QB Film ROOM

Darnold at the L.A Coliseum (2017)

Sam Darnold​ 6’3 3⁄8 221 Southern Cal *Soph

Overview

In two years as the starter at USC, Sam Darnold passed for over 7,000 yards with 57
touchdowns to 22 interceptions. Darnold enters the NFL with 27 NCAA starts under his belt. An elite high school basketball player who brings intuitive athleticism to the position & has been called magically sloppy as a player. Darnold has made a legitimate case in just two years to be called the greatest USC quarterback since Carson Palmer & reminds many evaluators of him (Palmer). Darnold has a rare blend of traits that make him perhaps the most enticing quarterback in this class. We classify Sam as a pure passer first but one with the instincts to create while preferring to make plays with his arm. Sam Darnold is the most well rounded 2018 quarterback prospect with the least holes in his game.

Darnold & Josh McCown (2018)

Trait Grades (Darnold)

Arm Talent (A-) Toughness (A) Anticipation (A+)
Arm Strength (B) Pocket Presence (B) Football IQ (A-)
Ball Placement/Accuracy (A-) Intangibles/Off-Field (A-) Touch (A-)

Delivery/Mechanics (B+) Running Ability/Athleticism (A-) Throw on Run (A-)

Strengths
Instincts As Passer, Ability To Be Accurate Deep Into Progressions, Quick/ Natural
Release, Build/Size, Mobility, Competitive Toughness, Natural Athlete, Ability to Change
Ball Speeds, Pocket Agility, Football IQ, Ideal Personality/Temperament For Position,
Ability To Display Pin-Point Accuracy, Plays With Natural Sense Of Rhythm.

Weaknesses
Sloppy Footwork Overall, Long Delivery, Operated Solely From Shotgun At USC, Can
Become Rather Lazy In Pocket, Critical Moment Decision Making, Ability To Handle
Pressure From Pocket, Forcing The Issue, Mechanics.

Kwesi, the man who held power over the decision to sign Darnold to a long term contract even though he knows next to zero about quarterback play. (2022)

Tape Analysis (Darnold)
Darnold is a natural anticipatory passer who is comfortable throwing a variety of route
types including back shoulder fades, of which he completed with regularity & ease
perhaps at the highest level in the entire class. Compares both stylistically & athletically
to Pat Mahomes II, except without the high end arm strength. Plays with a very good
internal clock & is a consistent timing and anticipation passer. Darnold has quick eyes
which allow him to be a decisive decision maker. Possesses rare pocket agility & solid
instincts when forced to move off his spot in order to create more time to throw. Darnold
is a pin-point passer on the move. Shows the ability to be accurate off of multiple foot
platforms. Darnold also shows the ability to throw with solid touch on deep fade routes
as well as the refined ability to manipulate his ball trajectory consistently providing his
targets optimal chance at reception. Darnold is nuanced in terms of executing proper
shoulder tilt on deep balls which also aids in ball trajectory.
Darnold played in the shotgun so much during his two years at SC that his feet did
become lazy at times. Has somewhat of a long delivery yet still manages to have a very
quick release most of the time. Comfortable & competent anticipating window throws
between hashes. Really trusts his ability to fit balls into tight windows and has the
requisite anticipatory passing skills to do so. Gets the ball out extremely quick from
shotgun within quick game, perhaps the quickest we have seen since we started doing

this in 2016. Throwing motion is similar to Aaron Rodgers at times with Darnold’s ability
to flick the ball with ease particularly on fades. Extremely skilled thrower of football
between hashes within intermediate game in which he accomplishes this by adept at
throwing over linebackers with touch and also anticipating windows on time and in
rhythm of offense. Special ability on deep ball. Best Fade Thrower (Touch & Back
Shoulder) we have evaluated since 2016.
Ball can get away from Darnold at times due to inconsistent footwork mechanics. This
issue resulted in ball placement issues at times with an example from the 2017
Colorado game in which Darnold had a Pre-Snap Cover 0 defensive look with a post
route being ran by his receiver. Even though Darnold had the route open he was unable
to position his feet properly which resulted in a pass that sailed behind the open
receiver in the end zone. Darnold is a quick decision maker who is able to get the ball
out of his hand quickly once deciding to do so. He also excels at the nuanced ability to
be accurate later into the down after scanning through/decoding his progression reads.
Due to a lack of creative offensive design at USC, Darnold was often seeing grey as he
dropped back which caused him to become a sandlot player more often than we would
like him to be but this in turned allowed him to become adaptively competent amidst
chaos & also caused Darnold to “Force The Issue” in terms of pushing the ball
downfield when things just were not open. Darnold is the most natural movement
thrower in the entire class and also is a guy who is able to adjust ball speed, touch, firm
with arc or fastball depending on type of throw needed for given play.

Projection
Sam Darnold is going to be off the board within the first few picks of the 2018 NFL Draft.
Wherever Darnold lands he is going to be well equipped to handle the situation from a
personality/mental makeup standpoint. Darnold blends intense competitiveness with a
personable down to earth demeanor that will endear him to his teammates. If Darnold
were forced to play in 2018 we believe he will find success but it may end up being a
situation where he sits as a rookie behind a veteran. Darnold has all of the tools to be a
Pro Bowl level starting quarterback in the NFL.