The 2020 NFL Draft looks good if your favorite team is in need of a quarterback. The quarterbacks available have the potential to be elite level starters when they are selected into the NFL next April. The 2020 NFL Draft is a long way away but it’s never too early to take a look at the prospects who headline this quarterback class. These rankings will likely be different next fall. Ranking draft prospects so early before the draft can be risky, use this list more as a watchlist as we draw closer to the 2019 college football season.
These are the top five quarterbacks for the upcoming 2020 NFL Draft prior to the start of the NFL and college football seasons.
Top 5 Pre-season 2020 NFL Draft Quarterbacks
1. Tua Tagovailoa – Alabama
Tagovailoa is the biggest name on the 2020 quarterback list and for good reason. Last season he threw for 3,966 yards, 43 touchdowns, six interceptions, and completed 69 percent of his passes. Tagovailoa has elite accuracy, ball placement, and composure. He’s mobile enough to extend plays and get out of the pocket to make plays with his feet. Though he may not have the strongest arm out of these quarterbacks, he did complete 64.8 percent of his passes that were thrown 20-plus yards downfield. Tagovailoa is a lock to go top 10 overall in the 2020 NFL Draft.
2. Justin Herbert – Oregon
Herbert was going to be a first-round pick in 2019 if he hadn’t returned to school for his senior season. Teams love the size and athleticism that Herbert possesses. He has a strong arm and he’s accurate with his throws. His mobility is a plus as he’s able to make plays with his feet and throws on the run. Shockingly, Herbert struggled more in 2018 than the season before. He played poorly against Arizona, Oregon State, and San Jose State. When Herbert is on, he’s the best player on the field. In 2017, Herbert was the best version of himself. We need that version of Herbert to return for 2019.
3. Jake Fromm – Georgia
Fromm had an immediate impact at Georgia the day he stepped on the field. As a freshman in 2017, Fromm completed 62.2 percent of his passes for 2,615 yards, 24 touchdowns, and seven interceptions. In 2018 he completed 67.4 percent of his passes for 2,761 yards, 30 touchdowns, and six interceptions. You can clearly see the progression in his first two seasons in college. Fromm plays in a run-first offense so we won’t see the crazy yards and touchdowns like some of the quarterbacks on this list.
Fromm possesses the composure and accuracy that scouts will love at the next level. He’s a smart quarterback who doesn’t take unnecessary risks with the football. Fromm isn’t the most athletic quarterback in this 2020 class but he is able to evade pass rushers and make plays while keeping his eyes down the field. He doesn’t have the biggest arm but his ball placement and decision making will make up for that. I would like to see Fromm take more deep shots down the field while managing to keep his turnovers low. If he can do that we should see him climb up draft boards in 2020.
4. K.J. Costello – Stanford
Costello is the prototypical NFL quarterback. He’s got the size at 6’4 and 215 pounds. He plays in a pro-style offense — scouts will love him for that. He doesn’t have the elite arm but he’s able to put the touch on his throws and give his receivers a chance to catch the football. Costello has the ability to fit throws into tight windows but his mechanics could use some improvement. If Costello can fix his technical issues next season he will succeed at the next level if given the opportunity.
5. Jordan Love – Utah State
If you haven’t heard about Love you must have been living under a rock all last season. His potential is what gets him to number five on the list. Love put the world on notice last season as he threw for 3,567 yards, 32 touchdowns, and six interceptions. He also had six rushing touchdowns on the season. Love is a dual-threat quarterback with a good arm. He’s a streaky passer that needs work with consistency. He struggles with pressure and needs to work on reading defenses better while going through his progressions.
Love is a young an inexperienced quarterback so 2019 will be an important season for him. He has the ability to fix his accuracy on deep balls and his ball placement. If Love improves on his weaknesses he will be an interesting prospect for scouts to look at in 2020.
2020 NFL Draft Quarterback Class
Overall, the quarterback class for next year is a very talented group. These quarterbacks all possess the skills and traits to be starting NFL quarterbacks for a number of years. However, they all have things they could work on to better themselves for the future. Teams in need of a quarterback should be doing some serious scouting on this position group leading up to the 2020 draft.
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