2015 NFL Draft: Did Marcus Mariota Hurt Draft Stock?

The New York Giants are not really in the quarterback market. They could draft a quarterback to groom under Eli Manning but are probably better suited drafting for need in Round 1. It is every team’s duty to do their due diligence on every draft prospect, regardless of need. With that in mind we should examine if Marcus Mariota hurt his draft stock with a poor performance in Monday night’s National Championship Game.

Most scouts will tell you that 90% of a players draft grade comes from film. What the player consistently does on the field tells you more than any combine drill or measurement. The Oregon Ducks may have struggled in this championship game, but Mariota consistently performed well.

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Mariota only experienced 5 losses in his Oregon career. Statistically, no college quarterback truly compares to Mariota. This past season he had an amazing 4,454 yards, 42 touchdowns and only 4 interceptions. In his 3 year career at Oregon, he has had a 66.76 completion percentage.

Nov 22, 2014; Eugene, OR, USA; Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) throws the ball before the game against the Colorado Buffaloes at Autzen Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Scott Olmos-USA TODAY Sports

In the National Championship Game he struggled but still put up big numbers. With 333 yards, 2 touchdown passes and 1 interception, he had a passer rating of 152.9.

Oregon simply killed Oregon last night. In the first quarter, two Oregon receivers had drive killing drops that had a huge impact on the game. Ohio State won the game with red zone defense; they gave Mariota almost no choices to score where it mattered most.

Mariota was a bit off on some big throws however; including one pass in the flats that would have been a touchdown, if thrown accurately. It was not a perfect showing for Mariota or his team for that matter.

Overall, I don’t think Mariota took himself out of play for the number one overall selection come April 30th. He has consistently performed at a high level and is by far the number one quarterback on the board.