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PFF scouting report: Chad Kelly, QB, Ole Miss

BATON ROUGE, LA - OCTOBER 22: Chad Kelly #10 of the Mississippi Rebels looks to pass during a game against the LSU Tigers at Tiger Stadium on October 22, 2016 in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)

Name: Chad Kelly

School: Mississippi

Position fit: Developmental QB

Stats to know: Recorded the 45th-highest percentage of turnover-worthy throws in 2016 (out of 146 qualifiers)

What he does well:

  • Natural whip arm with strong upper body
  • Power to reach all levels with relative ease from any throwing position
  • Athletic and tough runner. Picks up key yards with legs when the play breaks down or when facing early pressure
  • Excels at driving the ball to the intermediate part of the field either in zone windows or tight coverage
  • Good feel for back-shoulder throws
  • Throws up the seams as well as any QB in the draft
  • Most effective with play-action or coverage-defined reads in the short-to-intermediate passing game

Biggest concerns:

  • Believes in his arm too much
  • Struggles to see defenders in front of the throw at times
  • Poor decision-maker late in the down
  • Operates best with half-field reads; does not show patience in the pocket needed for pure-progression, full-field reads
  • Tries to make “hero” throws too often
  • Lacks pocket discipline when forced to play off rhythm

Bottom line:

Kelly’s arm talent is comparable with the best in this year’s draft. His consistently makes drive throws with accuracy down the seams and to the intermediate part of the field. With a creative and QB-friendly passing scheme at Ole Miss, he operated at a very high level with many coverage defined reads. Kelly is at his best when he can work off of play-action or with timing and rhythm throws. The confidence in his arm is a double-edged sword, forcing many throws late in the down he should not attempt. Kelly can be an effective backup in the right system, but the off-field issues leave him to be a developmental QB with a chance to eventually climb his way up a depth chart.

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