2020 NFL Draft: Checking in with the top quarterbacks

The discussion continues to rage on regarding the potential 2020 NFL Draft quarterback class. How did they do this week and where is their stock right now?

Like usual, the quarterbacks in the 2020 NFL Draft are drawing the most attention and conversation. The debate always centers around a select few and different camps of Draft Twitter and analysts go back and forth and back their guy. It happens every year, and now it’s happening for the 2020 NFL Draft quarterbacks.

With the current consensus top two guys for 2020, Tua Tagovailoa and Joe Burrow, on bye, the group of potential first-rounders got the attention this weekend. Washington’s Jacob Eason faced a tough Utah defense, Georgia’s Jake Fromm took on the Florida Gators, Justin Herbert played USC and Jordan Love squared off with BYU.

The results were very mixed, and their respective performances brought on a ton of debate and arguments. The current grades from the draft community are all over the place. Some are out on Herbert now, while others haven’t been impressed with Fromm’s season to this point.

With all the discussion, let’s break down each performance and take stock on these quarterbacks that all still sit with real first-round potential.

Jacob Eason

I’ve seen Eason grades all over the place this fall. He’s been as high as QB1 and as low as QB7. That inconsistency brought itself right into Eason’s game against the Utes on Saturday.

Eason looked very good early in the game. He seemed very comfortable in the pocket and made good throws with everything working mechanically. There was a key third-down throw where he threw a laser in between two defenders for a big first down.

His first of two touchdown passes to Hunter Bryant was impressive, showing the touch he can put on the ball, which is a huge improvement from his time at Georgia. The second touchdown to Bryant was a great exercise in patience, trusting that Bryant would eventually be open. Eason showed a great natural skill-set and a ton of potential early in that game.

Then came the bad parts of Eason’s game. His two interceptions were bad throws and bad decisions. His first one occurred in the red zone, where interceptions simply cannot happen. He threw it into double coverage where his receiver did not have position. Eason’s second pick was just a bad decision. He knew where he was going with the ball pre-snap and was baited by Utah corner Jaylon Johnson, who returned it for a touchdown.

Right now, Eason has first-round tools in his game but has extremely inconsistent decision making at times. That comes at a big cost in the NFL and will hurt his 2020 NFL draft stock.

Jake Fromm

Right now, the disagreement over Fromm mostly comes down to how people view the quarterback position. Fromm is called the best processor in the class and is great at managing a game without making key mistakes. He can make the intermediate throws with ease, especially crossers and out routes. But, pressure often gives him problems because of the lack of mobility to move around the pocket and make things happen on the move.

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His game against Florida left a lot to be desired. There were intermediate and deep throws to the perimeter that he just missed on all afternoon. Fromm also made some early checkdowns and didn’t stay patient for some throws down the field. He did pick up some big first downs on the run on key drives and did throw for a pair of touchdowns on the day.

Fromm is somewhat limited because of a lackluster group of receivers, and that’s fair to point out. But, he is missing throws and doesn’t have the physical traits that other quarterbacks have. He’s a safe prospect, but is that better than other prospects who have higher ceilings with their traits? Fromm still is in the day two conversation in the 2020 NFL Draft.

Justin Herbert

Herbert may end up being the most polarizing quarterback in this class. I’m still a believer in his first-round talent, but others aren’t so sure. The main argument is that Herbert has inconsistent accuracy and should be dominating more behind one of the nation’s best offensive lines. That’s fair, but it’s also fair to point out that the Oregon offense is holding Herbert back due to how much they run the ball and the number of screens they call in a given game.

Herbert’s game against USC was an up and down affair. He completed 3-of-7 passes for 27 yards and an interception in the first quarter. The interception was less than ideal, but it did look like a miscommunication between Herbert and his receiver. Herbert could have thrown it on the spot instead of leading his guy. You can also see him tense up and miss throws when he’s pressured.

In the next three quarters, Herbert completed 18-of-19 passes for 198 yards and four touchdowns. He pushed the ball down the field vertically and made a couple of very nice throws in the red zone, showing the great accuracy and touch on the football he has when he gets hot. Herbert still looks excellent at making throws on the run, keeping his motion and balance intact. He also can make plays with his legs and isn’t afraid to tuck and run.

The comparisons to Carson Wentz make a lot of sense for Herbert. I think he’s still a first-round talent who can be a very good pro with a little more growth and refinement. Maybe that means sitting and learning during his rookie year.

Jordan Love

Jordan Love is the ultimate conundrum at quarterback in this class. When I say that, it’s different from Herbert.

Love will make throws that make your jaw drop, some of which no other quarterback in the 2020 NFL draft class can make. His ability to throw frozen ropes while rolling left and off-platform are insane. He can fit the football into tight windows and has the accuracy on touch passes down the field. The upside with him is tremendous.

Then Love comes in and makes some of the most head-scratching turnovers. Two of his picks on Saturday against BYU came when he felt confident where he was going with the football down the field, but didn’t see a linebacker reading his eyes underneath the route. His processing after the snap needs a ton of work, especially with some quick reads.

There is something else to note with Love. His supporting cast and coaching at Utah State are hindering his growth at the college level. Like Oregon, Utah State runs a lot of wide receiver and running back screens. His receivers also drop a lot of passes, some of which are amazing throws that won’t count in the box score.

Then there’s a play that happened on Saturday that caught my attention. Love made a good throw on second down to the first down marker, but his receiver, instead of falling for the first down, reversed field and ended up gaining under a yard. Things like that can’t happen and hurt Love on the stat sheet.

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I still grade Love as a day two quarterback, but he undoubtedly needs to sit for a year and learn to read coverages. His best bet might be transferring somewhere else after the season. If he does enter the 2020 NFL Draft, the team that selects him is going to have to be patient and let him grow slowly.

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