A comprehensive breakdown of the top QBs in the draft.

[Verge]

A few of you have asked me for this, so I thought I would throw out a little something. I haven't been typing up scouting reports and the like lately, but I do still watch a ton of film and of course enjoyed watching these guys play at the college level. 

1. Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars 
Strengths: Uhh, everything? 
Weaknesses: Can be inaccurate at times and is prone to a lot of "hero ball". Think early Cam Newton.
Draft grade: 100/100 
Pro comparison: John Elway
Quick note: This is the best pro prospect I have ever scouted. He is likely already a top 10 QB in the NFL without even playing a snap. Everything he does is pro ball, and he is so far ahead of everyone else it's ridiculous. Live arm, underrated athleticism, ideal size, etc etc etc, You get the idea. 


2. Zach  Wilson, QB, BYU
Strengths: Live arm, quick release, playmaker, sandlot ball, high level accuracy
Weaknesses: Footwork needs a lot of work, hero ball
Draft grade: 98/100 
Pro Comparison: Tony Romo but it's also kind of like if Drew Brees and Kyler Murray had a really tall baby
Quick note: I love watching this dudes tape, he makes a lot of something out of nothing, looked like the entire team at times, seems to fuel his team to success. This is the dude you want to draft if you want to take a shot at getting "The next Mahomes" the tape is awfully similar, just not sure the arm is AS good. (Consider me on team Wilson if we do go after a QB)


3. Trey Lance, QB, NDSU
Strengths: Superman, big arm, few mistakes, great accuracy, sky is the limit
Weaknesses: Competition, seemed too easy, why wasn't he great this year?, does not make a ton of pro reads, some technical issues in footwork/stance/etc
Draft grade: 95/100 
Pro Comparison: Justin Herbert 
Quick note: Lance is the most athletic QB to come out since Cam, not quite at Cam's level as a freak or as a prospect, but he also does some things better than Cam did in that regards. Super accurate, huge arm, great leader, he checks all the boxes and his ceiling is higher than anyone. Good luck defending this dude when he finally does transition. People have a bigger issue than I do with the level of competition thing, I have always seen a NFL throw as just that 


4. Justin Fields, QB, OHST
Strengths: Professional athlete, big arm, mechanically sound, driven
Weaknesses: Super streaky, sometimes, accuracy issues on simply throws, plays stiff at times
Draft grade: 90/100
Pro comparison: Dak Prescott 
Quick notes: Man, that Clemson game really should have thrown him over the top, but it's sort of hard to ignore the couple of games before that, and failing to meet the challenge of an Alabama defense (not that anyone probably could have). Every knock on Fields is the same, he is streaky, sometimes he has issues, and sometimes he doesn't. Why is that? It's the core of the personnel department to figure that out. He has all the ability in the world, can he put it together? 


5. Mac Jones, QB, ALA 
Strengths: Fantastic distributor, excellent anticipatory thrower, good deep ball, sound mechanics
Weaknesses: Obvious limitations, talent around him?, athletic ability isn't there
Draft grade: 84/100
Pro comparison: Andy Dalton
Quick Note: Must be nice to throw to Smith, Waddle, Jerry Rice, and all those other guys. His limitation do show up on tape, no doubt about it, you worry what happens when a play breaks down or guys don't get open, like playing Mario Kart and everyone else has items and you don't, there just isn't a good answer for that. He could succeed with weapons, good play calling, and a good o-line, he would fit right into SF. Not a guy you rebuild with by any means, but can be a starter.
 


6. Jamie Newman
7. Kellend Mond 
8. Kyle Trask 
9. KJ Costello
10. Dustin Crum (Yeah look him up, it's a fun watch)

[TheSpecialJuan]

Good stuff 

[Santee_Panther]

I’d be happy to stay at 8 and hope one of top 4 QBs drop. Price to move up likely too high given the natural uncertainty in the draft process. 

[*FreeFua*]

I feel that Lance and Fields are simply too athletic to be complete busts as some worry about. Their natural athletic ability will buy them enough time to develop into good QB’s. 

Both can make all the throws and Fields is accurate as hell. So it’s not like either solely depends on their legs. It’s just another part of their game. 

If we don’t land Watson, one of Wilson/Fields/Lance would be a very nice consolation prize.

[CashNewton22]

I know I’ve got a ways to go in regards to an NFL talent evaluator because when I look at Wilson vs Lance I see they’ve both played not so great competition and Lance just looks way better as a prospect. I just can’t shake the feeling Wilson is going to be a bust when so so many people who do it for a living/are clearly better evaluators than me sing his praises. I guess time will tell. 

[cookinbrak]

Stay at 8, get Lance or a long term LT.

[top dawg]

I'm driving the Lance locomotive, but if they choose Wilson, I'm not gonna be as mad as some of the people who would talk sh¡t if they choose Lance over Wilson (assuming that we move up)! 

I've consistently told people that Lance has the highest upside and the biggest arm! 

[LinvilleGorge]

27 minutes ago, CashNewton22 said:

I know I’ve got a ways to go in regards to an NFL talent evaluator because when I look at Wilson vs Lance I see they’ve both played not so great competition and Lance just looks way better as a prospect. I just can’t shake the feeling Wilson is going to be a bust when so so many people who do it for a living/are clearly better evaluators than me sing his praises. I guess time will tell. 

If history is any indication, at least one of these guys is gonna flat out bust and another will probably come far short of expectations. I LOVE Wilson, but at the end of the day maybe Wilson is the bust. 

If I had to bet money with a gun to my head though, I'd bet on Fields being the bust and it's because of what Verge pointed out - he's wildly inconsistent in his play and unlike Cam who could also be inconsistent, Fields while being a very good athlete isn't a Cam type of athlete who can simply take over a game with athleticism when he had to.

[top dawg]

17 minutes ago, cookinbrak said:

Stay at 8, get Lance or a long term LT.

I think we're going to have to move up. There's just too many teams looking for a QB. We have to get to that 2 or 3 spot! I don't trust the damned dirty birds!

[WarPanthers89]

@Verge Great post. In your opinion, what are the odds one of the top 4 QB’s fall to us at 8? Most years that would be an almost guarantee, but this year I’m not so sure. 

[Moo Daeng]

The Lawrence hype is getting silly. 

[ForJimmy]

27 minutes ago, cookinbrak said:

Stay at 8, get Lance or a long term LT.

What if Lance is drafted by the Lions or Eagles ahead of us?

Edited February 25, 2021 by ForJimmy

[LinvilleGorge]

17 minutes ago, top dawg said:

I think we're going to have to move up. There's just too many teams looking for a QB. We have to get to that 2 or 3 spot! I don't trust the damned dirty birds!

Yep. If we can't trade for a QB we're probably going to have to trade up. 

[ForJimmy]

I would love Lance or Fields. I get the knock on Fields, but this was a very strange year. He had lineman out, WRs out, coaches out, and several games cancelled/moved. I feel like he really didn’t get in a good rhythm. His 2019 stats were pretty incredible. Lance struggled in his only game in 2020 also. Both players are oozing with potential and I really hope we can get one of them. If we do draft one of them, who will be our starting QB in week one?