NFL DraftScouting Reports

Two Quarterbacks That Can Be Steals in the 2018 NFL Draft

“Two Quarterbacks That Can Be Steals in the 2018 NFL Draft

By: Anthony Siciliano  – Our Newest Draft Diamonds Writer

When looking at the 2018 NFL quarterback prospects in this year’s draft it’s a deep class with individuals who have great arm strength, pinpoint accuracy, and being able to make spectacular plays with their feet. Then you have your traditional pocket passers. Those two quarterbacks are Mike White from Western Kentucky University and Kyle Lauletta from Richmond University. White and Lauletta are very similar from a physical standpoint. White stands at 6’4 225 lbs. and Lauletta is 6’3 215 lbs. I’m very intrigued by these two quarterbacks because they can be a steal for a team in the later rounds of the NFL draft. When watching film on both White and Lauletta I realized that when the protection was there, they were able to drive the ball down the field with no problem. Both quarterbacks have quick releases which will be very beneficial at the next level as well. Mike White and Kyle Lauletta can be just as good as any of the other top quarterback prospects in this year’s draft.

White and Lauletta were invited and participated in both the 2018 Reese’s Senior Bowl and 2018 NFL Scouting Combine. Their performances from these two events were one that left draft evaluators to take a more in-depth look at these prospects. At the Reese’s Senior Bowl Lauletta and White both played for the South team. They were efficient from the field and able to put points on the board for their respective team. Mike White was 8 for 11, with 128 passing yards with 1 passing touchdown and 0 interceptions. Kyle Lauletta finished 8 for 12, with 198 passing yards with 3 touchdowns and 0 interceptions. Lauletta had the edge over White while throwing for 2 more touchdowns and he was also named MVP of the 2018 Senior Bowl. When watching these two quarterbacks compete in the 2018 Senior Bowl they didn’t turn the ball over. In college, both these quarterbacks had a problem with that. It’s something that both of them have worked on in a short amount of time since their college carriers ended. At the 2018 NFL Scouting Combine, Mike White and Kyle Lauletta won’t “wow you” when it comes to the testing field. White and Lauletta pride themselves on their mechanics and being able to be consistent with those mechanics. Do these quarterbacks have big-time NFL arms? No, but they have good arm strength and can put the ball in the right spot were only their guy can go get it. That’s what they displayed at the senior bowl and the NFL scouting combine.

Some weakness that I found in Mike White’s game is he lacks mobility outside the pocket, and when forced to throw off platform accuracy can get inconsistent. This weakness that I discovered while watching Mike White’s film can all be fixed with consistent coaching and awareness. Mike is a natural thrower and you notice that when watching his film. Mike White has been spending his time preparing for the NFL with Quarterback coach Ken Mastrole down in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Coach Mastrole has worked with top quarterback prospects such as Teddy Bridgewater from the New York Jets, Jacoby Brissett from the New England Patriots and many other top quarterbacks in the NFL today. Mike has a nice foundation to work with, he has solid mechanics, able to know when to throw with heat and when to put touch on his throws. With Mike White working with Coach Mastrole I believe he can help White improve on the little things to elevate his game to another level.

The weakness that came up with Lauletta was when faced with pressure, is he can lack pocket presence, and at times put’s too much touch on the deep ball allowing the defense to make a play in time. At the next level, he must be able to have a calm presence in the pocket when faced with lots of pressure. He also must know when to put the right amount of touch on the ball. Especially since the game will be a lot faster and defenders will be able to read things quickly at this level. To prepare for the NFL Kyle Lauletta spent his training at IMG Academy down in Bradenton, Florida where some of the top athletes in the country train all year long. Kyle is an athletic quarterback and is able to make plays inside and outside the pocket. When watching Lauletta’s film he can manipulate defenders with his eyes giving him the ability to make throws in tight windows. Kyle does a nice job of letting the passing concepts develop down the field and is able to go through his progressions with ease.

Overall, both quarterbacks can be sleepers and shock a lot of people down the road. For Mike White and Kyle Lauletta if they can go to a team with a seasoned veteran at the helm and learn from them for a few years then I think it will be the best thing for their careers moving forward. What I like most about both these quarterbacks are, they’ve seen a lot of football and are fierce competitors. At the next level, you either have those attributes or you don’t. That can make or break you in the NFL. Don’t count out White and Lauletta since they may be later round draft picks. These two quarterback prospects have been doubted their whole career and the mindset doesn’t change for them once they begin their NFL careers. With the right fit, I believe Mike White and Kyle Lauletta have the tools that are necessary to be successful quarterbacks in the NFL.

Projected teams to draft Mike White: New England Patriots, Miami Dolphins, Baltimore Ravens, Los Angeles Chargers

 Projected teams to draft Kyle Lauletta: New England Patriots, Pittsburgh Steelers, Atlanta Falcons, Cincinnati Bengals

Damond Talbot

NFL Draft Diamonds was created to assist the underdogs playing the sport. We call them diamonds in the rough. My name is Damond Talbot, I have worked extremely hard to help hundreds of small school players over the past several years, and will continue my mission. We have several contributors on this site, and if they contribute their name and contact will be in the piece above. You can email me at nfldraftdiamonds@gmail.com

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