Overview
Position: Quarterback
Height: 6’7″
Weight: 249 pounds
School: Buffalo Bulls
Combine Performance Data
40-yard dash: 4.59 seconds (second-best among quarterbacks)
Vertical jump: 34.5 inches (best among quarterbacks)
Broad jump: 10 feet (tied for best among quarterbacks)
Three-cone drill: 7.09 seconds (tied for fifth-best among quarterbacks)
20-yard shuttle: 4.28 seconds (tied for fifth-best among quarterbacks)
Tyree Jackson 2019 NFL Draft Profile
Heading into the collegiate portion of his football-playing career, Tyree Jackson boasted a great deal of experience. He started all four seasons at Mona Shores High School in Muskegon, MI with his career passing yards, touchdowns, and completions all ranking top five in state history. It led to some interest from MAC programs with Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, and Buffalo all extending scholarship offers to him. Ultimately, he liked what he saw out of the UB program and was part of Lance Leipold‘s first recruiting class as Bulls head coach.
After redshirting, Jackson stepped in and took control of the offense rather quickly. He made nine starts in 2016, totaling 1,772 yards and nine touchdowns through the air while also adding 472 yards and five touchdowns on the ground. The following year, Jackson got a bit banged up, missing four games due to a knee injury. But he did manage to eclipse 2,000 passing yards and threw 12 touchdown passes to just three interceptions. It played a part in the Bulls finishing .500 or better for the first time under Leipold.
Expectations for Jackson suddenly skyrocketed ahead of last season. He became the first quarterback in UB history to make the Davey O’Brien Award preseason watch list (best quarterback in the nation). Bolstered by a receiving corps that included fellow 2019 draft prospect Anthony Johnson, he helped lead the Bulls to a MAC East title and the first 10-win season in the school’s D-I history. His 3,131 yards and 28 touchdown throws earned him MAC Offensive Player of the Year honors. Having graduated, Jackson initially intended to transfer as he’d have immediate eligibility but he later declared for the draft.
Strengths
- checks all the boxes with respect to prototypical frame and hand size;
- a strong-armed prospect with the ability to chuck it deep;
- adept at finding receivers while on the run;
- delivers the ball with solid velocity on intermediate throws;
- scans the field relatively well – not a primary-read player;
- can beat single-high help over the top with deep ball outside the numbers;
- able to manipulate safeties with his eyes;
- boasts plus mobility, especially given his size;
- capable scrambler who can improvise if passing options aren’t available;
Weaknesses
- issues with mechanics can lead to too low a launch angle;
- makes too many ill-advised throws into traffic;
- dropback footwork is filled with inconsistencies;
- must learn to climb and avoid rather than staying overly static in the pocket;
- ability to deliver the ball with consistent accuracy is a major question mark;
- oftentimes doesn’t feel edge pressure until it’s too late;
- seemed to underdeliver in Buffalo’s bigger games.
NFL Comparison: Ryan Mallett
Teams With Need at Position: Cincinnati Bengals, Denver Broncos, Los Angeles Chargers, New England Patriots, New York Giants, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Redskins
Projection: Early day three selection
Bottom Line
One of the more prominent draft and develop prospects this year, Jackson exudes arm strength and physical traits. In that sense, there are a few elements of his skill set that are similar to Cam Newton. That’s especially true when considering that one of the knocks on Newton throughout his career has been accuracy. And that’s perhaps the biggest concern scouts have about Jackson’s ability to make an impact in the NFL. He also needs to improve his mechanics and exhibit better decision-making to reach his ceiling. Though Jackson’s going to need some time to get there, in the right system he should turn into a reliable presence on an NFL depth chart.
