Rival Views: Best QB prospect for the 2017 NFL Draft

Rivals.com National Recruiting Director Mike Farrell and National Recruiting Analyst Adam Gorney don’t always see eye to eye. In this edition of Rival Views, the two debate the best prospect at quarterback for the 2017 NFL Draft.

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Even though people always seem to migrate to the new flavor of the month, I’m sticking with Deshaun Watson for many reasons. Yes, his stats are a bit down this year. Yes, he did throw three picks against Louisville. Even with all that, Watson has the complete package more than anyone else.

He has size, he has a good arm, he has downfield touch, he can zip it to the sidelines and he’s mobile. But the three qualities that are underrated and can’t be determined by stats: He’s smart, he’s a leader and his character is off the charts. You can’t teach his leadership and will to win. He doesn’t get rattled down the stretch, and his team responds to him very well. And his character is flawless.

He will do very well in the NFL interview process. For any team that wants to spend millions of dollars on a quarterback that will lead the team and have players gravitate to him, it’s Watson. His stats will rise as the season goes on. The same thing happened last year. He’s the best quarterback in the draft when it comes to a proven winner with all the intangibles needed and wanted at the NFL level.

My view on this topic has changed dramatically in only the first few weeks of the season but Notre Dame’s DeShone Kizer has proven that he is the most NFL-ready quarterback in college football.

First, let’s look at the stats: Kizer won the starting job over Malik Zaire after the first week, even though it was a loss to Texas, and his numbers so far this season look really solid.

Kizer is completing nearly 63 percent of his passes for 1,567 yards with 14 touchdowns and four interceptions. He’s also second on the team with 187 rushing yards and a team-high six scores.

That means to me Kizer can do a lot of everything, can move when necessary and has been a fairly accurate thrower although it’s fair to say other than Michigan State he hasn’t played top-quality defenses. Still, with his accuracy (while that percentage is good he still needs to work on consistency) and mobility and the skill to fire the ball wherever it’s needed, Kizer is the most NFL-ready.

I can buy the argument for Clemson’s Deshaun Watson, but he has already thrown seven interceptions this season and that scares me. With so many talented receivers, that should not be happening, although he has faced outstanding competition in Auburn and Louisville.

Miami’s Brad Kaaya has put up decent numbers (935 passing yards, eight touchdowns and three picks) and really does a great job leading the Miami offense, but if I was a NFL general manager and I needed a franchise quarterback, my pick right now would be Kizer.