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Sam Darnold, QB, USC: 2018 NFL Draft Scouting Report

By George Stockburger

Oct 1, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans quarterback Sam Darnold (14) celebrates with the student section after the game against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The Southern California Trojans won 41-20. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 1, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans quarterback Sam Darnold (14) celebrates with the student section after the game against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. The Southern California Trojans won 41-20. Mandatory Credit: Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports /
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Will limited starts for USC hold Sam Darnold back in the 2018 NFL Draft?

Far too early in the NFL Draft process, we anoint one quarterback as the next can’t miss guy who is a shoo-in number one overall pick. One year it was Christian Hackenberg, the next Brad Kaaya, and now it’s USC’s Sam Darnold.

Taking USC to a Rose Bowl victory, Darnold has only 13 career games under him as the USC quarterback. His poise against a tough Penn State team and leading USC back into playoff contention has made him the next guy to watch for teams such as the Jets, 49ers, and Browns.

With Darnold you’re getting a passer who is accurate in the short game, but off target down the field. Some of that is footwork issues, which can be cleaned up next year in college or by an NFL quarterback coach.

He’s not asked to throw the ball downfield a whole lot, which is the nature of most college offenses today. There’s a lot of five-yard curls and bubble screens that help his passer rating climb.

Sep 23, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; USC Trojans quarterback Sam Darnold (14) passes the ball against the Utah Utes in the first quarter at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 23, 2016; Salt Lake City, UT, USA; USC Trojans quarterback Sam Darnold (14) passes the ball against the Utah Utes in the first quarter at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Swinger-USA TODAY Sports /

His throwing motion is incredibly long and may have too much motion in it. On the bright side, the ball jumps out of his hand quickly, making up for lost time in the draw.

Don’t consider Darnold a speedy quarterback that will set any 40-yard dash records. Though I don’t consider him mobile, he’s athletic enough to roll outside of the pocket if needed and extend a play.

Just don’t write a quarterback run in the game plan more than once a week.

His eyes are advanced for a collegiate quarterback, knowing how to look off the safety and read his progressions when the first option isn’t available.

Darnold also is an expert in avoiding sacks, taking only six the entire season.

I think Darnold has the tools to be an NFL quarterback, but he needs to address the past history of USC quarterbacks never translating (Mark Sanchez, Matt Barkley) and some mechanics.

Most of that will be nailing down the footwork and keeping his hips square, but that comes with experience, something he has little of.

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I do expect Darnold, should he declare, to be one of the top quarterbacks in the 2018 NFL Draft class, but I’m far from ready to anoint him the number one overall pick.

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