Late Rounds
There is always the option of taking a quarterback at the end of the draft who will not see the field for a while. These players would not even be expected to back up starters early in their careers. The 2020 NFL Draft has quarterbacks of all varieties. Here are the late-round projects worthy of a pick.
Joe Burrow, LSU
Joe Burrow is an interesting prospect at quarterback. He left Ohio State for LSU where he became a starting quarterback for an SEC powerhouse. This will be Burrow’s second season as the starter for the Tigers as they hold championship aspirations.
Burrow is a 6-4 signal-caller who excels on the move. He throws well on the run and on busted plays. His ability to run it himself is outstanding for a guy his size. Burrow also flashes brilliance with his touch, dropping the ball in the bucket down the field.
Still, Burrow is a limited passer. His intermediate accuracy is fine, but the rest is suspect. He lacks zip on his throws which allows defenders to break on the pass. Burrow has a poor feel for the pocket and is often skittish, causing him to escape earlier than necessary.
As a runner, Burrow is susceptible to extra contact because he fails to slide. That lack of awareness ties into his decision making as a thrower. Burrow makes a lot of poor choices, especially near the red zone. His inability to finish drives is arguably his worst trait. Overall, his ceiling appears to be that of a backup quarterback.
Riley Neal, Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt’s Riley Neal is another tall quarterback who transferred from Ball State. Neal is a 6-5 gunslinger with more than enough athleticism. Much like Burrow, Neal tends to escape the pocket before things break down. His decision making is questionable, but he was playing at Ball State, a school not known for their football program. Perhaps a move to the SEC will bring out the best in Neal. A lot of Neal’s throws are driven low and short which is a huge problem.
On the bright side, Neal gets his upper body into throws and rips the ball. His timing is excellent and he can throw well on the move which isn’t too common for players his size. Neal enters the 2019 season as a draft hopeful but I think he can make a name for himself. The Vikings may consider using a late draft pick on a flyer and see how Neal develops at the next level.
At the end of the day, Kirk Cousins has to prove himself over the next two seasons. If not, the Vikings will have to move on at quarterback yet again. Here’s to hoping the Vikings eventually find the face of the franchise under center.