College: Clemson
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 222
Positives
Production: Before we get into key attributes of Boyd it has to be said that there was stretches where the guy flat out produced for the Tigers in the ACC. As just a sophomore in 2011 Boyd took over the starting roll and led his team to the Orange bowl after winning the ACC. Nobody was better for the first eight games of that season as Boyd had a 24-3 touchdown-to-interception ratio and helped the Tigers reach a perfect 8-0 record. He finished that year with inconsistencies though which carried over to the following season, but that didn't stop him from putting up big time numbers. He eventually brought Clemson to an 11-2 record while becoming ACC offensive player of the year.
During the 2012 season he was responsible for eight touchdowns in a single game and 41 touchdowns total on the season, both ACC regular-season records. Against LSU in the Chik-fil-a Bowl while down 11-points, Boyd engineered a fourth-quarter comeback including a dramatic last second drive converting a key fourth-down conversion before his kicker won the game for the Tigers by a score of 25-24. Boyd finished the game completing 36-of-50 passes for 346 yards, two touchdowns, and zero interceptions.
This season Boyd had high expectations but became even more inconsistent. For every new ACC record Boyd broke there was a decision or throw that left you shaking your head. By the end of the 2013 season Boyd managed to scrape and claw his team to another Orange Bowl, this time against Ohio State. He made history in that game leading his team to a victory of 40-35 while becoming the only player with 300-passing yards and 100-rushing yards in Orange Bowl history. No one will try to cover up Boyd's flaws and inconsistencies, but the fact will always remain he had one of the most prolific careers production wise in ACC history and often times played his best when the lights were at its brightest.
Toughness: It's possible Boyd's biggest criticism will be due to his size, but at 6'1" 222 pounds he is anything but small. Boyd certainly doesn't have the prototypical height you want from your NFL quarterback but is a very thick bodied player that has shown the toughness of lowering his shoulder and keeping his legs driving after contact for extra yardage. Boyd popped back up time and time again after leaving the pocket and absorbing a big hit
Character: I am the first to admit I overreacted at Boyd's poor play during the Senior Bowl week of practices noting he looked too lackadaisical and flat out lazy for my liking. However, after doing more research at his body of work as a whole for the Tigers I found out I had mistaken that non-chalaunt approach for Boyd's even-keel attitude. In fact Boyd is said to be one of the most flawless players on the team when it comes to any character concerns. An added bonus Boyd became a media favorite during his five-year career at Clemson apparently never turning down an interview while approaching every fan and reporter with a polite attitude. Boyd has shown the kind of leadership that is infectious with his teammates as well as earning high praise from coaches and NFL personnel.
Arm Strength/Touch: Along with his compact build when Boyd is on his game he has a great mechanical delivery which lets the ball fly out of his hand. Because of his good velocity he can excel at intermediate and deep routes. Boyd also has shown the awareness and touch to find the soft spot in between zone coverage, over the linebackers reach while being thrown under the safety's range. Boyd played out of the shotgun the majority of the time at Clemson in a read-option scheme and was often asked to make quick short throws. However, it's worth noting that he often was able to hit those targets in stride keeping the ball away from his defender.
Mobility: While he will never be compared to a player like Johnny Manziel for his running skills Boyd does have the skill set to be a very successful quarterback with his legs. With his compact build he is much more elusive than his frame would suggest showing the ability to move laterally with good burst. That same thick build (as stated above) is also used to lower his shoulder and drive through his opponent for tough yards, giving off his own thunder and lightning approach to rushing the ball. Boyd played in a read-option style offense at Clemson and had a great deal of success which is a big advantage over his peers as more teams are starting to incorporate read-option plays into their offensive scheme in the NFL.
Negatives
Progressions: Boyd often times will fail to make it to his third progression during his reads and in turn will drop his eyes and decide to move out of the pocket. Now while during his college career he was very productive with this approach he likely won't have the same luxury in the NFL. His habbit of being too quick to tuck and run with the ball will be a red flag to some NFL scouts about his inability to stay in the pocket and to read a NFL defense.
Awareness: There were numerous occasions where Boyd had wide open targets outside the hash marks and in the flats that he missed because he was already locked on to someone else or had decided to run. Its little tendencies like those that will scare scouts and general managers to death while pondering wether to spend an early draft pick on him. Although Boyd has shown improvement in this category its still obvious he has trouble reading defensive coverages and more disappointing he isn't always on the same page with his receivers, something that is a must for a quarterback to take care of before he hits the field on game day.
Size: Although there are more and more smaller quarterbacks having success in the NFL Boyd's size or more specifically his short stature will immediately have him downgraded when being assessed by scouts. Its clear by his struggles with his progressions that he has a hard time seeing over his offensive line at times and feels forced to freelance out of the pocket because of this.
Inconsistencies: Boyd has gone through stretches during his college career where he looked like a legitimate Heisman trophy candidate and followed them up with night and day performances that left you scratching your head. No doubt the ability is there for Boyd who has shown he can produce at a high level, however the fact remains he hasn't been able to put an entire season together without struggling and regressing along the way. The speed and competition will only get harder for Boyd as he tries to take the leap to the NFL, and unfortunately going off his track record he has shown no signs that he will be able to perform for any team successfully for more than a small window of time.
NFL Comparison
When it comes to size, style of play, and character there is a lot of Russell Wilson in Tajh Boyd's game. Both have a short, compact, and athletic build to them that allows them to be sneaky and successful when escaping the pocket while also getting lower then their tackler and winning the leverage game to gain a few more dirty yards after contact from their lower body strength.
Boyd's decision making all though improved, is no where near what Wilson's was coming out of Wisconsin, but his big play potential and ability to lead his team in pressure situations is eerily similar to what Wilson has done with the Seahawks so far. Both have been equally impressive off the field as well carrying themselves respectfully with the media and fans by saying and doing all the right things.
Draft Outlook
Before the season began he was a top-10 prospect, now after an inconsistent season and poor Senior Bowl week there has been rumblings that he may be undraftable. Boyd in destined to land somewhere in between the two, but where? After watching him live and up close at the Senior Bowl I was one of Boyd's worst critics. He struggled all three days of practice showing no rhythm, timing, or accuracy. I foolishly left Alabama putting all his eggs in that Senior Bowl basket grading him as a late day-three pick who was nothing more than a developmental guy. Since then though I have gone back and judged him on more than just three days of practice but instead his entire body of work. I must say although he has red flags with his inability to read defenses thoroughly and to stay consistent for a long period time, the fact that he has shown huge upside and potential via his arm and his feet warrants a day-two consideration.
Teams should feel better knowing Boyd has showed tremendous character and leadership presence boosting his stock and giving him the edge over other day two quarterbacks who may have off the field issues. Even though a sketchy Senior Bowl week has sent his stock crashing, I fully expect Boyd to hear his name called no later than the fourth round due to the potential he has shown over his years at Clemson. Every prospect has weaknesses heading into the draft and Boyd is no different, but with his NFL strength, and mobility combined with his ability to lead his team back and show leadership in some of the biggest games of his life is enough reason for a team to pull the trigger by the fourth round, maybe even sooner.
Grading the draft always comes down to perceived value. For the ceiling that Boyd has and the ability to draft him near the fourth the value of your that pick is very good, due to the fact that the risk (of a late round pick) is worth the possible reward.
Best Fit
Teams searching for a quarterback to sit and be groomed for their first year in hopes of eventually taking over their starting role will be perfect fits for Boyd to land. Saying that, teams like the Kansas City Chiefs and Arizona Cardinals make a lot of sense to let Boyd learn the system and NFL tendencies in his first year.
If the Vikings decide to pass on a signal caller early in the draft and focus on defense they may think that Boyd's potential is worth a third round flier seeing they have an extra third round pick from Seattle. Sitting behind Matt Cassel for a year could turn into big dividends in year two allowing him to play with Adrian Peterson, Greg Jennings, and Cordarrelle Patterson in a read-option style that includes plenty of quick passes and short screens much like the game plan he ran at Clemson.
If Boyd slips past the fourth round the number of teams that would be willing to take a shot on him for a late pick could double. Teams that could be intrigued by his ability and would love the depth that he would provide would be the Steelers, Redskins (if they trade Kirk Cousins), Bengals, Titans, Packers, Jets, Rams, and Panthers.