Top Five QBs in the 2019 Draft

Story posted April 4, 2019 in CommRadio, Sports by Preston Shoemaker

Jeremy Ganes, Mitch Broder, Pat Tartaro and Tommy Calpin rank the top five Quarterback Prospects in the 2019 NFL Draft:

No position is more important for a rebuilding franchise than the quarterback.

Last year we saw five rookie QB’s find success in the league, leaving many franchises eager to find their next offensive leader for the future.

What is the story in 2019? Here we look at the top five quarterbacks to watch from this year’s draft.

Kyler Murray – Oklahoma
Height: 5-10
Weight: 207 lbs.
2018 Stats: Passing: 260-377, 4361 yards, 7 TDs Rushing: 1001 yards, 12 TDs

The baseball turned football star Kyler Murray comes in first in the quarterback rankings. Despite all of the talk about being undersized, the Heisman winner is capable of becoming a day-one starter in the NFL. He rarely gets rattled, has nice touch on his passes and a strong arm that can challenge the secondary. He was only sacked 18 times in his one season under center at Oklahoma, proving he can escape pressure and use his legs to compliment his arm.  Murray resembles the new era of quarterbacks in the league by having the capability to run the option. He should be the first quarterback off the board and could potentially be the first player off as well.

Daniel Jones – Duke
Height: 6-5
Weight: 221 lbs.
2018 Stats: Passing: 237-392, 2674 yards, 22 TDs

Jones has been slowly climbing up draft boards since the end of the season. Duke head coach David Cutcliffe has been praised for grooming Jones, earning comparisons to his work with both Peyton and Eli Manning in college. Jones has excellent athleticism and accuracy; he will hang in the pocket to make tough throws and can occasionally use his legs to scramble for extra yards. There are areas of his game that must improve, including ball protection and shortening his delivery. However, his skill set will transfer well into the next level and Jones should go in the first round.

Dwayne Haskins – Ohio State
Height: 6-3
Weight: 231 lbs.
2018 Stats: Passing: 373-533, 4831 yards, 50 TDs

Haskins has shown flashes of potential for being a day-one starter in the NFL. He has a big frame and can punish defenses with his strong arm. He does a great job analyzing pressure and delivering throws from unconventional angles. His throwing is effortless, seen from his near 5000-yard season with 50 touchdowns. He has not started many games, after sitting behind J.T. Barrett for a few years. He can also be sluggish when he scrambles, leading to less accurate passes on the run. However, Haskins has the built to be a dominant pocket passer in the league and will likely go in the first round.

Drew Lock – Missouri
Height: 6-4
Weight: 228 lbs.
2018 Stats: Passing: 275-437, 3498 yards, 28 TDs

Coming off of a near 4000-yard, 44-touchdown season, Lock was one of the most sought-after quarterbacks coming into 2018. His size and arm talent will help him in the NFL. He is tough to sack due to his mobility and sense of edge pressure. Lock has struggled to be consistent, which has led to him slipping down the draft board. He will occasionally miss receivers and drop his arm slot. His footwork is not the greatest either. He does not love the spotlight and has been criticized for his lack of vocal leadership. Lock will require some growth but shows potential with his throwing abilities. He will likely fall in the first or second round.

Ryan Finley – North Carolina State
Height: 6-4
Weight: 213 lbs.
2018 Stats: Passing: 326-484, 3928 yards, 25 TDs

Finley is arguably the best anticipator in this QB class. The Boise State transfer does a great job recognizing coverages and hitting his receivers.  He is a functional scrambler and can direct the offense while on the move. He uses his eyes to bait defenses and lure safeties away from receivers. His arm strength is not the greatest due to his smaller frame and need to build muscle. Regardless, Finley will be a decent backup QB, with the potential to become a starter in the future. Expect a team with a veteran QB - New England, Los Angeles Chargers or Pittsburgh Steelers - to select him in the second or third round and begin to craft him into an everyday player.

 

 

Preston Shoemaker is a freshman majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact, email pus144@psu.edu.