Top 10 Quarterbacks in the 2020 NFL Draft: No. 10 Nate Stanley, Iowa

Film Review

Having played in a pro-style offense, the Hawkeye quarterback is used to NFL style formations and offensive schemes. He works primarily as a pocket passer and has experience passing under center or in a shotgun formation.

While many college programs prefer to protect their quarterback by allowing them to predominately line up in a shotgun formation, Iowa prefers to utilize both, something NFL quarterbacks need to know.

At 6-foot-4, 243 pounds, Stanley is on the larger end of the quarterback spectrum, but he uses the size well, being able to look over the front seven of defenses to survey the field.

Watching him take the snap, with the yellow and black uniforms, reminds me of a young Ben Roethlisberger. Stanley is tall and big, slow in his drop after the snap. But his size allows him to take contact and still stay standing. Taking down Stanley requires a full-body tackle.

Coming out of the huddle, Stanley is a strong influencer on the field, as he is active in setting up the play, calling audibles, shouting out coverages to his receivers and linemen, all the things you want to see in a quarterback preparing for the NFL.

Out of the quarterbacks in the 2020 NFL Draft, he is likely the slowest runner and is a pocket-passing only quarterback. He cannot make plays on the move, and his accuracy is seriously diminished when forced out of the pocket.

Stanley has great arm strength, although he mostly thrives throwing short and intermediate parts of the field. If an offensive line can keep pass-rushers away, he has shown to be accurate to the deep parts of the field.

Stanley has shown glimpses of quality quarterbacking. If you were to go solely on his highlight reel, you would think the apprentice of Big Ben had just taken the field.

But his lack of mobility and ability to improvise when the pocket collapses will make him a tough sell for most teams early in the 2020 NFL Draft.