2021 NFL Draft: Jamie Newman Scouting Report

Quarterback, Wake Forest

Cover Image: Clutchpoints.com

In this 2021 NFL Draft scouting report, we take a deeper look a Wake Forest quarterback Jamie Newman following his decision to opt-out of his 2020 campaign with the Georgia Bulldogs.

Summary

In a 2021 NFL Draft quarterback class that has seen a potential five prospects within first-round contention, Jamie Newman is one of few options within the latter two days of the draft that can compete with the bottom-ranking starters of the NFL. Providing a legitimate threat on the ground as a complement to the rushing attack, Newman opens offensive playbooks to include the quarterback as a primary ballcarrier.

Newman may not be the most refined passer, with accuracy issues derived from his athleticism-oriented throwing motion, but has the range to reach all parts of the field and displays confidence delivering the ball into tight windows. Occasionally let down by his receivers with drops on short to medium completion, Newman does need to learn to lay off of some of these short completions in order to give his receivers an easier time.

The most athletic quarterback of the 2021 NFL Draft, Jamie Newman present a unique potential option for NFL franchises in need of a long-term quarterback. Placed behind a veteran quarterback during his rookie campaign and allowed to develop and acclimate to the NFL, Newman could be the next ball-toting quarterback to run wild through the league.

Player Comparison: Cam Newton, NE

A comparison that made itself profound throughout scouting, Newman is a ball-carrying signal-caller with the athleticism and confidence to go shoulder-down against inside linebackers. Lacking fifteen pounds on the former MVP though, Newman may have the same running style but lacks the same kind of size to ensure long-term durability.

Looking at their ball delivery, Newman possesses a similarly compact throwing motion to Newton, relying upon upper-body rotation with a cocked throwing elbow. Newman though lets his leading arm hang out in front, capping the potential rotational force generated. By the end of the throwing motion though, Newman has his leading arm tucked into his side showing adjustments only need to be made to the beginning of his throwing motion.

Newman also generates more force than Newton with his lower-body through the throwing motion but needs to address the issue of his leading arm in order to help develop additional consistency.

Team Fit: New England Patriots

Round Four, Pick 110

After resigning quarterback Cam Newton to a one-year, $14 million deal, the New England Patriots still seem intent on acquiring a younger option under center to provide competition for Newton better than incumbent backup quarterback Jarrett Stidham. After the previous player comparison, the addition of the Graham, NC resident would be a sensible transition.

As detailed within the player comparison, Newman is an eerily similar prospect to the current New England Patriots quarterback, most noticeably playing with a similar tenacity as a rushing option between the tackles. Despite not being a strength of his game, Newman also shows some of the same weaknesses in the passing game as Newton meaning Belichick would have little to do in order to alter the New England offense to fit the strengths of Newman.

Scouting Notes

Measurables

• 6'4", 229 lbs

• ~4.6 forty

• 2019 (12 games)

  • 60.9%, 2,868 yds, 26 TD - 11 INT, 145.3 QBR

  • 180 carries, 574 yds, 6 TDs

Positives

• Physical

  • Sturdy build, durability

  • *willing ballcarrier between the tackles

  • ability to break off chunk gains

    • elusive with ball-in-hand

• Mental

  • Willing to stretch the field

  • Confidence to attack tight windows

  • RPO-heavy offense at WF

  • patient ballcarrier, allows blocks to develop

  • Leadership

• Throwing

  • Raw arm strength

  • Touch to lay throws over second-level of coverage

  • comfortable throwing back shoulder down the boundary (@ Sage Surratt)

  • Potential to master the high-arcing deep ball

  • athleticism enables comfortable off-platform delivery

Negatives

• Physical

  • *consistently in harm's way

• Mental

  • footwork inside the pocket

    • doesn't step up into the pocket, not helping OT's

    • locked into his spot, doesn't feel the pocket and take subtle steps

  • rushes rhythmic checkdowns

• Throwing

  • short-yardage rhythm completions

  • Downfield accuracy

    • stiff lower-body through throwing motion

    • short-arms throws, could use more extension

  • throws a hardball short of the markers, needs to lay off and lead targets sometimes