[mm-video type=playlist id=01eqbx8sj47vkwrznr player_id=none image=https://lionswire.usatoday.com/wp-content/plugins/mm-video/images/playlist-icon.png]
There is another quarterback in the 2022 NFL draft player pool, one that the Detroit Lions might want to consider in the middle rounds. Kaleb Eleby from Western Michigan announced on social media he is forgoing his final season of eligibility and entering the draft.
Eleby played four years for the Broncos and was the team’s starter for the last two, as well as a handful of games in his freshman season. The 6-foot-1, 201-pounder has proven successful in a pro-style passing offense. His arm strength and ability to deliver anticipatory throws outside the numbers stand out.
He’s more battle-tested than a lot of Mid-American Conference QBs, playing reasonably well in an early-season loss to Michigan before leading the Broncos to a massive upset win in Pittsburgh over Kenny Pickett and the Panthers. In that game, Eleby threw for 337 yards and three touchdowns while consistently hitting the right read.
Western Michigan QB Kaleb Eleby has declared for the NFL Draft.
Threw for 3,277 yards this year and has a 41-8 TD/INT ratio over the last two seasons and 9.2 ypa for his career.
— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) January 4, 2022
He’s not a great running threat but does show the ability to buy himself time and understand his escape routes. The biggest knock to stick on Eleby is that he sometimes throws shorter routes with poor touch, notably on checkdowns where he might be a count late in delivering it — think Carson Wentz in that regard.
Eleby is an intriguing prospect for a team like the Detroit Lions, one not necessarily looking for an immediate starter but rather a player with tools to develop for a year or two behind an established starter like Jared Goff.