Grading NFL's next generation of quarterbacks: Trey Lance flashes for 49ers, Joe Burrow sharp again

Let's grade first and second year quarterbacks' performances in Week 17

Joe Burrow went bananas, especially in the second half, against the Chiefs in a down-to-the-wire win over Kansas City in Week 17. In a much more low-profile game, Trey Lance showcased many of the abilities that made him the No. 3 overall pick in April in his spot start for the 49ers in a convincing victory over the Texans.

There were nine quarterbacks selected in the past two NFL Draft classes that saw considerable playing time -- more than 10 pass attempts -- in Week 16.

Let's dive deep into the individual efforts of each quarterback and assign a grade on a per-snap basis, taking every individual aspect of their performance into account.

Best Throws: 

• Early in the game, he eluded a free rusher and found a target for five yards. Great improvisation.
• In the second, he avoided another sack and scrambled for three yards.
• His first touchdown to Ja'Marr Chase was perfectly placed near the front right pylon.
• In the fourth, he dropped one in the bucket to Tee Higgins for a big gain.
• The five-yard touchdown to give the Bengals the lead in the fourth quarter was thrown with perfect touch and placement to Tyler Boyd.
• The 35-yard strike to Chase down the sideline late was zipped through a tiny window near the sideline.
• His last throw of the game was another exquisite down-the-sideline connection with Chase against tight coverage.

Worst Throws: 

• Midway through the second, he underthrow a deep ball to Chase that was broken up. Ball needed to be further out in front.
• He was late and low on an in-breaker that was defended and fell incomplete.

Summary: Another stellar performance from Burrow. Big-time throws down the field. Minimal mistakes. He's playing outstanding football right now.    

Grade: A
Season Grade: B+

Best Throws: 

• Late in the first, he hit Keenan Allen on a rollout near the sideline for 10 yards against tight coverage.
• He hit Mike Williams in stride on a 45-yard touchdown in the fourth.

Worst Throws: 

• In the third, he rolled left and badly misfired on a throw into the end zone.

Summary: The Chargers needed need much from Herbert in this one. The bad throws were barely there. Same with the high-end tosses. Lots of underneath, schemed-open throws for him.   

Grade: B
Season Grade: B-

Best Throws: 

• Right before the end of the half, Jones threw a nicely lofted, well-placed ball to Jakobi Meyers for a touchdown.

Worst Throws: 

• In the second, a longer throw toward the sideline to Hunter Henry was broken up by an underneath defender.
• Late in the second, he sailed a deep flag route by Hunter Henry. 
• In the fourth, he missed a back-shoulder attempt down the right sideline.

Summary: Jones wasn't asked to do much -- and didn't need to in the trouncing of the Jaguars in Week 17. Workmanlike performance from the rookie

Grade: C+
Season Grade: C+

Best Throws: 

• Late in the first quarter, he looked left, before coming to his right to find an open receiver while rolling outside the pocket.
• Late in the second, he placed a perfect pass to Brandon Aiyuk in the back corner of the end zone, just high enough to get over the underneath corner but the second-year wideout as unable to reel it in.
• The 43-yard touchdown to Samuel wasn't a super-difficult toss but it required monster arm strength deep across the field. 
• Early in the third, he ripped a fastball between defenders on a slant run by Aiyuk that maximized YAC potential.

• His second-to-last throw was a rifle shot to Kittle down the seam through traffic.. 

Worst Throws: 

• Midway through the second quarter, Lance didn't put enough arc on a wheel route run by George Kittle that was intercepted.
• Late in the second, he threw behind Samuel on a scramble drill.

Summary: There were some misfires from Lance in this one, but more flashes of his athleticism and supreme arm talent that should have the 49ers very excited about his future and a more vertical-based passing offense.   

Grade: B-
Season Grade: C

Best Throws: 

• Late in the first, Lawrence threw an absolutely gorgeous ball on a deep cover to Laquon Treadwell that was blanketed by two defenders. The play went for 40 yards. 
• In the second, off play action, he delivered a strike to Marvin Jones for 24 yards between two defenders.
• While dangerous because he faded away, Lawrence dropped one in the bucket to Jones for 22 yards late in the first half over an underneath defender. 

Worst Throws: 

• He overthrew a shot into the end zone in the first quarter. 
  
• Lawrence threw too far to the outside on a short target for Tavon Austin that was intercepted.
• In the third, he was late on a throw over the middle to Jones that was picked by Kyle Dugger.

Summary: After a strong outing in Week 16, Lawrence took a step back in New England. Not surprising given Bill Belichick's track record against rookie quarterbacks. 

Grade: C-
Season Grade: C

Best Throws: 

• Late in the second, Hurts dodged a defender in the pocket and accelerated up the field for 22 yards.
• Near the start of the second half, Hurts threw with awesome placement on a corner route to Dallas Goedert through tight coverage.
• A few plays later, Hurts looked left then scrambled right and found Greg Ward for 27 yards. 
• In the fourth, while moving right, Hurts somehow threw a pass on target to Goedert who was running across the other side of the field. 

Worst Throws: 

• In the second, he missed a tightly covered Smith in the end zone.
• Early in the third, Hurts misfired on a swing pass.
• He missed Goedert on a intermediate crosser in the fourth.

Summary: Hurts has had better games this season. What's important -- he wasn't bad against Washington. Didn't make many mistakes. He kept the ball out of harm's way and showcased his scrambling ability when things broke down.   

Grade: C+
Season Grade: B-

Best Throws: 

• Late in the first, he looked right then fired a strike across the middle for a 13-yard gain.
• His nine-yard touchdown to Braxton Berrios came a throw toward the sideline that had to be on time and with zip. 
• In the third, he threaded the needle on a slant to Berrios for 11 yards. 
  
• On the next play, Wilson fired a laser to Keelan Cole for 21 yards over the middle. The throw was ripped and just high enough to make it over the underneath defender.
• Late in the game, he caught a bad shotgun snap and slung a sidearm pass to Berrios into the flat. Super-quick release.

Worst Throws: 

• On his first throw of the game, Wilson didn't see a dropping defensive lineman and nearly threw a pick.  
• Late in the second, he was late on a sideline throw that should've been intercepted.
• Midway through the fourth, he tried a sidearm toss to a receiver that was late and outside of its intended target.

Summary: This was Wilson's best performance of the season -- at least up there with the win over the Titans months ago. He had a few misfires but threw with more confidence, velocity, and accuracy than in just about every other game this season.  

Grade: B+
Season Grade: C-

Best Throws: 

• His first throw of the game was a beauty. He looked right before coming back to the middle of the field and fitting it into DeVante Parker for 20 yards.  
• At the two-minute warning, he rolled left and squeezed a pass into Mike Gesicki for 14 yards.
• Early in the fourth, he dropped one in the bucket ot Jaylen Waddle for 45 yards. Great placement. 
• Late in the game, Tagovailoa got the ball to his receiver on the outside for nine yards with the defender in close.
• His interception late was actually a good throw to Gesicki that deflected off the tight end's hands.
  

Worst Throws: 

• He held the ball too long in the first and took a bad sack.
• Midway through the first, he rolled left -- his strong side -- and skipped a pass to an open Mack Hollins.
• Tagovailoa sailed an in-breaking route late in the first quarter.
• Before the half, Tagovailoa didn't have enough air on an out-breaker that was broken up by an underneath defensive back.
• Midway through the third, he overthrew a super-short pass to Waddle.
• Early in the fourth, he got the ball on a trick play, didn't feel pressure and was in the process of attempting what appeared to be a backwards later but was hit and fumbled.

Summary: This was not a good game, in a critical spot, from Tagovailoa. He missed a variety of throws and his lack of arm strength really limited what the Dolphins could do offensively. 

Grade: D+
Season Grade: C+

Best Throws: 

• With under seven to go in the second, Mills stepped into the pocket and delivered a strike to Nico Collins near the sideline for a first down. 
• On the next play, he dropped it in the bucket to Brandin Cooks for 24 yards.
• While Fred Warner tripped slightly on the play, Mills' touchdown to Cooks was a well-placed back-shoulder toss.
• In garbage time he found Collins tip-toeing the sideline for 20 yards.

Worst Throws: 

• Midway through the second, Mills was late on a throw to a covered Brandin Cooks that should've been intercepted.
• A few plays later he badly missed Cooks down the field from a clean pocket. 
• In the third, he faded away from a throw that went directly to a 49ers defender and was picked.
• Late in the game Mills threw low and outside on a shallow crosser to Collins that was covered.

Summary: Mills took a step backward against the 49ers. Was it a brutal outing? No. The arm talent flashed a little. But he was less aggressive than he had been in previous starts and had a few clear-cut misses. 

Grade: C+
Season Grade: C+

2021 NFL jerseys now available

The new NFL season is here! Win or lose, you can shop jerseys, shirts, hats, and much more to support your favorite team. Shop here and show your colors.

We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.