NOTRE DAME - 6'4'' 233 lbs

REDSHIRT SOPHOMORE

HANDS: 9 7/8''

ARMS: 33 1/8''

40-YARD DASH: 4.83

STRENGTHS

Fantastic arm strength. Can dial up frightening velocity on his throws, allowing him to attack seams and keep the defense honest as a consistent deep ball threat. Also demonstrates ability to gauge the proper touch required for a completion and can play with finesse where appropriate. Great size and frame and outstanding athleticism for his size. Surprisingly explosive and aggressive runner with the football. Confident, intelligent and passionate about football. Pretty throwing motion and good feet for his size. Has the highest upside of any QB in this class.

WEAKNESSES

Has a history of missing too many open throws. Velocity on throws will fluctuate between astonishing and underwhelming, often within the same offensive possession. Has not demonstrated a mastery of progression reads and gets caught staring down the primary target too much of the time. Is not the quickest decision maker in the pocket. Takes some brutal sacks that a quarterback with his athleticism should not be taking. Simply did not make enough winning plays as a collegian. Could have certainly benefitted from another year in school to hone his skills and compete for a top-10 draft selection. 

NFL COMPARISONS

I want to say his best comp is Cam Newton, but that would really not be fair to either player. Cam was bigger, more talented and far more accomplished coming out and at this stage of his career, Kizer just doesn't shape up. But the general idea is there: both are big, athletic, strong-armed pass-first quarterbacks that possess impressive running abilities which utilize both power and speed. Like Newton, Kizer should be a real running threat near the goal-line early in his career.

Donovan McNabb is another name that works, as McNabb's game was predicated on uncannily athletic maneuverabilty and very strong throwing arm. I recently stumbled upon a Kizer comparison to Steve McNair, which also intrigued me. McNair's measurables are closer to Kizer than McNabb and the combination of surprising physical athleticism at the position and plus arm strength applies to all three.

Donovan McNabb started 4 seasons at Syracuse, Steve McNair started 3 at Alcorn State and Cam Newton put together arguably the most impressive championship season in college football history at Auburn. All three performed at a much higher and more consistent level in college, which is why Kizer is the worst prospect in this group by a wide margin. Their eventual draft selections are the proof in the pudding: Newton went first overall, McNabb 2nd and McNair 3rd. But it's not as though Kizer couldn't have ended up in this same vicinity if he had stayed in school as long as any of the above names.

Just to give him a win in the comparison column, I will say that Kizer is a better prospect coming out and already a better NFL fit than Colin Kaepernick, who was taken 36th overall. This should be right in the area of where Kizer is selected. Another QB that was selected in this region (37th) is Randall Cunningham, who, all things considered, might be the most appropriate comparison of all. 

throw_ology DRAFT GRADE

2nd round. Kizer is one of the toughest players to evaluate in the entire draft because his brilliant flashes are on-par with a number one overall pick. But the body of work in college simply wasn't there and even in the combine exercises he was outperformed by Deshaun Watson and Mitchell Trubisky. He is more of a project than either of these players, and even Patrick Mahomes, but I think he has the highest upside of any QB in the draft. Which is why a 2nd round price tag could wind up being a bargain gamble.

2017 DRAFT PROJECTION

Early 2nd round. It is so close, but I prefer Kizer as a prospect over Mahomes by a hair. However, the rumors seem to indicate the NFL teams don't agree and that Mahomes is the more likely candidate to go in the mid to late first round. It is certainly possible Kizer could wind up at #25 to the Texans or #27 to the Chiefs, but I'm thinking the more likely scenario is he gets snapped up by one of the QB-needy teams that didn't grab one in round 1. This could mean Cleveland at #33, San Francisco at #34, Chicago at #36 or the Jets at #39. If Kizer reaches the 40th pick in the draft it will be a surprise.