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USA Today Sports Media Group
USA Today Sports Media Group
Sport
Jeff Risdon

Lions 2023 NFL draft profile: Jaren Hall, QB, BYU

A prospect the Lions met with during Senior Bowl week who is a potential middle-round pick.

Jaren Hall, QB, BYU

Height: 6-foot-0

Weight: 206 (at Combine)

Hall just turned 25 years old

Hall was the full-time starter for the Cougars in both 2021 and 2022. The Utah native is the son of a former BYU and CFL running back, Kalin Hall, and also played baseball–something evident in his throwing style. Hall completed 65.2 percent of his passes in a pro-friendly offense, connecting on 52 TDs and 11 INTs in 27 games.

Lions draft profile: Tanner McKee, QB, Stanford

Pros

  • Accuracy and timing on short and intermediate throws threatens C.J. Stroud for best-in-class
  • Can reset his body and throw accurately on the run and outside the pocket
  • Able to actively process his reads and the defensive reaction post-snap nicely
  • Crafty runner with surprising strength and contact balance
  • Smart when deciding to run or throw when under pressure
  • Rarely puts the ball, or his receivers, in jeopardy
  • Very natural leader who wears the responsibility well

Cons

  • Smallish in size with tiny arms (29.75″), though his hands (9.25″) are large enough
  • Just two years of real playing experience since graduating HS in 2016
  • Arm strength and ball release velocity are largely average and Hall needs some windup space to unleash strong throws
  • Did not stand out during Senior Bowl week
  • Has a tendency to throw off his back foot from the pocket when facing pressure and he loses accuracy in the process
  • Can be late to feel the rush (see Oregon and Boise State games)
  • Missed a full season (2020) with a hip injury and has had other injury issues (concussion, wrist, ankle) across multiple seasons at BYU

Overall

Hall is a smart, pretty accurate passer with the ability to hit anticipatory routes. There is enough mobility and field awareness to threaten with his legs and make things happen outside the pocket too. At 25 years old but lacking size and experience, Hall might not have much developmental juice left to squeeze. Has all the trappings of a good career backup who can handle a spot start here and there, but asking more than that is likely to be a little too much for Hall. Worthy of Detroit’s fifth-round pick.

2023 NFL mock draft: QBs go 1-2-3, trades abound in new two-round projections

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