2019 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Duke QB Daniel Jones

HEIGHT: 6-5

WEIGHT: 221

COLLEGE: Duke

CLASS: Redshirt Junior

2018 STATS: 237/392, 60.5%, 2,674 yards, 6.8 YPA, 22 TD, 9 INT, 131.7 RATE (11 games)

CAREER STATS: 764/1,275, 59.9%, 8,201 yards, 6.4 YPA, 52 TD, 29 INT, 122.9 RATE (36 games)

GAMES WATCHED (10): Army, Northwestern, Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, Virginia, Pittsburgh, Miami (FL), North Carolina, Clemson, Temple

40	BENCH	VERT	BROAD	3 CONE	20S	60S
4.81		33.5″	120″	7.0	4.41

SIZE/PHYSICAL TRAITS (5/5)

ACCURACY/BALL PLACEMENT (18.75/25)

Pretty good short accuracy/ball placement — especially between the numbers
Below average intermediate accuracy
Decent deep ball accuracy
Accuracy/ball placement is below average on outside the numbers throws
Benefited heavily from wide open throwing windows created by RPO fakes and struggled to hit tight-window throws with any consistency
Solid accuracy on the move
Decent accuracy under duress

ARM STRENGTH (11.25/15)

Good velocity on short passes
Adequate velocity on intermediate passes
Lacks ideal velocity for deeper passes (40+ yards) and far hash throws — passes tend to float, giving defenders time to catch up and make plays on the ball
Lacks ideal velocity when his feet aren’t set
Can make most of the required NFL throws

MENTAL PROCESSING (14/20)

Makes good pre-snap reads most of the time — identifies vulnerabilities in the coverage and makes own sight adjustments
Processes short passing concepts quickly, but tends to hesitate/hold the ball too long on deeper passing concepts
Gets the ball out late a fair number of times — doesn’t always trust what he sees?
Quick to check down — doesn’t often allow downfield routes to develop even when he’s not under pressure
Finds hot route quickly when he faces immediate pressure
Good eye discipline/manipulation — rarely stares down receivers and shows an ability to hold/move second and third level defenders with his eyes to create throwing windows
Will predetermine throws at times without confirming that his pre-snap read was correct
Decision-making worsens the further downfield he attempts to throw — misreads leverage of safeties and deep dropping linebackers
Will force the ball into tight coverage rather than throw the ball away
Holds the ball too long and takes a lot of unnecessary sacks
Forces too many off-balance throws under pressure
Bad habit of patting the ball before he throws it — telegraphs throws to defenders in this way and it likely contributed to his 12 batted passes in 2018 (highest mark of 2019 draft-eligible QBs)

POCKET PRESENCE (7.5/15)

Generally does a good job of keeping his eyes downfield when he’s under pressure
Poor pocket awareness — doesn’t feel edge pressure very well
Won’t climb the pocket often and takes a lot of sacks as a result — very susceptible to strip-sacks due to poor awareness of edge pressure
Doesn’t have a natural feel for how to navigate the pocket — often drifts or backpedals into pressure
Doesn’t show great escapability or off-script playmaking ability

MECHANICS (4/5)

Solid release time — slight drop of the ball in delivery, but gets it out over his shoulder
Smooth drop footwork
Steps into throws and transfers weight nicely on the follow through

MOBILITY (4/5)

Fairly mobile — effective runner on scramble plays; can be utilized on designed runs
Pretty good at extending plays with his legs when he breaks the pocket, but lacks great escapability

INTANGIBLES (6/10)

Fairly experienced (36 games under his belt)
Coached by noted quarterback connoisseur David Cutcliffe (he coached the Manning brothers in college)
Lauded by Cutcliffe for his work ethic
Mediocre 3-year production
Struggled to elevate his team in big games
Questionable poise under duress

RED FLAGS

OVERALL GRADE: 70.50/100.00 –LATE 3RD ROUND/EARLY 4TH ROUND

SCHEME FIT: West Coast offense

NFL COMPARISON: Poor man’s Ryan Tannehill

DRAFT PROJECTION: 1st round

Pigskin Prodigies