Front Porch Football2020 NFL Draft 101: QB Class
by Harris Oates
2020 is already proving to be a year we will never forget, but this draft class adds to it. Especially this QB Class. While the draft date may still be up in the air it is very clear that the skill level is at the highest level we have seen in years. This is your one stop shop to not only distract you from COVID, but to entertain you if you may be facing social isolation.
The QB Class
This group may seem top heavy, but don’t be surprised if some late round picks turn into starters. Last year I was high on Gardner Minshew coming out of Washington State (especially his hand size and grit), but even I didn’t see his breakout year happening that quick.
QB Class – The Best
The top of the class is headline by three names, two of which SEC Country knows very well. Heisman winning National Champion Joe Burrow is atop the class by not a mile, but a marathon. He is the most polished and best quarterback prospect of all time. Better than Luck. Better than Manning. Burrow will go first overall NO MATTER WHAT.
Second Best
The second SEC QB in the top 3 is Tua Tagovailoa. Ok, I know, I wasn’t super high on him EVER in college, but teams seem to be willing to take the risk on his injury proneness. Word on the street is he is 100% healthy now after a scary fall in November, but will teams be willing to trust this if they don’t get a chance to watch him in person? Unlikely, which is why I would watch for his stock to drop a bit if live workouts are not conducted and teams are forced to take the safer risks. I could see Tua being anywhere from 2nd QB taken to the 4th, but there is a lot that is going to happen between now and then.
Third Best
The third QB outside the SEC is Oregon stud Justin Herbert. He is a big armed prospect that is very similar to Josh Allen. Herbert balled out in the Senior Bowl and shattered any noise surrounding his leadership ability. Look for Herbert to possibly slide into the top 5 if Tua’s stock falls.
The dark horse of this group is Jordan Love, the prospect from Utah State. After an impressive 2018 campaign, Love struggled in 2019. The wiry quarterback has drawn many comparisons to the NFL Superbowl MVP Patrick Mahomes. Look for Love to go first round, but again he could be another player who would be deeply affected by the lack of in person workouts.
The Rest of the QB Class
The rest of the class has some potential, filled with big time college names. Georgia QB Jake Fromm is an intriguing prospect due to his ability to win in college, but will a team take a second or third round chance on him? Heisman finalist Jalen Hurts is my favorite sleeper pick as I could easily see him turning into an NFL winner. Jacob Eason is one of the most talented prospects but has a lack of film out there which will make his situation interesting.
This class is loaded, but will teams become less willing to use big picks on guys they haven’t met with in person? As of now, the Free Agency frenzy has found new homes for Tom Brady, Teddy Bridgewater, Marcus Mariotta, Nick Foles and Phillip Rivers. It is highly likely that teams will be cancelling any offseason workouts, which means that rookies may be left in the wind and rookie quarterback’s values will diminish. With all the factors currently occurring, it may become more evident that only one quarterback will be selected highly with the intention of starting week 1. We all know who that quarterback is.
Harris is a recent graduate of Birmingham-Southern College. He now works in Birmingham as well as coaches lacrosse for Mountain Brook High School. He loves following SEC football, covering fantasy football, the NFL Draft, and is also a lifelong Carolina Panthers fan.
