Redskins: 2019 NFL Draft top ten quarterback big board
By Ian Cummings
Missouri’s Drew Lock is an enigmatic prospect in the 2019 NFL Draft. Some believe he’s due to be a bust, while others point to certain traits to suggest he might have a future in the NFL as a starting quarterback.
Me? Put me in the latter category. And yet, I’d be the first to tell you that Lock’s game needs serious polish; polish that he’s not guaranteed to receive at the next level. His footwork needs a complete overhaul, as he has the tendency to wander on his own and throw from an off-balanced base. His footwork is a triple-edged sword; while his mobility helps him keep plays alive, his mental processing crumbles when he wanders, and as a result, bad decisions can be made under pressure.
In the NFL, where pressure only comes quicker, Lock will need to solidify his footwork. And if he can do that, he can be a solid starter, with the ability to elevate his team in clutch moments. Lock has excellent arm talent and elasticity, and much of his inaccuracy stems from his footwork. More often than not, when he throws from a balanced base, he’s generally accurate, and he shows flashes of anticipation when he affords himself the time to use it.
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Lock makes some incredible throws with his arm, but his bad habits compound on themselves and force him into bad decisions. If Lock can kick his bad habits, and hone his best traits, he’s got immense potential. He’s athletic, able to make every throw, and he’s a leader who team mates have been known to rally around.
In fact, the mentality is a big part of Lock’s evaluation. Lock turned around a Missouri football program that was in a bad place four years ago. Lock garners rave reviews from teammates, and at the Senior Bowl, his locker room-commanding charisma was on full display. Lock has both the physical traits to elevate his team in crucial moments, and the mental traits to give his team an edge and a fire, and his mentality also makes him a very coachable prospect. With much still to learn, coachability could be the key for Lock.
Lock’s floor is fairly low, with his footwork issues and coinciding mental processing concerns, but if he can sort out his problems, and hone in on his arm talent by maximizing his performance in-structure, while also possessing the ability to succeed outside of structure, he offers upside that’s almost unparalleled in this class. Almost.