Can Hurricanes’ QB Tyler Van Dyke Win Games in the NFL?

If there is one thing Miami quarterback (QB) Tyler Van Dyke is, it’s consistent.

In some ways that consistency is good, and in other ways it’s not.

Not much changed from when I studied Van Dyke on 2021 game film versus tape in 2022.

That’s a double-edged sword.

What does Van Dyke look like on game film?

He very much looks the part.

Arm strength is something he has going for him.

While he has limited mobility, which makes him a sitting duck in the pocket, he does show advanced pro throwing mechanics, it’s just he doesn’t always rely on them.

P.S. Van Dyke isn’t going to win with his legs.

This Miami QB didn’t “wow” me whatsoever, but he was able to spread the ball around in the short to intermediate range making defenses cover the entire field.

Then there’s the element of him being a loose cannon.

For the second straight season, this was an issue and seems to be his nature.

In this most recent three-game study, opposing defenses got a hand on his passes 13x. Van Dyke doesn’t always make the best throwing decisions or see defenders underneath in coverages.

That’s the most concerning part of his game, and also the biggest thing that’s holding him back.

Did he show improvement?

Yes.

I walked away from watching him on 2021 game film giving Van Dyke a fourth-round grade and left off with a few things to ponder.

He showed improvement in three of those areas.

His downfield ball placement did look somewhat more on point on completed passes, he did a better job throwing the ball away and not taking quite as many sacks (2021: 20 vs. 2022: 13), and his completion percentage slightly improved (2021: 62.3% vs. 2022: 63.2%).

It all comes down to this…

My NFL mentor (who ran a college scouting department in the league) always liked to get to the bottom line.

“Can he help us win?”

That’s the question he asked his staff, and that’s really what all of this comes down to.

Beyond all the scouting mumbo jumbo, the pro days in gym shorts, and analytics, that’s the bottom line.

Does selecting Van Dyke move the meter?

No.

Why not?

For everything Van Dyke does well, his lack of ball security is going to be his (and his NFL teams) undoing.

This is why game film trumps all the other off-season stuff. The only place anyone is going to be able to see this is on game film. It doesn’t show up throwing passes to his buddies in a gym prior to the draft.

I also didn’t like what I saw when the game was on the line against North Carolina and Texas A&M in this block of game film – – or in 2021 when he threw a pick late in the Pitt game.

A tendency to not get it done in big situations does not play to his advantage.

#9 Tyler Van Dyke 6-foot-4, 224 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s Spring 2023 Grade: Fifth-Round (I wouldn’t select him)

Projected by 0.0% of the NFL Draft Community to be a first-round pick as of May 27, 2023 (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

2022 game film reviewed: North Carolina, Texas A&M, and Southern Miss (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

2022 stats: 160/253 (63.2%), 1844 yards, 10 TD, 5 INT, 13 sacks, long-52

2024 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Pro-style pocket passer with a propensity to take chances throwing the ball. Looks relaxed setting up shop in the pocket with a solid play-action fake. Leads offense with a methodical pace. Tends to go through his progressions. Downfield minded. Poised. Will stare down the barrel of the pass rush and deliver. Best when setting his feet to throw. Strong arm, but ball can sail high or overthrow. Not afraid to throw into tight coverages. Accuracy falls way off on the move outside the pocket. Works mostly in the short to intermediate route levels. Subject to drops by receivers. Inconsistent deep. Fairly immobile (-1.1 yard avg. rushing last season).

What to watch for during the 2023 college football season

1. Ball security?

2. How does he look in big-game moments?

3. Deep game accuracy?

4. Are Receivers dropping his passes on a regular basis?

Daniel Kelly is a former NFL Scout with the New York Jets. He was hired on the regime which featured Bill Parcells, Bill Belichick, Scott Pioli, Mike Tannenbaum, and Dick Haley. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief for First Round Mock and has written for Sports Illustrated Lions, Jets, and 49ers, as well as a featured guest on ESPN Radio and Fox Sports Radio. For more information about him visit his website at whateverittakesbook.com. He can be followed on Twitter @firstroundmock.