Marcus Mariota
Oregon, QB
Height: 6.4
Weight: 215
Age: 21
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Arm: B-
Has good arm strength and will not be hindered by his arm in the NFL. Zips passes to the sidelines and can throw a tight spiral downfield. Does not lose much on his fastball when throwing on the run. Has a smooth delivery and his release is both high enough and quick enough to avoid issue.
Accuracy: C+
Has above average, but not good accuracy at all levels of the field. Is better throwing short than deep. Passes have a tendency to sail on him. Needs to work on his timing and throwing receivers open, as his receivers were frequently wide open at Oregon. Has good touch to throw over defenders. Uncanny accuracy on the move to hit his receivers, either when rolling to his right or his left. Will throw flat-footed from the pocket. Did not drop from center in college, which is a minor concern regarding his ability to drop and throw with precision.
Athleticism: A+
Elite athlete and arguably one of the best athletes to project to quarterback in the NFL coming out of college. Has very good straight line speed and is a fluid agile runner, who is shifty both in the open field and in the pocket. Adept at picking and sliding in the pocket and avoiding the rush. Rolled out and backtracked more than he stepped up when under pressure. Is not a tackle-breaker, but can get some yards after contact, and generally knows when to slide and to avoid unnecessary contact. Has very poor ball security and will just flat out drop the ball when he’s moving backwards.
Mental: C
Shows very good vision from the pocket and will keep his eyes downfield while avoiding the rush. Threw few interceptions in college, but decision-making is not perfect. Will throw across his body and make risky throws when his receiver is well covered or leave them vulnerable to kill shots. Made a lot of predetermined throws and will need to prove he can go through multiple progressions. Anticipation is lacking. Played in a wide-open read-option spread offense and will have to adjust to the complexities of an NFL offense.
Intangibles: A-
Has the characteristics of a leader and has sterling personal and football character by all accounts. Has been criticized as being “too nice.” Is tough and has played through pain. Has not missed a start, but is susceptible to minor injuries. Is poised in the pocket and is willing to stand in and take a hit when making a throw.
Red Flags: System Player
Bottom Line: Marcus Mariota is the rare spread-option quarterback who has the makeup to play in the NFL at a high level. His ability to make NFL-type reads and decisions is unproven and will require a learning curve, but his athleticism will allow him to buy time as a starter if he wants to be an elite player. Mariota is a player who is not without risk, but may just be a gamble worth taking. He has unlimited upside and could become the gold standard for athletic signal-callers.
Comparison: Robert Griffin III
Grade: 9.0
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