3 NFL teams prefer Brad Kaaya over Deshaun Watson, per report.

Everybody knows Miami Hurricanes QB Brad Kaaya is one of the best players at his position in America. To back that up even further, there is a report that 3 NFL teams have Brad Kaaya rated ahead of Clemson star QB Deshaun Watson on their draft boards.

Playing QB at the NFL level is a a different challenge than playing QB at the college level. Collegiate offensive schemes are more varied, and they can be tailored more to the skillsets of their QBs.

For instance, Clemson relies heavily on Watson in the read-opion and designed QB run games. Those things exist at the NFL level, but at a much lower usage rate than in college. So, with less engagement in the run game, will Watson’s value decrease slightly? That could potentially be the reason teams have Kaaya rated higher.

Looking solely at the Canes’ QB, Kaaya has elite level accuracy, and a good enough arm to make every throw you need in the NFL. He’s not Matt Stafford or Jay Cutler in terms of arm strength, but he’s not Chad Pennington, either.

Another positive for Kaaya is the fact that he’s been known for years to be an incredibly knowledgeable player. He can process information on the field quickly, and that helps him to be the top tier level player that he is. In another article, Bleacher Report draft analyst Matt Miller mocked Brad Kaaya 4th overall to the San Francisco 49ers.

From the piece relative to Kaaya:

If you liked Teddy Bridgewater and Jared Goff—and boy, did I—then you'll like Brad Kaaya a lot. A tall, lean, smart quarterback with a ton of poise, Kaaya hasn't been on great Miami teams, but he's balled and won games while showing accuracy, smarts and instincts few college passers have. Now that he's working with Mark Richt, many of the old habits (back-foot throws were a big one) are gone.

Kaaya's tape may not wow like DeShone Kizer or Deshaun Watson from an athletic standpoint, but he will win NFL scouts over in the interview room. He's a top-level processor and has the quick decision-making skills to be an ideal fit in Chip Kelly's fast-paced offense, where you're ripping off plays every 60 seconds and need a quarterback who can win the game mentally.

So, both citing sources in the NFL, and with his own evaluation, Miller has Kaaya as a top tier player who should be picked highly in the NFL draft...if he leaves school. That’s obviously a conversation and decision that will impact the fortunes of the Miami Hurricanes and some lucky NFL team in 2017, but regardless of his choice, it’s clear that Kaaya will have a future in the NFL whenever he decides to make the leap.