DeShone Kizer declares for 2017 draft: Will he be successful in the NFL?

DeShone Kizer has declared for the 2017 NFL Draft, but can he be successful at the next level?

The senior class of quarterbacks for the 2017 NFL Draft does not have a can’t-miss, Peyton Manning or Andrew Luck type of prospect, which the teams in line for one of the first picks are surely aware of. But on the other end are the signal callers that can declare early and elevate their stock in a thin class of prospects at the position.

On Monday, via an announcement from the school, Notre Dame quarterback DeShone Kizer has decided to go pro.

Kizer started 23 games for the Fighting Irish over the last two seasons, with a 12-11 record. He threw for a total of 5,809 yards, with 47 touchdowns and 19 interceptions, while adding 992 rushing yards and 18 more touchdowns on the ground. As a third-year sophomore, he had the option to declare for the NFL draft.

ESPN draft analysts Todd McShay and Mel Kiper Jr. have both suggested Kizer would benefit from another year in school. But there’s now an argument for Kizer as the best quarterback in the 2017 draft class, so his decision to declare should not be a surprise.

Kizer has NFL-caliber size (6-foot-4, 230 pounds), and his running ability will probably invite convenient comparisons to Cam Newton. But as with any rookie quarterback, the team that drafts Kizer will set his early career track. News of an NFL team with interest in the now former Notre Dame quarterback also came on Monday.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Cleveland Browns scout (and Notre Dame alum) Lake Dawson has spent an “inordinate amount of time” in South Bend scouting Kizer. The Browns are unlikely to take a quarterback with the first overall pick, but they are still doing due diligence scouting the position.

If Kizer is the first quarterback drafted, he could be a top-10 pick, and that means he’ll land on a bad team. There are rare exceptions, like we saw with the Dallas Cowboys last year only to have key players be healthy and bring a rebound this season.

Kizer has the skill set to be a successful NFL starting quarterback. But if more development time will benefit him –and it likely will– he may as well get paid to do it next season.

Being brought in as the heir apparent to an older quarterback, with good coaches in place, should set Kizer up to eventually start in the league for a long time. If he lands with the Browns, Jacksonville Jaguars or another team of that type, Kizer may have to wait for an Alex Smith-style second act to find success as a pro.

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