With experience as an executive the in front offices with the 49ers, Browns, Eagles, Raiders and Patriors, Michael Lombardi is one of the most knowledgable members of the media when it comes to covering the NFL.
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In Lombardi’s podcast The GM Shuffle, he gave a sizzling hot take on the newest backup quarterback for the New England Patriots and former Baylor and Auburn starting quarterback Jarrett Stidham. Stidham, a five-star signee with the Bears out of the 2015 recruiting class, transferred to Auburn after Baylor head coach Art Briles was fired in May of 2016.
After initally annoucning his to stay and finish his career in Waco via Instagram, Stidham later backtracked and spent a fall semester at McLennan Community College in Waco before heading to Auburn to play for Gus Malzahn. Stidham had the chance to return to Baylor after his semester at MCC, but decided against it despite Baylor hiring Matt Rhule in early December of that year.
Despite being classified as arguably most natural and gifted passer in the draft, Stidham fell to the end of the fourth round. According to Lombardi, had he simply stayed in Waco and played for Rhule and former NFL quarterback coach Glenn Thomas, he would have been off the board in the first two rounds.
“Really if the kid was smart, he would have stayed at Baylor with Matt Rhule,” Lombardi said. “Because if he plays with Matt Rhule at Baylor, he’s probably going to throw. He probably would have been a first or second-round pick. He’s easily better than Daniel Jones if he plays in an offense that would have highlighted what he can do.”
Jones was the No. 6-overall pick in the draft. Stidham was the seventh quarterback taken behind Kyler Murray (Oklahoma), Jones (Duke), Dwanye Haskins (Ohio State), Drew Lock (Missouri), Will Grier (West Virginia) and Ryan Finley (NC State).
With three years remaining of eligibilty, Stidham’s departure left Baylor to rely on true freshman quarterback Zach Smith to take over for an injured Seth Russell in 2016. Smith would begin the 2017 season as the backup to transfer Anu Solomon before eventually moving back to the startingn lineup when Solomon was sidelined for the season with injury. Smith was then replaced by true freshman Charlie Brewer and opted to transfer in the offseason.
Brewer, Rhule’s first high school quarterback recruit at Baylor, threw for 3,019 yards and 19 touchdowns as a starter in 2018 while adding 375 yards and seven touchdowns on the ground.
Stidham threw for 2,794 yards with 18 touchdowns in his final season at Auburn with 72 rushing yards and one score.
