Jordan is back with his 2021 NFL Draft steals. This time, it’s the most important position in all of sport: the QB. 

Kellen Mond, Texas A&M (Senior, 6’2”, 205 lbs)

Kellen Mond is on the outside of the QB conversation in the 2021 NFL Draft. But he is looking in. The difference between Mond and other late round QBs is that he can walk into that top QB conversation. He has some top traits that will have teams intrigued. His arm strength is good. Mond is fearless in the pocket, but that may come from the excellent O Line protection he enjoyed with the Aggies. More often than not, he still finds his receivers. He has decent footwork and solid athleticism that gets him out of danger. One of the main areas of concern with Mond that teams will see is his consistency. He can take you 30 yards down the field, then throw a pass that you just can’t explain. We saw evidence of both at the Senior Bowl.

Kellen Mond is a QB that has potential, but is likely to enter the league as a backup. He has some impressive qualities in his game, but clear areas that need work. The upside is there and a few teams could take a chance on him in the middle rounds of the 2021 NFL Draft. If a team is able tap into that potential Mond has, they could have a great QB1 steal.

Jamie Newman, Wake Forest/Georgia (RS Senior, 6’3”, 235 lbs)

Newman is a dual-threat QB with lots of potential going into the 2021 NFL Draft. He possesses a nice throwing technique, hitting receivers with accuracy in tight windows. He has the arm power to get the ball downfield. That said, Newman lacks vision. He rarely gets past his first read and Wake Forest had to simplify the playbook for him.

What does look promising is how much talent is still left on the table, and that will excite teams. If all that wasn’t enough to whet NFL appetites, Newman is an effective runner with the ball. He’s a big guy with the speed and agility to get down field.

Jamie Newman is far from the finished article, but he has a lot of uptake. He will have to find a team where he can sit behind an experienced QB. This will give him time to be nurtured and work on the areas that could potentially earn him a starting role. The 3rd Round is his most likely landing spot in the 2021 NFL Draft.

Brady White, Memphis (RS Senior, 6’3”, 215 lbs)

Brady White will be a 25 year old rookie if drafted. Nevertheless, there is still a lot to like, especially as a top level backup QB in the NFL. White does not have the arm strength to get the ball deep downfield, but makes up for that with smart ball placement from inside the pocket. White made improvements to his game in his final year at Memphis. His movement in the pocket to evade pressure has helped him turn negative plays into gains. One thing White has had to deal with constantly at the Tigers is bad offensive line play, which he has dealt with well. Like many other QBs, he is also capable of making plays with his legs and accurate when throwing on
the run.

It’s important to have a backup QB in the NFL that’s capable of making plays. Brady White can be that guy. As well as his promising traits at the position, White is also a team leader. On occasions when players have made bad plays, White has been the guy to put his arm around them and teams will love seeing that.

Feleipe Franks, Arkansas (RS Senior, 6’6”, 234 lbs)

The road to the draft has been anything but smooth for Feleipe Franks. He has shown the mentality needed to be in a draftable position. After injury took away his starting position at the Gators in 2019, Franks transferred to Arkansas and had a productive season. He is a big QB but moves well. This helps him make big plays with his feet. He has seriously good arm talent, throwing bombs downfield and short touch passes. Franks’ accuracy is solid, but does need to work on staying calm when under pressure. He can be hesitant, which leads to sacks and open throwing windows to be shut.

Franks has areas that need work. In many areas, it just comes down to consistency. NFL teams will admire how he walked into the Arkansas team in 2020 and became a leader, moving receivers around and assigning blockers. Feleipe Franks is a real prospect and teams could take a chance on him in the 3rd or 4th Round of the 2021 NFL Draft.

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