2014 NFL Draft: Marcus Mariota getting compared to Cam Newton

There are just a few weeks remaining in the college football regular season, which means players are running out of time to show the NFL scouts what they can do on the field and highlight the skills that will make them successful at the next level.

Much of the conversation focuses around the top draft prospects for next year’s draft and who the “can’t miss” prospects will be.

While many draft analysts are saying Jameis Winston and Teddy Bridgewater are the guys you will want to build your team around, one of the most respected guys in the business, Gil Brandt, is going with Marcus Mariota of Oregon.

From NFL.com’s Gil Brandt:

"Marcus Mariota is a smaller version of Cam Newton, with more accuracy as a passer than Newton at the same age (although Newton is much improved now). When you see what Mariota did against Washington and Washington State, two pretty good defensive teams; vs. Tennessee, a fast defensive team; and UCLA, a great defensive team, you have to be impressed. Many people might say, “Well, yeah, but what about his game against Stanford?” I think he did pretty well in the second half after making adjustments. He’s a player I’d pick to build my NFL franchise around."

With how well Newton has been doing in recent weeks, this is great praise.

Mariota will have to decide whether he wants to declare for the 2014 NFL Draft once Oregon’s 2013 season is over or if he wants one more try to lead his team to a national title, but regardless of what he chooses he will be a highly sought after player once he is eligible to be selected.