Will Colts draft a quarterback? Some analysts say yes. 2025 NFL Draft date, order, pick prospects

Posted by author February 4, 2025 NFL

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Anthony Richardson will enter his third season with about one year of NFL experience. Joe Flacco and Sam Ehlinger are eligible for free agency.
The next major evaluation opportunity is the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis from Feb. 27-March 2.

The Indianapolis Colts need quarterbacks. Not necessarily in the first round of the NFL Draft or even a starting QB, but a capable backup at the very least.

The Colts have several needs in the 2025 NFL Draft, but they will have to look at quarterbacks if they don’t pursue one in free agency. They won’t be in the market for Miami’s Cam Ward or Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders, who are likely top-3 picks, but they might find someone on the second or third day.

Anthony Richardson will enter his third season with about one season of NFL experience. He has appeared in 15 games, putting up spotty numbers (50.6% completions, 11 touchdowns, 13 interceptions; 10 rushing TDs) for an average team.

Joe Flacco and Sam Ehlinger are eligible for free agency. Flacco (65.3% completions, 1,761 yards, 12 TDs, 7 INTs) is 40. Ehlinger has been with the Colts since he was drafted in the sixth round in 2021, but he didn’t play in 2024.

Here’s the QB landscape coming out of the Senior Bowl. The next major evaluation opportunity is the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis from Feb. 27-March 2.

2025 NFL Draft pick prospects: Will the Indianapolis Colts pick a quarterback?

Jordan Reid of ESPN ranks the quarterbacks post-Senior Bowl: Ward; Sanders; Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss; Jalen Milroe, Alabama; Kyle McCord, Syracuse; Will Howard, Ohio State; Quinn Ewers, Texas; Dillon Gabriel, Oregon; Tyler Slough, Louisville; Max Brosmer, Minnesota; Kurtis Rourke, Indiana; Riley Leonard, Notre Dame.

Eric Edholm of NFL.com offered these impressions from the game: Seth Henigan of Memphis led a game-winning drive, hitting Jack Bech as time expired. Notre Dame’s Riley Leonard completed his first six passes. Louisville’s Tyler Slough had good moments but threw an interception in the end zone. Jaxson Dart of Ole Miss had a good game after struggling in practices.

Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss

Brent Sobleski, Bleacher Report: “Dart looked like the best playmaker overall, with his ability to extend plays and push the ball downfield. Ole Miss’ all-time leading passer scored a rushing touchdown after escaping the pocket and completed a couple of big vertical passes.

“(T)he performance wasn’t perfect. Those big throws could have been even bigger had he led his receivers a little more. Pressure got to Dart on a couple of occasions, with ball security coming into question. Even so, it’s probably safe to say he gained the most from the event.

“That said, it’s still far too rich to look at Dart as anything more than a distant second-tier option with Day 2 investment potential.”

ESPN’s Reid, who places him as a mid- to late-Day 2 pick: “How quickly can he adapt to performing multistep progressions? That’s the question scouts wanted to see Dart answer at the Senior Bowl. He became more comfortable with the verbiage in the huddle and footwork on dropbacks after taking snaps under center. Dart’s continued development will hinge on those factors, as he wasn’t asked to huddle, relay plays or frequently go through multiple options on passing concepts at Ole Miss.”

Alexandre Castro, Field Gulls: “He gained a lot of stock this week. His name started to circulate in the first round. I think it’s too early for him, but he’s still a great prospect. With the other QBs not showing much to admire in a weak class, Dart rose up the boards.”

Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports: “There’s no doubt Dart had the best week among the QBs here in Mobile, and his arm strength is better in person than on tape. And he’s gone a long way in solidifying himself as QB3, at least with some 80 days until the actual draft.”

Jalen Milroe, Alabama

From Castro: “Had small hands in the measurements, which could be the reason for his fumbles. Milroe had a busy first few days of practice with misplaced passes and interceptions.

“He showed that he continues to have trouble reading underneath defenders, which is the reason for most of his interceptions this season. To be fair, his last day of practice was much better than the others, but he still failed to increase his stock, quite the opposite.”

From Wilson: “Milroe wanted to come to Mobile and separate himself from the pack, showing his ability to throw accurately downfield and doing it on a consistent basis. And while the arm strength has never been in question, Milroe struggled with touch on intermediate throws. It’s not the end of the world — Michael Penix Jr. and Bo Nix didn’t exactly set the world on fire at the Senior Bowl a year ago and both went on to be first-round picks, but it is a missed opportunity for the former Alabama QB.”

From Reid, who places him as a mid- to late-Day 2 pick: “Milroe’s proficiency on deep passes has been a strength and shined during Senior Bowl practices, as he had multiple accurate tosses down the field.”

Taylor Elgersma, Laurier

Eric Edholm, NFL.com: “Elgersma, who won the Hec Crighton Award (essentially Canada’s Heisman Trophy Award) got off to a bumpy start on Tuesday, as did several other Senior Bowl quarterbacks. But on Wednesday, he started to settle in and look the part more.

“Elgersma navigated pressure well to execute a nice throwback pass to Syracuse RB LeQuint Allen. Later, Elgersma hit Oregon WR Tez Johnson down the seam on a nice ball.”

When is the 2025 NFL Draft?

The 2025 NFL Draft will run Thursday, April 24 through Saturday, April 26.

Where is the 2025 NFL Draft?

The Green Bay Packers were selected to host the 2025 NFL Draft at Lambeau Field and Titletown.

2025 NFL Draft order: When do the Indianapolis Colts pick?

The first 28 picks of the upcoming draft are locked in while the remaining order will be determined by the outcome of this year’s playoffs. Here is a look at the current 2025 NFL Draft order with playoff teams in alphabetical order: