What do college coaches who played against the Colorado QB think?
‘Freaks List’ creator Bruce Feldman of The Athletic is out with his annual mock draft. Ugh, you’re thinking. Another mock draft to discuss. The interesting thing about a Feldman mock draft, though, goes beyond the choices he makes. It is the intel from college and NFL sources he shares.
With that said, let’s get to what Feldman does at No. 3 for the New York Giants.
His choice? Colorado quarterback Shedeur Sanders.
No big shocker there. Full disclosure: Cam Ward went No. 1 to the Tennessee Titans and Abdul Carter No. 2 to the Cleveland Browns.
Here are some of the comments from college and NFL coaches Feldman included in his discussion of Sanders:
A Big 12 defensive coordinator:
“I think he has good arm talent and really good poise. I think he’s almost too cocky, at least at the college level, where he would take some really bad sacks. Decision-making-wise, I think he thinks he’s better than everybody else, and that does help him elevate his game, but it also gets him into some bad situations. And if he doesn’t shake that, he’s gonna take way too many sacks in the NFL.”
“Even though he’s not fast, he was pretty elusive. What I thought he does very well is when plays broke down, that was a strength. Once the first read wasn’t there and he broke the pocket, he kept his eyes downfield and really had a nice touch and was accurate. Especially when he’s on the run, that’s when he’s most dangerous. I don’t know if he has any elite physical traits, but I do think he has elite processing and feel for the game.”
A former NFL coach drops a comparison that will make you squeamish:
“Yeah, he’s smooth, and he operates well,” the coach said, “but if he operates so well, why does he take so many sacks? I know his O-line is awful, and I get that to an extent, but I’m watching him, and like 40 percent of the sacks are on him. Dude, just throw the ball!”
“He throws a very catchable ball,” the coach said, “and knows what kind of ball to throw, and his pocket movement is good, and those things do translate, but his clock is way too slow. It might be because he always thinks he has to make a play, but that’s not gonna go well in the NFL.”
A Big 12 secondary coach said:
“I think he really understands football and is very smart, and their OC did a good job of playing to his strengths. I don’t think he’s gonna be a bust.”
If you have an Athletic subscription Feldman’s full Round 1 mock draft is worth your time for the insights it offers into all of the players included.