2018 NFL Draft: Shrine Game Quarterback Riley Ferguson

It’s important not to sleep on under the radar quarterbacks such as the 2018 NFL Draft prospect in Memphis’ Riley Ferguson.

The 2018 NFL Draft quarterback draft class is proving to be one for the ages. Not since the historic 1983 NFL draft have there been so many top-flight signal callers available. Questions are looming however whether or not teams will take a quarterback early with so many talented players available at other positions.

Teams like New England and Pittsburg have aging signal callers and may want to look later in the draft to find their future quarterback.

This years East west shrine game may just be the place to do that. In past season the Shrine game has been a little lacking in top-end talent, However this season with the Senior Bowl being loaded at the quarterback position the Shrine game has some good ones as well. One of those quarterbacks is Riley Ferguson.

Ferguson is a two-year starter at Memphis, taking over for Paxton Lynch in 2016. Last season he led the Tigers to a 10-3 record while giving them a shot at the AAC title against UCF. In that game, Ferguson lost in an epic shootout.

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Ferguson also had a career game Verses, Josh Rosen, when Memphis matched up with UCLA earlier in the year. Riley was able to beat Rosen and bring real attention to his ability as a draft prospect.

Ferguson has good mobility as a passer. He has a great knack for keeping his eyes downfield and throwing off balance. He also throws with Great accuracy. Memphis has historically had passers with good accuracy spending a lot of throws on bubble screens and short routes.

Ferguson spent more passes past the fifteen-yard mark than in years past. Riley is a smart football player and good with teammates. Ferguson also has good arm strength, a trait that scouts will be able to really see at the shrine game.

Rileys biggest weakness will be field vision. One of the knocks on him before the season was that he locks on the receiver before he rips it. One thing to consider with that is he did not throw very many interceptions in spite of it. Scouts will be impressed with his accuracy and assume they can coach it out of him.

This weekend’s Shrine Game will be Fergusons time to shine. He needs to show that he can command a Pro-Style offense. If he can do that Teams will look to pick him up in the mid rounds as their starter for the future.