Eagles Film Review: Kyle McCord could eventually develop into a backup quarterback

With the 2025 NFL Draft over, it’s time for some movie rooms on the Philadelphia Eagles’ rookie class. I’ll attempt to get to all 10 draft picks and the UDFAs over the following few weeks. A great deal of scouting stories will say very comparable issues, so I’ve tried to incorporate movie clips to again up every little thing and I’ll speak in regards to the participant’s match with the Eagles on the finish of the piece. I managed to get the All22 for a number of rookies, however I can’t share these clips on my Twitter accounts (or I threat getting blocked), so I’ve used a couple of different accounts right here. Let’s go!

You may take a look at my podcast feed right here to listen to extra from me. I’ve a Patreon linked to my podcast if you wish to help me additional. Because of being unable to share All22 on Twitter, I’m doing All22 watch-alongs on each Eagles’ rookie on the Patreon, which is actually cool!

Beforehand: Jihaad Campbell / Andrew Mukuba / Ty Robinson / Mac McWilliams / Smael Mondon / Drew Kendall

It’s QB Manufacturing facility time! Let’s go!

Strengths

+ He’s correct from the pocket when he has time to get the ball out on time. He’s at his finest when he performs on schedule and throws with timing and anticipation. He’s keen to suit throws into tight home windows. He performs with no concern. He has big-time throws throughout his movie.

+ He can get the ball down the sphere and throws precisely outdoors the numbers. That is one thing the Eagles prioritize of their offense.

+ He’s received the old-school mentality of being keen to take a success whereas throwing down the sphere. He’ll stand in and ship with defenders closing in. He’s a gunslinger at coronary heart.

+ He throws with glorious contact at instances. He can layer the ball excessive of linebackers and understands find out how to give his receivers a combating probability in one-on-one matchups.

+ Set single-season information at Syracuse in 2024, led FBS in completions and passing yards. McCord was school QB.

+ He seems to be the half as a thrower. I’m not a QB mechanics man, however nothing horrible stands out. His footwork and launch look very strong.

+ He doesn’t appear to let one or two dangerous performs affect him, and he’ll preserve taking part in his sport. I like the mentality, even when it could lead to some disastrous video games if you have a look at the stats sheet. The intangibles are there!

Weaknesses

– He’s not an excellent athlete. He’s a statue beneath stress who gained’t have the ability to escape from the pocket or prolong performs persistently.

– Regardless of being keen to face within the pocket and ship beneath stress, his accuracy suffers when he’s beneath stress. Because of his incapacity to flee, he can power some throws when he is aware of stress is coming. Similar to this…

– He locks onto his main reads too usually and fails to maneuver defenders together with his eyes, which causes too many interceptions.

– He tends to power throws into tight home windows (which is superior at instances) and his decision-making turns into questionable when beneath stress. 12 interceptions in 2024 is an actual fear.

– He has ‘adequate’ arm energy, however it’s nothing particular. It’s common at finest.

Total

I’ve seen a couple of feedback asking if Kyle McCord might finally change Tanner McKee as QB2, enabling the Eagles to commerce McKee. My reply is not any. I don’t suppose that is smart. I bear in mind watching Tanner McKee’s movie after the draft and being extremely excited. That is what I mentioned about McKee post-draft in 2023!

Nevertheless, after watching him, I form of love the choose. I’m sorry. I can’t assist it. I like these huge old school pocket passers even when the NFL has handed them by. 5 years in the past, Tanner McKee is unquestionably an early-round choose. He can achieve this many issues properly. He throws with stunning contact down the sphere, is fairly constant together with his ball placement, and may get by means of his progressions.

I loved watching McCord, however he didn’t ‘pop’ like McKee did. McCord seems to be like a strong QB who does a variety of issues at an honest stage. He simply doesn’t have the arm expertise that McKee does. McKee’s upside is increased as a result of he’s a greater thrower of the soccer.

I discover it fascinating that the Eagles appear to focus on both a cellular backup (Marcus Mariota, Dorian Thompson-Robinson) or an old-school pocket passer (Kenny Pickett, Tanner McKee, Kyle McCord). I’m OK with having an motionless backup so long as they’ll play on time. I count on McCord to beat out DTR, regardless of DTR having much more mobility. DTR would assist the Eagles’ working sport out if he needed to play, however he’s technically miles behind McCord as a pure passer. I wouldn’t belief DTR if he needed to play a sport or two. I believe McCord might do sufficient with out wrecking the offense. Nevertheless, he does have that gunslinger mentality, and you could possibly completely see him throwing 4 interceptions in a sport. I believe McCord will beat out DTR and take the QB3 spot this 12 months, based mostly on what I’ve seen from each of them. Nevertheless, if the Eagles do need a extra cellular possibility at quarterback, then DTR is the apparent alternative.

Total, Kyle McCord is a timing-based pocket passer who excels inside construction and struggles when outdoors of it. He has OK arm expertise and throws with good contact and accuracy, however his restricted athleticism, erratic play beneath stress, and turnover threat create some threat on the subsequent stage. Nevertheless, McCord isn’t somebody who seems bothered by turnovers and is keen to throw into tight home windows again and again. Give me an aggressive quarterback to develop, quite than one who solely checks down. With the proper surroundings and persistence, he might finally become the Eagles’ QB2 down the road, however he’ll possible start his NFL journey competing for the QB3 place.

Thanks for studying! I’d love to listen to your ideas, so be at liberty to remark under and ask any questions. For those who loved this piece, you could find extra of my work and podcast right here.