Whereas a quarterback prospect’s resume is usually constructed over years of faculty motion, groups look underneath the microscope for nearer inspection on the NFL Scouting Mix. They already know attributes of the signal-callers, and now search to reply any questions on them.
Shedeur Sanders is answering questions on the NFL Mix this week – by way of interviews, that’s, not in the way in which he throws passes.
After all, the true reply about every NFL Draft prospect is a good distance off. However it’s straightforward for groups to wish to be taught increasingly from over 325 prospects on the NFL Mix, a lot of whom they’ll place giant investments upon and, within the case of some quarterbacks, ask to turn out to be franchise cornerstones.
Whereas Saturday will once more be prime time for the annual showcase at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, with the quarterbacks going by way of on-field testing and drills, Coach Prime’s son will skip that portion of the NFL Mix. The thought course of is there’s extra for the Colorado QB to lose than achieve in draft inventory.
Cam Ward of Miami (FL) is the opposite prime quarterback prospect within the draft class – like Sanders, his eye locked on being the No. 1 general decide. He’s one other signal-caller who might resolve at any time how throwing to receivers he hasn’t labored with beforehand is just too huge a threat.
Sooner or later, all 15 quarterbacks on the NFL Mix should reply a significant query about their ability set. About two-thirds of them look like Day 1 or 2 prospects within the 2025 NFL Draft, to be held April 24-26 in Inexperienced Bay, Wisconsin.
MORE ON THE ANALYST
Shedeur Sanders, Colorado
Can he launch the ball faster underneath strain?
That is as huge a deal because it will get amongst quarterbacks within the draft class after Sanders tied for the FBS excessive in sacks (52) in his 2023 season, then ranked No. 1 (42) in 2024. In his closing season, it additionally meant being essentially the most susceptible to taking a “lengthy sack” when the strain was 2.5 seconds or extra. Among the many NFL Mix QBs, his 8.1% sack/drop-back charge was by far the worst.
The sack drawback wasn’t new at Colorado, however a minimum of he confirmed enchancment throughout two seasons taking part in on the FCS degree at Jackson State, underneath his father/coach Deion Sanders. The 2021 Jerry Rice Award recipient (FCS freshman participant of the 12 months) lowered his 35 sacks towards 413 go makes an attempt in 2021 to 23 sacks towards 488 go makes an attempt in 2022.
Cam Ward, Miami
Does the out-of-structure success translate to the subsequent degree?
Ward, who preceded Sanders to the Rice Award in his 2020 season at UIW, stayed within the construction of the offense greater than anticipated final season at Miami (77.2%), however he additionally threw for an FBS-leading 39 landing passes and the second-most yards (4,313) by being aggressive, if not harmful to a fault, out of construction.
It included 8.86 yards per keep it up scrambles and the Eleventh-best catchable charge out of design with a ten.1 ADOT (common depth of goal) on these throws. That combo was the perfect of any FBS participant with 50 or extra such throws.
Jaxson Dart, Mississippi
What’s he outdoors of Kiffin’s offensive system?
Whereas well-traveled Ole Miss coach Lane Kiffin has constantly churned out high quality faculty offenses (eight top-16 offenses since 2014), his 2016 Alabama season with Jalen Hurts (as offensive coordinator) marks his solely expertise with a QB who went on to be a bona fide NFL starter.
Consequently, it’s straightforward to query the restrict on Dart’s playmaking potential and whether or not his faculty profession was scheme-dependent. Mirroring his profession, he tied for the sixth-most RPO go makes an attempt and had the second-highest ADOT on dropback ideas within the FBS final season.
He seemingly might want to excel in a greater variety of how to be a profitable NFL quarterback.
Dillon Gabriel, Oregon
Can he push the ball down the sector constantly?
Gabriel’s third-place end within the 2024 Heisman Trophy voting was the very best amongst quarterbacks, however his 6-foot, 200-pound measurement is the smallest amongst NFL Mix signal-callers and final 12 months’s 6.9 ADOT the bottom within the group.
Additionally among the many occasion’s QBs, the left-hander’s 69.6% catchable charge was the second greatest on 20+ throws, however he had the very best open goal charge on 20+ (71.7%, just one different QB was above 59%) – which suggests straightforward downfield throws.
Even together with his savvy fashion of play, such spacing can’t be anticipated down the sector on the subsequent degree.
Quinn Ewers, Texas
Can he shield the ball?
Ewers’ 12 interceptions final season matched his mixed 2022 and ’23 whole, and it occurred with 35.5% fewer go makes an attempt (445 in 2024 to the mixed 690). His pickable go charge of 9.38% on throws 5+ yards downfield was the second worst within the NFL Mix QB group and the seventh worst of all FBS QBs with a minimum of 100 such throws.
The one NFL QBs this previous season with greater pickable charges on such passes have been Tennessee’s Will Levis, Indianapolis’ Anthony Richardson and Cleveland’s Jameis Winston.
Kyle McCord, Syracuse
What occurs in an ordinary drop-back offense?
McCord was the lone FBS QB with extra passing yards than Ward (4,779), usually the results of a quick-release system. Over 67% of his true makes an attempt have been screens, RPOs and quick-game throws (solely 4 different mix QBs have been over 50%). On all different throws, McCord was the very best within the FBS draft class in pickable go charge (8.89%) and the fourth worst in catchable go charge (64.4%).
He’ll want to enhance in these areas; in any other case NFL groups will make him pay when he will get into pass-heavy conditions.
Jalen Milroe, Alabama
How does it work out if he isn’t a major ball service?
Milroe began all 13 Alabama video games final season, however wound up solely 69th within the FBS in go makes an attempt, which was partly the results of the Crimson Tide making the most of his efficient working. Whereas ending with 20 touchdowns on the bottom, he had the third-most designed carries (119) and ranked 14th in yards per carry (6.01) on them.
Solely 4 NFL QBs had 60+ designed carries in 2024.
Riley Leonard, Notre Dame
Has he hit his ceiling or is there extra potential to faucet?
Leonard profiles a bit like Milroe. A lot of his success was run-generated (sixth amongst FBS QBs with 906 rush yards final season), and whereas he additionally comes from a blueblood program, his solely different full season as a starter earlier than 2024 was at Duke two years earlier.
Just like Milroe, Leonard had the fifth-most designed carries (116) and was seventeenth in YPC (5.64) on them.
Tyler Shough, Louisville
Is age only a quantity?
The 6-5, 225-pound measurement screams prototypical for the subsequent degree, and final season’s 78.8% catchable charge and 1.5% interception charge are boldfaced on his resume. However solely 4 different drafted quarterbacks have been older in the course of the widespread draft period (since 1967), as Shough’s age can be 25 years, 208 days when the draft opens.
In contrast to these different 4 quarterbacks, Shough performed in six collegiate seasons (5 mixed at Oregon and Texas Tech earlier than Louisville).
Will Howard, Ohio State
How does he separate himself from the pack?
Being the beginning QB on the Buckeyes’ 2024 nationwide champions is an efficient technique to reply that query, however NFL groups are nonetheless deciding on Howard’s arm expertise.
Howard is correct in comparison with different NFL Mix QBs (82.4% nicely thrown, 82.4% catchable), however he additionally posted an unimpressive ADOT (8.3) final season. Whereas missing the massive play upside vertically, he was additionally subpar as a runner (3.53 yards per keep it up designed runs and three.68 on scrambles).
Different Quarterbacks at NFL Mix
Max Brosmer, Minnesota
Brady Cook dinner, Missouri
Seth Henigan, Memphis
Graham Mertz, Florida
Kurtis Rourke, Indiana
For rather more protection, comply with our social accounts on X, Threads, Bluesky and Fb.
