I've spent way too much time studying why quarterbacks hit or flop. Of course, you need baseline arm talent and size. And work ethic is another non-negotiable. But from what I've found, the separators are often athleticism and instincts.
There are so many kids with private QB coaches who flourish in camp settings, but struggle in real games. Jake Garcia is a recent example. Conversely, there are a lot of instinctive athletes who improve their passing skills with full-time coaching in college. The things you can't get by training-- reactive movement, competitive reps -- are readily available by playing other sports.
My rule of thumb is that a quarterback needs to be: (1) a multisport athlete; or (2) if he's a football-only guy, a legitimate dual-threat with major running ability. There are always exceptions, but in this case I wouldn't make many. Our most recent superstar QB was a multisport zero star (Cam Ward), and the last great quarterback we had (Ken Dorsey) got offered by Butch Davis at a high school basketball game.
The top QBs in the NFL- Pat Mahomes, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, Joe Burrow, Justin Herbert, Jalen Hurts, Jayden Daniels, CJ Stroud- all fit into this framework.
Am I being too simplistic here?
