Tag: rookie quarterback

Texans star C.J. Stroud is proud of Commanders QB Jayden Daniels

Texans star C.J. Stroud is proud of Commanders QB Jayden Daniels.

Entering the 2024 NFL season, C.J. Stroud of the Houston Texans was the NFL’s best young quarterback. As a rookie last season, Stroud led Houston to 10 wins, an AFC South division title and a playoff win. Stroud had a rookie season for the ages.

This offseason, there was speculation about which NFL team could be the 2024 version of last season’s Texans. A popular pick was the Washington Commanders. The comparisons made sense. Stroud was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft, while the Commanders selected Jayden Daniels with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft.

Those comps are looking good through five weeks, as Daniels has the Commanders at 4-1 and headed into a huge Week 6 matchup with Lamar Jackson and the Baltimore Ravens.

As a guest on Tuesday’s edition of the “Pat McAfee Show,” Stroud was asked about his rookie success and Daniels.

“Once I got comfortable, confident, is when I started playing really well,” Stroud said. “And I can see that with Jayden, but he hit the ground running from Week 1. I’m super proud of him, talk to him almost every week and really just a fan of his and what he’s been able to do. He’s just getting warmed up. I just hope he continues to stay at it, stay hungry and I know he will because that’s his personality.”

Stroud and Daniels have known one another for years, dating back to their childhoods in Southern California. Daniels has no shortage of mentors, but it’s another positive for him to have such a close friend walk a similar path from childhood to college stardom, the NFL draft, and early NFL success.

2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report: QB Michael Penix Jr., Washington

Penix matches his obvious risk with being arguably the best rookie passer

You cannot say that Michael Penix Jr. is a raw recruit. His 13, 741 passing yards rank No. 15 all-time in NCAA football history. That trails No. 6 Bo Nix (15,352) and even the lesser known Sam Hartman (15,656 Notre Dame) and Dillon Gabriel (14,865 Oklahoma) who also played last year in the pass-happy NCAA, where additional years of eligibility thanks to COVID rewrite career records.

Both Penix and Gabriel had rare six-year careers in college. Penix spent four at Indiana where he was the starter for two years but never played in more than seven contests. Penix suffered season-ending injuries every year as a Huskie – two shoulder issues and two torn ACLs. He was productive when playing, but he always missed about half of the games each year.

Penix transferred to Washington for the final two years. He finally remained healthy and led the nation with 4,903 passing yards last season. In 2022, during his first campaign with the Huskies, he passed for 4,641 yards to rank No. 2 in the nation. He claimed he returned in 2023 just to prove that he was truly over his injury problems. That was two straight seasons as no worse than the No. 2 passer in the nation.

Penix excelled in Washington thanks to staying healthy and playing in their pass-intensive scheme. Head coach Kalen DeBoer parlayed his two seasons there into becoming the new head coach at Alabama for 2024. The last two seasons were a magical time for the Huskies offense.

Ironically, had his only time in college been the last two years, Penix would likely have been a candidate for the first quarterback selected this year. Still, he is a first-round grade that is a lock to be a Top-5 quarterback and may end up in the first half of Round 1.

Height: 6-2
Weight: 218 pounds
40 time: 4.46 seconds unofficial

Penix attended the NFL combine where his 6-2 height and 216 pounds are prototypical, and his hands (10 1/2″) and wingspan (81″) were the largest among all quarterbacks there.

Michael Penix Jr.  stats (2018-23)

Year School Games Runs Yards TD Pass Complete Yards Avg. TD Int
2018 Indiana 3 7 45 0 34 21 219 6.4 1 0
2019 Indiana 7 22 119 2 160 110 1394 8.7 10 4
2020 Indiana 6 18 25 2 220 124 1645 7.5 14 4
2021 Indiana 5 17 17 2 162 87 939 5.8 4 7
2022 Washington 13 35 35 4 554 362 4641 8.4 31 8
2023 Washington 15 35 35 3 555 363 4903 8.8 36 11
Credit: Maria Lysaker-USA TODAY Sports

Pros

  • Prototypical pocket passer
  • Mature, 24-year old with six years of experience in college; top NCAA passer over the last two seasons
  • Huge hands for ball security – only four fumbles total in six years
  • Monster arm can effortlessly connect on any deep throw and has the accuracy to make any NFL throw
  • Advanced ability to read defenses and exploit weaknesses
  • Aggressive passer who trusts his receivers and a respected leader in the offense.
  • Short memory keeps him consistently challenging defense
  • Can drop dimes anywhere on the field and throws passes that help receiver add yards-after-catch.
  • Skillset matches up well with offenses in the current NFL

Cons

  • Durability will always be a concern. Inarguably great the last two years, but four previous seasons with consecutive serious injuries
  • Not as effective passing outside of the pocket
  • Won’t tack on much yardage as a rusher but capable of goal-line runs
  • Needs improved footwork to survive in the pocket against an NFL rush

Fantasy outlook

Penix enters the NFL draft as a quarterback of extremes. That likely drops his draft stock slightly, but he is still much coveted after throwing for more yardage over the last two years than anyone in the NCAA. As he himself said, he cannot do anything about his extensive history with injuries other than point at the last two seasons of health and elite stats.

He’ll always carry risk after four straight years of landing on injured reserve, so his placement in the NFL depends on which team values his potential more than his risk. Penix isn’t likely to do much as a rusher in the NFL, but he just threw 1,109 passes over the last two years and is a perfect fit in the pass-happy NFL.

Penix is likely outside of the Top-10 picks in April, but the further he falls from that, the more likely a team will move up to grab him.  He’s been linked to the Los Angeles Raiders, Denver Broncos, Seattle Seahawks, New England Patriots, Minnesota Vikings, and Washington Commanders.

Penix doesn’t need the seasoning that most rookie quarterbacks do since he played for six seasons and the last two were as good as any college quarterback. All players are sensitive to the situation they find with their new team, but Penix deserves fantasy consideration, even as a rookie, no matter where he ends up. He’s not offering rushing production. He offers a scary history of injury. But he is also in the argument as the best passer entering the NFL this year.

2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report: QB Michael Pratt, Tulane

Tulane’s Michal Pratt enters the NFL draft

Michael Pratt became a freshman starter at Tulane after three games that season and remained there for the next three years. He enters the draft as one of the most experienced quarterbacks. Pratt was relatively durable, missing only a couple of games because of a sprained knee to start the 2023 season. He played in 11 games but never appeared totally healthy, even though he led them to the AAC Championship game for the second straight season.

Pratt ended his time with Tulane as their all-time passing leader and opted out of their bowl game to prepare for the NFL draft. He’s improved during his four years as a starter. But he’s also entering the NFL draft in a year considered to have a very strong quarterback class. Pratt is expected to hear his name called on Day 3 when teams want to add to their depth.

Height: 6-2
Weight: 217 pounds
40 time: 4.65 seconds

Table: Michael Pratt NCAA stats (2020-23)

Year School Games Runs Yards TD Pass Complete Yards Avg. TD Int
2020 Tulane 10 115 229 8 254 140 1806 12.9 20 8
2021 Tulane 12 105 154 5 329 190 2390 12.6 21 8
2022 Tulane 13 129 478 10 338 215 3009 14.0 27 5
2023 Tulane 11 98 286 5 283 185 2406 13.0 22 5
Credit: Matthew Hinton-USA TODAY Sports

Pros

  • Solid build for a pocket passer
  • Capable scorer at the goal line with 28 rushing touchdowns at Tulane
  • Superior mechanics when he throws, even when passing off-platform
  • Quick feet and solid balance makes him hard to sack
  • Adequate arm strength to hit all short, intermediate and sideline passes
  • Tough player and highly competitive – was unquestioned team leader for the last three years.

Cons

  • Some inaccuracy on deeper throws and outside of the numbers
  • Lacks elite arm strength
  • Plenty of rushes in college, but lacks the quickness and change-of-direction to be a true dual threat
  • Intelligent, but played in an offense that wasn’t that sophisticated or required him to make rapid, high-level decisions so he’ll face more complexity in the NFL
  • Tended to hold onto the ball too long and needs work on knowing when to get rid of the ball

Fantasy outlook

Pratts is only expected to be an NFL backup and while he’s been good in almost all areas, he hasn’t been elite in any of them. But he’s been solid at Tulane playing within their system, and he could continue to improve in the NFL.

His best quality is that he can step in and help an NFL team, and as a deeply drafted quarterback, he’ll come at a very low price. He’ll remain well outside of immediate fantasy value, and will need to continue to grow and land in the right spot for his future to become brighter.

2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report: QB Bo Nix, Oregon

Nix is a first-round talent that will be taken as a future franchise player.

Bo Nix is one of the rare college players who started for five full seasons between two major college programs.  Nix was rated as the best dual-threat quarterback coming out of high school and signed up to play for Auburn as their starter and won the SEC’s Freshman of the Year in 2019.

Nix played the next two years in Auburn, and suffered a season-ending injury in 2021 after ten games. He announced that he would enter the transfer portal, saying that he was unhappy playing under the new Auburn head coach, Bryan Harsin,  in 2021.

Thanks to the fifth-year added to eligibility from the COVID years, Nix went on to play two more seasons at Oregon where he posted his best years. He was a Heisman finalist and broke Mac Jones record for the highest single-season completion percentage at 77.45%. Nix ended with a total of 15,352 passing yards (sixth in NCAA history) and 108 passing scores. He also ran for 4,508 yards and 45 touchdowns.

Height: 6-2
Weight: 214 pounds
40 time: 4.60 seconds estimated

Nix threw at the NFL combine but did not participate in the timed drills. He was the highest-rated quarterback who did throw. He remains a first-round value but most likely to be drafted fourth or fifth among quarterbacks.

Table: Bo Nix NCAA stats (2020-23)

Year School Games Runs Yards TD Pass Complete Yards Avg. TD Int
2019 Auburn 13 97 313 7 377 217 2542 11.7 16 6
2020 Auburn 11 108 388 7 357 214 2415 11.3 12 7
2021 Auburn 10 57 168 4 323 197 2294 11.7 11 3
2022 Oregon 13 89 510 14 409 294 3593 12.2 29 7
2023 Oregon 14 54 234 6 470 364 4508 12.4 45 3
Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Pros

  • Very mature and experienced 24-year-old. Showed continual improvement as a passer.
  • Superior athlete with dangerous skills as a runner and underneath passer.
  • Dual-threat that combined pinpoint passing with the ability to move the sticks with his legs on any play.
  • “Quarterback fast” and superior quickness picks up the initial yards when he runs.
  • Highly mobile with elite pocket awareness which makes him tough to sack. Creates opportunities when he breaks from the pocket.
  • Open-field rushing ability forces defense to account for him breaking free on a run.
  • Already accomplished at reading defenses, influencing the coverages and delivering highly accurate strikes.

Cons

  • Will sometimes telegraph his primary read which will be penalized against NFL secondaries.
  • Decision-making still needs work, particularly when hurried by  pass rushers that force him off-script and into making quick decisions between where to throw or if to run.
  • Coachable, but has played best within a system  where he has reduced need to improvise. Has tended to throw more short passes, particularly under pressure.
  • Comes from a program in Oregon that was predicated on throwing screens, Run-Pass Options and short-to-intermediate passes which account for his high completion rate. Less experienced in vertical schemes.

Fantasy outlook

Even in this quarterback-rich draft, Nix is expected to be called in Round One. Despite his extensive playing time and stats in college, he’s still needs more development and would best fit into any of the West Coast variant schemes that move the ball primarily on RPO’s in a very structured offense. His rushing ability puts him ahead of most other rookie quarterbacks.

Still, he is expected to be taken no higher than the fourth or fifth quarterback selected. That’s still first round and he’ll be selected to become a starter sooner than later. He’s been linked to teams like the Patriots, Giants, Vikings, Broncos, and Raiders. Spots where he may not be the Week 1 starter, but could take over at some point this season with an eye towards a bigger playoff as the fulltime starter in 2025.

2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report: QB Bryce Young, Alabama

Bryce Young may be shorter than most quarterbacks, but he’s standing on a Heisman Trophy and tremendous success at every level he’s ever played.

Bryce Young creates – and then fulfills – great expectations whenever he plays football. His high school career saw him total 13,520 yards and 152 touchdowns and was ranked as the national No. 1 quarterback prospect when he committed to Alabama. He was also the USA Today High School Offensive Player of the Year.

Young backed up Mac Jones as a freshman and then assumed the starting role as a sophomore when he passed for 4,872 yards and 47 touchdowns when he reached the College Football Championship but lost to Georgia. He won the Heisman Trophy in his first starting season in college, the first Alabama quarterback to win the prestigious award. He also won the Davey O’Brien and Manning awards for the best collegiate quarterback.

His second season wasn’t as decorated while the Crimson Tide’s offense suffered a letdown with an absence of the usual stack of elite receivers. He also sprained the AC joint in his throwing shoulder but only missed one game. He was sixth in Heisman voting and ended his career as the Crimson Tide’s all-time leader  with five five-touchdown games.

Height: 5-10
Weight: 194 pounds
40 time: 4.43 seconds

Young did not work out at the combine but interviewed with teams and will perform at the Alabama Pro Day on March 23. His only question mark entering the NFL is his physical size. While listed at 6-0 and 194 pounds on Alabama’s official roster, he bulked up to 204 at the combine while shrinking two inches to 5-10 when NFL officials were holding the tape. He was the shortest quarterback at the combine while the other Day 1 quarterbacks are 6-3 or taller.

Table: Player NCAA stats (2019-22)

Year School Games Runs Yards TD Pass Complete Yards Avg. TD Int
2020 Alabama 7 9 -23 0 22 13 156 7.1 1 0
2021 Alabama 15 81 0 3 547 366 4872 8.9 47 7
2022 Alabama 12 49 185 4 380 245 3328 8.8 32 5

 

Pros

  • High intellect with excellent instincts
  • Highly accurate, particularly with short to intermediate throws
  • Very elusive with great start-and-stop and burst
  • Master at creating plays when he goes off-script
  • Confident and never rattled
  • Superior skills at reading defenses, locating the open receiver
  • Quick and compact release
  • Not a cannon arm but can make all throws

Cons

  • His only real knock is size – not only short, but also thin build
  • Mobile enough to extend plays but won’t add much via runs
  • Joins Kyler Murray as shortest quarterback in NFL
  • Will be the lightest starting quarterback in the NFL

Fantasy outlook

There is a distinct chance that Young becomes the first pick of the NFL draft, currently owned by the Carolina Panthers. There will be a batch of quarterbacks likely taken within the first ten picks and Young will immediately start wherever he ends up. Since he’s primarily a pocket passer, the quality of his receivers and offensive scheme will have a large bearing on his early success. Young is mobile enough to buy time for a play to develop (or turn into something new), but he’s likely to remain behind the line of scrimmage instead of taking off on a downfield scamper.

He has to prove that his height will not be a limitation and he correlates closely with Kyler Murray in size though less so in playing style. Murray ran for 1,001 yards in his final year at Oklahoma and at least 400 yards in each NFL season. Young never ran more than 185 yards in any college season and for just 81 yards in his Heisman year.

Young is a gifted passer and dominated at every level that he’s ever played. Pin-point passes, leading receivers on deep routes, masterfully creating plays whenever he needed to improvise. When he had two great receivers in Jameson Williams and John Metchie in 2021, he threw for 47 scores and won the Heisman. His success will be a little more reliant on his receivers than a running quarterback, but this is a highly intelligent quarterback that puts in the work while owning elite instincts.

Young has to play bigger than 5-10. He’s not going to abandon plays and take off on a run like Murray. He’s in the bigger and faster NFL but his formidable success has been entirely built on elite passing skills and that always translates well.

2022 NFL Draft Scouting Report: QB Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh

Kenny Pickett could be handed a new jersey as the first quarterback drafted

Kenny Pickett is expected to be one of the first names called in the NFL draft by a quarterback-needy team. He’s already a rarity, and not just from his tremendous 2021 production. Pickett is 23 years old, and played for five seasons at the University of Pittsburgh thanks to the NCAA rule that allowed an extra year of eligibility after the COVID-shortened 2020 season.

Most elite quarterbacks will declare for the draft after three seasons and may have only started one or two years. Pickett was a true four-year starter and had his first start in the final game of his true freshman season when the unranked Panthers beat the No. 2 ranked Hurricanes.

He set all the passing records for the school, including 12,303 yards and 81 touchdowns. He added 20 rushing scores. He played in the same system all four years and showed growth and progress as a passer, enough so that his 2021 season saw their offense rely more on his arm with great results.

Also see: 2022 NFL Draft Central

Height: 6-3
Weight: 220 pounds
40 time: 4.67 seconds

Pickett saw success as a pocket passer but did himself great favor by staying at Pitt for that extra year of eligibility. He had been a good quarterback but exploded in 2021, passing for 4,3129 yards and 42 touchdowns. He won the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award and was named as the ACC Offensive Player of the Year.

Table: Kenny Pickett NCAA stats (2019-21)

Year School Games Runs Yards TD Pass Complete Yards Avg. TD Int
2017 Pitt 4 26 93 2 66 39 509 7.3 1 1
2018 Pitt 14 117 220 3 310 180 1969 6.3 12 6
2019 Pitt 12 95 110 2 469 289 3098 6.3 13 9
2020 Pitt 9 81 145 8 332 203 2408 6.8 13 9
2021 Pitt 13 97 241 5 497 334 4319 9.7 42 7

Pros

  • Mature and experienced
  • Gunslinger mentality but not reckless
  • Composed in the pocket
  • Highly accurate at all levels of the field
  • Pocket passer but can gain rushing yards if needed
  • Great leader
  • Consistently improved his game
  • Excellent timing on passes beats coverage
  • Can make tight throws even on the run
  • Patient passer that reads defenses as they evolve on plays
  • High football IQ
  • Extends plays with his feet

Cons

  • Smallest hands at the NFL Combine spawn concerns in wet or cold games. Also fumbled 38 times over his five seasons.
  • Only one elite season at Pitt
  • Heavy pass rush can make rattle him
  • Occasionally overconfident in his ability to thread the needle

Fantasy outlook

Pickett was a likely middle-round NFL draft pick until 2021, when his level of play greatly increased, and he displayed the form that suggested he could succeed at the pro level. Expectations are that he’ll be a first-round pick to a QB-needy team, and he’s even the top quarterback on at least a few draft boards.

Whether his hand size is an issue remains to be proven. It is troublesome that he fumbled 38 times in college and that could be an issue by itself, not even factoring in how many rain or cold games he might play. But he’s excelled at the NCAA level and shown solid progress in all his years.

Pickett can extend plays via the run and score the short touchdown, but his fantasy value and NFL value will be tied to what he can do as a pocket passer. The teams expected to upgrade their quarterbacks via the NFL draft (Falcons, Panthers, Steelers, Seahawks) have decent receivers, but none are expected to produce upper-half of the league stats this year.

Several other NFL teams could consider an early quarterback – Commanders, Saints, Eagles, Giants and Texans. Playing at Pitt for five years means that Pickett is more mature and experienced than  any of the other top quarterbacks in the draft, so he’ll almost certainly be selected with the expectation of a Week 1 starting role.

Pickett is most associated with the Steelers and he’s visited the Lions as well. The majority of scouts believe either he or Malik Willis will be the first quarterback taken. But the Panthers and Seahawks will also be potential landing spots.

2022 NFL Draft Scouting Report: QB Sam Howell, North Carolina

Howell declares for the NFL after two great seasons and a down 2021.

Sam Howell is a North Carolina institution. At Sun Valley High School, he threw for 13,415 yards and 145 touchdowns, plus ran for 3,621 yards and 60 touchdowns. He elected to remain in-state when he committed to the University of North Carolina, despite earlier having committed to Florida State University.

Howell became the  first true freshman to start a season opener for the Tarheels. Over his three seasons there, he would set numerous Tar Heel career records, including most passing yards (10,283), touchdown passes (92), and total touchdowns (109). Howell also threw for the most touchdowns in a single season (38) while only a freshman. He was the ACC Rookie of the Year in 2019.

Howell ended with 37 games played and never failed to throw at least one touchdown in each.

Height: 6-1
Weight: 218 pounds
40 time: 4.9 seconds (estimated – did not run at the NFL Combine)

Howell’s passing stats dropped in 2021, and that will be factored in where he is drafted. The Tarheels lost Michael Carter and Javonte Williams, and wideouts Dazz Newsome and Dyami Brown to the NFL last year. The Tarheels fell to only 6-7 with a nearly all-new cast of skill players on offense.

Howell was on track to be a lock as a first-round draft pick after his freshman season, but after the COVID years and losing other offensive stars slowed Howell down, his draft stock has taken a drop.

Also see: 2022 NFL Draft Central

Table: Sam Howell NCAA stats (2019-21)

Year School Games Runs Yards TD Pass Complete Yards Avg. TD Int
2019 North Carolina 13 94 35 1 422 259 3641 8.6 38 7
2020 North Carolina 12 92 146 5 348 237 3586 10.3 30 7
2021 North Carolina 12 183 828 11 347 217 3056 8.8 24 9

Pros

  • Gunslinger mentality
  • Accurate passer in all three levels
  • Great leadership
  • Natural passer with great instincts
  • Mobile passer that doesn’t lose accuracy
  • Hard to sack
  • Arm that can make any NFL throw
  • Succeeded without elite receivers
  • Elite footwork keeps him upright
  • Deadly on both short timing routes and deep throws

Cons

  •  Smaller than most NFL quarterbacks
  • Highly mobile but not a dynamic runner
  • Played Hero Ball in 2021 with a lesser cast around him
  • Needs improvement on reading defenses

Fantasy outlook

NFL teams have to decide which seasons were more indicative of what to expect from Howell – his first two years when he excelled with a talented cast around him, or 2021 when his stats all fell off when the Tarheels lost the best players from his surrounding cast? It’s equally telling that his rushing attempts doubled last season with lesser passing targets and a drop in the quality of the backfield.

If Howell is selected in the first round, he’ll be considered a starting option as a rookie. He’s expected by many to drop into the second round, and a few believe he could go further since there are only a few teams that are looking for a Day 1 starting quarterback from this draft class.

Howell’s fantasy stock is almost entirely at a dynasty league level. If he lands on a team with above-average talent around him, it would be no shock to see him return to the same impressive form he showed in the first two seasons in North Carolina. He’ll be more of a pocket passer that can run when needed, but he won’t offer the same volume of rushes as a true running quarterback. He is a double-threat, but his NFL success will be tied to his arm.

Unless Howell lands with QB-needy teams like the Falcons, Panthers, Lions, or Seahawks, he’s not likely to produce much fantasy value as a rookie.

2022 NFL Draft Scouting Report: QB Malik Willis, Liberty

Malik Willis is ready to run onto fantasy rosters even as a rookie.

As a high school senior in Atlanta, Malik Willis threw for 2,562 yards, rushed for 1,033 yards and scored 37 total touchdowns. He signed with Auburn and played behind Jarrett Stidham for two seasons with appearances in 11 games but transferred to Liberty College in 2020, where he became a starter for the next two years.

Granted, he traded SEC opponents for those on independent Liberty’s schedule – Troy, Middle Tennessee State, North Texas, Army, and the like. But Willis became one of the most electric dual-threat quarterbacks in the nation. He was the leading passer and rusher for the Liberty Flames the last two seasons and led them to a 10-1 record in 2020 as the No. 17 team in the AP rankings.

Height: 6-0
Weight: 219 pounds
40 time: 4.4 (estimated – did not run at combine)

He enters the NFL with both elite skills and areas of concern. Willis was a star at the NFL combine, displaying his arm strength and deep ball touch. Better yet, he impressed in interviews and left teams comfortable with his maturity, intelligence, and ambition. He did not run since he had nothing to prove. He has elite speed.

Table: Malik Willis NCAA stats (2018-2021)

Year Team Games Runs Yards TD Pass Complete Yards Avg. TD Int
2018 Auburn 7 16 221 1 7 6 45 9.3 1 0
2019 Auburn 5 12 88 1 7 5 24 3.4 0 0
2020 Liberty 10 141 944 14 265 170 2250 9.0 20 6
2021 Liberty 13 197 878 13 339 207 2857 8.4 27 12

Pros

  • Tremendous dual-threat potential
  • Dangerous running in the open field
  • Elite RPO skills in the right offense
  • Cannon arm but can drop deep rainbow passes into a basket
  • Good vision on scrambles and roll-outs
  • By all accounts a leader and high character individual that teammates will rally behind
  • Raw tools are elite
  • Speed to burn any defender when in the open

Cons

  • Takes unnecessary sacks when pressed
  • Footwork in the pocket needs work
  • Accuracy issues when scrambling
  • Can throw too hot to shallow receivers
  • Tends to look for big play rather than settle for lesser gains or throwaways
  • Worked against lesser competition and in simpler offense at Liberty
  • Shorter stature may impact seeing over the line

Fantasy outlook

He’s compared to recent running quarterbacks like Lamar Jackson and particularly Jalen Hurts, who led the NFL in  quarterback rushing yards last year. There is no doubt that Willis can fit into the NFL and his run ability will be fantasy-relevant even as a rookie. He may be the first quarterback taken in the NFL draft.

There’s plenty to love about Willis.  Elite rushing skills, cannon arm that can make any throw, highly competitive. While his rushing ability and deep-ball skills are already formidable, he’ll need to continue to work on his intermediate passing, where he needs to improve at reading defenses, adjust ball velocity on shorter passes, and be more accurate. He was only a two-year starter at a smaller college and needs continued development as a pocket passer. If he can master that intermediate game as he has deep throws and rushing, then Willis will be one of the elite quarterbacks in the NFL.

One of the qualities that he brings, unlike so many other college quarterbacks, is leadership, maturity, intelligence and willingness to learn. He’s well-liked and respected by teammates.

His rushing ability will always make him fantasy-relevant. How quickly he can learn to be a better passer will limit or propel his fantasy value.

Washington will do everything in its power to find a quarterback for 2022

On Tuesday, Ron Rivera made it clear: Washington is all-in on a quarterback for 2022.

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Washington coach Ron Rivera and general manager Martin Mayhew met with the local media Monday for their season-ending press conference. As you might expect, they talked about quarterbacks.

No, they didn’t discuss a specific quarterback because, you know, that would be an issue. But Rivera and Mayhew did make it clear to fans: Washington will do everything in its power to find an answer at the game’s most important position.

That includes perhaps a veteran and a rookie in 2022:

“At this point, no, nothing’s out of the question,” Rivera said.

If Rivera could somehow pull off the impossible and acquire Aaron Rodgers or Russell Wilson, then, no, Washington would not be in the market for a rookie passer. However, if Washington signed a veteran passer such as Mitchell Trubisky, it could still choose a first-round quarterback, such as Matt Corral.

Mayhew agreed.

“I would just echo what coach said and tell you that we’ve started the process,” Mayhew said. “We’ve been talking about this for several months now and how we move forward. Every avenue uncover every stone. We look at every situation out there and try to find the right guy.”

For once, Washington’s entire organization appears to be on the same page. The head coach and the general manager will agree on Washington’s pick at quarterback in 2022. Unlike in 2019, when owner Dan Snyder forced Washington to select Dwayne Haskins in the first round when no one on the football side wanted him in the first round.

Or, like 2012, when Washington mortgaged the future in a trade up for Robert Griffin III, but head coach Mike Shanahan took Kirk Cousins in the fourth round.

And, if Washington drafts a passer in the first round, he will play.

“If we do that, we’re doing that to play him,” Rivera said.

I’m not doing it to have him wait, because again, it is about, like I said, to me, the third season is when you take another step and hopefully, we’ve done the things with the other positions that would warrant us, finding the guy to put in and get ready to roll whether it comes from one of those four avenues or not.

Rivera likes the current composition of the roster, especially on offense, and believes a rookie passer can thrive once Washington gets fully healthy on offense in 2022.

Rivera was also asked about another controversial option, Houston’s Deshaun Watson. Of course, Rivera couldn’t discuss Watson as he is under contract with another team.

“We can’t talk about players and other rosters just to be fair,” Rivera answered. “But we’re going to explore all avenues.”

Last offseason, Rivera made it clear he wanted to build up the rest of the roster before making a bold move for a quarterback. Entering year three of his regime, Rivera knows he must make that move this offseason.

If you doubted Washington’s urgency at quarterback before Tuesday, Rivera and Mayhew’s answers should’ve eased your concerns.

Rookie Rundown: QB Zach Wilson, BYU

Zach Wilson poised to be a top-3 draft pick

Start spreading the news.

Former BYU quarterback Zach Wilson may or may not be as good as Trevor Lawrence, but the consensus is that he’s a better draft pick than any other rookie this year. That means falling to the 1.02 pick by the New York Jets. That No. 3 spot varies greatly in projections and draft guesses but Wilson will be a Jet or the draft kicks off with a surprise.

As a true freshman, he started seven games and ended with a season-best 317 yards and four touchdowns against Western Michigan in the 2018 Famous Idaho Potato Bowl where he was named as the game MVP.

As a sophomore, he started nine games and ended up in the 2019 Hawaii Bowl where he was against the game MVP.

As a junior, he enjoyed a stellar year when he passed for 3,692 yards and 33 touchdowns and ran in ten more scores on his 70 rushes for 254 yards.  He ended as the MVP if the 2020 Boca Raton Bowl. He also beat BYU alum Steve Young’s school record with a 73.5% completion rate.

Wilson recorded 15 touchdowns as a rusher at BYU, but they were almost all short scores and he only averaged 3.0 yards per rush. He’s not a running quarterback per se but can certainly rush in touchdowns in addition to throwing them.

Height: 6-3
Weight: 210 pounds
40 time: 4.84 seconds

His star was rising after his sophomore season, but his strong junior campaign rocketed him up the draft boards. He had been hampered by a torn labrum that was repaired between his first two seasons. A right-hand injury impacted his second year and it too required surgery. But his junior season was all healthy and served up what Wilson was capable of doing.

Zach Wilson BYU stats (2018-20)

Year Games Runs Yards TD Pass Complete Yards Avg. TD Int QBR
2018 9 75 221 2 182 120 1578 13.2 12 3 157.2
2019 9 67 167 3 319 199 2382 12.0 11 9 130.8
2020 12 70 254 10 336 247 3692 14.9 33 3 196.4

Pros

  • Accurate passer
  • Big arm
  • Rarely makes an error
  • Can make any throw
  • Poised in pocket, almost fearless
  • Confident and very competitive
  • Big arm that can has touch on deep tosses
  • Throws very catchable ball
  • Smart player that excels reading defenses
  • Enough mobility to avoid rush and buy time
  • Burst as a runner helps notch short rushing scores
  • Expected to continue to improve
  • Athletic

Cons

  • Only had one big year
  • Did not face top competition
  • Could use more weight
  • Some character concerns as too confident
  • Needs work on anticipation
  • injuries in high school and in college

Fantasy outlook

There is a chance that the Jets surprise with their 1.02 pick and select Justin Fields, but odds are heavily leaning to Wilson ending up in New York where there has never been a 4,000-yard passer since the league went to 16 games in 1978. On the plus, he gets that extra 17th game this year to break the curse.

Sam Darnold never experienced the level of success expected when the Jets grabbed him in 2018 with their 1.03 pick. Or the 2009 1.05 pick they used on Mark Sanchez. The Jets history of underwhelming at the quarterback spot is lengthy and uncomfortable.

There’s a new coaching staff with HC Robert Saleh and OC Mike LaFleur, so the rebuild begins centered around Wilson. The talent of receivers remains below average, but they are expected to mine the draft for wideouts. The 2021 outlook is low given the installation of new schemes, new coaches, new players and just being Year 1 of a rebuild. His dynasty value is much higher, but even then the history of the position points to marginal fantasy position for the Jets and Wilson is just the newest young gun trying to turn the franchise around.