It was considered a surprise in some circles when Oklahoma quarterback Landry Jones didn’t declare for the 2012 NFL draft following his junior season. Jones is a big-name player annually on Heisman Trophy watch lists. He’s been a very productive passer in the Big 12 conference.
Jones will be in the 2013 NFL draft because he’s a fifth-year senior. One college scout explained to Albert Breer of NFL.com, however, that Jones’ NFL stock has fallen since early in his career.
“He would’ve been a late first- or early second-(round pick) last year,” the college scout told Breer. “Now, he looks like a mid-round pick, based on this early part of the year.”
The NFL scouting community is reportedly unimpressed by the way Jones handles adversity.
"[Jones] has all the tools we look for in a quarterback,” said the scout, “but if he gets hit a couple times, he’s done. Lots of skill, absolutely -- great size, good arm, accurate, tons of production the last three years. But he’s killing himself. ... He shows he can do everything we want him to do, he just hasn’t shown he can do it consistently in pressure situations.
“He’s great if his team gets a lead early and mixes it up on offense. If they get behind, and he’s got to lead them back with a defense pinning their ears back, he struggles.”