1. Josh Allen (Wyoming)– He’s a late bloomer that received no interest from any FBS programs. He signed with Reedley Community College in 2014 and threw 26 touchdown passes that season along with throwing for 285 passing yards per game. Wyoming coach Craig Bohl saw his talent and wondered if he could be similar to another Carson Wentz, the quarterback that Bohl recruited and coached before taking the job at Wyoming. When I watch the tape on him, he’s your prototypical pocket passer. He has a strong, yet sturdy base to shake himself away from pressure and sacks to extend plays, above average arm strength, a variety of release points and also has the ability to thread the needle. Josh can also make throws that no other quarterback at the collegiate level can make. He reads the entire field and no throw is too challenging for this kid. Standing at 6’5, he sees the whole field and he shows the athleticism, arm strength, and mobility to create plays when the original play breaks down and he can roll to the right by moving the pocket and flings the ball down the field with impressive velocity and placement. He can operate under center and out of the shotgun formation and he doesn’t force the play which really impresses me, if he wants to move the chains, he can use his feet to get those yards.
2. Sam Darnold (USC)– We knew he’d be here as a draft prospect. In my honest opinion, I didn’t think he was ready just yet, but here he is. I remember when he became the starter midway for the Trojans during the 2016 season and how he took the college football world by storm. Nobody could stop him and he helped lead the USC Trojans to a victory in the Rose Bowl over the Penn State Nittany Lions. He’s definitely got the desired NFL size. He stands tall at 6’4 and weighs 220 pounds. What I’ve always loved about Sam Darnold is his ability to trust his pocket which is rare for young quarterbacks and according to so many experts, pocket savviness comes with time, but Sam has that which is a huge positive. He also displays tremendous vision and always keeps his eyes down the field and scans everything. He’s naturally accurate and trusts his arm and placement and has the velocity to own the deep out. He’s tough in and out the pocket and can poise himself to throw under duress and make accurate throws while on the move. The only thing that concerns me is how he can sometimes force the football when the receiver he wants to target isn’t completely open.
3. Baker Mayfield (Oklahoma)– He’s one of the most decorated quarterbacks in the history of college football and he finished his final season in Norman by winning the Big-12 Championship, the Davey O’Brien Award, the Maxwell Award and the Heisman Trophy. His stats were outstanding. He completed 70.5 percent of his passes and threw 43 touchdown passes against just a low, six interceptions. When I first watched Baker Mayfield play, the first thing I noticed about him was the grit that he played with it. He plays the position with a mental and physical toughness, a fiery demeanor and huge chip on his shoulder. He had a total command of that prolific Sooners offense and that improved each season. He’s a pro when it comes to reading defensive schemes as he can eyeball and eliminate safeties to isolate a single man look on his receiver. He’s what I call “pitch and catch accurate”. He completed 53 percent of his throws over 20-plus yards in each of the last two seasons. He’s just as impressive on the run making throws as he is when he stands up in the pocket as he completed 67 percent of his passes on the move. I see some Andrew Luck when I watch Baker Mayfield play because of the toughness and how he’s able to take hits and I also see a tiny bit of Drew Brees with how he commands and controls his offense.
4. Josh Rosen (UCLA)– He was another one of the best quarterbacks in the Pac-12 this past season, it wasn’t just Sam Darnold! After doing some research on him, I learned that Josh Rosen is a former tennis player and the one thing I’ve always heard many people mention is that it teaches you great hand-eye coordination and I definitely saw that on the football field. He shows good coordination between his eyes and his feet. He trusts his protection up front that they will allow him to stand up in the pocket and keep the play alive and he keeps his eyes down the field even when the pressure is mounting from the edge. He shows a solid mental toughness while standing in the pocket. He’s able to climb the pocket when the moment presents itself and he’s willing to stand tall and deliver the ball even in the face of pressure and blitzes and he completed over 63 percent of his passes when he was blitzed last season. I think he could be a steal for any team that decides to draft him in April and he could become that franchise quarterback that many teams have been looking for.
5. Lamar Jackson (Louisville)– Whenever I see Lamar Jackson’s name pop up, I often think of his 2016 season where he took the world of college football and made it his. He was by far the most electrifying player in the nation and his stellar season earned him the 2016 Heisman Trophy. He’s made a lot of comparisons to Michael Vick and when you watch the tape on him, you can understand why. He’s a playmaker with the rare ability to make that explosive play on the field with either his arm or his feet. As a runner, he makes cornerbacks choose between defending the receiver or showing potential run support and when he’s a runner, he shows solid open field instincts and the elusiveness of a running back. Last season, he improved considerably as a passer as he showed he has a lively arm and can flick the ball down the field with a simple release of the wrist. He always seemed to be at his best in the red-zone. So many are stating that he needs to change his position once he’s in the NFL, why? If he can bulk up some and continue to make strides as a passer, he will be just fine at the next level.
