Carson Wentz NFL Draft 2016: Scouting Report, Grade for Eagles Rookie

POSITIVES

A two-year starter for North Dakota State, Carson Wentz checks every box in terms of size, arm strength, intangibles and athleticism. He's built like a franchise quarterback, throws like a franchise quarterback and can move like a franchise quarterback.

A proven winner on the field, the Bison lost just three games with Wentz under center over the last two seasons and won the FCS national title for the fifth straight year.

Wentz's toughness cannot be questioned. After breaking his wrist in the first half against South Dakota, he finished the game. He's also an able and willing runner, showcasing his wheels on designed read-options and also scrambling to extend broken plays.

In terms of arm strength, Wentz has a big arm and can hit every level of the field without strain. For those who saw him for the first time in the FCS title game or Senior Bowl, he was likely less than 100 percent given the wrist injury. On film, Wentz shows he can effortlessly push the ball up the field and can do so without a steady base under him.

Accuracy can be tough to judge against lower-level competition, but Wentz was asked to make NFL throws and consistently did so on time and on target. He understands space and knows where to put the ball so his receivers can make plays on it. He's able to throw guys open and will not struggle with tight passing windows against NFL defenses.

Mechanically, Wentz is tall in the pocket and has a high release point that allows the ball to come out quickly and with total control. His motion while throwing isn't loose, and there are no concerns about hitches or wasted space. The ball is tucked high and tight to his body.

NEGATIVES

Wentz started just 23 games for the Bison. It's an open question whether those contests against FCS competition properly prepared him for the NFL—or properly showed his traits and abilities to NFL teams.

A wrist injury to his throwing hand isn't a major issue given he came back and played in the FCS title game and has since thrown at the Senior Bowl and combine, but Wentz does have a history with injuries. He had arm and shoulder issues in high school form playing baseball, and while they've not affected him at NDSU, anything throwing-arm related has to be vetted.

For all his athleticism, Wentz's footwork can be spotty. He had a tendency, especially before breaking his wrist, to fade away from throws in the pocket and launch off his back foot. This left him off-balance, and the ball floated at times. Wentz is strong enough to account for poor balance, but in the NFL, that extra air can lead to interceptions. He has to learn to settle his base—both in the pocket and on rollouts—to control his velocity and arc.

The other red flag was Wentz's tendency to get tunnel vision. He did this more in 2014 than during his senior season, but it's still there—even in great games against Northern Iowa and Jacksonville State. He likes to go straight to his first target but sometimes doesn't progress in his read. That's a fixable issue, but it's one that's harder to project success with.

COMBINE RESULTS

Height: 6'5"

Weight: 237 lbs.

40 Time: 4.77s

Hand Size: 10"

3-Cone: 6.86s

PRO COMPARISON: Derek Carr, Oakland Raiders
FINAL GRADE: 7.10/9.00 (Round 1—Franchise QB)