SALT LAKE CITY — When Utah State quarterback Jordan Love was given the chance to prove himself during the NFL scouting combine last week, he was up to the task.
The former Aggie is largely viewed as one of the top quarterback prospects in the 2020 rookie class, and after seeing his workouts at the combine, Love was given a high-praise comparison to one of the NFL’s elite young signal callers, as told by NFL.com’s Kimberly Jones.
“And the pre-workout predictions about Utah State’s Jordan Love absolutely came true. ‘We’re going to watch him throw, and we’re going to fall in love with him,’ one evaluator had predicted to me,” Jones wrote.
“Well, they did. One head coach said he saw Love as a ‘poor man’s (Patrick) Mahomes.’
“I think my jaw dropped, because this coach is a pretty tough grader.
“‘I said poor man’s,’ he said.”
LSU’s Joe Burrow and Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa are widely seen as the top two quarterbacks to be selected in the 2020 NFL draft, which takes place April 23-25 in Las Vegas. Love, though, could be the third taken, over Oregon’s Justin Herbert, if media experts are to be believed.
From the South Florida Sun Sentinel’s Omar Kelly: “There is plenty of buzz about Love, who struggled during his junior season at Utah State, being a top-10 selection and speculation that the Dolphins could easily take him with the fifth overall pick if they aren’t comfortable with Tagovailoa’s health, or if he’s selected before they make their pick. Love has a live arm, a quick release, and athleticism. But he’s green, which indicates he’ll likely need to sit and watch for a year.”
According to some national postcombine mock drafts, Love could hear his name early in the first round. Here’s a look at a few national mocks from recent days, and there’s a theme here — Chargers and Colts.
NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah
No. 13 overall to Indianapolis Colts
“I believe the Colts will bring in a veteran QB (likely Philip Rivers), and that will allow Love plenty of time to develop,” Jeremiah wrote.
ESPN’s Todd McShay (subscription)
No. 6 overall to Los Angeles Chargers
“NFL teams want quarterbacks who can create in today’s game, and that’s exactly what Love does,” McShay wrote.
Note: McShay made a $5,000 bet with fellow ESPN draft expert Mel Kiper that Love would be drafted higher than Herbert.
CBS Sports’ Ryan Wilson
No. 6 overall to Los Angeles Chargers
“Love’s measurables are off the charts and it’s not a stretch to think that some teams will like him more than Justin Herbert,” Wilson wrote.
Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller
No. 13 overall to Indianapolis Colts
“As the NFL continues to evolve at quarterback, Love’s positives fit the mold teams want,” Miller wrote.
Other local NFL draft links
- How tragedy, heartache and unexpected loss shaped NFL prospect Leki Fotu (The Athletic, subscription)
- Yogi Roth discusses Zack Moss, Joshua Kelley and the Pac-12’s showing at Day 2 of the NFL combine (Yahoo Sports)
- Draft prospect profile | Edge Bradlee Anae, Utah (Sports Illustrated)