2021 NFL Draft: Ranking battle for QB4 as Zach Wilson, Mac Jones join fight
By Cory Kinnan
4. Brock Purdy, Iowa State
A name who started the season as QB4, and almost by default, is Iowa State’s signal caller Brock Purdy. However, as the 2020 season continues to move along, a year where the Big 12 looks to be in shambles, the tape has not been kind to Purdy as the Cyclones were upset in Week 1, then he made a boneheaded throw against TCU the following week.
There are concerns to be had with Purdy and his arm strength and talent. Is it strong enough to push the ball outside the boundaries and down the field at the NFL level? Does he have the pocket poise to stand in and take the tough hits he will face when he makes the jump to the next level? His tape leaves much to want in both of these areas as he tends to be conservative with the football, and also throw off his back foot with more frequency than most teams will be comfortable with.
He is currently facing a career low in completion percentage and yards per attempt, displaying a hesitation to push the ball down the field or perform under pressure. He has thrown just four touchdowns in four games for the Cyclones, but he has only thrown one interception as well (at least showing the ability to take care of the football).
However, despite a Week 1 upset by Louisiana, Iowa State still finds themselves in a great position to compete for a Big 12 title after they upset Oklahoma, and have also secured wins over TCU and Texas Tech. Can Purdy lead him to the promised land? Can he add some much needed aggressiveness to his portfolio?