Luke
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DAY 1 STARTER
Mitchell Trubisky, North Carolina
Although limited in college reps, Trubisky has the best chance to start immediately. On film, I've seen him go through read progressions consistently. He looks from his main target to the next guy and sometimes even his third and fourth options. He also has the ability to tuck the ball and run, making a positive play. I think a lot of people are sleeping on Trubisky's athleticism. His build (6-foot-2, 222 pounds) reminds me of my brother, Derek, and Aaron Rodgers. People don't generally look at those two and see great athletes, but they can take off and run and are really good at it. I see Trubisky being this type of player.
Trubisky, who throws the ball from different arm angles, had a solid pro day, showing off his arm strength and accuracy. He has all the tools needed to be a Day 1 starter and I have fewer questions surrounding him heading into this month's draft, which begins at 8 p.m. ET on April 27 in Philadelphia.
HIT OR MISS
Deshaun Watson, Clemson
Right now, Watson is wowing everybody with what he does on the board -- but what I'm seeing on film is a guy who hasn't done any of that in a game. It's one thing to learn Cover 2, draw it up and explain how to read it. It's another thing to go and physically do what you're drawing in a game atmosphere. Trubisky is the only one I've seen do this. Whereas, in a game, Watson stares at his first target -- and continues to stare -- while two others are open. Whether that's the scheme Clemson ran or him not being able to do it, Watson is locked in on one guy. Once that doesn't work, he beats everyone on his feet and makes plays because he's that great of an athlete. I'm not guaranteeing he won't be able to start on Day 1. I just don't know if he'll be ready to do it.
The week before the combine, I was in a flag football tournament with Kurt Warner, and we played against Dak Prescott. We all know the success he enjoyed in Year 1 with Dallas. I see many similarities between Prescott and Watson, in terms of athleticism and the systems they played in during college. Prescott is a perfect example of how a system can make or break you. He rolled into a great system with great resources -- with Tony Romo, Scott Linehan and Jason Garrett all in the QB room -- and he was able to learn and apply his knowledge to the field extremely quick. Like Prescott, I think Watson has the ability to succeed early, but he must have a perfect fit.
Patrick Mahomes, Texas Tech
I'm most interested in Mahomes. He has the most arm talent of anybody in this draft class, but his success is going to depend a lot on where he ends up. Mahomes was never under center in college. A pro-style offense is a completely different animal. He has the pocket presence, and I could watch him throw all day, but he's just never been asked to do the things he'll have to do at the next level. Do I think he can pick it up? Yes. How long will it take for him to execute it? That I'm not sure.
DeShone Kizer, Notre Dame
Going into the combine, I really liked what I saw on film from Kizer. He can get through progressions and stays poised in the pocket for a mobile QB. However, the coaches and coordinators I've talked to say Kizer is too robotic and programmed on the board. It's like he memorized the answers for a test, but does he truly understand the information? At times, he can move and play this way, too. I feel like everything is a little forced with Kizer and I don't see the fluidity with him like I do with the three guys listed above him here.
SLEEPER PROSPECTS
There are elements of the spread offense everywhere in college football, but four particular guys -- Miami's Brad Kaaya, Iowa's C.J. Beathard, Texas A&M's Trevor Knight and Baylor's Seth Russell -- flashed some pro-style skills that could translate at the next level. I haven't seen enough from these guys and don't think they could take the reins on Day 1. But I wouldn't be shocked if one of them were to go into camp, impress and come out a starter.
Take the top two quarterbacks from last year's draft class. Carson Wentz had a ton of experience running pro-style offense at North Dakota State, and he came into Philadelphia and played pretty well as a result. Jared Goff didn't have experience with pro-style schemes prior to joining the Rams. Consequently, it took him a while to get on the field and he didn't play great in his rookie season.
The four signal callers listed in this section have the knowledge and experience to run a pro-style offense, but they don't measure up ability-wise to the top prospects.
Mitchell Trubisky, North Carolina
Although limited in college reps, Trubisky has the best chance to start immediately. On film, I've seen him go through read progressions consistently. He looks from his main target to the next guy and sometimes even his third and fourth options. He also has the ability to tuck the ball and run, making a positive play. I think a lot of people are sleeping on Trubisky's athleticism. His build (6-foot-2, 222 pounds) reminds me of my brother, Derek, and Aaron Rodgers. People don't generally look at those two and see great athletes, but they can take off and run and are really good at it. I see Trubisky being this type of player.
Trubisky, who throws the ball from different arm angles, had a solid pro day, showing off his arm strength and accuracy. He has all the tools needed to be a Day 1 starter and I have fewer questions surrounding him heading into this month's draft, which begins at 8 p.m. ET on April 27 in Philadelphia.
HIT OR MISS
Deshaun Watson, Clemson
Right now, Watson is wowing everybody with what he does on the board -- but what I'm seeing on film is a guy who hasn't done any of that in a game. It's one thing to learn Cover 2, draw it up and explain how to read it. It's another thing to go and physically do what you're drawing in a game atmosphere. Trubisky is the only one I've seen do this. Whereas, in a game, Watson stares at his first target -- and continues to stare -- while two others are open. Whether that's the scheme Clemson ran or him not being able to do it, Watson is locked in on one guy. Once that doesn't work, he beats everyone on his feet and makes plays because he's that great of an athlete. I'm not guaranteeing he won't be able to start on Day 1. I just don't know if he'll be ready to do it.
The week before the combine, I was in a flag football tournament with Kurt Warner, and we played against Dak Prescott. We all know the success he enjoyed in Year 1 with Dallas. I see many similarities between Prescott and Watson, in terms of athleticism and the systems they played in during college. Prescott is a perfect example of how a system can make or break you. He rolled into a great system with great resources -- with Tony Romo, Scott Linehan and Jason Garrett all in the QB room -- and he was able to learn and apply his knowledge to the field extremely quick. Like Prescott, I think Watson has the ability to succeed early, but he must have a perfect fit.
Patrick Mahomes, Texas Tech
I'm most interested in Mahomes. He has the most arm talent of anybody in this draft class, but his success is going to depend a lot on where he ends up. Mahomes was never under center in college. A pro-style offense is a completely different animal. He has the pocket presence, and I could watch him throw all day, but he's just never been asked to do the things he'll have to do at the next level. Do I think he can pick it up? Yes. How long will it take for him to execute it? That I'm not sure.
DeShone Kizer, Notre Dame
Going into the combine, I really liked what I saw on film from Kizer. He can get through progressions and stays poised in the pocket for a mobile QB. However, the coaches and coordinators I've talked to say Kizer is too robotic and programmed on the board. It's like he memorized the answers for a test, but does he truly understand the information? At times, he can move and play this way, too. I feel like everything is a little forced with Kizer and I don't see the fluidity with him like I do with the three guys listed above him here.
SLEEPER PROSPECTS
There are elements of the spread offense everywhere in college football, but four particular guys -- Miami's Brad Kaaya, Iowa's C.J. Beathard, Texas A&M's Trevor Knight and Baylor's Seth Russell -- flashed some pro-style skills that could translate at the next level. I haven't seen enough from these guys and don't think they could take the reins on Day 1. But I wouldn't be shocked if one of them were to go into camp, impress and come out a starter.
Take the top two quarterbacks from last year's draft class. Carson Wentz had a ton of experience running pro-style offense at North Dakota State, and he came into Philadelphia and played pretty well as a result. Jared Goff didn't have experience with pro-style schemes prior to joining the Rams. Consequently, it took him a while to get on the field and he didn't play great in his rookie season.
The four signal callers listed in this section have the knowledge and experience to run a pro-style offense, but they don't measure up ability-wise to the top prospects.
