NFL Draft: Is Michigan State’s Connor Cook a Top Five Pick?

Oct 18, 2014; Bloomington, IN, USA; Michigan State Spartans quarterback Connor Cook (18) rolls out of the pocket as the looks to pass against the Indiana Hoosiers at Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports

So often, the NFL Draft is a crap shoot, and if Michigan State quarterback Connor Cook is picked in the top five, that will prove true yet again in 2015.

According to CBS Sports’ Dane Brugler, it may be a surprise and it may seem unlikely at this point, but if the fit and need are there, he sees right now the Spartan quarterback as a top five selection in next year’s NFL Draft.

"“I’m sure many are surprised to see this name so high in a mock draft, but Cook continues to improve with every snap he takes, showing he has NFL skills. Jake Locker is a free agent and Ken Whisenhunt will want a quarterback that fits what he wants to do — and that could be the Spartans passer if he declares.”"

Cook has certainly led a very good Michigan State team into some very solid wins already this season. He’s proven that he can make all of the throws required of an NFL quarterback, and it doesn’t hurt that he’s a smart kid who, like Brugler said, seems to improve with every snap.

The 6-foot-4, 218-pound junior has made great strides for the Spartans this season after his first year of full-time starting action a year ago. Last season, he completed under 60 percent of his passes and finished with 22 touchdowns compared to only six interceptions — but he took 16 sacks.

Cook continues to improve with every snap he takes

This season, he’s on pace to shatter those numbers, including taking only four sacks already this season with 176 pass attempts. He’s also got 16 touchdowns thus far, including six in his last two games, both blowout wins.

There are inconsistencies in Cook’s game, as there are expected to be in every young quarterback, but the talent outweighs the risk at this point, and there’s no denying the results he has produced. In two years of starting, Cook is 12-0 in Big Ten play with a matchup against Michigan on deck. He’s got an opportunity the rest of this season to continue to build hype and keep himself firmly in the discussion as the top quarterback taken, especially with evaluators poking holes in Marcus Mariota’s game.