Falcons 2018 undrafted free agent profile: QB Kurt Benkert - Falcons Wire

With Matt Ryan in place, the Falcons have no immediate need at the quarterback position. Still, it never hurts to have a good backup, as proven by this year’s Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles.
On Tuesday, Atlanta added Virginia quarterback prospect Kurt Benkert as one of their 27 undrafted free agent signings. As Field Yates at ESPN pointed out, the team may have long-term plans for Benkert based on the money they have already guaranteed him.
The Falcons gave former Virginia QB Kurt Benkert $60,000 guaranteed to sign as a UDFA. $10,000 as a signing bonus, $50,000 of his base salary. A sign of him being a possible development quarterback for Atlanta.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) May 1, 2018

Coming into the draft, Benkert was a projected sixth or seventh-round pick. He threw for 25 touchdowns to just nine interceptions last season, with an impressive 3,207 passing yards for the Cavaliers.
He lacks consistency but has the arm talent to play in the NFL, according to Lance Zierlein’s scouting profile.
Gunslinger who holsters an NFL-caliber right arm, but needs to work on his marksmanship and decision making. . . Benkert’s completion totals are disappointing on intermediate throws, deep throws, and against the blitz. He has the arm talent to make all the throws but hasn’t shown signs of becoming accurate enough to ever been anything more than a backup at best.
It’s tough to project just how well Benkert will adapt to the modern NFL game, but he has the physical traits to make it, plus he will get to sit and learn behind one of the league’s best in Ryan plus Matt Schaub.
Check out some college highlights of the Virginia quarterback below as he breaks a school record for passing yards in a game against Connecticut.
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