What Todd McShay is looking for from each QB
Expectations are different for every quarterback who accepts an invite to Mobile. With that in mind, ESPN NFL draft expert Todd McShay is keeping an eye on different things depending on the prospect and his opportunity. Here's what he's hoping to see out of every signal-caller this week:
1. Josh Allen, Wyoming
Team: North |
Uniform number: 17 |
Overall QB ranking: 3
This week is a great opportunity for Allen to showcase his elite skill set on a level playing field. Mayfield faced better competition throughout his career, but Allen never had the clean pockets or the reliable pass-catchers that Mayfield was afforded at Oklahoma -- especially in 2017. With that in mind, Allen needs to show more consistency with his footwork (and subsequently his accuracy). His career 56.1 completion percentage in college will be a frequent discussion topic during the pre-draft process. The tape shows a quarterback who can make the tough throws look ridiculously easy at times; now he needs to show he can make the routine throws consistently. As a side note, I think Allen will do well in the classroom and his experience in a more pro-style system should give him a mental edge over some of the other spread-based QBs.
-- McShay
2. Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma
Team: North |
Uniform number: 6 |
Overall QB ranking: 4
I'm actually more interested in seeing Mayfield's numbers at the weigh-in than anything he does on the field this week. Is he really 6-foot-1 or is that a stretch? Based on standing eye to eye with him, my guess is he's a little under that number. Is his hand span 9 inches or less? The five-year NFL combine average for QBs is 9.5 inches, and anything under 9 is concerning. It won't define his career, but the list of sub 6-foot QBs who have had sustained success in the NFL is a short one.
-- McShay
3. Mason Rudolph, Oklahoma State
Overall QB ranking: 5
A foot injury will keep Rudolph from competing in Mobile, but I'm including him here because he's expected there for weigh-ins and interviews. Even if he can't work out, it's important for Rudolph to show he can handle the classroom part of being an NFL quarterback. Coming from that system at Oklahoma State, it will be important to show NFL teams that he can quickly digest and process information at the chalkboard.
-- McShay
4. Luke Falk, Washington State
Team: North |
Uniform number: 4 |
Overall QB ranking: 7
Falk has slipped a bit from where I had him before the season (fourth-ranked QB), so I'll be interested to hear what he tells NFL coaches and scouts about his inconsistent senior season. Coming from that Mike Leach system, I'm interested to study Falk's consistent timing and ball placement on intermediate and vertical throws (with receivers running an NFL route tree). He flashes the ability to drive the ball down the field accurately, but that system features an unusually high percentage of throws that travel less than 5 yards beyond the line of scrimmage.
-- McShay
unusually high percentage of throws that travel less than 5 yards beyond the line of scrimmage. -- McShay
5. Kyle Lauletta, Richmond
Team: South | Uniform number: 5 | Overall QB ranking: 8
Jimmy Garoppolo is an example of a small-school quarterback who impressed at the Senior Bowl and eased scouts' concerns over the jump in talent level from Eastern Illinois. Lauletta faces the same issue coming from Richmond. It was sometimes difficult to gauge the velocity of Lauletta's drive throws on tape, so I'm also interested to see his arm strength in person.
-- McShay
6. Kurt Benkert, Virginia
Team: South |
Uniform number: 6 |
Overall QB ranking: 9
Another guy with a low career completion rate (57.7 percent), I want to see Benkert consistently win with throws from inside the pocket. He has a good combination of size (6-2, 218), athleticism and arm strength, and he throws accurately on the move.
-- McShay
7. Mike White, Western Kentucky
Team: South |
Uniform number: 14 |
Overall QB ranking: 10
He comes from a system with a lot of quick throws, so I'm looking to see how White handles the timing of five- and seven-step drops with wide receivers consistently running deeper routes. I also want to see him stand tall in the pocket when it collapses. That's a weakness that has shown up on tape.
-- McShay
8. Brandon Silvers, Troy
Team: South |
Uniform number: 12 |
Overall QB ranking: 11
Silvers, who started 48 games for the Trojans, has a quick trigger and adequate arm strength. But I think he has the most to prove of the QBs in Mobile. Specifically, I'm interested in seeing how he adjusts to working under center (footwork, reading coverages while dropping back and more) after playing almost exclusively in a shotgun offense. I also want to see better touch and trajectory on downfield throws.
-- McShay
9. Tanner Lee, Nebraska
Team: North |
Uniform number: 13 |
Overall QB ranking: 13
Lee, a transfer from Tulane who is replacing Rudolph at the Senior Bowl, put up decent numbers for the Cornhuskers in 2017, with 23 touchdown passes, 16 interceptions and more than 3,100 yards. At 6-4, 220, he has a good frame and some tools but needs refinement. I'll be most interested to see how he progresses over the course of the week and how he responds to NFL coaching.
-- McShay