Which quarterbacks could the Buccaneers target in 2025 NFL Draft?

Similar to this season's draft class, next year's NFL Draft class of rookies will have no shortage of star-studded options at quarterback.

In just the first 12 picks, Chicago's Caleb Williams, Washington's Jayden Daniels, New England's Drake Maye, Atlanta's Michael Penix, Minnesota's JJ McCarthy, and Denver's Bo Nix were all picked at picks one, two, three, eight, ten, and 12, respectively.

Thankfully the Tampa Bay Buccaneers didn't need to go shopping in 2024, but after securing Baker Mayfield for the next few seasons, the future should be considered in ways it wasn't when Tom Brady was under center.

As of now, the Bucs are set at quarterback after re-signing Mayfield to a three-year, $105 million contract in free agency after a career year. Even so, a lot can change in the NFL in just a year, and Tampa Bay would be wise to keep an eye on the years beyond Baker and tend to the future in ways it should have when Brady was getting ready to pass the torch.

It's early, so the quarterback draft board will shift between now and next April, but the Bucs should start keeping tabs on a few guys just in case.

Shedeur Sanders, QB/Colorado

Of all the top quarterback prospects for the 2025 draft, Sanders is regarded as the best quarterback prospect in his class. Upon his return to Boulder under head coach and father Deion, Sanders is set up for a dynamic and electric second season at Colorado.

Amid Deion's shocking departure from Jackson State to Colorado, Sanders was one of many players to follow the coach to the Pac-12 Conference in hopes of resurrecting the Buffaloes' struggling football program. Although Colorado finished 2023 with a 4-8 record and last in the conference, it was a notable improvement from last season's 1-11 mark, and 2023 saw the Buffs enter the AP poll for the first time since 2020.

Despite a notable jump in competition from the FCS to D1, Sanders still impressed in his first season as the Buffs' starter under center. In 11 starts, Sanders threw for 3,230 passing yards, 27 touchdowns, and just three interceptions on 69.3% completion and a 151.3 passer rating, and was named as an honorable mention to the All-Pac-12 Conference Team.

Among all players in the Pac-12 conference, Sanders' aforementioned marks ranked fifth, fourth, second, third, and fifth, the only player in the conference to rank within the top five of every single statistic. Led by Sanders, Colorado averaged 30.8 points per game, and even beat No. 17 TCU, Nebraska, and Colorado State to start the season 3-0 and No. 18 in the AP poll.

"He was QB1 for me if he came out this year," a longtime NFL evaluator told The Washington Post. "You have to manage him a little differently, and Deion is going to be heavily involved … so you have to be prepared to deal with that. But I love watching that kid play. He's a born winner."

Before transferring alongside Deion to Colorado, Shedeur was phenomenal at the FCS level with Jackson State. In 24 starts, Sanders completed 613 of 896 pass attempts (68.4%) for 6,963 passing yards, 70 passing touchdowns, and just 14 interceptions to lead Jackson State to a stout 21-3 record. In addition, Sanders was named the SWAC Freshman of the Year and earned All-SWAC Second Team Honors during his two-year stretch as the Tigers' QB1.

At 6'2" and 215 pounds, Sanders has a decent overall size and frame density for the modern-day quarterback prototype. With one of the strongest arms in the class, Sanders is capable of dicing up defenses on seam and crossing patterns with high-velocity lasers while evading pressure and sacks in the pocket. Sanders' senior season will be one to watch closely, as a breakthrough performance can lock Sanders in as a top-five pick next April.