NFL Draft Combine Preview: Quarterbacks

With the Super Bowl now behind us, it is officially NFL Draft season! It's time to speculate on draft picks for teams, who should land where, and which players should be valued over others. This also marks the unofficial start to the 2020 fantasy football season. Getting in the early preparation can give owners a leg up on the competition once the rookie drafts start to take place. As we see each year, there will be rookies that come into the league and make an immediate impact and could be key cogs that can propel you to a fantasy title.

The position I'm looking at in this article is the glamour position of the league, the quarterbacks. Everyone knows that the incoming class will be led by Joe Burrow. But looking at the prospects behind him will be where true interests start to pique. Can Tua Tagovailoa rebound from his college career being cut short due to injury? Can Jalen Hurts prove that he is more than a gadget player at the position? These are questions that many will be asking as the scouting combine draws near. The lower tiers of this class are littered with question marks, limiting the chances that NFL teams will have in drafting someone that can make a mark on their roster.

With all that being said, let's take a look at the Top 10 players I have at the quarterback position heading into the scouting combine. All rankings will be subject to change, of course, but this is where I currently have the players slotted in terms of fantasy value.

Joe Burrow, LSU

What can be said about Burrow that has not already been said? He is coming off of a magical year in which he carried his team to a national title win and brought home a Heisman. His high-level skill set can easily be seen on tape, but it's the intelligence and pre-snap reads that set him apart. He knows the routes of each of his receivers and can utilize the best throw based on the coverage he reads. He stands tall in the pocket but is not afraid to get out and get a little dirty. His ability to handle the pressure coupled with his blend of accuracy will make him a starter from the get-go. Although he may lack elite throwing power, he certainly makes up for it with all of his other traits.

Fantasy Impact:

Burrow will be the top pick in the NFL Draft and will be pushing to be the top pick in rookie drafts right after. He led the nation in touchdown passes (55) and was among the leaders in TD: Int ratio (9.2). Those video game-type numbers will be hard to hit in the NFL, but he has the moxie to give it a shot. He has the makeup to be a franchise QB and could make an impact in fantasy in year one, much like Kyler Murray in 2019. I expect him to be among the top picks in dynasty but also drafted among the final QB1s in season-long as well. He has the tools to finish the 2020 season as a Top-10 QB, but will he land in a spot that will give him the talent to help him succeed? That remains to be seen.

Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama

The biggest question surrounding Tagovailoa will be the medicals as we head into the scouting combine. All indications are that he is healing from hip surgery ahead of schedule and could be ready by this summer. But when it comes to on-the-field talent, there are no questions as to what he can offer a team. He has quick processing skills when reading a defense and elite accuracy across all parts of the field. He doesn't lose his cool under pressure and has a knack for extending plays outside of the pocket. He only played in nine games in 2019 but compiled one of the better stat lines in the country in that time frame (32 TDs to only 3 Ints). His draft spot will be determined by just how healthy he is moving forward.

Fantasy Impact:

He will be drafted fairly early in the 2020 Draft and should be the same in dynasty drafts as well. He can make an immediate impact in fantasy due to his play style and how it meshes with teams and their current offensive mindsets. Proving to be healthy and remain that way could be a tough task for him in the league, however. He is a risk to take a shot on in dynasty formats given his injury history. But if you are in a spot where you can take on the risk, he could pan out big time. Think a mixture of Kyler Murray and Russell Wilson.

Justin Herbert, Oregon

Coming off of a great career at Oregon, Herbert looks to fill the role as a franchise QB in the NFL. He is gifted with all the tools, size, mobility, and arm talent. He can make every throw on the field and can wow at times with incredible ball placement. He is more of a rhythm passer and will always keep things on schedule if he not rattled. The improvement each year in passing yardage and scoring looks good to evaluators as he's showing there is still room to improve. Some of those include his reaction to pressure. It tends to lead to some mind-numbing misfires from the pocket. But that will be something he must show as the NFL speed will be a major upgrade from what he is used to. But overall, he has the gifts to be a solid QB in the league for many years, given he is surrounded by the proper talent and offensive mindset to hone his skills.

Fantasy Impact:

From a fantasy perspective, Herbert must be viewed as a player with more long-term appeal in dynasty formats. He will most likely not make a big impact in 2020 as the growing pains set in. But as for rookie drafts, he is certainly a player I have my eyes set on in the first round. He's a great building block that you can pivot to if you have an aging veteran currently starting.

Jake Fromm, Georgia

Fromm is a "no-nonsense" prospect that will likely only give you what you have already seen on game film. His football IQ is high and he can command an offense very easily. Pre-snap reads are above average and he can hit receivers with anticipations throws. He does not possess a cannon for an arm but he can process the field quickly to find the open man leading to plus yardage. His physical limitations are what will hurt him on the next level. He has the ability to throw on the run, but he isn't the type to take off for large gains on broken plays. Facing the tough SEC defenses, he will be more than ready to step up to the next level in terms of competition.

Fantasy Impact:

Looking at his fantasy profile, there isn't much to get excited about. His landing spot will fully determine the value he has early on in his career. He reminds me of a young Kirk Cousins heading into the league, although I think Cousins has a tad bit more athletic ability. But Fromm can be a serviceable QB2 in fantasy for years. He may never be the guy to fill up the stat sheets but could be a player that is a worthy bye week fill-in type.

Jordan Love, Utah State

Love may just be this year's most intriguing prospect at the position. He is a talented, but flawed QB. He checks the boxes in terms of mobility and athleticism. He can throw well on the move and does a great job of extending plays. He has a strong pocket presence and mechanics that can allow him to make most throws across the field. He is more than willing to test defenses down the field but also knows when to hit the checkdown. But the negatives with Love will be his inconsistencies. His accuracy comes and goes throughout the game. Case in point, his 2019 film and stat-line (20:16 TD:INT ratio with a 62.1% completion rate). His field vision will need vast improvement at the next level and likes to take too many risks with his throws. His decision making must improve if he is to be considered a starting caliber QB in the NFL.

Fantasy Impact:

Looking at his fantasy stock, you can throw 2019 out the window. He should not see the field unless an injury occurs to the incumbent. He will have some dynasty appeal, but should not be looked at until the late 2nd round or after. The comps will lean towards Colin Kaepernick obviously, based on both attending Utah State. But, the skillset is also very similar. Keep that in mind as you prepare for rookie drafts.

Jacob Eason, Washington

Eason was a recruit that came into college with a lot of credentials behind him. He had a solid freshman season (2,430 passing yards and 16 TD) but followed that up with an injury-plagued sophomore campaign. He had to use his junior season as a prove-it season for NFL scouts and he turned in a somewhat modest effort (3,132 passing yards and 23 TD). He is a pro-style QB that is coming into the league with some of the skills that teams look for. He has the prototypical size that you look for in a QB and has a rocket for an arm. He likes to push the ball down the field and utilizes play-action passing as a strong-point. His accuracy is on par with most of the QBs in this class and at times can make the most difficult throws look easy. He stands tall in the pocket, which at times can be a detriment, as he is very slow working through progressions. He has below-average pocket mobility with a slow snap to release throwing motion. He also tends to crumble when the pressure gets to him, leading to many avoidable sacks.

Fantasy Impact:

While looking at his fantasy potential, he is a dynasty project at best. I believe that he will assume the role of a backup in the league and will see spot starts here and there throughout his career. He, along with the remainder of prospects on this list, will be players that you should only roster in the deepest of dynasty formats.

Anthony Gordon, Washington State

The one-year starter from Washington State, Gordon took over the role from Gardner Minshew. While playing under the Mike Leach "Air Raid" offense, his numbers are somewhat inflated (5,579 passing yards with 48 TD). He does not possess a strong arm and has to utilize the short-to-intermediate passing game and allow receivers to gain yardage in open space. His quick release will be a good fit for an NFL offense that runs more spread or West Coast schemes. He's likely to be a player that teams will take a look at in the mid to late rounds of the draft and see what they have in him as he acclimates to the pro game.

Fantasy Impact:

Gordon's fantasy stock will be similar to that of Minshew's at the pro level. A team will take a shot with him, but he may only see the field if the starter were to get injured. He's worth a stab late in rookie drafts if you have adequate bench depth, but will be destined to be waiver wire fodder for most of his career.

Jalen Hurts, Oklahoma

This year's wild-card, Hurts, will be a player to watch at the scouting combine. Many people will want to compare his numbers in college to that of Lamar Jackson. Both were highly skilled runners at the position, but Jackson has always been the better arm talent. Hurts has general accuracy in the short to intermediate range. But that accuracy falls off as the throws get deeper down the field. He will best be utilized in offenses that run a lot of run-pass options. He has difficulties reading defenses pre-snap and will stare down receivers during a play. This will lead to an abundance of turnovers and mostly keep him on the sidelines throughout his career.

Fantasy Impact:

Like I said, Hurts will be a wild-card in this class. If he finds a home that can help him grow and play to his talents, he may find some value to fantasy owners. But that is a mighty big if. In the meantime, let other owners in your dynasty league take the stab on Hurts and the headaches he may bring.

Cole McDonald, Hawaii

Playing in Hawaii, not many people will be familiar with you. That is the case for McDonald as only the craziest college fans have seen him play. As for his pro potential, he has a lot of work ahead of him. He has the size and strong arm that makes you believe in what he's capable of, but also has the inconsistencies that are too unreliable to run an NFL offense. He put up big-time numbers in 2019 (4,135 passing yards and 33 TDs) with the run and shoot offense that Hawaii employs. His throwing motion and timing will be the biggest concerns for a coaching staff as they try to get him up to speed for the pros.

Fantasy Impact:

McDonald is yet again a player that is a gamble at best in dynasty formats. Take the wait and see approach with him as your rookie drafts take place. He could be selected in this year's draft but could just as easily be cut during training camp.

Bryce Perkins, Virginia

Perkins is a dual-threat QB that could find himself on an NFL roster as a coaching staff will use training camp to see what they have in the player. He has plus size and athletic ability. He can throw with modest accuracy to all levels of the field but has to rely on receivers to come down with the ball more than leading them into a window. He could develop into a dangerous weapon for an offense in certain packages but does not project to be an NFL starter at any point during his career.

Fantasy Impact:

Perkins may be the type of player that could be used similar to how the Saints use Taysom Hill. Time will tell on his pro potential, but as for now, he displays a minimal value for fantasy owners in any format.

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