Connor Cook defends character, believes he is best QB in 2016 NFL Draft
Former Michigan State Spartans quarterback Connor Cook has a lot to prove at the NFL Combine and is ready to defend his character and prove to the NFL that he should be the first quarterback picked in the 2016 NFL Draft.
Connor Cook has heard the chatter about him not being a first round prospect in the 2016 NFL Draft as questions about his demeanor, attitude and leadership skills have lingered since the beginning of his senior season at Michigan State.
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Despite his on-field success with the Spartans, his future in the NFL is unsettled as he prepares to workout at the Combine this weekend and put his physical skills on display. He is also looking forward to showing NFL teams the type of person he is to alleviate any concerns they have about his character.
Cook is so confident in his ability and who he is as a person that he thinks he should be the first quarterback taken in the NFL Draft.
“I believe so,” Cook said when asked if he could position himself ahead of the draft’s other top quarterbacks. “There are a lot of misconceptions about me. I can settle those in meeting with the coaches and GMs. Let them know who I am as a person. Get up on the board and show them what I can draw up against a certain defense. Dial the blitz, I can redirect protection. Anything I can do to show them that I’m not just a good football player but I’m mentally sharp and know the game inside and out.”
Carson Wentz, Jared Goff and Paxton Lynch are viewed as the consensus top three at the position with all three viewed as first rounders with Wentz and Goff potential top 5-10 picks.
The biggest knocks on Cook aren’t about hand size, arm strength or his athleticism but his perceived cockiness, arrogance and lacking the intangibles elite quarterbacks possess. Cook can expect to get questions about why his teammates didn’t vote him a captain last year at Michigan State, which is practically unheard of for a quarterback like Cook.
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He will convince some team to draft him, but he won’t be the first quarterback taken, but believing he should be will no doubt make the team that does happy he has that kind of confidence in his ability.
It could also be the reason why teams don’t draft him in the first place.