2018 NFL Draft: Top 5 Offensive Prospects
By Jon Dove
Sam Darnold, QB, USC
Darnold is coming off a very disappointing final college season. He struggled with turnovers and was unable to repeat the previous year’s performance. However, Darnold is still an extremely talented quarterback prospect with the poise needed to lead a team.
His feel for the game is what really stands out for Darnold. He has that “it” factor as someone who can lead comebacks and rally the troops. This isn’t something that can be taught and is the reason Darnold’s stock didn’t see a huge drop.
It also helps that he is a good athlete and has the arm strength to make all the NFL throws. He doesn’t lack for physical tools which obvious is the starting point for a quarterback to be rated this highly.
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The turnover issues from this past year should not be placed solely on Darnold’s arm. He did make some poor decisions, but a large majority of them came while dealing with pressure. USC’s offensive line just didn’t do a good enough job giving their quarterback time in the pocket.
However, the NFL game requires quarterbacks to make sound decisions while under duress. Darnold will need to show that he can protect the football even in the worst situations.
Another reason that Darnold falls behind Rosen and Allen on my rankings is his throwing motion. His release can get a little long which doesn’t play well at the next level. This is especially true for quarterbacks who have made poor decisions while under pressure.
Overall, Darnold has the skill set needed to succeed at the next level. He is still in the running to be the 1st quarterback selected. This ranking is more about my preference rather than how others have things ranked.