We all need a break from complaining about this basketball team right now, so why don’t we try to bring in some positivity? This weekend marked the 2025 NFL Draft Combine down in Indianapolis, and the Orange were out in full force. The biggest storyline though was about the SU signal-caller, Kyle McCord. The NFL finished its full analysis of the 22-year-old, and it’s not as pretty as you’d hope.
Lance Zierlein, an NFL analyst for NFL.com, graded McCord at 6.13/8 on their combine scale, with 8 being the perfect prospect (which rarely exists.) The range that McCord fell under is labeled as a “good backup with the potential to develop into starter.” In his full analysis of McCord’s combine, Zierlein placed his NFL comparison as… Mitch Trubisky…
Unless you’ve been living under a rock or don’t know the NFL, Mitch Trubisky is most certainly NOT the player you want to be tied to. However, it is a very fair comparison when you look at who these two players were coming out of college. Back in 2016, Trubisky came out of UNC as a 6’2, 222-pound QB who threw for 3,748 yards, 30 touchdowns, and six interceptions. Compare that to McCord’s 4,779 yards, 34 touchdowns, and 12 interceptions, you can kinda see it. The biggest difference here: is Trubisky was a guaranteed day-one selection, and McCord sits as a fringe day-two guy right now.
In his analysis, Zierlein said that McCord is a “pocket passer with good size who played in a high-volume, pro-passing scheme that should give him a head start as a pro … his fundamentals are usually solid and he plays with adequate poise in the face of pressure. He has enough arm to make window throws and push the ball around the field. McCord seeks to attack coverages vertically instead of operating as a “Checkdown Charlie.” While he can hit chunk throws, his decision-making and ball placement aren’t always good fits for his gunslinger mentality. His mobility inside and outside the pocket is average. McCord has good size, adequate talent and commendable resilience. He could find a home as a backup quarterback with modest upside.”
Personally, this feels just about right for the season he had. McCord has drawn interest from a lot of teams, including two confirmed meetings with the New York Jets and Cleveland Browns. I know a lot of SU fans will not be happy with this assessment. But wherever McCord ends up, we can all hope that he carries Orange pride with him throughout this entire process.
