Post by Purple Pain on May 3, 2024 9:48:03 GMT -6
Just in case we pull a Falcons and double-dip...
JK. But why not look ahead to the most important position in sports, just for the heck of it? If nothing else, this is for those who wanted to keep Kirk and draft a QBOTF a bit later. Ah, yes. We can always make it about Kirk, can't we Vikings fans?!
PFF: 10 quarterbacks to know ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft
JK. But why not look ahead to the most important position in sports, just for the heck of it? If nothing else, this is for those who wanted to keep Kirk and draft a QBOTF a bit later. Ah, yes. We can always make it about Kirk, can't we Vikings fans?!
PFF: 10 quarterbacks to know ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft
CARSON BECK, GEORGIA
Beck isn’t the kind of slam-dunk prospect Caleb Williams was last summer, but he should still be seen as the early QB1 favorite ahead of 2025. He’s a signal-caller with precise accuracy and timing, placing in the top five of the FBS in both adjusted completion rate and average time to throw. His 91.5 overall grade ranked fourth among all quarterbacks in the country last season.
SHEDEUER SANDERS, COLORADO
Sanders is an advanced processor who earned the country's third-best clean pocket passing grade (92.9) this past season. The only two who posted better marks were the first two picks in 2024: Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels.
Sanders kept the ball out of harm’s way, too, as his 1.6% turnover-worthy play rate ranked fourth among all FBS signal-callers.
QUINN EWERS, TEXAS
Ewers still has a ways to go, but he improved dramatically in 2023. He cut his turnover-worthy play rate by more than half (1.7% in 2023 compared to 3.6% in 2022) and upgraded his passing grade to 85.6 after earning just a 70.9 passing grade as a redshirt freshman.
The Texas quarterback has a live arm but will need to carry more of the offense next season, as the Longhorns lost Xavier Worthy, Adonai Mitchell, Jonathon Brooks, Ja’Tavion Sanders and Jordan Whittington to the NFL ranks.
JALEN MILROE, ALABAMA
The redshirt sophomore recorded a 9.2% big-time throw rate in 2023, the second-best mark in the nation, while his 35 runs of 10-plus yards were fourth among FBS quarterbacks. Milroe’s 96.9 passing grade on deep throws trailed only Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels among the country’s signal-callers, as well.
He needs to speed up his internal clock and be more consistent in the intermediate range, but the arrival of head coach Kalen DeBoer could do wonders for his development.
DREW ALLAR, PENN STATE
Many were disappointed by Allar’s box-score stats this past season, but those numbers won’t tell you how hamstrung he was by his receivers and playcalling. Despite so much working against him, Allar’s 86.3 grade was still a top-20 mark among all quarterbacks in the nation. He took care of the football at an elite rate, as his 1.1% turnover-worthy play rate trailed only Bo Nix among FBS signal-callers.
The surrounding talent is still a concern, but the arrival of new offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki should allow Allar to utilize his outstanding arm talent even more as a junior.
CONNER WEIGMAN, TEXAS A&M
Weigman got off to a rapid start to his sophomore season, earning a 91.9 grade through the first four games. Unfortunately, that’s all we saw from the former five-star recruit, as he suffered a season-ending foot injury in Week 4.
The Aggies passer has a good arm but an inconsistent follow-through right now. If he can build off the few games we saw in 2023, he can be a dark-horse QB1 candidate next April.
DILLON GABRIEL, OREGON
Gabriel’s 91.9 PFF grade trailed only Jayden Daniels and Bo Nix among FBS quarterbacks last season. The former Oklahoma quarterback is an experienced signal-caller with the wisdom to keep the ball out of harm’s way, as his 2.0% turnover-worthy play rate during his two seasons with the Sooners stands third among returning FBS quarterbacks in that span.
A lot like Jordan Travis in this past draft, Gabriel is an excellent collegiate quarterback whose below-average traits will likely make him a backup in the NFL.
JAXSON DART, OLE MISS
Dart took a major leap from his sophomore to junior year, improving his passing grade by more than 13 points (75.2 in 2022 to 88.7 in 2023). A major reason for that jump was the significant stride he made when forced outside of the pocket. In 2022, he posted just a 42.8 passing grade outside the pocket, 111th among FBS quarterbacks. Dart improved that mark to 74.6 this past season, 15th in the nation.
Overall, his 91.2 grade was tied for sixth among all signal-callers in the country. The question will be how much he was elevated in Lane Kiffin’s RPO/play-action-heavy offense. On plays without an RPO or play-action, Dart recorded as many turnover-worthy plays (six) as big-time throws. Still, he should be one of the top Heisman contenders next year and could launch up draft boards.
RILEY LEONARD, NOTRE DAME
The former Duke signal-caller will replace Sam Hartman at Notre Dame this upcoming season. He can create big plays with his arm by pushing the ball vertically and with his legs. Since 2022, Leonard’s 1,164 rushing yards are eighth among Power Five quarterbacks. He still has work to do in terms of accuracy, though, and he has earned sub-70.0 passing grades in each of the past two seasons.
CAMERON WARD, MIAMI (FL)
Ward’s tape is truly a roller coaster. The former Washington State quarterback has ridiculous arm talent that allows him to make throws that very few in college football are capable of making. Ward’s 24 big-time throws were tied for eighth in the Power Five. However, he’s far too careless with the football. Since 2022, his 42 turnover-worthy plays are the most among Power Five quarterbacks. He has the talent to go in the first round but will need to rein it in to get there.
Beck isn’t the kind of slam-dunk prospect Caleb Williams was last summer, but he should still be seen as the early QB1 favorite ahead of 2025. He’s a signal-caller with precise accuracy and timing, placing in the top five of the FBS in both adjusted completion rate and average time to throw. His 91.5 overall grade ranked fourth among all quarterbacks in the country last season.
SHEDEUER SANDERS, COLORADO
Sanders is an advanced processor who earned the country's third-best clean pocket passing grade (92.9) this past season. The only two who posted better marks were the first two picks in 2024: Caleb Williams and Jayden Daniels.
Sanders kept the ball out of harm’s way, too, as his 1.6% turnover-worthy play rate ranked fourth among all FBS signal-callers.
QUINN EWERS, TEXAS
Ewers still has a ways to go, but he improved dramatically in 2023. He cut his turnover-worthy play rate by more than half (1.7% in 2023 compared to 3.6% in 2022) and upgraded his passing grade to 85.6 after earning just a 70.9 passing grade as a redshirt freshman.
The Texas quarterback has a live arm but will need to carry more of the offense next season, as the Longhorns lost Xavier Worthy, Adonai Mitchell, Jonathon Brooks, Ja’Tavion Sanders and Jordan Whittington to the NFL ranks.
JALEN MILROE, ALABAMA
The redshirt sophomore recorded a 9.2% big-time throw rate in 2023, the second-best mark in the nation, while his 35 runs of 10-plus yards were fourth among FBS quarterbacks. Milroe’s 96.9 passing grade on deep throws trailed only Heisman Trophy winner Jayden Daniels among the country’s signal-callers, as well.
He needs to speed up his internal clock and be more consistent in the intermediate range, but the arrival of head coach Kalen DeBoer could do wonders for his development.
DREW ALLAR, PENN STATE
Many were disappointed by Allar’s box-score stats this past season, but those numbers won’t tell you how hamstrung he was by his receivers and playcalling. Despite so much working against him, Allar’s 86.3 grade was still a top-20 mark among all quarterbacks in the nation. He took care of the football at an elite rate, as his 1.1% turnover-worthy play rate trailed only Bo Nix among FBS signal-callers.
The surrounding talent is still a concern, but the arrival of new offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki should allow Allar to utilize his outstanding arm talent even more as a junior.
CONNER WEIGMAN, TEXAS A&M
Weigman got off to a rapid start to his sophomore season, earning a 91.9 grade through the first four games. Unfortunately, that’s all we saw from the former five-star recruit, as he suffered a season-ending foot injury in Week 4.
The Aggies passer has a good arm but an inconsistent follow-through right now. If he can build off the few games we saw in 2023, he can be a dark-horse QB1 candidate next April.
DILLON GABRIEL, OREGON
Gabriel’s 91.9 PFF grade trailed only Jayden Daniels and Bo Nix among FBS quarterbacks last season. The former Oklahoma quarterback is an experienced signal-caller with the wisdom to keep the ball out of harm’s way, as his 2.0% turnover-worthy play rate during his two seasons with the Sooners stands third among returning FBS quarterbacks in that span.
A lot like Jordan Travis in this past draft, Gabriel is an excellent collegiate quarterback whose below-average traits will likely make him a backup in the NFL.
JAXSON DART, OLE MISS
Dart took a major leap from his sophomore to junior year, improving his passing grade by more than 13 points (75.2 in 2022 to 88.7 in 2023). A major reason for that jump was the significant stride he made when forced outside of the pocket. In 2022, he posted just a 42.8 passing grade outside the pocket, 111th among FBS quarterbacks. Dart improved that mark to 74.6 this past season, 15th in the nation.
Overall, his 91.2 grade was tied for sixth among all signal-callers in the country. The question will be how much he was elevated in Lane Kiffin’s RPO/play-action-heavy offense. On plays without an RPO or play-action, Dart recorded as many turnover-worthy plays (six) as big-time throws. Still, he should be one of the top Heisman contenders next year and could launch up draft boards.
RILEY LEONARD, NOTRE DAME
The former Duke signal-caller will replace Sam Hartman at Notre Dame this upcoming season. He can create big plays with his arm by pushing the ball vertically and with his legs. Since 2022, Leonard’s 1,164 rushing yards are eighth among Power Five quarterbacks. He still has work to do in terms of accuracy, though, and he has earned sub-70.0 passing grades in each of the past two seasons.
CAMERON WARD, MIAMI (FL)
Ward’s tape is truly a roller coaster. The former Washington State quarterback has ridiculous arm talent that allows him to make throws that very few in college football are capable of making. Ward’s 24 big-time throws were tied for eighth in the Power Five. However, he’s far too careless with the football. Since 2022, his 42 turnover-worthy plays are the most among Power Five quarterbacks. He has the talent to go in the first round but will need to rein it in to get there.
... and neither is this Chris guy.