Jim Mora on Josh Rosen Ahead of NFL Draft: 'He's the Best Player in the Draft'

Former UCLA coach Jim Mora believes his former quarterback Josh Rosen is the best player available in the 2018 NFL draft and offered further explanation for his previous comments on the signal-caller.

NFL Network shared Mora's comments where the coach notably said, "Do I think he's the best QB in the draft? No. I think he's the best player in the draft:"

Mora also said of Rosen, "Being a young man that needs to be intellectually challenged is a positive; that says that he is very, very smart and he wants to understand the game."

The explanation was in response to the reaction from his previous comments to Peter King of The MMQB when he talked about Rosen's desire to understand why he is doing something.

"He needs to be challenged intellectually so he doesn't get bored," Mora told King. "He's a millennial. He wants to know why. Millennials, once they know why, they're good. Josh has a lot of interests in life. If you can hold his concentration level and focus only on football for a few years, he will set the world on fire. He has so much ability, and he's a really good kid."

Ross Tucker of NBC Sports Network noted Mora's previous comments on Rosen could cause some scouts and coaches to question the UCLA product's dedication to the game:

"

I'd guess close to 50% of NFL scouts/coaches, who really don't have other interests, have "DOESN'T LOVE FOOTBALL" flashing in their heads when they read this quote. https://t.co/VsjqVf9RFt

— Ross Tucker (@RossTuckerNFL) April 2, 2018"

While Rosen has been openly critical of the NCAA and weighed in on a number of topics outside of football, it didn't stop him from throwing for 3,756 yards, 26 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 2017 for the Bruins and elevating himself to a potential top-five pick in the draft.

Bleacher Report's Matt Miller projected Rosen to go No. 6 overall to the Buffalo Bills (in a predicted trade) in his most recent mock draft and called him "the prettiest passer of this loaded quarterback group."

Mora made it clear he thinks Rosen is the best player in this draft, but the presence of other quarterback prospects in Sam Darnold, Josh Allen and Baker Mayfield means he may not even be the first player at his position selected on April 26.