Brian Lewerke 2020 NFL Draft Profile

Brian Lewerke is a three-year starter who had an excellent 2017 (2,793 yards passing, twenty touchdowns, and 559 rushing yards with five touchdowns), a frustrating 2018 (54.3 completion percentage with eight touchdowns and 11 interceptions), and a 2019 that was just good enough to secure a spot in the NFL Combine (3,079 passing yards, 17 touchdowns, 13 interceptions). His mobility out of the pocket and flashes of excellence have given promise of a solid NFL prototype quarterback.

Completion percentage will be a key detractor for NFL scouts, as he never achieved a 60 percent mark. He has the ability to make downfield throws but is too often off the mark. With two seasons as a team captain, and a 2017 All-Big Ten Honorable Mention he has shown the leadership intangibles needed to be a supportive quarterback in the NFL.

Strengths

Solid agility in and out of pocket; sets up a second throw point;

Intangibles needed as a team leader and solid experience as a three-year starter;

Powerful arm on downfield throws;

Not afraid to run the ball or take a shot in a zone-read scheme;

Discerns the pocket collapsing and when he needs to run;

Has frame and intangibles needed to correct possible mechanical errors;

May have been hurt by chaotic Michigan State system.

Weaknesses

Touch on the ball is often a concern due to arrant balls and incompletions;

Multiple soft-tissue injuries, although no surgeries;

Unable to consistently string together impactful plays;

Never achieved marks set in the 2017 season;

Throws at wide receivers, not anticipating throws;

Needs improvement on drop step to set up quick progression routes.

NFL Comparison: B.J. Daniels

Projection: Priority Free agent

Bottom Line on Brian Lewerke

Brian Lewerke is epitomized by really good flashes, and lowlights that will be very frustrating for coaches to deal with. There is very few in-between to work with, and that inconsistency may drop him out of all seven rounds. The biggest knock is the lack of accuracy which is a vital component of developing NFL quarterbacks.

However, a strong arm and his time as a starter in a pro-style system will make Lewerke a tempting free-agent option for coaches. Those who are bullish on him will cite the chaos in the Michigan State system, and the fact he has the base traits needed for a functional system to properly mentor him. He has been working with NFL Network analyst and former quarterback Sage Rosenfels this off-season, in hopes of refining mechanics. Working with a patient coach could push him to a nice career as a backup.