NFL Analysis

3/27/24

5 min read

Jacob Cowing 2024 NFL Draft: Combine Results, Scouting Report For Arizona WR

Arizona Wildcats wide receiver Jacob Cowing
Arizona Wildcats wide receiver Jacob Cowing (2) gets ready for a play in the first half against the Oklahoma Sooners at Alamodome. Mandatory Credit: Daniel Dunn-USA TODAY Sports

The 2024 NFL Draft is getting close, making it an excellent time to highlight some of the class' best players with scouting reports. Each report will include strengths, weaknesses and background information. 

Here's our report on Jacob Cowing.

Jacob Cowing's 2024 NFL COMBINE RESULTS

  • Height: 5'8"
  • Weight: 168 pounds
  • 40-yard dash: 4.38
  • 10-yard split: 1.54
  • Vertical jump: 36"
  • Broad jump: 9'11"

Jacob Cowing 2024 NFL DRAFT SCOUTING REPORT

STRENGTHS

  • Outstanding quickness and burst off the ball when he had free access. Explosive and sudden into vertical stem.
  • Natural quickness as a route runner with snap to his breaks. Explosive out of breaks with burst and velocity.
  • Consistently showed both route quickness and separation quickness at the top of route stem — sudden mover.
  • Showed speed to run by college corners. A vertical dimension with the ability to take the top off the defense.
  • Showed strong ability to track the deep ball and catch it without breaking down. Body control when needed.
  • Flashed the ability to extend away from his frame and make tough catches. At times went up and got the ball.
  • Made some tough catches in the middle of the field. Competitive attacking the ball knowing he would get hit.
  • At his best on the move in the middle of the field with slants/crossers/overs/seams. Pivot and whip routes.
  • Dangerous run-after-catch. Transitioned from receiver to runner seamlessly with burst and accelerating speed.
  • 2023 – Explosive with the ball in his hands and effective on tunnel-bubble screens when he had room to accelerate.
  • Showed an understanding of how to pace and tempo specific routes to attack both man and zone coverage.

WEAKNESSES

  • Will teams see his size as a negative limiting deployment within NFL offense or is that not a factor (like Tank Dell)?
  • Inconsistent hands with too many drops on routine catches. Needs to better secure the ball with his hands.
  • At times aggressive attacking the ball, other times waited for the ball to get to him. Needs to be more assertive.
  • Overall not a lot of physicality to his game. A space receiver who needs room to use his quickness and speed.

NFL TRANSITION

Cowing's 2021 tape at UTEP showed a small, explosive receiver whose game was built on quickness and speed. He was at his best running routes that allowed him to get the ball in space and on the move.

He was featured as the motion receiver in UTEP’s offense. That allowed him to get free access and explode off the ball into his vertical stem where his threat as a vertical receiver was most viable.

At Arizona in 2022 and 2023, Cowing was used differently within the context of the offense, predominantly running shorter timing routes and tunnel screens to take advantage of his explosive run-after-catch traits. There were still some vertical routes that showed his speed.

Cowing has outstanding natural quickness as a route runner, and he ran precise routes that created immediate separation giving the QB a defined read in the timing passing game. Keep in mind the evolution of the NFL passing game with more rhythm three-step drop and five-step drop timing throws with a greater emphasis on run after catch.

My sense is Cowing will likely be seen as a core slot receiver given his smaller size, but he can be much more than that given his explosive traits, and most NFL offensive coordinators will see him as a receiving weapon with multiple location and movement versatility. Is there a Tank Dell comparison to be made?


Other Notes

Cowing played 3 years at UTEP (his only FBS scholarship offer coming out of Maricopa HS) before transferring back home to Arizona. He had an outstanding junior season at UTEP with 69 catches for 1,354 receiving yards and 7 touchdowns, followed by an outstanding first season at Arizona. Cowing caught 175 passes in his two seasons at Arizona with 20 touchdowns.

In 2021, Cowing predominantly lined up in the slot in UTEP’s offense, with 88 of his 113 targets and 54 of his 69 receptions coming inside. Cowing was featured as the movement-motion receiver in UTEP’s offense. Cowing was featured on short in-breaking routes out of bunch and stack alignments and vertical wheel routes from the slot. He was also used in the screen game, where he could take advantage of his outstanding run-after-catch ability.

In 2022 at Arizona, 62 of Cowing’s 85 receptions came out of the slot. Cowing lined up in multiple splits at No. 2 and No. 3 in addition to being deployed as a motion receiver. There were snaps in which he aligned as the boundary X on the back side of trips and won on individual routes, both crossers and verticals. Cowing is a tough matchup as the inside slot receiver with his three-level traits. He is also effective on tunnel screens and jet sweeps with his accelerating speed and run-after-catch ability.

In 2023, 82 of Cowing’s 121 targets and 62 of his 90 receptions came out of the slot. He only averaged 7.9 yards per catch on those 62 slot receptions. Cowing was at times deployed as the motion receiver in the Arizona offense. His 35-yard TD versus Oklahoma in the Alamo Bowl showed his vertical dimension and his 57-yard TD versus Oklahoma came on dig-crosser with an explosive run after the catch.

Expert Analysis

3/27/24

4 min read

Jackson Powers-Johnson 2024 NFL Draft: Combine Results, Scouting Report For Oregon OL

Oregon center Jackson Powers-Johnson
Oregon Ducks offensive lineman Jackson Powers-Johnson (58) against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Mountain America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The 2024 NFL Draft is getting close, making it an excellent time to highlight some of the class' best players with scouting reports. Each report will include strengths, weaknesses and background information. 

Here's our report on Jackson Powers-Johnson.

Jackson Powers-Johnson's 2024 NFL Combine Results

  • Height: 6'3"
  • Weight: 328 pounds
  • 40-yard dash: DNP
  • 10-yard split: DNP
  • Vertical jump: 32"
  • Broad jump: 8'8"

Jackson Powers-Johnson 2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Strengths

  • Compact frame with natural strength. He has active and efficient hand usage, maintaining balance with a firm base.
  • Stayed square in pass protection with power in lower body to anchor and has the hand strength to control Defensive tackles.
  • Consistently showed strong hands in pass protection. There were snaps in which he locked out defensive tackles with crisp arm extension.
  • Overall aggressive with his hands in pass protection. At times, he was violent with his hand usage to move interior linemen.
  • Showed calculated ability and technique to re-set his hands in pass protection to maintain control of the rusher.
  • Played with high-level competitiveness and aggression. He hunted up pass rushers and finished with a nasty edge.
  • Snaps with excellent awareness and accelerated vision, recognizing and reacting to stunts and pressures. 
  • Played with good leverage in the run game, staying low off the ball and keeping his feet moving to generate movement.
  • Featured on back blocks in gap scheme run game and showed strength and power to seal and control defensive tackles.
  • Run game snaps he showed outstanding recognition, efficiency and movement executing combo blocks. 
  • Comfortable and efficient climbing to the second level in the run game. He stayed balanced with good body control.
  • Showed plus mobility getting out in front as a lead blocker in the conventional screen game. He runs well for a center.
  • Finished with an edge in the run game and played through the whistle. He played with an attitude and an outstanding playing personality.

Weaknesses

  • Will Powers-Johnson's powerful hands and overall strength translate effectively at the next level?
  • At times, he played too high and upright, exposing his chest. He lost power and leverage to move defensive linemen on contact.
  • Run game snaps in which he had some balance and body control issues, especially climbing to the second level.
  • Overall athleticism will be scrutinized. He showed functional athleticism but too many snaps it was an issue.
  • At times, he gathered himself off the snap to generate force on combo blocks, but he can’t do that at the next level.

NFL Transition

Powers-Johnson's 2023 tape showed a strong center prospect. One trait consistently stood out: strong, powerful, heavy hands that moved interior defensive linemen. Powers-Johnson packed a short, compact yet powerful punch that changed the path of pass rushers while he maintained balance and a strong base.

Overall, Powers-Johnson played a strong man’s game in pass protection, showing lower-body strength and violent, effective hand usage to stop inside pass rushers and anchor with a firm base. In the run game, Powers-Johnson showed strength and power and was equally effective in zone and gap schemes. The trait that consistently stood out watching his run game tape was his competitive finishing mentality.

Powers-Johnson played with an attitude and swagger that are tone-setting for an offense. While he has some technical aspects of his game to clean up due to his lack of experience (only one year starting at Oregon), there is no question he has Day 1 starter written all over him.

His tape showed an outstanding combination of strength, power and functional movement with a high level of competitive toughness. While he played center in 2023, an NFL team could see him as a guard, depending on their system.


Other Notes

Powers-Johnson came to Oregon as a consensus 4-star recruit and top-five center nationally after winning three consecutive high school state championships in Utah. He became Oregon’s starting center in his final season of 2023 and earned unanimous All-American honors.

Expert Analysis

3/27/24

4 min read

Taliese Fuaga 2024 NFL Draft: Combine Results, Scouting Report For Oregon State OT

Jan 31, 2024; Mobile, AL, USA; National offensive lineman Taliese Fuaga of Oregon State (72) shifts to an assignment during practice for the National team at Hancock Whitney Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vasha Hunt-USA TODAY Sports Note: National edge Adisa Isaac of Penn State (20) Is pictured at left.

The 2024 NFL Draft is getting close, making it an excellent time to highlight some of the class' best players with scouting reports. Each report will include strengths, weaknesses and background information. 

Here's our report on Taliese Fuaga.

Taliese Fuaga's 2024 NFL Combine Results

  • Height: 6'5"
  • Weight: 324 pounds
  • 40-yard dash: 5.13 seconds
  • 10-yard split: 1.77 seconds
  • Vertical jump: 32"
  • Broad jump: 9'3"

Taliese Fuaga 2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Strengths

  • Outstanding size and mass with light, quick feet. He has a desirable combination of size, tenacity and athletic movement.
  • Quick off the ball with strong hands in the run game generating movement. He moved defenders and finished.
  • Played with powerful, violent hands that consistently displaced DL. He strikes with a force that generates power.
  • Consistently controlled and displaced defensive ends in the run game. He kept his feet moving to sustain strength and power.
  • Showed higher-level athleticism and mobility, climbing to the second level in the run game. He has balance and body control.
  • Excellent athleticism and mobility pulling outside in pin-pull run game. He has light feet with balance to strike on the run.
  • Loose and fluid hips for a man that size. He consistently turned defensive linemen to seal and reach in the run game.
  • Featured independent arm technique in pass protection, which allowed him to stay balanced with a firm base.
  • Played with excellent balance and body control in pass protection. He has a comfortable kick slide with knee bend.
  • Patient in his 45-degree and vertical pass sets. He created more space and waited for pass rushers to come to him.
  • Outstanding playing personality with a highly competitive edge. He finished run blocks, driving defenders in the dirt.

Oregon State tackle Taliese Fuaga
Oregon State Beavers offensive lineman Taliese Fuaga (75) blocks Stanford Cardinal linebacker Levani Damuni (3) during the first quarter at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-USA TODAY Sports

Weaknesses

  • Given his overall size, you would love his arms to be a little longer. Some coaches may see that as a concern.
  • Tendency in pass protection to get wide and high with his hands, allowing rushers to initiate contact in his chest.
  • Snaps in which he struggled in pass protection resulted from late hands, allowing the rusher to dictate contact.
  • There will be legitimate questions regarding lateral quickness and range to handle explosive edge challenges at the next level.
  • Some vertical pass set snaps when he had some balance and body control issues at the top of the arc.
  • Can he handle the counter-quickness he will see from the high-level edge pass rushers at the next level?
  • Pass protection snaps when he was slow to re-direct laterally with his feet vs. inside quickness/counters. 
  • Biggest issues in pass protection came vs. inside moves, especially when there were stutters and hesitations.
  • Does he have the range in pass protection to play on an island vs. quality NFL rushers?

NFL Transition

Fuaga is one of the best OL prospects in the 2024 NFL Draft with his high-level combination of size and strength and power and athletic movement. There were times I thought he was the best OT prospect in the class with his size/strength/athleticism/nasty demeanor profile.

Let’s start with the run game. Fuaga is a powerful, competitive, take-no-prisoners menace who moved DL and second level defenders and occasionally pile drove them into the ground. Given his size and frame, the athleticism, mobility, balance and body control he exhibited as a reach blocker, cutting off the back side and climbing to the second level and pulling in pin-pull concepts, was remarkable.

He looked like a smaller man in space with light feet and easy movement. What stood out in pass protection was his balance and body control. He was rarely not balanced and in control of the rep, regardless of the pass set technique. Fuaga played with patience and control, effectively deploying the independent arm technique early in his pass set to maintain distance and keep his feet clean to any move made by the pass rusher.

The few times Fuaga struggled in pass protection resulted from late and/or wide hands, which allowed the rusher to be first with contact and get inside of him. That is correctable with coaching and development.

Overall, Fuaga is a high-level prospect who played RT at Oregon State, but he could transition to the next level at either OT position. Some might see him as an OG prospect, lacking the needed range and re-direct ability to be effective as a pass protector vs. the better NFL pass rushers.

However, I believe he can line up at OT and be a quality starter. My sense is Fuaga is somewhat scheme specific. He would profile best as a RT in a more conventional play action based system with the QB working under center as a meaningful foundation of the offense. That would mitigate against the higher percentage of vertical pass sets in which he would be an island vs. quality NFL pass rushers.


Other Notes

Fuaga was a two year starter at RT for Oregon State, and he earned First Team All-Pac 12 honors in 2023. He was not a high-level recruit ranked as the 130th OT prospect in the nation.

Washington game showed some potential concerns with Fuaga in pass protection at the RT position and could well lead some to believe his best transition to the NFL would be inside at guard.

Expert Analysis

3/27/24

4 min read

Troy Fautanu 2024 NFL Draft: Combine Results, Scouting Report For Washington OL

Troy Fautanu moves off the line of scrimmage to block
Washington Huskies offensive lineman Troy Fautanu (55) against the Michigan Wolverines during the 2024 College Football Playoff national championship game at NRG Stadium. (Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports)

The 2024 NFL Draft is getting close, making it an excellent time to highlight some of the class' best players with scouting reports. Each report will include strengths, weaknesses and background information. 

Here's our report on Troy Fautanu.

Troy Fautanu's 2024 NFL Combine Results

  • Height: 6'4"
  • Weight: 317 pounds
  • 40-yard dash: 5.01 seconds
  • 10-yard split: 1.71 seconds
  • Vertical jump: 33"
  • Broad jump: Did Not Participate (DNP)

Troy Fautanu 2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Strengths

  • Has a comfortable pass set with light, quick feet and good balance with a firm base and hands in ready-strike position.
  • Consistently plays with active, efficient hand usage in pass protection with a natural ability to reset his hands.
  • Has refined hand placement and re-adjustment through pass protection reps. Stays balanced with body control.
  • Effective with multiple hand techniques in pass protection. Strikes and chops and resets to control rushers.
  • Shows accelerated vision and quick, fluid, lateral movement recognizing and reacting to stunts and pressures.
  • Plays with good body position with stable core and balance. Has light, agile feet with clean lateral movement.
  • Consistently shows lower-body flexibility and explosiveness. Has higher-level athleticism and balance.
  • Comes off the ball low with good leverage and strength as a run blocker. Generates power with initial strikes.
  • Features as puller across formation in gap scheme run game. Shows excellent mobility and balance to strike.
  • Outstanding playing personality. Has high-level competitiveness, which is evident in pass protection hunting up rushers.

Troy Fautanu runs the 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine
Washington offensive lineman Troy Fautanu (OL19) during the 2024 NFL Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium. (Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports)

Weaknesses

  • Is more stout and compact in his build than long and rangy — has the build and frame of an offensive guard more than an offensive tackle. 
  • Struggles at times to anchor off his hand strikes vs. speed-to-power rushers. Doesn't dig in with a strong base.
  • Consistently shows tendency to hop backward rather than anchor, post up, lock out and stop his feet.  
  • There were some pass protection snaps vs. better edge rushers where he was stressed, resulting in bending and leaning.
  • As 2023 season progressed, there were pass protection snaps where his pass set looked much more labored.
  • Had issues in the quick set in pass protection with pass rushers beating him with lateral quickness and burst.

NFL Transition

Fautanu was one of my favorite players to evaluate, and he is without question one of the best offensive line prospects in the 2024 draft class. He has a high-level pass protection combination of athletic movement, lateral quickness and power with active and efficient hand usage. Fautanu is a bit of a contradiction regarding: his body frame: He has excellent length with long arms, yet his build on tape looks more compact and stout.

What consistently stands out watching Fautanu’s tape is that he is a twitched-up, sudden explosive mover with active athletic feet and an understanding of how to use hands to maximize his long arms to maintain separation and control edge pass rushers. One area where he struggled at times was his anchor when rushers were able to get inside of him into his chest with speed to power. That might be one reason why some might project him inside at offensive guard despite his overall length and strong pass-protection skill set at left tackle.

As a run blocker, Fautanu played with strength, power, outstanding balance and body control — in addition to with a competitive demeanor that set the tone for the Washington offense.

Overall, Fautanu is a high-level offensive line prospect who has the traits, skill set and physical mindset to become a starter early in his career at either left tackle or offensive guard. I wouldn't be surprised if he develops into one of the better offensive linemen in the NFL relatively soon; I believe he can play left tackle at a high level in the NFL if allowed to start there and develop with coaching and experience.


Other Notes

Fautanu was a two-year starter at left tackle for Washington with 28 starts in the last two seasons. In 2023, he was a third-team All-American.

What consistently stood out as the 2023 season progressed was that Fautanu had issues in pass protection — he wasn't playing with the same balance and body control as he was earlier in the season.

NFL Analysis

3/27/24

4 min read

Jalen McMillan 2024 NFL Draft: Combine Results, Scouting Report For Washington WR

Washington Huskies wide receiver Jalen McMillan
Washington Huskies wide receiver Jalen McMillan (11) reacts after a pass interference call during the second quarter against the Michigan Wolverines in the 2024 College Football Playoff national championship game at NRG Stadium. (Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports)

The 2024 NFL Draft is getting close, making it an excellent time to highlight some of the class' best players with scouting reports. Each report will include strengths, weaknesses and background information. 

Here's our report on Jalen McMillan.

Jalen McMillan's 2024 NFL COMBINE RESULTS

  • Height: 6'1"
  • Weight: 197 pounds
  • 40-yard dash: 4.47
  • 10-yard split: 1.53
  • Vertical jump: 37"
  • Broad jump: 10'7"

Jalen McMillan 2024 NFL DRAFT SCOUTING REPORT

STRENGTHS

  • In 2022 predominantly lined up in the slot in multiple splits but also significant snaps outside. Location versatile.
  • Smooth strider with excellent length and play speed to challenge coverage at intermediate and vertical levels.
  • Free access and stride length made him a vertical dimension. Stacked corners with excellent ball tracking skills.
  • Showed an understanding of how to attack corners to separate at the top of the route stem. Sense of pace and timing.
  • Ability to make sharp, decisive cuts at the top of route stem without shortening his stride length. Balance and burst. 
  • Routes where he sunk his hips showed outstanding body flexibility. Natural quickness with great body control.
  • Showed run-after-catch traits, attacking upfield with the ball in his hands. Subtle suddenness with competitiveness.
  • 2023 – Smooth strider who ate up ground, getting on top of the secondary with stride length and route savvy.
  • Made some tough catches away from his frame. Showed he could go up and highpoint the ball when needed.

WEAKNESSES

  • Had a few too many drops on routine catches, but my overall sense is that he does not have problematic hands.
  • Not shifty and elusive with the ball in his hands. Much more straight linear run after catch. Needs a runway.
  • 2023 – Still saw too many drops on what should have been routine catches. That needs to be cleaned up.
  • Not a contested catch receiver. Did not show the kind of aggressiveness and physicality needed at catch point.
  • Did face much press coverage given the schematics and formations of Washington's pass game. Is that a concern?

NFL TRANSITION

McMillan is one of the better wide receiver prospects in the 2024 draft. He has a strong traits profile that projects and transitions to the next level as both a slot receiver and Z movement receiver who can line up in multiple locations within the formation.

McMillan has excellent length, which translates to him being a smooth, fluid strider with deceptive route and play speed. That allows him to be an intermediate and vertical dimension in an offense. The question that must be answered by NFL evaluators and coaches is whether McMillan must transition to the next level in much the same way he was deployed in the Washington offense. Through formations and motion, he almost always had free access to routes without having to face press or physical coverage.

One potential concern with McMillan as you project him to the league is how he will handle physicality at the line of scrimmage, through his early route stem and at the catch point. There is no question he is smooth and fluid with the stride length and route control to attack, break down corners and separate at the top of his stem when he is clean through the route. But he will be challenged with more physicality in the NFL.

That brings us back to the original point of whether McMillan will be team- and scheme-specific. And if that is the case, can he still be a volume receiver with high-end production?


Other Notes

McMillan came to Washington out of California as a 4-star recruit and a top 120 prospect in the nation. He became a starter in his sophomore season (2021). McMillan had an outstanding 2022 season with 79 catches for 1,098 yards and 9 touchdowns but was hurt in the middle of the 2023 season, finishing with only 45 receptions and 5 touchdowns.  

McMillan predominantly worked out of the slot in 2022 with 53 of his 79 receptions and 86 of his 120 targets coming from inside, He was also featured as a motion receiver in Washington’s offense; McMillan lined up in multiple splits running routes from different locations including some snaps offset in the backfield  

In 2023, McMillan again worked predominantly out of the slot, with 49 of his 66 targets and 33 of his 45 receptions coming inside. McMillan was location-versatile in the Washington offense, lining up in all positions, including the backfield and wing alignments. Washington's offense featured reduced splits and bunch formations, so McMillan has extensive experience with those concepts 

NFL Analysis

3/27/24

9 min read

Ranking Best Supporting Casts for Top Pick Quarterbacks of The Last 20 Years

USC Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams
USC Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams (13) during the pregame warmup before playing the Arizona State Sun Devils at Mountain America Stadium. (Rob Schumacher-Arizona Republic)

The Chicago Bears hold the No. 1 overall pick for the second year in a row, and this time, they're clearly taking a quarterback. Last year, they passed on Bryce Young and C.J. Stroud in favor of a significant trade down, which netted them Carolina's top pick in this draft.

After moving Justin Fields to Pittsburgh, the Bears are set to take Caleb Williams No. 1 overall.

The Bears had a busy offseason to this point. They have a young, talented offensive line, and they are bringing back DJ Moore, Khalil Herbert and Roschon Johnson to boost the offense. 

The defense is building around Montez Sweat, Tremaine Edmunds, Jaylon Johnson and a handful of talented, young secondary members.

Trading a fourth-round pick for Keenan Allen, signing D'Andre Swift and adding Kevin Byard helped solidify a roster that finished 7-10 in 2023. This infusion of talent and new offensive coordinator Shane Waldron's arrival make the Bears’ outlook brighter than it has been in a long time. 

We don't know exactly what Williams' full supporting cast will look like yet. Still, considering Chicago ranked 18th in scoring offense and 20th in scoring defense, there's been a debate about whether he will have the best supporting cast for a No. 1 pick in modern NFL history.

That made us dive into the supporting casts for the top quarterback picks in the last 20 years to see how the Bears compare to the best and worst situations.

Best Supporting Casts for Top Pick QBs

Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton
Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) looks to pass as Tennessee Titans linebacker Colin McCarthy (52) defends in the second quarter at Bank of America Stadium. (Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports)

1. 2011 Carolina Panthers, Cam Newton

The 2011 Carolina Panthers are a unique case study. This is fitting because Cam Newton was a unique playmaker. Carolina produced the fifth-best scoring offense in a run-centric attack. DeAngelo Williams, Jonathan Stewart and Newton combined for 2,303 yards and 25 touchdowns on the ground.

Steve Smith (1,394 yards and seven touchdowns) and Greg Olsen as receiving options helped Newton significantly. This was a great offense, and the coaching staff effectively maximized the personnel. Because of the high-end talent and defined scheme, this was a superior supporting cast to Chicago's.


Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud
Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) huddles with teammates during the first quarter of a 2024 AFC divisional round game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium. (Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports)

2. 2023 Houston Texans, C.J. Stroud

The Houston Texans entered the 2023 season embracing youth across the unit, but early expectations were low. Several early contributors emerged, giving the Texans a strong supporting cast for C.J. Stroud.

Offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik proved to be a fast riser in his first season as a play-caller. Then, breakout playmakers Nico Collins and Tank Dell became one of the league's best one-two punches. 

Houston also gave Stroud excellent bookend tackles, and the trade for Shaq Mason significantly helped the guard position. There were some issues in the run game, but once Devin Singletary took over as the starter for Dameon Pierce, Stroud had more help.

This Houston offense had more talent than most expected and had one of the better-supporting casts for any rookie quarterback taken in the last decade. Chicago's 2024 unit is likely to be on par with them.


Washington quarterback Robert Griffin III (10) throws the ball against the Minnesota Vikings at FedEx Field. (Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports)

3. 2012 Washington Commanders, Robert Griffin III

This team might've had the best overall situation of any quarterback drafted in the top five in the last 20 years. Led by head coach Mike Shanahan and a staff that included Kyle Shanahan, Mike McDaniel, Matt LaFleur, Slowik and Sean McVay, Robert Griffin III had elite offensive minds around him. He responded with an incredible debut season and a Wild Card Round appearance.

Alfred Morris rushed for 1,613 yards and 13 TDs, while the combination of Pierre Garcon, Santana Moss, Leonard Hankerson and Josh Morgan proved efficient and effective in a run-heavy offense. Though star power was lacking around Griffin, the staff and scheme did tremendous work to maximize the unit.

Chicago likely lacks the same coaching pedigree but has stronger individual playmakers.


Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2)
Atlanta Falcons offensive tackle Todd Weiner (74) tries to prevent Carolina Panthers defensive end Julius Peppers (90) from getting to Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) in the first half at the Georgia Dome. (Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports)

4. 2008 Atlanta Falcons, Matt Ryan

We're going pretty far back to find another notable supporting cast, but that's because top quarterbacks usually go to awful situations. Matt Ryan might've played behind a bad offensive line, but he had some playmakers to target, and he made the most of them.

The Falcons finished 10th in scoring in 2008, riding Michael Turner for 1,699 yards and 17 touchdowns. Roddy White produced 1,382 yards and seven receptions, and Michael Jenkins had 777 yards and three scores.

Ryan certainly contributed to a unit that lacked depth and a stable blocking situation. Still, the Falcons did well to provide an elite rushing attack to ease him into the offense.


Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Jameis Winston (3) calls a play during the first quarter in a preseason NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings at TCF Bank Stadium. (Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports)

5. 2015 Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Jameis Winston

Jameis Winston was added to a team that went 2-14 in its previous season, so the baseline talent was lower than what Chicago boasted by the end of 2023. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers had a few star playmakers to give Winston, including running back Doug Martin (1,402 yards in 2015) and Mike Evans. Still, the team's depth was wiped out due to injuries. The offensive line was also a disaster outside Donovan Smith and Logan Mankins.

Tampa Bay finished 20th in scoring offense and 26th in defense scoring. The roster needed a few more offseasons to become more viable, so this team was definitely behind Chicago's likely 2024 roster.


Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck
Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck (12) under center against the Pittsburgh Steelers during the first quarter at Heinz Field. (Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports)

6. 2012 Indianapolis Colts, Andrew Luck

Bad supporting casts defined the Andrew Luck era in Indianapolis, but it didn't start that way. The Indianapolis Colts made the playoffs with an 11-5 record in 2012 despite Luck completing 54.1 percent of his passes, throwing 18 picks and taking 41 sacks. It wasn't a dynamic unit, but it was functional.

Vick Ballard led the Colts in rushing, but the ground game was weak overall. What made this a decent supporting cast was the presence of Reggie Wayne (1,355 yards at 34 years old), T.Y. Hilton (861 yards and seven touchdowns) and tight end Dwayne Allen (521 yards). It's hard to say the Colts gave Luck more than what the Bears are handing to Williams, though.


Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) calls a play against the Philadelphia Eagles during the first quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. (Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports)

7. 2020 Cincinnati Bengals, Joe Burrow

The Cincinnati Bengals finished just 4-11-1 in 2020 after drafting Joe Burrow. The team only got 10 games from their top pick before a torn ACL ended his season. It was a snakebitten year for the unit, getting only six games from Joe Mixon and eight from Tyler Boyd. The Bengals had an impressive group of playmakers, with A.J. Green and Tee Higgins on the roster, but the offensive line was a disaster.

Burrow took 32 sacks and had a 7.3 percent sack rate in 10 games. No running back with more than 63 carries averaged more than 3.6 yards a touch. Plus, it was head coach Zac Taylor's first season at the helm, and the unit looked overwhelmed.

Chicago has a more stable and balanced situation than Burrow entered.


acksonville Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence (16) calls an audible during the second half of the game against the Buffalo Bills at TIAA Bank Field. (Melina Myers-USA TODAY Sports)

8. 2021 Jacksonville Jaguars, Trevor Lawrence

The 2021 Jacksonville Jaguars had a couple of players on the 2023 Panthers: DJ Chark and Laviska Shenault. This team was an abject disaster under Urban Meyer, ultimately losing 14 of 17 games and ranking dead last in offense.

Trevor Lawrence had a little talent around him, including Chark, Marvin Jones and James Robinson, but the supporting cast is among the worst we've seen.

The team's lack of consistent identity and quality game planning under Meyer and OC Darrell Bevell were also significant issues. Players like Laquon Treadwell, Tavon Austin and Carlos Hyde had no business being on the field for an NFL team, let alone being among some of the team's top producers.


New York Giants quarterback #10 Eli Manning
New York Giants quarterback #10 Eli Manning during the Giants opening drive against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: (Stan Liu-USA TODAY Sports)

9. 2004 New York Giants, Eli Manning

Eli Manning only started seven games in his rookie season as Kurt Warner earned the first shot for the New York Giants. The offense struggled, ranking 22nd in scoring, without great receiving options. They did have Tiki Barber in his prime, though, and he rewarded the offense with 1,518 rushing yards, 578 receiving yards and 15 total touchdowns.

The receiving corps was limited beyond Barber, so Chicago has a better cast. Amani Toomer led the team with 747 receiving yards but had zero scores. A young Jeremy Shockey produced 666 yards and six scores, but the rest of the unit lacked impact talent. Warner and Manning also took 52 sacks, so the line struggled to keep the quarterbacks clean.


Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young
Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (9) on the field in the second quarter at Bank of America Stadium. (Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports)

10. 2023 Carolina Panthers, Bryce Young

The 2023 Panthers are an example of one of the worst supporting casts we've seen in recent memory. Coach Frank Reich could not build any type of system around Bryce Young's strengths, and the personnel's limitations were only partly to blame. On paper, a group with Chark, Adam Thielen and Miles Sanders should have had some bright moments.

However, this was a bad mix from the start. Rookie WR Jonathan Mingo was misused throughout the year, and the offensive line suffered significant injuries that stunted the run game. Young looked like a deer in headlights, but the scheme's lack of motion and easy completions further exposed the unit's talent deficiencies. 

The 2024 Bears will be a more talented offense, on every level, than the 2023 Panthers.

Expert Analysis

3/27/24

4 min read

Laiatu Latu 2024 NFL Draft: Combine Results, Scouting Report For UCLA EDGE

Laiatu Latu lays out for a tackle
Washington State Cougars running back Nakia Watson (25) is brought down by UCLA Bruins defensive lineman Carl Jones Jr. (4) and defensive lineman Laiatu Latu (15) during the second half at Rose Bowl. (Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports)

The 2024 NFL Draft is getting close, making it an excellent time to highlight some of the class' best players with scouting reports. Each report will include strengths, weaknesses and background information. 

Here's our report on Laiatu Latu.

Laiatu Latu's 2024 NFL Combine Results

  • Height: 6'5"
  • Weight: 259 pounds
  • 40-yard dash: 4.64 seconds
  • 10-yard split: 1.62 seconds
  • Vertical jump: Did Not Participate (DNP)
  • Broad jump: DNP

Laiatu Latu 2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Strengths

  • Outstanding length and frame for an edge rusher with natural twitch and suddenness to his movement. Explosive.
  • Phenomenal quickness off the ball as pass rusher both outside and inside. Beats offensive linemen with sudden lateral twitch.
  • Uses featured club arm-over move as wide-9 rusher to beat offensive tackles inside. Has balance to change direction and redirect.
  • Flashes effective inside spin move off initial high side challenge. Has excellent balance, body control and burst.
  • Does a good job as an edge pass rusher initiating and playing off contact with effective hand usage. Has multiple moves.
  • Subtle hand usage is a foundation of his edge rush, along with lateral quickness to change direction and redirect.
  • Uses quick, violent hands to break down offensive tackle technique then play off contact to win on the high side with burst to the quarterback.
  • Body flexibility as an edge pass rusher allows him to bend the arc then flatten his rush path and close with speed to the quarterback.
  • In 2023, always seemed to have a plan as an edge pass rusher, which was evident in the way in which he used his hands.
  • Is a twitchy, sudden mover with both feet and hands and showed explosive power in his hands to displace offensive linemen.
  • Effective inside at defensive tackle in sub-fronts working against an offensive guard. Showed ability to win with both quickness and strength.
  • Has active hands in run game to defeat blocks with both quickness and power, staying on-balance to make plays.
  • Arm extension in the run game both controls the offensive line and keep his feet clean to defeat blocks and make plays.
  • Plays with heavy hands to jar and control offensive linemen off the snap. Created movement at line of scrimmage. Has a strong feel to his game.

Weaknesses

  • There were run game snaps where he could have played stronger taking on and displacing blocks — he got locked on.
  • It’s not truly a weakness, but the medicals will be closely evaluated. (He was medically retired at Washington.)

NFL Transition

Latu is one of the best overall prospects in the 2024 draft class. You could easily make the argument that he's the best edge pass-rush prospect in the class.

He possesses excellent size and length to play on the edge, and his pass-rush-traits profile is high level for a college player. He has a desirable combination of athleticism, explosiveness and advanced/refined hand usage with multiple moves in his arsenal.

One trait Latu possesses at a high level is a motorcycle lean at the top of the pass rush arc with the body flexibility to not only bend the edge but then flatten his path rush — while at the same time accelerating off his inside leg to close with burst and speed to the quarterback. What also stands out with Latu is his relentless competitiveness and his high-energy motor, which often resulted in him driving through chip blocks and offensive tackles to get pressure on the quarterback.

Latu is a high-level athlete with a natural feel and with instincts as a pass rusher — in addition to having a deep pass-rush toolbox that features outstanding hand usage. The bottom line is his tape shows he has the most complete pass-rush arsenal in the draft class. When you combine that with excellent athleticism and flexibility, you have a strong pass-rush profile.

In many ways, he reminds of T.J. Watt re: athleticism and pass rush technique and of Danielle Hunter re: fluid movement, flexibility and overall athleticism. I think Latu is one of the top-seven prospects in the draft class.


Other Notes

Latu played two years at UCLA after transferring from Washington. He played in 12 games as a freshman at Washington but suffered a neck injury during fall practices entering his sophomore season and didn't play football in 2020 and 2021. In his two seasons at UCLA, Latu produced 23.5 quarterback sacks and 34 tackles for loss. In 2023, he won the Lombardi Award and the Ted Hendricks Award.

In 2022, Latu predominantly lined up on the edge, but there were also significant snaps in sub fronts inside at 3-technique and 4i and even some snaps at 1-technique. In 2023, Latu again predominantly lined up on the edge, but there were also snaps inside at 3-technique and 4i in both the base and sub fronts. There were snaps in which he dropped out into underneath zone coverage, too.

Expert Analysis

3/27/24

4 min read

Kool-Aid McKinstry 2024 NFL Draft: Combine Results, Scouting Report For Alabama CB

Kool-Aid McKinstry celebrates with fans as he walks off the field with a towel around his head
Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back Kool-Aid McKinstry (1) reacts after defeating the Georgia Bulldogs in the SEC championship game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. (Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports)

The 2024 NFL Draft is getting close, making it an excellent time to highlight some of the class' best players with scouting reports. Each report will include strengths, weaknesses and background information. 

Here's our report on Kool-Aid McKinstry.

Kool-Aid McKinstry's 2024 NFL Combine Results

  • Height: 5'11 ½"
  • Weight: 199 pounds
  • 40-yard dash: 4.47 seconds (at his Pro Day)
  • 10-yard split: Did Not Participate (DNP)
  • Vertical jump: DNP
  • Broad jump: DNP

Kool-Aid McKinstry 2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Strengths

  • Good-sized outside corner with length and smooth loose hips and easy fluid transition and change of direction.
  • Has desirable combination of length and short-area quickness and long speed and has higher-level traits for an outside corner.
  • Played mirror-match-press-man coverage at high level. Patient and controlled matching releases and routes.
  • Has accelerating speed to run with vertical routes in mirror-match-press-man coverage. Opens and flips hips.
  • Athleticism and loose hips let him stop-start and re-accelerate. Rarely looks hurried and is controlled in his movement.
  • Shows explosive plant and drive-in off coverage. Reads receiver routes and closes with quickness and burst.
  • Excellent recognition of routes and communication skills in zone coverage. Understands zone responsibilities.
  • In 2023, shows balance and body control to stop with few steps. Has quick feet with excellent change of direction.
  • Has zone coverage snaps where he showed refined awareness of routes — plays with excellent eye discipline.

Weaknesses

  • Had some reps in mirror-match-press-man coverage where he was too reactive to receiver’s release, giving up too much space.
  • Has some press-man snaps where he needed his left arm (inside arm) to maintain balance vs. receiver’s release.
  • There were snaps (not many) vs. vertical routes where he lost contact with the receiver downfield.
  • There will be questions regarding his speed to run with vertical routes from press-man alignment. Can he stay connected?
  • Must learn to do a better job locating and playing the ball on vertical routes. Needs to increase ball production.
  • Needs to develop a better feel on vertical routes and on when to get his head around and look for the ball. Indecisive.
  • There were reps where he took too many steps to stop and react when receivers broke off their vertical stems.
  • Had some off-coverage snaps where his transition and hip-turn was a little sticky and segmented, and he was beaten.

NFL Transition

McKinstry is one of the better corner prospects in the 2024 draft class based on his 2022 and 2023 tape — although there are some concerns about his transition to the next level.

He has extensive experience playing mirror-match-press-man coverage and off-coverage man and zone — few corners can play mirror-match-press with McKinstry's poise and composure. He consistently shows the ability to stay in-phase and attached to the receiver through intermediate and vertical routes. Press man coverage is the strength of McKinstry’s game, and it is evident from studying his tape that he's a true cover corner who is very comfortable matching up on the outside.

Based on his tape, where McKinstry is not at his best and where he clearly needs work to be scheme-versatile in the NFL is in off-coverage. There were snaps where he got stuck reacting to wide receivers' breaks and vertical routes, showing some stickiness and segmentation in his transition and hip turn. He doesn't possess the kind of pure speed to compensate and recover when the receiver gets on top of him.

Overall, McKinstry is a solid corner prospect who would fit best at the next level on a team that features man coverage as its foundation with press a significant part of its tactics. That would play to McKinstry’s strengths as a corner both physically and mentally.


Other Notes

McKinstry came out of Birmingham as a consensus 5-star recruit — he was the No. 1 cornerback prospect in the nation and a top-25 player regardless of position, He started three games to end his freshman season and became a full-time starter in 2022, earning All-American honors in both that season and in 2023.

In 2022, McKinstry was the right corner in Alabama’s defense, so he has extensive experience playing to the field and the boundary. McKinstry had some excellent matchup reps vs. LSU WR Malik Nabers. In 2023, McKinstry was again the right corner in Alabama’s defense, which gave him extensive experience playing to both the boundary and the field.

Expert Analysis

3/27/24

4 min read

Bo Nix 2024 NFL Draft: Combine Results, Scouting Report For Oregon QB

Bo Nix Oregon quarterback

The 2024 NFL Draft is getting close, making it an excellent time to highlight some of the class' best players with scouting reports. Each report will include strengths, weaknesses and background information. 

Here's our report on Bo Nix.

Bo Nix's 2024 NFL Combine Results

  • Height: 6'1"
  • Weight: 218 pounds
  • 40-yard dash: DNP
  • 10-yard split: DNP
  • Vertical jump: DNP
  • Broad jump: DNP

Bo Nix 2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Strengths

  • Good size with live athletic feet and an above-average arm. He has the ability to move within the pocket and make throws.
  • Enough arm strength to drive the ball with the needed velocity at the intermediate levels inside and outside.
  • Decisive within the context of the Oregon pass game. He played with rhythm, timing and good ball placement.
  • Showed the processing to work through progressions comfortably coming to third reads and checkdowns. 
  • Drove the ball well into zone windows at the intermediate levels. He showed excellent timing and anticipation.
  • Made some outstanding deep throws with trajectory and ball placement. He is effective on play action shot plays.
  • Effective on designed boot action pass game, getting outside the pocket and making good throws on the move.
  • Gives an offense-designed QB run game. He is a good, loose athlete who must be accounted for in the zone read game.
  • Second reaction playmaking dimension to his game. He made big plays on the move, throwing and running.
  • 2023 – Showed an understanding of manipulating and moving safeties with his head and eyes to create spacing.
  • Played with a calm helmet. He never seemed hurried or frenetic in the pocket. Overall, he is a comfortable pocket QB.
  • Overall, there was a consistent and high-level efficiency to Nix re: drop, set, delivery, reads, precise ball location.
  • Flashed the timing and anticipation to make window throws vs. zone coverage. He executed hi-low concepts well.
  • Extensive experience with RPO concepts. He showed a good feel for reading run-pass defenders and making the right decision.

Weaknesses

  • At times, he drifted off the mid-line when there was no pressure. That resulted in him often throwing without a firm base.
  • Tendency to often to be a beat late on well-defined throws where route concept cleanly attacked the coverage.
  • 2022 tape showed concerns with timing and anticipation. He was inconsistent in executing within structure.
  • Pocket vision is a question. Did Nix process what he needed to make the right throw to the right receiver?
  • Reps he left throws on the field. Was that a function of vision? Did he not process it cleanly? Discomfort in the pocket? 
  • 2023 – Arm strength average. The ball does not jump out of his hand. He will be evaluated differently in the process.
  • Almost no experience in two years at Oregon with under center play action (seven snaps in 2023). It’s a learned trait.

NFL Transition

What stands out the more you watch Nix is there is a decisiveness and efficiency to his game. He is a ball distributor in a well-designed and well-schemed passing game, but he also gives you a second reaction playmaking dimension.

His 2023 tape showed meaningful improvement in some of the issues that showed up on his 2022 tape, particularly the speed with which he processed and delivered the football with timing and precise ball placement. That really stood out when throwing into tight zone window. Nix walked a fine line between playing from the pocket, allowing the pass game to work for him, and leaving the pocket prematurely. Although, he made throws outside the pocket when he did that.

Nix is a comfortable player executing the pass game, and he was an easy thrower, making the right kind of throw to the right receiver at the right time despite not having a power arm. His arm strength could be an issue for some evaluators, given that Nix cannot really drive the ball with velocity. The question/discussion is how much of a factor is that in the overall transition and projection to the NFL?

I could see a coach like Sean Payton believing Nix could run his offense effectively with the timing and rhythm element that is foundational, making power arm strength not a prerequisite.


Other Notes

Nix played two years at Oregon after spending three years at Auburn as the starting QB (34 SEC starts). he finished his college career with 60 starts (most in NCAA history). Nix stayed in-state to play at Auburn as Alabama’s Mr. Football and one of the highest rated QB recruits in the nation before his graduate transfer to Oregon. In 2023, Nix was the Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year 

In 2022, Nix ran a highly schemed well-defined passing game that presented clean reads based on play design and route concepts. Empty formations were a featured part of the Oregon pass game. In 2022, Nix was outstanding on first down play action: 54-68, 9.91 yards per attempt, six touchdowns with one interception (all but five dropbacks came out of the shotgun).

In 2023, you again saw NFL route concepts with reading progressions that Nix is now familiar with and has a solid understanding of (bunch, flood concepts, hi-low concepts, snag-flat, high red zone dino, 4 strong, back shoulder throws).

Nix a lot of experience in his two seasons at Oregon working out of empty formations, and he has been highly efficient. Terrance Ferguson's 15 yard TD vs. USC was a big-time throw by Nix. Troy Franklin's 20 yards vs. Arizona State was an outstanding tight zone window throw with high-level coverage recognition and anticipation and precise ball placement.

Tez Johnson's 32 yards vs. Oregon State was another outstanding tight zone window throw with high-level nticipation and precise ball placement. This time, he showed subtle pocket movement to slide away from front-side pressure.

Expert Analysis

3/27/24

4 min read

Jayden Daniels 2024 NFL Draft: Combine Results, Scouting Report For LSU QB

Jayden Daniels throws the ball
LSU quarterback Jayden Daniels looks to throw during his team's game against Texas A&M in Tiger Stadium in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, November 25, 2023.

The 2024 NFL Draft is getting close, making it an excellent time to highlight some of the class' best players with scouting reports. Each report will include strengths, weaknesses and background information. 

Here's our report on Jayden Daniels.

Jayden Daniels' 2024 NFL Combine Results

  • Height: 6'4"
  • Weight: 210 pounds
  • 40-yard dash: DNP
  • 10-yard split: DNP
  • Vertical jump: DNP
  • Broad jump: DNP

Jayden Daniels 2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Strengths

  • Played from the pocket with patience. He did not look to escape and run. Daniels showed a sense of progression reading.
  • Showed a feel for rhythm and timing of the passing game from the pocket. He made some strong anticipation throws.
  • Athleticism to leave pocket and run for yards puts tremendous stress on defenses and can simplify coverage.
  • Decisive within the context of the offense when reading, throwing the ball and leaving the pocket to run.  
  • Showed excellent awareness for check downs when the deeper route concepts did not present a clean read.
  • Gives an offense the designed boot pass game and designed QB run game. He is a good athlete with easy movement.
  • 2023 - Explosive playmaker with his legs. He is capable of taking it to the house every time he runs.
  • Good ball carriage and ball staging on his dropbacks. He has a quick, compact, clean delivery with no wasted motion.
  • You can tell playing the position in a fundamentally sound way with strong mechanics is important to him.
  • Consistently threw with good balance and firm base from the pocket. His feet and stature are always in good position.
  • Showed feel for pocket movement with subtle slides to create a more comfortable space to deliver within timing.
  • Dropbacks in which he showed patience in the pocket. He showed a feel for routes' interconnectivity.
  • Coverage recognition, anticipation and precise timing to make tight-window throws vs. zone coverage
  • Showed pocket toughness to stand and deliver in the face of pressure without compromising throwing mechanics.

Weaknesses

  • Arm strength on the average to slightly above scale. His deep balls had a tendency to lose energy on the back end.
  • Dropbacks where he leaves throws on the field and runs out of the pocket. He is capable of big plays with his legs, though.
  • Ball location must become more consistently precise. He's not scattershot, but he missed throws that had to be made.
  • 2023 – Arm strength with the power to drive the ball when demanded at times lacking. Not a high-level passer.
  • Still showed a tendency to not turn it loose when throws were there within play concept and structure.
  • A few too many dropbacks when he did not process the route concept vs. the coverage. Did not isolate. 
  • Did not see anticipation throws in the LSU offense. Can Daniels make those kinds of throws at the next level?
  • Overall, he took too many hits as a runner and in the pocket vs. pressures. He must learn to run smarter.

NFL Transition

Daniels is an intriguing prospect because his best trait is his explosive running ability by design and through second reaction movement. However, he is a relatively refined passer with solid fundamentals and mechanics. He has an innate willingness to work from the pocket with some sense of patience and progression reading.

Daniels' pocket command has improved significantly with experience, and he has reached a level of play where he has a desirable combination of pocket efficiency and playmaking explosiveness. He does not have a sudden twitchy arm, and the ball does not explode out of his hands. There were clear examples on his tape of deeper throws that lost energy on the back end. Overall, he can make the necessary throws within the structured context of the passing game. There was a calmness and poise to his game, with an easy fluidity to his movement both as a passer and runner.

The tape showed some issues that need to be worked on and could be cleaned up with coaching and experience. Those include less than clear vision at the second and third levels of the coverage, resulting in throws left on the field. There were also snaps when he could compensate for that deficiency with his running ability.

While Daniels mostly exhibited comfortability and patience in the pocket, that did not necessarily translate to consistent higher-level elimination and isolation within the context of route concepts vs. coverage. Overall, Daniels is a higher-level QB prospect with the ability to be patient and efficient from the pocket, especially at the first two levels of the defense.

He has the dynamic playmaking ability to place stress on the defense in critical down-and-distance situations. The fact that Daniels has shown meaningful improvement in his two seasons at LSU is a real positive. My sense is he would work best in an offense that features a higher percentage of 11 personnel with more spread formation looks to better help define the defense pre-snap.


Other Notes

Daniels played his final two seasons at LSU after three years as the starter at Arizona State. He originally came out of southern California as one of the top three dual-threat QB recruits in the nation. In 2023 at LSU, Daniels threw 40 TD passes with only four interceptions, and he rushed for more than 1100 yards 

In 2022, LSU's pass game featured predominantly half-field reads. Daniels always had the run option if he did not get a clear picture of the route concepts vs. the coverage 

In 2023, LSU's pass game featured NFL route concepts with progression reads that Daniels will need to make at the next level. He made some big-time slot fade throws vs. Ole Miss, three went for touchdowns. He showed a willingness to be patient vs. Ole Miss' high-percentage zone coverage concepts.