With the quarterback class in the NFL Draft this year being discussed as only two quarterbacks being potential first round prospects (Cam Ward, Miami and Shedeur Sanders, Colorado) today’s report takes a deep dive into the signal callers that will be at the Senior Bowl this year and looking to catapult themselves into being the third quarterback taken in April’s draft. Just ask Bo Nix and Michael Penix Jr about what a good senior bowl performance can do, as it launched both of their stocks into top 12 selections in their draft class.
Before we deep dive, let’s take a look at the group of signal callers who have accepted invites to Mobile:
Jalen Milroe (Alabama)
Tyler Shough (Louisville)
Riley Leonard (Notre Dame)
Will Howard (Ohio State)
Jaxson Dart (Ole Miss)
Dillon Gabriel (Oregon)
Each one of these players has something to gain and something to lose while playing in Mobile for the senior bowl this year, so let’s take a look at where I have them graded, and where a good week can have them go. Let’s dive into each one, starting with the Oregon Ducks signal caller:
Dillon Gabriel, University of Oregon
Current Draft Projection by me: Round 5
Potential to rise to: Early Round 3
Current Comp: Jeff Garcia
Dillon Gabriel had an excellent season as a signal caller for the Ducks, showing a high level pocket presence, and excellent football IQ while piloting this Oregon offense to the college football playoff. Why is he so low on this analyst’s board?
Two reasons for him being lower on my board that I’d love to see put to rest in Mobile: His size and his overall arm talent. Dillon currently stands at 6-0, 200 lbs, and when you look at the landscape of the NFL, there are only 3 starting QBs that are currently under 6ft tall or under (Bryce Young, Kyler Murray, and Russell Wilson.)
In addition, Dillon doesn’t have the arm strength or zip as some of the other signal callers down in Mobile, especially when his footwork and mechanics break down. With that said, he’ll have to showcase the other parts of his game (accuracy, football IQ, pocket presence) to win over a team who may overlook his size and arm talent deficiencies at the next level.
Jaxson Dart, Ole Miss
Current Draft Projection: Late Round 3
Potential to rise to: Top 50 selection
Current comp: Jake Plummer
A gunslinger in every sense of the word, I’d like to see Jaxson Dart focus on developing his post snap processing in practices while down at the senior bowl. He trusts his arm entirely too much, which gets him into trouble considering he has an average to above average arm, if all his mechanics and footwork are aligned.
I’d also like to see how he does outside of the Ole Miss offense, which was very RPO based and single read heavy, and see if he can read and interpret complex NFL offensive schemes as well. But this young man has one of the highest ceilings of any player at the senior bowl, and could be a fast riser, especially if he wins Senior Bowl MVP.
Will Howard, Ohio State
Current Draft Projection: Round 4
Potential to rise to: Late Round 2
Current Comp: Kyle Orton
Will Howard from Ohio State is an interesting prospect, as he has the size profile some teams look for (6-4, 235 lbs) at their starting quarterback. A very rhythmic passer, when things are on schedule, he’s on and hot as hot handed can get.
However, if he’s knocked off his rhythm, he struggles to create on his own, and when he’s forced to move or throw on the run, his hips get too stiff for him to be able to generate any torque throwing the ball. His week in Mobile will need to be spent showcasing his exceptional footwork in pro style offenses, where he can drop back in the pocket, hit his spot, and let it rip from a passer standpoint, while hiding the fact he isn’t as creative as some of his compatriots in this class.
Riley Leonard, Notre Dame
Current Draft Projection: Round 5
Potential to rise to: Early Round 4
Current Comp: Daniel Jones
Riley Leonard, the Fighting Irish QB, has a lot to showcase down in Mobile, as he has some wheels to be able to get out on the edge and create plays with his legs, despite the convention that says he’s a pocket passer. He does have excellent arm talent and can place his passes well, layering them over and around opposing defenders.
The big issues that Riley needs to address stem from his pocket presence. Too often, he hangs his receivers out to dry by not manipulating defenders with his eyes, causing easy catches to become much more difficult. He also struggles to read the field as a quarterback, and telegraphs his throws to the defense, creating high turnover worthy plays to occur.
Riley will need to showcase his development as an overall passer, including his reading of defenses and using his eyes and mind to manipulate a defense, while also showcasing the wheels and arm talent that he currently possesses.
Tyler Shough (Louisville)
Current Draft Projection: Round 5
Potential to rise to: Early Round 4
Current Comp: Brock Osweiler
Listen, Tyler has the arm strength and talent to make every single throw from an NFL perspective with room to spare. He also is an athletic talent who is a threat to take off and run at any given time, and with a man of his size (6-5, 225) he’s very tough to try and tackle or bring down.
So why is he so low and needing an excellent week in Mobile to raise his stock? Two reasons; he’s a fastball thrower, not a quarterback, as well as he struggles throwing on the run.
While in Mobile, Tyler will need to work on learning to take some zip off of his passes and layer balls over the top and around defenses. His mechanics while throwing on the run will need to be reworked or scrapped altogether, as he would need to be either a pocket passer or a designed runner, but not both if his mechanics remain as they are.
Jalen Milroe (Alabama)
Current Draft Projection: Top 50 selection
Potential to rise to: Top 10 selection
Current comp: Vince Young
Now to the biggest name on this list, by far. Jalen Milroe is an explosive playmaker, with a cannon for an arm and wheels like no other QB on this list. He’s also young, and still developing as an overall passer.
Hence the reason that his time in Mobile will be more important than any other player on this list. I’d like to see Jalen focus on being more consistent in the pocket and trusting what his eyes are telling him, rather than pull it down and run.
He also needs to work on his anticipation and throwing into smaller windows, as the easy throws won’t always be there for him at the next level. Jalen has the highest ceiling of any QB prospect IN THIS CLASS, so now is his time to show NFL execs why he’s worthy to be selected in the top 32 picks come April.
There you have it folks, my breakdown of the signal callers that are making their way to the Senior Bowl! If you like what you read, feel free to check out my content over on “X” @sparkscouting, as well as you can also see my podcasts with the draft professor on YouTube here!
