The 2025 quarterback draft class is the least venerated since Kenny Pickett and Malik Willis headlined an underwhelming group of prospects in 2022. Last year saw six quarterbacks taken in the first twelve picks — this year, it would be a surprise to see six quarterbacks go in the first three rounds.
Due to the considerably below-average competition, Missouri quarterback Brady Cook has a chance to become one of the names called from the podium at the draft.
Cook took over as the Tigers’ starting quarterback in 2022 and was the signal-caller for the duration of the following two seasons, leading the team to double-digit wins in both years.
Therein lies Cook’s greatest asset as a prospect: a history of winning against the toughest competition. Cook finished his career with 9,008 passing yards and 49 passing touchdowns while leading the Tigers to wins over schools like Florida, Kansas State and Ohio State. In a draft class that is low on raw talent at the sport’s most valuable position, Cook’s tenure will be a highly valued asset.
Cook does not have the explosive deep passing ability that offensive coordinators crave in a big-name quarterback, but he is very effective operating in shallow and medium-depth on the field, putting him in prime position to run a West Coast offense scheme. Cook put together strong performances at the Shrine Bowl and NFL Combine, showcasing his ability to string together accurate, high-velocity passes to the medium-depth area of the field and leading him to be named the top quarterback at the combine.
One of Cook’s most translatable traits to the NFL is his mobility. Offensive coordinator Kirby Moore routinely utilized his quarterback’s legs during the past season, especially relying on Cook’s rushing ability in short-yardage situations. Cook posted an impressive 4.59 second 40-yard dash time at the NFL combine, and his stout 6-foot-2 inch, 214-pound frame gives him the strength to complement his speed. As the NFL continues its ever-active shift towards mobile quarterback dominance, Cook may find that his ability on the ground — both in designed runs and broken-pocket plays — may be one of the premium assets that get him drafted.
Arm strength is not a glaring issue for Cook, but deep-range accuracy is, causing the Tigers’ downfield passing game to struggle somewhat during his senior season. Consistently missing players like Luther Burden III and Theo Wease Jr. against college-level cornerbacks doesn’t portend well for Cook’s potential to diminish that issue against pros. The aforementioned skill in the shallower part of the field is an attractive asset, but at the NFL level, coaches will expect explosive ability. Cook’s lack of such an ability is one of the main deterrents for potential draft locations.
Playing against elite defenses like those from Georgia or Alabama put Cook in positions where decision-making and defensive diagnosis were important, and he showed an average proficiency in those two traits. He is able to keep the ball out of trouble, throwing only 14 interceptions during his three years as a starter. As a professional, however, his processing speed will have to improve for him to overcome the faster, more complicated defenses.
The top intangible trait that goes hand-in-hand with Cook’s experience is his toughness. Head coach Eli Drinkwitz has often lauded Cook’s grittiness and leadership, stating them as among his greatest strengths.
“For all the criticism that young man takes, [Cook] sure would die on that field for everybody,” Drinkwitz said.
Nothing exemplifies that toughness like Cook’s performance against Auburn as a senior, in which he hurt his ankle early in the game and was taken to the hospital before returning and leading a comeback in Missouri’s Homecoming game. He played most of his senior year while fighting through injuries, a testament to the type of toughness NFL teams look for in a quarterback.
Cook projects as a late-round backup quarterback flier. While his potential is not as high as many other quarterbacks in this draft, he is a much more currently realized product than his peers within his draft class. Teams looking for a backup who could step into an NFL game early in their careers and be effective will value Cook high enough on their boards to call his name during the draft.
Projection: Seventh-round pick
Potential landing spots: Pittsburgh Steelers, Jacksonville Jaguars
Edited by Killian Wright | kwright@themaneater.com
Edited by Natalie Kientzy | nkientzy@themaneater.com
Edited by Annie Goodykoontz | agoodykoontz@themaneater.com
