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2018 NFL Draft: Quarterback stock report, week two

By Sayre Bedinger

PASADENA, CA - SEPTEMBER 09: Josh Rosen #3, quarterback of the UCLA Bruins, warms up before the game against the UCLA Bruins at the Rose Bowl on September 9, 2017 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA - SEPTEMBER 09: Josh Rosen #3, quarterback of the UCLA Bruins, warms up before the game against the UCLA Bruins at the Rose Bowl on September 9, 2017 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 09: Sam Darnold #14 of the USC Trojans looks to pass during the first half against the Stanford Cardinal at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 9, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 09: Sam Darnold #14 of the USC Trojans looks to pass during the first half against the Stanford Cardinal at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 9, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

Stat Line: 21-of-26 passing, 316 yards, 4 touchdowns, 2 interceptions

After a down week to start the 2017 season and his candidacy to be the number one overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, Sam Darnold bounced back and helped USC to a big win over Stanford in a tough week two matchup.

While Darnold had two interceptions in this game, I don’t fault him too much and when you watch the game against Stanford, you’ll see why:

There were a couple of throws from this game that forced me to pick my jaw up off the ground. Take a look:

We saw some wasted movement in Darnold’s delivery week one, which was the result of just some sloppy mechanics. It wasn’t that we had never seen it before, but you definitely hope to see less of it in year two. It almost appeared as though the guy out there this past weekend was a different player entirely.

I couldn’t help when watching Darnold in this game but to think about how much he reminded me of Jameis Winston at Florida State.

They’re obviously not exactly the same, but like Darnold has been struggling with interceptions, Winston struggled with the same at FSU a little bit. It wasn’t overly alarming, however, because the interceptions were a result of simply trying to do too much with the ball and too much given the QB’s confidence in his ability to make any throw.

As is the case with Winston, no play is ever dead for Darnold. That’s what makes him great and simultaneously what gets him into trouble.

I was a bit worried about Darnold after week one, but this game inspired a lot more confidence for me, at least as it relates to his ability to be an NFL starter.

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