SCOUTING REPORT - qb3 DANIEL JONES, DUKE

One of the more vexing prospects in the 2019 NFL Draft, Daniel Jones’ true potential has been a hotly debated topic for months now. Much has been made of his tutelage at Duke under Manning mentor David Cutcliffe as well as his cerebral style and experience with pro-style reads in his college system. Jones was originally planning on playing at Princeton, and was committed there before realizing he might have a long-term future in football. The decision turned out to be a good one, as Jones is a lock to be taken on the first two nights of the draft.

PROS

Outstanding mechanics in both upper and lower body leads to consistently pretty and accurate throws. Creates an excellent throwing base with his legs and is typically squared to the target, maximizing a less-than-elite, but still easily NFL-caliber arm. Excellent vision in post-snap and also regularly demonstrates good anticipation stemming from accurate pre-snap reads. Great size and surprising athleticism. Flashed ability as a big-play runner at Duke and should be athletic enough to operate outside of the pocket and as a scrambler in the NFL. Particularly excellent deep ball thrower, especially for a QB that doesn’t really drive the ball when throwing down the field. A master of ball trajectory and touch on downfield throws. Successfully drives the ball on intermediate and short throws however, including sideline outs. Regularly demonstrated plus accuracy and ball placement inside of 15 yards. High processing speed, capable of making pro-style progression reads impressively. Surprisingly gritty leader who played, and ultimately finished out the season, 3 weeks after suffering a broken collarbone.

CONS

Inconsistent. Rhythm player too easily knocked off rhythm. Prone to questionable decision making in the pocket, including forcing throws into traffic and failing to prioritize ball security. Underdeveloped as a big play, clutch operator. Sub-optimal arm strength, although again it’s more than adequate enough to make the full array of NFL throws. Can hold the ball in the pocket too long and has not yet developed instincts for the proper time to break the pocket and scramble. Picturesque overall mechanics can be severely compromised by pressure. Often plays blind to edge rushers and underneath zone defenders. Surprising amount of batted balls for a player of his size and experience.

VERDICT

It’s just too hard to say with certainty that Daniel Jones will translate as a reliable starting QB in the NFL based on his career at Duke. However it can’t be denied that Jones demonstrated some incredibly promising traits in college, including but not limited to excellent mechanics, advanced field reading ability, well-rounded athleticism, confidence and effectiveness attacking over the top of defenses and tough leadership. The combination of his cerebral and physical abilities make Jones a rare gem of a Round 2 talent, exactly the kind of player a team without a desperate immediate need but perhaps an aging veteran QB will have to consider very seriously.

PROSPECT COMPS

Sam Darnold, Ryan Tannehill

GRADE

Early 2nd Round

*To see a breakdown of the most significant Jones plays that led to this assessment, check out his Throw Portfolio which can be found below: