Scouting Report: Quarterbacks
T-1. Carson Wentz
- Height: 6’ 5”
- Weight: 237
- College: North Dakota State
- Class: Senior
Wentz was the Dark Horse of the draft after the college season ended, but not anymore. After a strong senior bowl week and a very impressive combine, Wentz could be the first overall pick. He has the size you are looking for in a NFL Quarterback. He has the arm and the touch to be successful. He is also very athletic. At the Combine he ran a 4.77 second 40 yard dash. He is a winner. He won back to back FCS National Championships and only lost 3 games in 2 seasons as the starter. He ran a pro style system in college and would call the protection on passing plays. He is a football guy and has no red flags off the field. His question marks are that he is coming from a smaller school, so will he be able to adjust to the speed and strength of the NFL. He will most likely need to sit some time before playing to adjust and learn the ins and outs of being a quarterback in the NFL
He has the higher potential of the top quarterbacks, he has measurable and size that is comparable to Andrew Luck. His upside is what is the most intriguing. If he develops and matures he can be one of the top quarterbacks in the NFL.
Why he would be a good pick for the Browns: Wentz has the size and arm to fit into the AFC North. He is athletic, uses his feet and has played in a pro system in college. He will need some time to sit and develop and with Robert Griffin Wentz can do that. With comparisons to Andrew Luck and Blake Bortles, he is a Franchise Quarterback in the making. If the Browns want to land Wentz that will have to be at 2. Wentz will not fall out of the Top 2 picks.
T-1. Jared Goff
- Height: 6’4”
- Weight: 215
- College: California
- Class: Junior
Goff is right there with Wentz. He is the most NFL ready of the two. He is more accurate and has better footwork of the two. Does not have the biggest arm but can make all the throws. He was a three year starter at Cal, where the team improved each season that Goff was there. He has very good pocket presence and can use his feet to move the pocket. He has the height to be successful, but he does have a slim frame, and only 9 inch hands, which is right on the edge of what a good quarterback should have. He is a very clean and smooth passer. Quick release. Smooth feet and footwork. Which he showed off at the combine. His questions are what he can do in an NFL type of offensive. He played in the shot gun in the Spread at Cal. He has a slimmer frame and hands on the smaller end, so the questions are if he can take the hits and play well in tough weather.
He does not have the highest ceiling but he can still can be a successful NFL quarterback. He may need some time to develop but he is ready to start day one. He has the footwork and quick release that you look for and the accuracy to be successful.
Why he would be a good pick for the Browns: He is ready. He does not need a lot of work on his footwork or the fundamentals. He just needs to adapt to a NFL type of offensive system. He has good pocket presence which will be a big help with a weak offensive line at the moment. His accuracy would be a plus as with no big time receivers, accuracy will help them out as much as possible. Just like Wentz, he is also a franchise caliber Quarterback. To grab Goff, it would have to be with the number 2 pick. Just like Wentz, the odds of him falling out of the top 2 is very slim.
- I have them tied for the number one quarterback because nether have separated themselves enough to be the true number one. Wentz has the higher ceiling and better size, but Wentz will need some time to develop. While Goff can go out and start day one. He may not have the biggest arm, but he has the arm to be good in the league for many years. The LA Rams traded up to grab one of these two guys and both are worthy of the number 1 pick.
- Paxton Lynch
– Height: 6’7”
– Weight: 244
– College: Memphis
– Class: Junior
Lynch is a project. He has more than enough size at 6’7”, he has a big arm and athletic as well. He has good feet for a guy of his size, but his footwork still needs work and improvement. He also comes out of the spread, just like Goff so he will need to adjust at a NFL offensive as well. He can move the pocket and run when he needs to. With his arm, can make all the throws. He showed good decision making in college, not forcing the ball too much. His weaknesses are that he needs to have better footwork, and with that will better accuracy. He just needs to learn a NFL system as well. He is more of a project than Wentz because he has to work on his footwork and to play under center. He has the ability to be a very good NFL quarterback, he just needs to be developed right and not be rushed into playing.
Why he would be a good pick for the Browns: He is tall, big and has the arm to be successful in the AFC North. Again, he will need to sit, and with Griffin, there is no rush for him to start. He can sit and learn until he is ready. He can use his feet if need be which is a plus when the line is weak and it also adds depth to the offensive. Has the potential to be a team’s quarterback of the future, it just depends on his development. To draft Lynch, 2 is too high to take him, 32 might be too late. If the Browns want to get him, they would have to trade back into the middle of the first round to grab him.
- Connor Cook
– Height: 6’4”
– Weight: 217
– College: Michigan State
– Class: Senior
Cook was a 4 year starter for Michigan St. winning two Big Ten Championships along the way. He was very consistent and very good for the Spartans. He played under center in a pro style offensive. He has good anticipation and quick footwork. Can move the pocket and throws well on the run. He has a quick release and will go through his reads when throwing the ball. There are questions about his leadership skills, being he wasn’t a caption his senior year. He struggles with accuracy at times and will get away from his footwork and fundamentals when he rushes throws. Cook is a project quarterback as well. He needs to find a good system and team to work with. Cook can be a good starter, just like he was at Michigan St. He just need coaching and time.
Why he would be a good pick for the Browns: He is an Ohio kid. He played his high school at Walsh Jesuit and had a very successful career at Michigan St. He is not a day one starter, so no need to rush him. He does not have a huge arm, but he has the arm to be successful and the body type to last in the league. He also comes from a pro style offensive so he just needs to adjust to the speed of the game, as well work on his footwork and accuracy. To grab Cook, 32 should be fine. Cook is a good pick at 32 if you take a good player at 2. But if a team falls in love with him, you would have to jump back into the mid first round to grab him.
- Dak Prescott
– Height: 6’2”
– Weight: 226
– College: Mississippi St
– Class: Senior
Prescott took a big step his senior year, he became a better passer and relied more on it rather than his legs. He has a very quick release. When he has a clean pocket, he can make all the throws with accuracy. He grew a lot as a passer his final year. He played with better vison and decision making. His legs are a good option for him. With his frame he is good around the goal line and when things start to break down. He does not have the best pocket presence, his deep throw accuracy is spotty at time. He tends to not lead his receivers. At the next level, he will need to keep growing as a quarterback. He has the talent to be a starter, he just needs to be in a good situation, and he would not be able to lead a team right away.
Why he would be a good fit for the Browns: He is a wild card. He showed that he can be a very good dual threat quarterback. He still needs work, a good amount of work. He has the body and size to succeed. He just needs to be fine-tuned. Needs to work on footwork, work from under center, and his accuracy and pocket presence. Overall, if the Browns want to wait and groom a guy completely, Prescott will be a good choice for that. To draft him, 32 would be a bit of a stretch. The third round would be a better place to draft Prescott. He is a project and needs time. If you really want him, the middle of the second would be a good place if you can get into that position.
