Welcome to the ninth volume of The End Zone Report, where we talk about anything and everything football. In today’s report we are going to look at the best quarterbacks in the upcoming draft class and the Seahawks free agency moves.
Let’s start off by looking at the quarterbacks. Cam Ward seems to be a surefire first-round pick. In fact, barring any further moves, he seems to be a surefire first overall pick. This comes to no surprise, as his pocket presence and strong arm seem to place him ahead of the rest of the draft class. Of course, he had the benefit of having one of the best O-lines in college football but if we judge players on the talent of the rest of their teams, any players on winning teams will not be treated fairly. Ward is a natural winner and he will bring his tenacity to any team that drafts him.
Shedeur Sanders is up next. While he quieted any doubts about his arm size and pocket mobility during Colorado’s pro day, his lack of physical intangibles leave him as the second best quarterback in this draft class. Once again, Sanders had the benefit of having one of the best wide receiver corps in college football. However, his offensive line was actually one of the worst, showing that he can thrive under pressure and play behind a bad line.
My third quarterback on the board is Jalen Milroe. Milroe, on paper, has everything a quarterback needs. He is strong, fast and probably has the most arm talent in college football. Milroe has a huge accuracy issue and struggles to hit fast receivers down the field. However, his attributes should convince a team to draft him and let him sit behind an experienced quarterback for some time. With the right training, Milroe can be a Jalen Hurts-type quarterback with a high upside.
Next on the board is Jaxson Dart. Ole Miss’ stud quarterback had a very up-and-down season, yet managed to solidify himself within the top five. Dart is a boom-or-bust-quarterback, his throws were either far incompletions or were deep bombs to Tre Harris. In the NFL, Dart does not have that kind of luxury. He needs to be able to hit receivers on short checkdowns while also maintaining his deep ball proficiency. Dart is a safe bet for any teams willing to play him as soon as week one.
Any team looking for a backup quarterback in this draft should look to Tyler Shough. He plays exactly like Cooper Rush. For starters, he is the most experienced quarterback in this draft after playing seven years in college. Shough provides a team with a checkdown expert, exactly the opposite of the previous quarterback. He is a safety blanket for teams looking to pick up a veteran in the draft.
When you think of the Seattle Seahawks, does a 9-8 record pop up in your mind? Maybe a wild card round exit? The Seahawks free agency endeavors were far from dry. The DK Metcalf trade is truly a head scratcher, plain and simple. Trading away one of the league’s most physically dominant receivers feels like a franchise waving the white flag. Metcalf brought fear to the defenses and energy to the twelfth man stadium. Shipping off the former 64th overall pick, no matter the return, seems unnecessary and shows signs of rebuilding. It’s a move that looks more like a half-baked rebuild than a reset and fans have every right to be frustrated.
Then there is Sam Darnold. Somehow he has landed yet another starting role. At this point it is hard to tell if teams are seeing something the rest of us missed or if desperation to grab a play caller has clouded their judgment. Handing the reins to him seems more like denial than a strategy. If this is the plan at quarterback, one would expect slower things offensively from Seattle.
Poor Cooper Kupp, what a waste of talent. Injuries and inconsistencies have held him down, but putting him in this Seahawks system really doesn’t make sense. We all know that Kupp can deliver in key moments. The move to Seattle could potentially end his career, similar to when Julio Jones abruptly retired.
This wraps up the ninth volume of The End Zone Report. Keep a look out for the next one.
