2017 NFL Draft: Why Mitch Trubisky Could Be The “Fall” Guy

A quarterback falling in the 2017 NFL draft is almost a foregone conclusion. Why? It happens every year and Mitch Trubisky could be that man.

The thing to remember about the draft is it’s not perfect. That’s what makes it so enticing to watch. Teams can hit it big or make a colossal mistake based around the turning in of a single card. No position impacts this more than quarterbacks. It’s for that reason teams are often so hesitant to invest 1st round picks in the position, and why several times over the years a notable prospect who thought he’d go high would have to wait hour or even an entire day to find a home.

NFL Films and draft analyst Greg Cosell is noted for having a decent eye for quarterbacks. His significant breakdown of Trubisky was revealing in a variety of ways. Most notably how unimpressed with his overall talent he is. Based on these notes it appears the North Carolina standout might be in for a rude awakening on draft day.

Cosell isn’t alone in his judgment either. Several other football experts including Mike Mayock have come out saying they believe Trubisky is more of a second round talent. Capable of being a really good player but burdened by lacking experience and some physical deficiencies. He’s not quite big enough, doesn’t have the strongest arm and can be prone to erratic decision-making from time to time. Is all that really worth gambling in the 1st round?

As the draft draws closer, teams will be forced to tackle this difficult question. Every year it feels like there is one quality quarterback who must endure the humiliating reality of a drop. It was true in 2014 for Derek Carr, in 2013 for Geno Smith, and 2011 for Andy Dalton and Colin Kaepernick. It’s just proof that sometimes teams are right to wait and sometimes they can make a huge mistake. There is of course still a strong likelihood that Trubisky doesn’t make it out of the top 10, but if Cosell is right then if he starts falling it may not stop until day two.