When Mock Drafts were being made for the 2017 NFL Draft Brad Kaaya was being mentioned as the possible number one overall pick. How did he fall to the sixth round?
Sports Illustrated was among those that listed Kaaya as a potential top overall selection in their May 2, 2016, Mock Draft for 2017. Dropping from the top overall pick to the sixth round to the Detroit Lions was a precipitous fall. In the mock drafts that were released close to the NFL Draft, Kaaya was expected to be selected in the third or fourth round.
What happened? It was likely a combination of his flaws being further exposed and teams that selected Quarterbacks chose to do so earlier than expected.
Two of the teams that had glaring holes at Quarterback chose to move up in the draft. The Chicago Bears packaged later round picks to move up one spot from third to second to select Mitchell Trubisky from North Carolina. The Houston Texans also traded up ten spots later to take another former ACC Quarterback Deshaun Watson from Clemson.
The other teams that had glaring needs at Quarterback either picked quarterbacks earlier than Kaaya was selected by the Detroit Lions or surprisingly didn’t take a quarterback at all.
Related Story: The Five Teams Most Likely to Draft Brad Kaaya
The Buffalo Bills took Nathan Peterman from Pittsburgh in the fifth round, the San Francisco 49ers selected C.J. Bethard from Iowa in the third, Cleveland took DeShon Kizer from Notre Dame in the second and the Arizona Cardinals surprisingly did not select a Quarterback in the 2017 draft.
Kaaya going to the Lions was a surprise. With Matthew Stafford only 29 years old, the Lions are set at quarterback for the foreseeable future. They also drafted backup Jake Ruddock in the sixth round in 2016.
CanesWarning’s partner site NFL Mocks quotes Charlie Campbell of Walter Football explaining why Kaaya dropped so far in the draft.
"“Sources say the reason why Kaaya slid was a combination of bad tape and questions about his personal makeup. Teams felt that Kaaya’s junior year tape was very shaky, and as a result, he was graded in Day 3 for many. Kaaya demonstrated poor vision and mobility, which led to a lot of taken sacks. Teams also felt that Kaaya lacked leadership skills, and all teams want leaders at quarterback. Sources didn’t like that Kaaya was very focused on his draft standing last fall rather than being focused on winning the next game for his team. All of those factors combined to Kaaya being a late sixth-round pick.”"
Despite most being surprised, there were some scouts and draft experts that projected Kaaya to be selected later that most scouts and draft experts expected. Daniel Jeremiah of the NFL Network had Kaaya projected later than his third or fourth round consensus projection.
too early for me...I guess he could go there. I'd be more in the 5th/6th camp.
— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) February 21, 2017
"Jeremiah told the Miami’s Herald’s Barry Jackson “I definitely think he could use another year in school…(and he also needs to show more) poise under pressure.”"
Jackson wrote an article in October of 2016 on Kaaya’s draft prospects and that his decision should have been to stay according to some scouts. In fairness this was during Miami’s losing streak and before the Hurricanes closed the season with five straight wins.
"One NFC scout told Jackson: “He shouldn’t come out [to the NFL after this season] because he’s not good enough…No mobility, average arm, can’t run for a first down. I’ve been watching him for three years. I must miss something when people say he’s a top 10 pick. What has he done? For some reason, Mel Kiper had him hyped up. Just an average player.”"
Another NFL Draft expert Tony Pauline also discussed Kaaya’s weaknesses:
"“It’s indecision, it’s immobility…He has to physically mature to get bigger because he can’t escape the rush.”"
Kaaya’s sixth round selection now gives him a lot to prove. His long-term NFL future might not be with the Lions. If he gets a chance to show he’s better than where he was selected he might become a wanted commodity.
The New England Patriots Jimmy Garrolopolo is a good example parlaying experience into being wanted by other teams. Garrapolo was a second-round pick of the New England Patriots in the second round in 2014, his stock seems to be higher.
There has been talk of a lot of interest in teams trading for him. For now, he remains the property of New England.
Next: 2017 Miami Hurricane Player Breakdown: Malik Rosier
If Kaaya plays well in his pre-season appearances and possibly performs well if he gets a chance at a spot start he could interest other teams.