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2017 NFL Draft: Does DeShone Kizer’s Slide in Recent Mocks Prove Brian Kelly is Right?

By Noah Strackbein

Sep 19, 2015; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback DeShone Kizer (14) and head coach Brian Kelly sing the Notre Dame Alma Mater after Notre Dame defeated the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 30-22 at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 19, 2015; South Bend, IN, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish quarterback DeShone Kizer (14) and head coach Brian Kelly sing the Notre Dame Alma Mater after Notre Dame defeated the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 30-22 at Notre Dame Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Cashore-USA TODAY Sports /
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As a projected top 10 pick when he declared for the 2017 NFL Draft, former Notre Dame quarterback, DeShone Kizer, is now sliding down mock drafts.

Listen: How Far Can DeShone Kizer Fall?

DeShone Kizer has one of the best skill sets in the 2017 NFL Draft, but his maturity on the field may cost him a first round selection. With everyone, including his coach, speaking out about how Kizer should have stayed an extra year, the question arises; does his recent draft slump prove Brian Kelly is right?

The answer is simple; no. When Kizer declared for the NFL Draft, he wasn’t leaving behind a program where he could develop in a talented offense with an intelligent coach. When he declared, Notre Dame was fresh off a 4-8 season with uncertainty of who their head coach would be in 2017 and in the midst of a complete breakdown.

Even if Kizer needed another year in college to finish his development, at the time Notre Dame wasn’t the school who was going to help him do that. What Kizer needs is a coach who will allow him to sit for a season and teach him everything else he needs to know.

Fundamentals weren’t the issue in this play caller. The problem was his decision making. Too many times, Kizer would get rattled, try to make something out of nothing, and end up turning the ball over. In the NFL, things like that cost players their career.

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In that aspect, Kelly was right when he said, “He needs more time to grow on and off the field. He isn’t complete yet,” on SiriusXM NFL Radio.

The 21-year-old certainly isn’t ready to take on an NFL team by himself. But he can develop in the pros and with the right coaching. Compared to what he thought he was going back to in South Bend at the time, being a backup for a year in the NFL wasn’t a bad idea.

When you debate the Kizer vs Kelly NFL Draft case of 2017, you can’t look at it as if Notre Dame was anywhere near where they are right now. In three months this team has gone from a complete trainwreck to a College Football Playoff contender. Did DeShone Kizer see any of this coming? No, and neither did any of us.

You need to think of this through the eyes of Kizer. He made the decision to leave during a time when staying looked like a bad idea.

Coach Kelly’s right when he says Kizer isn’t ready. Because realistically, he should have stayed. But when it all happened, choosing another year at Notre Dame looked like a 50/50 shot of development and complete disaster. When it comes to millions of dollars and a chance to live your dream, you make the decision that looks best at the time.

Next: DeShone Kizer's 5 Best Draft Night Options

So, to re-answer, the question does his recent draft slump prove Brian Kelly is right? Yes and no. Brian Kelly is right when he said Kizer isn’t ready. But Notre Dame wasn’t ready to make him a better quarterback when he decided to leave.

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