Brady Quinn: Sam Darnold ‘didn’t do anything to hurt himself’ at USC Pro Day

There was a lot of talk about the rain, that it helped Sam Darnold prove to NFL talent-evaluators he can handle adverse weather.

Brady Quinn, for one, wasn’t buying that.

‘A little rain in Southern California during a Pro Day workout in a T-shirt and shorts is not any indication whatsoever of playing in inclement weather’

Darnold might have performed well under the soggy conditions for Wednesday’s USC Pro Day. However, Quinn, a former NFL quarterback, didn’t think that answered any questions about what Darnold would do when dealing with some of the worst Mother Nature will offer him once he’s throwing passes at the next level.

“A little rain in Southern California during a Pro Day workout in a T-shirt and shorts is not any indication whatsoever of what teams and coaching staffs are concerned by as far as playing in inclement weather,” Quinn told co-host Bruce Murray on the SiriusXM Blitz. “That weather that they’re talking about is what comes to us in November, December for those up North — when it’s windy and it’s cold and you’re talking about potentially sub-zero temperatures where you can’t feel your hand and you have to figure out how to throw the football when your hand’s a little bit numb, when you have to figure out how to throw the football into a wind that could be gusting at 30 miles per hour while not being able to feel that hand, which typically gives you issues with grip, typically gives you issues with being able to spin the football.

‘I still think, based on my film evaluation of him, he should be the No. 1 overall quarterback taken’

“That’s where that hand size, where his isn’t that big — I believe 9 3/8 (inches) — comes into play. And that’s what’s a little bit worrisome. But nonetheless, I don’t think he did anything to hurt himself. I still think, based on my film evaluation of him, he should be the No. 1 overall quarterback taken and the No. 1 overall player taken by the Cleveland Browns in this year’s draft.”

Quinn thought Darnold gave a good showing at the Pro Day. In fact, Quinn thought NFL teams had reason to feel they got more than they bargained for from the session.

‘He’s got the prototypical size you’re looking for, but with that he’s got good athleticism and mobility’

“I think the things you saw on display were he’s got the prototypical size you’re looking for, but with that he’s got good athleticism and mobility for that size,” Quinn said. “Not necessarily like top-end speed you’re going to see in the 40, but the ability to change direction pretty fluidly and get his hips, shoulders around to be able to make a throw.

“He’s got a strong enough arm, he demonstrated the ability to make all the throws. I thought he demonstrated … his anticipation. That’s probably where Sam Darnold excels as much as anyone, as far as just a pure passer — him, Josh Rosen. Those things really stood out to me, as far as in their systems, their ability to anticipate throws and getting the ball before guys are out of their cuts, something you have to do at the NFL level.”