Everyone loves evaluating quarterbacks. Lucky for fans the 2021 draft class is very strong at the top, and an absurdly high number of teams could be looking for a QB. Five quarterbacks have emerged at the top of the class, with another set of three showing great potential.
We’re going to take a closer look at the 2021 quarterback class, including stats, traits, landing spots, and more. We’ll also briefly look through which teams could be aiming for a QB in the draft.
I seperated the QBs into very distinct tiers that in some cases only contain 1 player. That’s because in this draft class, it seems pretty clear to me where players fall in terms of talent.
Use the links below to quickly find the topic that interests you.
Potential Teams | T1: Lawrence, Wilson | T2: Fields, Jones | T3: Lance | T4: Trask | T5: Mills, Mond | T6: Best of the Rest | Comparison Stats
If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them in the comment section below.
Potential QB Needy Teams
There are a lot of teams currently in need of a quarterback, including the top 3 teams in the draft.
The Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Jets, San Francisco 49ers, New England Patriots, Washington Football Team, and Chicago Bears are all certainly hoping they have a quarterback available to them in the first round. They’ve heavily scouted the first round caliber QBs and won’t be afraid to invest in a potential franchise piece.
The Jaguars at #1 have about a 99.9% chance of drafting Trevor Lawrence to take over as the face of their franchise. There should be little debate here.
The Jets at #2 have about a 99% chance of drafting Zach Wilson to try and lead them out of the dark ages.
San Francisco traded up to #3 this offseason because they already knew who the first two picks would be, and will almost certainly take a QB despite having an ok QB in Jimmy Garappolo. Mac Jones and Justin Fields are the two in play at this point.
After a few teams pass who might look QB, the Patriots are the next team who definitely want a franchise guy. Newton was resigned for one year, but Lance, Fields, and Jones are all being carefully scouted by New England to start in 2022.
The Washington Football Team signed the popular journeyman Ryan Fitzpatrick to start week 1, but they would love to get Justin Fields or Mac Jones to start in 2022, or mid way through the season if Fitzmagic hasn’t truly arrived. Lance would also be an option, but Washington didn’t attend his second pro day.
Chicago is the last team who really wants a QB. They signed Andy Dalton to start in 2021, but he’s not a franchise guy. Chicago knows that.
There are also plenty of teams who might look QB. Specifically the Atlanta Falcons, Detroit Lions, Denver Broncos, and Philadelphia Eagles.
Starting at #4 with the Falcons, they were a hot destination for a QB before San Francisco traded to #3. Matt Ryan is showing his age, and the Falcons simply haven’t been competitive. While it’s looking unlikely they’ll take a QB with their first round pick, it’s still an outside possibility. There’s also a chance they could take one in the 2nd or 3rd round to develop for a year or two.
At #7, the Detroit Lions have a lot of needs to fill. With new leadership, they could look for a QB to develop as their franchise guy after trading Stafford. The big thing is, we don’t really know what the Lions think of Jared Goff. If they think he’s starting caliber, they’ll likely look to fill a bigger need. If they mostly got him as a placeholder or to flip in another trade, QB could very well be the option here.
The Broncos at #9 just finished their first full season of Drew Lock, and they weren’t very happy with it. I think it would be a mistake to move past Lock so fast when his development has just been slowed by injuries, but they have been carefully vetting their options in the first round.
The Eagles at #12 also invested a lot in Jalen Hurts last year, making him a 2nd round pick. It would seem silly to not give him a chance, but the Eagles have explored their options nevertheless. I feel like they don’t go QB but if Fields falls to #12, it’s certainly possible given how much they’ve scouted him.
Finally, there are many more teams to watch who have an outside chance to take a QB. This includes the Vikings, Steelers, Buccaneers, Seahawks, Rams, and Texans.
Some analysts have mocked QBs to the Vikings because of a general discontent with Kirk Cousins and his big contract. That being said, I see no situation where the Vikings take a QB in the first round. If they get off to another bad start Zimmer will be firmly in the hot seat, and he won’t let that happen. They need to fill the left tackle and defensive end positions with starters. The reason they’re on this list is because they have a glaring hole at backup quarterback, and have taken long looks at guys like Davis Mills and Kellen Mond. The Vikings could certainly grab a QB as early as the 3rd round, or maybe surprise me and trade up into the 2nd to try and start in 2022, allowing them to unload Kirk’s contract and pay guys like Danielle Hunter.
The Steelers at #24 have Roethlisberger back, and Rudolph isn’t a bad backup. But Big Ben is starting to show his age, and the Steelers look to go with a quarterback if someone slips down the board.
The Bucs at #32 haven’t been heavily tied to QBs because none of the top 5 will be available anywhere near them. But that doesn’t change that Tom Brady is finally (probably) reaching the end of the rope, and they don’t have a plan after him. While he still has enough for a year or two and it shouldn’t be a huge worry for Tampa, they also don’t have any glaring needs and could afford to spend a first rounder on someone who won’t contribute next year. After all, they’re returning all 22 starters from last year’s Super Bowl winning team.
All 3 teams who don’t own a first round pick, Seattle, Houston, and potentially LA, could look QB at some point.
Seattle has one of the best in the game in Russell Wilson, and he has a lot of football ahead of him. But have we forgotten the reports earlier this offseason that he could be traded? Seattle’s backup is Geno Smith, and if Wilson is truly looking to get out of Seattle they would be well served to grab someone like Kellen Mond who can step in if necessary.
Houston had a similar problem, but to a much greater extent. It looked like Watson was halfway out the door, but nothing ever came of it. Houston has plenty of needs and never seemed interested in trading Watson, but if the problem hasn’t gone away they’ll want to look for a fall back option.
The Rams are the least likely of these teams to take a QB after trading for Stafford, but I include them because they had originally been heavily scouting this class before they made the trade, and could have a guy they fell in love with in the middle rounds. They could definitely improve at backup QB, and there’s always some question marks when a QB moves to a totally new system. They definitely wouldn’t address this in the first ~75 picks, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see them grab a backup a notable backup as early as the 4th round.
Tier 1
Trevor Lawrence, Clemson
Measurables/Experience: True Junior, 3 year starter, 6’6″, 215 lbs, 10″ Hands, 21.5 years old
Supporting Cast: 9/10 – Very good receivers, elite running backs, great offensive line *compared to average competition
Stats
| YEAR | GMS | YDS | TDS | INT | % | Y/A | RUSH |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 10 | 3153 | 24 | 5 | 69.2% | 10.2 | 203/8 |
| 2019 | 15 | 3665 | 36 | 8 | 65.8% | 9.9 | 563/9 |
| 2018 | 15 | 3280 | 30 | 4 | 65.2% | 8.3 | 165/1 |
Top Strengths
- Very strong arm, fastest “fastball” in the class
- Extremely poised and confident
- Very experienced, has played great in important games
- Able to read the whole field
- Processes defenses at an elite level
- Above average ball placement and solid accuracy
- Able to throw receivers open
- Well above average athleticism
- Recognizes pressure and keeps eyes down field
Top Weaknesses
- Has benefitted a lot from underneath passes and play action
- Has tried to play too much hero ball at times
- Weighed much less than expected at his pro day
Bottom Line:
Trevor Lawrence has been dominant since day 1 thanks to his elite football IQ, leadership abilities, and athletic traits. He looks the part of an NFL quarterback and has enough arm to make “wow” throws. As a three year starter and a proven winner, he should demand the respect of his team from day 1. Lawrence is very comfortable in the pocket and reads defenses extremely well for his age, while also throwing a very catchable ball and having an ideal blend of caution/aggression in his game style. Throw in big time speed, a 6’6″ frame, and quick delivery, and you’ve got a surefire recipe for being a franchise QB.
Caliber: Top-5 Pick
Zach Wilson, BYU
Measurables/Experience: True Junior, 3 year starter, 6’2″, 210 lbs, 9 1/2″ Hands, 21.7 years old
Supporting Cast: 7/10 – Good receivers, ok running backs, elite offensive line *compared to average competition
Stats
| YEAR | GMS | YDS | TDS | INT | % | Y/A | RUSH |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 12 | 3692 | 33 | 3 | 73.5% | 11.0 | 254/10 |
| 2019 | 9 | 2382 | 11 | 9 | 62.4% | 6.9 | 167/3 |
| 2018 | 9 | 1578 | 12 | 3 | 65.9% | 9.2 | 221/2 |
Top Strengths
- Unparalleled delivery speed and beautiful throwing motion
- Throws a perfectly catchable ball
- Extremely accurate on the run
- Mahomes-esque ability to throw from any arm angle with elite accuracy
- Pushes the ball down field with pinpoint precision
- Reads the whole field and throws receivers open
- Very productive when under pressure
- Film junky and very coachable
- Top level arm strength to throw it 70+ yards
Top Weaknesses
- 2019 tape doesn’t look great
- Very low level of competition in 2020
- Can play hero ball and put his body on the line
Bottom Line:
Zach Wilson definitely has some red flags, such as the competition he played this past year and the 2019 tape, but he also looks the most like an Aaron Rodgers or Patrick Mahomes style of quarterbacks. Watching his film, pay close attention to his delivery speed, quality of his spiral, pinpoint placement on the numbers, and ability to throw off platform. These are traits that only elite NFL quarterbacks possess, and Wilson does it with regularity. As he’s likely to go to the Jets, consistent pressure could get to him and slow his develop like it did with Darnold. But Wilson is used to playing without elite talent around him, and despite having a great offensive line he was actually phenomenal when under pressure. There’s definitely some bust potential, but plenty of boom potential.
Caliber: Top-5 Pick
Tier 2
Justin Fields, Ohio State
Measurables/Experience: True Junior, 2 year starter, 6’3″, 225 lbs, 9 1/8″ Hands, 22.1 years old
Supporting Cast: 9/10 – Elite receivers, great running backs, great offensive line *compared to average competition
Stats
| YEAR | GMS | YDS | TDS | INT | % | Y/A | RUSH |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 8 | 2100 | 22 | 6 | 70.2% | 10.1 | 383/5 |
| 2019 | 14 | 3273 | 41 | 3 | 67.2% | 11.2 | 484/10 |
| 2018* | 12 | 328 | 4 | 0 | 69.2% | 10.5 | 266/4 |
*2018 at University of Georgia
Top Strengths
- Extremely tough and hard working
- Very good accuracy at all levels
- Big time arm strength to throw it 65 yards downfield or deliver a fastball
- Makes good reads and improved field vision in 2020
- Will be one of the most athletic QBs in the NFL
- Stands confidently in the pocket and isn’t too quick to scramble, despite his speed
- Strong frame which can take hits
- Proven winner
Top Weaknesses
- Had a very rough streak in 2020, culminating in the Indiana game
- Has had issues moving himself into pressure points of edge rushers
- Struggled at times against blitzes
- Eye manipulation is sub-par at best
Bottom Line:
Fields has the accuracy, arm strength, and football IQ to turn into a great NFL QB. While he could stand to improve his vision and anticipation before taking over a starting job, his arm talent and ability to shred the defense with his legs will help him get by early in his career. Fields has an exceptional frame for the position that will take some punishment, and he’s shown in the past to be as tough as they come. He’s a good leader and proven winner who will demand the respect of a locker room.
Caliber: Top-15 Pick
Mac Jones, Alabama
Measurables/Experience: Redshirt Junior, 1 year starter, 6’3″, 215 lbs, 9 3/4″ Hands, 22.6 years old
Supporting Cast: 10/10 – Elite receivers, elite running back, elite offensive line *compared to average competition
Stats
| YEAR | GMS | YDS | TDS | INT | % | Y/A | RUSH |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 13 | 4500 | 41 | 4 | 77.4% | 11.2 | 14/1 |
| 2019 | 11 | 1503 | 14 | 3 | 68.8% | 10.7 | 36/1 |
| 2018* | 6 | 123 | 1 | 0 | 38.5% | 11.0 | -8/0 |
Top Strengths
- Very high football IQ
- Elite mid level accuracy
- Absurd 77% completion rate in 2020
- Careful but not overly conservative approach to limit turnovers
- Beautiful spiral with a perfectly catchable spiral
- Develops great chemistry and has stellar ball placement to lead receivers
- Incredible all around production and a proven winner
Top Weaknesses
- Pocket elusiveness is subpar
- Inability to escape from the pocket
- Only 1 year as a starter
- Elite supporting cast made things relatively easy for him
Bottom Line:
Despite having played started less games than any other QB in the top 5, Mac Jones is as ready as any to play in the NFL thanks to his exceptional football IQ, competitiveness, and coaching at Alabama. He has as good, if not better, accuracy as Lawrence and Wilson, just with a little less maximum arm strength. He is very comfortable from a clean pocket and will rarely make the wrong decision. While his physical and athletic traits lower his ceiling somewhat, his accuracy and IQ are undeniable traits of a franchise QB.
Caliber: Top-15 Pick
Tier 3
Trey Lance, North Dakota State
Measurables/Experience: Redshirt Sophomore, 1 year starter*, 6’4″, 225 lbs, 9 1/8″ Hands, 20.9 years old
Supporting Cast: 10/10 – Great receivers, elite running backs, elite offensive line *compared to average competition
Stats
| YEAR | GMS | YDS | TDS | INT | % | Y/A | RUSH |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020* | 1 | 149 | 2 | 1 | 50.0% | 5.0 | 143/2 |
| 2019 | 16 | 2786 | 28 | 0 | 66.9% | 9.7 | 1100/14 |
| 2018 | 1 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 100% | 12.0 | 82/2 |
*Only 2020 game was in Fall, sat out the FCS spring season
Top Strengths
- 28TD-0INT ratio in 2019 is unheard of
- High caliber athlete with an elite frame
- Experienced reading the full field
- Has experience playing under center successfully
- Film junky with very high football IQ
- Easily escapes from the pocket
- Strong arm that can make any throw
Top Weaknesses
- Slow, looping delivery
- Only 1 full season as a starter
- Quite poor accuracy despite a decent completion percentage
- Elite supporting cast compared to his competition
- Footwork can be sloppy on short throws
Bottom Line:
Trey Lance is in a tier of his own because he is a classic boom-or-bust prospect. His looping arm motion and inconsistent ball placement are very concerning and will scare some teams off. But Lance has high level arm strength, elite athleticism, a great frame for the position, good football IQ, and reads defenses well enough to not make mistakes. His team at NDSU dominates the competition even more than Alabama does at the FBS level, so he was in an extremely friendly system. Even so, the arm talent and physical traits are undeniable. If he’s able to channel his inner Josh Allen and miraculously improve his accuracy, he could be a big time player. Where he lands will have a big impact on his development.
Caliber: 1st-2nd Round Pick
Tier 4
Kyle Trask, Florida
Measurables/Experience: Redshirt Senior, 2 year starter, 6’5″, 235 lbs, 10 1/8″ Hands, 23.1 years old
Supporting Cast: 8/10 – Elite receivers, good running backs, ok offensive line *compared to average competition
Stats
| YEAR | GMS | YDS | TDS | INT | % | Y/A | RUSH |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 12 | 4283 | 43 | 8 | 68.9% | 9.8 | 50/3 |
| 2019 | 12 | 2941 | 25 | 7 | 66.9% | 8.3 | 8/4 |
| 2018 | 3 | 162 | 1 | 0 | 63.6% | 7.4 | -4/1 |
Top Strengths
- Above average arm strength
- Very accurate deep balls, above average overall accuracy
- Incredible production in 2020
- Good frame for the position and can be hard to bring down with current QB protections
- Keeps eyes downfield even after escaping pocket
- Feels pressure well, giving him time to climb pocket
Top Weaknesses
- Below average mobility
- Footwork can get very sloppy
- A lot of system throws
- Throws too many soft lobs
- Looks very slow getting set in the pocket
Bottom Line:
Trask was dominate for most of 2020, and at one point was a Heisman favorite. He falls into a tier of his own because his lack of mobility, sloppy footwork, and system throws take him out of first round consideration. Still his frame, arm strength, and solid accuracy are enough to make him at worst a very solid backup, with plenty of potential to turn into a good starter in a quarterback friendly system. The narrative shifted in the Oklahoma game where he played poorly without his top targets, but that’s a bit unfair to Trask given he had to throw to receivers he didn’t have chemistry with. It’s also fair to note that the offensive line play and running game wasn’t up to par compared to the 5 teams above him. Even though he doesn’t have elite potential there is still plenty to like about Trask, and it’s hard to argue with all his production this past year.
Caliber: 2nd Round Pick
Tier 5
Davis Mills, Stanford
Measurables/Experience: Redshirt Junior, 2 year starter, 6’4″, 215 lbs, 9 1/2″ Hands, 22.5 years old
Supporting Cast: 4/10 – Ok receivers, ok running backs, ok offensive line *compared to average competition
Stats
| YEAR | GMS | YDS | TDS | INT | % | Y/A | RUSH |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 5 | 1508 | 7 | 3 | 66.2% | 7.7 | 37/3 |
| 2019 | 8 | 1960 | 11 | 5 | 65.9% | 8.1 | 44/0 |
| 2018 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0% | 0.0 | 5/0 |
Top Strengths
- Great frame for the position
- Strong arm and above average accuracy
- Very intelligent and a former 5-star recruit
- Smooth release and throws a very catchable ball
- Pro style offense has him regularly playing under center
- Advanced footwork and ability to square shoulders when throwing on the run
Top Weaknesses
- Only 11 career starts
- Dealt with a few nagging injuries
- Little production, especially in the red zone
- Limited mobility
- Can opt for overly safe throws on wide open receivers
Bottom Line:
Davis Mills went very quickly from being one of the most underrated players in the class to one of the most overrated, having gained so much hype that there were some rumblings that he could sneak into the first round. His production was subpar at Stanford, but the film looks solid. Aside from a decent group of receivers, he had little to work with and managed to still show his arm strength. While he’s technically a two year starter, he’s only started 11 games since taking over for KJ Costello in early 2019. The former 5 star recruit has great arm strength and accuracy, comes from a pro style offense, and has good footwork in the pocket. While he looks the part of an NFL QB, his mobility is below average and he can make some poor decisions.
Caliber: 3rd-4th Round Pick
Kellen Mond, Texas A&M
Measurables/Experience: True Senior, 4 year starter, 6’3″, 210 lbs, 9 3/8″ Hands, 21.8 years old
Supporting Cast: 7/10 – Good receivers, great running backs, great offensive line *compared to average competition
Stats
| YEAR | GMS | YDS | TDS | INT | % | Y/A | RUSH |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 10 | 2282 | 19 | 3 | 63.3% | 7.7 | 292/4 |
| 2019 | 13 | 2897 | 20 | 9 | 61.6% | 6.9 | 501/8 |
| 2018 | 13 | 3107 | 24 | 9 | 57.3% | 7.5 | 474/7 |
| 2017 | 10 | 1375 | 8 | 6 | 51.5% | 6.1 | 340/3 |
Top Strengths
- Very experienced, and a great leader
- Comfortable standing tall in the pocket or throwing on the run
- Fast in the open field and is able to hurt defenses with his legs
- Can throw from multiple arm angles
- Can throw fastballs when needed
- Game management looked much better in 2020
- Way fewer mistakes in 2020
Top Weaknesses
- Very poor accuracy outside the numbers
- Deliberate, “aiming” throwing style
- Plenty of overthrows on deep routes
- Inconsistent overall anticipation
- Fairly lean build
Bottom Line:
Kellen Mond is as experienced as anyone in the class, with very good athleticism and good enough arm strength to make plays in the NFL. The problem for him is some head scratching accuracy problems, which was extremely ugly in the LSU game. He has a pretty quick delivery and throws a good spiral, and he’s comfortable throwing from the pocket and sensing pressure without being too quick to scramble. If he can fix his inconsistent accuracy, he has the potential to develop into a decent starter.
Caliber: 3rd-4th Round Pick
Tier 6 – Best of the Rest
Jamie Newman, Wake Forest/Georgia
Measurables/Experience: Redshirt Senior, 1 1/2 year starter, 6’3″, 235 lbs, 9 3/4″ Hands, 23.3 years old
Supporting Cast: 4/10 – Very good receivers, sub-par running backs, ok offensive line *compared to average competition
Stats
| YEAR | GMS | YDS | TDS | INT | % | Y/A | RUSH |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020* | 0 | – | – | – | – | – | – |
| 2019 | 12 | 2868 | 26 | 11 | 60.9% | 7.9 | 574/6 |
| 2018 | 6 | 1083 | 9 | 4 | 59.6% | 7.7 | 247/4 |
| 2017 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 50.0% | 2.0 | 5/0 |
*2020 would have been played at the University of Georgia
Top Strengths
- Strong, NFL frame
- Throws a very catchable tight spiral
- Strong arm that can make any throw
- Good deep ball accuracy
- Has a quick delivery when needed
Top Weaknesses
- Below average anticipation
- Field vision is largely untested
- Decision making could be greatly improved
- Occasionally scary ball placement over the middle of the field
Bottom Line:
Jamie Newman originally transferred to Georgia for the 2020 season before sitting out due to COVID. Had he played and been coached in that system with its stellar offensive line and running backs, who knows where he’d be now. His production at Wake Forest in a year and a half was very solid, especially considering he didn’t have any talent around him other than Sage Surratt. Newman is the classic raw quarterback prospect. He has plenty of arm strength, decent accuracy, and a great frame, but he’s lacking in terms of field vision, anticipation, and decision making. If he gets in a situation where his talents can be developed, he has a very high ceiling. Of course there’s also the chance that he never gets to see the field. It all depends where he lands.
Caliber: 5th-6th Round Pick
Sam Ehlinger, Texas
Measurables/Experience: True Senior, 4 year starter, 6’1″, 220 lbs, 9 5/8″ Hands, 22.6 years old
Supporting Cast: 7/10 – Ok receivers, great running backs, very good offensive line *compared to average competition
Stats
| YEAR | GMS | YDS | TDS | INT | % | Y/A | RUSH |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 10 | 2566 | 26 | 5 | 60.2% | 8.0 | 377/8 |
| 2019 | 13 | 3663 | 32 | 10 | 65.2% | 8.1 | 663/7 |
| 2018 | 14 | 3292 | 25 | 5 | 64.7% | 7.7 | 482/16 |
| 2017 | 9 | 1915 | 11 | 7 | 57.5% | 7.0 | 381/2 |
Top Strengths
- Powerful frame and can take hits
- Determined leader with a high football IQ
- Decision making looked significantly better in 2020
- Above average athleticism and a strong runner
- Comfortable throwing from the pocket, footwork to escape
- Plenty of experience having started for 3 1/2 full seasons.
Top Weaknesses
- Takes too many sacks despite having a decent offensive line
- Restricted follow through which causes some accuracy issues
- Not elite arm strength
- Doesn’t always look through his progressions
- Slow, looping delivery
- Horrible deep throw accuracy
Bottom Line:
Ehlinger had a very solid start to his Texas career, but never really got them over the hump. His arm strength and accuracy is unremarkable, which is a problem if you expect him to be a standard NFL QB. Most of his success has come in underneath throws to a slot receiver, or taking advantage of his legs and strength to expose a weakness in the defense. While he has the athleticism and toughness to continue this in the NFL, improved DB talent will make it harder to do successfully. Teams will certainly like his mindset and overall approach to the game, but the slow delivery and average-at-best arm is holding him back.
Caliber: 6th-7th Round Pick
Shane Buechele, SMU
Measurables/Experience: Redshirt Senior, 4 year starter, 6’0″, 210 lbs, 9 3/8″ Hands, 23.3 years old
Supporting Cast: 6/10 – Ok receivers, very good running backs, very good offensive line *compared to average competition
Stats
| YEAR | GMS | YDS | TDS | INT | % | Y/A | RUSH |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 10 | 3095 | 23 | 6 | 65.4% | 8.4 | 105/2 |
| 2019 | 13 | 3929 | 34 | 10 | 62.7% | 8.0 | 105/2 |
| 2018* | 2 | 273 | 2 | 1 | 68.2% | 6.2 | 8/0 |
| 2017* | 9 | 1405 | 7 | 4 | 64.3% | 6.6 | 99/2 |
| 2016* | 12 | 2958 | 21 | 11 | 60.4% | 7.6 | 161/2 |
*2016-2018 played at University of Texas
Top Strengths
- High football IQ
- Very tough and well respected by his team
- Started 42 games in his career
- Above average accuracy on short and medium throws
- Good zip on his throws
- Very catchable spiral
- Able to throw off platform
- Works through his progressions well and makes good decisions
Top Weaknesses
- Very undersized by NFL standards
- Not great accuracy on deep balls
- Below average arm strength
- Lacks ideal athletic ability
- Has a bit of a wind-up and tips his release with a pump
- Will struggle to escape the pocket
Bottom Line:
Shane Buechele started as a highly touted prospect before being replaced by Ehlinger and transferring to SMU, where he had a great set of seasons. Buechele can’t throw super far, but he has good velocity on his throws and has a nice spiral that is ideal for short and mid routes. He has a very high football IQ, rarely makes mistakes, and has good accuracy inside of 30 yards. While his upside is too low to warrant a high draft pick, he could be a great late day 3 option for a team who wants a consistent and scrappy backup QB.
Caliber: 7th Round Pick – Priority FA
Feleipe Franks, Arkansas
Measurables/Experience: Redshirt Senior, 4 year starter, 6’7″, 235 lbs, 9 3/4″ Hands, 23.3 years old
Supporting Cast: 4/10 – Very good receivers, good running backs, sub-par offensive line *compared to average competition
Stats
| YEAR | GMS | YDS | TDS | INT | % | Y/A | RUSH |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 9 | 2107 | 17 | 4 | 68.5% | 8.9 | 204/1 |
| 2019* | 4 | 698 | 5 | 3 | 76.1% | 9.8 | 68/1 |
| 2018* | 13 | 2457 | 24 | 6 | 58.4% | 7.6 | 350/7 |
| 2017* | 11 | 1438 | 9 | 8 | 54.6% | 6.3 | 20/0 |
*2017-2019 played at the University of Florida
Top Strengths
- Very strong arm, can effortlessly throw 60+
- Tall and strong frame
- Good velocity on his throws
- Surprisingly good athleticism
- Solid touch on his deep passes
- Improved accuracy in 2020
Top Weaknesses
- Very slow to read defenses
- Indecisiveness has led to many sacks
- Underneath accuracy is average at best
- Relied heavily on screen passes
- Can appear nervous in the pocket
- Stares down his target
Bottom Line:
Feleipe Franks was a five star recruit out of high school who had big aspirations with the Florida Gators. After being injured and replaced by Kyle Trask in 2019, he started for Arkansas in 2020 and saw some improved decision making despite regression of surrounding talent. Franks will be a day 3 pick with a lot of upside, as he sports a 6’7″ 235 pound frame and one of the strongest arms in the class. He certainly looks the part, but the mental game has always been the issue for him. Inconsistent reads, staring down receivers, and indecisiveness really slowed him down at Florida.
Caliber: 7th Round Pick – Priority FA
Other notable QBs: Ian Book, Notre Dame; Peyton Ramsey, Northwestern; KJ Costello, Mississippi State; Brady White, Memphis
Comparative Stats
Note: 2019 stats are shown for Trey Lance and Jamie Newman as they played 1 and 0 games respectively in 2020.
The fun thing about quarterbacks is that one great pick can completely alter the course of a franchise. Hit on a Tom Brady in the 6th round, and you’re a legend. Trade multiple first round picks to take Mitch Trubisky over Pat Mahomes, and you’re the villain. With all the scouting that we do, you never know for sure who will and won’t succeed.
The most important part is – This class features above average talent at the top, and way more potential suitors than normal. Anything can happen, and it’s our job to have a seat and buckle in. Because it’s going to be a fun draft season.
