Finding Broncos: 2020 NFL Draft Quarterback Superlatives
At 1-4, the Denver Broncos have dug themselves a hole. The odds say the season is lost.
What that means is this is a team on the verge of looking ahead to the draft, and possibly hoping they get a high draft pick.
If the Broncos do end up with a high pick, it puts more pressure on the team's scouting staff. The scouts have to do really do their due diligence and find out everything they can about each prospect.
With quarterbacks, it is even more important as the Broncos have struggled to find a bonafide franchise guy. The personnel guys have to know whether a QB can read a defense, learn an offense, and identify whether the kid possesses the right work ethic and desire.
The Broncos have to learn everything about the prospect. Right now, I don't expect the team will take a QB early in 2020, simply because they traded up to take Drew Lock at pick 42 last spring and haven’t had a chance to really see him yet. With so much time between now and the draft, though, that can all change. So here are some quarterback superlatives for the 2020 draft.
Every year there are certain labels that get applied to draft prospects and this article is going to lay some of them out. Now, this article has limited a player to only one superlative when some of the players might have more than one applied to them.
This is done to make things a bit more interesting and get more names out there. So for the 2020 NFL draft, what superlatives fit with some of the quarterbacks? Let's dive in.
Board Riser: Joe Burrow, LSU
It is weird seeing LSU with a really good quarterback prospect. Burrow has put in a lot of work to improve as a quarterback, and it shows on the field. He is a prospect that many were low on entering the college season, but he has been a rapid riser with making smart throws and protecting the football. So far this season he has completed 100-of-124 passes with 17 touchdowns for 1,520 yards, and only two interceptions.
Board Faller: Cole McDonald, Hawaii
The Rainbow Warrior put together a good 2018 season that really drew the eyes of the NFL. Teams were hoping to see a lot of progression from McDonald, but that hasn’t really happened. So far this year he has thrown almost as interceptions as he has touchdowns and nearly met his 2018 interception mark of 10. Progression hasn’t been seen, but regression has.
Versatile: D’Eriq King, Houston
When looking for versatile it is a combination of scheme versatility as well as skill versatility. There may not be a better option than King from the quarterback class. In 2018, he threw for 36 touchdowns and ran for another 14 and this year he has six passing and six rushing touchdowns. He is dangerous with his legs and has a decent arm to push the ball. Creative offensive play-callers can move him around on offense and use him in so many ways. Versatility at quarterback is D’Eriq King.
Limited: Jake Fromm, Georgia
Fromm is a solid quarterback that can lead 10-plus play drives and put points on the board, but he isn’t overly dynamic as a quarterback. He isn’t a quarterback that can make plays with his legs and his arm isn’t one that can really push the ball downfield. Not only that, but when plays start to fall off the tracks, Fromm struggles.
Day one starter: Tu’a Tagovailoa, Alabama
There is a lot to the Alabama quarterback's game that will make him a day one starter in the NFL, plus he has the smarts. Tua does have a slight concern with how much is him and how much is the talent around him. Henry Ruggs III and Jerry Jeudy have helped him out a lot with their speed and route running, but Tagovailoa is still a very talented quarterback. If you take that talent away, I have no doubt that he can still lead an offense and score points, just maybe not quite as easily.
Developmental upside: Kellen Mond, Texas A&M
Arm talent for days, Mond just has to learn touch, technique, footwork and how to better read a defense. He has one of the higher ceilings in this class, but it is going to take a lot of work for him to get there. So far in 2019 he has looked like he has taken a step since last year, but there is still a lot of developing left to do.
Safe: Justin Herbert, Oregon
Herbert has a high ceiling, and a lot that needs to be cleaned up for the NFL. However, he has a high floor as well and has shown a lot of improvements in those areas. His higher floor, intelligence, and showing tremendous growth as a player will lead to a long NFL career.
Non-power 5 prospect: Jordon Love, Utah State
Love is a prospect that is rising up boards, needs developing, and is a personal favorite of mine. He as a fit for multiple superlatives, but since I am not doubling up, he lands in the non-power 5 slot. His completion percentage has improved each year and he really broke onto the scene last year when he threw 32 touchdowns to six interceptions. His 2019 has been rough as he has thrown four touchdowns to three interceptions with the San Diego State game coming up.
Small school prospect: Jacob Knipp, Nothern Colorado
Knipp has prototype size, and good intelligence for the quarterback position. There is still a lot that has to be cleaned up with his game, but that is expected of a small school prospect. He has dealt with some shoulder injuries in his history, which teams will want to check out.
Sleeper: Tyler Huntley, Utah
The Utes quarterback is a dual-threat quarterback that can work in a system that lets him use his legs and his arm. He plays a relatively clean game and makes smart reads the majority of his throws. If he lands with a team that will use him to his skill-set he could be a solid quarterback, or a great backup quarterback.
Big arm: Jacob Eason, Washington
A live arm that can send the ball sailing with velocity. There are instances that it is a little too live, and he needs to tone it back a bit. There is a lot of work to do cleaning up the technique and his footwork, but his arm alone is going to entice a lot of teams. Eason is capable of making any kind of NFL throw needed.
Running threat: Jalen Hurts, Oklahoma
Does this really need explaining? Hurts is a threat to take off whenever he has the ball in his hands, but he isn’t just a runner. He has a capable and dangerous arm that NFL teams will like. Running really helps out his passing game as it keeps him from trying to force bad throws. When he takes off, he can make people miss and pick up big chunks of yards at a time.
Personal favorite: Nate Stanley, Iowa
One of my favorite prospects to watch is Nate Stanley. Stanley has a game that I really like. Is it perfect? No, and he has a lot that he needs to clean up, but he tends to step up when it is really needed. He has a chance to really help himself as this season goes on, and he made a smart decision to return to school.
Follow Erick on Twitter @ErickTrickel and @MileHighHuddle.
