(STATS) – Sam Darnold, Baker Mayfield, Josh Allen, Josh Rosen – these are the franchise-type quarterbacks plastered everywhere across the top of the NFL draft, which kicks off with the first round Thursday night.
Teams not in the sweepstakes for the stars can still find value at quarterback on the second or third days of the draft.
Right in the middle of about 15 signal callers who could be drafted this year is 2017 All-CAA Football offensive player of the year Kyle Lauletta from Richmond. Draft analyst Mike Mayock, who was helping to call the action on NFL Network when Lauletta won the MVP award at the Senior Bowl, likes what he sees with each further look.
“The more tape I watch of Lauletta, the more I like the kid,” Mayock said. “I spent about three hours watching him last weekend. He’s 6-2 1/2, 222, has enough arm, he’s got some mobility, he’s got a little moxie to him.”
Mayock says Lauletta is solid all-around without having elite traits. He also feels success during Senior Bowl week has propelled numerous quarterbacks on to success at the next level.
Lauletta has drawn comparisons to San Francisco 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo, the 2013 Walter Payton Award winner out of Eastern Illinois. He finished his college career as Richmond’s record-holder for passing yards (10,465) and touchdown passes (73) while completing 63.5 percent of his passes.
“I’m really not going to try to expect a round or a team or anything like that, but obviously I think I’m good enough and that I deserve to be taken that early (in the first three rounds),” Lauletta said.
“There’s a lot of teams that would be a great fit. I don’t know, sure I would love to go in and play right away and be in the mix for a starting job. But to be honest, any quarterback would be lying to you if they didn’t say playing behind a Pro Bowl-, veteran-type quarterback would be the best scenario.”
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