Blake Sims: Latest on Undrafted Free Agent After 2015 NFL Draft

Alabama quarterback Blake Sims wasn't selected in the 2015 NFL draft, but will have a training camp tryout with the Green Bay Packers.

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Blake Sims Goes Undrafted; Will Have Camp Tryout with Packers

Saturday, May 2

Stewart Mandel of Sports Illustrated reported Sims was among the players who went undrafted this year. However, Adam Caplan of ESPN.com reported that he quarterback would have a training camp tryout with the Green Bay Packers. 

Ultimately, it wasn't a surprise that the Alabama product wasn't drafted; as a quarterback, Sims has a lot working against him.

He was only a one-year starter at Alabama. He's short, at 5'11", 218 pounds. He has an average arm, though he has enough zip on his passes to make outside and deeper throws. He doesn't have the accuracy and the anticipation of Drew Brees or the instincts of Russell Wilson, other short quarterbacks who have thrived in the league. At Alabama, some of his shortcomings were concealed by the immense talent he was surrounded with on offense. 

Still, Sims did produce in his one season at the helm, throwing for 3,487 yards, 28 touchdowns and 10 interceptions and completing 64.5 percent of his passes. He also rushed for 350 yards and seven touchdowns. 

His 4.57 40-yard-dash time at the NFL Scouting Combine certainly impressed, too.

Indeed, his athleticism is his biggest strength. Like Wilson, he often scrambles to open up opportunities down the field rather than lowering his head and trying to run the ball himself (though he is a good runner when he does decide to tuck it and go).

Because he made the switch from running back to quarterback at Alabama, he doesn't appear to fear contact in the pocket. Sims was already able to make the transition to a new position, so adjusting to the NFL isn't something he's worried about, as he told D. Orlando Ledbetter of the Atlanta Journal Constitution: "I think it will be a great transition. I think have a great opportunity to show the NFL what I’m capable of doing, and whoever decides to draft me to their team, I think they’ll make a great pick."

Sims may need to prepare himself for a future away from the quarterback position, however. Outside of systems that run a spread-option attack or utilize a mobile quarterback, he will have a major adjustment on his hands as a backup quarterback. His athleticism, rather than his play at the quarterback position, remains his strongest asset heading into the NFL.