In the NFL, some teams will take chances on quarterbacks who show elite level traits, but aren’t a finished product. It helps when you can pair these elite traits with an impressive resume in college, which brings us to today’s report, KJ Jefferson.
Coming from Sardis, Mississippi, KJ was a 3 star quarterback who enrolled at the University of Arkansas. KJ’s career took off in 2021, his first year as the full time starter for the razorbacks. He lead the team to a 9-4 record that season, while also tossing for 2,676 yards and 21 touchdowns, and added an additional 664 yards and 6 touchdowns on the ground, showcasing a dual threat potential.
2022 saw him continue to excel and raise the ceiling on his play. He completed 68% of his passes for 2,648 passing yards and 24 passing touchdowns, while also adding another 9 touchdowns and 640 yards on the ground.
Over his Arkansas career, KJ set school records for career passing yards (7,923), career passing touchdowns (67), and completions (584). Following the 2023 season, KJ elected to transfer to UCF to wrap up his collegiate career with his final year of eligibility.
KJ has spent time as a leader on the field (3 time captain at Arkansas) and as a prospect many folks have been enamored with, evidenced by his time spent on watch lists for the Davey O’ Brien and Maxwell Awards. His size (6-3, 247 lbs.) also is hard to miss, as his physical profile on the football field stands out amongst his peers.
Player Info
Name: KJ Jefferson
Jersey: No. 1
Position: Quarterback
School: UCF
Class: Senior
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 247 lbs.
KJ Jefferson’s Strengths
KJ has a rocket strapped to his arm, as his arm strength can put a ball any spot on the field. Seriously, there is no limit to where he can throw the football. He is an effective runner with his legs, with a good straight line speed and burst.
His size and strength also makes it difficult for defenders to pull him down in the open field. It also allows him to be able to stand tall in the pocket and take hits that would bring down smaller quarterbacks as well.
His time as a 3 time captain for the razorbacks shows that he is a natural leader, on and off the field. You also can see that he has good decision making skills, and prioritizes ball security while in and out of the pocket.
KJ Jefferson’s Weaknesses
KJ may have a powerful arm, but he does not have the touch needed to make his throws accurate. He’s similar to a starting pitcher, whose special pitch is a fastball: it’s all gas, no brakes, and when it’s not working, things go off the rails quickly.
You can also see some inconsistency in his footwork and his overall mechanics, which may be impacting his accuracy issues as well. These mechanic issues also impact his timing on getting the ball out quickly.
KJ also is slow to process reads down the field, and takes longer than you’d like your quarterback to take when searching for the open man. He also has issues with identifying blitzes during the pre-snap process, and adjusting his protection to catch these before he’s hit.
Draft Projection
I currently have KJ as a mid to late round 3 selection, as a team will likely fall in love with his arm talent and physical gifts. The team that drafts him has to do so with the understanding that in his current state, he’s a second/third string quarterback, and likely doesn’t see the field until late In 2025/early in 2026, if at all.
Some good fits I like for KJ to land in:
- Baltimore Ravens (Baltimore has a need for a backup/developmental QB, and Harbaugh would also be creative enough to find ways to get KJ and Lamar on the field together, which would be a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses.)
- Arizona Cardinals (With Tune as the only backup to Kyler, Arizona could bring KJ in to stash as a practice squad QB, or if they wanted to carry 3 on their roster, he could compete with Tune for QB2.)
- Miami Dolphins (If Tua returns to full health, then KJ can come in and challenge Thompson for QB2. If Tua can’t return to full health, then the Dolphins could use a bridge QB while KJ gets up to speed. Imagine an offense with KJ’s Arm talent and Tyreek/Waddle on the outside? Just deadly for defenses in south beach.)
KJ is a tantalizing prospect, and is certainly worth a flyer as you get into rounds 3/4/5, where GMs start to gamble on traits a little heavier. I ultimately think if he can improve his accuracy and mechanics, KJ could turn into a dangerous weapon a few years into the league.
My comparison for KJ Jefferson: EJ Manuel, QB, Buffalo Bills
