Finding a franchise quarterback is hard to do in the NFL, but the 2020 class offers some intriguing names that could be long-time fixtures. Here are 10 rookie signal callers fantasy owners will want to watch.
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CREAM OF THE CROP
Joe Burrow, LSU: The 2019 season turned in by Burrow was epic and his poise on and off the field was impressive. He led the Tigers to a National Championship and won the Heisman Trophy in the process, throwing for 5,668 yards and 60 touchdowns while compiling a stellar 60.2% adjusted completion percentage. His passing grade from PFF (94.1) was the highest-ever for a FBS signal caller charted by the website.The only knock against Burrow was the fact he was a one-hit wonder, but he certainly passed the eyeball test when matched up against the best college players in the short sample size.
Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama: The dislocated hip injury the Alabama quarterback sustained wasn’t as serious as it initially looked, but still has dampened his value a bit. He completed 71 percent of his passes for 2,840 yards with 33 touchdowns and three picks in 2019 before going down. He also showed some durability, rushing for over 500 yards during his college career. The fact he wasn’t able to workout for teams due to COVID-19 might cause him to drop further than he should, but his long-term outlook remains bright.
IMPACT PLAYERS
Justin Herbert, Oregon: Herbert is an upper first-round talent and is poised to be a nice starter at the next level for years to come. The former Duck has a cannon for an arm and a fair amount of mobility. He tallied 95 TD passes and over 10,000 passing yards during his prolific college career. During 2019 he compiled 3,471 yards and 32 touchdowns through the air, completing 67 percent of his passes.
Jalen Hurts, Oklahoma: Hurts is one of the more intriguing options at the position in this class due to his ability as a runner, but he also threw 78 touchdowns and completed 63.3 percent of his passes as a Sooner. His 10.6 average depth of target was one of the best in the nation last year and he ranked seventh in deep play passing yards (1,234), according to PFF. His field vision remains in question, but the upside is there.
Jordan Love, Utah State: Few QB prospects in this draft possess Love’s physical upside. However, he was picked off 17 times last year against a pretty weak slate of opponents. His ability to improvise in the pocket to make big plays is undeniable. He was tops in the Class of 2020 in deep pass attempts with 85 attempts of 20 yards or more in 2019.
Jacob Eason, Washington: Do not discount Eason’s potential. The injury at Georgia was untimely, but he landed on his feet well in Washington. He’s a great pocket passer when the protection is there and has a potent combination of arm strength and talent. He’s still a bit raw, but he definitely has some long-term potential.
Jacob Eason and Jake Fromm throwing at the #NFLCombine!@skinnyqb10 | @FrommJake
📺: @nflnetwork pic.twitter.com/baIcbW62kq
— NFL (@NFL) February 28, 2020
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BEST OF THE REST
Jake Fromm, Georgia: Fromm offers some winning pedigree and threw for 78 touchdowns during his reign under center for the Bulldogs while completing 63.3 percent of his passes. He profiles better as a backup in the NFL, but could surprise given an opportunity.
Cole McDonald, Hawaii: McDonald registered 4,135 yards and 33 touchdowns through the air in 2019. He is a true gunslinger, but that comes with downside as he threw 24 interceptions over the last two years. After a strong combine showing his stock is trending in the right direction.
Hawaii QB Cole McDonald 4.54!
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pic.twitter.com/LQNLyiAixH— PFF Draft (@PFF_College) February 28, 2020
Tyler Huntley, Utah: He finished second in the NCAA in overall pass completion percentage (73.1%) and fourth in yards per attempt (10.3) and expected points added per dropback (.23). Known more as a game manager, Huntley’s limited arm strength makes him a more viable option as a backup in the NFL.
Steven Montez, Colorado: Montez spent five years at Colorado and boasts a ton of experience to go along with his above average speed/size combo. He makes for an intriguing backup prospect and could sneak into the back-end of the draft.
James Morgan, Florida International: There is some buzz building around Morgan after strong showings at both the East-West Shrine game and the Senior Bowl. He passed for 2,727 yards and 26 touchdowns in 2019 and was only intercepted 12 times over the past two years.
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