MOBILE, Ala. – Already a three-year starter, Missouri’s Drew Lock could have easily joined last year’s crowded quarterback draft class.
But staying in school may turn out to be the best thing for Lock’s career.
Even with the additions of Ohio State’s Dwayne Haskins and Oklahoma’s Kyrie Murray this month, the quarterback group isn’t as eye-popping as last year, when four went in the top 10 picks.
Lock saved his best college year for his last go-around, cutting down his interceptions and improving his completion percentage, which makes him a first-round prospect.
“Absolutely zero regrets for coming back this year,” Lock said Monday night during a Senior Bowl press conference. “I needed to learn the things I did. I think I’m 10 times more prepared than if I would have come out last year.”
Does a 10-times-better Lock make sense for the Broncos with the 10th overall pick? He sure does. And without a trace of arrogance but a ton of confidence, he thinks he should be at the top of the group.
“All of us have a lot of unique things,” Lock said. “As a competitor, I’m going to tell you, yeah, I do believe I’m the best quarterback in this class.”
Lock can continue proving that point this week. It is a crowded quarterback roster with eight total invites selected, which will limit Lock’s snaps. But he can make a solid impression throwing in 1-on-1 drills.
“Drew is going to be fine when it comes to throwing the football,” said Jim Nagy, the Senior Bowl’s executive director who welcomed 114 players to town on Sunday. “Itap the mental part. Itap huddling. Itap getting verbiage out. Itap getting under center. Itap becoming a pro.”
Broncos general manager was in Columbia, Mo., in November to watch Lock and Missouri beat Arkansas. When the Broncos’ coaches dig into Lock’s tape, they will find somebody who played a lot of SEC football, which should count for a lot.
Lock played 50 games, attempted 1,553 passes and threw 99 touchdowns. He entered the Tigers’ starting lineup in the fourth game of his true freshman year and never left.
“Experience matters, it really does,” Nagy said. “Itap not a developmental league at any position anymore. You’re going to get thrust right in there and you have to be ready. When you are the face of the program, you’re ready to handle some of the stuff (in the NFL).”
Last year, the four top-10 quarterbacks started quickly: The Jets’ started in Week 1, Buffalo’s in Week 2 and Arizona’s and Cleveland’s in Week 4. Most teams don’t have the patience or the luxury to sit a player of ’ potential for a full season because is playing at a high level like the Chiefs did in 2017.
If the Broncos take a quarterback at No. 10 or trade up to select one, it makes sense to start that player right away and have new offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello lean on the running game and coach ’s defense to create a soft transition.
That might be a reason why taking a seasoned passer like Lock could make sense. He’s been through highs and lows in college. He had to learn a new offense entering his vital senior year. And he played against some of the best defenses in the nation (Alabama, Georgia, Florida, etc.).
Lock’s 2017 numbers suggested he stay in school. He had 13 interceptions (up from 10 as a sophomore). Yes, he had 19 more touchdowns (23 to 44) but his completion percentage (57.8) prompted accuracy concerns.
Offensive coordinator Josh Heupel left to become the coach at Central Florida and was replaced by tight ends coach Derek Dooley.
Under Dooley’s watch, Lock improved his completion percentage to 62.7 and threw only eight interceptions in 437 attempts.
“Dooley talked to me on the phone for two conversations and I was like, ‘Wow, this guy is going to get me ready,’ ” Lock said. “I definitely felt that throughout the year. There was a lot more put on me and you want to have that because you’re more relaxed in a way because you know whatap going on and you know how to get yourself out of bad situations.”
Besides the chance to work with the ’ coaching staff, Lock can treat Senior Bowl Week as a dry run of sorts for the higher-profile Scouting Combine in Indianapolis.
“The (team) interviews are critical (this week),” Nagy said. “If you connect with one person, he may be the one who goes back and pounds his fist on the table for you.”
