Previewing the NFL Scouting Combine: Quarterbacks
With each year late February arises those who closely follow the NFL turn their eyes towards the annual event of the NFL Scouting Combine, held in Indianapolis, Indiana at Lucas Oil Stadium, home of the Colts. Routinely, media and various personnel from each team in the NFL make their way to "Indy" to set their eyes on and evaluate the next wave of prospects that make up the future of the league. While certain players come into the event with a name made for themselves having graced the largest stages of college football and received national coverage by the media, making them recognizable amongst fans throughout the last few years, there are always a group of prospects each year that arrive at the combine as a relative unknown, not only amongst fans and the media, but also somewhat of a mystery to various teams in the league. Nevertheless, each of the 336 prospects invited to participate at the combine has performed well enough during their career to garner the attention and respect of the talent evaluators who decide those they feel are most likely to be selected in the upcoming NFL Draft this year.
It is important to keep in mind that every player at the NFL Scouting Combine won't be selected in the NFL Draft, and just because a player fails to be selected to participate in the NFL Scouting Combine doesn't necessarily signify they'll go undrafted. Regardless, each year there are a number of players who go undrafted that have an impact around the league, whether it be in large role, or a more specific role in a situation of high magnitude. With that being said, the NFL Scouting Combine provides a glimpse to a number of players who likely will have an overwhelming effect in the league for years to come. As the beginning of this year's NFL Scouting Combine is set to start Friday, March 2, I find it interesting to take a look at some of the prospects from the different position groups in previewing some of the names who should be of note during the duration of the event. Each day throughout the week I intend to feature two position groups — one offense, one defense — with mention of ten prospects in each group whose names fans should become familiar as it relates to the NFL Scouting Combine.
The ten names that I mention at each position doesn't necessarily reflect a ranking of the players I personally feel are the ten best at each spot, as I contend that the combine is a tremendous asset that should be utilized in the complete evaluation of each prospect. Rather, the names of the prospects that I feature throughout this week each have something of note about them that makes their participation and performance something to keep an eye on during the event of the combine as it relates to their potential draft selection. Although I intend to allow for the combine to take place before releasing an official rankings of the prospects I believe most accurately represents the ten best players at each position through thorough evaluation, I will release an official mock draft during this week which I feel best represents the way the draft would unfold if held currently with the knowledge I have of each prospect to date. However, with any further ado, I present to you ten names to watch for during the combine at the quarterback position.
Ten names to watch for
- Josh Allen, Wyoming
- Kurt Benkert, Virginia
- Sam Darnold, USC
- Luke Falk, Washington St.
- Lamar Jackson, Louisville
- Kyle Lauletta, Richmond
- Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma
- Josh Rosen, UCLA
- Mason Rudolph, Oklahoma St.
- Mike White, Western Kentucky
Sam Darnold and Josh Rosen likely represent the two safest choices to be selected first overall by the Cleveland Browns, now having been covered for a year now and billed to be the two top quarterback prospects in this year's class. Both possess standout traits at the position that are coveted amongst team's when selecting a franchise quarterback, but each also has some parts of their game that are potential detractors when assessing their viability as the top selection. Rosen's fragility in terms of being able to stay healthy and on the field are legitimate concerns as well as reports that his personality may not be the most conducive to be given the responsibility as the face of the franchise for many teams. When mentioning Darnold and the hesitation as to why he should be the first overall pick, people will often cite an unnatural throwing motion and his inability to limit his turnovers, with the thought that he may not be ready to play right away. Still, Darnold and Rosen each have just a good of a chance to go first overall as any other prospect that deserves serious consideration for the top pick. Darnold's ability to create when the play breaks down and upside as a complete quarterback go a ways in making his case, while Rosen has the arm and accuracy to make any throw on the field and has been tabbed as an athlete with an outstanding future before he became a teenager.
If Rosen was billed as a big-time, can't miss prospect throughout his career until this point then Baker Mayfield was pretty much exactly the opposite. Having gone from a walk-on at Texas Tech as a true freshman and rising to the the starting quarterback in the same season, to doing the same after transferring to Oklahoma before ascending to the winner of the Heisman Trophy, Mayfield has simultaneously risen up draft boards, having come into the season viewed as a likely "day three" selection. The diminutive quarterback has overcome questions about his height through his competitiveness, productivity, and performance on the field, having gone from a projected late round selection prior to the season to a now likely top 15 selection, if not possibly top five, though probably not first overall.
Lamar Jackson also won the Heisman Trophy, the only other recipient of the award at this year's combine aside from Mayfield, earning the award in 2016 after his outstanding season for Louisville, becoming the first winner of the award in school history. Despite improving his mechanics as an overall quarterback and his numbers on the field in 2017 Jackson has more than his share of doubters, with those saying that he isn't capable of playing the position at the NFL and even more believing he isn't worthy of a first round selection. Mason Rudolph played in the same state and conference as Mayfield putting together an outstanding career as a Cowboy at Oklahoma State while setting records in the Big 12. Rudolph has the build of prototypical franchise quarterback with the experience and numbers to support his case, but questions about him transitioning from the quarterback friendly, spread system he played in under Coach Mike Gundy to a more complex, intricate pro-style offense at the next level are seen as concerns when assessing his potential future as a starting quarterback for one of the 32 NFL teams. Still, should there be a fifth quarterback taken during the first round it will likely either be Rudolph or Jackson whose name is called.
Beyond those six players Kurt Benkert, Luke Falk, Kyle Lauletta, and Mike White are four interesting names to know at the quarterback position whose potential future and draft stock can be altered by their showings during the combine. Both Benkert and Falk competed against premier talent in "Power 5" conferences ACC and PAC 12, respectively. After transferring from East Carolina to Virginia, while graduating in three years, Benkert set the passing records for most yards both in a game and season at his new school, also displaying an arm that rivals that of any quarterback in this year's draft, along with Allen and Rosen. Like Mayfield, Luke Falk rose from a walk-on at the beginning of his career, before going on to set multiple records in the PAC 12 as a passer. Including finishing as the all-time leader in passing yards in the conference's history. Critics believe Falk lacks arm strength and will likely point to the number of quarterbacks that put up outstanding numbers in Mike Leach's system during college only to never make an impact in the NFL. However, undeniable is Falk's veteran-like ability to dissect the defense and to play with anticipation shown in his ability to consistently throw receivers open.
Two "smaller" school quarterbacks that are set to participate in the combine are Kyle Lauletta and Mike White. Lauletta played collegiately at Richmond, which competes in the Football Championship Subvision (FCS), while White spent his NCAA career at Western Kentucky, formerly a member of D1-AA, now known as the FCS. Both players performed well enough to also be invited to the Senior Bowl, which took place during late January where the top seniors in the country are invited regardless of level of competition, including division and conference. There at the Senior Bowl, both Lauletta and White stood out amongst Allen, Benkert, Falk, Mayfield, and the other quarterback prospects, improving throughout the week of practice in Mobile, AL, before playing as well as any other quarterbacks during the game, as Lauletta earned MVP honors. Both Lauletta and White each come into the NFL Scouting Combine with some momentum from the Senior Bowl, looking to raise their draft stock and solidify their names as Day 2 selections (rounds 2-3), as are Falk and Benkert.
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