Graham
Mertz.
Graham
Mertz.
Florida· 6'3"· 212 lb
"Six college seasons across Wisconsin and Florida produced 9,074 yards and a career-defining knee injury, leaving Mertz as a timing-and-accuracy backup whose margin disappears the moment the pocket does."Pre-draft read
Mertz operates best on schedule. He takes a clean drop, works the first and second reads in rhythm, and delivers accurate intermediate throws when the platform is stable — the 2023 Florida season, 260 of 357 for 2,878 yards with 20 touchdowns and 3 interceptions, was a genuinely efficient year built on that timing.
Everything gets harder once the picture breaks. He has no escape value whatsoever; his career rushing total is negative, and pressure produces either a checkdown or a hurried throw off his back foot. Arm strength is adequate rather than notable, so deep outside throws require anticipation he does not always have.
Quick-game, timing-based passing offense with a defined progression and heavy play-action to simplify reads.
Year 1 practice squad or QB3 developmental arm while recovering from the knee injury.
Offense that relies on off-script creation, quarterback runs or deep boundary throws.
Graham Mertz 2022 Season Highlights / Welcome To Florida Gators 🐊
Graham Mertz Florida Highlights
Graham Mertz Florida Highlights
- 01
Timing Throws
The player is accurate and decisive on timing throws inside the numbers, showing good precision.
- 02
Power-Conference Experience
He has accumulated six seasons of starting experience in a Power-conference setting.
- 03
Excellent 2023 Efficiency
In 2023, he completed 72.8% of his passes with a 20-to-3 touchdown-to-interception ratio.
- 04
Understands Protections
The player understands protections and consistently gets the offense into good plays pre-snap.
- 05
Prototype Size
He has prototype size at 6-3, 212 pounds with a clean over-the-top release point.
- 01
Limited Mobility
The player exhibits no mobility, possessing negative career rushing yardage and no scramble value.
- 02
Average Arm Strength
His arm strength is average, which limits his effectiveness on deep and boundary throws.
- 03
Deteriorates Under Pressure
Play deteriorates under pressure, leading to checkdowns and off-platform throws.
- 04
Injury and Interceptions
Missed the end of 2024 with a torn ACL, and 31 career interceptions reflect earlier decision-making issues.
| Yr | Team | G | Cmp | Att | Yds | TD | Int |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Wisconsin | 2 | 9 | 10 | 73 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | Wisconsin | 7 | 118 | 193 | 1238 | 9 | 5 |
| 2021 | Wisconsin | 13 | 169 | 284 | 1958 | 10 | 11 |
| 2022 | Wisconsin | 12 | 164 | 286 | 2136 | 19 | 10 |
| 2023 | Florida | 11 | 260 | 357 | 2878 | 20 | 3 |
| 2024 | Florida | 5 | 72 | 94 | 791 | 6 | 2 |
| Career | — | 50 | 792 | 1224 | 9074 | 64 | 31 |
A dash means the figure is not published by a source we trust — never a zero we invented.
- D.J. LagwayQB14%
- Elijhah BadgerWR10%
- Chimere DikeWR8%
#1 of 21 tracked contributors · Production leaned on volume · Offense explosiveness 1.22 (p24) · CFBD — usage x PPA per tracked player
Like Clifford, Mertz is a solid, intelligent passer who might lack the elite physical tools to be a starter but can carve out a career as a reliable QB3 or practice squad option.
Similar to Henne, Mertz possesses the accuracy and decision-making to be a valuable backup, capable of stepping in for short stretches without derailing an offense.
Mertz's lack of mobility and high-end arm talent could lead to a career trajectory similar to Eason's, struggling to stick on an active roster long-term.
Everything above is the pre-draft evaluation. This section is what actually happened — updated year over year.
Selected near the end of the 2025 draft by Houston as a developmental quarterback while recovering from a 2024 knee injury.
Mr. Irrelevant territory, and the price reflects a real evaluation rather than a novelty. Mertz was a five-star recruit whose Wisconsin years were uneven and whose Florida tenure produced one strong season before a torn ACL ended the 2024 campaign after six games.
In hindsight Houston took a low-cost developmental arm with legitimate operational experience — a quarterback who can run a scout team, handle a playbook and survive a spot appearance if the offense stays on schedule.
The absence of any mobility is what keeps the ceiling low. Modern NFL backups are asked to extend plays behind backup offensive lines, and that is precisely the situation Mertz is least equipped for.