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2018 NFL Draft, quarterback stock report: Sam Darnold on the rise

By Sayre Bedinger

LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 16: Sam Darnold #14 of the USC Trojans makes a pass during the second quarter against the Texas Longhorns at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 16, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - SEPTEMBER 16: Sam Darnold #14 of the USC Trojans makes a pass during the second quarter against the Texas Longhorns at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 16, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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2018 NFL Draft, quarterback stock report: Sam Darnold is on the rise, and just about everyone else floundered in week three of the college season…

LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 16: Sam Darnold #14 of the USC Trojans makes a pass during the second quarter against the Texas Longhorns at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 16, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 16: Sam Darnold #14 of the USC Trojans makes a pass during the second quarter against the Texas Longhorns at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 16, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

The 2018 NFL Draft should have plenty of intriguing talent at the quarterback position, and because of the potential impact of this up-coming class, we want to take a weekly look at the progress of these young players.

Many expected Sam Darnold to be the top overall pick in next year’s draft coming into this season, and after a slow start, he’s starting to meet those expectations. Others have been receiving mixed reviews, and we’ll get into that.

Let’s start off our 2018 NFL Draft quarterback stock report with a look at the golden arm of Darnold, the USC star:

There wasn’t a whole heck of a lot to like from Darnold’s season opener against Western Michigan, but he has since had two stock ‘up’ games in a row. He wasn’t off the charts against Texas, but he made the necessary big plays to get his team a victory in a really tough, hard-fought game.

Darnold made some really nice throws from a clean pocket in this game, but it’s his work on the move that continues to have many folks’ jaws dropping as he prepares for a move up to the NFL.

When Texas took a three-point lead late in the fourth quarter of Darnold’s week three game, he led the team down for a field goal drive and then made two really great throws in overtime to get his team the win.

Darnold has seven touchdowns compared to six interceptions so far this season, but at least two of those interceptions were not his fault and I think the touchdown numbers will continue to come in large amounts. Playing against Texas and Stanford in the early portion of the season contribute to the tough luck compared to other guys playing cupcakes, but Darnold has fared well so far and given no reason to doubt his status as one of the top players in the country through three games.

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