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Washington Redskins 2017 Draft Profiles: Brad Kaaya, QB

Hogs Haven takes a look at 2017 NFL prospects that could contribute to the Redskins

By Gabe Ward
Miami v Georgia Tech Photo by Daniel Shirey/Getty Images

Brad Kaaya, QB
School: Miami | Conference: ACC
College Experience: Junior | Age: 21
Height / Weight: 6-4 / 215 lbs
Projected Draft Status: 3rd Round
NFL Comparison: Josh McCown

College Statistics

Player Overview

Brad Kaaya started for Miami as a true freshman and has had the starting reigns ever since. He holds records at Miami for most career passing yards (9,968), most completions (720), most attempts (1,188), and is third for most touchdowns (69) and has a career QB rating of 146. Despite his accomplishments, there are some scouts that think Kaaya could be a JAG in the NFL.

Some concerns are valid, despite clearly not being ready to start for an NFL team Kaaya decided to make the jump to the NFL. The problem is Trubinsky, Mahomes, and Kizer all had the same idea. Now Kaaya finds himself as QB 4/5 (depends on who you ask) in a crop of QBs that will all be over drafted.

Full disclosure, I am a Miami fan and have watched Kaaya over the past several years. He has shown incredible growth in the face of mediocrity and turmoil while at Miami. Miami is long removed from its glory days of the late 80s and early 90s and has had trouble recruiting talent. Nowhere did this affect Kaaya most than with the offensive line at Miami. No offense to any of the kids there but they have been terrible for a long time. The last talented offensive lineman to be drafted from the program was Ereck Flowers and we all know how he’s doing with the Giants (hint: not well).

In addition to not being protected Kaaya largely played on a Miami squad whose defense was lackluster, his receivers dropped a lot of passes, and he also went through a coaching change when Al Golden was fired and Mark Richt was hired in 2016. Despite those obstacles, Kaaya still largely excelled in Miami’s offense. I am not here to give him a pass, he has some serious issues that need to be corrected but in a QB class that is lacking talent overall, there is not much difference between Mitch Trubinsky in the 1st and Brand Kaaya in the 3rd in my opinion.

Strengths

  • Good NFL caliber arm. Will be able to put enough power behind most throws in the NFL despite lacking elite talent there.
  • Deadly when given time in the pocket. Kaaya’s accuracy is hit or miss but if he has a relatively clean pocket he can pick defenses apart, all of the sudden he has pocket awareness and he can throw a dart into a one-foot window.
  • Displays good poise with a lot going on and has decent vision looking down the field to find the open man.
  • Good decision making and ability to go through progressions.

Weaknesses

  • Kaaya's biggest weakness is that he NEEDS a clean pocket to be effective. His accuracy declines in a hurry when he can’t set his feet or step into a throw.
  • The weakness scouts will hate most is that his leadership is questionable at best.
  • Is largely a statue in the pocket with limited mobility. Kaaya can move if he wants too he just doesn’t. When the pocket starts to collapse he can’t feel for those open spaces or who is around him.
  • Has mechanics issue specific to his follow through as I mentioned if he doesn't have time to set his feet and follow through the ball dies in the air.

Let’s see his work:

How He Would Fit On The Redskins

If Brad Kaaya goes to a team with the right offense, a good o-line, and an established QB he can study under for a few years I think he has a legit chance to grow and possibly be a starter in this league for several years. If he goes to a team and is forced into any type of meaningful action in his first couple years he could be out of the league after his rookie contract. The QB wheel in the NFL is a tough one, every year there are always guys with talent and tons of upside but as we all know if they don’t get into the right situations it could spell disaster for their careers and fast. Kaaya is one of those guys. While the Redskins have an established QB I don’t see Kaaya as a fit in Jay Gruden’s offense. If I had to bet I think we see Kaaya holding a clipboard in a Viking or Charger uniform in September.

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