Each week at PFF, we've given you an overview of all the top draft-eligible quarterbacks across the college football world, with eyes towards the 2018 NFL draft. Now nine weeks into the season, with reputations building and some performances shining, we continue our rankings of these top 12 draft-eligible quarterbacks.
Below you will find the top draft-eligible quarterbacks from across the country, and how they stack up against one another in both traditional and advanced statistics, ranked by their overall PFF grade so far this season. While these rankings are obviously not how they'll either finish, nor how they are projected to be drafted, these rankings serve as a guideline to rank how each quarterback has fared for their respective teams, while our advanced stats further depict how they may fare at the next level.
With that, here are our takes on the top 12 draft-eligible quarterbacks, that you won't get anywhere else.
1. Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma – 95.7 overall grade
Game Grade vs. Texas Tech: 83.6
Facing his former team, Mayfield had another solid night. Working primarily the short to intermediate part of the field, Mayfield went 21-for-26 for 258 yards and three touchdowns on throws under 20 yards. Mayfield displayed his arm talent on his best throw of the game, firing a post route vs Cover-4 with perfect placement to go along with good trajectory and zip to beat tight coverage. He did misfire with a couple of turnover-worthy throws in between the numbers, including one up the seam into tight coverage that resulted in an interception. This game didn’t have the deep ball splash plays that we’re used to seeing, but he displayed good patience and accuracy throughout.
2. Lamar Jackson, Louisville – 90.7 overall grade
Game Grade vs. Wake Forest: 79.9
As we’ve seen throughout the year, Jackson was forced to carry the team against Wake Forest, and had his share of good and bad throughout the game. Jackson had a big mistake on a 3rd-and-1 inside the 10-yard line going in to score, scrambling and throwing a ball directly to an underneath defender resulting in an interception. Wake Forest did a good job covering on the back end, with Jackson failing to make many big plays down the field going just 1-of-6 for 26 yards on throws over 20-plus yards. Jackson was under pressure eighth-most in the country at 43.9 percent, completing just 46.7 percent of his passes with an interception and a 39.3 passer rating under duress. Although the passing game lacked explosion we’re used to seeing, there were a number of positive plays with Jackson working through progressions and find receivers under in zone coverage.
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