2019 NFL Draft: Brett Rypien could be a late-round steal

Brett Rypien has better measurables to go with the resume similar to past Boise State quarterbacks. Rypien could be a late-round steal for a team in April.

Over the course of his college career, Brett Rypien didn’t put up the kind of stats that necessarily wow an NFL scout. It takes something to attract attention from the talent evaluators who scour the scene of draft-eligible players, especially at a Group of Five school. And since Boise State never went to a New Year’s Six bowl game in Rypien’s four years starting in Idaho, it is hard to compare him to other predecessors under center for the Broncos.

That said, he went 38-12 as a starter at the Mountain West school, leading his team to the 2017 conference title and another title appearance as a senior. Rypien was good-but-not-great as he went 4-4 over the course of his career against Power Five competition. In a way, Rypien is a shorter Josh Allen at a school with a better 21st-century pedigree as he enters the 2019 NFL Draft.

Here is how he fared against the Power Five:

It is hardly a selling point, especially once you get past the early promise of a career that seemed like it never fully blossomed. Rypien is also fighting a Sisyphean battle against other small-school players like Buffalo’s Tyree Jackson and FCS champion Easton Stick from North Dakota State. Both had better days overall at the NFL Combine in terms of their numbers, but Rypien will still get plenty of looks from scouts now that he is no longer in Boise and is looking to go pro.

Strengths

Rypien has a few things working in his favor. First, he has the pedigree of being the nephew of Super Bowl MVP Mark Rypien, who led Washington to victory in Super Bowl XXVI over the Buffalo Bills. Second, he has good size at 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds.

Rypien has a quick release and can fit balls into tight windows, with many of his 90 touchdowns a testament to his touch throwing the ball. The Boise State quarterback is adept at hitting receivers in stride and putting the ball where only his guy can make a play. While Rypien isn’t the fastest quarterback, he still has good pocket presence and can extend plays with his movement.

Weaknesses

One major weakness that could hinder Rypien’s NFL Draft stock is his tendency to lock into early reads. That proved one of his few downfalls over the course of his Boise State career, and teams entering the NFL Draft will knock him down a few pegs because of his tendency to look for risky plays despite less-than-outstanding arm strength.

In an era where a quarterback’s mobility has become a selling point, Rypien’s legs leave a little to be desired. To put it as simply as possible, Rypien is definitely a pocket passer. His running ability is not a selling point in any way, with a net loss on the ground over his four years playing college ball. He can extend plays, but rarely will he extend them across the line of scrimmage by himself.

Draft Expectations

In the three-day NFL Draft format, Rypien is highly unlikely to see his opportunity to fight for a pro spot until the last day of the selection process. There are certainly question marks about Rypien given the competition he played against in college and his pedigree against larger schools.

Look for him to go anywhere from the late-fifth to early-seventh round in the 2019 NFL Draft. In a way, it could prove a major blessing. Rypien is likely to land somewhere that can afford to develop a project over the next few years, somewhere where they have an established veteran locked in.

Projection: Sixth-round pick