Keith Price, QB, Washington: 2013 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Selling Points:

• Athletic quarterback who throws well on the run.
• Better than average arm strength with solid mechanics.
• Good ball-handler, sells the play-action fake.
• Understands how to vary arm angles and release based on the throw required.  Knows when to throw his fastball and when to take a little off.
• Good leader, tough.  Willing to play through injury.  Unphased by the pressure of having to follow up local legend Jake Locker.
• Stands in the pocket against the rush, not afraid to take a hit.

Concerns:

• Needs to add weight/strength to his slight frame. Can he stay healthy?
• Has bouts of wild innacuracy.  Will force the ball into coverage.

Summary:

Price is an intriguing prospect.  He burst onto the scene in 2011 when he threw for 21 TD’s and only 4 INT’s in his first six games, and really opened some eyes with his 438 yard, 4 TD performance against RGIII’s Baylor Bears in the Alamo Bowl.  In between, however, his TD/INT ratio was a pedestrian 8/7 during the heart of the Huskies Pac-12 Conference schedule.  To his credit, he battled through injuries to both knees during that stretch.  Price has a chance to be wildly productive playing for Steve Sarkisian, and his name is likely to pop up in Heisman talk in 2012, but there are questions about his pro ceiling.  He’s a good athlete with a strong arm, but he’s not nearly elite in either area.  And he’s only 6’1″ and 195 lbs.  He’s the best QB in the Pac-12 not named Barkley, and he’ll get plenty of exposure with the conference’s new TV deal this year, but with the 2013 QB draft class shaping up to be a potential bounty, Price may be best served by staying in school for his senior year.