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Dallas Cowboys work out UCLA QB Brett Hundley

By Will Osgood

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The Dallas Cowboys reportedly worked out UCLA QB Brett Hundley in Westwood on Thursday. 

The Dallas Cowboys are kicking the tires on quarterback prospects for the upcoming NFL draft. Earlier in the pre-draft portion of the offseason, they worked out Baylor quarterback Bryce Petty.

Then Thursday, they reportedly did the same in Westwood on the UCLA campus with Brett Hundley, according to a report by NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

It has been well reported that the Cowboys were in discussions during the first round of last year’s draft about possibly drafting the local hero Johnny “Football” Manziel, eventually taken by the Cleveland Browns at No. 22 overall, just a few spots after the Cowboys wisely took guard Zack Martin from Notre Dame.

Martin was a big reason the Cowboys’ offensive line was among the league’s best a season ago, and mostly kept veteran quarterback Tony Romo clean and healthy throughout the season.

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But Romo will turn 35 on Tuesday, and with his semi-chaotic scrambling style has amassed plenty of hits and overall damage to his body.

Interestingly, no quarterback in this draft more resembles Romo than Hundley. Both excel at staying in the pocket as long as possible, then rolling around the offensive backfield for what can seem like hours to opposing defenses waiting for defenses to crack and a receiver to come open.

In fact, it is that skill–scramble ability–which most makes Hundley a potential gem in the eyes of some NFL personnel evaluators. Like Romo, though, that skill also often worked against him at UCLA.

In one game last season against the Utah Utes, Hundley took 10 sacks. Yes 10. In a college football game. For a player who came into the season thought of as a likely first-round quarterback.

That fact, namely that he’s stays in the pocket too long as a result of slow defensive recognition, has worried scouts greatly.

Still, there is reason for optimism. By all accounts, Hundley is a solid leader with an NFL-ready arm and great athleticism.

There is a whisper, though nothing worthy of a report or substantial rumor, among draft Twitter that the Eagles may consider taking Hundley, as early as the first round.

The question is, could the Cowboys develop Hundley the way Chip Kelly could? In a sense they may be able to do better. Kelly doesn’t so much develop quarterbacks as he does play to their strengths.

There is nothing wrong with that. It’s one of a few successful strategies coaches have used for decades. There is no question, however, that Hundley needs development.

Even his college coach, Jim Mora Jr., said in March that he thought Hundley was not ready to start in the NFL. And Mora has been nothing short of Hundley’s NFL campaign manager.

But backing up Romo, who seems like the kind of guy who would actually legitimately take Hundley under his wing to teach him a thing or two, might be the best case scenario for the redshirt junior.

If the Cowboys can take Hundley in the second round of the draft, it would be great value for a player who has the talent to be a top-10 pick, but is quite raw. Sitting behind Romo might be just the thing he needs to make the most of his talent one day.

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