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One prospect the Denver Broncos are showing interest in and may select in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft is former Michigan State quarterback Connor Cook. He is a 6'4", 217lb quarterback who is considered one of the top quarterback prospects in this year's draft. Connor Cook is ranked as the 39th overall prospect in the 2016 NFL Draft according to CBS Sports, and is ranked as the 4th best quarterback in this year's draft.
During Cooks four-year career at Michigan State, he totaled 9,1194 yards passing, 71 touchdowns and 22 interceptions. He also had a career completion percentage of 57.5% during his career at Michigan State. This past season for the Spartans, Cook totaled 3,131 yards passing, 24 touchdowns and 7 interceptions. In 2015, Cook was awarded the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award and Big Ten Quarterback of the Year Award.
Connor Cook
Quarterback, Senior, Michigan State
Height: 6'4 Weight: 217lbs 40 time: 4.79 seconds
Arm Length: 33" Hands: 9 3/4"
Vertical Jump: 33 Inches(Top performer in his group at the Combine) Broad Jump: 113.0 inches
3 Cone Drill: 7.21 seconds
Film Room
Scouting Report
Strengths:
- Played in a Pro Style offense
- Worked under center and is comfortable doing things NFL teams will ask him to do
- A gunslinger
- Quickly goes through his reads
- Has a quick release
- Mobile and comfortable throwing on the move
- Accurate deep thrower
- Nice touch pass
- Stands tall in the pocket and is not afraid to take a hit
- Has an NFL arm
- Shows good anticipation
- Clutch on third downs
- Aggressive quarterback
- Probably the safest quarterback in this year's draft
- He's a gunslinger which leads to bad interception and over aggressiveness
- Accuracy is a concern
- Short and intermediate accuracy wasn't great
- Inconsistent play
- Doesn't always set his feet
- Didn't do well when under pressure
- Struggled in big games
- Lower ceiling than the other top quarterback prospects
- Leadership was questioned, but doesn't appear to be true
Does Connor Cook fit with the Denver Broncos?
I could see it happening.
The Broncos need a quarterback and Connor Cook might be the most realistic option for the Broncos. Wentz and Goff will likely be off the board by the end of the top 10, and Paxton Lynch probably doesn't make it to the mid-20's, so that probably leabes Connor Cook the best quarterback available for the Broncos in the first round.
Cook would fit into Kubiak's offensive system rather well. He is already familiar with the pro-style aspects so that could be him day one ready. He has the athleticism to be effective on the bootlegs/roll outs, and while he doesn't have the strongest arm, he has a strong enough one to make all the throws asked of him.
I do not see him having the high ceiling as a Carson Wentz or Paxton Lynch have, but he could turn into a capable "game manager" who may turn into a good but not great NFL starter.
This might be a lazy comparison, but I compare him to two former Michigan State quarterbacks. Those two being Brian Hoyer and Kirk Cousins. All three have different strengths and weaknesses, but all three came from the same offense and both have the same upside. A game manager who could turn into a good but not great NFL starter. It is a lazy comparsion, but I like it.
I personally wouldn't love or really hate drafting Cook in the first round. I think the Broncos have enough talent on the team to be successful with Cook under center but I do not view him as the next Broncos Franchise quarterback. Just a guy who will do well enough to keep his job but will have fans looking for an upgrade four or five years down the road.