Name:
Cam Ward
Position:
Quarterback
Film grade:
93rd percentile (QB1)
Archetype & Tier:
Tier A -- High-end prospect with immediate starter potential
Realm or Range comparison:
Within the range of Lamar Jackson as a passer & Jay Cutler
Film Evaluation:
Going back to his days at Incarnate Word & then Washington State it was evident that Ward had unique traits in terms of the velocity he creates from various delivery angles. The precision aspect he shows as a passer in terms of layering throws & changing tempo based on the situation is impressive. Overall, as a passer he is close to Lamar Jackson with how dextrous he is when creating solutions with his arm.
Ward's play strength & escapability are other noteworthy traits. "Creative" is a word I wrote down frequently, which is both a blessing and a curse for him. Where Ward can struggle is when he tries to "hunt" for explosives with his never-say-die demeanor - this is where the Jay Cutler part of his game shows up. Confidence is good, but confidence can kill drives..
If he can learn to play scheme sound football & use his high-end traits when a down calls upon he can become a Top 12 Quarterback in the league.
Name:
Jalen Milroe
Position:
Quarterback
Film grade:
77th percentile (QB2)
Tier & Archetype:
Tier B -- Starting caliber talent with one or two developmental areas that will make or break career status.
Realm or Range comparison:
Within the range of Jalen Hurts & Malik Willis
Film Evaluation:
The best pure-runner I have ever evaluated at the Quarterback position. Provides an extremely unique element to an offense with how much more effective he immediately makes any rushing attack. Operates designed runs with efficiency & reads the end with consistency on zone read concepts. Similar success as as scrambler - can take it to the house on any given play, while being smart about taking hard contact. Skilled mover with abrupt start/stop mechanics - can easily use his play strength to get through smaller defenders & capabilities in initial to early acceleration to run by backers.
As a passer, he is not as far behind as you may think. Similar problem to Indianapolis Colts Quarterback, Anthony Richardson - ball placement. Sound decision-maker, who appears to understand coverages and where to go with the football down to down. It’s the bigger piece in terms of placement that he struggles with - mainly in the intermediate areas of the field. This is a product of inconsistent footwork - this shows up prevalently on the run. As a downfield passer, he exhibits sound touch & control on deeper patterns.
At times, he can be sporadic in both his avoidance & sense of pressure. Can miss-step into sacks/pressure - if we are being honest, the Alabama offensive-line & skill players (outside of Ryan Williams) did him no favors.
Has a calm about him & a demeanor that commands work out of the other ten guys he's in the huddle with. Wouldn't be surprised if he makes a higher-end impact like Jalen Hurts or ends up being an upper-tier backup/bridge starter like Malik Willis.
Name:
Shedeur Sanders
Position:
Quarterback
Film grade:
69th percentile (QB3)
Tier & Archetype:
Tier B -- Starting caliber talent with one or two developmental areas that will make or break career status.
Realm or Range comparison:
Within the range of Derek Carr & Mac Jones
Film Evaluation:
With Sanders there is a lot of noise surrounding his physical capabilities, some is warranted while some is just.. noise & strong perception of nepotism. What Sanders does at a high-enough level to make him a first rounder, starts with operation. His ability to operate a system, make sure everyone is in the right place, and the ball is going where it needs to. Now, getting the ball out ON TIME is something Sanders can struggle with partly due to the pressure he faced while the other part is his own doing. 26% of sacks were credited to Sanders, which is the highest rate amongst Quarterbacks in this cycle. He creates his own pressure, more often than you would like to see.
On the flip side, when not pressured, he has the highest completion percentage of any Quarterback in this group & operates with precision when trailing in close games. When trailing or leading by 7 points he completed 76% of his passes while throwing only 1 interception on 164 attempts, adding 18 touchdowns.
His ability to evade pressure is good, not great and there as times he passes up the “easy” for the “big.” Average to slightly below athletic traits.
Archetypically, he profiles as a system-operator similar to Derek Carr. Not a huge arm, but good enough to spray the ball around multiple quadrants without issue.
Likely a serviceable starter who will rely on being the surgeon of his system with the playmakers elevating the offense after the catch. His high-end moments are timing & operation based unlike others in this class like Ward, Milroe, Dart who can create explosives out of structure with better consistency.
Name:
Jaxson Dart
Position:
Quarterback
Film grade:
64th percentile (QB4)
Tier & Archetype:
Tier B -- Starting caliber talent with one or two developmental areas that will make or break career status.
Realm or Range comparison:
Within the range of Jordan Love & Drew Lock
Film Evaluation:
Big game hunter. Thrives on level three patterns when they are his first read. Led college football in average depth of attempt & big time throw rate under pressure - you can feel this on his tape as well. Maybe the best deep ball passer in the class, who displays higher-level touch & tempo on third-level patterns. Isn't afraid to stand in & deliver under pressure - takes hard contact wile still getting the ball out on time.
Surprised by the number of designed runs on his tape. Average athlete from an explosiveness perspective who can buy time, but won’t be able to create against NFL caliber backers & collapsing edge rushers. Has the physicality & want to - just needs to know when to use it.
The downside of Dart is the precision aspect of his game which is on a lower tier than both Ward & Sanders. Similar to Drew Lock coming out of Missouri in this respect. Not as surgical as you would like your franchise Quarterback, however if you can get Dart to play progression-based football he can thrive. The ball placement on both MOF concepts as well as boundary patterns is sound, again he can pass up the "easy" for the "big" if the option is on the table.
Can be a starter in the league, just needs to sit & learn for a season or two. Could follow a similar developmental path to Jordan Love of Green Bay with similar developmental gaps to fill - although, I do think Dart is further along in his arc than Love was when he came out of Utah State.
Name:
Tyler Shough
Position:
Quarterback
Film grade:
62nd percentile (QB5)
Tier & Archetype:
Tier C -- Career #2 Quarterback or bridge starter. Needs proper organizational fit for long-term success.
Realm or Range comparison:
Within the realm of Ryan Tannehill with more creativity as a passer
Film Evaluation:
Older prospect, but has starter caliber traits & surprising surface level athleticism. What jumps out at you on tape is how he can change arm slots - delivers with accuracy & timing in the low red-zone. Jumps through progressions easily & knows where he needs to go with the ball.
I agree with what Greg Cosell says when he talks about Shough "not creating his own pressure." He doesn’t compound issues with collapsing pockets & missed assignments. He’ll get rid of the ball & live to fight another day, something that you can't say about many Rookie Quarterbacks.
The downside of Shough is the injury history. Was unable to play a full season in three chances at Texas Tech. Two broken collarbones as well as a fractured fibula. Not saying there is a proneness to injury, because there really is no way to truly know, however it is not a great sign that he has been oft injured in his early twenties.
Ultimately, Shough is in the realm of Ryan Tannehill who was a serviceable starter with Miami & Tennessee. Closer to a system operator rather than a system elevator. Would be best paired with a dynamic core of receivers with his accuracy & ability to play within structure.
Name:
Dillon Gabriel
Position:
Quarterback
Film grade:
58th percentile (QB6)
Tier & Archetype:
Tier C -- Career #2 Quarterback or bridge starter. Needs proper organizational fit for long-term succes
Realm or Range comparison:
Within the range of Teddy Bridgewater
Film Evaluation:
Gabriel impressed with his his ability to stay on schedule despite situations where he was in a clear disadvantage. Against Michigan was the best example. Lost his best weapon, Tez Johnson early in the game and stepped up his level of play right after. Operation based passer, who can keep an offense on schedule & ahead of the sticks down to down.
He doesn’t have the highest velocity on boundary throws, and is more of a risk manager than anything. He won't put the ball in harms way, but always won't elevate an offense to high weekly point toals. My belief is that he can operate at a high enough level to provide adequate relief - likely isn’t a long term starter, but is a worthy long-term backup.
Name:
Will Howard
Position:
Quarterback
Film grade:
49th percentile (QB7)
Tier & Archetype:
Tier C -- Career #2 Quarterback or bridge starter. Needs proper organizational fit for long-term success
Realm or Range comparison:
Within the realm of Daniel Jones
Film Evaluation:
Looks the part and is a potential high-upside prospect with his tools. Can throw the ball to all levels, and provide an option as a ball carrier in the LRZ & short yardage situations. Understands the picture in front of him - accuracy & placement is sound. Drives the ball into tight windows - want to see more consistency with his velocity, however the physical capability is there.
Can struggle at times in a collapsing pocket, with his footwork being erratic. Placement under pressure is a clear issue & is a developmental item to work with. Felt like at times he underperformed with the weapons around him - Smith & Egbuka is as good a duo as you’re going to get, but he didn’t show the consistency that was anticipated.
Name:
Kurtis Rourke
Position:
Quarterback
Film grade:
34th percentile (QB8)
Tier & Archetype:
Tier D -- Limited tertiary option with small margin for developmental error
Realm or Range comparison:
Within the realm of Bailey Zappe
Film Evaluation:
One of the most interesting prospects in this cycle with his long term injury history. Played through an ACL injury this past season, and was impressive when you watched him. Felt like he elevated that Indiana program as a leader, and through his play.
Not a dynamic athlete, who has significant injury concerns. Can operate a system, and work as a backup - long-term health is the biggest question rather than play.
Name:
Kyle McCord
Position:
Quarterback
Film grade:
32nd percentile (QB9)
Tier & Archetype:
Tier D -- Limited tertiary option with small margin for developmental error
Realm or Range comparison:
Within the realm of Gardner Minshew II & Mason Rudolph
Film Evaluation:
Absolute gunslinger. Both the good & the bad. Can work to multiple quadrants, and is a massive risk taker - really elevated Syracuse through his dramatic style of play. If you can reign in the freelancing, he can provide a playmaking option similar to Gardner Minshew.
Too many mistakes & near misses to offer consistency right now. Has to work heavily on being more on schedule and playing within scheme - likely a career backup, but won’t be shocked if he gets a starting opportunity as a spark provider.
Name:
Riley Leonard
Position:
Quarterback
Film grade:
21th percentile (QB10)
Tier & Archetype:
Tier D -- Limited tertiary option with small margin for developmental error
Realm or Range comparison:
Within the range of Tommy Devito
Film Evaluation:
Uncreative passer, but a plus athlete at the position. Isn’t a high-level processor of information and can struggle to operate under pressure. He’s at best in an RPO based scheme where he can “read or run.” Leadership qualities & ability to command the huddle appeared to be his best trait.
Will likely begin his career as a QB3 with room to grow into a career backup. Isn't a high enough level processor to start with any long-term consistency.
Name:
Quinn Ewers
Position:
Quarterback
Film grade:
2nd percentile (QB11)
Tier & Archetype:
Tier E -- Career Reserve / Practice Squad Player
Realm or Range comparison:
Within the realm of Cooper Rush
Film Evaluation:
One of those prospects that I was underwhelmed with. Isn’t a dynamic element of his game that stands out. Can operate as system, but not as consistently as you would hope. He does show the ability to change arm slots & create out of structure, but again.. it’s the lack of consistency that is apparent.
Not a candidate to be anything, but a potential backup - likeliest to be a long-term QB3. Too many large gaps and areas of struggle to be a potential starter.