In a world of dual-threat QBs, Tanner McKee is a throwback.
The Stanford product has little to no improvisational skills outside of the pocket. He's a lighthouse in the backfield, a towering presence who tends to stay in one spot for a lengthy period of time.
But my, can he sling the rock. McKee doesn't have quite the athleticism of some of the bigger names in this year's draft. But he does have some traits that make him very desirable, even as teams stray from selecting one-dimensional throwers.
McKee won't be a first rounder. But he should garner considerable attention from organizations yearning for a younger option under center.
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So, just what does McKee offer? The Sporting News examines McKee's floor and ceiling ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft.
Tanner McKee scouting report
McKee is your proverbial Stanford gunslinger, having shown a proclivity for pocket passing over the course of his two years as a starter on the Cardinal. At 6-6, 230 pounds, McKee has the sort of size and frame that NFL coaches drool about.
He did much of his damage on short and intermediate routes, showing above-average arm talent. When he's in a clean pocket, he can be especially deadly; he completed 66.5% of his attempts when left free of pressure.
Tanner McKee's game is about accuracy and anticipation. He hits the seam route right in the window for a nice gain pic.twitter.com/BYD67bBkzN
— Tyler Forness (@TheRealForno) April 17, 2023
McKee's troubles come when he's in motion. His speed and agility lag behind his draft-class contemporaries. The issues don't just arise when McKee is out of the pocket, however. He also has shown difficulty evading oncoming rushers, something that could prove disastrous at the next level.
Any sort of NFL success McKee could achieve seems dependent on the quality of his offensive line. That's not particularly unique for a young quarterback. However, his lack of shake simply accentuates the need to surround him with burly blockers out the gate.
MORE: Ranking the top 10 QBs in the 2023 NFL Draft
Tanner McKee NFL comp
McKee's pocket presence evokes memories of Tom Brady and Drew Brees, among others. However, his development hinges on the progression of his football IQ, something that we won't quite be able forecast until seeing him on the field.
Nevertheless, McKee's size and poise in the pocket should earn him mid-round billing, perhaps lending himself to a lengthy career as a backup. Think Chad Henne or Case Keenum.
