From now until the 2026 NFL Draft, we will scout and create profiles for as many prospects as possible, examining their strengths, weaknesses, and what they can bring to an NFL franchise. These players could be potential top-10 picks, all the way to Day 3 selections, and priority undrafted free agents. Today, a scouting report on Monmouth QB Derek Robertson.
No. 12 Derek Robertson/QB Monmouth 6015/214 (Sixth-year Senior)
Measurements
Player Ht/Wt Hand Size Arm Length Wingspan
Derek Robertson 6015/214 9 3/8″ 31 1/2″ 76″
40-Yard Dash 10-Yard Dash Short Shuttle 3-Cone
4.73 1.69 4.40 7.43
Broad Jump Vertical Bench Press
9’5″ 31″ N/A
The Good
– Adequate weight that can absorb contact
– Enough height to see over the offensive linemen
– Operates from a balanced and wide base
– Good footwork on clean dropbacks
– Throws from a three-quarter release
– Cleanly transfers his weight through his hips
– Above-average zip on quick-game concepts
– Shows good anticipation to get the ball out on time
– Excellent placement in the intermediate part of the field
– Understands how to layer the ball
– Consistently identified pre-snap callouts
The Bad
– Lacks explosive dual-threat capability
– Average arm strength
– Forced to win from inside the pocket
– Slight wind-up in his throwing motion
– Feet stall when facing interior pressure
– Becomes upper-body dominant when his clock speeds up
– Struggles to drive the ball further down the field
– Accuracy falters when out of rhythm and out of the pocket
– Fails to scan through progressions as pocket collapses
– Locks onto his first read if defenses rotate coverage shells
Stats
– 2025 stats: 2280 passing yards, 9.6 yards per attempt, 24 touchdowns, 5 interceptions, 17 big time throws, 6 games played
– Career stats: 10702 passing yards, 8.1 yards per attempt, 92 touchdowns, 28 interceptions, 74 big time throws, 39 games played
– Monmouth Career stats: 6227 passing yards, 9.4 yards per attempt, 55 touchdowns, 11 interceptions, 47 big time throws, 18 games played
– Maine Career stats: 4475 passing yards, 6.9 yards per attempt, 37 touchdowns, 17 interceptions, 27 big time throws, 21 games played
– Holds school record for passing yards in a game for both Maine (503) and Monmouth (536)
– 7 turnover-worthy plays (2025)
– 9.7 adjusted depth of target (2025)
– 77.9 adjusted completion percentage per PFF, which ranked fourth in the FCS (2025)
– 15.9 pressure-to-sack percentage (2025)
– 91.1 passing grade per PFF, which ranked fifth in the FCS (2025)
Injury History
– Left game against Richmond due to ankle getting rolled up on, but returned to practice the following week (2023)
– Suffered significant injury to non-throwing hand/wrist that forced him to miss the remainder of his final season (2025)
Background
– 24 years old
– Spent his final two seasons at Monmouth after being Joe Fagnano’s backup at Maine for his first four seasons
– Unranked recruit out of Iona Prep School despite earning NYCHSFL Offensive Player of the Year
– Led the league in almost every significant passing category as a senior
– Earned first-team All-State
– Set Westchester County record for season passing yards (2774) in his first year on varsity
– His brothers, Dennis and Jimmy, also started at QB for Iona Prep
– His brother, Jimmy, is the current QB coach at Monmouth
– Played varsity baseball as an outfielder
– Spent a year at Bridgton Academy post-graduate before committing to Maine
– Earned All-CAA Honorable Mention in his first season as a starter (2023)
– CAA Offensive Player of the Year and third-team All-American (2024)
– Set Monmouth single-season records for passing yards (3937) and touchdowns (31) (2024)
– Earned Chuck Boone Leadership and Excellence Award (2025)
– Earned a BA in Finance from Maine with a 3.31 GPA and is pursuing an MBA at Monmouth
– Four-time Dean’s List Honoree and CAA Commissioner’s Academic Honor Roll in ten separate semesters
– Part of “Read Across America” and “Be The Match” (bone marrow donor registration drives)
– Wears the same girdle since high school for every game
– Plans to be a college coach after his playing career
– Loves “Stranger Things” and the movie “Taken”
Tape Breakdown
Robertson is a throwback quarterback in terms of his play style. He isn’t the biggest or the strongest, but he excels at the fundamentals and at his above-the-shoulder skill set. While his arm isn’t a game-breaker and won’t bail him out of tough situations, Robertson’s game is primarily built around his excellent anticipation and diagnostic abilities.
With his brother Jimmy serving as Monmouth’s quarterbacks coach, Derek was given a lot of freedom at the line of scrimmage. His effectiveness in pre-snap diagnosis was sharp and decisive, functioning almost like a direct extension of the coaching staff on the field. He consistently identified pre-snap leverage, pointed out the Mike linebacker to help set blocking schemes, and adjusted offensive line protections.
Robertson also understands how to utilize pre-snap motion to determine whether the defense is in man or zone coverage. Post-snap, when the defensive shell matches his pre-snap read, his processing shines. He knows exactly where to go with the football to keep the offense on schedule.
When pushing the ball downfield, Robertson simply doesn’t have the arm strength to get away with being late — fortunately for him, that doesn’t happen often. Because he can’t drive it vertically like some other quarterbacks, he leans on his anticipation, getting the ball out early and allowing his receiver to run under it.
Instead of drilling throws with high velocity, he often relies on layering the ball over defenders. This touch-first approach gives his receiver ample time to stay in stride and track the ball. Against single-high coverages, it can be especially effective, as safeties are forced to cover a lot of ground to make a play. However, against NFL-caliber defensive backs, his limited ability to drive the ball into tight windows will likely result in more turnover-worthy plays.
His accuracy is best suited for a West Coast-style system that emphasizes anticipation and timing. When he’s in rhythm and his dropback is synced with the route breaks of his receivers, his ball placement is top-tier. He excels at keeping the ball away from trailing defenders and protecting his receivers from big hits at the catch point.
Equally impressive for his development is his understanding of how to layer throws over the defense. In the intermediate areas of the field, he consistently places the ball over underneath linebackers but in front of deep safeties. He’s at his best when he can hit the top of his drop and cut it loose in that short-to-intermediate window.
As an athlete, he’s functional, but he shouldn’t be tasked with designed runs. His mobility is adequate to move the pocket both laterally and vertically. When climbing the pocket, he understands where his tackles are set, trusts the arc of the rush, and can step up without taking his eyes off targets downfield.
He struggles more with interior pressure than with edge rushers. He can competently navigate edge pressure by stepping up, but immediate penetration inside disrupts his rhythm and exposes his physical limitations.
Conclusion
Robertson is a high-volume passer who posted huge numbers at both Monmouth and Maine. Despite clear physical limitations, he set records at both programs. While he doesn’t have a big arm, he has shown he can still squeeze in the occasional tight-window throw.
As an athlete, he’s borderline functional. He can make some plays on the move, but that’s not the strength of his game. He’s more of a throwback pocket passer who wants to beat you from the pocket, not outside of it.
In a West Coast system, his anticipation and timing make him a viable short-area backup option. If asked to consistently push the ball vertically, his lack of velocity becomes more apparent. He’s likely to hang more throws and invite additional turnover-worthy plays when he has to stretch the field.
From a production-versus-traits standpoint, a reasonable comparison is Bailey Zappe. Though more prolific at Western Kentucky, both relied on anticipation and mastery of the system to produce big numbers. However, like Zappe, Robertson’s ceiling is capped by his limited arm strength, which makes it difficult to consistently drive the ball into tight NFL windows.
NFL Draft Projection: Late Day Three – UDFA
Steelers Depot Draft Grade: 6.2 (Pure Backup)
Grade Range: 5.8 – 6.6
Games Watched: @ Stony Brook (2024), @ Colgate (2025), @ Charlotte (2025), vs. Villanova (2025), @ Townson (2025), vs. Stony Brook (2025)
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