72 SPORTS ILLUSTRATED
THE PASSER CLASS
JOE BURROW
LSU (6' 3", 220 POUNDS)A two-year starter after transferring
from Ohio State, the reigning
Heisman Trophy winner is coming
off one of the greatest seasons in
college football history—breaking
NCA A records with 60 touchdown
passes and a 202.0 passer rating—
and is the presumptive favorite to
go No. 1 despite a lack of elite arm
strength. “He’s one of the most
accurate quarterbacks I’ve ever
graded,” says an AFC offensive
coordinator. “You can say he had
great players around him, but he put
the ball in places where his receivers
never have to break stride.
It’s a gift. His guys are always
moving forward with the ball. And
his pocket movement is really
natural, how he slides, moves.”
DRAFT RANGE: Pick 1 to 3TUA TAGOVAILOA
ALABAMA (6 FEET, 215 POUNDS)The lefthanded thrower was the
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right hip ended his season in
November. “He’s a good athlete,”
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NFC team. “He’s also very accurate.
He was really good over multiple
seasons, so he has that over
Burrow—really two full seasons
at a high level. He’s got a good
arm, maybe better than Burrow’s,
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instinctive. And he’s an outstanding
leader, takes all the criticism,
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is durability. I think he’s back there
throwing seven-on-seven [due to
the Tide’s great pass protection]
a lot, and when there is pressure,
you do see a little drop-off.”
DRAFT RANGE: Pick 1 to 9JUSTIN HERBERT
OREGON (6' 6", 235 POUNDS)Herbert might have been the top
pick of the 2019 draft but returned
to Eugene for what turned out to
be an up-and-down senior season.
“I like him a lot,” says an AFC
offensive coordinator. “[He’s] really
smart....Stuff that comes with a
new system, he can pick up quickly.
His arm is elite, up there at the
top with anyone, maybe not
[Aaron Rodgers], but can throw
every ball.” Another coordinator
saw reason for concern: “His tape
is tough to watch; I’m not sure the
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good in the NFL playing under center
off play-action and getting the
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sense, there were throws you cringe
at, like, ‘Come on, man.’ ”
DRAFT RANGE: Pick 3 to 15ROUND 1NFL^DRAF
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