Jake Fromm being underestimated by too many NFL experts

Former Georgia quarterback Jake Fromm isn’t getting a lot of love from NFL Draft experts, and he should be.

If you’re Jake Fromm, you’ve probably heard it all by now. Doesn’t possess an elite arm. Not mobile enough. Not big enough. The list goes on and on of why Jake Fromm shouldn’t be high on anyone’s draft board this year.

Those who are underestimating Fromm may be eating their words within a few years.

To be certain, Georgia has sent some quarterbacks into the NFL who were viewed as anything from “sure-fire starters” to “excellent development projects” in guys like Eric Zeier, David Greene, D.J. Shockley, and Aaron Murray – none of whom seemed to find their niche in the pro ranks.

If you listen to scouts and experts now, Fromm probably falls in the middle of that spectrum, being a guy with incredible football intelligence and decision-making skills, but lacking the physical traits that seem to be in-demand right now.

One NFL quarterbacks coach told NFL.com reporter Tom Pelissero:

"“I’m not sold on the arm strength, size, athleticism. I liked his decision-making, and I really like the kid. He’s a football junkie. He’s got the right makeup for sure. Now, the physical stuff is concerning. If he goes anywhere before the third round, that’s reaching.”"

They have Fromm as the number seven quarterback prospect in this year’s draft, projected to be taken in the third or fourth round.

Dear NFL teams: If you get Jake Fromm in the fourth round or later of this year’s draft, you got yourselves a bargain you didn’t expect.

Having closely observed every Georgia starting quarterback over the last thirty-plus years, there is something different about Fromm. He doesn’t possess Matthew Stafford’s cannon arm, or Shockley’s speed and athleticism. He’s not the winningest quarterback in NCAA history (as David Greene once was) nor is he the all-time leader in any category for Georgia quarterbacks.

But he’s the best quarterback prospect to come out of Athens since Stafford.

Fromm — who was 35-7 all-time as a starter at Georgia — has a very quiet swagger and an almost uncanny ability to never let the moment be too big for him.

Many scouts will point to Fromm’s “down junior season” as a telltale sign of trouble to come when he suits up on Sundays. Another way of looking at it is that Fromm made a gourmet meal out of leftovers considering what he was handed in terms of receivers (not to mention an offensive line that sadly underperformed).

Jake Fromm has an “it” factor like another quarterback

This isn’t to say Fromm should be a first-round pick or be mentioned in the same breath with Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert or others projected to be taken early in the draft, but he shouldn’t be dismissed as a tantalizing prospect either.

Another NFL scout told Pilissero, “All he does is play in big games and win games. He just doesn’t have the arm talent or the physical athletic ability of these other cats.”

Well, let’s turn back the clock. Here are some scouting reports on another quarterback from about 20 years ago.

Mel Kiper Jr.: “Sure, he doesn’t have the total package of skills, but you have to be impressed with his level of performance this past season against Notre Dame (17-of-24), Wisconsin (17-of-27), Michigan State (30-of-41), Ohio State (17-of-27), and Alabama (34-of-46 for 369 yards and 4 TDs).”

Ron Hughes: “He’s highly competitive. He can’t run worth a lick but he has enough where he can step out of the way of people.”

Unnamed NFC Scout: “He had that great bowl game but I think he’s just very common. He’s a bony, very thin kind of guy. God, you can see his ribs on his build. His arm is just adequate.”

Another unnamed NFC Scout: “I don’t like him. Smart guy. That’s it.”

More quotes on this quarterback, via Boston.com

• Lacks great physical stature and strength
• Lacks mobility and ability to avoid the rush
• Lacks a really strong arm
• Can’t drive the ball downfield
• Does not throw a really tight spiral
• System-type player who can get exposed if forced to ad-lib
• Gets knocked down easily

Of course, all those quotes and draft analysis clips were for none other than Tom Brady.

Sounds vaguely familiar to what we’re hearing about Fromm, doesn’t it? And today’s SEC schedule is markedly tougher than the Big Ten schedule Brady played while at Michigan.

Is this to say Fromm is going to be the next Tom Brady? Who knows. You never want to label someone with that type of pressure anyway, but who’s to say he isn’t? If Fromm is drafted by a coach who understands how to use the hard-to-find gifts that Jake Fromm possesses, then he may very well by a guy many NFL teams are face-palming themselves over for not taking him.

So go ahead. Underestimate Fromm. Dismiss his unique skills and scoff as his lack of skills that can actually be taught. One NFL team won’t, and they’ll be laughing all the way to some championships.