After the latest USC-UCLA game brought numerous scouts and NFL personnel executives, some fallout from the Trojans’ 28-23 win over the Bruins emerged. Most notably, one of the two quarterbacks looks like a good bet to leave school early while the other isn’t certain yet.
Josh Rosen declaring for the 2018 draft is viewed as a “done deal,” Tony Pauline of DraftAnalyst.net reports. Sam Darnold has not decided yet, and Pauline reports that decision is a ways off. This gels with what came out about Darnold over the summer.
Albert Breer of SI.com added the teams at the top of the draft will play a part in influencing the redshirt sophomore’s decision.
“Sam Darnold has great support around him and comes from a great family and my understanding is he’s going to take everything into account … that includes who is at the top of the draft,” Breer told 92.3 The Fan (via Scott Patsko of cleveland.com). “It includes the coaches that he sees drafting first, second and third overall. That will be part of the decision-making. What is best for me? What will put me in the best position to have a long NFL career.”
As for Saturday night’s game, at least 20 teams sent scouts. Pauline reports four franchises — the Browns, Bills, Jets and Giants — had key front office personnel at the game in addition to scouts. Mike Maccagnan and Jerry Reese were confirmed to be on hand.
Pauline’s consensus from discussing Darnold with on-hand personnel would be the passer could use one more year of seasoning. While a few of these evaluators said Darnold would be the 2018 No. 1 pick if he entered the draft due to his arm talent and athleticism, the prodigious talent drew Jay Cutler comparisons as well. Darnold wouldn’t be the first quarterback to bypass a draft as a possible No. 1 overall pick, with Peyton Manning and former Trojan Matt Leinart among those to do so in years past.
GMs and scouts who spoke to Pauline viewed Rosen as possessing possibly a bit more ability than Darnold, but his personality appears to be turning off some NFL folks. At least two GMs issued “stay away” warnings regarding Rosen. Another GM whom Pauline notes runs a team that will likely own a top-12 pick and is in need of a quarterback said he would not select Rosen with it due to character concerns.
Overall, Pauline reports the consensus on the 2018 quarterback class is Rosen and Darnold are clearly atop the field.
Comparing someone to Cutler is an insult
Sam Darnold is significantly worse then Josh Rosen
Anyone can feel free to give me their thoughts because I might honestly be missing something, but what’s really wrong with Rosen? He’s kind of an abrasive guy and he’s not afraid to speak his mind, but I don’t know of any arrests or legitimate problems with his character. I personally believe he’s the best quarterback likely to be in the draft (by far), and teams have put up with much worse for talented players, so I don’t really see the hold up.
“not afraid to speak his mind”
Well this probably plays a lot into it for a league obsessed with their young talent being seen but not heard. Also, I wouldn’t doubt that there is some serious smoke screen action going on here.
I like that Darnold realizes that either the Jets or Browns are certain to ruin whomever they draft.
So he’s going to give up making millions because he is afraid he will go to a bad team and go back to college where an injury or bad season will cost him millions of dollars…..doubt it