2018 Quarterback Prospects
Quarterback prospects are polarizing. Some talent evaluators loved Carson Wentz and were vindicated by his performance this season, while others loved Johnny Manziel who barely lasted two seasons in the NFL. Opinions vary drastically on quarterback prospects and only time will tell whose evaluations prove to be accurate. This year there are four signal-callers that have been rumored to be potential first round selections. Here is the order in which I favor them:
1. Josh Rosen, UCLA: I think Rosen is the purest passer of the group. If all breaks right, I can envision a scenario in which Rosen is one day the best quarterback in all of football. That is not hyperbole. His arm strength and accuracy are off the charts and he also has a little moxie to his game that will serve him well in an NFL locker room. Rosen’s floor also happens to be significantly higher than any of the other quarterbacks in this draft class. Each of the other prospects has a profound flaw to their game. Rosen is nearly unblemished and so it is just a matter of putting it all together. I am a believer that he will do just that.
2. Sam Darnold, USC: Darnold is a coach’s dream. He’s a leader who will demand perfection from those around him and for that he will garner his teammates’ respect. The former Trojan can make any throw in the playbook. The one criticism of Darnold is that he trusts his arm too much and that gets him into trouble as he tries fitting balls into windows that simply aren’t there. When the rubber meets the road though, this kid is a gamer. Intense competitive fire is often a trait that levels the playing field and Sam Darnold is certainly in possession of that.
3. Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma: If Mayfield were 6’3” instead of 6’0” he would be neck and neck with Rosen for the premier passer in this class. I understand how ludicrous it sounds to penalize a player for being three inches too short, but what if Steph Curry was 5’10” instead of 6’1”? Or what if Tom Brady was 6’1” instead of 6’4”? These things matter, especially when you are evaluating the best of the best. Now, Drew Brees and Russell Wilson come to mind as quarterbacks who have thrived despite being undersized. However, they are the exception and not the rule. I like Mayfield and think he has an opportunity to be special if he finds himself in the right system (say, New Orleans), but I just can’t count on that.
4. Josh Allen, Wyoming: I am not sure that there has been a quarterback in recent memory that has been as polarizing as Allen has. He has all of the physical tools (6’5”, 240 pounds) and incredible arm strength, but his production this season just wasn’t there against the elite competition. In Wyoming’s two games against Power Five schools, Allen threw for a combined 238 yards with zero touchdowns and three interceptions. That didn’t prevent Mel Kiper Jr. from having Allen going first overall to the Browns in his initial mock draft. Allen has his believers, but I am not one of them.
