Jake Fromm’s NFL future has become a polarizing subject. No matter where you look, everyone thinks they have him figured out. Twitter timelines have turned into a never-ending argument about Fromm as an NFL prospect. With Fromm’s NFL declaration Wednesday, we won’t have to wait too much longer to find out what the NFL thinks about him. What type of player will an NFL team get in Jake Fromm?
With 42 starts in three seasons, Fromm is already one of the most experienced signal callers to enter the NFL Draft. Baker Mayfield’s 48 college starts are the most in recent memory. Georgia did not have designs on Fromm starting immediately. Five-star QB Jacob Eason was already entrenched as the Bulldogs’ starter when Fromm arrived in Athens. Eason suffered a knee injury in the 2017 season opener against Appalachian State. Fromm made his first start the following week at Notre Dame. Fast forward to the end of that season and Jacob Eason transferred to Washington and Georgia signed another five-star QB in Justin Fields. It was widely believed that the true freshman Fields should have started over Fromm right away. Fields only played sparingly during his freshman season. Realizing that Fromm was Kirby Smart’s guy, Fields transferred to Ohio State.
Fromm was Kirby Smart’s guy because he is a leader who not only commands the offense but the locker room as well. He puts in the extra prep work when no one is looking. That, coupled with a high football IQ allows him to quickly process what’s going on in front of him and get out of a bad play call in order to get the ball where it needs to be. Fromm delivers passes with a quick, compact release that doesn’t change at different arm angles or when forced to throw off-platform. He is at his best when he gets the ball out quickly and in rhythm. His best throws are timing routes, touch passes, and back-shoulder throws.
Another reason Georgia stuck with Fromm over Eason or Fields is that Fromm is safe. On any given play, Fromm is not going to wander off-script. He is going to take what the defense gives him. Coaches know that they will get a certain level of consistency from Fromm during every outing. During his career at Georgia, he slowly grew comfortable testing tight man coverage, especially downfield. He’s always been careful with the football, especially in the red zone. According to the stats over at Expand the Boxscore, Fromm did not throw a single red zone interception in three seasons.
Speaking of the red zone, Fromm improved in goal-to-go situations in 2019. Georgia as a whole struggled near the goal line in 2018. Part of that was Fromm’s inaccuracy. This could be a result of a lack of arm strength affecting tight window throws. The football field is at its smallest near the goal line and throws become tougher. In 2018, he completed six of 13 passes at the goal line with five resulting in touchdowns. In 2019, he improved to six completions on nine attempts with all six completions going for scores.
Ball placement was an issue during his first couple of seasons. He improved in that area in 2019. Although it was still erratic at times – some middle-of-the-field throws to George Pickens come to mind – it’s never an issue when he gets the ball out immediately, often allowing for maximum run-after-catch opportunities.
After 42 career starts, we should have a good idea of who Fromm is, but the biggest remaining question is his arm strength. It’s average at best, and the plays he can make with his arm are limited. The most recent example is this flea-flicker in the Sugar Bowl. Fromm had a clean pocket, thanks to a block from D’Andre Swift, but he underthrew George Pickens causing him to slow down and wait on the ball. Pickens had four yards on his defender. If Fromm could have led Pickens at all, he could have jogged in for six. Misses like this are the difference in touchdowns and field goals.
He also struggled to consistently fit throws into tight windows, especially as the field shrunk in opponent’s territory. He doesn’t have much zip on his far-hash throws either.
When on the run, Fromm is accurate in the short and intermediate, but he is limited physically, and his underwhelming athleticism will catch up to him against professional defenses. He’ll struggle to extend plays and make plays off-schedule. At Georgia, he had a tendency to break down under pressure. Whether it was not being able to feel backside pressure, failing to beat the blitz with his arm, or killing a play by dropping his eyes when trying to decide whether to scramble or tuck and run, these issues will be magnified in the NFL.
After watching Fromm the last three years for our annual Devy Watch publication, I’ve concluded that he will be a fine NFL QB but an undesirable fantasy piece. He has a couple of near-elite offensive traits, but his limitations – mostly physical – can’t be improved, and worse, they will probably be more glaring with everyone and everything on the other side of the ball moving faster. Still, one team will fall in love with him and take him early. He’ll likely make a team better, but he won’t be able to get them over the hump the same way he made Georgia better, but not good enough to win a national championship.
