Davis Mills: Potential Tom Brady Successor In Tampa?
The upcoming NFL Draft is gonna be one of the most unique in recent memory. With such a weird 2020 season that saw many conferences utilize unique custom schedules due to the Covid-19 pandemic, more than ever before, the draft is going to be predicated on projections rather than actual production.
At the QB position, Davis Mills of Stanford stands out as one of the guys that will likely get overlooked partly due to the shortened season.
Stanford only played a total of six games in 2020. The Cardinals went 4-2. And Mills ended up throwing 7 TDs and 3 INTs in his abbreviated senior season.
Plus, Mills has some similarities to the current starter in Tampa. Since GM Jason Licht was in the room when Tom Brady was selected some 20 years ago, it’s not out of the question if some of the likenesses between the two make Mills a potential match for Tampa.
Limited College production But High upside
Mills, like Brady, went into a college program that already had a projected starter in place at QB. Both would only see action sparingly in their first two seasons.
Brady only played in 6 games during his freshman and sophomore years at Michigan.
Davis redshirted his first season. And he got in one game during his sophomore season playing behind KJ Costello.
Costello was the starter going into the 2019 season. But he got injured and that opened the door for Davis to make his name. Seems familiar.
Davis went on to set a school record for yards thrown in a game(504) against Washington State in Costello’s absence.
Costello transferred to Mississippi State in 2020 and that left Davis as the starter. Davis Mills will be entering the draft with only 11 starts in his collegiate career. Yet, he’s shown some promising attributes when he’s had his opportunities.
Physical Attributes
Standing at 6’4, 217lbs, Mills is just above the average height/weight of NFL quarterbacks. He should have little to no problem seeing the field once he drops back in the pocket. Nor should there be any major concerns about his ability to take punishment.
He’s seen as the “prototypical size” for a pocket passer. Perfect for Tampa.
His mobility has been the main physical issue to come into question by some. Seems familiar.
But, in all fairness, not everyone is going to be a Russell Wilson or Steve Young every snap. Mills has shown the ability to get out of the pocket and make a play when he’s needed to.
At his Pro Day, he topped out at 4.58 on his second 40-yard dash attempt. While that’s straight-line speed, it’s still good enough to get out of danger and gain some positive yards in most NFL scenarios as a QB.
Mills’ arm strength is something that’s been continually praised. He’s said to have an above-average arm that can challenge zone defenses at the NFL level.
It’s Good To Be Overlooked
One of the biggest positives about the BUCS’ possibly going after Mills is that he’s not one of the most sought-after QBs this year. The BUCS could possibly have a shot at Davis with their 3rd Round selection. If they decide to wait that long and not initiate a trade-up.
On many people’s list, he’s the 7th best QB available. Seem familiar.
Mills sits behind standout players like Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson, Justin Fields, Tre Lance, Mac Jones, and Kyle Trask.
Tom Brady was outranked by such names as Chad Pennington, Giovanni Carmazzi, Chris Redman, Tee Martin, Marc Bulger, and Spergon Wynn. Brady says he’s gone on to use those six names to fuel his competitive drive throughout his entire 20 year career.
Could the BUCS pick Lucky Number 7 and secure the proverbial “Quarterback Of The Future”?? We’ll find out by next weekend.
More in-depth analysis can be found at The QB School via YouTube.
