Rajvir Bal Puts First Round Grade on QB Kyle McCord

First Round Mock NFL Draft Analyst has gone all in on Syracuse’s quarterback (QB) Kyle McCord.

Evaluating college quarterbacks is a tough job. It’s one of the most intricate things to do in all of football. We’ve seen so many ‘can’t miss’ projections and supposed ‘generational’ talents that have become busts. They’re tough to predict, and we’ve seen our share of ‘diamonds in the rough’ too. There have been guys like Brock Purdy (49ers), Dak Prescott (Cowboys), Russell Wilson (Steelers), and Kirk Cousins (Falcons) ⎯none of them were first-round selections.

This brings us to Syracuse’s Kyle McCord, who I believe is the steal of the 2025 NFL Draft.

Background

McCord was a 4-star prospect out of high school and committed to Ohio State. After playing there as a starter for one season, he transferred to Syracuse (per 247Sports).

Here’s a look at his production:

2023:

• 12 games
• 229 completions
• 348 attempts (65.8%)
• 3,140 yards 
• 24 touchdowns
• Six interceptions

2024:

• 391 completions
• 592 attempts (66%)
• 4,779 yards (Broke QB Deshaun Watson’s ACC Record)
• 34 touchdowns
• 12 interceptions

#6 Kyle McCord 6-foot-2, 220 pounds 
Rajvir Bal’s Fall 2025 NFL Draft Grade: First-Round (I would select him)
Projected by 0.0% of the NFL Draft Community to be a first-round pick as of January 6, 2025 (nflmockdraftdatabase.com)

2024 game film reviewed: Georgia Tech, UNLV, Pittsburgh, and Stanford (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

2025 NFL Draft Scouting Report

The Good

McCord strikes me as loose on film. What does that mean? He plays with immense confidence and an attitude that showcases that he believes in himself as well as the players around him. When he gets into a rhythm, or when he enters his “flow state” he is as dangerous as they come. He spreads the ball around, scans the field, and gets it there. McCord was elite off the RPO (run pass option) and thrived in Syracuse’s scheme. One of my favorite attributes is his internal clock. This means that he can sense pressure exceptionally well, and is constantly adjusting to the pressure of the defensive line without completely changing the way he throws. His timing was on point with his receivers, and he always seemed to know where they would be on the field. If the play calls for his reads to be predetermined, he’s money.

The Bad

McCord struggles with leading his receivers perfectly, often going a bit to right, left, short, or high. His ball placement always seems to be just a tad off. I noticed far too many PBUs (pass breakups) and pass deflections in the secondary. He struggles a lot with under-center plays, often rushing his throws, messing up footwork, or even rolling over and taking sacks. Occasionally, you see him lock onto a first read and allow that to bail him out of tough situations. This is especially apparent when he rolls out of the pocket, as he becomes extremely prone to throwing to his first read.

Ten Adjectives

Loose. Dynamic. Rhythm. Precise. Instinctive. Scattershot. Rushed. Locked. Scripted. Streaky.

Elephant in the room

What happened at Ohio State?

McCord played tight there. He was more worried about making mistakes than allowing himself to flourish. Once he got to Syracuse, he was able to come into his own.

NFL Crystal Ball

Pittsburgh Steelers

Dallas Cowboys

Indianapolis Colts

Pro Comp: Carson Wentz

Wentz is the former No. 2 pick in the 2016 NFL Draft by Philadelphia. He played there from 2016-2020 before stops in Indianapolis, Washington, Los Angeles (Rams), and Kansas City. He’s thrown for over 22,000 yards and over 150 touchdowns.

Final thoughts

Potential.

That’s the word I think of when I think of McCord. Because of his upside and the way he performed at Syracuse, I believe he warrants a late first-round pick.

McCord has a chance to be a long-term and starter in the NFL.

Rajvir Bal is a high school student from the Virginia area. He grew up a rabid Washington Redskins fan, attending more than 30 games, and has enjoyed the team’s high points and low points throughout his life. He plays varsity football and basketball. Rajvir has taken an interest in the NFL Draft since middle school when his team picked Montez Sweat and Dwayne Haskins in the first round. His favorite NFL player ever flips between Rob Gronkowski and Brett Favre, and his favorite athlete is LeBron James. He has been writing his own scouting reports since 2020, and is excited for the opportunities FirstRoundMock provides.