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It’s no secret that this NFL Draft class is loaded with quarterback talent. While headlined by Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, and Drake Maye, it is expected that J.J. McCarthy, Michael Penix Jr., and Bo Nix will hear their names called in Round 1 as well.
Spencer Rattler is the clear-cut seventh quarterback off the board and is projected as a Day 2 selection. Behind him, Tulane’s Michael Pratt is most likely to hear his name called. What about further down the board?
These four quarterbacks are likely going to fall in the Day 3 to undrafted range, but should not be underestimated as they gear up to fight for a spot in the NFL.
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Devin Leary, Kentucky
My favorite late-round quarterback prospect is Kentucky’s Devin Leary. Leary started his career at North Carolina State and was considered a potential top prospect after his breakout 2021 season in which he threw for 3,433 yards, 35 touchdowns, and five interceptions.
Instead of heading to the draft, he returned for his senior season at NC State to boost his stock but suffered a torn pectoral six games into the 2022 season that knocked him out for the year. He transferred to Kentucky for a fifth year, where he was able to stay healthy en route to a 2,440-yard, 23-touchdown season.
Devin Leary (@DevinLeary1) had to overcome a lot of adversity throughout his college career to get to where he is today!#ShrineBowl | @UKFootball pic.twitter.com/4z1INBjBlQ
— East-West Shrine Bowl (@ShrineBowl) April 15, 2024
Standing 6-foot-1, 215 pounds, Leary projects as a high-upside game manager. His quick release, decisiveness, and high-level football IQ are all aspects of his game that will attract NFL teams looking for a quality backup with potential starter upside. Injuries are a concern, given that he suffered two season-ending injuries at NC State, but Leary is the highest-upside quarterback a team can grab late.
Austin Reed, Western Kentucky
Like Brandon Doughty, Mike White, and Bailey Zappe before him, Austin Reed stepped into Western Kentucky’s air raid offense and put numbers up. Reed led the NCAA in passing in 2022 with 4,746 yards, followed up by a 3,340-yard 2023 season. He began his career at Southern Illinois before spending two seasons at West Florida and two more at Western Kentucky.
As he gears up for the NFL, many scouts view him as a benefactor of the Hilltoppers’ system. However, they said the same about Zappe and White who have both carved out roles as solid backup quarterbacks. Reed is very similar to Mike White in that he brings a gunslinger mentality and can offer an offense some upside if filling in for an injured starter.
Sam Hartman, Notre Dame
After spending five seasons at Wake Forest and one at Notre Dame, Sam Hartman is finally headed to the NFL. He had a highly productive college career, throwing for 15,656 yards, 134 touchdowns, and 49 interceptions, but many scouts see him as just a good college quarterback.
Sam Hartman and Joe Milton in the Senior Bowl. pic.twitter.com/JIsY1eHxnp
— 👑Red Dirt Duke👑 (@Duke_Lucas_) February 3, 2024
Standing 6-foot-1, 211 pounds, his size is not a concern. His Senior Bowl performance, however, was. For all of his production and success at the collegiate level, his 49 interceptions cannot be overlooked. Accuracy and consistency were sometimes struggles for him, which caused him to be devalued in the eyes of scouts. If these can be coached out of him, he has starter upside.
NFL Network’s Lance Zierlein compared Hartman to Colt McCoy, which is spot on. If he can carve out the longevity as an NFL backup that McCoy did, his career will undoubtedly be a success.
Jordan Travis, Florida State
Florida State’s Jordan Travis is one of the most enamoring late-round quarterback prospects. With 8,715 career passing yards, 66 passing touchdowns, and 20 interceptions, his college production was strong. Take into account that he evolved his game with just seven interceptions over the past two seasons, and there is reason to believe that there could be something special here.
After suffering a season-ending leg injury, it was clear that Florida State’s offense took a huge step back despite their heavy arsenal of weapons in Trey Benson, Keon Coleman, and Johnny Wilson. As a passer, Travis has enough arm strength to succeed at the next level. Couple that with his pocket presence and ability to scramble, and this may be a guy who has a high-level starter upside.
I’m telling y’all come this offseason you’re going to hear Jordan Travis - Dak Prescott comps A LOT.
— christopher refuerzo (@aka_Rufio) September 3, 2023
Comparisons to Dak Prescott are running rampant, given his high college production and assumed low draft capital. Travis’ landing spot on draft weekend will be worth monitoring.
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