Is Ohio State QB J.T. Barrett A Potential First Round Draft Pick?
J.T. Barrett has been one of the hottest names in college football so far this season and hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down. The Ohio State Buckeyes are currently ranked the No. 2 team in the nation with Barrett under center. He has been putting up huge numbers this season and is widely considered a serious Heisman candidate.
Ohio State played Barrett sparingly last season in favor of Cardale Jones. Jones is now in the NFL with the Buffalo Bills and it has become obvious that Barrett is the better college quarterback between the two.
How @OhioStateFB quarterback J.T. Barrett became an accidental star. #OSUvsOU https://t.co/Lt3CprnwkR
— FOX Sports (@FOXSports) September 15, 2016
Throughout the first three games of the 2016 college football season, Barrett has completed 67.1 percent of his pass attempts for 650 yards, 10 touchdowns, and one interception. He has also picked up 159 yards and three touchdowns on the ground as well.
Standing in at six-foot-two and 222 pounds, Barrett is without question an ideal NFL quarterback from a physical perspective. He has the speed and athleticism to be a dual-threat quarterback at the next level. His arm is also an NFL arm, while his ability to scramble and throw on the run would help him extend plays.
J.T. Barrett had a fantastic day today! #GoBucks pic.twitter.com/Aj1nnNv893
— CS Nation (@_CSNation_) September 3, 2016
All of that being said, is J.T. Barrett a legitimate first round prospect looking ahead to the 2017 NFL Draft?
At this point in time, Barrett is ranked as the No. 3 player on the ESPN Heisman Watch. That is an impressive ranking and certainly is deserved with the way he has played so far this season.
Only P5 QBs with 10+ passing TDs and just 1 INT this season:
Jake Browning, Wash (12/1)
J.T. Barrett, OSU (10/1)
Jerod Evans, VaTech (10/1)— ?????? (@ADavidHaleJoint) September 21, 2016
Looking at the other quarterbacks that will be available, it will be tough for Barrett to work his way into the first round, but he should be able to make it happen. There simply aren’t many other quarterbacks that are eligible to enter the draft next offseason that can put as competitive of a resume together as Barrett can.
Deshaun Watson, Greg Ward Jr., and Patrick Mahomes appear to be the other three quarterbacks that will compete with Barrett for a first round opportunity. Davis Webb could work his way up draft boards throughout the rest of the season, but it isn’t likely that he will overtake a quarterback like Barrett.
OSU QB J.T. Barrett reflects on landmark win at Oklahoma https://t.co/NQLwNiENrb pic.twitter.com/fK67ZZ0enV
— Bucknuts (@Bucknuts247) September 22, 2016
Next, it must be taken into account how many NFL teams are going to be searching for a first round quarterback.
Obviously, teams like the Cleveland Browns, New York Jets, and San Francisco 49ers could all be looking to bring in new quarterbacks. Perhaps one of those three teams would be interested in adding Barrett. That would all depend on which pick they end up with and how high they view the quarterback position on their priority list.
J.T. Barrett keeps it from the 12 to put Ohio State up 27-3. (Vine by @11W) https://t.co/Ovra2O3Ipr
— OSU 1 (@dah0514) September 10, 2016
Barrett is certainly going to be an intriguing option for every NFL team looking for a quarterback in the first round. Playing for a big school like Ohio State will be somewhat of a draw for some teams. He will have played a big role on one of the national powerhouses and will have gone up against top-notch competition throughout his career.
While that may be true, last year’s selection of Carson Wentz by the Philadelphia Eagles with the No. 2 overall pick should prove that playing for a powerhouse school isn’t everything. The North Dakota State quarterback has started off his NFL career in impressive fashion but received a lot of heat throughout the draft process because he played at a small school.
J.T. Barrett said OSU has rules in place to prevent dropping the ball before the end zone. Hand the ball to the official & hug a big guy.
— Ben Axelrod (@BenAxelrod) September 21, 2016
To answer the question, there is no doubt that Barrett is a legitimate first round draft prospect. He will have to continue playing at a high level and working hard, but he certainly as the talent.
Expect to see Barrett lead the Buckeyes to a very successful season when everything is said and done. He may not lead them to a National Championship win, but he will do enough to prove that he is an NFL caliber quarterback.
J.T. Barrett hung in the pocket, took a big hit and then Curtis Samuel went up and made a fantastic play: pic.twitter.com/weHzl9kcc9
— Christopher Jason (@cjason112) September 12, 2016
Do you think Ohio State’s J.T. Barrett is a legitimate first round NFL talent? Which teams could you see targeting him in the 2017 NFL Draft? Let us know your thoughts in the comment box below!
[Featured Image by Jay LaPrete/AP Images]