Graham Mertz QB Florida | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Graham Mertz QB Florida
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
| PLAY STYLE: Pocket Passer | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last Updated: 09/21/2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Draft Year: 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 40 time: 4.95 seconds (24%*) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Age: 23.11 DOB: 12/06/2000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| PLAY STYLE: Pocket Passer | |
| Last Updated: 09/21/2024 | |
| Draft Year: 2025 | |
| 40 time: 4.95 seconds (24%*) | |
| Age: 23.11 DOB: 12/06/2000 | |
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| Overall Rating: | 78.0 / 100 | |
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| Average rating of opposition Defense player has faced | ||
| Defense Rating: |
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76% |
| Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
| Release Speed: |
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84% |
| Short Passing: |
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71% |
| Medium Passing: |
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82% |
| Long Passing: |
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78% |
| Rush/Scramble: |
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55% |
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DRAFT PROJECTION:
UDFA
Overall Rank:
#317
Position rank:
#27
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| College Games: 50 College Snaps: 3004 | ||
ESPN RATING: 86/100
College Combine Results
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OVR Rank:
#4
Pos Rank:
#1
State Rank:
#1
College Combine Results
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247 RATING: 97/100
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| Ovr Rank: #176 Pos Rank: #3 | ||
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RIVALS RATING: 6.0 (98%)
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| Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Aidan O'Connell - Purdue |
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99% |
| Jack Coan - Notre Dame |
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91% |
| Jake Haener - Fresno State |
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72% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Graham Mertz's football journey began in Overland Park, Kansas, where he attended Blue Valley North High School. A standout player, Mertz led his team to a state championship as a junior and was named the 2018 Kansas Gatorade Player of the Year. His high school career included a remarkable 96 touchdown passes and 16 interceptions.
Mertz was a highly-touted recruit, earning a four-star rating and participating in the Elite 11 quarterback competition. He initially joined the Wisconsin Badgers, where he faced challenges as the starting quarterback, finishing with 38 touchdowns and 26 interceptions over four seasons. Despite a rocky tenure, he transferred to Florida, where he rejuvenated his career.
At Florida, Mertz thrived, posting career-best stats in 2023: 2,903 passing yards, 20 touchdowns, and a 72.9% completion rate. His performance earned him several accolades, including SEC Player of the Week and Maxwell Player of the Week. Mertz's journey highlights his resilience and adaptability as he now eyes the NFL Draft.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Displays excellent pocket awareness with the ability to evade initial pressure and extend plays.
- Effective in rollout situations, showcasing accuracy and arm strength when throwing on the move.
- Has sufficient arm talent to deliver strikes into tight intermediate windows and deep outs.
- Shows exceptional arm elasticity, enabling varied release points and throwing angles under duress.
- Demonstrates sound mechanics with a quick release, maintaining consistent throwing motion and shoulder level.
- Proficient in executing play-action and RPO concepts, keeping defenses off-balance.
- Utilizes pump fakes effectively to manipulate safeties and create passing lanes downfield.
- Exhibits strong leadership qualities, displaying toughness and poise in high-pressure situations.
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Lacks elite top-end speed and agility, limiting his ability to consistently make plays with his legs.
- Inconsistent field vision, occasionally missing open targets on intermediate and crossing routes.
- Tends to rely on a see-it, throw-it approach, resulting in hesitancy and late throws into tight coverage.
- Struggles with maintaining proper footwork under pressure, leading to errant throws and accuracy issues.
- Prone to holding onto the ball too long, increasing the risk of sacks and negative plays.
Scouting Report: Summary
Graham Mertz has shown marked improvement during his tenure at Florida, bouncing back from a turbulent spell at Wisconsin. His refined mechanics and enhanced decision-making have positioned him as a viable mid-to-late Day 3 draft prospect. Mertz's ability to adapt and elevate his game under pressure is a testament to his resilience and potential at the next level.
Mertz's key strengths include his arm talent, mobility in the pocket, and poise under duress. He excels in delivering accurate throws on the move and manipulating defenses with effective pump fakes. However, concerns about his field vision and consistency in tight window throws remain. His tendency to hold the ball too long and inconsistent footwork under pressure are areas that need refinement.
The upcoming 2024 season will be pivotal for Mertz as he aims to solidify his draft stock. His potential as a developmental quarterback is evident, with the possibility to grow into a reliable backup or spot starter in the NFL. Continued improvement in his decision-making and consistency will be crucial for his transition to the next level.
Written By:
Bill Miller (SEC)
Graham Mertz percentiles vs other Quarterbacks (NFL Combine historically - higher value represents better perfomance)
How other scouting services rate Graham Mertz (Overall Rank)
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.