STRENGTHS
Drake reminds me a lot of Jets QB Zack Wilson. He has the size and athletic talent to extend plays. Drake has very good accuracy and a strong arm when working from a clean pocket. He has the arm talent to make the difficult throw. He does an excellent job running the ball when the play breaks down and in fact, is difficult to bring down in the open field. Drake has the arm and athletic talent to be a starting quarterback for the team that selects him.
CONCERNS
Drake struggles with his accuracy and decision-making from a muddy pocket. He struggles to lead and play with confidence consistently. When Drake is under duress his mechanics are all over the place dropping his release point and throwing balls high, allowing for the potential at the next level for tip balls and interceptions. When he lowers his release point to three-quarters, he also runs the risk of the ball being knocked down. Drake needs time to learn how to deal with the defenses at the next level. He also needs a very strong running game and play action to work from a clean pocket and in rhythm. Clemson, Miami, UVA, and Georgia Tech defenses, gave Drake a lot of problems.
BOTTOM LINE: 2.06
Drake’s stats show his potential to become a starting quarterback for the team that selects him. That being said, if you look at the games he struggled in and see how he struggled and never improved, you will see as I have, a talented quarterback that needs good coaching and time before he is put on the field to lead a team at the next level. I’m not saying Drake cannot be an excellent quarterback. In fact, I think he can but for the purposes of this draft, selecting him in the top ten of this draft and throwing him on the field the day after you select him will be a big mistake. He needs a lot of time and has a lot to learn before he is ready to be a starting 17-game quarterback for the team that selects him. I see it and it’s obvious if you watch the games he struggled in. In those games, he needed play calling that relied on a strong running game very much like Jimmy Garoppolo. Don’t get me wrong Drake has the talent to play at the next level but as I always say, it takes more than talent to play in the NFL. Personally, I would select him in the first round but not in the top ten or even the top 20 but that’s just me. As we all know, almost everyone else seems to think differently than me.
