Jake Fromm’s NFL combine performance: ‘Is there enough there?’

INDIANAPOLIS — Jake Fromm answered some questions at the NFL combine this week, but Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner was among those not completely convinced.

Warner said during the quarterback-receiver throwing session on Thursday that he still wonders about Fromm’s arm strength and physicality.

“I’ve been watching him down here, some of those questions about arm strength, being able to really pop the ball out,” Warner said on the NFL Network telecast of the otherwise closed workout.

“It comes to pass when you are watching him in person that you still wonder, ‘Is there enough there?’ ”

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Fromm’s arm strength was a question for some entering the NFL combine, according to ESPN analyst Mel Kiper Jr.

“Now, you can make up for some of that with his anticipation and some things that you see on tape,” Warner said. “But I also believe there is also a floor of the type of physical ability that you have to be one of those upper-echelon quarterbacks in the NFL.

“I’m still questioning whether he has that or not.”

Warner listed positive attributes for Fromm, as well: “In control, knows what he’s doing, crisp placement with the football in most situations.”

Fromm and Jacob Eason were splitting repetitions in Lucas Oil Stadium, but it was nothing like old times in Athens, Ga.

Fromm and Eason, teammates at Georgia in 2017 before Eason transferred to Washington, were among the handful of quarterbacks throwing.

The drills were held in alphabetical order, so Eason went first followed by Fromm.

Celebrated LSU quarterback Joe Burrow elected not to work out, and Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa is still recovering from the season-ending hip surgery he underwent Nov. 18.

NFL Network analyst Charles Davis suggested that “they didn’t do Fromm any favors because of the way Eason throws the football.”

Fromm reportedly shook it off, telling another NFL Network reporter, “I think it’s awesome.”

Fromm said from the onset he was just interested in doing his best.

“I’m not the tallest, not the fastest, I know I’m not going out and run any 4.2s, but really just hone in and be the best I can,” Fromm said. “I want to be as quick as possible and throw the ball around as good as I can.”

Fromm’s 40 times were reported on TV and NFL.com as 5.01 seconds and 5.04. Oklahoma’s Jalen Hurts set the quarterbacks’ bar with 40 times of 4.64 and 4.59. Eason ran duplicate 4.90 times, per the telecast.

Fromm had predicted before the combine he would run a 4.9 and was aiming for a 4.8.

No one, however, has any illusions that Fromm can provide a serious running threat.

Fromm broad jumped 9 feet, 3 inches (9th of the 11 quarterbacks who tested in the drill) and had a 30-inch vertical jump (8th of 11 quarterbacks).

But Fromm’s performances in the throwing drills and interviews were deemed much more important.

NFL Network analyst Daniel Jeremiah noted that Fromm showcased his arm strength early at the start of the “over the shoulder” throw drill.

“The ball that was overthrown was Jake Fromm” Jeremiah said. “The question was arm strength, so if you’re Jake Fromm, you’re not under-throwing anything out here.”

Fromm’s throws were accurate, other than the early overthrow.

Jeremiah suggested Fromm projected to teams in the South, the West Coast, or those who play inside.

“I look at a team like the Atlanta Falcons to try to get somebody to sit behind Matt Ryan for a couple years, maybe with a payoff down the road,” Jeremiah said. “I would imagine in that state, it would be a popular pick.”

Not everyone, however, sees Fromm the same.

Senior Bowl executive director and former New England and Seattle NFL scout studied Fromm before doing combine analysis for ESPN this week.

“He doesn’t have the size or the arm strength of a Justin Herbert, but his arm is stronger than I gave it credit for,” Nagy said. “He’s such a quick processor. To watch this guy go through his progressions, he knows exactly where to go with the football. There’s no delay when he goes from one, to two, to three.

“Jake is so smooth with his eyes, so decisive, he’s very accurate. He has a great feel in the pocket, he’s mobile enough.”

Fromm will meet with and work out for individual teams, and he could choose to throw again at Georgia’s Pro Day in Athens in mid-March.