2021 NFL Draft: Sam Ehlinger may be the mid-round quarterback to target

Sam Ehlinger is a talented 2021 NFL Draft prospect who could quickly become an intriguing mid-round quarterback target.

The top of the 2021 NFL Draft class is filled with exciting talent at the quarterback position. Trevor Lawrence leads the way as one of the most naturally gifted prospects at the position in recent memory. If Lawrence can become a more consistent decision-maker, he will be the first overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.

After Lawrence, Justin Fields and Trey Lance stand out as the top signal-callers in the class. Both Fields and Lance are also potential franchise-changing quarterbacks who have massive upside at the next level. When the 2021 NFL Draft rolls around next April, all three of these quarterbacks could easily end up going in the top five. However, the rest of the quarterback class leaves plenty to be desired.

Unless someone takes a big step forward this season, there is not another quarterback prospect in this class who will be a first-round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. With Jamie Newman sitting out the season and Brock Purdy laying an egg in the season opener, we are looking for a fourth quarterback to separate himself throughout the draft process and Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger could be the guy.

Can Ehlinger become QB4 in the 2021 NFL Draft?

Ehlinger is entering his fourth season as the starting quarterback for Texas and has undoubtedly put together a strong and decorated college career. He was certainly an extremely limited player early in his college career, consistently relying on his legs to make an impact for his team. However, Ehlinger has seemed to grow as a passer and his mobility and ability to improvise fit the modern game extremely well.

Ehlinger has a reputation of being a good college quarterback who will not translate well to the next level. For the most part, that is fair. He lacks ideal arm strength and is certainly not the most consistently accurate player. However, the NFL game is changing and mobile quarterbacks who can make plays off-schedule are more valuable than ever before. Even if he is not the most reliable passer, Ehlinger certainly has some upside in a quarterback class that lacks depth.

Plus, there is at least a chance that Ehlinger has improved as a passer. In Texas’ 59-3 victory over UTEP in the season opener last weekend, Ehlinger completed 25-of-33 passes for 426 yards and five touchdowns. Now, this impressive performance did not exactly come against the top-tier competition, but Ehlinger slung the ball all over the field and was able to show real growth as a passer.

It would be foolish to put too much stock into one game against UTEP, but if Ehlinger can continue to grow as a passer this season, his 2021 NFL Draft stock will undoubtedly rise. He is already an impressive playmaker with the ball in his hands, and as we know, that has plenty of value in today’s NFL. Add in the lack of depth at the quarterback position in this class and it may not be crazy to consider Ehlinger the quarterback to target in the middle rounds.