Sam Darnold chose not to participate in throwing drills at the NFL Combine. In a top-heavy quarterback class in the '18 draft, that decision may come back to burn him.
The former USC QB, unlike UCLA's Josh Rosen and Oklahoma's Baker Mayfield, who did everything in Indianapolis, decided to watch in his earlier position group instead of proving why he should be the consensus No. 1 QB and No. 1 overall pick in April.
NFL COMBINE: Live updates, results from 2018 workouts
Sure, Darnold will throw before the draft at his now more anticipated Pro Day back at Southern California on March 21, but he didn't do himself any favors Saturday.
"I thought it was the best decision for myself, obviously throwing at Pro Day with my guys," Darnold told NFL Network about his decision.
While Darnold watched, it was Wyoming's Josh Allen wowing evaluators with his cannon arm and Louisville's Lamar Jackson trying to re-emphasize that he's a quarterback — first, foremost and exclusively — by focusing on only throwing.
Sure, there are enough questions about Allen and Jackson for Darnold to feel comfortable that he'll still come off the board before both of them. That isn't the case, however, with Rosen and Mayfield, who keep building momentum up the board.
MOCK DRAFT 2018:
SN's latest two-round projections
All the pre-Combine analysis of Darnold, dating to last spring, before his final season with the Trojans, has been hyping him up as the best and most complete QB prospect since Andrew Luck. When it comes to prototypical size (6-3, 220) and arm along with pro-style accuracy and awareness, Darnold looks the part in every which way. That's exactly why he should have been confident enough to back it up on the same field as Rosen and Mayfield — before they took it later on Saturday afternoon.
Rosen looked terrific zipping the ball downfield and delivering accurate throws during his throwing drill. Mayfield showed the flashes of why he carried the Sooners as college football's most unstoppable offensive force last season.
There's a real "it" factor with both for NFL teams. Rosen drew comparisons to no less than Aaron Rodgers with his display of intelligence and football acumen during interview sessions — media and otherwise — in Indianapolis. Mayfield backed up the fact he can overcome that dreaded lack of ideal size with that mentality of cocky, all-out playmaking baller intact.
NFL DRAFT BIG BOARD:
Top 50 players in 2018 class
Darnold's "It" did lose some shine in '17. His funky windup was still there, but the bigger concern was a decline in play marred by an inability to protect the ball. His No.-1-QB-in-draft status was left unscathed because the toughness and leadership qualities never left him. In a way, becoming clutch for the Trojans in late comeback mode after early setbacks re-solidified his stock.
But this is a QB class full of fiery competitors with awesome college resumes in Rosen, Mayfield, Jackson, Allen and Oklahoma State's Mason Rudolph. Darnold was the only one at the Combine who didn't throw, the most important drill for the most important position.
Sure, evaluating a QB for a draft goes well beyond one afternoon in Indy. There's a ton of game film, there are individual meetings, there are more extensive pro days. Darnold has built great equity there, and there will be more to come. But given how much weight NFL teams put on the slightest of separation between prospects, consider the optics in Indy to be a loss for Darnold.
Our guy @MikeMayock isn’t feeling Sam Darnold’s decision to not throw today. Mentioned it at the top of the broadcast and again just now as drills got underway: “Any quarterback in the world that’s any good ought to want to come out here and show off a little bit.”
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 3, 2018
Most impressive workout from Group 4 QB’s was clearly @wyo_football Josh Allen, not even close. Mixed bag from others and #NFL scouts would have enjoyed a shootout between he and @USC_Athletics Sam Darnold. #missedopportunity #IMO
— Phil Savage (@SeniorBowlPhil) March 3, 2018
There will be some team decision-makers who don't change their thinking at all on Darnold after his Combine no-throw. But there should be some who consider it a minus for Darnold and a big plus for Rosen and Mayfield.
There should be nothing to hide or taken for granted in the NFL draft process. Darnold blew his chance at shutting the door on the rest of the competition by not competing right there with them.
