He may not be the first quarterback off the board in the 2018 NFL draft, but UCLA’s Josh Rosen is the favorite of NFL Network draft guru Mike Mayock.
After Rosen turned in a strong performance at his pro day workout, Mayock raved about his accuracy and arm talent (via NFL.com):
I thought he threw the ball beautifully. By the way, not a surprise. The most natural thrower in the draft. Clear feet. Clear vision. He’s beautiful. His issue is going to be, in my opinion, durability and the ability to survive in the NFL pocket.
Mayock mentioned Rosen’s durability, but that might actually be his biggest concern at the next level, having struggled with multiple injuries (shoulder, concussion) throughout his career with the Bruins.
That being said, there’s no denying Rosen is the most polished, NFL-ready passer in this year’s class. There are other prospects with potentially more upside, but Rosen has the best chance of succeeding if thrown into a starting role as a rookie, if he’s able to play behind a line that will keep him healthy.