2020 NFL Draft: Ranking the Top QBs Ready to Be Rookie Starters

In the what-have-you-done-for-me-lately NFL, there is less patience than usual for rookie quarterbacks to get on the field and produce.

Besides an outlier like Super Bowl LIV MVP Patrick Mahomes, who sat comfortably for a year behind veteran Alex Smith, most high-profile rookie passers get thrown into the fire right away.

That was essentially the case for prominent 2019 first-round rookies Kyler Murray in Arizona and Daniel Jones in New York, with Dwayne Haskins in Washington not far behind.

Rest assured, teams will take immediate readiness into account this offseason when looking at free agency and what appears to be a top-heavy quarterback draft class. Based on traits and how they translate to the pro level, as well as college experience, this is the pecking order for top 2020 quarterback prospects in terms of readiness to be rookie starters.

6. Jordan Love, Utah State

Butch Dill/Associated Press

Jordan Love might be one of the most interesting prospects in the draft outright.

Love is a big-bodied passer (6'4", 225 pounds) who put up good numbers in the Mountain West Conference at Utah State, completing 61.2 percent of his passes with 8,600 yards and 60 touchdowns against 29 interceptions over three years. He had nine rushing scores too.

However, one of the biggest talking points about Love during the draft process will be his regression in his final year before going pro, throwing 20 touchdowns and 17 interceptions.

But the argument will rage as to whether that was an individual regression or the product of his surroundings. As Pro Football Focus' Anthony Treash pointed out, Love was under more pressure in 2019 and more of his passes had to go into tight windows. 

Michael Renner of PFF encapsulated the risk-reward factor: "The Utah State product's 32 big-time throws this past season were the fifth-most in college football, the problem, though, is that his 26 turnover-worthy plays were fourth-most."

With a booming arm and mobility, Love is more of a project that one team will fall in love with than a guaranteed steady rookie starter. The upside is amazing, but he won't top this list.

5. Jacob Eason, Washington

Steve Marcus/Associated Press

Jacob Eason passes the eye test in emphatic fashion. He's huge at 6'6" and 227 pounds with a booming arm.

But like others on this list, he needs an ideal situation in which to thrive. Over three seasons between Georgia and Washington, he completed 59.8 percent of his passes with 5,590 yards and 39 touchdowns against 16 interceptions.

Eason showcased a rocket-like arm with sometimes strong deep accuracy, but he also displayed a propensity to struggle under pressure.

Jordan Reid of The Draft Network painted the full picture:

"With just over two full seasons of experience as a full-time starter, Eason shows positive signs of growth, but it also involved lots of up and down play. While his peaks are ultra-intriguing, there's a huge mix of bad plays littered in as well. Right now, he's more of a thrower than a pitcher – meaning that he wants everything to be fastball instead of switching up his pitches to compensate for the certain types of necessities and for who he's throwing to."

Could Eason go out and start in an ideal system with limited reads where his targets do most of the work? Yes, but suggestions that a return to school would be beneficial ring true, and he could have some major growing pains if asked to start.

4. Jake Fromm, Georgia

John Amis/Associated Press

Georgia's Jake Fromm falls into an odd Day 2 spot when it comes to projections. While his upside might not be immense, he's a capable, experienced player, albeit with some limitations a pro coaching staff will have to work around immediately and in the long run.

Fromm put in three years of starting work with the Bulldogs, settling on a 63.3 completion percentage with 8,236 yards and 78 touchdowns against 18 interceptions.

Some of the numbers speak for themselves, as Fromm clearly doesn't put the ball at risk often. While that's commendable, questionable arm strength even at the collegiate level could mean a big uptick in problems in the pros.

Think of Fromm as an Andy Dalton-type Day 2 passer in that he can have plenty of success in the right situation but won't carry a roster on his own. His best fit is probably somewhere with an established, quick-hitting offense where he can get through reads quickly and let his targets do the bulk of the work after the catch.

3. Justin Herbert, Oregon

Butch Dill/Associated Press

Opinions on Justin Herbert have been all over the place, from projected Heisman Trophy contender to an iffy-stock player who struggles under pressure and with timing.

The reality is probably somewhere in the middle and highly dependent on where he lands. Herbert played four years at Oregon, finishing with a 64.0 completion percentage, 10,541 yards and 95 touchdowns against 23 interceptions.

The experience alone helps him stand tall as one of the most pro-ready passers in 2020. He has arguably the strongest arm in the class and boasts good mobility as well, which should assist in his transition to the NFL.

ESPN's Todd McShay likens some of his traits to Buffalo's Josh Allen, which makes sense taking into account both the physical qualities and some questionable decisions with the football.

Given his talent and the state of the class, Herbert will probably be forced right into a starting role.

2. Tua Tagovailoa, Alabama

Vasha Hunt/Associated Press

Injury aside, Tua Tagovailoa would be quarterback No. 1 in many draft classes.

This year, Tagovailoa fell on the backburner a bit thanks to the unexpected and historic rise of Joe Burrow. But the Alabama quarterback was still a wicked blend of ability to read defenses, calm under pressure, elusiveness and accuracy that most teams would love to groom.

A year removed from throwing for 3,966 yards with 43 touchdowns and six interceptions, he attempted just 252 passes in 2019, completing 71.4 percent of them for 2,840 yards with 33 touchdowns and three picks. He was the only college passer with grades of 90-plus in 2018 and 2019 at Pro Football Focus.

While there is still an air of uncertainty as to whether Tagovailoa's injured hip heals well, it's likely not going to stop an NFL team from making him a top-10 pick based on his immediate ability to upgrade a position, as well as his massive upside.

Again, the Burrow eruption quieted some of the hype around Tagovailoa. But if the medical check at the combine comes through clean, teams might engage in bidding wars to move up and get a guy with traits capable of turning around a franchise right away.

1. Joe Burrow, LSU

John Amis/Associated Press

What else is there to say about Joe Burrow?

He had one of the best quarterback seasons in college football history on the way to a national title. He completed 76.3 percent of his passes with 5,671 yards and 60 touchdowns against just six interceptions, adding 368 yards and five scores as a runner.

Everything about Burrow took a massive developmental leap in 2019. He read defenses better, got the ball out faster with the right timing and accuracy, remained cool under pressure and kept plays alive whether throwing with set feet or from an awkward stance.

The draft process loves to poke holes in any and all prospects' stock before the big day, so if there's a knock on Burrow, it's that he doesn't have the strongest arm in the class. But that's nitpicking a prospect who just hit a clear apex of his development at the right age and, among many other positives, posted a ridiculous passer rating of 141.1 under pressure last season, per PFF.

Burrow is by far the most pro-ready passer in 2020, setting up one of the most predictable outcomes at No. 1 overall in a long time.