Tanner Morgan NFL Draft Overview
Position: Quarterback
Height: 6’-2”
School: Minnesota
2023 NFL Draft: Tanner Morgan Scouting Report
Tanner Morgan spent five seasons at Minnesota, and while he is not a household name outside the Big Ten, the San Francisco 49ers will have NFL teams hoping to capture lightning in a bottle with Tanner Morgan as they did with Brock Purdy last year.
Finishing as the Gopher’s first or second passer in every major statistical category, Morgan displayed a toughness in the Twin Cities that will be an attractive trait for any team on draft day. Having used all six seasons at Minnesota (COVID protocols extended his tenure from five to six), he would finish an impressive career with 47 starts of 51 games played. He would finish second in school history with 9,454 passing yards and 65 touchdown passes.
Strengths
- Excels in an RPO-heavy scheme by displaying solid timing on routes, getting the ball out quickly;
- He can throw the ball while on the move with both velocity and strong accuracy;
- Does not have noisy feet. He can step up into the pocket, reset, and deliver the ball anywhere on the field;
- A quick release with above average accuracy on short passes, especially when on the run;
- Very athletic. Always a threat to break the pocket and gain positive yardage. Good footwork and balance, with a burst of speed as a runner.
Weaknesses
- A good, but not great arm. Will struggle with tight NFL passing windows;
- Will need to improve when forced off of the first read and forced to refocus on checking down;
- Is only as strong as the offensive talent around him. Does not have the game to lift a unit above its potential;
- Struggles to buy time when under pressure. Can resort to inaccurate passes due to poor pocket management;
- Will have negative plays when forced to come off of first reads. Pass rush will force a re-scan of the field, thus leading to negative plays.
NFL Comparison: Gardner Minshew
Teams With Need At Backup Quarterback Position: Minnesota Vikings, Los Angeles Rams, Detroit Lions, Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders, Green Bay Packers, Tennessee Titans, Arizona Cardinals
2023 Draft Projection: Late Third Round
Bottom Line On Tanner Morgan
Tanner Morgan is a smart quarterback who will do the work to stick with an NFL squad. Had he been able to come out after his sophomore season, it is any guess what kind of success he may have been and how high he may have been selected. The question heading into the 2023 draft is what kind of quarterback will he be at his next stop.
Morgan can definitely clarify and upgrade the depth chart in any quarterback room. Going to a team who is already proficient at and running a West Coast scheme would allow the Minnesota product to segue into a comfort zone where he can showcase his mobility and see the field better. His accuracy in that type of offense will be key to his longevity in the professional game.
Tanner Morgan is not an NFL starting quarterback by any metric. Whether he or any late pick at his position can be like Purdy in San Francisco is not known. What is known is that Morgan can be a solid backup who can turn reasonable football skill into a long and lucrative career.
Main Image: Brad Penner – USA Today Sports
