2019 NFL Draft Prospects: Quarterbacks - Easton Stick, North Dakota State

Taking over for a number two overall pick and school legend in Carson Wentz can be a tall task, but all Stick did in his eight starts as freshman was go undefeated and win an FCS National Championship. He would go on to be an honorable-mention All-Missouri Valley Football Conference selection the next two years and win another championship.

In his senior year Stick was a first-team FCS All-American, completing 62.3 percent of his passes for 2752 yards, 28 touchdowns and seven interceptions, while also a huge weapon on the ground, where he went for almost 700 yards and another 17 scores. Oh, and he won another national championship and won the MVP trophy that game. He is now leaving North Dakota State as the team’s all-time leader in passing yards and touchdowns.

Stick keeps a good bounce to his step, has a compact release and the ball comes out of his hand with some zing to it. He shows quick processing speed to get through his progressions with quiet feet and good pivots. You see him attack defenses deep constantly. He will hold safeties on the spot and then completely drill passes over the deep middle on post, dig and deep crossing routes.

Stick has no issues delivering bullets in cover-two holes along the sideline to the back-shoulder of his receiver. Last year he completed 48 percent of his passes that travelled 40 yards or more, which included three touchdowns. Stick simply has a feel for the pocket, telling him when to stay on the spot, move up, slide and get the ball off with the quick, sudden moves to get it done.

He is willing to hang in the pocket until the last second and hitches up into hits if this allows him to complete passes. When there is an outside rush, he hops up into the pocket with a reduced shoulder to evade it. You can tell by how integrated his movements are and how he seems to know where he wants to go with the ball once it’s snapped that he works on his craft tirelessly.

The former Bison QB has experience in a pro-style offense that utilizes 21 or 12 personnel and heavy play-action with elements of the West Coast. He might have the most refined run-fakes in this class, as he ducks his head and hides the ball coming off the fake and then immediately gets himself into a throw-ready posture. The way he carries out play-fakes not only impacts the defense in a way where throwing lanes will open up, but he also holds the back-side defender to open up room for his running backs.

Stick Has the arm talent and throw-on-the-run ability to connect on deep comebacks off several steps into his bootlegs. He can also re-set his feet outside the pocket with authority and fire the ball downfield. Stick's athleticism was heavily utilized on read-option and even quarterback ISO plays, where he got the edge on plenty of defenders and outraced them to the sideline. He showed off his speed at the combine when he ran the 40 in 4.62 seconds. But he is also quick and can escape the grasps of reaching defenders. When a lane does open up in front of him however, he will take full advantage of it and he is fearless with the ball in his hands.

Some of the throws Stick made versus FCS defenders because of they were leveraged won’t work versus NFL talent and while he can employ simple look-offs, he will have to learn how to manipulate pro defenses and anticipate throws a little earlier. Technique-wise Stick’s base gets too wide at times and his accuracy suffers in the process.

The former member of the Bison will try some “hope-throws” where he knows the defense is in pretty good position, but he simply tries it anyway. Once he gets off track with those type of things they can pile on for him. Stick has also taken some big shots as a runner and definitely has to protect himself better going to the pros,

I think Stick, similar to his running back Bruce Anderson, is one of the most under-discussed players in the draft. He might not meet NFL standards size-wise, but he has more than enough athleticism with the quickness to elude defenders and his arm isn’t rated highly enough.

Stick is as tough as a five-dollar steak and his work ethic is visible by what he does on the field. Carson Wentz said Stick is the most 24/7 football guy he’s ever met and even encouraged him to get a hobby. That’s the type of a guy I am willing to take a shot on in the middle rounds and at the very least he will be a quality backup.

Grade: Fifth Round