FantasyPros will be taking a look at early NFL Draft scouting reports before the Combine in March. Here’s a look at Indiana quarterback Kurtis Rourke. And check out our entire 2025 NFL Draft Guide.
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2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Kurtis Rourke
Kurtis Rourke (QB – Indiana)
6-foot-5 | 223 Pounds
Background
Kurtis Rourke is a Canadian quarterback whose older brother Nathan plays in the CFL and spent two seasons bouncing around in the NFL. A two-star recruit who appeared in one game during the 2019 season, Rourke went 2-1 over three starts the following year.
Started nine out of 10 games in 2021, going 3-6 and finishing with 1,801 yards (65.5% completion rate, 7.0 yards per attempt), 11 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Made a major leap in productivity the following year, going 8-3 and ending the year with 3,256 yards (69.1% completion rate, 9.2 yards per attempt), 25 touchdowns and four interceptions. Tore his right ACL toward the end of the year.
Came back down to earth the following year, but still went 8-3. However, his production dropped to 2,207 yards (63.5% completion rate, 7.2 years per attempt), 11 touchdowns and five interceptions. Transferred to Indiana this past season and led them to a 10-1 record as the starter, with 2,827 yards (70.4% completion rate, 9.9 yards per attempt), 27 touchdowns and four interceptions despite playing the year with a re-torn right ACL.
Positives
Rourke is a proven winner with a 30-14 career record between two programs. Has the prototypical size for a pro quarterback. Doesn’t have a heel click at the back of his drops. Does a good job of getting his cleats flat. Gets the ball out fast on predetermined throws underneath.
Knows how to use his eyes to manipulate safeties. Generally makes good decisions with the football to limit turnovers; will go to his check-down option or kill plays when his reads aren’t there. Has the confidence to trust his arm and receivers in coverage; doesn’t need to see players wide open. Tall, with a high release point to avoid passes getting batted at the line.
Has a powerful enough arm to make every throw; able to rip throws into tight coverage with good velocity. Accurate thrower, especially over the middle of the field. Flashes the ability to alter his velocity and trajectory as needed. May not be the most dynamic athlete, but does a nice job of moving in the pocket to buy time for himself. Avoids dropping his eyes when scrambling. Very tough player who worked through a torn ACL this past season.
Negatives
Spent six years in school and will turn 25 during his rookie year. A lot of the team’s offense revolved around run-pass options (RPOs) and predetermined single-read throws. Was asked to execute throws more often than work through a full set of progressions.
Struggled at times to maintain his effectiveness when he wasn’t able to work off of play action to pull up linebackers for throws over the middle of the field. Base is a little bit narrower than you’d like. Doesn’t always get the best spiral, with some wobbly throws.
Can sometimes trust his arm a little bit too much, with some throws into tight coverage. Has a little bit of athleticism to pick up a few yards when scrambling, but is more of a pure pocket passer. Has torn his right ACL twice, so medicals will be important.
Summary
A throwback quarterback with impressive size, arm talent and ball placement, Rourke established himself as a proven winner in school by making good decisions with the football, traits that will appeal to pro teams.
While he is an older quarterback who won’t wow anyone with his athleticism and has torn his right ACL a couple of times, Rourke is one of the better pure throwers in the class. Consequently, looks like he could get some mid-to-late-round consideration from a team with an offense based around working from the pocket.
Projection: Round 5/Round 6
Check out all of our 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Reports 
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Shedeur Sanders (QB – Colorado)
A confident rhythm-based passer who works through progressions, makes pretty good decisions with the football and throws with impressive accuracy/placement. At his best, pulls the trigger early, puts the ball right on his target and works his way down the field methodically through a series of short and intermediate throws over the middle of the field.
However, Sadners can sometimes be too slow to get the ball out, can’t consistently escape from pressure when he’s being pursued and his overall arm talent is closer to adequate. Could draw a wide range of evaluations, as he’s not a perfect fit for every scheme, but still looks to be in the conversation for the first overall pick. He should easily be one of the first two or three passers off the board.
Projection: Round 1
Check out the full 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report for Shedeur Sanders
A highly productive five-year starter who made major strides this past season after arriving at Miami. Ward plays with impressive composure, shows the ability to work through full-field reads and has solid arm talent and accuracy. Is capable of escaping from pressure and making the occasional splash play. At the same time, there are some risky elements to his game, which often come as a result of trying to do too much, leading to dangerous throws, interceptions or fumbles.
Consequently, how willing teams are to tolerate that risk to reap the rewards of his playmaking skills will be interesting to monitor. Either way, Ward is among the candidates to go first overall and should be one of the first couple of quarterbacks off the board.
Projection: Round 1
Check out the full 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report for Cam Ward
One of the most physically and athletically gifted dual-threat quarterback prospects you’ll see, with plenty of arm strength and elite speed, explosiveness and power as a runner who has some work to do on his game. To reach his sky-high potential he needs to show more consistent weight transfer on his throws, increased touch underneath, slightly faster processing and improved play under pressure.
However, those types of issues could be remedied with experience and coaching, so it wouldn’t be a surprise to see a patient and somewhat risk-tolerant team take a shot on him in the first round.
Projection: Round 1/Round 2
Check out the full 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report for Jalen Milroe
More 2025 NFL Draft Scouting Reports for Quarterbacks
- Jaxson Dart (Mississippi)
- Tyler Shough (Louisville)
- Will Howard (Ohio State)
- Quinn Ewers (Texas)
- Riley Leonard (Notre Dame)
- Kyle McCord (Syracuse)
- Kurtis Rourke (Indiana)
- Dillon Gabriel (Oregon)
- Max Brosmer (Minnesota)
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