Grant Gunnell NFL Draft Overview
Position: Quarterback
Height: 6′-6″
Weight: 228 pounds
School: North Texas
2023 NFL Draft: Grant Gunnell Scouting Report
Grant Gunnell started his college career at the University of Arizona, in 2019. In eight games for the Wildcats, Gunnell went 101/155, for 1,239 yards, nine touchdowns, and one interception. In the Covid-19 shortened season of 2020, Gunnell played in four games, was 64/93, for 625 yards, with six touchdowns and two interceptions. After an 0-4 start, the Wildcats head coach, Kevin Sumlin was fired and Gunnell immediately entered the transfer portal.
Gunnell headed off to the American Athletic Conference (AAC), as a member of the Memphis Tigers. Gunnell’s time in the “land of the delta blue”, was short-lived as he had to have surgery on his leg and did not see the field at all in 2021. Though Gunnell played well during the 2022 spring scrimmage for the Tigers, he once again entered the transfer portal. Gunnell joined the Mean Green of North Texas for the 2022 season. Again, he saw limited playing time, appearing in two games, going four of nine for 75 yards, without any touchdowns, and one interception.
Strengths
- Above average NFL height;
- Does not turn the ball over much;
- NFL-caliber arm;
- Has great touch and placement regardless of route type;
- Highly athletic.
Weaknesses
- Holds the ball too long;
- Unsound biomechanics in throws;
- Throws off his back foot, often;
- Small body of work (14 total college games);
- Missed all of the 2021 season due to surgery on his leg.
NFL Comparison: Jacob Eason
Teams With Need At Position: Baltimore Ravens, Indianapolis Colts, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Rams, Washington Commanders, Carolina Panthers, Houston Texans, New York Jets, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Projection: UDFA
Bottom Line on Grant Gunnell
Gunnell will likely be given an opportunity by an NFL team, but it will not be through the draft. In all likelihood, Gunnell will sign as an undrafted free agent. This is due largely in part to the fact that, while he may possess an NFL-caliber arm and prototype NFL frame, he only played in 14 games in his college career; that is just a little over one season.
There are a lot of things that need to be sorted out when it comes to Gunnell. Mainly, why he left Memphis after having (arguably) a great spring camp, where he would have at least competed for a starting position for the Fall of 2022. Additionally, he is considered a sophomore in the eyes of the NCAA, so why would he want to enter the draft, with a minuscule body of work when he still has about three years of eligibility to prove himself and increase the likelihood that he would be drafted by a team?
It does not make much sense on the surface for Gunnell to be in the 2023 NFL Draft, at all. That said, a team desperately in need of depth or who is willing to dedicate the time (in terms of years) to working with Gunnell (As an annual member of the practice squad), may be rewarded with a prospect that has (on the surface), the prerequisite qualities to be an NFL quarterback, but lacks experience in game situations, considering he has a total of one college football season, plus two games, under his belt.
Main Photo: Christine Tannous – USA Today Sports
