The 2019 QB Draft Class is one of the weakest in recent memory, and likely Top Prospect Justin Herbert announcing he will likely return didn’t help. There are still some QBs who show potential to lead an NFL offense and have shown flashes of 1st round talent to a QB needy team.
Red Cup Ratings
The ratings given are on a scale of 1-10 with 7.5 being the average mark of a Draftable NFL QB. Players with ratings of 9.5 or 10 are considered elite in that skill.
Drew Lock – Missouri (4-3) – 6’4” Senior – 1979 Yards 19 TDs 6 INT
Lock had arguably his best performance of his career last week against Memphis and, without Herbert, is looking more and more like the top QB prospect in the draft. Lock has some of the best arm talent in the country, but his main knock is accuracy. Throwing 50% or less completion percentage in every Missouri loss, that will be something scouts will want him to improve upon. Lock has the power and size to be this draft’s top prospect but is not without his flaws.
If the Draft was today: Top 10 Pick
Will Grier – WVU (5-1) – 6’2” Senior – 1919 Yards 22 TDs 7 INT
Probably the most accurate QB in the draft, Grier is coming off his worst career performance against Iowa State where his receivers seemingly forgot how to create separation. Grier looked terrible repeatedly holding onto the ball too long and forcing passes. With that being said, it’s tough to look good when you have 2.5 seconds to pass, no open receivers, and you’re down 20. Grier has average arm strength but is very accurate in the short and intermediate game and can throw the deep ball about as well as anyone in the country. He does so much for WVU’s offense, but his decision making will need to improve for him to be a 1st round pick.
If the Draft was today: Late 1st – Early 2nd
Ryan Finley – NC State (6-1) – 6’4” Senior – 1777 Yards 10 TDs 5 INT
Finley and NC State got destroyed by Clemson’s defense last week throwing for 156 Yards and 2 INTs. Clemson’s defensive line would bother NFL QBs let alone college, so we can give him a tentative pass there. Prior to that game, he has thrown for 300 yards and at least 1 TD all but one week. Finley doesn’t have the accuracy of Grier or the strength of Lock but is a more balanced prospect with all around skills. Finley’s primary weakness in his game is his inability to read multiple receivers. In one-on-one situations he thrives but more complex coverages (Clemson) he often panics and scrambles or forces bad passes.
If the Draft was today: Early 2nd Round
Dwayne Haskins – Ohio State (7-1) – 6’3” SO. – 2801 Yards 30 TDs 5 INTs
Haskins has been putting up video game numbers this season for Ohio State. 300+ Yards in 5/7 of the games and with a very respectable 71% completion percentage. He may not declare this year as he will only have a season as a starter under his belt come the 2019 draft, but he will be eligible. One-year starters as high picks is risky. Haskins will need to finish the season strong to earn a 1stor 2ndRound grade, but he has the makeup to be an NFL QB.
If the Draft was today: Early 2nd Round – 3rd Round
Brett Rypien – Boise State (5-2) – 6’2” Senior – 2166 Yards 18 TDs 5 INTs
The four-year starter is having arguably his best season for Boise State improving upon his completions percentage significantly compared to past seasons. Rypien ceiling projects as an Alex Smith type West-Coast game manager who can make short accurate throws and allow his receivers to RAC. To maximize that he will need to stop turning the ball over so much and anticipate the defense at a higher level. 5 INTs in 7 games isn’t bad by any means but will need to drop significantly for him to compete at the next level.
If the Draft was today: 3rd – 4th Round
Jake Browning – Washington (6-2) – 6’2” Senior – 1901 Yards 11 TDs 7 INTs
The four-year starter has given us a ton of tape to dig through. That’s not necessarily a good thing as Browning arguably had his best season as a Sophomore. Browning struggles holding onto the ball too long and scrambles when he shouldn’t be scrambling. He is a good athlete but isn’t exactly Lamar Jackson extending from the pocket. With a gross TD-INT ratio of 11-7, his inability to avoid turnovers may be too much to see him as anything more than a late-round flier in the upcoming draft. He has pretty decent arm strength and can certainly make throws when the offensive line does its job.
If the Draft was today: 4th – 5th Round
Tryee Jackson – Buffalo (7-1) – 6’7” Junior – 1869 Yards 20 TDs 8 INTs
NFL prospects are licking their lips at Tryee Jackson. He is the definition of a high potential raw prospect. At 6’7” he has elite NFL size, can throw the deep ball without effort, and is athletic enough to extend plays and scramble when needed. Project of course means he needs some work. Tyree struggles with accuracy and can throw erratically at times. His throws are off balance and his footwork is a huge negative compared to more polished prospects. After starting the year scorching but has only thrown for over 250 Yards once in the past 4 games. The ultimate project guy.
If the Draft was today: 4th Round – 7th Round
Other Players that could be drafted:
- Clayton Thorson Northwestern
- Jarrett Stidham Auburn
- Daniel Jones Duke
- Trace McSorely Penn State
- Justin Herbert Oregon (Will likely Declare in 2020)
