This draft isn’t deemed as sexy as previous drafts and part of that is the amount of heat that the QB class of this draft is getting. By and large, there’s usually two or three QBs at the top of the draft that drive conversation and debate as to who is going first overall, and in a league that has a QB problem, it garners much attention.
This draft is similar to the 2016 draft of Jared Goff and Carson Wentz where if you’re considering taking one of the top two guys, you’re really talking yourself into it, likely out of desperation. Goff and Wentz had varied success, Goff leading the Rams to the Super Bowl, ultimately losing to the New England Patriots, before finding a career renaissance in Detroit, due in part to his offensive coordinator (now Chicago Bears head coach Ben Johnson), is now arguably a top-10 QB in the league.
Wentz struggled with consistency and injury and is now a backup for the Kansas City Chiefs beneath Patrick Mahomes, who most would agree is the best QB in the league at the moment. Compared to this draft class, you have the top two prospects in Cam Ward and Shedeur Sanders and a drop-off in talent. Does this draft class deserve the lukewarm (at best) response it’s getting? Or are there interesting qualities that are worth developing down the board? Let’s take a look.
5. Jalen Milroe – Alabama Crimson Tide, 6’2” 225lbs
Milroe’s career at Alabama was a mixed bag, a disappointment even for the Roll Tide faithful. There’s certainly qualities to his game worth developing, but there’s also plenty of pitfalls that have him falling down this list. He’s a smart guy, winning the Willaim V Campbell trophy for the best academic and on field performance. After losing his bowl game 19-13 to Michigan, turning the ball over three times, his stock isn’t all that high.
Strengths
- Cannon of an arm, ball explodes from his hand
- Used to NFL caliber coaching in a Pro scheme at Bama.
- Competitor, puts his body on the line to pick up a first down
- Good athlete, will make plays off script when need be
Weaknesses
- Spray and pray type thrower. Lacks control over velocity. Accuracy is a real issue
- Turnovers an issue, lots of fumbles and interceptions
- Poor Senior Bowl performance, draws questions on mental processing and pocket awareness.
- Quick to pull the ball and run
Scheme Fit/Team Fit: West Coast/ New Orleans Saints
After seeing what Kellen Moore was able to do with Jalen Hurts, I think Moore would be able to get the special sauce from Milroe. Moore effectively used Hurts’ athleticism, and I think a lot of the skills transfer over. It helps New Orleans plays indoors, to help with the accuracy/turnover issues.
Player Comp: Joe Milton
Both players have cannons of arms, and athleticism to be true dual threat QBs. The issue with both of them coming out of college was accuracy and decision making. Milton seems to be improving on that in his limited live reps we’ve seen, maybe Milroe can as well given time?
4. Riley Leonard – Notre Dame Fighting Irish 6’4” 216lbs
A 3-star recruit who received scholarship offers for both basketball and football, Leonard committed to Duke University, becoming the starter in his sophomore season, leading Duke to a Military Bowl victory over UCF. After an injury-plagued Junior year, he transferred to Notre Dame for his senior season. Leading the school to, but ultimately losing the National Championship game.
Strengths
- Above average arm talent and accuracy, can make all the throws typically asked of him
- Above average pocket mobility, able to keep his eyes downfield, avoid pressure, and deliver passes without breaking structure
- Deceptively fast, dual threat QB.
- Bonafede winner, winning at all levels of competition
- Good (relatively) showing at Senior Bowl
Weaknesses
- Struggles to make passing plays out of structure or on bootlegs, accuracy drops when on the move.
- Mechanics are a little rough, both in his release and fundamentals under center
- Aggressive when throwing the ball into tight windows, might not be able to fit in the NFL
- Doesn’t read full field and has tendency to stare down initial read
Scheme fit/Team fit: West Coast Run Heavy/ Pittsburgh Steelers
A run focused scheme with reads that won’t challenge Leonard too much would be to both parties benefit. Arthur Smith, Offensive Coordinator for the Pittsburgh Steelers, has a history of working with limited QBs such as Leonard but Pittsburgh has the structure that could see Leonard thrive. Just get the ball to Pickens and Freiermuth, and let Najee Harris do his thing.
Player Comp: Ryan Tannehill
Jack of all trades, master of none type QB with nothing that really stands out about his game but nothing that really pulls him down. Is just good enough to make all the throws you need. Requires an infrastructure around him in order to really “shine”, and by “shine” I mean get out of way.
3.Jaxson Dart – Ole Miss Rebels, 6’2” 225lbs
If NFL games were won by how nicely the QB could throw the ball, Dart would be the number one pick in the draft. Having started his career at USC, he transferred to Ole Miss where his development over his three years there was easy to see. Dart is a legitimate dual threat QB but curious to see how his specific skill set transfers to the NFL.
Strengths
- Great arm talent, can torque it deep from different arm slots.
- True dual threat ability, having run for over 1,500 yards.
- Keeps eyes downfield and arm is always live, can and will make big time throws
from any platform - Great with RPO and play action
Weaknesses
- Not super accurate
- Footwork needs to be coached up, partially what leads to his inaccuracy
- Not often asked to be a drop back passer, and ineffective when he was
- Struggled against quality defences
- Played in a very QB friendly system
Scheme Fit/Team Fit: West Coast Vertical/ Cleveland Browns
Stefanski’s flavour of the West Coast scheme revolves around heavy play action use and taking shots downfield. Both Jeudy and Njoku are accuracy fixers and plus downfield threats. Given the Browns’ QB situation, Dart might be worth a look to develop.
Player Comp: Gardner Minshew
Both players have very interesting tools and will make splash plays that will have you think “Wow! There’s something there!” but between accuracy problems and inconsistencies it’s tough to see them as full time starters.
2.Shedeur Sanders – Colorado Buffaloes, 6’2” 215lbs
Sanders, like Ward, rewrote the record books wherever he went. First at Jackson State,
then again at Colorado. Following his Hall Of Fame father wherever he went, Sanders had impressive
years in all four years as a starter. His final season at Colorado really propelled him as a QB prospect,
completing 74% of his passes, for 4,134 yards and 37 touchdowns to 10 interceptions, leading his team to
an Alamo Bowl appearance (Before being spanked by BYU).
Strengths
- High football IQ, has learned a lot from his HOF lineage.
- Excellent processing and diagnosis speed, takes every snap with a plan
- Takes care of the ball, as shown through his TD:INT ratio throughout his college career (134:27)
- Great short to intermediate accuracy
- Great fundamentals as a thrower that don’t break down under duress.
Weaknesses
- Only ever coached by his dad since high school
- Thinks his improv skills are better than they actually are, leading to lots of negative plays
- Average arm talent
- Exposed during Alamo Bowl, struggled against complex fronts
Scheme Fit/Team Fit: Spread Option/ Las Vegas Raiders
I think a marriage between Chip Kelly and Shedeur Sanders would work well for both parties. With Kelly’s propensity for RPOs and uptempo offence, it will allow Sanders to complete high percentage passes in the intermediate range, making quick decisions in both the run game and the pass game, keeping the defence on their heels. Sanders has just enough mobility that he can be used as a running threat.
Player Comp: Geno Smith
Both guys are good passers that are limited physically. They have the ability to run but won’t exactly leave defenders in their wake ala Lamar Jackson. They operate best in structure, not asked to make things happen on their own. When put in the right systems that they can thrive in, we can see them have good success.
1. Cam Ward – Miami Hurricanes, 6’2” 223lbs
Ward is an exciting prospect. A 4.5 year starter (only started 6 games in 2020 as a true freshman due to a shortened COVID season). Starting his career for Incarnate Word, before transferring to Washington State After his success there, transferring to Miami where he had a great season, leading the Hurricanes to a 10-3 season, losing their bowl game to Iowa State in a 42-41 shootout in which he only played the first half, throwing for three touchdowns.
Ward was named ACC Player of the year, and winning the Davey O’Brien and Manning award for top QB in the nation, as well as finishing in the top 5 for Heisman voting. There’s plenty to like about Ward, but there are plenty of pitfalls to eye with trepidation that drop him from a sure-fire first overall pick.
Strengths
- Able to improvise explosive plays and throws the ball with great velocity from any arm slot.
- Great mental toughness, with multiple fourth quarter comebacks and keeps his eyes downfield under pressure.
- Good scrambling ability, which may not pop on stats due to NCAA counting sacks as negative rushing yards.
- Able to throw the ball on time in structure
- Broke single-season passing yards and passing touchdown records for Miami
- Saw significant growth as a passer throughout his career
- A smart, experienced QB who has found success at all levels of competition
- Trusted to call protections at the line of scrimmage
Weaknesses
- Ball security. Fumbling the ball eight times in 2024.
- Inconsistently resets his feet and throws from off-platform causing balls to get away from him
- Still developing reading complex coverages
- Tendency to play hero ball, getting himself into trouble
Scheme fit/Team fit: West Coast Spread / New York Giants
A West Coast Spread scheme would allow Ward to make easy reads and complete high-percentage passes, limiting his tendencies to play hero ball, but still spread the field out for him to use his mobility effectively. We’ve seen how Brian Daboll’s offence has worked for Josh Allen and while the player comp is different, I believe it would be effective for Cam Ward.
Player Comp: Seahawks Russell Wilson
Improvisational ability that can make something happen when the play is thought to be dead. He plays well in structure but will also appear on top-10 plays of the week shows every now and again. Good leader and a proven winner.