Matt Ryan still has plenty of gas left in the tank and plenty of checks left to cash as the starting quarterback of the Atlanta Falcons. Considering his near-elite level of play and current contract, the team has no reason to add a quarterback in the first two rounds of the 2020 draft.
Kurt Benkert and Matt Schaub could both fight for the backup job next season, but adding another QB to the mix wouldn’t hurt. Here are four quarterbacks the Falcons could target in the middle rounds of April’s draft.
James Morgan — Florida International
2019 Stats: 2,560 pass yards, 14 TDs, 5 INTs, 58% completion rate, 128.4 passer rating; 2 rush TDs
Projection: Rounds 3-4
Analysis: Morgan had an outstanding 2018 campaign, but his numbers took a dip this season. He figures to be a third or fourth-round pick as NFL scouts like his size and arm talent as a prototypical pocket passer. Morgan doesn’t turn the ball over much despite a surrounding cast that left a lot to be desired while playing at Florida International.
Although he can be a bit of a statue in the pocket at times, the 6-foot-4, 220-pound Morgan is more likely to take a sack than force the ball into coverage — which can be half the battle for young passers. This makes him an ideal backup candidate to Matt Ryan in Atlanta. Morgan could potentially be a starter down the line and might be the most NFL-ready QB on this list.
Watch Morgan (No. 12) face off against Old Dominion below:
Khalil Tate — Arizona
2019 Stats: 1,954 pass yards, 14 TDs, 11 INTs, 60.2% completion rate, 131.0 passer rating; 90 rush attempts, 413 rush yards, 3 TDs
Projection: Rounds 4-6
Analysis: Tate is not one of the more polished passers in this draft, but has an impressive skill-set that his numbers don’t do justice. He’s got a live arm, impressive mobility and had a solid career at Arizona. In 2018, he threw for 26 touchdowns and just eight interceptions. Tate isn’t getting the hype that some of the other prospects in this draft class are getting, but he figures to be a day three pick with a ton of upside.
As with most college quarterbacks, Tate has trouble seeing the whole field and needs to work on his understanding of defensive schemes. He’s not as consistent with his accuracy as you’d like to see. However, with proper NFL coaching, Tate could develop into a serviceable, dual-threat QB with good upside. He just needs to find the right situation in my opinion.
Watch Tate (No. 14) play against Hawaii in the video below:
Steven Montez — Colorado
2019 Stats: 2,808 pass yards, 17 TDs, 10 INTs, 63% completion rate, 130.1 passer rating; 65 rush attempts, 153 rush yards, 3 TDs
Projection: Rounds 3-5
Analysis: Montez is a somewhat frustrating prospect because he has all the tools of an NFL QB, but just hasn’t put it all together. He’s got a strong arm, good size and close to a 2-to-1 touchdown to interception ratio over his college career. Still, Montez is too streaky to get drafted in the first two rounds, making him an ideal backup in the pros.
Atlanta isn’t looking for a starter with Ryan in place, but could use another backup to add competition to a group that includes Matt Schaub and Kurt Benkert. Montez, who needs to work on his accuracy, could sit and learn for a couple years behind Ryan and develop into a capable professional quarterback.
Here’s Montez (No. 12) playing against Colorado State below:
Jalen Hurts — Oklahoma
2019 Stats: 3,851 pass yards, 32 TDs, 8 INTs, 69.7% completion rate, 191.1 passer rating; 233 rush attempts, 1,298 rush yards, 20 TDs
Projection: Rounds 3-5
Analysis: Hurts is the third consecutive Oklahoma quarterback to put up video game numbers under Lincoln Riley. Unlike Baker Mayfield and Kyler Murray, though, Hurts won’t be the first-overall pick in this upcoming draft. Scouts are skeptical of his eye-popping statistics, and doubt his ability to read defenses at an NFL level. With experience starting for two top-tier college programs and a dual-threat ability that’s unmatched in this draft, doubt Hurts at your own risk.
He accounted for 53 touchdowns in 2019, completed nearly 70 percent of his passes and threw just eight interceptions. In the middle of the draft, he’d be worth grabbing as someone that could be a long-term backup for Matt Ryan, with significant upside if he continues to develop.
Watch Hurts (No. 1) take over in the second half against Texas below:
