STANFORD, CA – Despite throwing for 236 yards in a 52-14 loss to visiting Washington State Saturday, could junior Stanford Cardinal quarterback Tanner McKee be the next Josh Allen?
Allen, currently the favorite to win NFL MVP starting for the Buffalo Bills, is widely seen by some in NFL circles as the top quarterback in the league. Mckee, at 6’6 and 235 pounds has Allen-like measurables and untapped and raw physical talent for someone his size.
While not being helped by his Cardinal receivers, who turned the ball over four times, as well as looking and playing sloppy, has been a bright spot for the 3-6 Cardinal in completing 193-318 of his passes (60.7 percent) for 2,208 yards, 11 touchdowns and seven interceptions for a passer rating of 126.0
While the upcoming 2023 NFL Draft is months away, thanks to various teams such as Carolina, Detroit and Houston likely looking to draft a quarterback, Mckee could be a possible late first round pick, or a high second round target for the right team.
Names such as CJ Stroud from Ohio State, Tyler Van Dyke from Miami (FL), Kentucky’s Will Levis and reigning Heisman Trophy winner, Bryce Young are likely to be heard and talked about from now until April, but while the league is moving more towards a dual-threat and mobile QB’s, McKee is a throwback to the traditional pro-style pocket passer.
Not a finished product by any means, as McKee tends to struggle a bit with his confidence while throwing and pre-snap calls, he has a tantalizing cache of NFL-made tools, such as his arm and ability to throw in rhythm, ball placement and vision that he can be coached up and tweaked, a la Allen under now current New York Giants head coach, Brian Daboll.
Obviously, McKee will need a year or two sitting behind a veteran quarterback before he is ready, and in the right system. Depending on where he lands, he will either have the chance to see early action or sit and watch. A team such as New Orleans, the defending Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams, Detroit Lions would be ideal spots for McKee to sit and learn.
A cancer survivor and Mormon missionary off the field, who served a two-year religious mission, before playing in Palo Alto, the 22-year-old McKee would also bring high character to an NFL locker room, as well as a quiet maturity and leadership.
With key matchups at Utah and “The Game” vs. Cal, McKee will have his chance to make some noise and be heard on draft day.