Fansided
Fansided

2018 NFL Draft: Ranking the top five eligible quarterback prospects

By Sayre Bedinger

PASADENA, CA - NOVEMBER 11: Josh Rosen #3 of the UCLA Bruins looks to pass during the first half of a game against the Arizona State Sun Devils at the Rose Bowl on November 11, 2017 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA - NOVEMBER 11: Josh Rosen #3 of the UCLA Bruins looks to pass during the first half of a game against the Arizona State Sun Devils at the Rose Bowl on November 11, 2017 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 6
Next
LAWRENCE, KS – NOVEMBER 18: Quarterback Baker Mayfield #6 of the Oklahoma Sooners prepares to take a snap during the game against the Kansas Jayhawks at Memorial Stadium on November 18, 2017 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
LAWRENCE, KS – NOVEMBER 18: Quarterback Baker Mayfield #6 of the Oklahoma Sooners prepares to take a snap during the game against the Kansas Jayhawks at Memorial Stadium on November 18, 2017 in Lawrence, Kansas. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

2. Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma

Baker Mayfield doesn’t come from a pro-style offense like Josh Rosen, but he has been arguably the most efficient and productive quarterback in the country for three straight seasons.

Leading the nation in completion percentage, completion rate under pressure, and completion rate on deep passes, this is a guy who can really do it all from the quarterback position.

When I watch him play, I’m consistently reminded of Russell Wilson.

Mayfield makes great decisions with the football consistently, and has a great sense of timing in the passing game regardless of where he’s throwing the ball (short-intermediate-deep).

This is a guy whose competitive nature is contagious, but can also get the better of him at times. We saw that this past season against Kansas. Mayfield isn’t flawless off the field, either. He has some history that will need to be addressed with NFL teams.

That being said, he’s the type of guy that teammates seem to really rally around. He doesn’t strike me as the type of player who just excels in college because of a system or the players around him. He has lost a number of very talented players to the NFL this season, and is having arguably the best year of his college career.

I love the history with Mayfield on the field as well. This is a former college walk-on, who started as a true freshman. How often do you hear stories about a true freshman walk-on starting at a major division one program?

I love the fact that Mayfield seems to hate losing even more than he loves to win. This guy is a competitor, and I think with his natural ability to play the game, he’s going to transition to the NFL very quickly. He might not operate a pro-style offense at Oklahoma, but I don’t think he’s far off from understanding some of the other things he will need to in order to run what an NFL coordinator will want.

I think this guy is a future star.

Projection: 1st round

Home/NFL Draft