NFL draft: Greg Cosell assesses strengths, weaknesses of top quarterbacks

INDIANAPOLIS — He isn’t a coach or a team scout, but Greg Cosell commands a lot of respect in NFL circles, particularly with his quarterback evaluations. Here, the senior producer for NFL Films shares a sampling of his observations on his top six quarterback prospects heading into the draft:

North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell passes against Boston College.

(Associated Press)

Strengths

• Threw an excellent deep ball with both proper trajectory, touch and consistently precise ball placement.
• Gives an offense the designed QB run game and zone read game. Strong competitive runner with RB traits.
• Designed runs and second-reaction runs stood out most on tape. That was the strength of his game in 2021.
  

Weaknesses

• Will need to learn the NFL play-action pass game from under center. Did not throw a pass under center in 2021.
• Too often left the pocket when first read was taken away. Must develop more patience and pocket movement.
• Not a natural-timing and anticipatory thrower. Too often waited to see it before turning it loose. See it, throw it.

Mississippi quarterback Matt Corral (2) warms up during drills before a game against Louisiana State in October.

(Rogelio V. Solis / Associated Press)

Strengths

• Showed good balance with firm base on his set in the pocket. Subtle movement to reset his feet when needed.
• Precise ball location in short and intermediate pass game, especially between the numbers. Confident thrower.
• Aggressive and competitive runner with physical toughness. Did not always look to go down to give himself up.
  

Weaknesses

• One-arm-angle thrower given tight delivery with almost no range of motion. Cannot manipulate arm angle.
• Needs to be taught much more about the concepts of NFL passing games and full field progression reads.
• Took far too many hits and shots running both by design and second reaction. That will have to change in NFL.

Liberty quarterback Malik Willis runs upfield past Coastal Carolina linebacker Teddy Gallagher in December.

(Matt Stamey / Associated Press)

Strengths

• Firm touch and velocity to make tough throws into tight zone windows. Threw fade ball with good ball location.
• Showed flashes of patience in the pocket and comfortable pocket movement making late-in-the-down throws.
• Overall an explosive athlete and mover who can break down the defense and make plays outside of structure.

Weaknesses

• Field vision a concern. Did not show a refined feel for elimination and isolation. Too often slow to process.
• Almost no feel for pocket movement, for managing the pocket. Much more pocket leaver than pocket mover.
• Tendency to be a beat late on basic route combinations like snag-flat and curl-flat. Waited for it to define itself.

Pittsburgh quarterback Kenny Pickett sets to throw against New Hampshire in September.

(Associated Press
)

Strengths

• A touch and pace thrower more than a power thrower. Increased velocity when needed but not a big arm.
• Showed understanding of safety rotation and movement to define reads and throws. Decisive and aggressive.
• Worked all three levels of the defense with the different drop timing and progression reads demanded at each one.

Weaknesses

• Hand size and arm strength will be debated. Small hands and does not have a live loose arm — how important?
• At times could be a little sloppy with his drop and set not planting with a firm base. Not ready to throw the ball.
• Too many snaps in which he broke the pocket early overreactive to “pressure.” Left clean throws on the field.

Cincinnati quarterback Desmond Ridder throws a pass against South Florida in November.

(Chris O’Meara / Associated Press)

Strengths

• Easy thrower with live, loose arm that generated velocity without much effort. Drove the ball when needed.
• Willingness to make stick throws into tight windows versus man and zone with an aggressive throwing mindset.
• Made reads and throws versus disguise and late movement defenses/coverages. No sense of confusion.

Weaknesses

• Little bit of an elongated delivery at times. A lot of motion in his delivery which can negatively impact accuracy.
• Tendency at times to drop his arm angle just a little bit and that caused the ball to sail resulting in high throws.
• Tendency when he felt pressure to rush his mechanics and lose upper body-lower body sync and coordination.

Nevada quarterback Carson Strong looks to throw a pass against San Diego State in November.

(Jae C. Hong / Associated Press)

Strengths

• The arm strength to throw from the far hash to the opposite sideline which is a long throw in college football.
• Showed the arc/trajectory and touch and precise ball placement to make fade throws down the sideline.
• There were snaps in which he showed effective movement to navigate the pocket and find space to deliver.
  

Weaknesses

• Tendency to lock his front leg on his delivery which resulted in pulling away from throws and losing velocity.
• Feet could be a little clunky and slow in the pocket. At times not efficient late-in-the-down in the pocket.

• There will be definite questions about his ability to function effectively in muddied pockets. A major concern.

  

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