The NFL Draft is all about selecting talent at the right spot. The evaluation process is different for each team, but at the end of the day, "need" and "fit" at positions should succumb to the overall scope of prospects. Teams and scouts preach value. Jordan Palmer, a former NFL quarterback, believes that former Tennessee Volunteers QB Jarrett Guarantano has some really impressive traits.

Jordan Palmer on Guarantano via Crissy Froyd of The Draft Network 

“He’s all the physical measurables that you would want. He’s about 6-foot-4, probably runs a low 4.6, he’s really accurate and he’s got a strong arm,” Palmer said. “ I would say he’s got one of the top couple arms in this entire draft class and I understand how strong that statement is. He’s training every day with Carson Strong and Desmond Ridder so I think that’s a really good reference point. He’s one of the biggest secrets of this draft."

Palmer worked with Guarantano throughout his career at Tennessee and then at Washington State in his final season. He has seen growth in both his physical and mental sides of the game. He says that the former Vols QB has had a tough journey, "where kind of everything that could have gone wrong did go wrong. He’s really mature and really experienced as a player."

There is no doubt that the road has not been easy for Guarantano. He was a highly-touted high school prospect before he began his career with the Vols, but it just never seemed to work out. That was most likely due to a combination of things. Some of which were in his control, and some of which certainly were not.

The offensive staff at Tennessee during his time there was anything but consistent or impressive, honestly. We all know that to basically be fact by now. His first season with the team was Butch Jones' last, where Larry Scott was his offensive coordinator. The next year, 2018, was where he really got his boots off the ground as the team's starter from the get-go. That came with an offensive coordinator change as well as a head coach change. The HC was Jeremy Pruitt, and his OC was Tyson Helton.

2018-2019

That 2018 campaign proved to arguably be the best of his career. Although, Guarantano threw for twelve touchdowns to three interceptions, so the stats certainly weren't anything eye-popping. 2019 brought more change as Helton moved on from the OC position and was replaced by Jim Chaney. His statistics were pretty similar that season as he threw sixteen touchdowns and six interceptions. It was undoubtedly the most overall success the team had under Guarantano at QB, though.

2020-2021

Expectations were rising entering 2020.

Those fell back down to Earth quickly, though. The team won his first two starts of the season and then lost the following five games. Most of which were not close. In 2021, Guarantano got hurt in the first game of the season with Washington State. He only played in one other game all year.

For the former Vols QB, it wasn't necessarily the statistical output or the leadership that hindered him during his time with the Vols. Guarantano just could never improve the biggest flaws in his game over his career at Tennessee. Pocket management and timely turnovers plagued the QB, and those issues flashed every single season.

Is Palmer correct?

As for Palmer's comments on his physical traits, I wouldn't say I agree there. Guarantano is such a tough evaluation because we haven't seen anything consistent from him in so long. Guys like Malik Willis, Sam Howell, Desmond Ridder, Carson Strong, among others clearly have better pure arm strength than him. As for accuracy, Guarantano shows occasional glimpses of really impressive ball placement. It does not match up with the top options at QB in this NFL draft class, though. Not to mention, the injury concerns are there for him as well, unfortunately.

There is no doubting Guarantano as a competitor, and he certainly overcame a plethora of obstacles during his college career. There will need to be quite a bit of development for him to stick around in the NFL long-term. I'm not sure if a team will make that investment.

Featured Image via USA TODAY-Sports