2016 NFL Draft: San Francisco 49ers Picks, Grades and Analysis
By Jerod Brown
Round 6, Pick No. 32, 207th Overall
Player: QB Jeff Driskel, Louisiana Tech
Height/Weight: 6’4″, 234 pounds
The 49ers have three selections in the sixth round, and they all fall within just a few selections of one another. They kick off the sixth round by selecting Louisiana Tech’s Jeff Driskel at 207th overall in the 2016 NFL Draft. Yes, the 49ers finally got their quarterback, and it is just the guy we all expected. Right? Maybe not.
Driskel is an intriguing prospect who will certainly challenge both Colin Kaepernick and Blaine Gabbert to start in 2016. He has the size of a prototypical NFL quarterback and the team gets a bargain by drafting him so late.
Strengths:
Driskel played at the University of Florida for four years before transferring to Louisiana Tech, and he has the experience of the Southeastern Conference and competition as an indication of how he might be able to compete in the NFL.
Driskel has the size that the 49ers will love, but he also adds impressive speed to that. With a 40-yard dash time of 4.56 seconds, Driskel is the perfect example of a big, well-built quarterback who is just enough of a threat to run in head coach Chip Kelly’s system.
Driskel doesn’t have top-end arm strength, but he has enough to make every throw that he’ll be asked to in the NFL. Primarily, Driskel excels on the run and on the edge as an accurate passer who can reset his feet and hips quickly to make passes downfield. With impressive touch and timing, Driskel is more of a facilitator rather than a game-winner.
Weaknesses:
Driskel has inconsistent arm mechanics and will oftentimes find himself locking on to one receiver and hurrying through his process to get the ball out in time. He’ll have to learn to speed up the process in an efficient manner while keeping his motion tight and compact.
Driskel transferred to Louisiana Tech and rightfully so. He gained the necessary reps he failed to get at Florida and was able to develop into a more complete passer. Some will wonder why Driskel wasn’t able to excel at Florida and if the scheme at Louisiana Tech protected his flaws. They’re right.
The offense that LA Tech ran gave Driskel easy reads and allowed him to work primarily out of the shotgun in an offense which limited and hid his deficiencies. The 49ers will have to develop Driskel as a traditional drop-back passer before he is ready to start.
Why He Fits:
Driskel is a clear fit as a developmental quarterback for the 49ers. He likely won’t be ready to start in 2016, but he may push Gabbert and to improve or risk losing their spot in 2017. Trent Baalke and Kelly have made it clear they’re comfortable with the quarterback situation, at least in 2016, and taking Driskel is a good indication of that.
Driskel can develop behind Gabbert for a year or two before being a possible replacement and franchise quarterback. The 49ers take a late flier on a big, mobile quarterback with the skill set and framework that can be developed.
Grade: B-
Next: Round 6: Kelvin Taylor, Running Back