The Tennessee Titans have locked down their quarterback of the future, Ryan Tannehill, with a four-year extension.
But after the departure of Marcus Mariota and with Logan Woodside as the team’s only other signal-caller, Tennessee could very much be looking to bring on another quarterback at some point in the 2020 NFL Draft.
One late-round prospect to possibly consider is Jake Luton of Oregon State.
Pros
Luton definitely has the size and the NFL frame at 6-foot-6 and 224 pounds.
His arm strength is adequate, and he generally takes care of the football, throwing just seven interceptions to his 38 touchdowns over the past two seasons. He also knows when to throw it away and avoid taking a sack.
The signal-caller is comfortable and in command of his offense, stands tall in the pocket and has been impressive on deep throws with a completion rate of 50 percent in the area.
Cons
Luton’s athleticism is just average, and he’s not going to pose a threat to defenses on the run.
The quarterback also doesn’t throw well on the move, and needs to work through his progressions more.
Luton brings just one year of experience as a full-time starter to the table, and with his injury history and the circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic that make in-person meetings with teams impossible, his injury history could leave some teams wary.
Biggest strength: Pocket Presence
Knowing when to climb the pocket, when to break from it and having a feel for the bodies around you are some of the most important traits a quarterback needs to possess, and Luton’s got it.
He’s not going to welcome pressure or put himself in a position to take a sack.
Biggest weakness: Accuracy/Lower-body mechanics
Luton doesn’t always do well under pressure, and his accuracy can be shotty at times, which has to do with his lower-body mechanics.
He also has a tendency to get locked on the top wideout (who was Isaiah Hodgins for the Beavers last year) and try to force the ball to them in situations where he may have been better off throwing to another receiver.
Bottom Line
Luton won’t give the Titans the mobility of their former backup, but he does have experience in a pro-style offense and play-action that the team could benefit from.
Like many of the guys who fall into the later rounds, Luton needs to be developed and he’s going to take time, but he was a factor in Oregon State’s bit of a turnaround after many dismal seasons.
