Arm Strength:

Nassib possesses a strong arm and displays excellent velocity on his passes. He can make every throw with ease and arm strength should not be a problem at the next level. He has to do a much better job of varying his touch. Too often he rifles balls on check-downs that put his receivers in tough situations.

Grade: 4.0

Accuracy:

Inconsistent would be one way to describe Nassib’s accuracy. In the short game he is generally on point, however on intermediate and deep routes his accuracy starts to get spotty. He lacks pin-point accuracy and usually his receivers have to make adjustments to his passes. He’ll also flat out miss wide open receivers on what should be routine throws. He does show some rare flashes but for the most part it’s hard to describe Nassib as an accurate passer.

Grade: 2.5

Mobility:

Nassib has a more compact build than your traditional quarterback and he is quite athletic. He is very mobile in the pocket and can extend plays with his legs. He does present a threat to run and he’s actually had his number called on a few designed quarterback runs at Syracuse. He can pick up some solid gains with his legs if need be.

Grade: 3.0

Decision Making:

Nassib strikes me as a student of the game who knows his offense well. He knows where his receivers are and he goes through his progressions quickly. He does tend to lock onto targets for more than he should at times though. He tends to get a little skittish under pressure although he does show the ability to hang in the pocket and deliver a pass whilst taking a hit. Occasionally he’ll simply make bad reads which makes me wonder if he had already per-determined where he’d go with the ball before the snap and failed to actually read the coverage. Most of the time he will take what the defense gives him and he doesn’t force many passes.

Grade: 2.5

Mechanics:

Nassib has one of the quickest releases of any quarterback in this class. He’s also used to play from under center and he does show a pretty good 3 and 5 step drop. He can plant his back leg and drive the ball immediately as he reaches the end of his drop with little wasted motion. His footwork is usually crisp although he does rush his mechanics when facing pressure which leads to more errant passes. That said he usually does pass with his feet set and good balance.

Grade: 3.5

Pocket Awareness:

I’m a little bit skeptical of Nassib’s pocket poise. Sometimes he shows great ability to step up in the pocket and keep his eyes down-field to find an open man. Yet other times he holds onto the ball too long, or he gets happy-feet in the pocket and makes rushed decisions when he could have remained patient and made the play. I also don’t like that he makes himself a runner too early. He’ll tuck the ball well before he’s crossed the line of scrimmage essentially wiping out any possibility of still passing the ball. He doesn’t strike me as being overly comfortable in the pocket for whatever reason.

Grade: 2.0

Intangibles:

Nassib is well experienced, being a 3 year starter for the Orange. His numbers have steadily improved throughout his career despite playing with a poor supporting cast. As mentioned earlier he seems like a smart quarterback with a high football IQ. He came up big in games against Louisville and Missouri this year, leading a game-winning drive in the latter. He has no known character issues or major injury concerns. Doesn’t strike me as a franchise quarterback worthy of a 1st round pick.

Grade: 3.5

Outlook:

There’s a lot to like about Ryan Nassib. He’s a 3 year starter with a strong arm and athletic build. His mechanics are good and he’s got a lightning quick release. Despite all of that, he still struggles with his accuracy and I’m not sold on his pocket poise. He looks like a guy who can sit and develop and maybe eventually battle for a starting role but he’s not someone who can step in from day 1 and lead a team and perform admirably. I’m not buying the 1st round hype right now.