There was much discussion about the 2021 quarterback being top-heavy. Many evaluators and fans think that there will be a significant dropoff at the quarterback position in 2022. However, each year some players emerge from the shadows. For example, unless you were an avid college football fan, you did not know who Zach Wilson, Kyle Trask, or Trey Lance were. Hell, some people had their minds on Tua Tagovailoa and forgot about Mac Jones.
In May of 2021, there are plenty of quarterbacks with physical traits that have been buried behind the attention of Trevor Lawrence, Lance, and Wilson. Have you heard of Carson Strong, Tyler Shough, or Kedon Slovis? Both Strong and Shough have the physical traits to match some of the players in the 2021 NFL Draft. Keep digging this offseason because the 2022 quarterbacks are nothing to gloss over. Let’s take a look at two names to watch.
Be sure to check out all of the entries in Steve’s Scouting Notebook.
Sam Howell, North Carolina, JR
Howell makes it hard to ignore the Baker Mayfield comparisons. Not only does he have a similar build, but Howell is a similar athlete. Both Mayfield and Howell hardly blow you away with athleticism. Still, understanding angles and football instincts allows them to function outside the pocket as natural football throwers.
Mayfield’s decent start to his NFL career really gained steam when head coach Kevin Stefanski touched down in Cleveland. The wide-zone running scheme led by run game-guru Bill Callahan and Nick Chubb really opened up things for Mayfield in the play-action passing game. Like Mayfield, Howell has a cannon for an arm that checks in as an excellent physical trait.
Howell has the physical passing traits you are looking for in terms of deep-ball accuracy, ball placement, and off-schedule playmaking ability. He is far from a complete prospect, but if you get him into a scheme where he can play with his back turned to the field and move outside the tackle box, you might be looking at a future top-half of the league quarterback.
Comparison: Baker Mayfield/Jeff Garcia
Tyler Shough, Oregon/Texas Tech, SR
Oh, Shough is just Justin Herbert‘s former backup – something you will hear a lot during the future NFL Draft process. Shough is far from that sentiment. The Oregon starting quarterback has some of the best overall physical traits in the class. The arm strength, physical ability, functional athletic ability, and mobility are something of intrigue.
Yes, Shough’s overall numbers and performance left a lot to be desired. Keep in mind, Oregon’s offensive scheme is relatively basic and requires functional playmakers around the offense. Herbert had many questions coming out of Matt Wells’ scheme, even though he performed a little better. However, Shough is transferring to Texas Tech as a graduate transfer. He will join head coach Matt Wells in his electric gunslinging offense.
If Shough is the prospect we project, he will have no problem putting up the production scheme with star wide receiver Erik Ezukanma. Shough has a Matthew Stafford-like trajectory if he can tap into the physical traits for the 2022 NFL Draft, and that comparison should raise some serious eyebrows moving forwards.
Comparison: Justin Herbert/Matthew Stafford
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