectacular decision, as Ward is all but a lock to go first overall next month. He may not have the overused “generational” label, but Ward is still more than worthy of that pick. He has the talent and skill to alter a franchise.
Tierable profile: Ward is the type of QB I love, with a big arm and little fear. He will stand strong in the pocket when needed and “grip-it-and-rip-it” to all areas of the field. Ward excels over the middle, where you must be an upper-echelon passer in today’s league to be effective, fitting passes into tight windows with accuracy and layering. The “no-risk-it-no-biscuit” style often gets him into trouble, but his turnover-worthy play rates did not increase this season, despite having more big-time and aggressive passes. Ward needs to be more cautious in the league, but it is better to manage aggressiveness than passiveness. Another massive plus to his game is his creativity as a passer. He is a very good athlete, able to break contain and pressure while keeping his eyes downfield. This can come off as backyard balling, leading to losing fundamentals and spraying passes more than you’d like. Ward compares to personal-favorite Geno Smith, though he can become that level of player in his mid-20s, not early 30s.
QB2: Shedeur Sanders, Colorado (Jackson State)
Framing The Draft: Sanders gets a great deal of hate online for his outspokenness and general “I am Coach Prime’s son”. This bleeds into his analysis, where many will (absurdly) say he is a bad player and poor prospect. You will also see the other side, where many Prime fans call him the clear QB1. As always, the truth lies in the middle. Sanders is, maybe too simply put, a damn good ball player. His teammates love him (despite the star-power), and he gets the absolute most out of everyone.
Tierable profile: Sanders is a lethal operator on the field, with pinpoint accuracy all over the field. That accuracy has also improved, with adjusted completion percentages in the intermediate & deep ranges rising nearly 10% from 2023 to 2024. Sanders’ most significant concerns are his tools, as he is an average athlete with an average arm. Sanders does take great care of the ball, with only 15 turnover-worthy plays on 1,100 dropbacks at CU (1.3%). He knows the game inside and out, operating in the face of (seemingly endless) pressure with poise and grit. His mind and accuracy make him at worst a solid starter, with some upside if he can get into a great scheme/team. Teddy Bridgewater (who rocked before his injuries) is a fair comparison for Sanders, who is a player that can operate as a legitimate QB2 for your fantasy teams. He is worth a top-5 pick in a superflex league for the stability he can provide a QB room.
Tier 2 – Upside shots with risk:
Breaking the rankings into tiers got difficult here, but there is a trifecta of passers who are seen as high-ceiling, low-floor types. They are oozing with talent but have massive question marks. All have gotten first-round hype at some point this season, but none truly belong there. They are high risk but have an even higher reward if they hit.
QB5: Quinn Ewers, Texas (Ohio State)
Framing The Draft: This tier is full of polarizing prospects, but that is part of the fun! Quinn Ewers went from one of the highest-ranked recruits ever to Ohio State and then led his hometown Longhorns to two playoff appearances. Ewers is a fascinating discussion of talent vs. questions, but his hype has only been falling. Ewers has grown as a person and leader, but many were seemingly disappointed with his collegiate career.
Tierable profile: On field, Ewers still shows flashes of that top recruit status, with elite arm talent. He is a trick-shot artist who can make any throw when he is in a groove. Ewers also has some of the best touch/layering ability in the class when he is on. Likewise, his backyard ability is spectacular, with the ability to evade defenders and use his arm to make crazy plays when he is feeling it. Notice a theme? Great – seriously elite – arm talent, but massive inconsistencies. Ewers has fought through and missed a lot of time with injury, which greatly affected his development. Poor pocket presence also hinders his ability to get into a rhythm, leading to hurried passes and poor mechanics. For Ewers to hit his ceiling (Baker Mayfield-esque), he must improve his pocket presence and clean up his mechanics. As is, Ewers is still a developmental day-2 prospect like Spencer Rattler (who I loved last year). Ewers also has more arm talent. For me, he is a 2nd round dart throw in dynasty.
QB6: Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss (USC)
Framing The Draft: The NFL Draft is my second favorite time of year (behind only Christmas, but that is largely due to having young kiddos). The worst part about the draft is finding a player that I just don’t get the hype around. Ole Miss’ Jaxson Dart is one of those prospects for me. I will not tear a kid down, but my analysis must include that I do not see a first-round prospect. Dart is hard to rank for me. Purely on film, I have him QB6 or 7. His stock has soared since the season ended, with round 1 smoke being very real. Teams are tantalized by the talent and seem willing to make a Dart throw (sorry, not sorry).
Tierable profile: The Kiffin offense at Ole Miss makes evaluating hard, the scheme is so wide-open and “collegey” that reads (and QB rush lanes) are predetermined. With that, Dart shows very good processing/progressions when asked to do it, along with very good overall accuracy. His arm talent is solid at best. However, he does get good velocity within 20 yards and can make throws on the move. He is a tough runner who is hard to get on the ground and can be used near the sticks and goal-line. Transitioning to under-center and pro-style play will be incredibly difficult for Dart. His pocket presence is more concerning: Dart’s pressure-to-sack ratio skyrocketed upon his arrival at Ole Miss, and he often looks oblivious to pressure (though it doesn’t always affect his passing). If his first read is covered, he can panic and over-rely on his tools. These issues are a concern for a player with 3+ years as a starter and are reminiscent of Kenny Pickett. If he lands in the top-50 in a good, patient spot, the upside makes him a locked-in first-round SF pick.
Tier 3 – Backups (or are they?) with juice:
This tier is where this draft gets fun. It is loaded with veteran quarterbacks who have some legitimate starter traits but just as many limitations. If they land in the right spot, they could become bridge quarterbacks or turn into solid starters. NFL and fantasy teams alike will be giddy to take a risk on their preferred flavor, hoping they can land their version of Dak Prescott or Brock Purdy.
QB4: Riley Leonard, Notre Dame (Duke)
Framing The Draft: I have been and will continue to be one of the highest on Leonard. As mentioned earlier in this article, the strength of this quarterback class is in its depth. Leonard’s schematic experience and ability to pull the best out of teammates will make him a loved prospect by football personnel.
Tierable profile: Leonard is a cerebral, intelligent, legitimate rushing threat with a solid-but-not-great arm who teammates love. His flaws stem from an arm he doesn’t trust (despite flashes), leading to a frustrating lack of aggression. He is one of the toughest players in the class, taking hits to the mouth while making passes regularly. He has shown this by conducting an offense and ball-knowing, rarely making pre-snap or post-snap mistakes as a reader and passer. While his lack of aggression and arm talent is a concern, his accuracy and velocity are big pluses. The biggest point in Leonard’s physical favor is his legs. In 3 years as a starter (36 games), he ran for 2,100 yards (not including sacks) and 34 TDs. He will lower his shoulder and make you miss while having real game speed. This is reminiscent of Daniel Jones, but is expected to go early on day 3, giving him the needed time to grow. He is another late-round dart throw in fantasy drafts.
QB7: Will Howard, Ohio State (Kansas State)
Framing The Draft: We go with the National Champ to round out this first installment. Will Howard had a very good (NFL draftable) career at Kansas State before moving up to the Buckeyes and going on a spectacular run. He falls under the “damn good ball player” umbrella. I believe he goes higher than most expect, as he is reportedly loved in league circles. He is tough as nails, and his success with various schemes gives him a versatile profile.
Tierable profile: Howard is a real dual threat, with prototypical NFL size. He is tough as nails and a “jack of all trades but master of none” sort of Quarterback. Howard wins as a passer through decision-making and accuracy, knowing his own limitations and how to get the most of his teammates. Howard is a powerful runner who can be used as a battering ram when the situation deems it necessary. You would like to see him be more creative and aggressive as a passer, but his limited arm strength may limit that in the league. He is not bothered by pressure or defenders, taking big hits for the sake of his team. The other biggest point for Howard is his poise. He was at his absolute best against the best opponents, including throughout the playoffs. Howard reminds me of Jacoby Brissett, who was a good starter and has become the ultimate bridge QB. If he sneaks into the top 75, you can consider him in the 2nd round of your draft. Otherwise, he is a 3rd round pick to take as a scoop-and-stash.