A dark-horse candidate for a top quarterback spot in the 2023 NFL Draft is Miami's Tyler Van Dyke. His arm strength, high-level throws, and big-play ability pops off. Given the lack of experience, the tape flashes Van Dyke's potential. Should he be considered as a potential franchise quarterback? Let's dive in to the tape and find out.
Biography
Name: Tyler Van Dyke
Position: Quarterback
Height: 6'4
Weight: 224
Age: 21
Class: RS Sophomore
School: Miami (FL)
For those of you who are new to the 'In a Nutshell' series, this is a summarized scouting report to give you everything you need to know "in a nutshell."
The Good
Van Dyke has eye-popping placement on big-time throws. The arm strength is solid, featured in a 60-yard deep ball through rain. Given his experience level, Van Dyke has good-enough consistency and processing. This will improve even more as time progresses, so the sky is the limit.
The Bad
"TVD" is no stellar athlete. He is mobile enough, but think Mac Jones level of athleticism and you are in the right headspace. This limits his scheme versatility a bit, but not too much. There were some forced balls that raise concern, but it may be due more to a lack of experience rather than an issue processing. This year will hopefully solve this issue. One more thing: Van Dyke had issues with out routes to the right. That is considered an NFL-level throw that he has yet to consistently hit. This could transfer to a major red flag if it is not addressed.
The Ugly?
Nothing is necessarily ugly with Van Dyke. If he does not improve in the 'Bad' category, there may be some traits listed here, though.
Overall
Van Dyke deserves all the hype he gets, if not more. A strong arm, developing processor, amazing placement, and solid intangibles provide a great franchise platform. The ceiling is not as high as the more athletically gifted players, but the floor is more than enough to grab him in the first round.
Grading Scale: (Average: 5/10)
Arm Strength: 12/15
Decision Making/ Progressions: 15/20
Accuracy: 7/10
Ball Placement: 7.5/10
Athleticism: 5.5/10
On the Move/ Out of Structure: 7/10
Mechanics: 4.5/5
Timing: 4/5
Pocket Presence: 4.5/5
Injury: 5/5
Mentality: 4.75/5
Draft Grade: 76.75
Draft Projection: Top 15
Big Board Rank: N/A
Shades of: Mac Jones +
Top Three Fits: Vikings, Panthers, Lions