Weaknesses:
Summary: Luck has been one of them most hyped prospects to enter the NFL over the past 12 years. Luck built the hype with his intelligent and highly efficient play. Each season, Luck improved his production, and bypassed the opportunity to potentially be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft.
With a target firmly attached to him, Luck had a strong senior season, completing 71 percent of his passes for 3,517 yards with 37 touchdowns and 10 interceptions. He ran for 230 yards and two more scores. Three of his interceptions came on tipped passes. Luck led Stanford to a comeback, signature, triple-overtime win at USC. He showed leadership, fire and bounce-back ability in the game. Against Oklahoma State, he set up another late win but missed field goals doomed his team.
Luck showed good mobility and was extremely accurate throwing on the run. The cerebral signal-caller took over a lot of the play-calling for Stanford and had fabulous decision-making. He showed the ability to manipulate safeties with his eyes, exploiting the deep middle of the field. He also showed off his athletic ability with a one-handed 13-yard reception.
Luck is one of the safest quarterbacks ever, and is the best prospect at his position to enter the NFL in at least a dozen years. Luck looks ready to play immediately in the NFL, assuming he attacks the playbook after getting drafted. He is the complete package. He has the intelligence, size, arm strength, mobility and mechanics to be a lethal passer who can also make plays with his feet.
Player Comparison: Peyton Manning. The main reason why pundits, analysts and evaluators liken Luck to Manning is the intelligence. Both quarterbacks are play-callers who have a fabulous understanding of defenses. Luck is the most advanced quarterback mentally to enter the NFL since Manning, and the Stanford product may be ahead of where Manning was coming out of Tennessee.
Luck does not have Manning’s arm strength, but he makes up for that with excellent mobility. Manning has never been one to scramble well or run, but Luck is phenomenal at moving out of the pocket, throwing on the run or picking up yards with his feet.
It isn’t fair to expect Luck to be as good a quarterback or have as prolific career as Manning. However, he’s a future franchise quarterback who has the capacity to be one of the elite players in the NFL.
NFL Matches: Indianapolis, Cleveland, Washington, Miami
Luck is highly likely to be the No. 1 overall pick this April. If the Colts were to decide to take Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III instead of Luck, that would set off a frenzy of teams trying to trade up into the second pick. Those teams could include the Browns, Redskins and Dolphins. All of that is very remote. Realistically, Luck will be the Colts’ choice on Thursday night.
RELATED LINKS:
2012 NFL Mock Draft: Charlie’s | Walt’s
2012 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings
2012 NFL Draft Scouting Reports
NFL Picks - Nov. 20
2025 NFL Mock Draft - Nov. 20
NFL Power Rankings - Nov. 19
Fantasy Football Rankings - Sept. 4
