Raiders NFL Draft Prospect: QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson, UCLA
The Las Vegas Raiders have nearly three weeks to prepare for the 2023 NFL Draft, and while the team has been busy moving players at quarterback this offseason, the team still needs to draft for the future.
A new era at quarterback is set to begin this season with Jimmy Garoppolo, but the Raiders still need to find their quarterback of the future, or at least find one to develop.
Quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson, UCLA Bruins
“Athletic quarterback who can be used on designed runs and pick up extra yards as a scrambler. Thompson-Robinson is capable of driving the football over the middle, possessing solid velocity. He hits open targets that are moving over the middle reliably. Displaying recognition skills when kept clean, he identifies mismatches and gets the ball there quickly,” NFL Draft Bible said of Thompson-Robinson (DTR).
DTR started all 13 games at UCLA last season, completing a school record and the nation’s sixth-best completion percentage at 69.6 percent for 3,169 yards, 27 touchdowns, and ten interceptions, in addition to rushing for 645 yards (5.5 average) and 12 touchdowns.
Thompson-Robinson completed his career as UCLA's all-time leader in total offense (12,536 yards--the only UCLA player ever to record over 12,000 yards), completions (860), total touchdowns (116), touchdown passes (88), and passing yards (10,710).
“Often more keen to scramble and make something happen with his feet than stand in the pocket, deliver a ball and take a hit. Thompson-Robinson struggles under pressure, missing underneath defenders. He puts the ball into dangerous spots trying to throw out of sacks,” Draft Bible added.
Thompson-Robinson's early years in Westwood do not look good on film, and while some of those mistakes still occurred last season, he vastly improved as a quarterback under Bruins Coach Chip Kelly.
At the 2023 NFL Combine, he showed that his athleticism is not a problem and he is an elite quarterback athlete.
Thompson-Robinson ran the fourth-best 40-yard-dash among quarterbacks (4.56) and slung the ball out to 62 miles per hour at the combine, tied with Josh Allen's record for the fastest throw ever recorded at the event.
Where he struggles the most is his decision-making, he tries to escape the pocket when pressured and at times, forces inaccurate throws downfield.
Thompson-Robinson has had plenty of spectacular moves when he keeps the ball to himself, huddling over defenders and juking players by the end zone.
And with a good showing in the pre-draft process (NFL Combine, Shrine Bowl) his stock has risen.
Listed as a Day Three selection in most mock drafts, DTR can be a valuable asset for the Raiders, especially when they can develop him to become a key piece in the franchise's future.
The NFL Draft will occur at Union Station in Kansas City, Mo., from Thursday, July 25, to Saturday, April 29. ESPN, ABC, and NFL Network will broadcast all seven rounds.
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