2018 NFL Draft: Scouting The Quarterbacks

Posted By on April 23, 2018

The quarterbacks in this draft has been a source of discussion for the past two years. Teams that need quarterbacks have been looking to this draft with anticipation since 2016.

Sam Darnold, Josh Allen, Josh Rosen Baker Mayfield and Lamar Jackson have been evaluated and dissected. Talent evaluators across the board have different opinions on all of them. They all have strengths but they also have their fair share of weaknesses.

So. Where do we stand on the position? Here are our top 20 quarterbacks and what we think of them.

XNOJOE’s Top 20 Quarterbacks

1. Josh Allen, Wyoming, 6-5 230

2. Sam Darnold, USC, 6-4 225

3. Josh Rosen, UCLA, 6-3 210

4. Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma, 6-0 210

5. Lamar Jackson, Louisville, 6-2 205

6. Mason Rudolph, Oklahoma St. 6-4 235

7. Luke Falk, Washington St. 6-3 214

8. Mike White, Western Kentucky, 6-3 215

9. Kyle Lauletta, Richmond, 6-3 216

10. Riley Ferguson, Memphis, 6-4 211

11. Kurt Benkert, Virginia, 6-4 215

12. Chase Litton, Marshall, 6-6 211

13. Tanner Lee, Nebraska, 6-4 225

14. Alex McGough, Florida Int’l 6-2 220

15. Nick Shimonek, Texas Tech, 6-3 225

16. Kyle Allen, Houston, 6-3 210

17. Nick Stevens, Colorado St. 6-3 210

18. J.T Barrett, Ohio State, 6-1 225

19. Jeremiah Briscoe, Sam Houston St. 6-3 209

20. Max Browne, Pitt, 6-4 220

Ten Thoughts on the Position

  • Josh Allen is the most maligned quarterback in this class but he has big time arm talent, he’s tough and he has the alpha male mentality you look for in the position. I know the accuracy issues are concerning but I wouldn’t read too much into how he played against better competition. If he is given time to develop, he will play well against big time competition.
  • Turnovers have been a major problem for Sam Darnold in his career. I like his size, his arm and his athletcism in and outside of the pocket but Darnold has to learn to take better care of the ball. He has to be trusted by his coaches at the next level. Turning the ball affects a coach’s ability to trust his quarterback. Darnold has to make better decisions and protect the ball. It has to be his number one priority.
  • Josh Rosen is the most complete quarterback in this draft. He has the requisite size, arm strength, smarts and athleticism to play the position. Rosen also has a primadonna side to him and hasn’t always been the leader, which your quarterback needs to be. Rosen has also had an issue with concussions which raises an obvious red flag.
  • No quarterback in this draft is more of a gamer than Baker Mayfield. The kid is a competitor and a flat out winner. Mayfield has all the tools physically to play quarterback in the NFL but he needs to prove he’s matured and will need to be in a system that plays to his strengths otherwise he will struggle.
  • Lamar Jackson is a quarterback. PERIOD! I don’t want to hear this nonsense about him playing receiver. Jackson has the physical tools and the size necessary to play the position. If he is given time to develop, Jackson could develop into a starting quarterback in the NFL. If he is rushed and plays too soon, he will struggle. The arm strength and athleticism is off the charts. It will come down to adapting to the NFL game and playing the position from the pocket.
  • I think Mason Rudolph is a first round talent. He is the most under appreciated quarterback in this class. At 6-4 235, Rudolph has the arm strength and the pocket presence teams look for at the position. He has a quick release and shows good accuracy in all three levels. Unlike some quarterbacks, Rudolph didn’t play in a conventional spread offense. He threw the ball vertically a lot thanks to an experienced receiving corp. Rudolph has experience making decisions at the line of scrimmage. The knock on Rudolph is he didn’t always play up to par in big games, but again, who cares! If given time to develop, he can be a starting quarterback in the NFL.
  • I am a big fan of Washington State quarterback Luke Falk. He has good size, arm strength and a quick release. Falk moves well in the pocket and can create passing lanes for himself to get the ball out. He is a good athlete who doesn’t get enough credit for his ability to extend plays. Playing for Mike Leach has prepared Falk for some of the sight adjustments he is going to have to make in the NFL. I think Falk has starter potential if given time to develop.
  • Mike White of Western Kentucky has a quick release and shows good touch and accuracy on three step and intermediate throws. He is a high I.Q player who process quickly and sees the field well. White needs to be better in the pocket but there is no doubt he can develop into a starting quarterback at the next level. Playing in the spread does impact his evaluation.
  • I get why some people are comparing Jimmy Garoppolo to Richmond quarterback Kyle Lauletta but I don’t think the arm strength is the same. Garoppolo has a stronger arm and is more mobile. Lauletta is more of a pocket passer and is more accurate, especially on intermediate routes. If given time to develop, Lauletta has the physical tools to be a starting quarterback.
  • Keep an eye on Virginia’s Kurt Benkert and Texas Tech’s Nick Shimonek. Both have the physical make up and the size to develop at the next level. Neither is ready to play right away but both have a lot of upside.