Let’s talk about a couple of Day 3 QB possibilities
We are talking about a couple of Day 3 quarterbacks in today’s New York Giants ‘Draft Question of the Day.’
Ken Diamond asks: What do you think of Joe Milton III as a developmental quarterback draft pick?
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Elijah Jackson asks: At this point, I really don’t see the Giants reaching for a QB early in the draft – especially given Schoen’s recent comments about team needs extending far beyond the QB position.
Has there been any talk of what the scouting community thinks of Joe Milton and where he might fall in this year’s draft?
To me, he’s a prime candidate to sit for a year behind DJ and get up to NFL speed. I think he needs to work on his processing a bit, but he definitely has the upside potential that some scouts also attribute to Spencer Rattler. What do you think?
Ed says: Ken, Elijah I would not be a fan of this move. While I understand the Day 3 quarterback flier because the position is so important the Giants enter the draft with only six selections and a lot of places where they would like to try and upgrade the roster. I am not sure they are in position for a pick like this.
Besides, it take more than a big arm to play quarterback. And, I am not sure at all that Milton can actually play quarterback at the NFL level. Here are a couple of scouting reports:
Dane Brugler (The Athletic draft guide):
Brugler has a round 5-6 grade on Milton.
After not being able to secure the starting job at Michigan or during his first two seasons in Knoxville, he finally got his chance as a super senior and looked like a talented, yet inexperienced and inconsistent passer. A strong, mobile athlete, Milton has an absolute hose for an arm (in the mix for the strongest I have ever evaluated) and will make throws every game that gives evaluators hope. However, the lack of consistency with his decision-making and ball placement remains a pinnacle concern. Overall, Milton has the physical tools that scream first-round pick, but his passing instincts and ability to read the field are undeveloped. He is a project quarterback prospect, and some teams believe he will eventually transition to tight end in the NFL (similar path as Logan Thomas).
Giants’ tight end Tyree Jackson is another big-armed, big-bodied college quarterback turned NFL tight end.
Matt Waldman (The Rookie Scouting Portfolio):
Milton is Waldman’s QB16.
Milton has all the physical and athletic tools to succeed in the NFL. His arm strength is among the best I have ever seen in terms of throwing with a combination of distance and velocity in the vertical game. Milton is also a capable runner whose legs and size are viable weapons.
As salivating as his physical skills are, the conceptual side of the game needs work. Milton’s processing of coverage in dense areas of the field is too slow. As a result, he gets impatient with his reads and winds up missing slow-developing routes that break open just after he abandons the structure of a play.
He’ll likely earn a chance to prove he’s worth a developmental opportunity in the NFL, but the things he has to learn could be too extensive for realistic growth in this league—at least not without some stints elsewhere.
Adam Seuss asks: Obviously there is a lot of quarterback talk this offseason, but I haven’t heard anyone mention QB Jordan Travis from Florida State. He was a very good quarterback for them but broke his leg late in the season last year. For that reason, he is expected to be a Day 3 pick. I am normally opposed to drafting a quarterback on Day 3, or even Day 2, as they very rarely pan out. However, Travis could be the exception. He’s mobile, smart, throws a nice ball, and makes good decisions. Listening to him in interviews, he sounds very mature and has a good head on his shoulders. I would have no problem if the Giants drafted him in Round 4, if he’s still there, and let him sit in 2024 while he rehabs his leg and learns the Daboll offense. He wouldn’t cost much, and if he doesn’t pan out then it’s only a fourth-round pick that was lost. What do you think?
Ed: Adam, I am a ‘no’ on Travis. I know there are some who like him but the honest truth is every time I tried to study players like wide receiver Keon Coleman or running back Trey Benson, his teammates at Florida State, I kept coming back to one thought:
“The quarterback play at Florida State is really bad.”
Brugler on Travis:
Travis is a tough, bursty athlete with elusive scrambling skills and fearless decision-making. Though he showed improvements each season as a passer, his inconsistencies with placement and processing pop up on every tape. Overall, Travis is a competitive and creative dual-threat quarterback, but the sporadic elements to his game and average size/arm limit his NFL upside. He projects as a No. 2 or 3 option best-suited for a rhythm offense.
Waldman on Travis:
Waldman is higher on Travis, having him as QB7.
Travis is an aggressive passer who is a confident thrower into tight windows and trusts his receivers to make athletic plays. He throws effectively on the move and the upside of his game is aggressive but accurate pass placement based on good reads of the leverage that receivers have on defenders at the top of their stems.
Travis creates off-structure and can work in and outside the pocket. He’s accurate in the intermediate and vertical game after efficiently moving away from pressure. He can manipulate defenders with his eyes and body positions off drops to set up schemed plays and progression reads.
If he can become a wiser decision-maker, he could transcend reserve status and become a playmaking journeyman starter.
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