J.T. Barrett, QB, Ohio State: 2018 NFL Draft Scouting Report

J.T. Barrett has returned to Ohio State for his senior year and will hope that his experience and the talent around him can bring another championship to Columbus. 

While J.T. Barrett has 1,000-yard rusher Mike Weber returning, he and the rest of the Ohio State offense will have to adapt to Kevin Wilson’s new offensive plans.

Barrett struggles with ball placement on short and intermediate routes. Nonetheless, his deep ball placement is fantastic. He throws his receivers open, and his accuracy is not hindered when he’s on the move. He goes through his progressions quickly and does an excellent job of stepping into his throws.

Barrett is a leader on the field. He plays fearlessly, makes pre-snap adjustments and it is evident that his teammates believe in him.

Barrett moves well inside the pocket. He senses pressure well but is not too eager to leave the pocket, despite the fact that his mobility is one of his biggest assets. On designed runs, he quickly finds the hole and uses his elite speed to avoid defenders and gain positive yards.

Standing at 6’2″/220lbs, Barrett has a nice athletic build, but he is considered short for most NFL quarterbacks. He also lacks the arm strength to fit balls into tight windows, and will occasionally float the ball to receivers.

Barrett struggles when he focuses on one receiver; it leaves him blind to the opposition and also appears unaware of where the yardage marker is at times. His throwing mechanics also need some work; he has a long windup which prevents the ball from coming out quickly.

Next: Iowa Hawkeyes Land Transfer RB James Butler From Nevada

I currently have an early third-day grade on Barrett heading into this new college football season. I think his ceiling is lower than that of the other quarterbacks in this class. However, I believe his floor is much higher.

If he can continue to improve his mechanics, presence, and accuracy, he has the making of an elite backup and potential starter in the NFL.