Matt Miller's Week 4 NFL Scouting Notebook: Looking Back at Wentz, Prescott

It's a big weekend for college football with marquee matchups on Friday night (Stanford vs. Washington) and all day Saturday. That's good news for draft fans and great news for this weekly column. With so much activity in and around the world of the NFL draft, there's a lot to get to. 

Here's what's going on this week:

• Where would Dak Prescott go in a redraft?
• Off-field issues making waves in the SEC and NFL draft world
• An updated Round 1 mock draft
• What did the scouting reports say on Prescott and Carson Wentz?
• ...and an interview with NFL super-agent David Mulugheta

The Scout's Report

—This week I asked one scout, one director of player personnel and one quarterbacks coach where Dak Prescott would go in a redraft.

The answers:

Scout: "I think he has to go in the top five. You'd take Wentz first and then maybe one of the tackles [Ronnie Stanley or Jack Conklin], but Dak is in that conversation."

Director: "It's very early and we haven't seen [Jared] Goff yet, but I'd put Dak right behind Wentz as the best draft pick so far in this class. Regardless of position."

Coach: "You guys love to hype these guys up, don't you? Based on the preseason and three weeks, sure, I'd say he looks like a first-rounder."

Tom Pennington/Getty Images

—Every scout I've talked to this year has downplayed the senior quarterback talent across the country. Tennessee's Josh Dobbs was high on some watch lists to start the year, but one scout I spoke to this week said Dobbs "isn't an NFL passer." The search for a top-tier senior quarterback continues...

—LSU defensive lineman Davon Godchaux was gaining buzz in the scouting world heading into last weekend. Then news broke that Godchaux would be suspended after he was arrested on charges of domestic abuse battery/child endangerment and false imprisonment.

Those charges were dropped, and Godchaux's suspension was lifted, according to Jim Kleinpeter of the Times-Picayune. A massive defensive line prospect, the 6'4", 299-pounder's status for this weekend's game against Missouri is unknown.

—Alabama edge-rusher Tim Williams, a player in the top 20 of my big board, was arrested Thursday morning on gun charges, per Mia Watkins and Kelvin Reynolds of WBRC. Williams was charged with carrying a pistol without a permit, a misdemeanor. This isn't likely to be a big enough red flag on its own to hurt Williams' stock, but NFL teams will file it away and ask him about it during interviews.

—Auburn's Carl Lawson isn't getting the same hype Texas A&M's Myles Garrett is, but the stand-up pass-rusher has top-10 potential. Here's our spotlight of his talents. 

—"If it weren't for the off-field [issues], Joe Mixon would be in the five best backs [of this class]. Guaranteed." That's from a Southwestern area scout who loves Mixon's pro-style running. But yes, off-field issues are a major concern for Mixon. 

Jackson Laizure/Getty Images

Mixon was charged with a misdemeanor after hitting a woman in the face in July 2014. The incident was caught on a surveillance camera and led to Mixon's suspension for the 2014 season. He entered a plea deal that allowed him to escape felony charges. The football team reinstated Mixon for the 2015 season.

5 Names to Know

5. WR Fred Ross, Mississippi State

Fred Ross went off last week with an eight-catch, 126-yard, two-touchdown performance against UMass at Gillette Stadium. He'll be playing on that field again in his NFL career.

Ross, at 6'2" and 205 pounds, has excellent size for an NFL wide receiver and backs it up with speed, quickness in and out of cuts, and the strong hands to make contested catches in traffic. Don't sleep on Ross as a potential top-five wide receiver in this class.

4. WR J'Mon Moore, Missouri

L.G. Patterson/Associated Press/Associated Press

A junior wideout with NFL size, J'Mon Moore is 6'3" and almost 200 pounds. He uses that size well to stretch the field and attacks the ball in the air with a tenacity we don't see often in college. Moore, playing in Missouri's spread scheme, is also good with the ball in his hands after the fact. 

The current receiver rankings feature Clemson's Mike Williams at the top and then a big question mark. Moore might fill that void if he keeps up his current pace.

3. EDGE Ejuan Price, Pitt

There are times when stat production is so good it makes you stop and take a look at a player who was formerly not high on the radar. That's what Ejuan Price has done in registering seven sacks, seven quarterback hits and seven quarterback hurries, per College Football Focus. 

Price doesn't have NFL size at 6'0" and 255 pounds, but his ability to dip and bend at the edge will get him a long look from scouts who are obsessed with finding pass-rushers.

2. FS Marcus Williams, Utah

Jamal Adams, Jabrill Peppers and Justin Evans dominate the first round of mock drafts and big boards, but one of the best safeties in the nation plays late at night when most of the media have gone to bed. Utah's Marcus Williams is a hitter with range, and he's shown ball skills with eight career interceptions.

Williams isn't getting major publicity yet, but he's a top-40 player at the moment.

1. CB Quincy Wilson, Florida

Rob Foldy/Getty Images

There is no clear-cut No. 1 cornerback in the 2017 draft class. At least not yet. Many would point to Florida's Jalen "Teez" Tabor, but his teammate Quincy Wilson has equally good tape.

According to College Football Focus, Wilson has allowed just 11.1 percent of passes thrown his way so far this season to be completed—one catch for 12 yards. He also has two interceptions while rarely being targeted.

3 Questions with: Agent David Mulugheta

Each week I'll ask three questions to an NFL draft prospect, current player, agent or current scout. This week, I spoke to agent David Mulugheta. Among his client list are star players Earl Thomas, Jalen Ramsey, Corey Coleman, Bobby Wagner, Kelechi Osemele, Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and Kenny Vaccaro.

B/R: How do you handle guys who haven't gotten paid right after someone else gets a huge deal? How do you keep your players patient?

Mulugheta: That's a difficult one. It's so hard to answer because we're dealing with people here, not commodities. Some guys are very patient—for example, Kelechi Osemele was cool letting things play out and see what happened in free agency. There are other guys who aren't as patient. It's a question that's very individualized.

To answer the question, you just have to know your player. If you have a good relationship with your client, then you can have those honest conversations about what they're worth internally and externally. 

B/R: What about disagreements between yourself and front offices, especially over money? How do you keep those cordial?

Mulugheta: I think everybody in this industry understands it's a business. No one takes anything personally for the most part. The team is looking to get the best deal for the team. They have a business to run. They want the best players at the best price. The team understands we have to maximize our leverage to get the best deal possible.

Some teams have guys who will make things a little more personal—they'll tell you "if your guy doesn't want to play here, then fine"—but that's often a ploy. Everybody is a professional, and at the end of the day, each side has its needs and wants. But I've never had it get contentious, and once the deal is done, everyone understands.

B/R: A big part of your job is identifying talent and recruiting players at the college level. What traits do you look for in college players you're recruiting?

Mulugheta: Obviously, we are in a business, so you're looking for NFL-caliber players. Another thing is guys that are realistic in what they expect from you and what they think they can do. You don't want a guy that you know isn't going to be a Round 1 or Round 2 pick and he thinks he's going to be. You have to be honest with your clients and make sure they understand their value. 

I want guys that love the game. There is a difference between a guy that loves the game and a guy playing football for the money. Guys that love the game are going to be easier to deal with. Guys who work harder, put in more time in the film room. Guys with high character. You don't want guys who have a history of getting into trouble. 

The Big Board

We're almost to the quarter mark of the NFL season, which means it's a great time to take a sneak peek at the top 32 picks of next year's draft. Using the most recent draft order based on wins and losses, here's my take on Round 1. 

*Note: Redshirt sophomores and juniors are included if I'm led to believe they will consider entering the 2017 draft. Not all eligible underclassmen can be studied and listed at this time. 

Pick/Team	Player/Position/College
1. New Orleans	Myles Garrett, DE, Texas A&M
2. Chicago	DeShone Kizer, QB, Notre Dame
3. Jacksonville	Jabrill Peppers, DB, Michigan
4. Cleveland	Brad Kaaya, QB, Miami (Fla.)
5. Tennessee	Jonathan Allen, DL, Alabama
6. Tampa Bay	Mike Williams, WR, Clemson
7. San Francisco	Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson
8. San Diego	Reuben Foster, LB, Alabama
9. Indianapolis	Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU
10. Arizona	Quincy Wilson, CB, Florida
11. Buffalo	Malik Hooker, S, Ohio State
12. Miami	Gareon Conley, CB, Ohio State
13. Carolina	Dalvin Cook, RB, FSU
14. Detroit	Malik McDowell, DL, Michigan State
15. New York Jets	Jalen Tabor, CB, Florida
16. Washington	Jarrad Davis, LB, Florida
17. Cincinnati	Derek Barnett, DE, Tennessee
18. Tennessee (from LA)	Marlon Humphrey, CB, Alabama
19. Houston	Jamal Adams, S, LSU
20. Atlanta	DeMarcus Walker, DE, FSU
21. Seattle	Caleb Brantley, DL, Florida
22. Kansas City	Charles Harris, EDGE, Missouri
23. Green Bay	Tim Williams, OLB, Alabama
24. Oakland	Raekwon McMillan, LB, Ohio State
25. Pittsburgh	Justin Evans, S, Texas A&M
26. Dallas	DeVonte Fields, DE, Louisville
27. New York Giants	Christian McCaffrey, RB, Stanford
28. Philadelphia (from MIN)	Isaiah Ford, WR, Virginia Tech
29. Denver	Cam Robinson, T, Alabama
30. Baltimore	Carl Lawson, EDGE, Auburn
31. New England	Desmond King, CB, Iowa
32. Cleveland (from PHI)	Ethan Pocic, C/G, LSU

Parting Shots

10. Bill Belichick is the greatest coach in NFL history. That opinion can be justified by his winning percentage (.667), how many teams he's taken to Super Bowls (six), how long he's sustained success (15 straight seasons with at least nine wins) and how well he adapts his coaching to the talent on the roster. 

If you're a Belichick fan or just enjoy great football, the NFL.com "Sound FX" of him mic'd up for the Houston Texans game is tremendous. I'd also recommend David Halberstam's The Education of a Coach as a must-read book.

9. Staying on point here, talking about New England coaches: Offensive coordinator Josh McDaniels should be at the forefront of every coaching search this offseason.

What McDaniels has done—and learned—since being fired as the head coach of the Denver Broncos in December 2010 has been one of the most undertold stories of the NFL. Until now. Our Dan Pompei has a great piece on McDaniels and how he's redeemed himself in New England.

Keep his name in mind if/when the first coaching searches get leaked to the media. McDaniels should be picky about his next job, but there will be a situation that intrigues him and gets him out of New England.

8. Your weekly Myles Garrett update.

• Player ranking: No. 1 overall
• Current sack total (per College Football Reference): 3
• Current QB hit total: 10
• Current QB hurry total: 13

7. Notre Dame head coach Brian Kelly—perhaps in a frustrated moment following a loss to Duke—said the quarterback job could be open moving forward.

No.

Kelly has mismanaged the quarterback position all season after first switching between DeShone Kizer and Malik Zaire in the first week and is now considering giving up on Kizer after the Irish offense scored 47, 39, 28 and 35 points in the first four games.

The offense and Kizer are not the problem at Notre Dame. The defense is.

6. The Jacksonville Jaguars were a trendy pick for a breakout team before the 2016 season. The additions of Jalen Ramsey, Myles Jack, Chris Ivory and Malik Jackson on a roster already full of early draft picks and standout stars made the team appear ready to take the next step.

Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

Now the Jaguars are 0-3 and look disconnected as a team. The coaching decisions have been poor, and the marquee draft picks and free agents aren't panning out. So are the Jaguars a good team or one consisting of big names?

Blake Bortles, Luke Joeckel and T.J. Yeldon haven't produced as expected. Bortles and Joeckel, especially, should be premier players at their positions after being selected No. 3 and No. 2 overall, respectively. Bortles is struggling, while fellow 2014 draftee Derek Carr is lighting it up, and rookies Wentz and Prescott lead their teams to success. Joeckel, drafted as a left tackle, now plays guard and is steamrolled each week.

It's time for accountability in Jacksonville, and an honest look at this roster will tell you it's not a good one.

5. The NFL announced this week improved procedures to give college underclassmen information regarding their draft status. 

The new policy will allow five underclassmen from each FBS school to have their names submitted by the head coach for special early scouting.

What does this mean?

Those underclassmen can be tested, timed, weighed and measured at the 2017 pro day for each school. This means Josh Rosen can work out at the UCLA pro day before his junior season so scouts can get a better idea of what type of athlete and player he is. The same goes for Lamar Jackson at Louisville or Malik Jefferson at Texas.

Is this a good thing? Yes.

The flood of underclassmen heading into the NFL has gotten out of hand, with many players leaving school early based on the opinion of agents or media analysts. The more information each player can get from NFL teams, the better.

4. As the college season progresses, I'm able to move from the top 50 players in the class and start looking more in-depth at each position. Starting with the senior quarterbacks, it's been disappointing.

I've spent time in this column lamenting the talent at the quarterback position in college football right now, and looking across the top seniors, there isn't a Wentz out there. There also isn't a Prescott. I'm not even sure there's a Jacoby Brissett.

Ole Miss' Chad Kelly has massive holes in his game and some off-field issues to answer for. Iowa's C.J. Beathard has talent but is limited as a passer. Others, such as Baylor's Seth Russell and Minnesota's Mitch Leidner, haven't answered the call in 2016 and are hurting their stock more than helping it.

The lone senior quarterback standing out is Cal's Davis Webb. How he performs against Utah's stout defense this weekend will go a long way in judging his draft stock.

3. I have a personal attachment to Josh Gordon. I know; I know. We're not supposed to do that as evaluators. But here's the thing—we all do it. 

Don Juan Moore/Getty Images

Scouts, both in the media and in the NFL, get attached to players. You hang your hat and build your resume on prospects you hit and miss on. I ranked Gordon as a second-rounder in the 2012 supplemental draft, and that's where the Cleveland Browns selected him. He went on to break out in 2013 with 87 catches for 1,646 yards and nine touchdowns.

That would be the high point, though. Gordon has played in just five games since his second season and announced this week he would enter rehab, per NFL.com's Austin Knoblauch. 

Gordon will ultimately go down as a "miss," even if it's based on elements out of the control of the evaluator. The talent is there for Gordon—who is only 25 years old—to be the best receiver in the NFL. But he has to get control of his personal life first.

2. Now that Wentz is destroying NFL defenses—and the morale of everyone in Cleveland—it's fun to look back at the April scouting report on him from before the draft. 

From the report: "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."

There were some negatives, such as Wentz's "tunnel vision," but the coaching and scheming of Doug Pederson, Frank Reich and John DeFilippo has improved those issues. With three experienced quarterback gurus working behind the scenes to put him in a position to succeed, Wentz has the right support staff to be great.

1. Wentz is the toast of the town in the NFL right now, but Prescott isn't far behind. What did the predraft scouting report say about him?

"In talking to coaches and NFL scouts, they've all raved about Prescott's leadership qualities and football intelligence. The belief is he'll take to NFL-level coaching faster than expected, and one person even compared him to Russell Wilson."

We ranked Prescott as a third-rounder with a "future starter" label, and he's exceeded that expectation, as Tony Romo's broken back has allowed the former Mississippi State quarterback to step into an excellent situation.

The downsides to Prescott, a player I called a project in the same report, were that his footwork and accuracy were inconsistent. He's been much more consistent since entering the NFL while making many teams look foolish for letting him fall all the way to Round 4.

Matt Miller covers the NFL and NFL draft for Bleacher Report.