Jarrett Stidham, QB, Auburn: 2019 NFL draft scouting report

Jarrett Stidham is probably one of the most interesting QB prospects in the 2019 draft class. Where does is scouting report place him?

Position: QB

School: Auburn

Year: Junior

Height: 6’3

Weight: 215 lbs

STRENGTHS:

• Has the size you look for in a pro QB. He has the height to see the entire field without being obscured by his offensive line. He’s also got the body to handle NFL hits too.
• Plenty athletic. He has the ability to not only scramble but even run designed draws and get good yardage. He’ll even run a legitimate pass pattern if asked to.
• Arm strength is solid. He’s not an elite thrower of the football but he can be classified as above average, able to threaten secondaries 50-60 yards down the field when he can set his feet.
• When he’s not constantly harassed, his footwork is more advanced than one might think. This leads to his consistent accuracy from inside the pocket.

https://twitter.com/AuburnFootball/status/905405289268219905

This throw is absolute perfection. Stidham takes the snap. He stands tall in the pocket, trusting his protection and evaluates the field. He shows proper mechanics from his feet through his hips to his shoulders and release point. The ball arcs right over the defender into the corner of the end zone and hits the receiver in stride for the touchdown. That’s as flawless as it gets.

• Doesn’t give half efforts on his fakes. He works hard to sell the play action and will give a strong pump on screens or double moves.
• Blitzes don’t phase him. He’s shown a knack for staring into the face of them and still delivering the ball on target. Something coaches will love.
• Tough. He’s endured some poundings against a lot of good defenses over the past couple years and hasn’t wilted once. He keeps trying to battle back.

WEAKNESSES:

• He has a 3/4, almost sidearm delivery that also tends to elongate at times. There are two problems with that. It makes strip-sacks easier and also can lead to more deflected passes.
• Has a gunslinger mentality at times. Doesn’t always live for the next play, leading him to throw balls into heavy coverage that should not be thrown.
• While he can run, his accuracy throwing on the run is hit-and-miss. He’ll find open receivers but if a guy is covered he rarely is able to fit it into tight windows.
• Not asked to go down the field a lot. Most of his throws are screens, quick outs, shallow crosses, and intermediate crosses. It’s hard to judge how effective he can be striking down the field.
• Still too much of a first-read QB. If the guy he wants isn’t there, his eyes tend to drop to see where the rush is and starts scrambling rather than going to the next option.

Pro Comparison:  Ryan Tannehill

The similarities to the Miami Dolphins starter are fairly strong. The big body, the good mobility, and the sidearm-type delivery all match up well. Both are accurate at all levels when their mechanics are right but don’t tend to make a ton of plays on the run. They also aren’t known for putting up constant numbers. They’ll have big games and then sort of retreat into the background for a stretch. Streaky quarterbacks is a way of putting it.

Projection:  2nd round

Tannehill may have gone in the 1st round but given the return Miami got on him, the odds are Stidham won’t do the same. He’s got a number of flaws that need working out from the erratic mechanics to his inconsistent field vision. The talent is definitely there but teams best be wary because he might take a year to a year and a half before he starts to click.