2017 NFL Draft: A complete look at quarterbacks for the Chiefs

Nathan Peterman, Pittsburgh, Senior (6-2/ 226 pounds)

Peterman was a two year starter at Pittsburgh after losing out on the starting job at Tennessee to fellow 2017 draft hopeful Josh Dobbs. High completion percentage for the Panthers, and he did a little bit of everything in the offense, helping lead an upset road win against Clemson in ACC play. Took snaps under center and in the shotgun.

Strengths:

• Good athlete
• Good accuracy
• Played in a pro-style scheme
• Doesn’t make a lot of mistakes

Weaknesses:

• Very scripted offense
• Limited arm strength
• Perhaps limited ceiling
• Ultra conservative college quarterback
• Accuracy is inconsistent

Peterman has been compared to Derek Carr in scouting reports I’ve read. Sorry, that’s not the case when viewing their game film. Sure, Peterman wears number 4 like Derek Carr does and they have a similar body size, and perhaps their mannerisms in the pocket are similar. That’s about the extent of their similarities.

Playing in a controlled, pro-style offense, Peterman was able to put up good numbers at Pitt the past two years after transferring in from Tennessee. Bootlegs, rollouts, the read option—he’s seen run multiple different types of offenses. He liked to throw to his tight ends and running backs a lot, many times in plays designed to get them the ball.

Peterman can run the ball, and as I have said, the read option allowed him to pick up yards with his legs. Not the natural runner a Watson or even Trubisky is, Peterman none the less can get first downs and is good enough to help win games with his legs.

My biggest worry and concern about Peterman is just how good can he be in the NFL. Much like Alex Smith with Andy Reid, much of the Pitt offense was designed to help attack defenses using what Peterman does well, which is smart. My concern is, he rarely threw down field, often hitting sort routes and safe passes to tight ends and running backs. He missed passes that could have moved chains and in the North Carolina games had multiple missed throws that ended drives, and in a small way, aided North Carolina in their efforts to come back and win late.

He is in college what Alex Smith is in the pros, and that’s what worries me. It’s important to remember, Alex Smith was not a chunk and dunk quarterback afraid of mistakes while in college, he was a dynamic athlete with a good arm. That’s why I don’t really like Peterman for the Chiefs. He’s a very similar version of what the Chiefs already have, though I don’t think will be as good.

He also has a bad habit of resetting his hands and feet before throwing. While that hasn’t yet been a huge issues at the college level, resetting your hands on the ball before initiating your throwing motion is a huge issue at the NFL level. Telling defensive backs in this league when you’re throwing the ball will get you a job carrying a clipboard rapidly.

Peterman strikes me as a guy that’s going to make a good living as a guy who will be over drafted this year, and will likely make a lot of money as a backup in the NFL. His athleticism and intelligence will allow him to be a solid backup, but I don’t see much more past that.

Will the Chiefs draft him at 59? Maybe

Will he be available at 59? Not likely

NFL Comparison: Mark Sanchez, Bears