2019 NFL Draft: Dwayne Haskins would see himself in Teddy Bridgewater

Dwayne Haskins has set himself up to be a major player in the 2019 NFL draft with his success of late, but does he deserve to be a high draft choice?

Position: QB

School: Ohio State

Year: Sophomore

Height: 6’3

Weight: 220 lbs

STRENGTHS:

• Size certainly isn’t a problem. Haskins has the big, strong body that NFL teams covet and looks like he’ll be able to withstand the physicality of the NFL.
• Arm strength isn’t quite elite but he’s got more than enough juice in his throws to open up the entire playbook. The ball comes out of his hand hot when he wants to cut it loose.
• Features a tight, compact delivery. Makes sure not to waste motion with any sort of windup. The ball goes up to the ear and out, reducing chances of a strip-sack.
• When kept clean by the offensive line, he rarely misfires. The ball is consistently on target at all levels from short to intermediate to deep.

This is one of those plays that NFL teams will circle when evaluating him. Haskin gets the snap and looks to his first read. It isn’t there. The protection is good so he comes back to his right and cuts it loose down the field. The coverage by the defense is solid but the receiver has a step and the ball hits him right in stride for a touchdown. That is what experts often call a “big boy” throw.

• Quick with his decisions. A lot of QBs sometimes wait for an extra split second before turning the ball loose. There’s none of that with him. The moment he sees it, it’s gone.
• Tends to save his best performances for big games. Against Penn State, Michigan, and Northwestern (Big 10 championship) he had 14 TD passes and one interception.
• Though he’s not a scrambler by nature, he does show a capacity to do it when asked, able to keep plays alive just long enough to get something positive from it.

WEAKNESSES:

• His footwork can tend to get lazy at times. This leads to occasional misfires. He gets away with that now in college but that will be a problem in the pros.
• Tends to lose a good chunk of his accuracy when he’s under pressure, further hampered by the issue of his feet. A testament to his last of experience.
• While he’s not a statue and can move like any athlete, he is not a natural runner. He prefers to sit back in the pocket and throw. Scrambling is only done out of necessity
• Not asked to survey a defense too often. Usually gets the ball to his first read. Doesn’t go through his progressions except on limited occasions.
• For all the gaudy numbers, Haskins benefitted from his receivers often being wide open and throwing simple crossing routes and screens. Can he handle the more complicated plays?

Pro Comparison: Teddy Bridgewater

People often misdiagnosed Bridgewater as a running quarterback. This is not true. While he could move when he had to, the former Pro Bowler always wanted to throw first. He had an underrated arm and consistently found his receivers when they were open. He also seemed to elevate his play in big games, having that competitive mental toughness. Their sizes are similar and they tend to excel in the same type of offenses.

Projection:  1st Round

Given the makeup of the 2019 class and Haskins’ own considerable talent, the odds favor him being a top 32 pick come next April. This provided he decides to declare which is looking like an increased possibility given the uncertain fate of head coach Urban Meyer. His mix of size, arm strength, ability to handle pressure situations, and consistent accuracy are all things an NFL team will believe they can build around.