Graham Mertz, QB, Florida
Size:
Height: 6033
Weight: 212
Arm: 31 ¼”
Hand: 9 ¾”
Accomplishments:
Four-star recruit
“Graham Mertz is a smooth, quick-passing game operator with easy velocity and enough twitch to evade pressure and make throws on the run.”
Strengths:
Quick game
Throwing motion
Arm talent
Pocket movement
Concerns:
Ball security
Anticipation throws
Ball placement
Film Analysis:
Graham Mertz began his collegiate career with flashes of brilliance as a freshman, showing off the arm talent that made him a four-star recruit. With NFL size, standing at 6-foot-2 and weighing 216 pounds, Mertz looks the part. But when times got tough at Wisconsin and Mertz was forced to carry teams back from deficits, he faded into the background and saw his completion percentages dip and interceptions rise. He completed just over 57% of his passes while throwing double-digit interceptions for the second year in a row, his last season at Wisconsin before transferring to Florida in hopes of a clean slate. He won the starting job at Florida in 2023 and had his best season as a college athlete, throwing for nearly 3,000 yards with a career-best 20 touchdowns, 73% completion percentage, and only three interceptions.
Mertz operates the quick-passing game at Florida with swagger and arm talent. From RPOs to pre-snap identification, Mertz used the window dressing and threat of the run game to his advantage. Without much heel clicking in his dropbacks, he gets to his drop quickly and the ball comes out. His throwing motion is efficient and repeatable, generating velocity to all levels and sides of the field. When pressured, Mertz has the pocket feel and presence combined with enough mobility to evade and keep his eyes downfield. When he knows the pressure will get to him, he’s quick to check the ball down but also knows when to take the sack. His decision-making took a step forward at Florida. Mertz can make off-platform throws look easy when moved out of the pocket.
While progress was made, things can still be cleaned up to move up NFL boards. Mertz is a “see it, throw it” quarterback who needs to work on throwing with anticipation into windows. His ball placement is often behind receivers or forces them to adjust instead of leading them into space for yards after the catch. Mertz didn’t throw a ton deep down the field, but the deep ball accuracy can be cleaned up to help add an explosive downfield element to his skill set. Ball security is right at the top of the list. He had six fumbles in 2023 and only lost three, but his concentration on the football when moving in the pocket can be haphazard. While he can feel pressure and evade well enough, it would go a long way to more consistently identify where the blitz is coming from and attack the defense in those voided areas of the field.
Overall, Mertz made some quality strides in his first season at Florida, showing the talent and flashes many hoped to continue seeing at Wisconsin. Now, in his sixth collegiate season, he can vault up draft boards if he can take another step while remaining in the same system.
Prospect Projection: Day 3 — Developmental Traits
Written By: Daniel Harms
