One of the earliest lessons one learns on Draft Twitter is that it is nearly impossible to "discover" a prospect. Someone else will always be first, and the NFL had already beaten them to the punch well before any highlights hit the timeline.
As such, prospect stocks fluctuate less than our discourse would suggest. Sometimes, though, it seems like players come out of nowhere, thrusting themselves into the collective consciousness and effectively putting themselves on the map. They aren't necessarily moving the needle for NFL teams, but it doesn't take much for a prospect to gain social media traction and become an important character for a month out of the draft cycle.
Texas Tech Red Raiders quarterback Behren Morton is standing on deck, and he has The Athletic's Dane Brugler to thank for the internet hype coming his way.
Behren Morton and other passers we need to talk about
On Tuesday, Brugler included Morton in his Week 3 recap of prospects who caught his attention. He highlighted two throws that stood out and praised Morton's footwork and layering.
Brugler didn't include a hot take about Morton going on Day 1 or a victory lap for finding an under-covered passer. But we can safely assume that more opinions on Texas Tech's quarterback are coming down the chute. There's a cascade effect when a prominent, credible media member highlights a player who "isn't talked about enough," and Brugler is the bar for draft coverage.
People take notice. People put on the tape. People let the takes fly.
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I turned on some Texas Tech to take part in the festivities.
- Morton has a live arm and good enough accuracy across the board to start. He's a strong athlete, too, and uses it to make plays out of structure and add to the Texas Tech ground game.
- His mechanics are clean, he has plus arm speed, and he retains his accuracy when off-base and operating with different arm angles.
- Within structure, Morton processes the field well and makes good decisions. He's aggressive downfield and between the hashes, with the velocity to pull it off.
- Despite the flashes, Morton has questionable pocket habits, and his decisions deteriorate under pressure. Ultimately, he looks like an early Day 3 prospect with room to grow as conference play gets underway.
Another passer I was admittedly late to was Oregon's Dante Moore. He's made plenty of NFL throws in the early going to warrant the hype headed his way.
With Penn State and Indiana looming, Ducks fans will soon get to see what Moore looks like in disadvantageous situations.
- Moore's accuracy to every level of the field stands out. He layers well and is unafraid to test the backside dig, even in tight windows.
- His strengths extend to his intangibles. He's a consistent, responsible decision-maker who is an easy fit in pure-progression offenses. Moore is willing to take hits to deliver throws and keeps his composure out of structure, allowing him to keep the offense in rhythm.
- I'm less enamored with Moore's physical tools. They are above-average but not elite, and while he can scramble, he isn't a math-changing threat on the ground. Subsequently, he's entered the early-round conversation, albeit without the most upside in the class.
As Moore threatens the top of the NFL Draft, Diego Pavia is making his case for the late rounds. I'm not convinced he gets there. The Vanderbilt passer has put the Commodores in SEC contention and is playing good football.
However, his profile screams "Trace McSorley," and it's difficult to put a draftable grade on someone with that kind of specific, limited skill set.
- Pavia fits in an option-run-heavy attack that allows him to supplant quick game with his legs. Perhaps that lands him opportunities as a priority free agent, but it limits suitors on Day 3.
- His accuracy underneath is fine, but without high-level arm strength, it's hard to trust him within structure -- especially without an above-average feel for timing.
- There are flashes of playmaking out of structure, but he's prone to turnovers outside the pocket and can force himself into trouble with poor pocket management.
Lastly, Baylor quarterback Sawyer Robertson is putting on a Big 12 show in September. He's been asked to be a sentry gun, and Robertson leads the conference in completions (84), attempts (135), and passing yards (1,070).
With a strong frame (6'3", 220 pounds) and good athleticism, Robertson is a good bet to get drafted earlier than anticipated because of his physical traits. There is certainly a handful of teams that feel they can coax franchise-level quarterbacking out of him in the right environment.
- Robertson has a very live arm and a willingness to use it. He loves testing one-on-one windows downfield and has the kind of arm arrogance that defines today's rocket-armed passers.
- Attempting so many passes, including some real progressions against complex coverages, is meaningful experience. The NFL is learning to appreciate senior passers, and Robertson is far less raw than his underclassmen counterparts.
- The biggest drawback in Robertson's profile is his accuracy. He isn't reliable enough to consistently hit his layups and is inconsistent to each part of the field. That lack of refinement should keep him out of Round 1, but growth here makes his physical upside all the more tangible.
- Robertson currently projects as a fringe Day 2/3 pick on talent alone. The allure of his measurables, though, boosts his stock.
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