2016 NFL Draft: QB Scouting Reports

We are back at it again. It's time for scouting reports on the 2016 NFL Draft prospects. With some sound advice I have decided we will begin this year with the quarterback position.

I am often asked how I grade players and how I go about ranking them. Well this year I have decided to add to the scouting reports my ten most watched attributes and the grading system I use to determine where that player falls among his peers. Everything is graded on a scale of 1-10 with ten being elite, and one being terrible. I also give a grade for potential. I make potential separate because more times than not, a player never reaches his full potential, so potential should not be a heavy factor in grading a player, but has to be included still. Therefore it is it's own separate entity. The highest grade for potential is an A+, which would mean you could be a Tom Brady or Adrian Peterson caliber player. The lowest grade for potential is a C which just means you ceiling is average.

Skills Grading System

Skills Grading Total system

Potential Grading System

So after months of scouting, without further ado, I give you the quarterbacks...

***ALL PLAYER COMPARISONS ARE BASED OFF OF SKILL SET AND BODY TYPES, NOT A PREDICTION OF CAREERS***

Carson Wentz

North Dakota St. 6'5" 237 LBS

POTENTIAL: A

Overview:

Wentz brings a lot of intriguing factors with his game. He has prototypical size, with legitimate athleticism. He's also well versed in the NFL style offenses, as North Dakota State played him under center a lot, as well as gave him the responsibility of making pre-snap reads, calling audibles, and learning timing routes. He has a legitimate NFL arm, possessing the ability to make every throw and then some. He makes a lot of good timing throws but he still cold stand to improve in this area, as he needs to be more consistent. However, he does an exceptional job avoiding mistakes. With all of his physical tools, he does as good a job as anyone in this draft playing the game from the neck up.

Wentz said to have a high football IQ as well as being very book smart.  In other words, no matter what, you are getting a very intelligent kid. Two things that stand out to me the most is his ball placement, and toughness. He puts the ball where it needs to be more times than not. This more than anything is the most telling about a players accuracy. Wentz is a fierce competitor that takes crap from no one. However, the flip side to that is that you don't want him to be to tough and take too many hits. He will stand in the eye of danger take the hit and make the throw. That is okay, but you would like to see him get down more often when running the football. He's virtually a bigger Russell Wilson. If you're of the notion that you don't see the big deal with Wentz, you probably have not watched him much in detail. Wentz is a smooth operator.

Player Comparison: Russell Wilson

Cardale Jones

Ohio St. 6'5" 253 LBS

Potential: A-

Overview:

Cardale Jones, physically, is what a lot of coaches want these days. He is a special football player. He has things that you just can't teach. He might have the most gifted arm in the entire draft. Jones' running ability at his size is what separates him from others. He has so much power and can really get it going, making him nearly impossible to tackle. Even when standing tall in the pocket, he's beyond difficult to bring down. Jones actually has underrated ball placement. He's a far cry from perfect, but he doesn't get enough credit for how good he actually is in this area. The biggest questions with Jones all have to do with the mental side of the game, maturity, and the system he played in. However, his potential has to have teams salivating.

Some of the throws Jones makes can literally leave your mouth open in disbelief. He also has the improvisational skills that will drive a defensive coordinator nuts. There's reason to hope and believe his maturity turning point is coming sooner than later,a s he made a very mature and conscience decision to go back to school after winning the National Championship, deeming himself not ready for the jump, then this year saying that he doesn't want to be an old rookie (Jones is 23).  Obviously he has the ability to think big picture, but teams will want to know if he can that more often and on the field. Jones is by far the closest thing to Cam Newton the NFL has seen, and if he can become the same type of leader, and prove to have a similar work ethic, he can be special. If nothing else, he has that swagger that you want your QB to have. He's an enticing QB, and because of that, he might have the widest draft range of any QB in this years draft.

Player Comparison: Cam Newton

Paxton Lynch

Memphis 6'7" 244 LBS

Potential: B+

Overview:

Paxton Lynch has some legit potential. He is ridiculously big. These kind of QB's do not grow on trees. Specifically ones that has his type of athleticism. He is not a QB that has sneaky athleticism. No, not all. He is a legit scrambling QB. He has a big arm with some decent accuracy. But he lacks consistent ball placement, and his footwork is almost nonexistent at times. He was not asked to make a lot of reads in college, and did not show a lot of progression throws. He does bring some toughness to the table, as I saw him routinely take a shot on the chin as he stood tall and made the throw from the  pocket. While he does not go through his progressions often, he surprising made quite a few nice anticipation throws. It appears that this part of the game came natural, considering he was rarely reading the defense.

I also love his understanding of the different types of throws to make . He can throw with great touch, velocity, arch, and low trajectory. Lynch's game and size remind me a lot of Brock Osweiler. Lynch is a slightly better athlete. Falling into a situation similar to what Osweiler fell into would be ideal for Lynch, where he can sit and learn for a  year or two.

Player Comparison: Brock Osweiler

Connor Cook

Michigan St. 6'4" 217 LBS

Potential: A-

Overview:

Jared Goff

Cal 6'4" 215 LBS

Potential: A-

Overview:

Below are my rankings of the top ten quarterbacks of the 2016 NFL draft. Included are both the round I think they are deserving of being drafted in, as well as the round I think they will ultimately be drafted in...