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QB Anthony Boone (Duke) - Undrafted free agent
Each year, the Detroit Lions typically bring in one undrafted quarterback as an extra camp body. This year, they decided to go with Duke's Anthony Boone.
Measurables
Height: 6-foot-0 | Weight: 231 pounds
Stats
2011: 30-53 (56.6%), 298 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT | 44 carries, 129 yards, 4 TD
2012: 49-95 (51.6%), 531 yards, 5 TD, 2 INT | 26 carries, 82 yards, 2 TD
2013: 206-322 (64.0%), 2,260 yards, 13 TD, 13 INT | 66 carries, 214 yards, 5 TD
2014: 255-453 (56.3%), 2,700 yards, 19 TD, 8 INT | 94 carries, 375 yards, 5 TD
(via Sports-Reference.com)
Random fact
Boone was teammates with the Lions' first-round pick, Laken Tomlinson, at Duke, and the two players are excited to be teammates again at the professional level.
What the experts are saying
STRENGTHS Heady quarterback. Makes sound decisions when asked to zone-read and when diagnosing pre-snap. Good play strength with an ability to escape rush, break tackles as a runner and get positive yards. Willing to stand tall in pocket when pocket gets dicey. Evaluators like his mental toughness and leadership traits.
WEAKNESSES Short and struggles to see over the offensive linemen. Accuracy is a substantial issue for him. Ball placement can be a coin flip from game to game. One of the lowest-rated quarterbacks in the ACC on intermediate and deep-ball completion percentage. Below average arm. Struggles to make NFL throws.
As an astute pupil of head coach David Cutcliffe, Boone does an excellent job running plays the way they're designed with a lot of pistol and zone read calls (Cutcliffe has had seven straight quarterbacks reach the NFL, dating back to his days at Tennessee). He has tools to develop and will have a chance to win a roster spot in training camp, but Boone isn't a lock to be drafted and it's tough to envision him as a future NFL starter.
A two year starter that has adequate field presence. Shows ability to work through progressions. Does a nice job of using eyes to hold coverage. Lack of ideal height can affect his vision working against interior pressure and will make some blind throws into traffic. Adequate overall decision maker but has room for improvement. Needs to show better situational awareness in picking and choosing when to take chances. Also can show better awareness for the blitz at times. Had issues in this area late in the game against Miami and Virginia Tech (both losses). No question about toughness and will sit in and deliver throw while taking a hit.
Earned the lowest overall grade among the QB draft class, and had an Accuracy Percentage of 43.2% when pressured.
Videos
(via Draft Breakdown)
Outlook for 2015
Given what the Lions have done with their No. 4 quarterbacks in recent years, I can't imagine Boone will be in the mix to make the 53-man roster unless there's an injury ahead of him on the depth chart. Perhaps he could do enough to earn a spot on the practice squad, but Dan Orlovsky and Kellen Moore are pretty much locked in as Matthew Stafford's backups.
Previous scouting reports
Draft picks: OG Laken Tomlinson, RB Ameer Abdullah, CB Alex Carter, DT Gabe Wright, FB Michael Burton, CB Quandre Diggs, OT Corey Robinson