Given the dearth of talent at the quarterback position around the NFL these days, the 2019 NFL Draft figures to see some top passers go very early.
With that in mind, let’s dive into this year’s class of quarterbacks. Here, we rank the top-10 2019 NFL Draft quarterbacks.
10. Gardner Minshew, Washington State
Minshew came out of nowhere as a graduate transfer last year for the Cougars. Putting together one of the best seasons of any quarterback in college football, he kept Washington State relevant all year long and became a national icon.
Unfortunately, Minshew’s outstanding 2018 season was largely a result of being the perfect fit for Mike Leach’s funky offense. He has very average arm strength, isn’t particularly athletic, and put into a pro-style offense at the Senior Bowl he struggled mightily.
9. Jarrett Stidham, Auburn
Heading into 2018, Stidham was highly regarded and many thought he could be a dark horse Heisman candidate due to the way he finished his 2017 campaign. Unfortunately, his 2018 season was brutal. He barely completed 60 percent of his passes, threw just 18 touchdowns, and led an Auburn offense that mostly could never get out of its own way.
There’s a chance that Stidham might one day develop into an NFL starter. Yet after watching his college career fizzle out the way it did, I’m skeptical.
8. Brett Rypien, Boise State
Coming off a stellar senior season at Boise State, Rypien has a real chance to stick to an NFL roster as a rookie. He completed 67.3 percent of his passes and threw 30 touchdowns with just seven interceptions.
The problem is that Rypien isn’t very big (weighed just three pounds more than Kyler Murray), isn’t mobile, and has a pedestrian arm. So, his NFL career will almost certainly be spent as a backup.
7. Tyree Jackson, Buffalo
In terms of potential, Jackson is an extremely enticing prospect. He’s huge, at 6-foot-7 and 249 pounds, yet he is also very fast (4.59-second 40) and has an absolute rocket launcher for an arm (check out this pass).
Yet there is no doubt Jackson is a project. He’s not going to be lining up under center at the NFL level for a while, barring an incredible emergency. The big issue he has is that his decision making and accuracy leave much to be desired. Yet if a team can hammer some mechanical fundamentals into him he could become incredible in time.
6. Ryan Finley, NC State
Before the 2018 season, many in the draftnik community pegged Finley as a sleeper top quarterback in the 2019 NFL Draft class. That never came to fruition, yet he’s still a talented quarterback who might have a bright future in the NFL if he lands in the right spot.
The most impressive aspect of Finley’s game is that he got better every year at NC State. A three-year starter, he capped off his career with the Wolfpack by completing 67.4 percent of his passes for nearly 4,000 yards with 25 touchdowns in 2018.
5. Daniel Jones, Duke
A lot of people are very high on Jones, who is an extremely athletic quarterback in the mold of Ryan Tannehill. The Duke product has prototypical size (6-foot-5 and 221 pounds at the combine) and a combination of speed and arm talent teams will covet.
His surrounding talent at Duke didn’t really give Jones a chance to put up big-time numbers. So it’s not hard to imagine he’ll thrive given a better cast of skill-position teammates. Yet watching him at Duke, at the Senior Bowl, and then during the pre-draft process, I can’t get too excited about his game overall.
4. Drew Lock, Missouri
Big kid with a big arm and lots of experience. Lock was a four-year starter at Missouri and faced tons of tough competition in the SEC. He broke out with a monster 2017 campaign, passing for 3,964 yards with 44 touchdowns.
So, clearly he has the ability to make big plays with his arm. The big question I have about him is whether he has the type of consistent accuracy that will lead to sustained success at the next level.
3. Will Grier, West Virginia
Admittedly, I’m much higher on Grier than many who cover the NFL draft for a living. I just cannot get over this kid’s feathery touch on precision passes, and on top of that he’s a fiery leader who brings a ton of passion to every play he’s involved in.
We recently broke down Grier’s game in some detail, and it’s clear he is an elite passer. Yet if you believe most big boards prominent online, some team is going to land Grier in Round 2, or later.
2. Dwayne Haskins, Ohio State
A prototypical pocket passer who can make every throw, Haskins will be selected very early in the first round. Teams that prefer a quarterback who isn’t looking to scramble are going to be fighting each other in trade-up scenarios, especially if Kyler Murray goes No. 1 overall.
Haskins put up record-breaking passing stats last year at Ohio State and showed up big in big moments for the Buckeyes. He is also highly intelligent and reportedly impressed during combine interviews.
1. Kyler Murray, Oklahoma
I’m all aboard the Kyler Murray train. This young man is faster than Russell Wilson, has a cannon for an arm, is comfortable in the pocket, can escape pressure faster than anyone I’ve ever seen, and is very accurate.
These traits, combined with the fact that he’ll almost certainly be drafted by a team that won’t try to squeeze this square peg into a round hole, make be believe Murray will be an incredible pro quarterback.