Each week, we at PFF will break down all of the notable, draft-eligible quarterbacks and how they performed the weekend prior. Be it good or bad, get the exclusive PFF take on each of those quarterbacks you will be certain to hear about come April. Here are our takes on the top 13 draft-eligible quarterbacks, that you won't get anywhere else.
Sam Darnold, USC
Game Grade vs. Washington State: 40.8
Steve Palazzolo: Darnold posted his worst game grade of the season against Washington State as he completed only 15-of-30 passes for 164 yards and an interception. After having bad interception luck for the first few weeks, Darnold had three turnover-worthy plays, including a game-ending fumble when trying to drive USC down the field. We still saw some of the things that make Darnold a prospect, namely a 4th-and-13 conversion in the fourth quarter that featured excellent pocket presence and ball placement, but that was one of only a handful of highlights for Darnold. The deep ball continues to be an issue, particularly outside the numbers where he’s 3-for-18 for 81 yards one touchdown and three interceptions on the season.
Luke Falk, Washington State
Game Grade vs. USC: 78.1
SP: Falk was solid against USC, doing his usual damage in the short game but also showing more downfield ability than he’d previously shown this season. He fired his best throw of the season in the first quarter as he broke the pocket and threw a strike on the move in the back of the end zone, 43 yards in the air, but it was dropped. This was a #bigtimethrow that hasn’t been common in Falk’s arsenal. Aside for a dangerous pass over the middle of the field that went through the hands of linebacker Cameron Smith, Falk took good care of the football and he did his finest work when blitzed, going 7-for-9 for 132 yards and a touchdown.
Lamar Jackson, Louisville
Game Grade vs. Murray State: 95.7
Zac Robinson: Jackson continues to show his improvements as a passer from the pocket in a route over Murray State, flashing a variety of throws. Jackson was accurate and made good decisions in the quick game, found receivers at the intermediate level on digs, crossers over the middle and comebacks to the outside, and also a perfectly placed post route under pressure where he was forced to slide up in the pocket taking a hit shortly after release. His play in the red zone was solid as well, finding a tight window slant early in the game and later flashed his touch on a well designed crosser over the top of the defense and placed in the back of the end zone for a touchdown. Jackson dominated the middle of the field last week going 12-of-15 for 184 yards and two touchdowns in between the numbers.
Baker Mayfield, Oklahoma
Game Grade: Mayfield was on a bye this week. Here's what we said last week:
SP: Mayfield sprinkled the field with his usual helping of strong throws, whether zipping the ball in between zones, firing cover-2 shots on the move, or dropping deep balls on his receivers’ hands. There was one poor decision in there as he threw a pass directly to a safety just before the half, but it was a rare miss for Mayfield who currently has the fourth-lowest percentage of negatively-graded throws in the nation. Mayfield continues to shine as a passer, and he’s outperforming everyone in the draft class on a throw for throw basis.
Josh Rosen, UCLA; Mason Rudolph, Oklahoma State; Josh Allen, Wyoming
Mike White, Western Kentucky; Will Grier, West Virginia; Daniel Jones, Duke
Jarrett Stidham, Auburn; Jake Browning, Washington; Austin Allen, Arkansas
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