Syracuse’s tremendous season continues to pay dividends as Kyle McCord, LeQuint Allen, Oronde Gadsden II, Alijah Clark and Fadil Diggs have all been invited to the NFL scouting combine. And with that invitation, McCord may have perfect draft timing. While it’s always a positive to have players populate the NFL for recruiting and prestige purposes, all eyes will be on the potential NFL path of McCord.
Naturally, the quarterback draws the most attention in almost every situation. But McCord’s success matters more than that usual for the SU program. The Orange have been desperately seeking star power at that position for years, and McCord delivered in his one and only season on the Hill. The Orange are hoping his success will lead more high-level QBs to view SU as a place to thrive.
In a traditional draft year, there would be a number of quarterbacks who would outshine McCord in both skillset and measurables. Last year’s draft included Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye, Michael Penix, Bo Nix and JJ McCarthy, all selected in the first round. NFL talent evaluators would easily have a big grade between those passers and McCord.
But this April happens to be one of the weakest quarterback classes we’ve seen in years, yet the demand for the position is just as high as ever this offseason. The Titans, Browns, Giants, Raiders and Jets are all in desperate need of a QB solution immediately, not to mention squads who may decide to move on from their current “answers” like Pittsburgh.
There are only two surefire top of the first round selections, Shadeur Sanders and Cam Ward. Some have Jalen Milroe and Jaxon Dart moving into the first round as well. That is more evidence that GMs are desperate and will make a major reach for a QB. Which leaves us with SU’s signal callers.
McCord may have perfect draft timing. He’s got size, arm talent, and high-level winning under his belt with both Ohio State and Syracuse. He had to rebuild familiarity with a new offensive line and teammates. He had to learn a new playbook. He had to drag a program used to 5-6 wins a season into the big time. All of this should serve him well in the NFL.
At the moment he is projected as a third-round selection, and that would be fine because it can allow him to be selected by a franchise with proper coaching and patience. Sanders and Ward will be drafted in the top 3 picks by hollow organizations. Two more desperate teams will overreach for the other two QBs. That leaves stable organizations to smartly be poised to select McCord somewhere in rounds 2 or 3.
And if a team like the Giants or Raiders misses out on the QB of their choice, there’s a very reasonable plan B. Spend money on free agents like Sam Darnold or Matthew Stafford, hand him the offense, and then draft McCord as a guy in waiting. McCord may have perfect draft timing in a year where there are so few high end solutions and so many needy teams.
