NFL Open Thread: Stay in School Edition

NFL teams want quarterbacks to stay in school longer:

With money, fame and opportunity as accessible as ever in college football, NFL teams hope quarterbacks are enjoying that lifestyle enough to stay in school, rather than rushing into the draft.

That’s never been truer under the current landscape than this NFL Draft cycle. The crop of eligible quarterbacks was largely uninspiring this season, prompting teams to cross their fingers that these players will return to school to refine their skills. There’s no substitute for experience, and it’s advantageous for all involved if the QBs accumulate snaps in a more controlled environment than the NFL.

“It doesn’t benefit us (in the NFL) if all these guys come out early and aren’t ready,” said an NFL team executive, who was granted anonymity so he could speak openly.

Indiana’s Fernando Mendoza, Oregon’s Dante Moore, Alabama’s Ty Simpson, South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers and Texas’ Arch Manning have generated the most attention from teams as potential first-round picks among draft-eligible quarterbacks. However, Manning is expected to return to school, and there’s a case to be made for the rest to follow suit.

All five have enough tools to grow into NFL starters, according to evaluators. All five would also benefit from an extra season of college — some, of course, more than others.

“I don’t know why any of them would consider leaving,” a second executive said. “Why not go play college football and build yourself to get to that level? I think it helps everybody. I think it puts a better product on the field in college. It helps us evaluate them longer, as they get real reps to amass experience before coming to our level.

“It helps our evaluation. It helps their preparation. It helps their maturity. They learn how to lead better. They learn how to handle adversity better.

One of the many good things about the end of the peonage ball era is that QB prospects can come to the NFL when they think they’re ready rather than because they need to actually get paid while risking getting hurt.