NFL.com draft analyst Lance Zierlein had Max Brosmer going in the sixth or seventh round this year. Still, no team took Brosmer, who threw for 2,828 yards and 18 touchdowns at the University of Minnesota last year.
The answer as to why is in Zierlein’s draft profile.
Brosmer “gets through progressions with his feet and eyes in sync” but “rushes his progress once the pocket alarm goes off.” He “recognizes trouble and can get away from it.” However, he “lacks arm talent and mobility to make plays off-schedule.” Brosmer’s “adequate eye discipline holds safeties and linebackers,” but his “low release point causes throws to sail or get batted at the line.”
“I haven’t been as physically gifted as some people in this profession,” admitted Brosmer, who said he always spends extra time watching film. “When you’re kind of on the shorter end of the stick, you have to kind of outwork people mentally.”
Brosmer is 6’2”, 225 lbs., typical if not marginally smaller than the average NFL quarterback. However, Zierlein’s evaluation of Brosmer echoes that of many draft pundits. They all tell the tale of a smart quarterback with few standout traits.
“Brosmer displays a high football IQ,” The Draft Network’s Damian Parson wrote. However, “athletically, he’s functional.
“He reads and identifies pre-snap and post-snap coverages well,” Parson elaborates, but “Brosmer struggles with pressure in his face.”
Kyle Crabbs describes Brosmer as an “accurate immediate and underneath passer who finds completions on schedule” in his write-up for The 33rd Team. However, Brosmer “does not have the requisite arm strength to drive throws down the field or throw from the far hash with consistency.”
Crabbs also noted that Brosmer’s “accuracy wanes significantly when trying to gear up his arm and push the ball with velocity.” “He clearly has an NFL-capable mind,” Crabbs concludes, “and should be considered a Day 3 backup type of investment.”
“You have to know your superpower,” Brosmer acknowledges. “I pride myself on being mentally capable of what’s going on and having a good idea of what the game plan is.”
Kevin O’Connell said that Brosmer is “a perfect example” of a player who will benefit from the NFL’s new emergency quarterback rule. Brosmer will be available on game days, but league rules only permit him to play if McCarthy and Wentz are injured or disqualified from playing.
“Although he’s maybe the third guy and can only play under certain circumstances, [Brosmer was] in the building yesterday with J.J.,” said O’Connell, adding that he believes Brosmer could move the offense if McCarthy and Wentz are unavailable.
“They’re going through the game plans as they’re kind of being finalized, and we’re presenting them with information that they can go then take on their own and kind of get a head start before [they practice] today.”
O’Connell may feel Brosmer is ready if the Vikings had to play him. Still, they signed Carson Wentz after trading projected backup Sam Howell to the Philadelphia Eagles. Wentz was once Philadelphia’s franchise quarterback and played under Sean McVay and Andy Reid as a backup in the past two seasons.
“I knew there would be some connection points for him with some of the places he’s been,” said O’Connell. “Specifically LA, but then also his last year in Kansas City with [Patrick Mahomes] and coach Reid.”
Therefore, Brosmer’s role will be more of an assistant for first-year starter J.J. McCarthy. The amount of time Brosmer spends watching film, plus his native football intelligence, should help him prepare McCarthy for gameday.
“I just want to be able to help my room out as best as possible,” said Brosmer, “and find the little things that may help J.J., Carson, or whoever’s on the field succeed at the highest level.
“Ultimately, it’s about winning football games and providing value. If I can do that and provide value by watching as much film as possible and finding the little things that will help us, then I’ll do that.”
Teams likely passed on Brosmer due to concerns about his physical traits. Still, he’s a cerebral quarterback who spends extra time in the film room, an asset for a depth quarterback in Minnesota. If he can help McCarthy prepare for gamedays and help translate some of the finer points of O’Connell’s system, he’ll have done his job.
