The Steelers Met With This Savvy Back-Up Quarterback, But Is He Worth A Top-120 Pick?

Welcome to the pre-draft season! Leading up to the 2023 NFL Draft starting on April 27th, we will be releasing draft profiles of prospects who could potentially see themselves on the Pittsburgh Steelers. Next up…

Steelers’ Draft Prospect: Jaren Hall (Quarterback), BYU, Redshirt Senior

OVERVIEW: Unlike last year, the Steelers aren’t on the hunt for their next franchise quarterback in this year’s draft. Kenny Pickett is poised for a strong sophomore campaign and Mitch Trubisky remains as a relatively reliable backup to Pickett. However, the Steelers like to carry three quarterbacks through camp and ultimately on the final 53-man roster. We have yet to hear about the future of Mason Rudolph who found himself in the third quarterback slot on the depth chart last year and the Steelers haven’t made many waves in the free agency backup quarterback pool. Therefore, we can safely presume they’ll be looking for quarterback depth in the draft to round out the quarterback room. But after watching what transpired with Chris Oladokun in 2022, what can we expect this go-around? As fate would have it, the Steelers hosted a pair of quarterback prospects earlier this month in Pittsburgh. One of those was an efficient passer from the state of Utah. Let’s get to know Jaren Hall.

PROS: As odd as this may sound, on paper, Hall is built for offensive coordinator Matt Canada’s offense. He is a patient passer in the pocket and is able to command the offense with ease. He doesn’t rush or force throws into covered areas. Hall does a great job of going through his progressions and waiting for the coverage to clear before making the throw. He brings an elite level of accuracy on his passes and is great at hitting the receivers in stride.

So, how is Hall built for Canada’s offense? The answer is simple; efficiency and mobility. In college, Hall tallied a completion percentage of over 65 percent with 52 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. That touchdown-to-interception ratio is an attractive number scouts are looking at. In his 2022 alone, Hall threw 31 touchdowns with only six interceptions. In an offense that strives to be efficient and clean with the football, Hall’s numbers in that regard have to be eye-popping for the Steelers.

Hall also brings a level of mobility to his game as well. He operates effectively within motion and play-action plays where he’s forced to drift outside of the pocket. If the play breaks down and he is forced to run, Hall has nice speed for a quarterback. Coming out of high school, Hall was considered one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in the country, but he isn’t necessarily advertising himself as such. At BYU, he found himself as more of a pocket passer first, then running if he needed. Last year, Hall posted 346 yards on the ground on 86 attempts with three touchdowns. Fans know how head coach Mike Tomlin is liking his quarterbacks to be more mobile, and Hall certainly checks that box.

CONS: Hall’s arm strength is lacking. He isn’t that type of quarterback who is going to hang back in the pocket and sling the ball downfield. This is going to cause him to struggle pushing the ball downfield and operating in a two-minute offense pinned deep inside their territory. In addition, this could affect his play in bad weather games or when the wind is whipping off the Allegheny River in Pittsburgh. Hall would have to operate off a specialized play sheet to best utilize his skillset, which scouts and coaches may not like.

Hall’s size is also a bit smaller than what scouts would like. At the combine, he measured 6’0” and weighed 207 pounds. In college, that size forced him to get lost among the offensive line and prevented him from being able to climb up in the pocket to make the throw. When he has to throw over taller defenders, he has a tendency to hang the ball up in the air and sail it past the receiver. It is the combination of being undersized and having an arm with below-average strength that is keeping Hall towards the bottom-third of a lot of draft boards.

DRAFT PROJECTION: Late Fourth Round to Early Fifth Round

In a draft class highlighted by C.J. Stroud, Bryce Young, Anthony Richardson, and even Hendon Hooker, Hall’s name is going to fall towards the bottom of a lot of draft boards. In addition, the hunt for a rookie backup quarterback on the roster doesn’t really press high priority in the first bulk of the draft. On the opposite side of that, however, Hall has generated a fair amount of interest across the league. Coming off a 2022 season where we saw rookie third-string quarterbacks, not only start regular season games, but show a lot of promise for the future, teams may be looking for their own diamond in the rough in this year’s draft. Hall can be considered a solid middle-round pick; I think closer to the end of the second day to early on the third day.

VERDICT: The need of a solid third quarterback is beginning to grow in today’s NFL. With names such as Brock Purdy, Bailey Zappe, Skylar Thompson, and David Blough all seeing the field as starters in big time games in 2022, teams are noticing deep talent at quarterback goes beyond the second-string. With the return of Rudolph looking dimmer by the day, the Steelers are doing their due diligence heading into the draft.

Hall is an interesting profile for the Steelers. On one hand, he’d be a great fit within Canada’s offense. But on the other hand, the Steelers would need to use one of their earlier picks on him, seeing as though they don’t currently have any picks in the fifth and sixth rounds. Not to mention, Hall is one of the oldest prospects in the draft; he just turned 25 years old earlier this year. Therefore, the verdict comes down to whether or not the Steelers would be willing to use a pick in the top 120 selections on an older, potential third-string quarterback. I would argue that a better avenue could be available than Hall at that spot.

Where do you see Hall going in April? Would you want to see him in the black and gold? Let us know in the comments below!

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