The 2019 NFL Scouting Combine will begin on February 26 and last until March 4. On Saturday, March 2, the quarterback prospects will participate in their workouts.
Much has been made of the New York Giants’ quarterback position. Eli Manning’s future with the team has been a controversial topic for a couple of years now. After the Giants passed on a quarterback with the number 2 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, fans are eager to see if the Giants will make up for it in 2019.
After all, Eli Manning is not going to get any younger. He is 38 years old and cannot play forever. Reports indicate the Giants are considering drafting his successor in the 2019 NFL Draft. If that is the case, the Giants will need to pay close attention to the quarterback prospects at the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine.
Complete List Of Quarterback Prospects
- Dwayne Haskins Jr., Ohio State
- Kyler Murray, Oklahoma
- Drew Lock, Missouri
- Will Grier, West Virginia
- Daniel Jones, Duke
- Tyree Jackson, Buffalo
- Ryan Finley, N.C. State
- Jake Browning, Washington
- Nick Fitzgerald, Mississippi State
- Trace McSorley, Penn State
- Gardner Minshew, Washington State
- Brett Rypien, Boise State
- Kyle Shurmur, Vanderbilt
- Easton Stick, North Dakota State
- Jarrett Stidham, Auburn
- Jordan Ta’amu, Mississippi
- Clayton Thorson, Northwestern
The complete list of prospects participating in the 2019 NFL Scouting Combine, from every position, can be found here.
During the NFL Combine, prospects will go through measurements, weigh-ins, drills, workouts, and interviews. It is an important week for the prospects trying to cement their draft status.
Weigh-Ins And Measurements
At the NFL Combine, teams take measurements of all the prospects. That includes their height, their weight, their hand size, and their arm length. Some teams look at these measurements as an important part of projecting a quarterback’s professional strengths and limitations. Others consider that to be an outdated form of evaluation.
The Giants are one of the teams that puts emphasis on the quarterbacks’ measurements. They will be looking for a quarterback with the prototypical NFL build. A tall, strong-arm quarterback with big hands is what the Giants like to see.
One quarterback to pay attention to in the weigh-ins and measurements is the 2019 Senior Bowl MVP, Daniel Jones. Daniel is coming out of Duke and is known for having the prototypical NFL body. It is possibly his best trait. Jones is expected to measure about 6’4″. His hands were measured at about 9 3/4″ and he weighed in at 215 pounds.
To put this into perspective: Eli Manning is 6’4″, weighs 218 pounds, and a hand size of 9 3/4″. Daniel Jones basically has the exact body of Eli Manning. Jones was even coached by Eli’s former college coach.
There are clear connections between Jones, Manning, and the Giants. However, talent is more important than body, so Jones will have to prove himself as the most talented quarterback in the draft if he wants the Giants to draft him with the 6th pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.
Drills And Workouts
The fan favorite 40 yard-dash does not mean as much for the quarterback position as other drills do. However, in select prospects, the 40 time is a special drill to keep an eye on.
In 2018, that special case was Lamar Jackson. However, Jackson decided not to run the 40 at the Combine.
In 2019, that special case is Kyler Murray. Murray is expected to run about a 4.40 40 yard-dash. He could set a record time for his position.
The quarterbacks have their own drills, the throwing drills. Last year, Sam Darnold went number 3 overall without throwing at the Combine. So, throwing at the Combine is not extremely important, but it gives prospects a chance to make scouts look again when evaluating their accuracy.
Will Grier out of West Virginia is a prospect to keep an eye on in the throwing drills. He struggled with his accuracy during the Senior Bowl, but the Combine could be a chance to redeem himself.
The Giants likely will not be looking for a speedy quarterback. The 40 yard-dash is not something the Giants will be paying close attention to. For example, Eli Manning ran a 4.92 40 yard dash, and he has been the Giants’ quarterback for 15 years. The Giants prefer an accurate, strong-arm, pocket quarterback who can read defenses and make all the throws necessary. The Giants will watch closely to make sure the prospects they like are accurate and have an “NFL-arm” at the Combine.
Interviews
While these players will be evaluated during their workouts and drills, that is not the most important aspect of the Combine for them. The Giants and all other teams will put great importance on the quarterbacks’ interviews.
Teams like to use the combine as a way to get to know the players. Since quarterback is such an important and complex position, the interview looks to dissect many important traits for quarterbacks.
Teams will ask them questions to see how they can handle the media. They will ask them about their relationships with teammates and coaches, along with their work ethic. Most importantly, the teams will be testing the quarterbacks on their football IQ.
The football IQ they will be testing for in a quarterback is their ability to read defenses, call protections, and understand play concepts. Many teams even give the prospects markers and a white board and pop quiz them on plays and concepts.
A prospect who will need a great interview to secure his spot as a top ten pick is Dwayne Haskins Jr. out of Ohio State University. Possibly Haskins’s best trait is his football IQ. Teams will try to figure out if Dwayne is the real deal in the interview room at the Combine.
Here are a couple of videos where Dwayne Haskins shows off his football IQ and has his throwing abilities analyzed:
https://twitter.com/anthonyrivardo7/status/1082686061342584833