Entering 2025, Michigan State football enters with a lot of question marks. While the position of QB1 is not one of those, the question is how big of a step up the junior quarterback can make this year. Following his first season as a full-time starter, Chiles is receiving some lofty praise from an NFL Draft analyst.
How high of praise, you might ask? Aidan Chiles, according to James Foster of Wide Left, is a top-five player for the 2027 class, and his “early QB1 for the class”. As a reminder, this 2027 class includes DJ Lagway of Florida (who has made the rounds as “Aidan Chiles with a better PR firm”), Demond Williams Jr. of Washington, Nico Iamaleava (now) of UCLA, and Arch Manning of Texas.
Yes, you read that right.
Also, yes, this comes with an asterisk. Foster clarified in a later comment that he has Manning as a player declaring following the 2025 season and being a member of the 2026 class. That said, the rest of the names on this list are players that are expected to be among the names in the green room of the 2027 class.
What did Foster say about Aidan Chiles?
Foster starts by stating that Chiles is a few years away from being ready to start in the league, which is not entirely surprising. The California native never had his redshirt season, regularly taking series as a true freshman at Oregon State. He played last year at 19 years old and does not turn 20 until Week 3 of this upcoming season.
The biggest praise that Foster gave was Chiles’s ability to attack the deep sideline, and his arm talent that enables him to access the whole field. This ability along the sidelines was highlighted multiple times, especially late last season against Purdue and Indiana. The former top-100 recruit fit the ball into windows that were barely open multiple times, and it was not just the play of his receivers that resulted in an MSU first down.
As far as spreading the ball throughout the whole field, look no further than Chiles’s passes to Nick Marsh against Maryland, or the deep throw to Marsh against Oregon. The quarterback has a special arm.
Foster defended his take in the comment section multiple times, citing Chiles as a top 4-7 quarterback in the Big Ten, only giving outright advantages to Drew Allar of Penn State, Fernando Mendoza of Indiana, and Luke Altmyer of Illinois.
This type of praise just builds the anticipation of the 2025 season, as next week makes it under a month until Michigan State football begins its season.
Arguments for and against this
Is this a sign to bet it all on Chiles? Personally, I would pump the brakes. Some may recall Brian Lewerke being praised as a potential first-round pick before his second year as a starter, or Malik Spencer receiving first-round hype during spring 2024.
Additionally, Chiles had an issue with turning the ball over in 2024. In his first five starts, Chiles threw eight interceptions and a pair of fumbles. While he was much improved in the final seven games, with only three interceptions, he only recorded over 200 passing yards twice in those seven outings.
That said, this type of praise and projection can certainly come true in 2025. Coaches Jim Michalczik and Courtney Hawkins revamped their position rooms this offseason, and a better offensive line and receiving corps makes Chiles’s job significantly easier. Additionally, Jonathan Smith brought in a familiar face for Chiles, that being quarterbacks coach Jon Boyer.
With a good pair of seasons, Chiles may find himself in the NFL Draft “Green Room” alongside Nick Marsh and/or Chrishon McCray in 2027.
Until then, we can just count down the days until the season begins.
