2016 NFL Draft Rankings: Quarterback (Updated)
15.) Marquise Williams, North Carolina (6’2 | 225 | 4.78) – Finished off a roller coaster college career with an impressive senior season, throwing for 21 TDs, running for 11 more, and even catching one for 33 total touchdowns on a team that just missed the final four. Scouts are mixed on whether Williams is a legit NFL quarterback prospect, but I think he’s underrated.
Williams completed over 60% of his passes since taking over as a full time starter last year and has had some huge games. His consistency and accuracy are issues, but when he’s on he looks like a draftable QB.
He has the size, arm strength, and speed to be a dual-threat NFL quarterback. Williams will need to clean up his footwork and technique, like most college QBs, but the size, arm strength, and innate talent is there for Williams to develop into a potential starter down the road.
16.) Brandon Allen, Arkansas (6’1 | 217 | 4.75) – Undersized QB with hands smaller than some teams look for and played in a simplistic college scheme, but has been moving up draft boards lately after a good combine and pro day. Allen moves well in and out of the pocket, has a very quick release, good accuracy, has been a gutsy leader who teammates rally around, and has enough arm strength to make all of the NFL throws.
If Allen were a few inches taller with bigger mitts, he’s be a solid day two prospect but his lack of NFL size will probably drop him down to day 3 of the draft. He’s improved every year in college and has shown enough during draft season to make a roster and develop into a solid back-up.
17.) Vernon Adams Jr, Oregon (5’11 | 200 | 4.80) – The smallest QB on this list, but showed off one of the best arms at the Combine throwing three TD passes during the game including multiple deep completions. Adams has excellent feet and can beat teams inside or outside of the pocket or running with the ball. He puts good zip on the ball and is very accurate all over the field.
The obvious problem with Adams is his small stature and he also throws from a low angle which will result in multiple batted down passes at the line of scrimmage. He has some unique traits that could play well at the next level if he can mimic Russell Wilson’s success, but a more realistic projection may be a Seneca Wallace type back-up. \
18.) Jacob Coker, Alabama (6’5 | 230 | 4.88) – Coming off a win in the National Championship game, Coker’s stock is as high as it’s ever been. A former top high school prospect, the fact that Coker couldn’t win a starting job until his 5th year of college was a mark against him. But he played his best football in the second half of the 2015 season, led Bama to a title, and has some tools that could interest NFL teams.
Coker has ideal size, completed 67% of his passes in the always challenging SEC, has a big arm, is tough to bring down in the pocket, and can move a little when needed. There are a bunch of mechanical and technique issues that need work, but the core skills are there for Coker to eventually become a solid NFL backup.
¹ Scouting reports on players are from a combination of watching plenty of college football, individual player tape from Draftbreakdown, and various reports from CBS Sports, Walterfootball, NFL.com, and ESPN.