Logan Woodside is part of a rather intriguing quarterback class in the 2018 NFL draft. Where does his scouting report have him going?
Position: QB
School: Toledo
Year: Senior
Height: 6’2″
Weight: 210 lbs
STRENGTHS:
- Ball comes off his hand with good velocity. Makes throws that require considerable arm strength look routine. Can go deep without needing a heavy windup.
- Considerable accuracy on his throws at every level. Capable of consistently hitting his receivers in stride with good ball placement.
- Shows a willingness to stand tall in the pocket and deliver the pass in long down and distance situations. Keeps his eyes down the field.
- Demonstrates solid field vision. Able to see the openings in coverage before they happen, throwing the ball to a spot where his receiver will get it.
- Quick, compact throwing motion. Not a lot of wasted time when delivering the ball, thus minimizing the chances of strip-sacks.
- Decisive in his decision-making process. Evaluates the field quickly and then lets it rip. Not too much hesitation on his throws.
This play against Miami, which was the biggest opponent he ever faced in college, demonstrates many of the things he does well. He takes the snap and drops back. Once hitting that back step he shuffles forward with his eyes down the field. He reads the middle first and then looks down the right sideline to see his receiver wide open. With that quick decision-making and compact release, he’s able to get the ball out just before the pass rush gets to him. The pass hits the receiver dead on for a 37-yard touchdown.
- Played with poor receivers for most of his tenure at Toledo. Lots of good passes that were flat out dropped by his targets.
- Won MAC championship for his school for the first time in 13 years, demonstrating his ability to elevate a program.
- Highly productive passer in his last two years as a starter. He finished throwing 73 touchdowns to just 17 interceptions, indicating he knows how to protect the ball.
WEAKNESSES:
- He isn’t a runner. Though not a statue in the pocket, he’s not going to escape the bulk of defensive players in the NFL.
- Operates exclusively from a spread offense at Toledo. Would need time to adjust to under center concepts once he gets to the pros.
- He’s listed at 6’2″ but will likely be closer to 6’1″. That’s not necessarily bad but it’s a bit undersized in the eyes of most evaluators.
- Was often aided by great running games. Had Kareem Hunt in 2016 and a ground game that piled up over 2,600 yards in 2017.
Pro Comparison: Andy Dalton
People like to dump on the Bengals starter these days but the fact is Dalton has gone to Pro Bowls in the NFL. He’s been pretty good. Certainly better than half the league at times. He’s a solid passer with a good enough arm and accuracy when he’s protected. Give him a running game and he’s proven he can beat most of the top teams in the league. Maybe not a guy who wins you games, but one you can win a lot of games with.
Projection: 4th Round
Woodside is definitely one of the sleepers of this draft. If he were a bit bigger and played at a more prominent program he’d be pushing for 1st round consideration. He has a solid arm, good accuracy, operates with poise and precision and has shown he can elevate his team when needed. He’ll be a backup early in his career but once he acclimates to NFL systems he most definitely has the capacity to become a starter.