Dylan Raiola is Trending in the Right Direction

I didn’t think I would end up liking Oregon transfer quarterback Dylan Raiola as much as I do when I evaluated him last season at Nebraska.

I even surprised myself.

When I sat down and turned on his film, I had to get all the previous Patrick Mahomes imitation nonsense out of my head. Raiola is well known for mimicking just about everything the Chiefs quarterback does.

That wasn’t hard to do.

I blocked it out of my mind.

Evaluators are like jurors in a courtroom. There’s no room for any preconceived notions or any bias.

This was about Raiola, and what Raiola put on his 2025 tape as an NFL projection. No doubt, this was a tough evaluation—one of the toughest I’ve done.

Why’s that?

Raiola demonstrates innate playmaking skills, but his throwing process was just too methodical.

However⎯

Raiola did show he tightened up his delivery and the timing of his throwing process during the final two games of the season. Granted, he suffered a broken fibula in his last game against USC in the third quarter.

Pro Football Focus confirmed what I was seeing on film. Raiola’s game-by-game time to throw in 2025: 2.52 seconds, 2.62 seconds, 3.19 seconds, 2.95 seconds, 2.89 seconds, 2.67 seconds, 3.35 seconds, 2.22 seconds, and 2.21 seconds.

Cause for optimism.

What are some of Raiola’s best NFL qualities?

• Ran an NFL-style offense at Nebraska under head coach Matt Rhule
• Visibly in command
• Big pocket presence
• Took a good number of snaps under center
• Verbal cadence
• Solid play-action ball-handling skills
• Ability to play in and out of structure
• Showed he can read pass coverages as he routinely scanned the field and got to his first, second, and even sometimes third read
• Strength in the pocket
• Adept at looking off defenders in coverage
• Pass distribution
• Arm talent
• More of a pure passer than a runner (2025: 46 rushing attempts)
• Does a solid job of protecting his body as a runner

What are some of Raiola’s worst NFL qualities?

• Laziness
• Inconsistent release times
• Footwork can get a little funky as a passer
• Tendency to try to do too much and force throws
• Downfield focused to a fault and gets swallowed by the pass rush (2025: 27 sacks)
• Per Pro Football Focus: 46.7% completion percentage under pressure

Why is Raiola trending in the right direction?

Three main reasons⎯

1. Demonstrated NFL traits.

2. Showed maturity in transferring to Oregon. I like that he didn’t opt for Mahomes #15 jersey number with the Ducks. He looks like he’s becoming his own person. I also like the fact that he could’ve stayed at Nebraska or transferred to many other schools and started. Instead, he realized he needed to further elevate his game and chose preseason No. 2 Oregon, where the level of competition is higher and closer to NFL standards.

3. He showed in the Oregon Spring Game that he is healthy again.

#15 (Nebraska jersey number) Dylan Raiola 6-foot-3, 230 pounds

Daniel Kelly’s 2026 Spring Grade: Third-Round (I would select him)

Projected by NFL Mock Draft Database to be a Fourth-Round prospect as of June 22, 2026

2025 game film evaluated: Cincinnati, Akron, Houston Christian, Michigan, Michigan State, Maryland, Minnesota, Northwestern, and USC (click to view games watched to form this evaluation)

Pro Football Focus Time to Throw (2025): 2.77 seconds

Note: Overcame a season-worst three-interception performance against Maryland to win 34-31

2027 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Athletic quarterback prospect with the “it” factor. Demonstrates showmanship. Compeititve. Knows his way around the pocket. Can climb and deliver. Sometimes drifts too much. Tendency to pat the ball. Solid play action fake. A lot of high percentage throws and elementary route concepts. Concentrates on short and intermediate throwing levels (25 +20 air yard throws, 12 of 25, 48.0%). Tends to lift his back foot when throwing. Some improv. Sidearms it at times. He’s at his best when he takes what defenses give him. Throws with average to below-average anticipation. Ball security: 16 PBUs (1.77 per game average). Ordinary running speed.

What to watch for during the 2026 college football season?

1. How does his throwing process look?

2. Time to throw?

3. Forcing throws?

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), NFL Draft Diamonds, and Yardbarker, as well as appearing as a guest on ESPN Radio, Fox Sports Radio, and Fearless with Jason Whitlock. Featured in USA Today. For more information, visit whateverittakesbook.com. Follow on Twitter @firstroundmock.