RSS FeedMichigan State QB Connor Cook May Provide Good 2nd Round Value
By Chris Malumphy
Heading into the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft, Michigan State quarterback Connor Cook remains available. While not rated among the top three quarterbacks in the draft, the Spartans were 36-5 during the three years Cook was the starter, including a 2-1 record in Bowl Games with victories in a Rose Bowl and a Cotton Bowl but a devastating 38-0 loss to Alabama in this year's Cotton Bowl. During his college career, Cook threw 71 touchdown passes and only 22 interceptions. In almost every respect, Cook's college statistics are superior to those of Tom Brady with the lone exception being completion percentage. Just sayin'.
Of course, Brady's college stats also pale in comparison to other Michigan and Michigan State stars like Jim Harbaugh and Kurt Cousins and aren't appreciably better than Chad Henne's.
Some have said that Cook is the most ready to start of all the quarterbacks available in the 2016 NFL Draft. It is also said that several of those other quarterbacks have a higher upside. There are also questions about Cook's leadership and like-ability, which are important in the huddle and locker room. His college career completion percentage is also lower than all the quarterbacks listed below, including Chad Henne. Still, Cook led a big-time program to an excellent record while throwing over three times as many touchdowns as interceptions. Cook appears to be good second round value.
| Connor Cook vs. Tom Brady (Michigan and Michigan State Quarterbacks) | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | G | Att | Comp | Pct | Yds | Avg | Adj Avg | TD | Int | Rating |
| Kurt Cousins | 45 | 1128 | 723 | 64.1 | 9131 | 8.1 | 8.1 | 66 | 30 | 146.1 |
| Jim Harbaugh | 49 | 620 | 387 | 62.4 | 5449 | 8.8 | 8.2 | 31 | 22 | 145.6 |
| Connor Cook | 43 | 1170 | 673 | 57.5 | 9194 | 7.9 | 8.2 | 71 | 22 | 139.8 |
| Tom Brady | 29 | 638 | 395 | 61.9 | 4773 | 7.5 | 7.2 | 30 | 17 | 134.9 |
| Chad Henne | 47 | 1387 | 828 | 59.7 | 9715 | 7.0 | 7.1 | 87 | 37 | 133.9 |
| Kurt Cousins Michigan State | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | G | Att | Comp | Pct | Yds | Avg | Adj Avg | TD | Int | Rating |
| 2008 | 5 | 43 | 32 | 74.4 | 310 | 7.2 | 7.1 | 2 | 1 | 145.7 |
| 2009 | 13 | 328 | 198 | 60.4 | 2680 | 8.2 | 8.1 | 19 | 9 | 142.6 |
| 2010 | 13 | 338 | 226 | 66.9 | 2825 | 8.4 | 8.2 | 20 | 10 | 150.7 |
| 2011 | 14 | 419 | 267 | 63.7 | 3316 | 7.9 | 8.0 | 25 | 10 | 145.1 |
| Career | 45 | 1128 | 723 | 64.1 | 9131 | 8.1 | 8.1 | 66 | 30 | 146.1 |
| Jim Harbaugh Michigan | ||||||||||
| Year | G | Att | Comp | Pct | Yds | Avg | Adj Avg | TD | Int | Rating |
| 1983 | 12 | 5 | 2 | 40.0 | 26 | 5.2 | 5.2 | 0 | 0 | 83.7 |
| 1984 | 12 | 111 | 60 | 54.1 | 718 | 6.5 | 5.0 | 3 | 5 | 108.3 |
| 1985 | 12 | 227 | 145 | 63.9 | 1976 | 8.7 | 9.1 | 18 | 6 | 157.9 |
| 1986 | 13 | 277 | 180 | 65.0 | 2729 | 9.9 | 8.8 | 10 | 11 | 151.7 |
| Career | 49 | 620 | 387 | 62.4 | 5449 | 8.8 | 8.2 | 31 | 22 | 145.6 |
| Connor Cook Michigan State | ||||||||||
| Year | G | Att | Comp | Pct | Yds | Avg | Adj Avg | TD | Int | Rating |
| 2012 | 3 | 17 | 9 | 52.9 | 94 | 5.5 | 4.1 | 1 | 1 | 107.0 |
| 2013 | 14 | 380 | 223 | 58.7 | 2755 | 7.3 | 7.7 | 22 | 6 | 135.5 |
| 2014 | 13 | 365 | 212 | 58.1 | 3214 | 8.8 | 9.1 | 24 | 8 | 149.4 |
| 2015 | 13 | 408 | 229 | 56.1 | 3131 | 7.7 | 8.1 | 24 | 7 | 136.6 |
| Career | 43 | 1170 | 673 | 57.5 | 9194 | 7.9 | 8.2 | 71 | 22 | 139.8 |
| Tom Brady Michigan | ||||||||||
| Year | G | Att | Comp | Pct | Yds | Avg | Adj Avg | TD | Int | Rating |
| 1996 | 2 | 5 | 3 | 60.0 | 26 | 5.2 | -3.8 | 0 | 1 | 63.7 |
| 1997 | 4 | 15 | 12 | 80.0 | 103 | 6.9 | 6.9 | 0 | 0 | 137.7 |
| 1998 | 12 | 323 | 200 | 61.9 | 2427 | 7.5 | 7.0 | 14 | 10 | 133.1 |
| 1999 | 11 | 295 | 180 | 61.0 | 2217 | 7.5 | 7.7 | 16 | 6 | 138.0 |
| Career | 29 | 638 | 395 | 61.9 | 4773 | 7.5 | 7.2 | 30 | 17 | 134.9 |
| Chad Henne Michigan | ||||||||||
| Year | G | Att | Comp | Pct | Yds | Avg | Adj Avg | TD | Int | Rating |
| 2004 | 12 | 399 | 240 | 60.2 | 2743 | 6.9 | 6.8 | 25 | 12 | 132.6 |
| 2005 | 12 | 382 | 223 | 58.4 | 2526 | 6.6 | 6.9 | 23 | 8 | 129.6 |
| 2006 | 13 | 328 | 203 | 61.9 | 2508 | 7.6 | 7.9 | 22 | 8 | 143.4 |
| 2007 | 10 | 278 | 162 | 58.3 | 1938 | 7.0 | 6.7 | 17 | 9 | 130.5 |
| Career | 47 | 1387 | 828 | 59.7 | 9715 | 7.0 | 7.1 | 87 | 37 | 133.9 |
