Detroit Lions Draft: A Quarterback for Every Round
By Jeff Risdon
Second Round: Carson Wentz
One of the best-kept secrets in the upcoming draft, North Dakota State’s Carson Wentz will not stay under the radar for long. He’s accepted an invitation to the Senior Bowl, where he will show off in front of hundreds of NFL scouts and NFL/Draft media.
Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
A proven winner with an FCS Championship to his credit, Wentz positioned the Bison atop that level once again before breaking his wrist midway through the season. He is expected to be 100% by January. Even with the missed time, the 6’3” Wentz has shown enough to impress many evaluators.
One such is Mark Schofield of Inside the Pylon, who opined:
"I believe he has a number of traits and skills that bode well for his transition to the professional game, including his arm talent, his short and intermediate accuracy, his athletic ability and his experience in a scheme that requires him to operate both under center and in the shotgun and make progression reads and anticipation throws. But it is his decision-making, and ability to stay aggressive regardless of situation, that make him a very intriguing prospect."
Wentz is a solid runner outside the pocket but can have lead feet inside it at times. He’s also yet to face real NFL-caliber defenses. As with Lynch, drafting Wentz is about long-term investment over short-term reward. He’s not as gifted as Lynch but could very well be more likely to pan out into at least a solid long-term backup.
Next: Dak Prescott