Top 10 Quarterbacks in the 2020 NFL Draft: No. 4 Jordan Love, Utah State

2020 NFL Draft Prediction: Late First Round

Despite a lackluster 2019 season, Love and his deep throw ability will be an enticing option for several teams in the 2020 NFL Draft. His inconsistent play between seasons will make him a tough sell for general managers in the early part of the first round.

General managers selecting early in the 2020 NFL Draft will see Love’s questionable throws and realize he is not a Day One starter in the NFL. He will need at least a season of NFL coaching to be sufficiently ready for primetime

But general managers will remember back to when Mahomes was entering the league, how very few scouts had him ranked over other, more traditional quarterbacks. How many teams wish they had selected this year’s Super Bowl MVP?

Love has the potential to be the biggest reach in the 2020 NFL Draft. His floor is much lower than quarterbacks like Herbert and Tagovailoa. But his ceiling is potentially as high as Mahomes.

For a team a year or two away from needing to replace a veteran/underperforming quarterback, Love would make an excellent developmental quarterback, if the general managers are worried about the less ideal aspects of Love’s game.

This means nearly any team could end up being a destination for Love in the 2020 NFL Draft, outside of teams that have drafted successful quarterbacks in the last five years.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are built to win with a vertical passing quarterback, so they would make a great destination for Love. Bruce Arians has experience working with quarterbacks, improving the less desirable aspects of their game. Arians loves the deep passing plays as well, meaning he could help shape Love’s future in the NFL.

The Indianapolis Colts will almost certainly be keeping a close eye on Love at the Combine, as their 2019 season was lackluster without Andrew Luck to lead them.

Head coach Frank Reich helped shape Carson Wentz‘s successful season in 2017, followed by changing his entire play book to accommodate Nick Foles Super Bowl run after Wentz went down, helping Foles win Super Bowl 52 MVP honors.

Once in Indianapolis, Reich helped lead the Colts to the AFC Divisional Round in his first year. Reich has shown in the past to be a smart quarterback developer. With the AFC South remaining inconsistent year to year, the Colts have an opportunity to dominate the division if they can lock down an elite quarterback.

The Tennessee Titans could potentially draft Love and keep Ryan Tannehill for one more season as a bridge quarterback. Other teams like the New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints and Los Angeles Chargers all need quarterbacks of the future, as they look down the road and see Mahomes potentially dominating the AFC for a decade or more.

Considering the number of teams that could use a quarterback of Love’s potential, I expect a team will jump on him early in the draft, after becoming paranoid another team will select him early in the second round. I can see a team trading back into the first round to select Love as well.

Many fans will not be happy about this, as Love still looked shaky heading into the 2020 NFL Draft.

We have to remember in the lead up to the 2020 NFL Draft that most of these quarterbacks are still in their early twenties. They still have several years to improve upon what they have shown in college.

Some skills like accuracy are difficult to teach a quarterback once they are in the NFL. Some quarterback skills, however, can be improved upon at the next level.

Look no further than this highlight reel of Mahomes in college.

Does Mahomes have a great deep pass? Yes. Was it obvious when he was drafted he could be the next Brett Favre? No.

Unless Love totally botches his Combine and Pro Day performances, do not expect him to be available past the first round.