2015 NFL Draft Player Profile: Southeastern Louisiana QB Bryan Bennett

After Marcus Mariota took over the Oregon starting QB spot and forced him to decide between sitting on the bench, changing positions, or changing schools, Bryan Bennett chose the latter option. In doing so, he became one of the most prolific FCS quarterbacks of the last two years.

Pros

Bryan Bennett has prototypical NFL size at 6'2" and 215-lb. That size translates well to the field, where he shows a great amount of toughness. He ran an option-based offense at Southeastern Louisiana that required him to take a lot of hits game after game, and he always popped back up.

For an FCS-level prospect, Bennett shows a better than average level of footwork and mechanics in the pocket, especially when he has time to throw. With some NFL coaching, those traits give him the potential to be a quality backup or even better at the next level.

While not as consistent as you would like, he's shown the ability to anticipate his receivers and go to his second or third read if needed. One of his biggest strengths is the touch he shows on intermediate throws, especially in the middle of the field.

Cons

The biggest issue for Bennett is how he performs with bodies around him. When he has a clean pocket and room to move, he can make all the throws. But when he gets under pressure, some of his mechanics and decision-making abilities really begin to fall apart. He tends to force balls into tight windows, relies too heavily on his first read, and sometimes tries to take off too early into the play.

Even when given time, the deep ball is still a concern. Bennett doesn't appear to have NFL-quality velocity on balls that travel over 25 yards or so. Instead, they float in the air too long and it results in plays like this, where it sails on him.

Conclusion

While Bennett isn't the type of prospect who you could see getting any significant minutes in year one, he has the tools that the right GM and coach can build on. If the right team and system sees the potential in him, I could see Bennett going as early as the fifth round. It's also very possible that no team wants to take on the risk of a project at all, and he becomes an undrafted free agent.