Tulane QB Michael Pratt just recently had his pro day. He's pretty much forgotten by the media and so called "experts" at this point. Right now he seems to be projected as a mid-rounder. I enjoyed watching him play at Tulane, the upset in the Cotton Bowl against "generational" USC QB Caleb Williams and almost led Tulane to a victory over number 2 Oklahoma in 2021 which is when he popped up on my radar. 4 years of starting experience and turning a program around in 2022/2023. He's certainly better than the 2nd tier of quotas being pushed into the league as a prospect - Milton, Rattler, Penix, Travis. It would be great if he ended up drafted fairly early - 3rd round to a team like the Jets, Rams or Broncos as a potential QB to develop long term. Not that it seems to matter in a league that no longer develops QBs but he checks off all of the Bill Parcells Rules for drafting a QB:
- Be a three-year starter - started 4 years for Tulane
- Be a senior in college - 4th year junior (I'll allow it)
- Graduate from college - yes
- Start 30 games - 44 games started
- Win 23 games - 27 games won
- Post a 2-1 touchdown-to-interception ratio - 90/26 TD to INT ratio
- Complete at least 60% of passes thrown - 60.6% career passer - improved ever year as a starter
https://www.si.com/nfl/jets/pratt-f...or-under-the-radar-nfl-draft-qb-aaron-rodgers
https://herosports.com/fbs-nfl-draft-michael-pratt-tulane-pro-quarterback-cpcp/
Quarterback Michael Pratt headlines Tulane's pro day at Saints' indoor facility
With scouts from almost every NFL team in attendance, Michael Pratt launched a perfect strike to Phat Watts more than 50 yards down the field Tuesday morning at the Saints' indoor facility.
Pratt, Tulane’s career record-holder in passing yards and touchdowns, was the headliner among 16 prospects at the Green Wave’s pro day, which was moved to Metairie from Yulman Stadium because of heavy overnight rain that lasted into the morning. Players lifted weights, ran the 40-yard dash and did shuttle runs before going to individual work.
Most eyes were on Pratt, who is projected as a third-day draft pick (rounds 4 through 7), in his final opportunity to showcase his on-field skills after participating in the Senior Bowl and the NFL combine.
Having spent eight weeks in Florida with quarterback tutor Tony Racioppi fine-tuning his mechanics, Pratt liked his performance as he threw short, intermediate and deep balls to fellow pro day participants Jha’Quan Jackson, Lawrence Keys, Chris Carter and Shedro Louis along with Watts, a returning Tulane player.
“It was awesome,” Pratt said. “It’s great to be back with all these guys and get to spin it around and have some fun.”
Pratt is banking on his off-the-field skills as much as anything to be a separator from other quarterbacks in his draft range. His leadership and the camaraderie he enjoys with teammates were constant talking points as he guided the Wave to an American Athletic Conference championship and Cotton Bowl victory in 2022, and a return to the AAC title game in 2023 after a 2-10 season in 2021 — his second of four years as a starter.
No Tulane quarterback has been drafted since J.P. Losman ended a run in 2004 of three consecutive starters (Shaun King and Patrick Ramsey) being taken.
“The interviews are really important,” Pratt said. “There’s throwing the ball, but they watch the tape, they see your footwork, they see your mechanics, your ball speed, your touch, deep balls, intermediate game and all that kind of stuff. It’s what you can do under pressure going to a place like the combine, the Senior Bowl, just having those opportunities to compete at the highest level around the best guys in the country.”
Pratt skipped the 40-yard dash as did Jackson, whose 4.42 at the combine was the 12th-fastest among 30 wide receivers, and guard Prince Pines, whose 5.24 was the eighth-slowest among 49 offensive linemen in Indianapolis.
Aside from kicker Valentino Ambrosio, the other 13 players at pro day ran the 40. . No official times were made available.
Jackson, who hopes to go in the later rounds, believes he helped his chances Tuesday after joining Pratt at the Senior Bowl and the combine.
“It went great,” he said. “We’ve been working our whole lifetime just to get this opportunity to play on the next level. I got hurt (late in the season) and went and balled out at the Senior Bowl, and then went to the combine and ran a fast 40 and caught every ball there.”
All but 13 of Jackson’s 109 career receptions at Tulane came from Pratt. The duo connected for the final time on Tuesday, barring the unlikely possibility of both making the roster of the same NFL team.
Pratt enjoyed the moment, focusing on playing with his longtime teammates again rather than worrying about his wide-ranging draft status.
“There are so many mock drafts that are saying I’m going to go here and go there and this round and that round,” he said. “It really doesn’t matter until it comes down to draft day. I’m not paying it that much attention. I’m just controlling what I can control to continue to get better and prepare for once I get my opportunity.
“I want to go to whatever team wants me. I’m super blessed and fortunate to be in this situation.”
