Game Film Puts Jordan Travis Over Caleb Williams on Draft Board

Florida State University (FSU) quarterback (QB) Jordan Travis answered two of my biggest questions in this latest seven-game block of game film from last season.

Ball security?

Deep pass accuracy?

Defenders were able to disrupt only 10 passes in these seven games (2022) and he was hitting the deep ball on a regular basis.

This was compared to 22 passes being disrupted in six previous games in the same season.

These two factors, along with a better job of him protecting his body as a runner in this block of game film have elevated him from the second round (my previous grade).

Travis Over Williams

While USC QB Caleb Williams has and will continue to grab mainstream headlines over Travis, the game film clearly reveals Travis is a more polished NFL prospect.

I should know, and I might be the only person in America qualified to make this statement. That’s because I have now evaluated every single snap both Travis and Williams took last season.

Travis is every bit as athletic as Williams. This is confirmed by the stats. In 2022, Travis rushed 82 times for 417 yards (5.1 avg), while Williams logged 113 carries for 382 yards (3.4 avg.).

Both like to move around and throw without setting their feet, but Travis is better at it.

Downfield ball placement and ball security are critical predictors when it comes to projecting college quarterbacks to the next level. Travis separates from Williams with his downfield ball placement, and throwing instincts, clearly putting receivers in a better position to gain additional yardage after the catch.

Both are similar when it comes to ball security, each threw five interceptions last season and each has similar disrupted downfield pass numbers.

2022 Travis: 13 games with defenders touching 32 passes (2.46 per game average).

2022 Williams: 14 games with defenders touching 36 passes (2.57 per game average).

Travis has a more consistent accurate deep ball.

More natural quarterback

While Travis (64.0%) and Williams (66.6%) had similar completion percentages last season, the game film reveals Travis is more natural at the position.

What’s the difference between the two?

Travis looks like a quarterback who’s athletic and Williams looks more like an athlete who’s playing quarterback.

Williams’ game is built on his athleticism and his elite ability to escape the pocket, Travis can do that too, but his athleticism is more of a fall-back than the main attraction.

Sure, injury can happen to any player, but Williams puts himself at a greater calculated risk than Travis due to the fact he takes off more often and he’s more reckless as a runner (taking on full contact).

If God forbid, both were injured or they lost a step, Travis has a better long-term projection as a pure passer than Williams. Travis relies less on having to manipulate downfield throwing windows with all the running around and appears to have better raw accuracy.

#13 Jordan Travis 6-foot-1, 201 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s Summer 2023 Grade: First-Round (I would select him)

Projected by 3.7% of the NFL Draft Community to be a first-round pick as of July 6, 2023 (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

Previous article (2022: 6 games evaluated) Is Jordan Travis the Next Patrick Mahomes?

Additional 2022 game film reviewed: Louisiana, Syracuse, Miami, Boston College, NC State, Oklahoma, and Duquesne (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

2022 stats: 226/353 (64.0%), 3214 yards, 24 TD, 5 INT, 15 sacks, long-78

2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Polished athletic dual-role prospect with good accuracy and arm strength. Confident and consistent demeanor game in and game out. Solid ball handling on the initial setup. Looked comfortable throwing from the pocket after going through progressions. Can also shake free with an elite ability to escape pressure and make plays on the go. Active and moves around well. Showed above-average accuracy without the need to set his feet. Effective climbing the pocket before throwing, or rolling to his left or right. Can zip it into coverage and has good placement at all three route levels. A number of dropped passes that were right on the money. When he misses, it’s a tendency to overthrow. A legit runner with good speed, acceleration, and the ability to make defenders miss in the open field.

What to watch for during the 2023 college football season:

1. Improved ball security?

2. Consistent back-to-back seasons?

3. How does downfield ball placement look?

4. Injury-free?

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock and has written for Sports Illustrated Lions, Jets, and 49ers, as well as a featured guest on ESPN Radio and Fox Sports Radio. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. He can be followed on Twitter @firstroundmock.