There’s always a wild card in every NFL Draft. A player projected to go high suddenly tumbles. Meanwhile, another rises out of nowhere. What if the NFL Draft’s biggest stars aren’t who we think they are? Imagine a quarterback showdown where the top prospects tumble down the board—and the drama isn’t even about them. Buckle up. The 2025 draft cycle just got spicy.

On January 30, 2024, NFL Network’s Peter Schrager dropped a bombshell on The Herd. “The big takeaway I’ve gotten having not been in mobile, but talking to everybody is… not a quarterback draft,” he declared, shaking up pre-draft chatter. Despite Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders dominating headlines as potential top-10 picks, Schrager hinted at a twist.

“Quarterbacks get bumped up and in this case it would be Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders. Will they get bumped up enough to be one, two, despite the fact that guys like Travis Hunter, and Abdul Carter, and Tyler Warren are objectively viewed as much better prospects in this year’s draft class?” Translation? Teams might chase generational talent over QB hype. Let the chaos begin.

Mock drafts already reflect this uncertainty. Analysts like Bucky Brooks have slid Ward and Sanders below defensive phenoms and two-way stars. But Fox Sports’ Rob Rang took it further. He crafted a wild “what-if?” mock where underclassmen could declare. Result? Arch Manning rocketed to No. 1, Ward fell to Pittsburgh at No. 21, and Sanders landed with the Rams at No. 26. “Sanders’ upside is just too flashy to ignore, especially for a young coach like Sean McVay,” Rang argued. A compliment for sure. But No. 26? Ouch!

The irony? Ward and Sanders’ bond tightens as their stock wobbles. Footage from a recent SMU workout shows them trash-talking 40-yard times and play styles. “You generational,” Sanders joked, “I’m legendary.” Ward fired back: “Legendary get they a– whooped.” Their trainer, Darrell Colbert Jr., told FOX Sports, “It’s genuine. It’s not just because the cameras are out.” But will camaraderie matter if teams pass on them?

Stats add fuel to the debate. Sanders led the FBS in completion percentage (74.0%) at Colorado, showcasing surgical precision. Ward’s 39 touchdowns at Miami highlighted his off-script magic. Yet critics harp on Sanders’ middling arm talent and Cam Ward’s reckless improvisation. One may muse, Do you draft traits or tape? The answer could redefine their futures.

Will the QB market push Ward and Sanders back up?

The reality is, quarterbacks always find a way to rise. Even in weak QB drafts, teams still reach for signal-callers because they know the value of the position. Meanwhile, Ward and Sanders’ friendship thrives on competition behind the scenes. During drills, they dissect each other’s throws. “It’s a relaxed environment, but it’s a competitive environment,” Colbert said. They swap playbook secrets, too.

Sanders revealed, “We’re family and we’re friends at the end of the day before all this stuff happened to us.” But on draft night, family ties won’t save them from the board’s cold logic. And Schrager’s draft outlook digs deeper.

“Running back class is absolutely loaded in this year’s draft,” he noted. Stars like Boise State’s Ashton Jeanty could perhaps overshadow QBs early. Teams valuing positional impact might pounce. Schrager argued, “You say well, we don’t value running backs anymore, so you won’t see them go. Do we not value running backs anymore? Is that going to come full circle based on the impact that we’ve seen from Saquon in Philadelphia, Derrick Henry in Baltimore, of course, Josh Jacobs in Green Bay?” Hence, quarterbacks aren’t the only ticket to relevance.

History backs Schrager’s boldness. He’s nailed Super Bowl winner predictions over the past five seasons. Could his draft instincts follow suit? He stressed value over need. If teams agree, Ward and Sanders face a nerve-wracking slide.

However, the duo keeps grinding for now. But as April looms, one thing is clear. In a draft defying norms, even generational talents aren’t safe. The only certainty? Chaos. Isn’t that why we love it so?