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2019 NFL Draft Combine: Top 10 Players to Watch

By John Mitchell

NORMAN, OK - NOVEMBER 10: Quarterback Kyler Murray #1 of the Oklahoma Sooners approaches the stands after the game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on November 10, 2018 in Norman, Oklahoma. Oklahoma defeated Oklahoma State 48-47. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images)
NORMAN, OK - NOVEMBER 10: Quarterback Kyler Murray #1 of the Oklahoma Sooners approaches the stands after the game against the Oklahoma State Cowboys at Gaylord Family Oklahoma Memorial Stadium on November 10, 2018 in Norman, Oklahoma. Oklahoma defeated Oklahoma State 48-47. (Photo by Brett Deering/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
(Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

Buffalo quarterback Tyree Jackson is going to be a project player for a franchise willing to invest the time into him at the next level. He isn’t going to be ready to start for a couple of years, but he could be an intriguing option for a team looking for a quarterback on the third day of the draft.

Jackson wasn’t super accurate during his collegiate career (he completed under 56% of his passes during his three years with the Bulls), but he displayed big-time arm strength that caught the attention of NFL scouts. Jackson might have benefited from another year in college, perhaps as a graduate transfer to a power-five program where his coaching and the talent surrounding him would improve, but he ultimately made the decision to make the leap.

Jackson is that tall, hefty, big-armed quarterback that is likely to end up being drafted higher than many project. He stands at 6-foot-7 and 245 pounds, consistently proving to be a bear to bring down from defenses who are able to collapse the pocket and get a hand on him, in a similar vein to Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

His mechanics need a good bit of work with some wasted motion when he is throwing the football. He also isn’t adept at reading defenses and too often looks to force throws into tight windows, relying on his arm strength to bail him out instead of going through his progressions and checking the ball down for a marginal gain.

All of his strengths and flaws were on display in Mobile, and the combine should be kind to him as he is able to show off his athleticism, strength, and arm. If he can show improved accuracy during the throwing drills, Jackson could work his way into day-two range.

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