2. Jalen Hurts looked the part. Jake Fromm …
Jake Fromm was more than fine.
He was dogged on social media partly for his comparatively sluggish 5.01 in the 40 – although no one expected anything much better than that – the smallish sub-9″ hand size, and for not quite looking the part next to the other star quarterback prospects.
However, he didn’t have to labor making any of the throws, and considering the expectations, he did what was needed to stay in the range of a possible early third round pick.
No one thought Fromm was going to walk into Indianapolis and rip up the drills like Andrew Luck. As long as Fromm didn’t fall flat on his face, he was going to be fine.
On the flip side, the pressure was on Jalen Hurts to look the part of an NFL quarterback.
Whatever that is.
After Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray and Lamar Jackson, the idea of a pro quarterback needing to be a 6-4, 225-pound slinger is gone. Everyone wants a smart, unflappable, baller of a quarterback who could be the face of the franchise, and Hurts checks all of those boxes.
High praise for @JalenHurts as he goes through the drills in Indy #OUDNA
📺 #NFLCombine on @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/PxntJKbOq8
— Oklahoma Football (@OU_Football) February 28, 2020
Even with the amazing season at Oklahoma, Hurts isn’t in the same mix as the last two Sooner quarterbacks to go No. 1 in the draft. He’s not the same passer, and he’s more of a runner who isn’t going to hang around the pocket, but … who cares? Can he play?
He made all the throws without a problem, he looked smooth, and more than anything else, he looked like he belonged.
Oh yeah, and he ran a 4.59 and tied Kelly Bryant for the longest broad jump at 10’5″.
He’s probably a third-rounder, but everyone is going to want him on their team – being an early Day Two pick is more than possible.