Oregon’s Marcus Mariota is the top quarterback in the draft, ahead of Florida State’s Jameis Winston -- according to NFL Network’s Mike Mayock.
Mayock said that as he continues to study Winston, he continues to see flaws.
“There are two issues for me with Winston,” Mayock said on NFL Network. “No. 1 is on the field, he threw 18 interceptions this year, and on the team that arguably had the best talent in the country, he continued to put his team at a disadvantage almost weekly. The first half against Louisville, Miami and Florida were awful. now, he came back in the second half to play tremendously well as we all know. Off the field, regardless of what did or didn’t happen in that alleged rape, he continued a pattern of poor decisions throughout his career. So the bottom line, for me, is can you trust him off the field?”
Mayock said he has fewer concerns about Mariota.
“The more tape I’ve watched, the more I’ve appreciated what he’s asked to do in their version of the spread offense: He reads combination routes, he takes tremendous care of the football, and he wins games. Now, he’s not as natural a thrower, but in the correct scheme I think he can be productive,” Mayock said.
Following Mariota and Winston on Mayock’s quarterback rankings are Baylor’s Bryce Petty, Colorado State’s Garrett Grayson and UCLA’s Brett Hundley.