If Cal's Jared Goff is available in the 2016 NFL Draft, the team that picks him can expect a quarterback similar to Bears veteran Jay Cutler, according to one NFL scout.
The scout drew the comparison between Goff, a junior who has yet to announce whether he will apply for early draft eligibility, and Cutler, in a Milwaukee Journal Sentinel report.
"In terms of arm talent, he'll be like Cutler," the scout said. "Skinny kid. Gets hit a bunch. Doesn't see everything. Accuracy is off at times. But he can really spin it and has really good feet."
While that summary of Goff's skills isn't all positive, he could find himself rated very highly at the position if he is in the draft. Another scout told the Los Angeles Times earlier this season that Goff would project as one of the first two quarterbacks chosen in the draft. Cutler, the No. 11 overall pick in 2006, was the third quarterback picked in his draft class, behind two whose careers ended with very little success: Vince Young and Matt Leinart.
NFL Media analyst Lance Zierlein didn't agree with the scout's comparison, though.
"I think Goff's arm looks much better in 2015 than 2014 and he's definitely doing a better job of driving the ball with his lower half, but Cutler had an absolute hose coming out of Vanderbilt and I don't see Goff in that same category," Zierlein said.
Goff (6-foot-4, 215 pounds) completed 316 of 492 passes this season for 4,252 yards, 37 touchdowns and 13 interceptions for the Golden Bears. He largely carried a pass-happy offense that is preparing to face Air Force in the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl on Dec. 29. Underclassmen have until a Jan. 18 deadline to apply for early draft eligibility.
Former Bears director of college scouting Greg Gabriel, expressed some doubts about Goff's potential following Cal's loss to USC on Oct. 31. NFL Media analyst Daniel Jeremiah was on hand to watch Goff against Stanford in November, and he wrote that the QB had a solid showing.
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