NFL rookie QB grades: How Cardinals' Murray, Redskins' Haskins could rise

Daniel Jones, Giants, (Rd. 1, 6th pick)

Key stats: 11 interceptions, 10 fumbles lost 

What I like: Tools

Jones looks the part. He has an NFL body (6-foot-5, 220 pounds) for the position. Without question, he is a "plus athlete" when comparing him to the other starters around the league. He has a good arm and all the tools (footwork, good head, feel for game) you want. 

What I don’t like: Turnovers

Did he take turnover lessons from Jameis Winston? His fumbles, a stat that is too often ignored in quarterbacks, are especially concerning. Jones doesn't protect the ball well. The next head coach -- Pat Shurmur will probably be gone -- must work with him in this critical area.

Where he's at in five years: Low-end starter

Jones won't progress significantly unless the Giants significantly improve their offensive line and skill positions. He has good skills, but there's a ton of work he must do. 

Grade: C

Dwayne Haskins, Redskins (Rd. 1, 15th pick)

Key stats: 55% completion percentage, 3 TD passes, 7 interceptions

What I Like: Strength

Haskins (6-foot-4, 231 pounds) has a big, strong body, a powerful arm and mental toughness. He'll need that last quality, because this franchise is a mess. He should expect to endure several losing seasons in Washington, but he has the makeup to handle it if the team drafts well. A big if, I know.

What I don’t like: Feet

Haskins is a bit of a battleship as quarterbacks go, meaning he isn’t light on his feet and doesn't change course on a dime. Haskins is limited as a runner, even when large lanes present themselves. He also doesn’t shuffle and slide within the pocket all that well. He’s heavy footed.

Where he’s at in five years: Solid starter ...

... but if Washington doesn't invest in its offensive line, he could be a washout. The Redskins have the worst passing attack in the league. 

Grade: C+

Drew Lock, Broncos (Rd. 2, 42nd pick)

Key stats: 72.7 % completion percentage

What I like: Arm talent

He has only started two games, but I saw a lot of Lock's college tape, so I feel comfortable evaluating him. He has plenty of enticing traits, but his arm talent stands out to even the most casual observers. Lock is a bit like Detroit's Matthew Stafford in that regard. He can alter his throwing motion and arm angles and make all the throws you want to see in an NFL-caliber QB. Lock, as scouts sometimes say, has every club in his golf bag.

What I don’t like: Consistency

Against better competition in college, Lock didn’t perform up to the standards you'd expect from someone with his talent. He was highly inconsistent on short passes.  

Where he's at in five years: Inconsistent starter

Lock's 111.4 passer rating is the best by a Broncos quarterback over the first two career starts. (Current league average is 91.2.) The Broncos have kept him "clean" -- he's only been sacked once in two starts. I expect him to be the 2020 Day 1 starter for the Broncos, who have suffered through Paxton Lynch, Trevor Siemian, Joe Flacco, etc.  

Grade: B

Ryan Finley, Bengals, (Rd. 4, 104th pick)

Key stats: Passer rating 62.1, well below league average (92.1)

What I like: Head

Finley understands what defenses are trying to accomplish and where to go with the football. As he gains experience, he will be an asset in the quarterback meeting room. He might be a perfect sidekick for stud prospect Joe Burrow of LSU, perhaps the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.

What I don’t like: Arm

He doesn’t throw the ball well enough. His passes flutter. He has a tough time in the elements, especially the wind, and that's not good in the AFC North. Defenders easily break on Finley’s passes, and his out routes are an adventure. 

Where he's at in five years: Backup

He’s limited. But Finley could last in this league for an extended stretch as a clipboard holder and occasional fill-in. Ringing endorsement, huh?

Grade: D

Gardner Minshew, Jaguars (Rd. 6, 178th pick)

Key stats: 25 sacks, 15 TDs, five interceptions

What I Like: Deep ball

Minshew, who has replaced Nick Foles as starter, has good patience in the pocket and allows deep routes to develop. He has meshed well with the speedy Jacksonville receivers, especially DJ Chark. 

What I Don’t Like: Lacks special traits

With the possible exception of growing an excellent mustache, nothing he does is well above average. He's not especially deficient in any particular department either. When a QB gets into trouble on the field, he needs a trump card -- a super-strong arm, a go-to route he has mastered, something. I just don't see it from him.

Where he's at in five years: Backup

Minshew could be the Jaguars' opening-day starter next year.  But Jacksonville, which suffered through the abysmal Blake Bortles at QB, desperately needs a stud at the position. Cult hero Minshew's not that guy. 

Grade: B-

Devlin Hodges, Steelers, undrafted

Key stats: 57-for-80 passing (71.3 %), passer rating 103.2 (league average 91.2)

What I like: Demeanor

At small-school Samford, Hodges was often the best player on the field. He believes in himself and the game isn’t too big for him, even at the NFL level. He handles himself well in the pocket and deftly goes through his progressions. And Hodges isn’t bashful about letting the ball fly to allow his talented, young receivers to make a play.

What I Don’t Like: Arm strength

Hodges must really load up and give it everything he has to make “arm- strength throws” like deep outs and comebacks. This is especially worrisome. Hodges needs his feet to be set with space to operate in order to really step into a throw to generate the necessary RPMs. It hasn’t hurt Hodges much yet, and the Steelers protect him well. But inevitably, Hodges must make throws when conditions are not optimal. Expect his lack of arm strength to be exposed.

Where he's at in five years: Solid backup

Hodges profiles well as the long-term backup who can enter a game for a struggling starter and give his team a spark. He's a hold-down-the-fort guy, not a long-term starter. 

Grade: C

David Blough, Lions (undrafted free agent)

Subbing for injured Matthew Stafford and Jeff Driskel, he has started only two games, not quite enough for me to give him a solid evaluation. On Thanksgiving, the Bears dared Blough to attack downfield, and to his credit, he let it fly to receivers who had favorable matchups. Showed some moxie. Against the Vikings in his second start, he wasn’t nearly as effective, failing to handle intense pressure. He saw "ghosts" (ask the Jets' Sam Darnold), meaning he felt pressure that really wasn't there. 

Grade: Incomplete