While the talk has been all about presumptive first-round quarterbacks Ty Simpson and Fernando Mendoza, scouts are also salivating over some unknown quarterbacks or those flying under the radar.<\/p>\n
One is Penn State quarterback Drew Allar. Allar was considered one of the top quarterbacks coming into last year, before he was injured.<\/p>\n
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When he was injured, the Nittnay Lions fell apart without him.<\/p>\n
Before he was injured, Allar had a huge upside to him, and NFL scouts took notice.<\/p>\n
Here is what a scout told Fox Sports NFL reporters Ralph Vacchiano and Eric Williams about Allar.<\/p>\n
“Most people think he\u2019s a Day 3 guy, but I think he should go on Day 2,” one scout told them. “He looked like a potential first-rounder as a junior, before that [ankle] injury ruined his senior year. He can play. He\u2019s got a big arm. He just needs more experience because he\u2019s so inconsistent.<\/p>\n
“But when the tools are there in a guy that big (6-5, 228), how can you not like that?”<\/p>\n
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Allar could be the steal of the draft if the right team picks him.<\/p>\n
Another quarterback prospect that scouts like is North Dakota State\u2019s Cole Payton. NDSU has produced the likes of Trey Lance and Carson Wentz.<\/p>\n
While Wentz won a Super Bowl with the Philadelphia Eagles, Lance has been a journeyman quarterback, so the history of NDSU quarterbacks might make some teams hesitant.<\/p>\n
Still, some scouts love Payton and feel he\u2019s flying under the radar.<\/p>\n
“I think he has an upside to him,” a longtime NFL scout told them about Payton. “He can drive the ball down the field. [He\u2019s got] poise and calmness in the pocket and in his play. He\u2019s good rolling out left with accuracy. He can extend plays, a good scrambler. He\u2019s a strong, up-field runner with contact power. And he\u2019s nifty and shifty as a runner.”<\/p>\n
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An assistant general manager agreed, saying if Payton played at a Division I school, he\u2019d be getting more attention.<\/p>\n
Any time a team drafts a quarterback, they are taking a chance because, as we\u2019ve learned over the years, there are no sure things or guarantees when it comes to the marquee position.<\/p>\n