How NFL teams evaluate transfer QBs is changing with the times

INDIANAPOLIS — Joe Flacco spent two seasons at Pittsburgh however was trapped on the depth chart. As a substitute of ready behind starter Tyler Palko for 2 extra years, Flacco transferred to Delaware. There, he finally led the Blue Hens to the FCS nationwide title sport and later turned a first-round choice.

Flacco’s path to the NFL Draft was the exception in 2008. Of the six NFL quarterbacks drafted that spring, solely Flacco was a university switch. On the 2008 NFL Scouting Mix, three of the primary 4 questions Flacco acquired revolved round his switch from Pittsburgh. One was about why he transferred, one was about why he picked Delaware and one other was about Palko.

A lot has modified within the final 16 years. Of the 14 quarterbacks attending this 12 months’s mix, 9 transferred as soon as and two transferred twice. Solely three of these 14 quarterbacks stayed with the identical college — and all three left at the least one 12 months of eligibility on the desk.

In 2024, did their transfers matter to basic managers? Coaches? Media? Not practically as a lot as they did 16 years in the past.

“Possibly after I got here out, in earlier years earlier than the principles being what they’re now in faculty soccer, you’ll actually wish to consider that,” stated Minnesota Vikings coach and former NFL quarterback Kevin O’Connell, a third-round decide in 2008. “However I believe every particular person participant now, they should be form of evaluated and judged on their very own.”

Flacco’s causes for transferring have been clear. On this 12 months’s class, the problems have been comparable for some quarterbacks, with taking part in time a core concern. Others had totally different motives, whether or not it was coaches leaving or simply wanting a brand new begin.

For some, there was apprehension. At USC, Kedon Slovis had a powerful true freshman season in 2019 and began for the Trojans for 3 seasons. Then he left for Pittsburgh, then BYU earlier than declaring for the draft.

“I by no means needed to be the man that transferred twice, and right here I’m the man that transferred twice,” Slovis stated. “I believe most groups simply needed to know why.

“For me, it’s my coach (Clay Helton) received fired at USC in Week 2 of the (2021) season; it’s fairly simple to clarify that. Then the tougher one was the Pittsburgh scenario, as a result of that was extra my choice to switch. I believe when you clarify all of it, it makes plenty of sense and nobody’s actually had an entire lot of follow-up inquiries to it.”

The final two Heisman Trophy winners — LSU’s Jayden Daniels and USC’s Caleb Williams — left Arizona State and Oklahoma, respectively, earlier than successful faculty soccer’s most coveted particular person award. They appeared on the similar podium an hour aside on Friday. Save for a query directed at Daniels, the switch challenge was left alone.

“After I transferred, I simply needed the chance to compete towards the most effective,” Daniels stated. “Having that chance to only go on the market and get higher each day.”

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The amount of transfers creates extra work for NFL scouts, coaches and directors, Las Vegas Raiders basic supervisor Tom Telesco stated this week. But it surely’s not an issue, both.

“You simply must cope with it,” Telesco stated. “If this was 15, 20 years in the past, generally (it was) a little bit bit extra of a purple flag. It actually isn’t anymore.

“It does take us a little bit bit extra time as we do our background analysis, as a result of you must go to a number of colleges, speak to a number of scouts. It takes a little bit additional time to place it collectively, however I don’t see that as a purple flag for teenagers transferring.”

Some quarterbacks simply wanted a change, and their transfer put them in place for fulfillment. 4 of the highest 5 on this 12 months’s Heisman Trophy balloting have been switch quarterbacks: Daniels, runner-up Michael Penix Jr. (Indiana to Washington), third-place Bo Nix (Auburn to Oregon) and fifth-place Jordan Travis (Louisville to Florida State).

All 5 quarterbacks improved dramatically after leaving their earlier colleges. Nix averaged 13 landing passes, 5 interceptions and a 59.4 completion share in three beginning seasons at Auburn. In 2023 alone, he set the NCAA single-season completion share document (77.45), threw for 4,508 yards, 45 touchdowns and solely three interceptions.

“It simply put every part collectively,” Nix stated of transferring. “It supplied me with some freedoms and a few possibilities. — some alternatives later in my profession that I didn’t have earlier. We have been capable of be very versatile, get the ball all over the place, play beneath middle, shotgun, play motion, RPOs, do all of it at a excessive stage.”

Penix had some excessive moments at Indiana, however inconsistency and accidents held him again. Within the COVID-shortened 2020 season, Penix guided the Hoosiers to a 6-1 regular-season document with 14 landing throws however accomplished simply 56.4 p.c of his passes. Final 12 months at Washington, Penix threw for 4,903 yards and accomplished 65.4 p.c.

“I wasn’t capable of be on the sector quite a bit, even within the offseason,” Penix stated. “I wasn’t capable of do offseason exercises most of my profession. So at Washington, clearly, I did discover plenty of success, however I used to be capable of keep on the sector.”

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Sam Hartman spent 5 years at Wake Forest however needed to check himself and transferred to Notre Dame. He had nothing however reward for each locations, however attending to compete in a pro-style offense with a pro-style cadence for a season helped Hartman put together for conferences with professional evaluators.

“Wake developed me a lot,” Hartman stated. “For 5 years they stood by me, and coach (Dave) Clawson and coach (Warren) Ruggiero have been simply unbelievable for me. My teammates there have been superior. I received the chance with the COVID and the redshirt to form of discover.”

With as a lot variance for every switch, evaluators desire to know the person causes fairly than overanalyze all the group.

“Evaluating this man to this man based mostly on their journeys,” Telesco stated, “you’ve received to activate the tape, you’ve received to see what they’re as a participant, you’ve received to spend time in-person, you’ve received to get on the grass with these guys, and also you’ve received to make a person choice. However I don’t imagine it’s honest with the place faculty soccer has gone to essentially apply the ‘why’ behind guys doing sure issues.

“We’ll clearly examine it, possibly ask the questions which will result in some follow-up data we have to get, however I don’t suppose it’s very related at this level.”

(High photograph of Jayden Daniels: Trevor Ruszkowski / USA At present)