"6-foot-6, 231 pounds, 9 1/2-inch hands
Projected Round: Day 2 (2-3)
2019 Stats: 64.7 percent, 3,132 yards, 23 touchdowns, 8 interceptions, 7.7 yards per attempt.
29 Game Career Stats: 59.8 percent, 5590 yards, 39 Touchdowns, 16 Interceptions , 7.2 yards per attempt. 132.3 QBR
Strengths: Arm strength, accuracy, deep passing, ball protection, size
Weaknesses: Pocket presence, poise under pressure, inexperience
Testing numbers: 4.89-second 40-yard dash, 7.51-second 3-cone drill, 4.64-second short shuttle, 27.5-inch vertical leap, 9-feet, 2-inch broad jump"
Since Doug has us looking at Eason's numbers. His career rushing stat line is 82 carries for -126 yards and 2 touchdowns. Don't expect him to scramble for the first down very often.
"Eason began his college career with Georgia, started as a freshman, got hurt in his sophomore season, was replaced by Jake Fromm amidst some whispers of his effort and then transferred to Washington, where everyone had only positive things to say about him. He had to sit out the 2018 season because of transfer rules. Eason left Washington after his junior season, which was unfortunate for multiple reasons." Said Doug Kyed
It's understandable that Eason was worried about a decline in his production. However, if Eason was worried about learning a new system, what does he think is going to happen when he gets to the NFL? Nobody is going to call Chris Petersen and say "Hey can you give us your playbook, we're adopting your system."
Eason likely hurt his draft stock by not returning to school but on the other hand, ask Jarrett Stidham what the risks of returning to school are when you're considered a first round prospect.
"Eason ranked 22nd among college quarterbacks with a 74.9 adjusted completion percentage", His deep passer rating ranked 41st among qualified college quarterbacks and his deep passing grade was 91.4." per Pro Football Focus.
Dropping by 19 spots, going from 22nd to 41st doesn't exactly inspire confidence in Eason's deep ball. That's an 86.36% decline in his accuracy. Although the deep ball hasn't been part of the Patriots offense, since the gun slinger Drew Bledsoe was dropping 72 yard bombs, it just doesn't bode well for the Huskie.
Eason doesn't turn the ball over much and has a quick release. "His 48.3 passer rating under pressure was one of the worst in college football last season" said Kyed. "PFF gave him just a 37.6 grade under pressure."
The Patriots faced the New York Jets in New Jersey and Sam Darnold on Monday Night Football, October 21st of last season, and the young quarterback must have felt like he was on the set of the Sixth Sense, because Darnold was caught telling his coaches and teammates that he was seeing ghosts on the field. This was in part to the Patriots relentless pass rush, and Darnold not coping well with the pressure. That night Darnold threw four picks. Does Bill Belichick really want to risk drafting Eason and he having to deal with an "I see dead people" moment of his own? Eason's QBR under pressure is so bad that even the CFL would have second thoughts, and they take anybody.
While it's fair to say Eason's production could've been due to circumstances, With Eason being projected a first round quarterback, are the Patriots really going to want to spend that kinda draft capital to develop a guy who just shook off the rust? So far Doug is describing a Day 3 UDFA.
Kyed goes on to say "Eason also could be a bit statuesque in the pocket, and he didn’t excel when throwing on the move. While testing numbers aren’t overly important for pocket passers, his 3-cone drill and short shuttle were considerably slower than even Tom Brady’s."
Here's the thing, Tom Brady showed that those numbers don't matter. The Patriots probably aren't going to worry about them unless they're in the sever red flag area. However, add to that his poor ability to sense and handle pressure and Alarms are sounding.
"The problem with the Patriots potentially taking Eason. There’s no guarantee he’s better than Stidham. Stidham also was a player who flashed elite traits in college" Said Kyed
Having to sit a year period makes Eason a wasted pick. There are going to be good quarterbacks in 2021. The Patriots currently have plenty of needs and any quarterback should be ready to go in 2020 to compete with Stidham and Hoyer. If Eason isn't ready to step in on year one and compete for the job, he's not only a wasted first round pick but a waste in general. It's possibly he still maybe worth a seventh round pick. Even Hurts can come in and compete and or be used in year one. Tom Brady changed the landscape for the Patriots at quarterback with his early departure.
I respect Doug Kyed but recommend reading Solak's scouting report on Eason from The Draft Network.
The Patriots have a guy going into his sophomore season who "flashed elite traits" in college according to Kyed, before sitting his rookie year behind the GOAT, and a career backup who can mentor young quarterbacks or come in and start as a scripted game manager. Eason would be asked to compete early and the loser of the competition holds the clipboard. That's modern day NFL football.
The question we have to ask ourselves as fans, while I am sure the Patriots have already answered this one, is do we want risk a pick on a guy being compared to Ryan Lindley, Brock Osweiler, or Ryan Mallett, in Hope's his comparison to Carson Palmer is more accurate?
Other potential Patriots quarterback draft prospects: Jalen Hurts, Tua Tagovailoa, Tyler Huntley, Justin Herbert, Bryce Perkins, Cole McDonald, Jake Luton, Josh Love, Jordan Love, and long shot Malcolm Perry.
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