Michael Pratt, QB Tulane: 2024 NFL Draft Profile
Pratt was a three-star recruit from Deerfield Beach High School in Deerfield Beach, Fla. in the class of 2020
Tulane quarterback Michael Pratt is one of several quarterbacks flying under the radar this year. He operates in an offense that prevents him from showcasing his full abilities, but his velocity and decision-making suggest he will be a top 100 selection in the 2024 NFL Draft.
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Michael Pratt, QB Tulane: 2024 NFL Draft Profile
Classification: Senior quarterback from Boca Raton, Fla.
Background: Pratt was a three-star recruit from Deerfield Beach High School in Deerfield Beach, Fla. and Boca Raton High School in Boca Raton, Fla. in the class of 2020. He was the No. 1,365 recruit according to 247Sports and No. 1,152 for On3.com. Pratt was an unranked three-star recruit for Rivals and an unranked three-star recruit for ESPN with a 74 grade out of 100. He transferred from Boca Raton to Deerfield Beach before the 2019 school year. That season, he led Deerfield Beach to the Florida High School Class 8A Semifinals.
Injuries & Off-Field: Missed 2021 Cincinnati game with a serious concussion, missed 2022 Houston game with a right arm injury, played through a fractured heel in 2022
Awards: 2022 Second Team All-American Athletic Conference, 2022 Team Captain
Pros: Offers ideal size for a quarterback, fluid throwing motion with a clean release, keeps body aligned during throw, generally displays positive accuracy, works through progressions and processes post-snap information well, rarely makes the head-scratching mistakes, uses shoulder fakes and pump fakes to freeze defenders, layers the ball between the defense’s levels, excellent touch on fade routes, hits the back shoulder fade, elite level velocity to beat tight windows over the MOF, guns the ball into tight windows outside the numbers to the opposite sideline, drops the deep ball over his receiver’s shoulder in stride, keeps his eyes downfield when the pocket breaks down and he rolls out, great reads on RPOs, threat to keep the ball on RPOs, willing to tuck and run with mobility to damage defenses, broke 20 runs of ten or more yards in 2022, takes big hits to pick up first downs
Cons: Fumbled five times in 2021 and six times in 2022, benefited from half-field reads and will be exposed to added responsibilities in the NFL, throwing motion does include a slight loop, footwork needs to be cleaned up, gets happy feet with lots of little shuffles and taps, base is too wide during the throw at times, room to generate more power by driving off his base, needs to apply more touch on uncontested short throws, ball placement is sometimes behind targets on slants or crossers, throwing motion contributes to low ball placements, dirts a few throws at or behind the LOS, several deep passes where his receiver needed to slow down or work back to the ball, not asked to showcase arm talent on deep downfield throws frequently, needs to lead pass catchers more on the vertical plane, room to throw with more anticipation, some reps where he stares down targets, lurking second-level defenders sometimes undercut his throws over the MOF, doesn’t like to change arm slots, must be more willing to checkdown when facing a strong rush, scrambles instead of throwing the ball away when facing overwhelming pressure, wants the big plays, not comfortable throwing while on the move at full speed, lacks elite speed and creativity, won’t break many tackles
Overview: Pratt offers ideal size for a modern quarterback. He has a clean release, but his throwing motion includes a slight loop that delays his delivery. Pratt keeps his body aligned during the throwing process and generally displays above-average accuracy. His footwork needs to be cleaned up. The senior gets happy feet in the pocket with lots of little shuffles or taps that limit his ability to maintain proper lower body mechanics. His base is too wide during the throw sometimes. Pratt can generate more power behind his throws by driving off a consistent base instead of setting inconsistent bases and relying heavily on pure arm talent. He works through his progressions and processes post-snap information well. Pratt rarely makes the head-scratching mistakes that plague many other non-Power Five quarterbacks in the 2024 draft class. However, he benefits from some half-field reads and will be exposed to more responsibilities in the NFL. Pratt uses effective shoulder fakes and pump fakes to freeze defenders. He layers the ball between the defense’s second and third levels but needs to apply more touch on uncontested short throws. Pratt’s arm talent pops on fade routes where he can drop the ball over his receiver’s shoulder in stride or deliver a pinpoint back shoulder throw. The Florida native displays elite level velocity to beat tight windows over the middle of the field and guns the ball into tight windows outside the numbers to both the near and far sideline. His ball placement is sometimes behind targets on slants or crossers. Pratt’s throwing motion contributes to low ball placements that usually pop up on throws to targets behind or at the line of scrimmage. Tulane’s offense didn’t ask Pratt to showcase his arm talent on deep downfield throws frequently in 2022. There were several deep throws where pass catchers needed to slow down and work back to the football, but this could be attributed to Pratt putting too much air under the throw instead of using his velocity to tighten the arc. The All-Conference quarterback should focus on throwing with more anticipation. There are some plays where he stares down his target or doesn’t see lurking second-level defenders who undercut his throws. Pratt excels at creating with his legs, but he must be more willing to take the checkdown when facing pressure. He took a lot of sacks in 2022 because he chose to scramble and search for the big play instead of throwing the ball away. Pratt keeps his eyes downfield when the pocket breaks down and he rolls out, but he’s not always comfortable throwing while on the move at full speed. Pratt’s mobility and decision-making on RPOs make him a threat to keep the ball and gash defenses. He lacks elite speed and creativity as a runner but consistently moves the sticks with his legs.
Overall, Pratt needs to adjust his footwork and clean up some ball placement issues, but his velocity and decision-making suggest he will be one of the top risers in the 2024 quarterback class. His pathway to a top 100 selection will become clearer if he generates more downfield splash plays.
Role & Scheme Fit: West Coast offense with RPO opportunities
Round Projection: Late Third to Early Fourth
Size: 6'3", 220 lbs. (Unofficial)
Submitted: 06-23-23