Davis Webb, quarterback, California
Multiple teams reportedly told Webb that he was a first-round prospect during the CAL Pro Day last month. That’s all fine and dandy. It also won’t be the case once the first round wraps up in Philadelphia.
There’s a lot to look at here. Davis played one season of high-level college football. He did so in a Sonny Dykes’ spread offense that is nowhere similar to the type of offense the quarterback will be asked to run in the NFL. Those are two huge concerns.
They also seem to indicate that Webb will have to sit for a couple years before he can become a starter-caliber quarterback in the NFL. That right there precludes Webb from going early in Round 1.
Now add in the fact that other quarterbacks in this class could potentially start early (see: Deshaun Watson) and that pushes Webb down a peg or two more. This situation could very well be similar to Tom Savage leading up to the 2014 NFL Draft. Ultimately picked up by Houston in the fourth round, there was late buzz that he might end up as a first-round pick. That obviously didn’t play out for Savage.
While we’re stopping short of saying Webb will fall to Day 3, the idea that he is a first-round prospect is absolutely absurd. It’s just not going to happen. And if it does, the team that selects him will rightfully face a ton of scrutiny.