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Easton Stick: What do the Chargers have in their new QB?

By Tyler Schoon

IOWA CITY, IOWA- SEPTEMBER 17: Defensive end Anthony Nelson #98 of the Iowa Hawkeyes grabs the ankle of quarterback Easton Stick #12 of the North Dakota State Bisons in the second quarter, on September 17, 2016 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images)
IOWA CITY, IOWA- SEPTEMBER 17: Defensive end Anthony Nelson #98 of the Iowa Hawkeyes grabs the ankle of quarterback Easton Stick #12 of the North Dakota State Bisons in the second quarter, on September 17, 2016 at Kinnick Stadium in Iowa City, Iowa. (Photo by Matthew Holst/Getty Images) /
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FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – JANUARY 13: Philip Rivers #17 of the Los Angeles Chargers looks on against the New England Patriots during their AFC Divisional Round playoff game at Gillette Stadium on January 13, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
FOXBOROUGH, MASSACHUSETTS – JANUARY 13: Philip Rivers #17 of the Los Angeles Chargers looks on against the New England Patriots during their AFC Divisional Round playoff game at Gillette Stadium on January 13, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) /

Easton Stick: Final thoughts

If the Chargers were never going to take a quarterback early, then a guy like Stick is a good one to take on Day 3. There’s a lot to like about No. 12, and is summed up in three key points:

  1. He’s a winner. His record, FCS titles, and some clutch moments prove it.
  2. He’s a runner who doesn’t run first, unless that’s the play design.
  3. Fifth in passer rating under pressure and 11th in deep passer rating, per PFF’s 2019 Draft Guide

Stick now has plenty of time to fix a few problems, which include but are not limited to, avoiding big hits, accuracy across the middle, and turnovers. He will also need to get caught up to speed with an NFL system, as many of the plays run by North Dakota State’s offense looked pitch-and-catch at times. It looks like he progresses through reads well when that first option isn’t open, though, so that shouldn’t take too long to get used to in an NFL system where “open” seems like anything but.

Next. Draft grades for all Chargers' seven selections

The Chargers could have something on their hands here, and the signing of Taylor in free agency means Stick will be the third quarterback on the roster with no expectations this year. He gets to learn, grow, and build confidence behind two quarterbacks whose influence will enhance what he does best. Quarterback of the future? Maybe. But for now, it’s better than the Cardale Jones experiment.

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