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The NFL Combine isn't normally the place where top quarterbacks go to shine. The receivers and quarterbacks have no chemistry, the top prospects normally don't test, and the wind is taken out of a lot of fans' sails before the events even begin. But it is a place where the depth of the class can show what they have, and the battle for QB3 in this class is on. 

Even though this wasn't the combine where quarterbacks lit it up, there are still valuable insights to be gleaned from the information. Sure, Tyler Shough isn't going to be asked to run a 40-yard dash anytime soon, but the measurements can mean a lot for differentiating within tiers. Some folks throw the combine out for quarterbacks, but here's how I use it in my process.

1. Identify Thresholds and Locate Outliers

The league has a small list of quarterbacks who have overcome all the odds. Russell Wilson, Drew Brees, and Fran Tarkenton all got it done at 6'0". But the trend and common cutoff is 6'2" and above from a fantasy perspective. Neither Shedeur Sanders nor Cameron Ward hit that cutoff, which is worth noting. Dillon Gabriel and Jalen Milroe are two other notable players to come in under 6'2" (Milroe was an eighth of an inch under). 

There's not a clear correlation between weight and fantasy points, but it wasn't long ago Bryce Young weight-gate was at the top of every draft analysis piece. NFL teams do have a tendency to favor quarterbacks over 210 pounds. Shedeur Sanders likely bulked to hit 212, but only Dillon Gabriel came in underneath 210. 

The last threshold worth monitoring is hand size. It can seem silly at times, but some clubs have a hard line for their quarterbacks to have over nine-inch hands. At this year's NFL Combine, every quarterback came in with at least nine-inch hands. Jalen Milroe measured in over a half-inch smaller at the Senior Bowl, so that could still impact his draft stock. 

2. Listen to Buzz from Beat Reporters

The interviews and medical portions are instrumental in the NFL Combine quarterback evaluation process. Fans don't get the same access to players that teams do, but we do see who is scheduling formal interviews and glean some information from reporters on the scene. Tracking which teams are meeting with quarterback prospects at the combine can help us understand what range they are looking at for the position. 

For example, the Steelers met with Quinn Ewers, Jaxson Dart, Will Howard, and informally with Max Brosmer. This indicates they're looking in the second round or later, unless they were really impressed by Jaxson Dart. Meanwhile, the Raiders met with each of the top two prospects at the position and could make a splash trade up to one to grab them. 

3. Verify Arm Strength, Hope for Accuracy

It's the first time these quarterbacks are throwing with these receivers. For routes that rely on timing, understanding, and pace, it's not a great test to just measure completions and incompletions. Instead, let's see how far they can sling it. The velocity tracker is a fun new addition to the combine and can answer some questions about arm strength. Jaxson Dart is the only player with a confirmed time at 58 mph, in line with Bo Nix last year. Jalen Milroe and Will Howard showed off their distance during the go-ball portion of the passing drills, but most timing routes will need some work. 

With that in mind, let's discuss some of the risers and fallers from the weekend.

NFL Combine Quarterback Risers

Brady Cook, Missouri

Cook looked like the best passer in a group that included Jaxson Dart and Quinn Ewers. He also put up a 4.59 40-yard dash for good measure. His tape at Missouri makes him a day-three developmental pick at best, but he's the type of quarterback who can stick around the league as a backup for a while. Just enough arm talent, just enough athleticism, and plenty of experience in college will make him a coach's favorite. 

Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss

Checked the box for velocity. Checked the box for all measurements. Dart didn't take the stage by storm, but he did enough that he should still be talked about in first-round conversations. His accuracy with receivers that he had never worked with before was almost spot-on, but his release was a touch slow. None of the quarterbacks really blew fans away, but he stayed on the right path.

Cam Ward, Miami

Ward didn't participate, measured a touch short of the 6'2" mark, and still walked away a winner. Ian Rapaport reported "there is real interest from several teams" to move up to one overall, and Ward is getting the most buzz as the top quarterback. Sometimes, reading the tea leaves is more important than the workouts for quarterbacks.

Kyle McCord, Syracuse

McCord hit almost every pass, all over the field. The growth we saw from Ohio State to Syracuse came to fruition on Saturday, and McCord showed a little more polish than other quarterbacks during the field portion. He didn't do any of the workouts, but he hit prototypical size thresholds and is a name to watch late day two and early day three of the 2025 NFL Draft. 

NFL Combine Quarterback Fallers

Dillon Gabriel, Oregon

The Combine isn't an environment where Gabriel can shine, but he would be a historic outlier if he played meaningful snaps as a starter. At just over 5'11", Gabriel has some physical limitations that can hold him back. He doesn't have the strongest arm, and it seemed to take a full-body effort to get the ball out of his hands. He missed throws at almost every level, but the way he was missing them was the most concerning part.

Will Howard, Ohio State

The CFB Playoff magic wore off, and Howard looked erratic in his passes. He would wait for receivers to come open and looked like he was praying they would end up on target rather than hitting them out of their breaks. He had a chance to rise to day-two conversations this weekend but missed the mark.

Quinn Ewers, Texas

For someone throwing the ball between 70 and 85 yards on Tiktok, Ewers sure lacked some arm strength this weekend. It's part of the reason the Texas offense has looked lackluster despite having some of the fastest wide receivers in the country. He seemed late to throws, lacked arm strength, and maybe he's still recovering from his oblique injury.