Colin Kaepernick NFL Draft Scouting Report

Colin Kaepernick

6'6, 225 pounds | Quarterback | Nevada

Accuracy: Before I describe the accuracy of Kaepernick, I want you drop down and read the mechanics part of the scouting report.  Kaepernick's poor mechanics directly impact his accuracy.  I was shocked at how consistently he delivered a catchable football on short passing routes.  He did a nice job leading his receivers allowing them to make plays after the catch.  Kaepernick's throws over the middle and along the sideline suffered from poor ball placement.  On more than one sideline attempt, the ball wasn't thrown to the outside but inside where the defender could make a play.  Over the middle, the ball had a tendency to get high forcing his target to stop and adjust to the football.  Something we were able to take away from the Senior Bowl was that Kaepernick isn't afraid to push the ball down the field.  He showed while at Nevada that he had a knack for big plays which were possible because of his deep accuracy.  The majority of deep balls had the proper loft and power to complete the pass.  Overall, Kaepernick wasn't the most accurate quarterback but he showed flashes.   Scouting for the NFL Draft is all about projecting a player to the NFL and Kaepernick is a tricky player.  With some mechanical adjustments, Kaepernick could be a real accurate passer in the NFL.

Arm strength: Kaepernick has an above average throwing arm.  He has excellent zip on all his passes at every level of the field.  He gets the ball quickly out to his targets on screen plays and slant routes providing them with space to make a defender miss.  His intermediate throws arrive on a line and get to their targets in a hurry.  Kaepernick's arm strength allows him to put pressure on the defense by attacking deep down the field.  The entire field is in play when Kaepernick is behind center.

Decision making: For the most part Kaepernick takes care of the football.  However, he tends to get in trouble in the middle of the field.  He doesn't always account for the safety and will attempt to squeeze a ball into tight spaces.  It is tough to get a good read on his decision making skills because of how his ability to run the ball impacts a defense.  Kaepernick rarely faced the type of schemes he will face in the NFL and that is due to the threat he posed running the football.  He was effective running the Pistol Offense in college but he will need to start from scratch in the NFL.

Field vision:  As I mentioned in the Decision Making section, Kaepernick was a beneficiary of defensive coordinators game planning against his running ability.  Prior to the snap, Kaepernick did an excellent job directing traffic and calling plays from the line of scrimmage.  Nevada often ran a no huddle offense where Kaepernick had some responsibility for making the calls on the fly.  With the ball in his hands, he did a nice job scanning the field looking for a open target. He was patient while going across the field with his progressions and didn't panic when his first option was covered.  Overall, Kaepernick was able to take in what the defense game him and make sound decisions.

Mechanics: Whatever NFL team drafts Kaepernick is going to spend considerable amount of time working on his technique.  It starts with his lack of experience with taking snaps from under center where he needs to work on remaining balance while scanning the field.  It is not an easy adjustment to make and is sure to take time to perfect.  While in the pocket, Kaepernick has a loose grasp on the ball and allows it to dip below his breast plate.  These wasted motions combined with a long release impacts his ability to get the football out of his hand quickly.  Kaepernick does not set his feet and shoulders towards his target which directly impacts his accuracy.  After he identifies his target he throws a flat footed ball.  He doesnt step into his throws and often swings his back foot out which limits the amount of power he can generate on his throws.

Pocket awareness: Kaepernick has a great feel for the pocket and the athletic ablitiy to escape the rush.  He possesses the speed to damage a defense by out running angles and gaining yards on the ground.  When faced with pressure he keeps his eyes down field looking for an open target.  I noticed that when the play is a designed pass he prefers to throw the football.  A common misconception might be that because of his speed Kaepernick prefers to run with the ball, that isn't the case.  The only concern I have is that when forced out of the pocket all resemblance of proper technique gets thrown out the window.

Games Viewed: Boston College, California, Boise State, Senior Bowl

Final word: When it comes to athletic ability Kaepernick is right up there with the likes of Cam Newton.  However, like Cam he struggles with the fundamentals of playing quarterback.  His abilities will intrigue a team and might lead to an earlier than expected selection.  But he is going to need time to develop as his technique is far from NFL ready.  Ultimately, Kaepernick is a player with a ton of upside but legitimate question marks.