Some aspects of a football prospect are easy to measure (like a 40-yard dash) and many traits are easy to observe (like a rocket arm), but it can be hard to evaluate a quarterback’s mental makeup.
Speaking at the NFL combine last month, Denver Broncos coach Sean Payton was asked about the difficulties of evaluating players leading up to the NFL draft.
“I think one thing that’s hard to measure is their ability to multitask, process and make decisions,” Payton said specifically of QBs on Feb. 27. “You can visit with someone and they can be intelligent, but how quickly can they deliver the information? How quickly can they get through the progression? Are they accurate?
“There are some fundamental things that we have to see that are present. Sometimes it’s not as difficult as we make it out to be and then sometimes it’s very difficult. I think we’ll be really good at this, and I think to some degree, we’re glad that a lot of people aren’t.”
Teams can measure and observe a prospect’s physical traits, but it can be harder to gauge a quarterback’s ability to digest information, make fast decisions and executive at the NFL level.
Payton seems confident the Broncos are equipped to properly evaluate those traits in the 2024 quarterback class, perhaps even better than other clubs. Fans in Denver will hope that confidence leads to Payton and Co. landing the right quarterback in next month’s draft.
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