| 26 December 2011
Because it’s never too early to talk about the NFL draft. Okay, so maybe it is. But after watching Boise State obliterate Arizona State in the Las Vegas Bowl, a thought popped up in my mind: Should the Seahawks draft Kellen Moore?
Moore put up stats that are truly amazing, but winning more games than any other college player EVER (50) is his most impressive, including three out of the four bowl games he’s played in. The NCAA will likely never see another person win so many football games. But Moore’s done more (see what I did there) than just win games.
14, 667 passing yards in his four year college career, an average of 3666 yards a season, an average completion percentage of 70% and 142 total touchdowns doesn’t sound like a sixth round pick to me. However, all of Moore’s stats have an asterisk by them: He played with an elite supporting cast against significantly weaker opponents with Boise State playing in the WAC his first three seasons and the MWC his senior season.
One thing people can’t dispute is Moore's intelligence when it comes to reading defenses. Outside of Andrew Luck, Moore is the smartest player in the draft. This is a universally known fact, and doesn’t really need to be discussed. Despite all this, there are a few, supposedly vital reasons why some people think Moore will never see an NFL snap.
The biggest thing people point to is Moore being relatively short at six feet and not being able to see over his offensive lineman. Well, current NFL MVP candidate Drew Brees is six feet tall, and you could say he’s had a decent career. The example of Brees alone disproves this idea that a QB has to be 6-4 with Ben Roethlisberger size to succeed in the modern day NFL.
Analysts also decry his arm strength, but yet some of those same analysts call him the most accurate passer in the draft. I don’t know about you, but I’ll take accuracy over throwing power any day (i.e. JaMarcus Russell).
Then there’s the question of where the Seahawks would draft him if John Schneider liked Moore enough.
Hold your pitchforks, let me explain myself.
I’m not saying burn a first round pick on the guy — far from it. But the Seahawks do have a pick in every round, which gives the team relative flexibility.
Here’s my take: draft Kellen Moore in the fourth round after acquiring a pass rushing defensive end within the first three rounds. Drafting Moore would give the Seahawks a low risk, high reward player who could develop for a couple years, learn Darrell Bevall’s offensive system, and eventually get a shot to be the Seahawks’ starting quarterback.
In the end, the Seahawks NEED to draft a quarterback next spring, and that guy just might be Kellen Moore. What do you think? Am I nuts, or do I have a point? Or am I both? Leave your answers in the comment section below.
--Nathan Parsons (@nathanparsons98)
