2012 NFL Draft Scouting Report: Nick Foles
WalterFootball.com's Archive
Walter of WalterFootball has been WalterFootball'ing since 1999'. Older Content is being kept around here. Thanks for reading.
Strengths:
Powerful arm
Quick release
Big pocket presence
Gritty; fighter
Excellent height
Good bulk to take hits
Durable
Improved accuracy
Displays gunslinger mentality
Experienced 3-year starter
Weaknesses: Field vision
Lacks mobility
Decision-making
Streaky
Too many interceptions
Footwork
Summary: Foles is a big-armed pocket passer. He comes to the NFL having put up some big numbers in his career at Arizona. Foles was a warrior in 2011. He had to battle in a shootout on a weekly basis, as Arizona had one of the worst defenses in the nation. As a result, Foles got a ton of opportunities to throw against collegiate secondaries. That experience should help him from a mental standpoint.
As a senior, Foles completed 69 percent of his passes for 4,334 yards with 28 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. Early in the season, he was doing a good job of avoiding turnovers, but he later threw a bunch of picks. One of the reasons for this was his inclination to lock on to one receiver and not make progressions through his different reads. Foles' field vision will need work, and that is the big detriment to his game. He also got a lot of help from wide receiver Juron Criner. Over the past few seasons. Foles would throw a lot of passes up for grabs, and his big wide receiver would reward him with many tough receptions.
Foles has the arm strength to be a starting quarterback at the next level. He also has big hands (10 5/8), measuring out with the largest hands of any quarterback in the 2012 draft class. However, he is going to need to become a more heady signal-caller who improves his accuracy in the NFL. For Foles, it will be all about him landing with the right coaching staff and offensive system. If that falls into place, he could be a better pro quarterback than his draft slot would indicate. Foles could go as high as the third round or as low as the fifth round.
Player Comparison: Derek Anderson. Anderson was a sixth-round pick of the Ravens in the 2005 NFL Draft. Anderson had some success in 2007, but he has proven to be just a backup in the NFL. Anderson (6-6, 235) is a statue pocket passer who has a big arm. Foles is the same kind of quarterback. Foles is a mid-rounder that may go ahead of Anderson, but they have similar playing styles.
NFL Matches: Buffalo, Seattle, Philadelphia, Kansas City, Washington
Foles could go to a lot of different teams. The Bills may draft him to groom him behind Ryan Fitzpatrick for a few years while seeing if Foles develops into starting material. Foles could compete in Seattle, where the Seahawks need a long-term quarterback.
The Eagles are always looking to acquire talent at quarterback, especially since Michael Vick is aging and overrated. Kansas City could also consider Foles. The Redskins are expected to be more proactive about finding their quarterback rather than using a mid-round pick on a player like Foles.
RELATED LINKS:
2012 NFL Mock Draft: Charlie's | Walt's
2012 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings
2012 NFL Draft Scouting Reports
![]()
Weaknesses:
Summary: Foles is a big-armed pocket passer. He comes to the NFL having put up some big numbers in his career at Arizona. Foles was a warrior in 2011. He had to battle in a shootout on a weekly basis, as Arizona had one of the worst defenses in the nation. As a result, Foles got a ton of opportunities to throw against collegiate secondaries. That experience should help him from a mental standpoint.
As a senior, Foles completed 69 percent of his passes for 4,334 yards with 28 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. Early in the season, he was doing a good job of avoiding turnovers, but he later threw a bunch of picks. One of the reasons for this was his inclination to lock on to one receiver and not make progressions through his different reads. Foles' field vision will need work, and that is the big detriment to his game. He also got a lot of help from wide receiver Juron Criner. Over the past few seasons. Foles would throw a lot of passes up for grabs, and his big wide receiver would reward him with many tough receptions.
Foles has the arm strength to be a starting quarterback at the next level. He also has big hands (10 5/8), measuring out with the largest hands of any quarterback in the 2012 draft class. However, he is going to need to become a more heady signal-caller who improves his accuracy in the NFL. For Foles, it will be all about him landing with the right coaching staff and offensive system. If that falls into place, he could be a better pro quarterback than his draft slot would indicate. Foles could go as high as the third round or as low as the fifth round.
Player Comparison: Derek Anderson. Anderson was a sixth-round pick of the Ravens in the 2005 NFL Draft. Anderson had some success in 2007, but he has proven to be just a backup in the NFL. Anderson (6-6, 235) is a statue pocket passer who has a big arm. Foles is the same kind of quarterback. Foles is a mid-rounder that may go ahead of Anderson, but they have similar playing styles.
NFL Matches: Buffalo, Seattle, Philadelphia, Kansas City, Washington
Foles could go to a lot of different teams. The Bills may draft him to groom him behind Ryan Fitzpatrick for a few years while seeing if Foles develops into starting material. Foles could compete in Seattle, where the Seahawks need a long-term quarterback.
The Eagles are always looking to acquire talent at quarterback, especially since Michael Vick is aging and overrated. Kansas City could also consider Foles. The Redskins are expected to be more proactive about finding their quarterback rather than using a mid-round pick on a player like Foles.
RELATED LINKS:
2012 NFL Mock Draft: Charlie's | Walt's
2012 NFL Draft Prospect Rankings
2012 NFL Draft Scouting Reports