As the NFL season winds down, FantasyPros will be taking a look at early NFL draft scouting reports before the combine in March. Here’s a look at Tanner McKee.
Check out all of our 2023 NFL Draft Scouting Reports & Prospect Profiles 
2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Tanner McKee (QB – Stanford)
6’6” – 230 lbs.
Background:
Spent two years on a church mission before he began to play at Stanford. Played sparingly as the third quarterback behind Davis Mills and Jack West in 2020, then took over the starting job from West after the season opener, a game in which McKee also played heavily. Finished 2021 with 2,327 yards (65.4%, 7.4 YPA), 15 touchdowns, and seven interceptions, putting himself on the radar, but didn’t end up having the 2022 campaign he was hoping for, ending with 2,947 yards (62.0%, 6.9 YPA), 13 touchdowns, and eight interceptions. Plays in a pro-style offense which includes plenty of work from under center, play-action and package plays, and throws out toward the boundary and down the sidelines.
Positives:
Two-year starter for a major program which still asks its quarterback to work from under center in a pro-style offense. Has ideal size for a pro quarterback. Sells play-action. No heel click at the back of his drops. Shows a pretty good feel for pressure. Able to climb the pocket and buy time. Tough enough to stand in and take a hit. Throws from a stable base and transfers weight effectively. Has a high release point and consistent follow-through. Sound decision-maker who limits questionable throws. Shows the ability to make anticipatory throws, and throw receivers open. Trusts his arm strength and doesn’t need to see wide-open receivers to throw. Arm talent is very good, with the ability to crank up the velocity as needed. Passes come with appropriate touch. Can drop passes in the bucket down the sidelines. Beautiful timing, touch, and placement on his back-shoulder throws. Layers throws over the linebackers when working against zone. Really improve his deep ball in 2022.
Negatives:
Slightly overaged, and his developmental trajectory is unfavorable. Record as a starter is very unfavorable, going 3-8 in 2021 and 3-9 in 2022. Most of his throws were to predetermined reads, with some tendency to stare down his targets. Elongated throwing motion. Some disconnect with his running back on package plays. Deep balls sometimes sail on him. Really struggled when pressured the past two seasons. Shows some escapability but is not a major threat with his feet; somewhat of a throwback passer entering a league where teams are looking for athletic quarterbacks. Didn’t see him make many throws off of bootlegs. Ate 64 sacks over the past two seasons.
Summary:
A pure pocket passer with a very impressive combination of size, decision-making, arm strength, accuracy, and touch, he didn’t have the junior year many were expecting, but has shown clear starting-caliber talent and has the potential to be one of the first four or five passers taken on draft day. Coming from a program with a more pro-style offense than is common at the college level, should have a relatively easy time adjusting to the pro level. As a relatively safe-looking prospect, could go anywhere within the first three rounds, depending on how teams weigh his tools versus his college production.
Projection: Round 2
Other 2023 NFL Draft Quarterback Prospects
- Max Duggan (QB – TCU)
- Jaren Hall (QB – Brigham Young)
- Hendon Hooker (QB – Tennessee)
- Will Levis (QB – Kentucky)
- Anthony Richardson (QB – Florida)
- CJ Stroud (QB – Ohio State)
- Bryce Young (QB – Alabama)
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