2019 NFL Draft: Brett Rypien is your next Colt McCoy

Brett Rypien certainly has a last name pro football remembers well, but is that enough to do him any favors in the 2019 NFL draft?

Position: QB

School: Boise State

Year: Senior

Height: 6’2

Weight: 203 lbs

STRENGTHS:

• At 6’2 he has decent size for the position, allowing him to survey the field without having to get lost behind his bigger offensive line.
• A classic field general. Runs the offense with efficiency and spreads it around to all of his targets. Particularly good at working the middle of the field.
• Good throwing mechanics. Keeps the ball high and tight to minimize chances of a strip sack.
• Ball placement is strong. Does a fair job of putting it in spots where either his receiver or nobody will catch it.

This is a good example of Rypien at his most effective. He’s shown he can be dangerous when he’s not harassed with a clean pocket. His mechanics are all sharp from feet to him and delivery and the ball hits the wide receiver right over his shoulder in stride. That’s about as perfect as it gets.

• Certainly fearless. Will stand in until the last possible second to deliver the ball, unafraid of taking the hit. Tough mentality.
• That fearlessness also lends to his willingness to attack down the field. Never one to let the defense creep up trying to pounce on shorter routes.
• Creative in how he sells fakes on play action and trick plays. Often is able to get the defense to bite hard, leading to open receivers.

WEAKNESSES:

• Lacks arm strength. Frequently underthrows the out routes either low or too far inside. Is at the mercy of how good his pocket is.
• Deep ball is inconsistent. Too often he forces his receiver to torque their body back or turn completely around to haul it in. Rarely hits them in stride.
• Tends to be a one-read QB. Doesn’t come off his first option too often which can lead to him taking unnecessary hits.
• Doesn’t have the best pocket awareness. Sensing the pressure is sometimes an issue, especially from the back side.
• Accuracy suffers when he’s not able to set his feet. Doesn’t have the natural throwing motion or arm strength to compensate for such things.
• Mobility is average at best. Not a run-first type of guy in any sense. He might be able to buy an extra second to find an open receiver but that’s about it.
• Ball security is an issue with him. Doesn’t seem to have firm hand strength, which leads one to question if he might have small hands in general. 
• Seems to struggle at identifying where the pressure is coming from, often leading to defenders getting a free, unblocked shot at him.

Pro Comparison: Colt McCoy

In terms of leadership, efficiency, and competitiveness there was never a question that McCoy had traits that would’ve made him a great QB. The problem was he wasn’t quite big enough and did have the necessary arm to make it as a starter in the league. He’s instead made a steady living as a reliable backup who can at least make a few plays here and there if he gets help from the offensive line and maybe a running game.

Projection:  5th round

Rypien has been a productive player for Boise State but so was Kellen Moore and he never made it beyond the status of NFL backup. That feels like the job he’ll be headed for. It isn’t a bad thing. He can have a good, long career that way and make plenty of money. His odds of becoming a starter though are remote. He simply doesn’t have the physical tools to cut apart pro-level defenses.