Deshone Kizer Takes Control of Quarterback Race

DeShone Kizer looks more like the 2017 NFL Draft’s No. 1 quarterback every week!

As a redshirt freshman last year, you can see Notre Dame quarterback DeShone Kizer was a person of interest. Notre Dame adapted their hybrid offense to more pro style plays for him. They ran more Spread Offense plays with Malik Jackson in there.

At 6’4″, 230 pounds he as the size, the big arm, can throw with anticipation and into tight windows. But at the same time, he can also run, making him a weapon in the Spread Offense. So Kizer, not DeShaun Watson or Brad Kaaya should come of the board first.

But the scouts ranked them No. 1 and No. 2 among the quarterback prospects coming into this year. Watson is the runner of the three but doesn’t fit a pro style attack. Like Marcus Mariota of the Tennessee Titans, he stares down his targets waiting for them to break open.

Kaaya plays in a pro style offense too and throws with anticipation into tight widows. But he doesn’t have the size or arm strength Kizer has. At 6’2″, 210, Watson doesn’t have the size of the prototypical pocket passer in the NFL either.

More from With the First Pick

And more importantly, neither Watson nor Kaaya have shown up the way Kizer has so far this year. Watson has struggled out the gate, completing 53 percent of his passes for 540 yards, four TDs and three INTs. Kaaya isn’t off to a great start himself.

So far, he’s completing 59 percent of his passes for 326 yards, four TDs and two INTs. He particularly had problems Saturday against Florida Atlantic with 191 yards no TDs and two INTs. Meanwhile, Kizer has gotten off to a great start this year.

He’s completing 71 percent of his passes for 371 yards, seven TDs and only one INT so far. The prospects have a long season ahead of them with a lot of big games left to play. But right now, Kizer looks like the best QB prospect in the 2017 NFL Draft.

Home/Quarterback Prospects