The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Darnold, Allen intriguing, but having off years
It may have gone unnoticed in these parts last summer, but an NFL.com report said Southern Cal’s Sam Darnold might stay in school after the 2017 season.
A few months later, fan chatter on Twitter has continued that narrative, but Darnold, one of the top-rated QBs for the 2018 NFL draft (if he declares) rebutted that NFL.com report shortly after it was published.
“I’m really just taking it one year at a time honestly,” Darnold said in mid-July on ESPN’s “The Six.”
“That’s my mindset. I don’t know where he got his information from. I’m really just taking it one year at a time.”
In the second half of the 2016 season, Darnold emerged like a young pop star, and that culminated in a epic Rose Bowl performance. He threw for 453 yards and five touchdowns in a 52-49 win over Penn State.
The 2017 season hasn’t gone as smoothly for the 6-foot-4 Californian. He has looked good in spots, but Darnold has been inconsistent. He threw nine interceptions in 2016, but already has 10 this season with four games to play.
There have been bright spots this season — Darnold has had five games with at least three touchdown passes.
However, his completion percentage is down from 67.2 in 2016 to 62.5 this season.
Still, at 6-4, 225 pounds and a solid right arm, and with solid pocket presence, Darnold should translate well to the NFL.
CBSsportsline.com ranks its top QB prospects for the 2018 draft throughout the season. This week’s Top Six:
1. Mason Rudolph, Oklahoma State, Sr. 2. Josh Rosen, UCLA, Jr. 3. Lamar Jackson, Louisville, Jr. 4. Sam Darnold, So.. USC 5. Ryan Finley, Jr., N.C. State
6. Baker Mayfield, Sr. Oklahoma
When the NFL.com report surfaced last summer, the big rumor was the New York Jets were eyeing Darnold, and were prepared to tank the 2017 season to land the USC quarterback.
In response to that, Darnold said on “The Six”:
“I don’t think any team should tank their season because of me.”
The Jets started the season 3-2, but have lost three straight, so New York hasn’t tanked anything.
With the Darnold buzz meter up and down throughout the season, there’s no telling where he might rank once the predraft season begins — if Darnold declares for the draft.
Still, with the Browns winless at 0-8 and the 0-8 49ers landing Patriots backup QB Jimmy Garoppolo in an Oct. 30 trade, the Browns seem like a safe bet to win the race as the first team to select a QB in the next draft.
The 2018 QB class looks like a strong one, and one of the most intriguing prospects might be Wyoming’s Josh Allen. He’s a junior, so there’s no guarantee he will be available the draft.
If he is and the Browns like him as a possible franchise QB and are picking No. 1 overall, he will be there for the taking.
Allen has the size at 6-foot-5, 233 pounds and a strong arm, but he hasn’t had a strong season in 2017. In eight games, he has thrown for 1,450 yards with 12 touchdowns and six interceptions. Allen has completed just 55 percent of his throws.
Still, ESPN draft analyst Todd McShay believes in Allen as an NFL QB as a first-round pick. He recently pointed out on ESPN.com that Allen lost a lot of players from 2016, when the Wyoming QB threw for more than 3,000 yards and 28 touchdowns.
“Allen will be better as a pro,” said McShay at ESPN. com. “I think he has the best arm in this class. He can make strong throws from any platform. That has gotten him into trouble at times. (This season) he has some bad turnovers and pedestrian overall numbers.”
That seems to be the story with many of the top college QB prospects, including Darnold and Allen.
There’s plenty of talent, but also a lot of questions.