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Rating the NFL draft prospects: Quarterbacks
Associated Press
Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota posted a 36-5 record and 121.3 passer rating on the NFL scale and rushed for 2,237 yards. He’s expected to go in the first round.
By Bob McGinn of the Journal Sentinel
April 23, 2015
The Journal Sentinel's Bob McGinn assesses the top quarterbacks in next week's draft. Included is each player's height, weight, 40-yard dash time and projected round.
1. MARCUS MARIOTA, Oregon (6-3 ½, 222, 4.45, 1): Captured 2014 Heisman Trophy with the second-largest margin of victory ever. "He has a strong arm," one scout said. "He throws on the move as well as anybody I've seen. Mechanics are good. He threw three interceptions this year. Only negative is he carries the ball loose and he has fumbled. He's got the athletic ability to be an all-time great." Posted a 36-5 record and 121.3 passer rating (128.4 in '14) on the NFL scale. "He's like a better Colin Kaepernick," another scout said. "This guy is smarter and farther along." Fourth-year junior was lightly recruited out of Honolulu. Tied Brett Hundley for best vertical jump (36 inches) among QBs and had the best 20-yard shuttle (6.87). His 40 time wasn't as good as Michael Vick's 4.33 in 2001 or Robert Griffin III's 4.36 in 2012, but it was easily the fastest at the position this year. "I would much rather have this guy than Winston," a third scout said. "At least you're going to get the best he has all the time." Also rushed for 2,237 yards (6.6-yard average) and 29 touchdowns. "Ben (Roethlisberger) took everything in shotgun at Miami (Ohio), too," a fourth scout said. "He doesn't have Ben's arm. I do like a lot of things he brings to the table. But that running thing in the NFL? The guy (Griffin III) who plays for the Redskins found out that doesn't work." Scored 33 on the 50-question Wonderlic intelligence test.
2. JAMEIS WINSTON, Florida State (6-4, 231, 4.96, 1):Third-year sophomore won the Heisman Trophy in 2013 for the national champion Seminoles. "He's an unbelievable competitor," said one scout. "The football stuff, he embraces that. He's not a great athlete, but he has great instincts, awareness and a knack in the pocket. He's not going to dominate you just off pure physical ability. He will beat you with his mind, his patience. He sees things at a rate that a lot of good quarterbacks in the league take four, five years to see." Engineered numerous fourth-quarter come-from-behind victories in posting a 26-1 record and passer rating of 107.9. Better in 2013 (125.8) than in '14 (93.2), when his interception count swelled from 10 to 18. "I've seen too many interceptions," another scout said. "He's your drop-back guy, but he's got that long release. It kind of reminds me of the guy who used to play for Marshall (Byron Leftwich)." Played right field for FSU in 2013 and served as the closer in '14, using a mid-90s fastball to post a 1.94 earned run average in 60 career innings. "Jameis has gotten too big," said a third scout. "In high school (Bessemer, Ala.) he was a quick-twitch athlete. Now he's kind of sluggish." Posted dismal workout numbers at the combine. "I had no idea he'd run that poorly," a fourth scout said. "Quarterbacks without leg explosiveness have a terrible history. I don't like his off-field and I don't like the way he conducts himself on the field sometimes." Wonderlic of 27.
3. BRYCE PETTY, Baylor (6-3, 229, 4.83, 2): Battling to surpass Robert Griffin as coach Art Briles' best NFL QB. "He plays in a kid's offense, like a Thanksgiving Day game offense," one scout said. "He's going to have to be retooled. He's got size, feet, quickness of release, a strong arm. How long will it take to reshape him?" Never called a play for the Bears in Briles' high-octane, simplistic, shotgun attack. "I remember Art saying he's a better passer than Griffin and a similar athlete but not as fast," a second scout said. "If you're an athlete, don't you think you can get under center? Problem is, everybody wants instant success today." Two-year starter from Midlothian, Texas. Played with a bad back most of 2014. Passer rating was 114.3. "He's Christian Ponder-like with a better arm," a third scout said. "Somebody's trying to create something there. I'm not going to rule out that he won't start some games. But then people will realize he has some deficiencies." Wonderlic of 31. Said a fourth scout: "He's accurate deep — at times. In a quarterback-friendly system he's not very accurate (62.7%)."
4. BRETT HUNDLEY, UCLA (6-3, 227, 4.63, 2): Fourth-year junior with 40 starts. "He has the physical tools," one scout said. "Got a strong arm. Yes, he'll be a starter at some point. It's not a refined talent. Probably not unlike a Blake Bortles. He can be developed." Biggest knock is accuracy. "He's a running back playing quarterback, OK?" another scout said. Surpassed 100 passer rating all three seasons for resurgent Bruins, finishing at 103.7. Added 1,747 rushing yards and 30 TDs. According to one scout, his pro-day workout was the best of the leading QBs. "I wonder about how coachable this guy is," another scout said. "There's a lot of ability there." Wonderlic of 26. From Chandler, Ariz.
5. GARRETT GRAYSON, Colorado State (6-2 ½, 214, 4.75, 3-4):Started 35 games during an injury-riddled four-year career. "Good processor of the game," one scout said. "Got a pretty quick mind. Average physical characteristics. At best he becomes a guy like Jon Kitna or (Ryan) Fitzpatrick. That's not a negative. I see him better than Matt Flynn." Broke his collarbone three times. Passer rating of 97.1. "Pocket guy," another scout said. "Little better athlete than you think. He can at least escape the rush and get the ball off under duress." Wonderlic of 20. From Vancouver, Wash. "He's average, at best," said a third scout. "Career backup probably."
6. SEAN MANNION, Oregon State (6-5 ½, 226, 5.10, 4-5): Started 43 of 47 games, rewriting the Beavers' record book in a prostyle offense. His 13,600 passing yards rank eighth in Division I annals. "He spins a really good deep ball," one scout said. "He's very accurate and incredibly smart (Wonderlic of 40). People will knock him because of his 40 time, but he's got good enough feet to move around and slide in the pocket. I just like his presence." Coach's son from Pleasanton, Calif. Beavers were just 5-7 in 2014. Passer rating is 89.5. "Long, slow delivery," another scout said. "He reminds me of Derek Anderson, who came out of Oregon State 10 years ago. He's everybody's backup. This kid is so smart, he's playing to every bit of his ability."
7. CODY FAJARDO, Nevada (6-1 ½, 223, 4.58, 6-7): Four-year starter with passer rating of 91.3. Rushed for a whopping 3,482 yards (5.5) and 44 TDs in a pistol offense. "He took over for Kaepernick," one scout said. "He's a better pure passer than Kaepernick but not as big or strong. Really a nice athlete. But he's short and hot and cold." Wonderlic of 31. "Not really an established or consistent passer," another scout said. "Somebody that you could develop because of the athletic traits." From Brea, Calif.
8. CONNOR HALLIDAY, Washington State (6-3, 196, 4.9, 7-FA):Started for 2½ seasons and had an 88.2 passer rating. "He's got a talented arm," one scout said. "Plays in a wide-open system. He's smart enough (Wonderlic of 22). He'll need a little bit of work on his footwork, but he's got enough to take a shot on." Suffered a broken ankle Nov. 1 and still can't work for scouts. "He finds the open guy well at times but then he throws into coverage too often," another scout said. "Nobody there was sorry to see him go. I can't find anybody there that liked this guy." Out of Spokane, Wash.
9. SHANE CARDEN, East Carolina (6-2, 218, 4.92, 7-FA): Three-year starter with a passer rating of 99.5. Same size as Brett Favre and bears facial resemblance. "He reminds me of Favre," one scout said. "He's got some swagger. Really good leadership ability. His physical skill is OK. Some quarterback coach is going to love him because of what's in his heart and between his ears (Wonderlic of 25)." From Houston. "I like his mind," said another scout. "Physically, I don't think he's going to have the arm."
10. ANTHONY BOONE, Duke (6-0, 218, 4.95, 7-FA): Made one start behind Sean Renfree in 2012 before becoming a two-year starter. "He's won a lot of games," one scout said. "He's short. Just an average passer. He's a camp quarterback that doesn't really have enough up side." Posted a passer rating of 79.9. Wonderlic of 20. From Weddington, N.C.
OTHERS: Brandon Bridge, South Alabama; Bryan Bennett, Southeastern Louisiana; Taylor Heinicke, Old Dominion; Jerry Lovelocke, Prairie View A&M; Blake Sims, Alabama.
Rating the NFL draft prospects: Quarterbacks
Associated Press
Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota posted a 36-5 record and 121.3 passer rating on the NFL scale and rushed for 2,237 yards. He’s expected to go in the first round.
By Bob McGinn of the Journal Sentinel
April 23, 2015
The Journal Sentinel's Bob McGinn assesses the top quarterbacks in next week's draft. Included is each player's height, weight, 40-yard dash time and projected round.
1. MARCUS MARIOTA, Oregon (6-3 ½, 222, 4.45, 1): Captured 2014 Heisman Trophy with the second-largest margin of victory ever. "He has a strong arm," one scout said. "He throws on the move as well as anybody I've seen. Mechanics are good. He threw three interceptions this year. Only negative is he carries the ball loose and he has fumbled. He's got the athletic ability to be an all-time great." Posted a 36-5 record and 121.3 passer rating (128.4 in '14) on the NFL scale. "He's like a better Colin Kaepernick," another scout said. "This guy is smarter and farther along." Fourth-year junior was lightly recruited out of Honolulu. Tied Brett Hundley for best vertical jump (36 inches) among QBs and had the best 20-yard shuttle (6.87). His 40 time wasn't as good as Michael Vick's 4.33 in 2001 or Robert Griffin III's 4.36 in 2012, but it was easily the fastest at the position this year. "I would much rather have this guy than Winston," a third scout said. "At least you're going to get the best he has all the time." Also rushed for 2,237 yards (6.6-yard average) and 29 touchdowns. "Ben (Roethlisberger) took everything in shotgun at Miami (Ohio), too," a fourth scout said. "He doesn't have Ben's arm. I do like a lot of things he brings to the table. But that running thing in the NFL? The guy (Griffin III) who plays for the Redskins found out that doesn't work." Scored 33 on the 50-question Wonderlic intelligence test.
2. JAMEIS WINSTON, Florida State (6-4, 231, 4.96, 1):Third-year sophomore won the Heisman Trophy in 2013 for the national champion Seminoles. "He's an unbelievable competitor," said one scout. "The football stuff, he embraces that. He's not a great athlete, but he has great instincts, awareness and a knack in the pocket. He's not going to dominate you just off pure physical ability. He will beat you with his mind, his patience. He sees things at a rate that a lot of good quarterbacks in the league take four, five years to see." Engineered numerous fourth-quarter come-from-behind victories in posting a 26-1 record and passer rating of 107.9. Better in 2013 (125.8) than in '14 (93.2), when his interception count swelled from 10 to 18. "I've seen too many interceptions," another scout said. "He's your drop-back guy, but he's got that long release. It kind of reminds me of the guy who used to play for Marshall (Byron Leftwich)." Played right field for FSU in 2013 and served as the closer in '14, using a mid-90s fastball to post a 1.94 earned run average in 60 career innings. "Jameis has gotten too big," said a third scout. "In high school (Bessemer, Ala.) he was a quick-twitch athlete. Now he's kind of sluggish." Posted dismal workout numbers at the combine. "I had no idea he'd run that poorly," a fourth scout said. "Quarterbacks without leg explosiveness have a terrible history. I don't like his off-field and I don't like the way he conducts himself on the field sometimes." Wonderlic of 27.
3. BRYCE PETTY, Baylor (6-3, 229, 4.83, 2): Battling to surpass Robert Griffin as coach Art Briles' best NFL QB. "He plays in a kid's offense, like a Thanksgiving Day game offense," one scout said. "He's going to have to be retooled. He's got size, feet, quickness of release, a strong arm. How long will it take to reshape him?" Never called a play for the Bears in Briles' high-octane, simplistic, shotgun attack. "I remember Art saying he's a better passer than Griffin and a similar athlete but not as fast," a second scout said. "If you're an athlete, don't you think you can get under center? Problem is, everybody wants instant success today." Two-year starter from Midlothian, Texas. Played with a bad back most of 2014. Passer rating was 114.3. "He's Christian Ponder-like with a better arm," a third scout said. "Somebody's trying to create something there. I'm not going to rule out that he won't start some games. But then people will realize he has some deficiencies." Wonderlic of 31. Said a fourth scout: "He's accurate deep — at times. In a quarterback-friendly system he's not very accurate (62.7%)."
4. BRETT HUNDLEY, UCLA (6-3, 227, 4.63, 2): Fourth-year junior with 40 starts. "He has the physical tools," one scout said. "Got a strong arm. Yes, he'll be a starter at some point. It's not a refined talent. Probably not unlike a Blake Bortles. He can be developed." Biggest knock is accuracy. "He's a running back playing quarterback, OK?" another scout said. Surpassed 100 passer rating all three seasons for resurgent Bruins, finishing at 103.7. Added 1,747 rushing yards and 30 TDs. According to one scout, his pro-day workout was the best of the leading QBs. "I wonder about how coachable this guy is," another scout said. "There's a lot of ability there." Wonderlic of 26. From Chandler, Ariz.
5. GARRETT GRAYSON, Colorado State (6-2 ½, 214, 4.75, 3-4):Started 35 games during an injury-riddled four-year career. "Good processor of the game," one scout said. "Got a pretty quick mind. Average physical characteristics. At best he becomes a guy like Jon Kitna or (Ryan) Fitzpatrick. That's not a negative. I see him better than Matt Flynn." Broke his collarbone three times. Passer rating of 97.1. "Pocket guy," another scout said. "Little better athlete than you think. He can at least escape the rush and get the ball off under duress." Wonderlic of 20. From Vancouver, Wash. "He's average, at best," said a third scout. "Career backup probably."
6. SEAN MANNION, Oregon State (6-5 ½, 226, 5.10, 4-5): Started 43 of 47 games, rewriting the Beavers' record book in a prostyle offense. His 13,600 passing yards rank eighth in Division I annals. "He spins a really good deep ball," one scout said. "He's very accurate and incredibly smart (Wonderlic of 40). People will knock him because of his 40 time, but he's got good enough feet to move around and slide in the pocket. I just like his presence." Coach's son from Pleasanton, Calif. Beavers were just 5-7 in 2014. Passer rating is 89.5. "Long, slow delivery," another scout said. "He reminds me of Derek Anderson, who came out of Oregon State 10 years ago. He's everybody's backup. This kid is so smart, he's playing to every bit of his ability."
7. CODY FAJARDO, Nevada (6-1 ½, 223, 4.58, 6-7): Four-year starter with passer rating of 91.3. Rushed for a whopping 3,482 yards (5.5) and 44 TDs in a pistol offense. "He took over for Kaepernick," one scout said. "He's a better pure passer than Kaepernick but not as big or strong. Really a nice athlete. But he's short and hot and cold." Wonderlic of 31. "Not really an established or consistent passer," another scout said. "Somebody that you could develop because of the athletic traits." From Brea, Calif.
8. CONNOR HALLIDAY, Washington State (6-3, 196, 4.9, 7-FA):Started for 2½ seasons and had an 88.2 passer rating. "He's got a talented arm," one scout said. "Plays in a wide-open system. He's smart enough (Wonderlic of 22). He'll need a little bit of work on his footwork, but he's got enough to take a shot on." Suffered a broken ankle Nov. 1 and still can't work for scouts. "He finds the open guy well at times but then he throws into coverage too often," another scout said. "Nobody there was sorry to see him go. I can't find anybody there that liked this guy." Out of Spokane, Wash.
9. SHANE CARDEN, East Carolina (6-2, 218, 4.92, 7-FA): Three-year starter with a passer rating of 99.5. Same size as Brett Favre and bears facial resemblance. "He reminds me of Favre," one scout said. "He's got some swagger. Really good leadership ability. His physical skill is OK. Some quarterback coach is going to love him because of what's in his heart and between his ears (Wonderlic of 25)." From Houston. "I like his mind," said another scout. "Physically, I don't think he's going to have the arm."
10. ANTHONY BOONE, Duke (6-0, 218, 4.95, 7-FA): Made one start behind Sean Renfree in 2012 before becoming a two-year starter. "He's won a lot of games," one scout said. "He's short. Just an average passer. He's a camp quarterback that doesn't really have enough up side." Posted a passer rating of 79.9. Wonderlic of 20. From Weddington, N.C.
OTHERS: Brandon Bridge, South Alabama; Bryan Bennett, Southeastern Louisiana; Taylor Heinicke, Old Dominion; Jerry Lovelocke, Prairie View A&M; Blake Sims, Alabama.
