Next Era of Quarterbacks

Week two was brutal for NFL quarterbacks and it appears we are approaching a several-year changing of the guard. Ben Roethlisberger is out for the year and will be 38 before the start of the 2020 season. Drew Brees is 40 years old and is out several weeks, his first extended games missed since 2003. Tom Brady is playing as well as ever but just turned 42. Philip Rivers will be 38 in December and appears to be fading if his first two games are any indication.

Beyond age, several teams could be looking forward to the 2020 and 2021 drafts for their franchise quarterback. Kirk Cousins has been ineffective this season and not living up to the money he is making. Cam Newton looks bad but I can’t see the Panthers moving on easily from their franchise star. Marcus Mariota and Jameis Winston, forever linked due to their one/two draft status in 2015, have been ineffective for huge stretches and teams could be eager to move on. The Dolphins will likely have the overall first pick in 2020. Even with Josh Rosen on board and now starting, Miami could also decide to move on. Several other teams could jump in the ring including the Bengals, Broncos, and Colts.

A potential of twelve teams could be looking for their next signal-caller, some have talented backups who could get the shot and a few teams may not be willing to move on quite yet. Luckily, there are a few college quarterbacks tearing up the landscape right now, poised to hit the NFL running and usher in a new era of superstar quarterbacks.

2020 NFL Draft Eligible

Tua Tagovailoa, Junior Alabama HIGHLIGHTS

Tua looks poised to be in the driver’s seat for the Heisman race again this season, completing 77% of his passes for 1,300 yards and 17 scores without an interception. The knock on Tua has always been he has one of the most talented offenses in college football with future NFL pass-catchers, backs, and linemen surrounding him.

Breaking down the film of him, he is hyper-accurate and throws well to spots with anticipation and touch to many levels of the field. Tua doesn’t have the cannon of a Patrick Mahomes, but he has enough range and touch to be an exceptional NFL quarterback. He moves well in the pocket and has high football IQ with great character and leadership. On the most recent episode of the Destination Devy Podcast, host Ray Garvin argued Tua could be the overall top quarterback in any class right now, even over 2021 eligible golden child Trevor Lawrence. Tua is the real deal. He will likely be the first quarterback selected in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Justin Herbert, Senior Oregon HIGHLIGHTS

Herbert potentially would have been the top quarterback drafted in 2019 had he opted to return to Oregon for his senior season. He is still poised to be one of the top picks in 2020 and is already torching defenses, completing 74% of passes for 1.127 yards and 14 touchdowns in the first three games this season. Herbert has great size at 6’6” and 235 pounds, moves well, and has a good but not great arm. The 2019 season saw him complete only 59% of passes for the season and he seemed to take a step back.

He has all the intangibles and has started 32 games for the Ducks. The detractions in his game seem to all revolve around maturity and leadership, and some doubt he has the killer instinct and ability to take over a game. There are times, recently versus Auburn for instance, where Herbert needs to step up and lead and his play ultimately leads to a loss. The physical attributes are there but the intangibles are somewhat of a question. Regardless, Herbert is likely to be the second quarterback selected in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Jalen Hurts, Senior Oklahoma HIGHLIGHTS VS. HOUSTON

Before the start of the season, Hurts was projected to be a late day three draft pick or even undrafted. Under the tutelage of Lincoln Riley he is vaulting up draft charts and could be a first-round pick. His stats thus far: 880 yards passing, 80% completion percentage, 9 touchdowns. The stat line is similar to Herbert’s, but those numbers are only passing. Add in another 373 yards and four scores on the ground, and Hurts has quickly thrown his name into the Heisman race for 2019.

He takes care of the ball and makes smart throws, he isn’t the purest passer but he makes good decisions and throws with good touch and anticipation. When Hurts runs, he is absolutely lethal – he has quick feet and shifts directions on the move to make defenders miss. When he tucks the ball and runs, he is often ten yards downfield before most of the defense notices. Oklahoma hasn’t been tested much yet and it will be critical for Hurts to continue his domination through the season to answer any questions.

Jake Fromm, Junior Georgia HIGHLIGHTS

One of the more polarizing prospects in the draft class, some are in love with his skills and intangibles, while others think he is just a decent quarterback who won’t get you in trouble but won’t win you games. He has been at the helm of the Georgia offense for three seasons now, holding off Jacob Eason and Justin Fields in the process. He’s completed over 66% of passes over 33 games with 60 touchdowns versus only 13 picks. He has a strong arm and throws a beautiful ball, moves well in the pocket, doesn’t get rattled easily, and goes through progressions to find open receivers.

Fromm has never led a wide-open offense and never been asked to win a game with his arm due to the powerful Bulldog running game. He has only eclipsed 300 yards passing twice and only attempted more than 30 passes on four occasions. The stat lines are typical of what Alex Smith used to put up pre-Kansas City years. Fromm has the potential to be a good NFL quarterback but some doubt his ability to be one of the great ones.

Joe Burrow, Senior LSU HIGHLIGHTS VS. TEXAS

One of the fastest rising prospects is the young signal-caller in Baton Rouge, Burrow has been playing lights out in 2019. He sat for three years at Ohio State and then transferred to LSU, playing in 2018 but not looking like a prospect who would be on the NFL radar. 2019 has brought on the Joe Burrow which is completed over 80% of passes for 1,520 yards and 17 scores against two interceptions. He is using the array of weapons LSU has and spreading the ball around using precision and touch to all levels of the field. He doesn’t have a great deep ball but he uses all levels effectively.

Burrow’s pocket presence and poise have impressed me, he lit up Central Florida in the Fiesta Bowl and dissected Texas in their Week 2 clash. How he fares against the gauntlet of SEC defenses coming up will be key – Burrow could be a first-round quarterback if he continues at this pace, a day three guy if those defenses eat him up.

Jordan Love, Junior Utah State HIGHLIGHTS

The Mountain West quarterback who is on scout’s radars, Love looks and throws like an NFL quarterback and possesses potential first-round talent. The kid has a backstory which makes you rout even more for him too. He has the arm talent to hit the toughest throws such as a deep fade route and has the touch to hit receivers in stride. Love is also mobile with great pocket presence and throws well on the move, his throws on the run are similar to another great young quarterback who is now playing for the Kansas City Chiefs.

All this sounds great, right? The detractions are what is divisive. Playing for Utah State, he hasn’t faced much high-level competition. Love takes a lot of chances and it sometimes gets him burned badly. He doesn’t adjust well to defenses after the snap and doesn’t know yet how to move the defense around with his eyes – it will come with time and coaching. Circle October 5 on your calendar – Love will lead the Aggies into Death Valley against currently fourth-ranked LSU. Burrow versus Love – this game could really vault Love into the early first round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Jacob Eason, RS Junior Washington HIGHLIGHTS VS. EAST WASHINGTON

Possibly the most purely talented in the bunch of these quarterbacks, Eason lost in job to Jake Fromm at Georgia before transferring to Washington, where he finally gets to start again in 2019. He has burst out of the gates, hurling for nearly 1,100 yards and ten scores with only two picks. Eason is disciplined, smart, and can make any throw – he has a great arm, throwing motion, and release.

This season will dictate where he is drafted – he faces USC, Stanford, Oregon, and the biggest test is the defense of Utah on November 2. Eason hasn’t started full-time since 2016 so this season will be critical to gauge his maturation and see how he handles an offense that isn’t afraid to throw the ball. A substellar season will likely lead him to stay in the Pacific Northwest one more season – a great season could lead Eason into being a day one draft pick.

Sam Ehlinger, Junior Texas HIGHLIGHTS

If you look up gunslinger in the dictionary, the current picture would be the Longhorn quarterback Ehlinger. He burst onto the scene in 2018 and led Texas to a 10-4 record and a regular-season defeat of Oklahoma. This season he has exploded out of the gates, throwing for over 1,200 yards with fifteen scores and one pick.

Ehlinger is one of the most mobile quarterbacks I have ever seen – he scored sixteen times on the ground in 2018 – he keeps his feet moving and eyes downfield when in the pocket. He has an odd throwing motion, even earning the nickname of “Texas Tebow” from draft scout Andrew Harbaugh. Ehlinger is improving as a thrower but still needs to work on throws to all levels and using the pocket longer to connect with his talented wideouts. He has the build to take hits but will be more successful in the NFL learning to use his pocket better. Ehlinger is fun to watch and should be a day two selection in the 2020 NFL Draft if he opts in.

K.J. Costello, Senior Stanford HIGHLIGHTS

A quarterback from Stanford is always on NFL radars and Costello is no exception. The third-ranked pro-style quarterback in the 2016 class per 247Sports, Costello has not really taken off at Stanford like hoped, but he possesses the traits to be a good quarterback with grooming. He is extremely smart and when he is given time, he reads defenses and progressions, then gets the ball to receivers with touch and accuracy. Costello threw for 11 interceptions in 2018 and hasn’t looked sharp this season thus far, only completing 57.8% of passes in the first two games. The tools are there, the intelligence is there, and Costello will be a day three draft pick with the potential to be a solid starter in the right situation with the right coaching.

Nate Stanley, Senior Iowa HIGHLIGHTS

The senior Hawkeye quarterback isn’t the sexiest NFL draft prospect but possesses many of the tools and traits to be an NFL quarterback. Stanley isn’t asked to do much in the Iowa offense but he did support two NFL tight ends in T.J. Hockenson and Noah Fant last season. He has a strong arm, strong enough to make defenses respect the vertical passing game, and reads through progressions well. He can throw from different angles, moves well in the pocket, and operates an offense good by using play-action and lining up under center. Stanley has really good poise and makes impressive throws at times.

It will be interesting to see where the draft process takes him. He could be a day two draft pick with a strong senior season, Stanley isn’t the flashiest prospect but could develop into a solid NFL starter.

Mason Fine, Senior North Texas HIGHLIGHTS

One of the more interesting prospects, Mean Green quarterback Fine is turning heads and his play will gain more attention throughout the draft process. Fine is a smaller quarterback but his measurables are almost identical to Kyler Murray’s. He has an accurate arm and throws with impressive anticipation and touch. He recognizes defensive coverage and adapts well, going through progression and leading his receivers so they don’t get pummelled as they catch the ball. Fine has improved every season and doesn’t play the highest level of competition but has a lot of intriguing traits. He will likely be an early day three pick who could creep up into day two discussion as well.

2021 NFL Draft Eligible

Trevor Lawrence, Sophomore Clemson HIGHLIGHTS

This article won’t dwell much on these last prospects and particularly Lawrence, possibly the most impressive prospect we have seen in college since Andrew Luck. Lawrence has great mobility and his arm is simply ridiculous, he makes the hardest throws look easy and can hit any level of the field with impressive touch and accuracy. Lawrence will likely be the first pick in the 2021 NFL Draft – barring some crazy occurrence of events!

Justin Fields, Sophomore Ohio State HIGHLIGHTS VS. INDIANA

Fields was almost as highly regarded as Lawrence and has taken off quickly after transferring to Ohio State and becoming the starter this season. Through three games, he’s thrown for nearly 900 yards and thirteen scores while adding another 150 yards rushing with six rushing touchdowns. He has a great arm as well as dangerous mobility which makes a dual-threat who must constantly be accounted for. He is in a great system under Ryan Day to develop NFL play-calling acumen and will likely be an early first-round pick in 2021.

J.T. Daniels, USC HIGHLIGHTS

Daniels tore his ACL and will miss the remainder of his sophomore season, he will hit the field in 2020 looking to bounce back from an up and down freshman 2018 season. Daniels throws a nearly perfect ball, he has great touch and understands when to use varying speed and trajectory for perfect placement. Next season will be key for him, Daniels is immensely talented and needs to emerge with a USC team which has seen uncharacteristic instability the past several years.

2022 NFL Draft Eligible

Spencer Rattler, Freshman Oklahoma

With a build and athletic profile similar to Kyler Murray, Rattler will likely take the reins of Lincoln Riley’s offense in 2020 and put up insane video-game numbers. Rattler was the top-ranked quarterback in the 2019 recruiting class and will be primed to make his own Heisman runs in 2020 and 2021.

Bo Nix, Freshman Auburn

Nix was already named the starter and will have three years in the SEC facing NFL caliber defenders. He led a comeback versus Oregon and Herbert in his first start, he has looked like a freshman thus far – up and down. Nix has a good arm and is a mobile quarterback, the second-ranked incoming freshman quarterback in 2019.

Ryan Hilinski, Freshman South Carolina

Another freshman thrust into the starting role, Hilinski faced Alabama in his first start last week and earned SEC Freshman of the Week with a solid performance under the circumstances. He has a tremendous backstory and has prototypical NFL size at 6’3” and 230 pounds. Hilinski has a great arm and can make any throw to any level of the field.

Graham Mertz, Freshman Wisconsin

Mertz headed to Wisconsin as the highest-ranked quarterback to enroll at Madison, and he is a young prospect looking to make his mark. Mertz destroyed the All-American Bowl – throwing five touchdowns and garnering MVP honors. He is 6’3” and nearly 200 pounds with a strong arm and great footwork, more of a pocket passer who has displayed touch and accuracy well beyond his years.