FIU quarterback James Morgan is starting to generate some buzz as we get closer to draft day, as Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle writes. Morgan made his way onto our site for the first time today, when we wrote that the Patriots have shown some interest, and New England is not the only team sniffing around.
Per Wilson, a number of clubs are closely vetting Morgan, though COVID-19 restrictions obviously mean that he can’t visit teams or work out privately for them. Wilson’s sources say that in addition to the Patriots, the Packers, Bears, Colts, Raiders, Giants, Bills, Jets, and Dolphins are among the teams intrigued by Morgan.
It is not surprising to see most of the teams on that list. New England, of course, is in the market for a collegiate passer after watching Tom Brady sign with the Buccaneers, and the Dolphins have long been connected to this year’s top rookie QBs. The Raiders, Bears, and Colts have varying degrees of long-term uncertainty at the quarterback position, and the Packers had planned to host the best QB prospects before pre-draft visits were cancelled (Morgan is actually a Green Bay native, and the Packers may be starting to prepare for life without Aaron Rodgers).
Meanwhile, all three New York outfits seem to have a long-term solution under center already, although none of their incumbents are sure things at the moment. And given that Morgan is a mid- to late-round prospect, it couldn’t hurt for those teams to at least have a look.
Morgan performed well at this year’s scouting combine and at the East-West Shrine Game, and a Southeast Area NFL scout said Morgan has one of the three strongest arms in the draft, along with the intelligence and leadership qualities that teams covet. After an uneven tenure at Bowling Green, Morgan transferred to FIU in 2018 and earned Conference USA Newcomer of the Year honors by completing over 65% of his passes for 26 TDs and seven interceptions.
His 2019 effort was not quite as strong, but he has put together enough quality tape to start rising up draft boards.
Please no, Belichick!
He’s the backup for Stidham at best. Not a huge deal
It’s not a gimme that Stidham will be good. If you can pick him up in the 3 or 4 rd, why not?
what could it hurt. tom brady wasnt the greatest passer out of college now look at him.
not exactly inspiring stats, but id trust BB’s judgement
well he did take a guy who had one good season in college and now he one of the best QB to ever play the game.
Brady didn’t even have that great of a college year at Michigan in any of his time there. Decent, but Michigan kept trying to replace him with two sport wonder Drew Henson.
The Colts hit a home run when they drafted T.Y Hilton from FIU so I think they would be the team most likely to take a gamble on Morgan.
Was it the same GM and team in place then?
Not sure if that is even relevant. Teams at both the pro and college level are changing staff and personnel constantly.
I think you’re arguing against your own point.
The kids got the size and intangibles, would be ok to take a later round flier on him
He’s got the size all right. I hear he’s got a big fawkin peckah too
My Bears have so many spots to fill, but there’s no telling what we’re going to do at QB in 2021, particularly if we decline Trubisky’s option and Foles opts out after this year. Snag a kid in the 5th and hope he can develop into something for 2021. As Bears fans we’re not even asking for much, competence without overpaying. Is that too much to ask?
I have a friend like that. He could probably throw a FB as hard as anyone in the pros, but a 5-yard pass had the same velocity as a 60-yard pass.
This is a smoke screen by Pats..
How much you wanna make a bet I can throw a football over them mountains?… Yeah… Coach woulda put me in fourth quarter, we would’ve been state champions. No doubt. No doubt in my mind.
I once scored 4 touchdowns in a single game for Polk High Panthers