Kyle McCord QB Syracuse | NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
Kyle McCord QB Syracuse
NFL Draft Profile & Scouting Report
PLAY STYLE: Pocket Passer | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Last Updated: 01/06/2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Draft Year: 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
40 time: 4.95 seconds (24%*) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Age: 22.3 DOB: 09/19/2002 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Bowl Invite: Shrine Bowl | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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PLAY STYLE: Pocket Passer | |
Last Updated: 01/06/2025 | |
Draft Year: 2025 | |
40 time: 4.95 seconds (24%*) | |
Age: 22.3 DOB: 09/19/2002 | |
Bowl Invite: Shrine Bowl | |
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Overall Rating: | 83.4 / 100 | |
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Average rating of opposition Defense player has faced | ||
Defense Rating: |
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73% |
Click the links below to view how player ranks vs other prospects. | ||
Release Speed: |
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95% |
Short Passing: |
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81% |
Medium Passing: |
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82% |
Long Passing: |
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98% |
Rush/Scramble: |
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77% |
DRAFT PROJECTION:
4th
Overall Rank:
#110
Position rank:
#5
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College Games: 36 College Snaps: 1897 | ||
College Combine Results
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Player Comparison* (Similarity level) | ||
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Spencer Rattler - South Carolina |
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74% |
Bo Nix - Oregon |
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69% |
Hendon Hooker - Tennessee |
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66% |
Draft Profile: Bio
Mount Laurel's golden arm arrived at Ohio State as a five-star prospect in 2021, carrying the weight of Philadelphia high school records and state championships at powerhouse St. Joseph's Prep. After patiently waiting his turn behind C.J. Stroud, McCord stepped into the spotlight for the Buckeyes in 2023, posting an 11-1 record while throwing for over 3,000 yards. His journey took an unexpected turn with a transfer to Syracuse, where he validated the five-star buzz that followed him from Philadelphia, setting ACC records with 4,779 yards and 34 touchdowns in 2024.The former Buckeye showed growth under Syracuse's new regime, averaging a blistering 360 yards per game while leading the Orange to signature wins over Georgia Tech, UNLV, and Miami. His masterpiece came in the Holiday Bowl, where he torched Washington State for 453 yards and five touchdowns, cementing his place in ACC history by breaking Deshaun Watson's single-season passing record.
McCord's cerebral approach and quick processing helped him post an elite 34:8 touchdown-to-interception ratio in 2024, while his completion percentage consistently hovered above 65% over his college career.
Scouting Report: Strengths
- Lightning-quick release with pristine mechanics - gets the ball out in under 2.5 seconds consistently while maintaining perfect spiral rotation through his throwing motion
- Surgical accuracy in the 15-25 yard range, particularly on deep out routes and seam throws where he shows NFL-caliber ball placement
- Advanced pre-snap recognition allows him to diagnose coverages and work through progressions with veteran-like poise in the pocket
- Nasty deep ball with perfect arc and touch - consistently hits receivers in stride on vertical routes beyond 40 yards
- Shows excellent pocket movement and subtle slides to buy time while keeping his eyes downfield hunting for big plays
- Between-the-ears acumen shines in red zone situations where he consistently makes sound decisions
- Throws with outstanding anticipation on timing routes, particularly on comebacks and deep curls where he releases before the break
- Natural leader who commanded respect in two major programs
Scouting Report: Weaknesses
- Limited athleticism restricts his ability to extend plays outside structure - won't threaten defenses as a designed runner at the next level
- Can get overly aggressive attacking tight windows downfield, leading to forced throws when safer options are available underneath
- Base mechanics can deteriorate under heavy pressure, causing some sailing passes when he can't step into throws
- Occasionally locks onto primary read too long, missing opportunities to hit check-downs when deep shots aren't there
- Will need to adjust arm angles more frequently in NFL to navigate throwing lanes against faster, more athletic defenders
Scouting Report: Summary
McCord profiles as a classic pocket passer whose football IQ and quick trigger will translate immediately to precision-based passing schemes that emphasize ball placement and anticipation. His decisiveness and ability to layer throws with touch make him an ideal fit for teams running West Coast concepts with vertical elements. While he won't wow anyone with highlight-reel scrambles, his pocket presence and anticipation throwing allow him to consistently move the chains.Teams running heavy play-action schemes will love McCord's ability to sell fakes and deliver strikes off movement. His deep ball accuracy and advanced understanding of defensive leverage points to a quarterback who can execute an NFL playbook from day one. The smart money has him coming off the board on day two or three to a team with an established offensive infrastructure.
Brings to mind Derek Carr's early career - a pure pocket technician who thrives when given clean platforms and defined reads. McCord has the tools to compete for a starting role from day one in a system that maximizes his strengths as a rhythm-based passer while minimizing his athletic limitations.
Written By:
Felix Green (ACC)
Kyle McCord percentiles vs other Quarterbacks (NFL Combine historically - higher value represents better perfomance)
How other scouting services rate Kyle McCord (Overall Rank)
All Scouts AverageOverall Rank
128.2
All Scouts AveragePosition Rank
13.0
*Percentile Ranking in Player's Position Group (NFL Combine Historical Data): This percentile reflects how a player's specific statistics rank
in comparison to historical performances at the NFL Combine, specifically within their position group. A higher percentile indicates a better performance.
For instance, being in the 90th percentile for a particular stat means the player outperformed 90% of their peers in that category.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.
*Similarity Percentage: This percentage is calculated based on a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including height, weight, 40-yard dash times, on-field performance statistics, and overall player rating. The analysis is conducted against our database of draft prospects from 2021 to 2023. This similarity score helps in evaluating how closely a current prospect aligns with past prospects. It is important to note, however, that this score reflects similarities based on college production and attributes, and does not account for eventual success or performance in the NFL.