2018 NFL Draft Big Board: Ranking the Top 10 Prospects
By Jon Dove
2. Sam Darnold, QB, USC
There isn’t much of a gap between Sam Darnold and Josh Allen in my ratings. They are basically 1A and 1B on this big board. Darnold is extremely talented in his own right and shows poise beyond his years. It’s that poise that really separates him from the rest of the quarterback group.
The best example of Darnold’s leadership and poise is his performance in the Rose Bowl. He lead USC to on a late-game comeback where they saw themselves surrender a big lead. Darnold never looked panicked even when he lead the team down the field for the game winning field goal.
Athletically, he is someone who can move in the pocket to buy himself some extra time. Darnold can also do some scrambling, but prefers to make plays from the pocket.
He has excellent arm strength with the ability to stretch the field. Darnold routinely delivers the ball to his target with excellent zip and placement. He has no problem working the sideline routes nor delivering a catchable bucket pass.
The one area that needs some work is his overall deliver. His throwing motion can be a little long at times. However, it’s a minor concern that is negated by his arm strength.