2021 NFL Draft: Potential late-round steals at quarterback
![SOUTH BEND, INDIANA - SEPTEMBER 28: Ian Book #12 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish drops back to pass during the first half against the Virginia Cavaliers at Notre Dame Stadium on September 28, 2019 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) SOUTH BEND, INDIANA - SEPTEMBER 28: Ian Book #12 of the Notre Dame Fighting Irish drops back to pass during the first half against the Virginia Cavaliers at Notre Dame Stadium on September 28, 2019 in South Bend, Indiana. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/2f3532347264bf9b3e9d61a8392b80bd69ff061798841f9ca8d98fe5493cad35.jpg)
Peyton Ramsey, Northwestern
Another transfer quarterback, Ramsey wanted to play at Northwestern but didn’t have an offer from the Wildcats. Instead, Ramsey chose to go to Indiana for the first three years. He ended up losing his starting job to Michael Penix Jr and decided to transfer out. Northwestern saw what they had missed and brought Ramsey in and got a great return.
Ramsey wasn’t a superstar that put up huge numbers, but he led the surprising Wildcats to a 7-2 record, Big Ten West championship and a tenth place finish in the AP Poll. Ramsey was more of a game manager who was prone to interceptions, but he made big plays when it mattered.
Again, he was never a top tier Heisman candidate, but he was solid and consistent. He completed 65% of his passes for 8,314 yards and 54 touchdowns with 34 interceptions.
Ramsey is good at going through progressions, even if he needs to make a short throw to his running back. Even though that’s a strength, he sometimes crumbles under pressure when he feels heat from the defense and just gives up a sack rather than trying to throw the ball away.
Ramsey is named after Peyton Manning, so it’s no surprise he hopes to follow in Manning’s footsteps as an NFL starter. It’ll take time, but Ramsey would fit in well in a run/pass option system where he’s not asked to single handedly lead a team.