2019 NFL Draft: Will Grier closer to Andy Dalton than Russell Wilson

Will Grier of West Virginia figures to become one of the most fascinating arguments of the 2019 NFL draft. So what does his scouting report say?

Position:  QB

School:  West Virginia

Year:  Senior

Height:  6’2

Weight:  223 lbs

STRENGTHS:

• Decent size for the position. Not overly big or tall but has enough height to see the field and enough body mass to withstand the NFL rigors.
• Has a quick setup and delivery that doesn’t take too much time to complete. This will ensure he’s not too vulnerable to strip sacks.
• Passing accuracy is impressive. The ball almost always goes where he’s aiming. It’s rare for him to over or underthrow receivers unless pressured.
• The deep ball is solid. He shows an ability to get it out in front of the receiver or to throw it towards the back shoulder depending on the coverage.

This is what Grier can do. The initial protection is good but some pressure comes off the edge. Grier casually steps up to avoid it. He sees the receiver down the field and steps perfectly into the throw, demonstrating good mechanics from top to bottom. The ball hits the target in stride for a long touchdown where only his guy could’ve gotten it.

• More athletic than he gets credit for. He won’t be a true runner like a Wilson or Vick but he’s elusive as a scramble and can be a threat in run-pass option plays.
• Footwork is surprisingly sharp for the spread offense he plays in. It will need more polishing but he already has a firm understanding of how his feet affect his throws.
• Demonstrates the needed fearlessness to step up into the pocket when the edge rush closes in. Not prone to running too soon if the first read isn’t there.
• Does a good job of selling his fakes, be they off play action or on pumps to get corners to bite on double moves.

WEAKNESSES:

• His arm strength isn’t anything special. When he’s allowed to set his feet he can attack down the field but his fastball loses a lot of its steam if forced to throw off-balance.
• Doesn’t function well under pressure. His passes tend to sail a bit when he feels heat and he’ll also exhibit too much of a gunslinger mentality when scrambling, leading to questionable decisions.
• Has a tendency to get happy feet at times. Hops around and gets lazy with his mechanics, which leads to lapses in accuracy. This is especially true when frequently blitzed.
• Tends to freeze up if his first read isn’t there. Inconsistent at looking for the next receiver, indicating his field vision can be inconsistent at times.
• Worked exclusively in the shotgun. Not a surprise but it’s definitely going to be an adjustment for him to learn how to play under center. Could lead to snap issues and learning how to drop back.

Pro Comparison:  Andy Dalton

Dalton gets plenty of flak from various angles for his limitations but the fact is he’s been a solid quarterback for a long time. When not frequently pressured and allowed to set his feet from in the pocket, he can pick defenses apart almost at will. Yet when he’s forced off his spot and to make a play on the run, he isn’t going to make a ton of plays due to his lack of accuracy on the run. The good news is Grier is more athletic than him but the similarities are many.

Projection:  2nd round

Grief has plenty of characteristics that can make him a good quarterback in the NFL from his accuracy to his mobility and decent size. Not to mention his intelligence for the game. However, his arm limitations coupled with a lack of understanding pro-style concepts and clear issues when trying to operate under pressure will keep teams wary of him on the first day of the draft. He’ll be far more appetizing on Day 2.