Does DeShone Kizer really have the makings of a No. 1 draft pick?

Despite the struggles of Notre Dame to start this season, DeShone Kizer is playing well enough to be considered the top overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft.

To put it lightly, Notre Dame’s season has started off terribly. The Irish expected to compete for a playoff spot but find themselves 1-3 with a third of the season gone. There’s plenty of blame to go around, mostly on defense, but one area that definitely isn’t a cause for concern moving forward is the quarterback position.

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Against Texas, Brian Kelly decided to play both DeShone Kizer and Malik Zaire. The two-quarterback system didn’t work for the Irish, and Kizer easily outplayed Zaire. It wasn’t long before Kelly officially named Kizer the starter moving forward.

After last season and his play so far this season, many have wondered if Kizer could go first overall in the 2017 NFL Draft. He’s only a junior and could return for his senior year is he wants to, but if talks of him being one of the top picks grows, he may take the opportunity to make it big.

Quarterbacks are always a hot commodity in the draft, as evidenced by what the Los Angeles Rams gave up in order to select Jared Goff with the top pick this past season. Teams with bad records almost always need a quarterback, and there are a few who are in desperate need. But how does Kizer compare to the other top-tier quarterbacks in the 2017 draft class? Let’s look at the after four games.

1,096

183

16

996

120

9

694

-13

7

Chad Kelly- Ole Miss

1,235

129

 13

*Through 3 games

Before the start of the season, Watson and Kelly were rated as two of the best quarterback prospects in the country. After a fantastic season last year, Watson was seen as the odds on favorite to go number one. As seen above, Kizer, is only behind Kelly in terms of passing yards. However, Kizer has accounted for more touchdowns than any other player listed.

Not only is Kizer performing well this season, last season when he needed to step up for Zaire, the Irish didn’t miss a beat. Through the first 17 starts of his career, Kizer has thrown for 3,976 yards, 32 touchdowns and only 13 interceptions. Adding to his passing ability, he’s had 701 rushing yards and 15 scores on the ground. NFL teams love consistency over a  college career, and Kizer is showing he’s not a one-year wonder.

Everyone knows stats can lie though, and when looking at a NFL prospect, one has to consider physical skills and intangibles. At 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds, Kizer has the build of a NFL quarterback and will have scouts flocking to him. His ability is what’s going to set him apart from the rest of the quarterbacks in the class. He can extend a play and throw on the run or operate strictly in the pocket. Kizer can sling the ball down the field but also has amazing touch on the ball when throwing to any part of the field. Scouts are already talking about what great potential Kizer has.

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Notre Dame hasn’t had a quarterback go in the first round of the draft since Brady Quinn in 2007. Baring a disaster, Kizer should break that streak, whether it be in 2017 or 2018. A good quarterback is always welcome in the NFL, and Kizer has the ability to play for a long time.