Brandon Jackson

I want to be on record with how I order this current crop of quarterback prospects so I can gloat if I’m right, or I can forget about them if I’m wrong.

Everyone has an opinion about how this class is good, bad, flawed, overrated, and everywhere in between. If you ask 10 people to rate the consensus top 6 quarterbacks in this class, you’d get ten different answers. So here’s my one answer.

I haven’t done the extensive research that NFL franchises and draft scouts have done, but that may be a plus because I may not be overthinking my rankings like they seem to always do.

#6 Josh Allen

 

Allen is a big, strong, relatively athletic quarterback with ELITE arm strength. But that’s where the positives end for me. He’s not accurate and seems to make bad decisions from the clips that I have seen on him. With learning and growth Allen could become a top-5 quarterback in the league, but I don’t believe he’ll ever get there. He’s below all the other quarterbacks that could be taken in the first round.

#5 Mason Rudolph

I think Rudolph is a classic high-floor, low-ceiling kind of prospect. Nothing jumps out on the film that I’ve seen, but I believe he can be pretty accurate with a lot of his throws. Some argue that he’ s a system quarterback, but every quarterback to come out of the Big-12 in the past decade has had that label in some form or another. I think he can be a quality backup for a team at the very least, with an opportunity to be an average starter.

#4 Sam Darnold

Darnold has incredible playmaking ability, but I’m not sure if it will translate into the NFL. It is well-known that he was turnover-prone at USC, and it will be hard to try and learn how to reduce those while playing in the NFL. Darnold has a strong arm and pretty good accuracy, but for some reason I’m not completely sold on him. Even if he doesn’t work out on his first team, he will continually get second chances because of how good he is perceived to be right now.

#3 Lamar Jackson

The most important thing with Jackson is the team he goes to. That coaching staff has to be able to adapt and tailor an offense around his skillset. That’s what any good staff should be doing for any quarterback that they take. In Jackson’s case, we know he’s inconsistent with his accuracy, and that he has strong enough arm. Some may be surprised to find out that he ran a complex pro-style offense at Louisville, and took the time in the pocket to look for second and third reads.

If Jackson got with a coach like Doug Pederson in Philadelphia or Sean McVay in Los Angeles where they play to their quarterback’s strengths, he will be a success. If he falls into the hands of a coach like Sean Payton in New Orleans or Bill Belichick in New England, He may be an All-Pro. He has the talent and the elite playmaking ability coaches dream of, it will be up to an NFL coach to unlock that potential.

#2 Baker Mayfield

If Mayfield was Josh Allen’s height, he would be the unanimous #1 overall pick. He is a good quarterback. He has the intangibles that you look for in a leader that will endear him to his teammates. PFF has him ranked as the top quarterback prospect in the history of their website (which is only four years, but still an accomplishment.) I watched him go back-and-forth with OSU’s Mason Rudolph in one of the most action packed offensive games in recent memory. It may be the scheme, but he is always finding open guys, and making the right plays on the field. That counts for something. Mayfield will be a starter in this league, no matter the situation. I believe he’s that good.

#1 Josh Rosen

The main reason I have Rosen ranked so highly is because of his accuracy. He’s the most accurate prospect in this draft by far. He has good arm strength, and I have watched him make some really good deep throws as well. He is an intelligent person, and wants to be involved in his community in a positive way. Some scouts question his love for the game because he has other interests, but every top quarterback in the NFL has interests outside of football. Scouts just don’t like him because he isn’t a robot, and doesn’t place blind faith in anyone, including a coach or even a president.

A question with Rosen is his durability. He had a shoulder injury that caused him to miss most of his sophomore season. And he’s had issues with concussions in his career to go along with that. If he can stay healthy, I think Rosen can be the best quarterback of this bunch. I believe he’s the safest pick, but can also blossom into an All-Pro with the right coaching staff and help around him.