QB Connor Cook, Michigan St (6’4 | 217 | 4.78) – On paper Cook looks great, but the results on the field weren’t always as good as they should have been. Granted the Spartans have been very successful, but Cook has been surrounded by an above-average O-line, a good running game, and multiple NFL quality receivers and still hasn’t always played at a high level. There is also the much-publicized fact that he was never named a team captain, which is surprising but not a deal-breaker.
The tools are there for Cook to be a productive NFL QB; He has good size, a powerful arm, clean arm action, and better straight line speed than many other top QB prospects. Cook’s main statistical problem is his accuracy. He only completed 56% of his passes last season and less then 60% in his sophomore and junior years as well.
Cook’s inconsistent play, leadership questions, and inability to be complete short, intermediate, or long passes accurately will keep Cook out of the first round. His size, athleticism, and arm strength will get him drafted at some point on day 2, but Cook looks like a back-up QB at best to me.
QB Brandon Doughty, Western Kentucky (6’3 | 220 | 4.86) – One of my favorite late round QB prospects who doesn’t get enough love from scouts due to the QB-friendly offense that WKU runs. Doughty put up monster numbers the last two seasons. He led all FBS quarterbacks in passing yards for two seasons in a row with 9,885 yards, 97 TDs, and just 19 INTs over the last two seasons.
Regardless of conference, those numbers are crazy. Doughty has decent size for an NFL QB, a lightning quick release, the willingness to step up in the pocket and take a hit to deliver the ball, and very good accuracy on short-to-intermediate throws.
What Doughty lacks is a elite arm strength. He is never going to be a great deep ball thrower, but how many bombs are completed at the NFL level? Doughty occasionally stares down receivers, his footwork is inconsistent under pressure, and he holds the ball too long at times. Those flaws are almost universal among young QBs and can possibly be fixed with coaching.
Doughty has an NFL skill-set and I disagree with most of the analysts who have him pegged as a career backup at best. I think Doughty has starter potential and worst case will be an instant offense reserve in the NFL. He could be a steal on day three of the draft.
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