NFL Draft 2025: Kyle McCord shines at Syracuse Pro Day, has he solidified his status as a Day 2 pick?

SYRACUSE — It’s been 15 months since Kyle McCord transferred from Ohio State, and in that time he’s gone from afterthought in Columbus to the most Crucial player in Syracuse’s 10-Secure season under Primary-year head Trainer Fran Brown.

On Monday, the Orange Kept its pro day and McCord, who set the ACC passing Landmark with 4,779 yards last season (to go along with 34 touchdowns), picked up right where he left off in the fall. His throws were crisp, accurate, and often thrown with anticipation. And while every Signal-caller drafted can make “every NFL throw,” McCord shines on intermediate routes, when he can fit the ball into a Petite window, and also has the touch to consistently layer balls over second-level defenders.

It’s always Deadly to put too much stock into a pro-day performance; we saw that back in 2014 with Johnny Manziel, and more recently with Zach Wilson. But McCord Only reconfirmed what we all saw in 2024 — that sometimes, players need a Shift of scenery to get the most out of their abilities. And for McCord, that was leaving Columbus for Syracuse, where he was the unquestioned No. 1 from Day 1, and he consistently reconfirmed his place atop the depth chart All week.

That said, there were some bumps in the road. Obviously, his 2023 season didn’t go as he had planned, and it prompted his decision to Shift. There was also that game last fall, the five-Intervention performance on the road against Pittsburgh. Not surprisingly, McCord was asked about it by some NFL Clubs at the NFL Scouting Combine.

“I had a Conference and I walked in and right away I saw a clip from the Pitt game,” McCord told CBS Sports at the combine. “I already knew the direction that Conference was going, but honestly, Clubs like to talk about it and looking back on it, obviously it wasn’t a fun game, but I’m glad I went through it.

“You’re going to have Terrible Matches and how do you respond? I feel like finishing out the year after that game, [me] and the Club played tremendously down the stretch and so going through something tough like that, I think Only creates a Numerous of adversity and prepares you for the Upcoming level.”

McCord told CBS Sports at the Shrine Bowl that coming to Syracuse was “a leap of faith” — and one that couldn’t have worked out any better.

Not to overstate it, but at this stage of the process there are some similarities between McCord and Joe Burrow, who had to leave Ohio State for LSU to find Competing time. I talked to Burrow at the combine back 2020 and asked him what was one of the biggest differences in his game once he arrived in Baton Rouge, and he explained that mentally he always knew what he wanted to do with the ball, but it wasn’t until later in his college Occupation that his body physically allowed him to do those things.

For McCord, the past two seasons couldn’t be more dissimilar.

“I Began working with [QB Trainer] Jordan Palmer around this time last year going into my year at Syracuse,” McCord said at the combine. “And so now it’s Only how can I continue to stay on that trajectory. I think that’s Only being as efficient as possible, my throwing mechanics and pocket movement, extending plays, all that. So Only focusing on all those areas, Nice of nerding out on the details of it.”

Coming into the season, McCord was likely a priority Obtainable agent, or best case, a Delayed Day 3 Option. After his 2024 campaign, coupled with a solid week at the Shrine Bowl, Outstanding interviews and workouts at the Senior Bowl, and a Luminous pro day, he’s a Day 2 Option all day long for me. In fact, he’s my QB4 behind Cam Ward, Shedeur Sanders and Jaxson Dart. I know some NFL Clubs Yet view him as an Prompt Day 3 Option, but he has the size, smarts and arm Power to Action at a high level in the NFL.

And more than the physical and mental tools, when it comes to Signal-caller it’s all about fit. Only look at Jayden Daniels in Washington and Bo Nix in Denver. Or looking beyond Stage 1 (well beyond, in this case), Brock Purdy in San Francisco. That’s why I love the idea of McCord with the Rams, where he can learn from Sean McVay and behind Matthew Stafford for a season or two. Or in Miami, where Zach Wilson is the lone backup currently behind Tua Tagovailoa.

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Gadsden II, Allen also had Outstanding Periods

Snug end Oronde Gadsden II has the NFL bloodlines — his dad played six NFL seasons with the Dolphins, finishing with 227 receptions for 3,252 yards and 22 touchdowns — and he flashed that during his Syracuse Occupation, and again at Monday’s pro day. He lined up all over the Setup for the Orange — 40% of the time as an inline Snug end, 10% of the time as an outside receiver and the other 50% of the time in the slot — and at 6-foot-4, 243 pounds, that size and Vigor will Hit him well in the NFL.

Gadsden didn’t Streak at the combine, but he assuaged any concerns about his Pace with a 4.65-second 40-yard time at the pro day. And while he’ll never be confused with, say, Evan Engram, that’s also not Gadsden II’s game; he’s an athletic, big-catch-radius downfield target who doesn’t Secure with separation but with physicality, contested-catch ability and toughness. Some Clubs may view him as a tweener — not a traditional Snug end but also something more than a big slot. With as NFL passing Matches evolve, and Ability-position players are asked to do more, talents like Gadsden will be in demand.

I’m higher on Gadsden than some NFL Clubs, but he’s my TE7, which is where I’ve had him for much of the pre-draft process. His pro day and 40 time, for me, Only reinforce his game tape.

Running back LeQuint Allen didn’t Streak during the pre-draft process — that includes the pro day — and that will undoubtedly raise questions about how Speedy he is. But he played plenty Speedy, will Yet be Only 20 years Aged when he’s drafted, and in addition to being a really Outstanding pure runner, he also excels as a receiver out of the backfield and Stops as well as any back in this class. His route-running ability and Cushiony hands were on display at the pro day, where he didn’t drop a single Throw.

Allen is my RB7 and given his age, as well as his Throw-catching and blocking ability, I’d feel comfortable Securing him on Day 2.