New York Jets 2018 NFL Draft Prospects: Quarterbacks
By TJ Wengert
Sam Darnold, USC
Next up, Sam Darnold of USC! Darnold stands at 6-foot-4, 225 pounds, and last year as a redshirt freshman, he put himself on the NFL’s radar.
After taking over as the starter in week four, Darnold finished the year with 3,086 passing yards, 31 touchdowns, and only nine interceptions. His completion percentage was also solid as it sat at 67.2%.
Darnold is also elusive in the pocket. Not as much as Allen, but the skill is still there. He also possesses a great combination of arm strength and accuracy. That rare combination is important because a lot of time we see prospects with big arms and no accuracy, but without the accuracy, what good is the arm strength?
Darnold’s biggest strength comes from his vision and decision-making. As I said earlier, he only threw nine picks, and when you watch his tape (seriously, watch it) you see his head moving and reading the field for the open man.
While yes, some of his stats were benefited from the amount of bubble screens USC runs and their playmaking receivers, look at those highlights and you see him making accurate throws all over the field, to a bunch of different weapons.
When I see Darnold, I see a lot of Andrew Luck. I’m not saying he’ll be the next Luck, but his stature, how he stands and moves in the pocket, and how he throws on the run, reminds me of Andrew Luck.