Inside the mind of a quarterback coach: Breakdown of the 2018 QB class

March 20, 2018 /

My Breakdown of the Top 6 2018 Quarterback Class

 

  1. Sam Darnold – USC: He is by far the best “traditional” pro QB prospect in this class. Discounted as a top player, he features underrated athleticism and a knack for making defenders miss in the pocket. Darnold rushed for 250 yards as a freshman and two touchdowns, to go along with his record-breaking performance as a passer. This past season he led the PAC 12 in total yards at 4,143 and completed 31 touchdowns. He may be the best QB prospect to come out of the PAC 12 since Andrew Luck. He will be the top overall pick in this year’s draft.

– Best Fit: Cleveland Browns

 

  1. Baker Mayfield – Oklahoma: Baker checks off all the boxes as the “modern” QB. Mobile, athletic, with a knack for escaping the pocket to extend plays, he is a great option for teams wanting a spark. There are downsides though, turn on a WVU tape and see his childish antics. Those who like Baker will say he is a passionate player, those who don’t will point out his immaturity. At 6’1” 220 pounds, he has potential to be the next Johnny Football or Drew Brees. The franchise he winds up in will play a huge factor in his future.

– Best Fit: Denver Broncos

 

  1. Lamar Jackson – Louisville: Mark my words: he will be a super star. Lamar Jackson is more advanced at this point than Mike Vick was and has played in a more complex passing offense. Weekly outmatched in the ACC Jackson, he led the cardinals to a 25-14 record and picked up a Heisman — both are testaments to his talent. The past two years combined he has accounted for over 7,200 passing yards, 57 touchdowns through the air, 19 interceptions, and 3,172 rushing yards with an additional 39 TDS on the ground. He is electric and will change the tides of the NFL franchise. The major concern is that standing at 6’3” and weighing in at 211 pounds, he is built like a basketball player, so will he be able to avoid major injury? Mike Vick could have lined up and played running back every down. Jackson doesn’t have that build.

– Best Fit: New York Jets

 

  1. Josh Rosen – UCLA: Playing second fiddle to Darnold in the Pac 12 doesn’t sound too bad, until you dig a little deeper on Rosen. His 18-2020 career record is the first thing that jumps off the page: he wasn’t a winner in college, so… why would he be in the NFL? His teammates didn’t seem to think to highly of him as multiple negative reviews emerged from teammates about Rosen’s “leadership.” When it boils down, he doesn’t seem like a competitor or the guy I would want leading my franchise. He has the arm talent, intelligence, and required mobility. Someone will take him in the top 10 picks. All the negatives aside, in the right locker room he could develop into the leader needed at the quarterback spot.

– Best Fit: Buffalo Bills

 

  1. Josh Allen – Wyoming: Allen has the tools that NFL coaches salivate over. At 6’5 233 pounds, he looks the part. He will win 7v7’s and make all the throws simply wearing shorts and a t-shirt. Put on the shoulder pads and throw him into the fire and it’s a different story. During his red shirt sophomore year he blew up with over 3,000 passing yards and a 28:15 touchdown to interception ratio, and looked every bit of the next small school QB to take the NFL by storm. 2017 came crashing down and collapsed the pocket. Playing through multiple injuries, Allen was only able to pass for 1,812 yards and his touchdown to interception marks fell to 16:6. There is still plenty of promise in this big passer, but hey, as the kids say: “ball don’t lie.” There is one stat that has never lied with quarterbacks: completion percentage. Allen’s career percentage of 56.2% drops him below the magical 60% completion mark and to me that should drop him out of the top 15.

– Best Fit: Arizona Cardinals

 

  1. Mason Rudolph – OK State: Simply put, winning is what Rudolph brought to OK State, so much so, he’ll probably stick it proudly on his resume. In the past three seasons, the Cowboys were 30-9, and Rudolph was the big man on campus. In these seasons he has accumulated 12,765 passing yards, 86 touchdowns and 22 interceptions. He has a big arm and can make every single throw. Mobility is the only issue for this 6’5” 230 pounder as he never accounted more than 61 positive rushing yards. Rudolph has the unfortunate timing of being in a class full of talented passers; however, I do expect he will sneak into the first round and wind up in a good situation.

– Best Fit: Pittsburgh Steelers