Not everyone is convinced Marcus Mariota is worth trading up to draft.
The former Oregon QB's pro day Thursday was attended by plenty of scouts and media, including Eagles QB coach Ryan Day and draft guru Mike Mayock.
Mayock, along with some colleagues, was underwhelmed by the workout.
"I thought it started a little rough and I thought he was a little nervous," he said on NFL Network. "At best it was just a solid workout."
The most interesting opinion came from former NFL receiver Curtis Conway, who thought Mariota's workout was so unimpressive that it could push him right into the Eagles' lap.
"I have a feeling, especially after this pro day, that Marcus Mariota will fall to No. 20 and Chip Kelly will get exactly what he wants," Conway said Thursday night on NFL Network's Path to the Draft.
"When I look at the teams that are drafting before the Eagles, I don't see a need at quarterback. They need things at different positions, and there's no way I would draft a quarterback who I think would have to sit for a couple of years."
Keep in mind that is just one man's opinion. The thought here is that even if teams aren't sold on Mariota as an early first-round pick, some franchise selecting earlier than 20 will take him as either a trade chip or a high-upside player to mold. If Mariota is there at 14, for example, what would stop a team lower in the draft from trading up? Maybe the Bengals at 21 or the Cardinals at 24. The Broncos (28), Saints (31) and Patriots (32) all have aging Hall of Fame quarterbacks and could afford to draft and develop Mariota a la Aaron Rodgers.
When Mariota's workout concluded Thursday, he sat down with Mayock for an interview, and Mayock levied several criticisms on the QB before asking if each was fair. Mariota agreed with each point.
Mariota admitted he felt butterflies when the pro day began and that he was trying to be too perfect with his throws early. Once he and his receivers settled in, though, his natural ability shined through.
Draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah continued to express doubts that Mariota is a top prospect.
Jeremiah compared Mariota's running ability and athleticism to Colin Kaepernick's, but he thinks Mariota lacks the arm strength of the 49ers' QB.
"There's a huge upside," Jeremiah said of Mariota, "but he needs to improve his footwork."
A main critique of draft analysts is that Mariota did not play under center at Oregon and has not mastered the footwork and drops necessary for an NFL quarterback. Clearly aware of these doubts, Mariota spent his entire pro day under center.
"He threw the ball much better at the combine (than he did Thursday)," Jeremiah said. "It should be the other way around. Today was a little bit underwhelming in my opinion."
So ... is it possible Mariota plummets in the draft? It wouldn't be the first time a top QB prospect fell. It happened in recent years with Brady Quinn and Rodgers, potential No. 1 picks who dropped to 22nd and 24th, respectively.
Teddy Bridgewater experienced it last year at this time. The Louisville QB, once perceived as the top pick in the draft, had a terrible pro day and fell all the way to 32, the final pick of the first round.
"I think you have to put quarterback pro days in perspective," Mayock said. "For instance, the best quarterback pro day I ever saw in my life — and I’ve been at almost every top quarterback for the last seven or eight years — the best one was JaMarcus Russell. And we know how that ended."