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You could say they broke the mold when they made Kellen Moore, which is part of the problem because the NFL keeps its mold very much in tact. It's on display in Mel Kiper's dreamatorium, if I'm not mistaken. This does not bode well for quarterbacks like Moore - left-handed, small, immobile - who, despite historic college success, simply don't fit the prototype.
But the fact that Moore doesn't look like a Peyton Manning fleshbot or doesn't pass the highly dubious eye test shouldn't impact how well he does at the next level. It will most definitely affect when and where he goes in the draft, but as far as what he does and how well he does it in the pros? That's a different debate.
He could be NFL starter material, and all it would take is an injury to his team's QB1 and a QB2 of the Nathan Enderle variety for Moore to get a chance. In an offense predicated on anticipation and timing, Moore could succeed for a long time.
He could be a career backup, offering the most amazing in-game advice ever when the starting QB comes off the field. Also, he would signal plays like a boss.
He could be a preseason stud that divides the team's fanbase every year until the regular season starts and they all kind of forget about him.
He could be one of the all-time third-stringers in NFL history, which I'm sure is an actual list that someone keeps somewhere. Think of how good he would be on a scout team, unless it was the scout team for the Michael Vick's Philadelphia Eagles.
He could bounce around the league for a couple years before turning to coaching.
He could turn out to be any other number of things, too. Feel free to share your prediction in the comments.
As much as I want Moore to be an NFL starter or a fill-in QB, I think it will take a stroke of luck to get all the planets to align just right. He'll need the right team and the right timing to get his chance. What's more likely is that he contributes to a team in other ways - in the film room, on the practice field, in team-building Blokus games. I don't doubt that he can be a valuable part to an NFL team. I'm just not sure the value will be passing for 3,000 yards and 30 touchdowns each season.
Now for scouting report things ...
When to start getting excited about Moore coming off the board. It will be Day Three (Saturday) in rounds four through seven before Moore gets drafted. Best to just reserve the couch for the weekend.
Potentially interested teams. The Saints and no one else necessarily, unless Jon Gruden gets hired somewhere in the next seven days and even then, Moore might have to promise to bring along Zee, the tee-retrieving dog, as a bribe
Where the experts think Moore will go. Pro Football Weekly gave Moore a fifth-ground draft grade and considers him a low priority in the round. NFL.com ranks players on a 1-100 scale (with one being Idaho Vandal team MVPs and 100 being Tecmo Bowl Bo Jackson). Moore received a 51, which places him in the "draftable player" category.
Moore alternatives. The top quarterbacks on the board are (in order) Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin, Ryan Tannehill, Brandon Weeden, Kirk Cousins, Brock Osweiler, Nick Foles, Russel Wilson. Moore is, by most accounts, the ninth-best prospect available. If all eight before him get drafted, feel free to take it personally if any of the following quarterbacks jump ahead of Moore on the draft's Day Three.
- Ryan Lindley
- Chandler Harnish
- B.J. Coleman
- Darron Thomas
- Austin Davis
- Aaron Corp
Biggest strength. Anticipation. His brain and his preparation make Moore one of the best anticipatory passers in all of football, and anticipation can help overcome a lot of other shortcomings.
Biggest weakness. Arm weakness. Scouts aren't sure he can make NFL throws, which in the case of the Jacksonville Jaguars are throws over the head of open receivers
Idaho Press-Tribune headline pun the morning after the draft. "No Moore Waiting: Kellen Gets Drafted"