Post-NFL Draft, it’s time to dive into rookie drafts, best ball drafts, and upcoming redrafts. I gathered our Footballguys staff to discuss rookie sleeper picks. First up, we shared thoughts on the quarterback position.
RELATED: See Rookie Sleeper Tight Ends here
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RELATED: See Rookie Sleeper Wide Receivers here
Today's question: Now that the NFL Draft is over and we know the landing spots, who is a rookie quarterback sleeper pick who has the potential to surprise everyone?
Chasing Upside
QB Jalen Milroe, Seattle Seahawks
Jeff Haseley: Jalen Milroe has the potential to make an impact this season. While Sam Darnold currently holds the starting position in Seattle, and Drew Lock serves as the backup, we have observed rookie quarterbacks stepping up and ascending the depth chart, particularly if an injury leads to their presence in the lineup. Milroe possesses the rushing skills that could deliver fantasy value if needed. He also received the William V. Campbell Trophy (Academic Heisman Award). Expect him to have a strong drive for preparation at the very least. If he adapts and grasps the offense quickly, he may emerge as a sleeper with the capacity to contribute due to his versatility and athleticism.<
Hutchinson Brown: Jalen Milroe is not a short-term investment in dynasty; this is an asset you’ll have to be patient with. Due to his raw skill set, he will likely not start week one. He is on a team where he can learn and develop behind an experienced veteran like Sam Darnold. He has played in many systems over his career, having serious success last year in Minnesota.
While Milroe does have a raw skill set, the flashes he had of being a capable NFL passer in college go unnoticed by many. Along with his poor showings, he had many moments of going through reads, delivering some beautiful passes at all ranges of the field, and had some great moments of pocket presence.
The moment Milroe steps on the field, he will immediately be a fantasy football contributor due to his rushing production. You'll likely be able to plug and play him as a QB2 with upside. However, if he develops properly, he could become a star for Seattle and a stud in our fantasy lineups. He is regularly available late in the second round of Superflex rookie drafts. For the upside he gives, that is quite an exciting selection to make.
Ben Cummins: Jalen Milroe is a physical freak who runs a 4.4 40-yard dash and compiled 1,257 rushing yards and 32 rushing TDs over the past two seasons at Alabama. Milroe has to improve his mental processing as a pocket passer, but will be allowed to do so behind Sam Darnold. Milroe is reportedly a high-character human being and should be expected to put in the work. Should Darnold falter, as we saw at the end of last season, Milroe could be given a golden opportunity to start. When he plays, he will rack up the fantasy points because his elite rushing prowess is a cheat code. He has QB1 overall in fantasy upside, and that’s a home run swing I’ll take, even if the odds are weighted largely in favor of a strikeout.
Ryan Weisse: I have to jump on board with others and say Milroe. The situation isn't exactly the same, but it's giving shades of Carson Wentz and Jalen Hurts. The Eagles spent more draft capital on Hurts than the Seahawks did on Milroe, but Wentz was also more expensive than Sam Darnold, and the Eagles still moved on more quickly than most thought. Milroe's athleticism brings something to the table that very few quarterbacks can offer. If Darnold struggles, and we are all familiar with Darnold's struggles, why not give Milroe a chance sooner rather than later?
Shough (pronounced Shuck) Time?
QB Tyler Shough, New Orleans Saints
Jason Wood: Not to be a Debbie Downer, but rookie quarterbacks rarely surprise us in a good way. The NFL draft process is far from perfect, but late-round quarterbacks who do break the mold generally do so later in their careers, not as rookies.
But as an intellectual exercise, I'll throw out Tyler Shough. The Saints used a second-round pick to select the former Louisville Cardinal, and given Derek Carr's situation, Shough is widely considered the likely starter this year. New head coach Kellen Moore has proven an ability to adapt his offense to suit his team's strengths, and he'll be able to put Shough in a position to thrive, provided the Saints' offensive line can round into form.
Bob Harris: Count me in on Tyler Shough -- mostly because I get the feeling Derek Carr is in the process of checking out on the Saints. I also get the sense that would be fine with the Saints. Even if Carr sticks around, and even if the shoulder injury that's currently putting his 2025 season in question isn't as big of an issue as it sounds like, the 40th pick, the one they used on Shough last week, is the highest the Saints have taken a quarterback since they selected Archie Manning in the first round of the 1971 draft.
New coach Kellen Moore seems to be all in on Shough. And, as noted in the Footballguys Rookie Draft Guide 3.0, with nearly 40 games of experience over six college seasons, Shough should be ready to jump into a starting role, even if it comes with the typical rookie mistakes.
And if he gets turns as the starter? I'm with Footballguy Alfredo Brown, who wrote: "Think of Shough as providing Jameis Winston-level production for the pass catchers in New Orleans."
Rachel Tootsiepop: One could look at the situation in New Orleans and either see a chaotic mess or see it as an opportunity to build for the future. If you’re like me, you’re always looking for the silver lining. The silver lining for New Orleans is Tyler Shough.
Shough was drafted in Round 2, pick 8. With Derek Carr possibly out for the 2025 season due to shoulder surgery, can the Saints rely on Spencer Rattler or Jake Haener to handle the reins? When Carr went down with a thumb injury in Week 14 last season, Rattler took over but managed only a 57% completion rate. Do the Saints give the green light to Shough sooner rather than later? Shough passed for 3,195 yards for a 62% completion rate in his last year at Louisville. The potential is there.
Like a corn shuck—the outer layer of corn that peels away easily to reveal the good stuff inside—Shough could be the one to help New Orleans peel back the layers and get to their future.
What's Happening in Vegas
QB Tommy Mellott, Las Vegas Raiders
Jeff Blaylock: This deep sleeper does not have the arm strength or size to become a starting quarterback in the NFL, but he may surprise as a wide receiver. Tommy Mellott, a sixth-round pick by the Las Vegas Raiders, led Montana State to two Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) title game appearances over his four seasons as the team’s starting quarterback. In 2024, he passed for 2,783 yards and 31 touchdowns against two interceptions. He rushed for another 1,050 yards and 15 touchdowns, earning him the Walter Payton Award for the most outstanding FCS player. At his pro day, he was clocked running the 40-yard dash in 4.39 seconds and recorded performing 19 reps of 225 pounds in the bench press. Mellott, who studied engineering, has a high football IQ and is willing to play wherever the Raiders need him, whether as a receiver, gadget-play quarterback, or special teamer. Savvy dynasty managers with a deep bench and taxi squad can take a chance on Mellott, and he might not even cost a rookie draft pick. He should be sitting on the waiver wire, waiting to be claimed for free before training camp begins.
Corey Spala: Tommy Mellott will not be a starting quarterback but may find meaningful playing time as a gadget player. He can be viewed as the next potential player to play multiple positions, similar to Taysom Hill. You may remember when Hill had the QB/TE designation and was able to exploit his passing, rushing, and receiving production. Mellott had 4,745 passing yards and 2,847 rushing yards in college. Jeff Blaylock noted more information surrounding his college career. We were tasked to identify a sleeper, and this assumes Mellott has the QB designation like Hill once had. There is a path to find targets in the Las Vegas offense.
If I had to pick a pure quarterback for the 2025 season, my recommendation would be Tyler Shough (New Orleans).
The Cleveland QB Room
QB Shedeur Sanders, Cleveland Browns
Zareh Kantzabedian: Identifying a sleeper quarterback chosen outside the first round is notoriously difficult; the odds of hitting on one are slim to none. However, Shedeur Sanders should be the best candidate to defy those odds in 2025. Sanders slid down draft boards due to character concerns and the baggage his father and the media would have brought to a franchise. Despite this, he's likely the most pro-ready quarterback ever drafted in the fifth round. Neither Joe Flacco, Kenny Pickett, nor Dillon Gabriel can muster enough wins to prevent Cleveland's fan base from demanding that Sanders be under center. The odds favor Sanders playing regular-season snaps this year on an offense featuring notable receiving options and a strong run game. He's currently being drafted in the third round of rookie drafts, but he could pay off big as he has a realistic shot at becoming a permanent starting quarterback with a good showing.
QB Dillon Gabriel, Cleveland Browns
Meng Song: I still see Shedeur Sanders drafted over Dillon Gabriel in early superflex rookie drafts. While I get it (I also had Sanders ranked as the better prospect pre-draft), the Browns made their feelings clear by selecting Gabriel two rounds before Sanders. As fantasy football players and GMs, we need to adjust expectations to the reality of draft capital. Whatever the reason for Sanders' drastic fall from grace, a Day 2 rookie quarterback pick historically has better odds to succeed, or at the very least has a better shot to get the first crack at the job, over a Day 3 rookie quarterback.
As for opportunity, there's plenty of it in Cleveland. The ship sailed long ago for Deshaun Watson, and there's a good chance that one of Joe Flacco and Kenny Pickett may not even be on the roster come September. And let's not make this only about opportunity. Although Gabriel doesn't have a huge arm or prototypical size for an NFL quarterback, he makes on-time and on-target throws with anticipation, has good pocket awareness, and limits turnovers. These traits fit well within Kevin Stefanski's scheme and in concert with a strong Browns defense.
The ceiling outcome for Gabriel could be akin to Brock Purdy, an efficient game manager who controls the pace of the game by keeping the offense on schedule within the confines of the scheme. Granted, Cleveland doesn't have the wealth of surrounding offensive talent San Francisco did when Purdy got his first few starts, but there's more upside for this Browns offense than what we saw with Watson, Jameis Winston, and Dorian Thompson-Robinson at the helm last year.
Kantzabedian: Meng, even though I elected Shedeur Sanders, I would love to see Dillon Gabriel get the job. He's played in multiple systems and delivers the ball well in the intermediate. I like that he doesn't let the pass rush move him off his progressions. He keeps his eyes downfield. When they played Penn State, the pass rush kept getting to him, and he continued to work through his progressions for the entirety of the game. He doesn't get perturbed.
Song: Yeah, I feel like he's kind of what the Browns need right now—just vanilla ice cream, no crazy flavors. Someone who can follow Stefanski's reads, deliver the ball on time, and let the defense do its thing. Cleveland needs a reset, even if it's an Alex Smith type, before they find their Mahomes.
Dart Throw Chances
QB Will Howard, Pittsburgh
Jeff Bell: Aaron Rodgers is not yet a Steeler. If the team’s quarterback battle boils down to Howard vs Mason Rudolph, there is significant opportunity. Howard is a big quarterback with deceptive athleticism, not unlike another Pittsburgh quarterback who played college football in Ohio. His greatest asset is arm strength, which feeds in to a receiver corps of DK Metcalf and George Pickens very well. He rode a hot streak to the National Championship his final season, cementing the title with a bomb to freshman wide receiver Jeremiah Smith on a key third down. Howard has an open opportunity and could be a steal if he claims it.
QB Riley Leonard, Indianapolis
Andy Hicks: Rookie quarterbacks drafted late need every opportunity to succeed on NFL rosters, let alone win the starting job. Opportunity, coaching, the supporting cast, the ability to develop, and luck all play a part.
Riley Leonard has never been a name, but always played above expectations. A three-star recruit coming out of high school, Leonard needed a good landing spot. He found it at Duke. In 2022, if we play with numbers, he is one of only three FBS quarterbacks to pass and rush with great success. The other two were Drake Maye and Jayden Daniels. An injury derailed his 2023 season and a move to Notre Dame in 2024 resulted in him breaking the college's rushing record for quarterbacks with 15.
In Indianapolis he has a struggling Anthony Richardson and free agent signing Daniel Jones most likely to start ahead of him. It's not exactly the toughest path to a starting job in the NFL. First Leonard has to demonstrate to the coaching staff he belongs on an NFL roster and then earn their trust. With development, he could even see an opportunity in 2025 should the Colts crumble. Head coach Shane Steichen is under pressure and needs to win. Odds are against Riley Leonard being the answer, but we doubt that Anthony Richardson and Daniel Jones are.
The Unexpected Choice
QB J.J. McCarthy, Minnesota
Phil Alexander: The incoming rookie quarterback class is so uninspiring for fantasy purposes that I’ve decided to cheat a little. McCarthy isn’t technically a rookie—he missed his entire first season due to injury—but he has the same number of NFL starts (zero) as the rest of these guys, and his current QB19 ADP on Underdog Fantasy suggests he qualifies as a sleeper in 2025 redraft leagues.
If you watched Joshua Dobbs and Nick Mullens deliver high-end fantasy relevance while operating in Kevin O’Connell’s pass-friendly offense late in 2023—and that inspired you to take a flier on Sam Darnold in 2024—your sound process was rewarded with surprisingly stellar results. McCarthy is O’Connell’s hand-picked franchise quarterback and will benefit from the same scheme and supporting cast that helped Darnold land $52.5 million guaranteed in free agency from the Seahawks. A low-end QB1 finish is well within McCarthy’s range of possible outcomes as a “rookie.”
(My non-cheating answer would be Jalen Milroe. Darnold’s contract is essentially year-to-year, and he’ll miss O’Connell’s guidance, Justin Jefferson’s brilliance, and the stability of Minnesota’s offensive line. Seattle benching Darnold to see what they have in Milroe is a scenario we shouldn’t dismiss—and Milroe’s rushing ability gives him instant QB1 upside the moment he steps on the field.)
