Fansided

2018 NFL Draft QB stock report – Week 6: What’s wrong with Sam Darnold?

By Conor Dorney

PASADENA, CA - SEPTEMBER 30: Josh Rosen #3 of the UCLA Bruins passes as Dante Wigley #4 of the Colorado Buffaloes defends during the first half of a game at the Rose Bowl on September 30, 2017 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA - SEPTEMBER 30: Josh Rosen #3 of the UCLA Bruins passes as Dante Wigley #4 of the Colorado Buffaloes defends during the first half of a game at the Rose Bowl on September 30, 2017 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 6
Next
PASADENA, CA – SEPTEMBER 30: Josh Rosen #3 of the UCLA Bruins passes as Dante Wigley #4 of the Colorado Buffaloes defends during the first half of a game at the Rose Bowl on September 30, 2017, in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA – SEPTEMBER 30: Josh Rosen #3 of the UCLA Bruins passes as Dante Wigley #4 of the Colorado Buffaloes defends during the first half of a game at the Rose Bowl on September 30, 2017, in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
1

Josh Rosen

QB, UCLA

A southern California quarterback tops our list for this week but this time it won’t be USC’s Sam Darnold but from the Trojans’ rival in Westwood, UCLA’s Josh Rosen.

Rosen led the Bruins to a 27-23 victory over Colorado on Saturday night, throwing for 372 yards and one touchdown with one interception against a tough Buffaloes secondary. The junior quarterback has now thrown for 320-plus yards in each of UCLA’s five games to start the season, something that certainly has the eye of scouts around the league.

When Rosen is “on,” he looks like one of the best quarterbacks in college football, displaying outstanding arm strength and touch on throws down the field. When he’s “off,” however, Rosen looks like just another guy who trusts his arm more than he should.

Mechanically, Rosen is sound and throws with a quick, fluid motion that gives him the ability to make deep throws look effortless. At 6’4″, 218 pounds, he is also big enough and possesses enough pocket awareness to maneuver around and throw on the run when he has to. His arm strength will be his calling card at the next level and it’s evident he has the ability to make every necessary throw at the next level.

Next: Most important college football games to watch in October

The biggest concern with Rosen is his propensity to make some head-scratching throws and decisions with where to go with the football. He opts to try and force the ball into windows he has no business throwing into and can lose sight of safeties once he gets locked onto his primary read. At times, he’ll show a slight hitch in his delivery when it seems like he isn’t sure where to go with the ball. On his interception against the Buffs, Rosen locked onto his outside receiver and failed to see the safety over the top of the coverage, leading to one of the easier and most predictable picks you’ll see all season.

The physical tools and arm strength will continue to lead scouts to see UCLA games but Rosen is going to have to prove that he’s not just a guy who can throw the ball a long way but also a guy who knows when and where to throw it to be considered a top-tier quarterback in this class.

Home/College Football