Once one of the most anticipated quarterback recruits of the modern era, where does DJ Uiagalelei rank in the 2025 NFL Draft‘s quarterback class with his scouting report?
Now with his third team at the tail end of a tumultuous career, can Uiagalelei finally realize his Round 1 potential?
DJ Uiagalelei’s Draft Profile and Measurements
- Height: 6’4″
- Weight: 245 pounds
- Position: Quarterback
- School: Florida State
- Current Year: Redshirt Senior
If you’re into way-too-early mocks, there’s a good chance you may have seen Uiagalelei in one or two way-too-early NFL Mock Drafts in 2022.
Uiagalelei had eyes on him as a future star as early as his junior season at St. John Bosco High School. Born in Riverside, Calif., Uiagalelei grew to become a dominant high school passer, and in his final two seasons, he amassed 7,591 total passing yards, and 96 total touchdowns.
Uiagalelei was a historic producer, a High School Player of the Year award winner across various outlets, and a standout in baseball as well.
In the 2020 recruiting cycle, he signed on with the Clemson Tigers to be the successor to future No. 1 overall pick Trevor Lawrence. Some viewed Uiagalelei as a similarly generational talent.
It was a perfect storm of heightened expectations, and at first, there was optimism that Uiagalelei could meet them.
He dazzled in limited action as a true freshman. But the entire offense regressed with Tony Elliott at the helm as offensive coordinator in 2021, and Uiagalelei completed just 55.6% of his passes for nine scores and 10 interceptions.
On the stat sheet, 2022 was a bounce-back year for Uiagalelei. He threw for a career-high 22 touchdown passes, but a cold streak late in the year and a demoralizing loss against South Carolina caused him to be benched for Cade Klubnik ahead of the ACC Championship Game. Eventually, Uiagalelei entered the transfer portal.
Uiagalelei’s lone season at Oregon State helped provide a fresh start under head coach Jonathan Smith, and he played fairly well, completing 180 of 315 attempts (57.1%) for 2,638 yards, 21 TDs, and nine INTs. Uiagalelei also ran for 219 yards and six additional scores.
When Smith left for Michigan State, however, Uiagalelei ultimately made the decision to transfer again. Now, he’s the starter at Florida State under head coach Mike Norvell, succeeding Jordan Travis with one last chance to rise back into the early-round discussion.
Uiagalelei’s Scouting Report
Strengths
- Possesses a lab-built frame that lends him high-level play strength and sturdiness.
- Has a nuclear arm that can generate and drive high-end velocity with effortless ease.
- With arm strength, can push the ball outside the numbers from the opposite hash.
- Has exciting arm elasticity and angle freedom, which unlocks layering potential.
- Remains a threat rolling both left and right with his off-platform freedom and pace.
- Has a degree of pre-snap autonomy, and can alert blockers and adjust protections.
- Flashes the ability to progress left to right, and effectively leads his eyes with his feet.
- Has shown he can trigger quickly on second and third reads when working progressions.
- Can place deep single-high safeties in conflict with his eyes and capitalize with his arm.
- Recognizes leverage advantages up the seam early, and can rocket passes overtop DBs.
- Able to slide and shuffle through narrow pocket lanes while keeping his eyes up.
- Synergetic rotational thrower on rhythm passes who can keep his shoulders level.
- Has shown he can adhere to footwork efficiency on quick slants and lead WRs.
- Has the poise to stand in the pocket and deliver with interior pressure bearing down.
- Tough, physical runner with solid linear speed and explosiveness in open space.
Weaknesses
- Slight hip stiffness can impact corrective mechanics when repositioning under pressure.
- Dropback mechanics can be slow and static at times, affecting his ability to get depth.
- Inability to get proper depth at times forces him to readjust positioning late in reps.
- Isn’t always able to get his front hip around on WR screens, which can tug passes low.
- Can improve at using micromovements to manage pocket space on multi-read plays.
- Still learning how to consistently rein in his arm strength and dial back on short passes.
- Conversely, needs to better control and harness his arm for optimal downfield precision.
- Inconsistent feel for optimal pace and trajectory can cause frequent bouts of inaccuracy.
- Arm strength, combined with obtuse releases, can cause him to easily air-mail throws.
- Sometimes forces throws to predetermined targets, missing open options elsewhere.
- Can more consistently anticipate route breaks on isolation plays versus man coverage.
- Sometimes drops his eyes and looks to run too soon after bypassing initial reads.
- Can rely on his tools to a fault, taking dangerous risks in off-script situations.
- Battled leg, shoulder, and hand injuries at various points, bringing durability into question.
- Will be 24 years old at the start of the 2025 season.
Current Draft Projection and Summary
Heading into the 2025 NFL Draft cycle, Uiagalelei grades out as a mid-to-late Day 3 prospect. That said, he has the elite physical profile to potentially rise into the early-round range with a good 2024 season at Florida State, and he could be a first round wild card.
As one might expect from a former five-star recruit, Uiagalelei has a true rocket arm along with impressive elasticity and angle freedom. His baseball background helps afford him a natural mechanical feel as a rotational thrower.
Uiagalelei assuredly passes the eye test as well, standing at a rocked-up 6’4″, 245 pounds, and he’s a tough, poised competitor with solid playmaking ability, rhythm passing utility, and progression work on multi-read throws.
The flashes of processing are there with Uiagalelei, but on the operational side, his game is still very incomplete. Uiagalelei’s anticipation is very hot and cold, and slow footwork can render him a step behind on reps, causing him to try and force ill-advised plays with his arm.
Additionally, Uiagalelei’s overall accuracy is below average and has been an issue across his entire career. He struggles with managing his arm strength and velocity in the short range, and he’s still learning how to attune deep passes with situational precision.
The silver lining with Uiagalelei’s accuracy issues is that his mechanics are better than one would expect. It’s not as much a mechanics issue as it is a pace and diagnosis issue. If Uiagalelei can learn to use his traits with more control and care, he could improve.
At the moment, as a passer who’ll be a 24-year-old rookie, Uiagalelei is still more of a projection than preferred. But he has plenty of appeal as a backup and developmental starter, and a strong 2024 season could accelerate his curve.